I have seen a lot of rave about Al Dente online over the past few months so I've been wanting to check it out. Me and my wife decided to book a reservation for Valentine's Day and try it out! My first impression was a very casual alternative looking place, I thought the black chandeliers were pretty cool and different. We started with some drinks and 2 apps. My wife got the Flirtini which was a pineapple esq flavor martini and I had a glass of pinot Grigio, both the drinks I would recommend. The cocktail menu is pretty small but they do have a bar if you want to curate your own. Our apps we got the calamari and the fried zucchini flower. The calamari was good but it didn't come with a tartar sauce, it came with what seemed to be a spicy marinara. The fried zucchini flowers were very mediocre, they are supposed to be stuffed with ricotta but the majority of the pieces we had was just fried zucchini. We have had this app before at other Italian places and I wouldn't recommend it here. Now for our dinners. I got the Quattro Stagioni Pizza and replaced the ham with sausage, and the pizza was really good, toppings tasted fresh, and the bread was excellent, but the oddest thing happened, each topping was separated to its own side. I found this very odd and not sure if it was intentionally or they were just busy and sprayed them on. Regardless pizza was bomb! As for my wife's pasta, she had the Calamarata but with gluten free noodles. The gluten free noodles were a fettuccini style noodle but were pretty hard, I would recommend this pasta with regular noodles. All in all, we came for the hype but we were a bit disappointed, if we came again we would probably both get pizzas! read more

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This place gets 5 stars for their awesome happy hour deals! The pizza and wine are 50% off, as well as several other appetizers and pasta dishes that are half off. Great deal and we enjoyed the pizza. I would return! read more

So so amazing to have this local restaurant... yummy fire stove right next to me ... great food and great service. Take out is great too !! read more

Al Dente - The pizza oven !! Yum yum !! - Pizza Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Great service great food good atmosphere. Socially distanced and the staff was very thorough with sanity. Tables were far apart and occupancy was low. Owner was very nice as well. read more

Al Dente - Valentine's Day Menu - Pizza Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

It took them 45 minutes to serve our table of 3. That was made worse by them not providing any updates, even when asked. They didn't bother to explain or apologize. The food itself was mixed. The calzone arrived cold. read more

Food was horrible. Bland. Ingredients were frozen and probably old. Almost inedible. Service was nonexistent and the vibe was fast food restaurant in need of cleaning. Sauce on the agnolotti was questionable and way too salty. Chicken parm was tasteless. read more

Al Dente - Agnolotti Di Anattra - Pizza Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

This restaurant is just not good. Our server did not look like she wanted to be there. I ordered a salad, my friend didn't. The caesar salad was delivered by the most apathetic guy in the history of the world. It was mediocre. I ordered the cacio e pepe, my friend ordered a pizza. We waited approximately 25 minutes. Nobody came to check on us. No servers were even in our vicinity to flag down and ask for an update. The restaurant was nearly empty. The pizza was delivered. It was fine, but the sauce was very watery, which made the crust ... very watery. But still, no pasta. The food runner asked if we wanted two plates. I said yes, and we were waiting on a second dish. He returned with two plates. I asked about the pasta. He said, "You ordered a pasta?" Yeah, that's why I said we were waiting on a second dish (((sigh))). A solid ten minutes passed. FINALLY!! our server made an appearance and asked if everything was okay. I said we were still waiting on the pasta. She left and came back literally 10 seconds later with a plate so hot, the cheese burnt onto the bottom AND the pasta was essentially mush. It had been sitting under a lamp for ... quite a while. It was also just not good. And it wasn't cacio e pepe. It was like alfredo with a pile of parmesan. No pepper except for a stupid garnish around the side of the plate. I took two bites. Straight into the trash. Taco Bell is better. Not going back. read more

This is my favorite neighborhood restaurant hands down! We caught them for happy hour (4-7pm) whereby all appetizers and pizzas (plus additional pasta dishes) were HALF OFF! We ordered the melanzane pizza stacked with vegetables and grilled eggplant, plus the caccio e Pepe pasta dish (al dente). They have outdoor seating which makes the setting lovely for a summer evening. The service is excellent and very friendly. A+++! read more

Nice staff, beautiful setting, not great food. A beet salad had a few tiny cubed beets that tasted like they were canned. I ordered it with shrimp on top, very disappointing, tiny and over cooked. High priced for what was delivered. read more

I loved my Restaurant Week brunch I had at Al Dente yesterday! I had the fried calamari, Mezzi Rigatoni, and the strawberry gelato--all for $22! A really amazing deal. I drank the flirtini and the sparkling rose and they both were delicious. Great service, socially distanced patio seating and all in all great time! read more

Al Dente - Fried Calamari - Pizza Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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The lasagna was made to order. It was 6 layers of noodles and very little meat sauce. The cheese on top was burnt and not edible. The meatballs were amazing. Calamari was undercooked. Service was great. We live across the street but probably won't be a return customer. read more

Oh my! Roberta Donna we miss you. Haven't been here for some time but after the pizza tonight I'll not return. So many changes, inexperienced staff, and especially the food changes. The pizza before was crisp, light and a light application of ingredients. Such a perfect pizza. Tonight was loaded down with ingredients that made a heavy, soggy mess. This is Not pizza! The staff seemed disinterested in my satisfaction - maybe because they hear it so much? A neighborhood gem that has lost its luster. read more

*I was never here when this place was La Forchetta, so I am not sure if it has new owners, or just a revamped image. Most of the reviews here are for La Forchetta.* I only patronized the bar area, but I liked what I saw. It has a contemporary look, and a sleek bar. Thank you for the purse hooks! Happy Hour in the bar (M-F 4-6:30) is the way to go here if you want a bargain meal that isn't pre-made frozen foods. All their pizzas are 1/2 priced. $4 Peronis. $5 wines and cocktails. If you love Neapolitan pizza, you'll love their pizzas. I had the Margherita. It was perfect. The crust was chewy. The sauce was sweet. The bartender grated fresh Parmesan from a block of cheese over our pizzas. Nice touch! And, because of the great happy hour deal my pizza was only $7.00! My companion enjoyed her eggplant pizza. I think I'll try that one next time. Another bonus...two hours of validated parking in the huge lot in back. It's in the same building as Chef Geoff's. The only thing though, is that the parking attendant tried to tell me I owed four dollars for being there slightly over an hour. He didn't pay attention to the two hour stamp from Al Dente. I am sure their regular menu is tempting, but the Neapolitan pizza lover in me will be back to the bar in the very near future. read more

3.5 star - Happy hour is 4 star. 1/2 priced pizza is great deal. Service is a bit slow but pretty spacious bar area. - Main dining experience is 3 star. 1. Service: Pretty slow and not much attention from the main server. 2. Food: *complimentary bread was basically seasoned pizza crust. It's warm if you get one just baked. *scallop appetizer and swordfish: Both were extremely salty. I tried every individual ingredients and felt that everything including sauce and vegetables (artichoke, potato or caper) were marinated to be extremely salty to balance the fish and scallop.. but still... I had to drink three glasses of water. Good portion. *bombolini: they were small donuts and ok.. Overall, it was just OK experience. I might go back for happy hour, but not for anything else. read more

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I like this place because they are one of the only places in DC that serve stuffed squash blossoms on the menu in the summer! They serve 3 blossoms per order with a side of fried zucchini. I wish they served it with a side of marinara, I'll have to ask for it next time. I ordered out so I didn't notice until I got home. They also have homemade pasta! The pasta was delicious, it did soak up the sauce, again a function of my picking up the pasta. Next time I'll ask for the sauce on the side. I ordered the fettuccine bolognese, and my husband ordered the truffle rigatoni. Both were amazing enough that we want to make our way out to Al Dente again! read more

Carry-out: Failed to include the beef in my beef salad. Unfortuantely, not discovered until it was too late after arriving home. Mistakes happen, so maybe that's a one-off. What isn't a one-off is the mandatory 20% gratuity charged for handing you the carry-out bag. Even more unfair is that it's not disclosed anywhere on the website. We ended up with a $34 gratuity charge on carry-out. read more

Tried the happy hour tonight. Started with a fontina cheese, porcini mushroom, sausage white pizza that was excellent. My wife had a romain anchovy salad that was nice. Our last dish was the pasta, cherry tomato, mixed seafood that also was very well done. Very "al dente" which you would expect from a restaurant with the same name. Wrinkles: I asked the pizza maker if the oven had hickory wood in it. He just smiled. Clearly he had no idea what I was asking. I asked our waitress if the pizza prices on the menu were after the discount, and she said "yes." But the correct answer was no. So the pizza cost me half what I thought it would. I informed our waitress that one of the clams hadn't opened. She offered to take it back to the kitchen and have them open it. I stated that it needed to be replaced with one that did open during cooking. In our case, our service was good. And our server was attentive and sweet. But communication was hard, and in our case, she lacked proper training. The one star take away had nothing to do with the food, although an unopened clam should never leave the kitchen. read more

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Came with my wife and 2 young daughters (1 and 3 years old) last weekend for dinner. After 15 minutes of waiting, we had to flag down a busser to find us a server. We ordered right away, as we were on a tight schedule with the kids. Our appetizer came out fine, but 45 minutes later there was no sign of our entree. I spoke to the Maitre D and asked to have our order changed to "to go" and paid, in advance, for the whole meal in order to expedite the process. My kids are starting to have a meltdown at this point. Another 15 minutes go by, no sign of the food, no sign of our waiter. I told the Maitre D to write me a gift certificate in the amount I had already paid. She was unable to do that. I then explained that I literally cannot wait any longer, left with my family -- kids having a total meltdown-- and wrote my name and number on a piece of paper and asked for the manager to call me. 4 days later, no call. I will be contacting my credit card company to dispute the charge. I will not return to this establishment. It's too bad as we live nearby and were looking for a family friendly alternative to Millies. I have written only a handful of Yelp reviews ever -- when an experience is particularly positive or particularly negative. Unfortunately this falls into the latter category. read more

I'm a regular at this place. I love this place! Chef Roberta Donna is absolutely amazing. I've always received excellent service and the food is absolutely delicious. So, where do I start. One of my early visits was last year for my birthday. A group of 10 women, 10 bottles of wine, followed by lots of laughter. They have a great wine list and the waiters always recommend something awesome to drink. My favorite things to eat. Appetizers...meatballs, stuffed zucchini blossoms and when in season the fried soft shell crabs. Pasta...Gnocchi with sausage ragu (AHHHHH MAZING... and I don't even life Gnocchi... Well I didn't until I at that deliciously crazy stuff!) You have to have the lamb shank. You don't even need a knife. It just falls off the bone and melts in your mouth. Don't leave Al Dente without trying the pizza. Yummm.... read more

Miracles happen. Al Dente serves some of the best Italian fare you'll find anywhere. Likewise the pizzas at very reasonable prices. But the pastas.....OMG they are devine. Worth a trip. read more

Great place for happy hour drinks and food. However, the gluten free pasta is not included on the happy hour which is very disappointing considering the deals that are offered. The food is amazing though! read more

Al Dente - Calamarata gluten free - Pizza Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

AL DENTE New Mexico Avenue / Friday october 1st, around 6;30-6:45 Happy hour time at Al Dente. Inside, there was a packed crowd, almost shoulder against shoulder. The majority of patrons non masked. Loud and stiffling. Breeding ground for viruses. Women Restrooms: One of the two restrooms was out of service with the toilet bowl wrapped in black plastic. In the other restroom: Toilet paper strewn about the floor. Door lock not working, so that someone pushed the door open while I was there washing my hands. Outside: chairs and tables cramped together. Our nice waiter was not masked. (His colleagues were masked.) Pizza was served after one hour of wait. Tasty but soggy in some parts. read more

Al Dente is a lovely spot near my home. I have eaten here twice and each time the food was good. The Manager is friendly and welcoming, service is reasonable though last time I had to ask for bread and waited a bit for our drinks. My drink wasn't that great, I asked for a cocktail that tasted nothing like what it should be. They got me something else. The food was solidly good Italian food including the dessert. read more

Literally don't bother coming here for brunch. Got here at 11:35 and didn't get food until 1:15. Half the toast at the table was burnt and the other half was raw. Some food came out at 1 and the rest came out 20 minutes later. Half our party had to leave early because of other plans and didn't even get to eat. The manager didn't even talk to us until we asked for him at the end. Don't go there's other Italian places in dc. But the service was amazing, our server was a great person and did fabulously! read more

do not come here with a large group, or here period. first of all, it took over an hour to get the first meal. there was at least a 20 minute interval between all of our meals (7 people in total). the pizza was greasy, one piece of toast was burnt and the other wasn't cooked. they wouldn't let us split the table for bottomless mimosas (because some of us don't drink). the manager only came to us AFTER we asked for him, we've been here for over 2 hours. they gave us less than a 50% discount off our bill. they also added 2 extra drinks. shoutout to the waiters and waitresses though. oh also there was only one chef when we first got here. not a pleasant experience, i feel like a medieval homeless child during the plague here on God. read more

Al Dente - Pizza Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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A fantastic all-around traditional Italian serving fine comfort food, Al Dente's big surprise performances during DC Restaurant Week totally changed our perception of Chef Roberto Donna. Back in the summer of 2002, my dining companion and I went to Galileo, Chef Donna's then highly-touted upscale Italian flagship. As with Galileo's dining room, the food was cold, and except some nice desserts, clearly treated second-rate (the pasta literally tasted no better than Chef Boyardee). Plus, the service was condescending when actually present. Afterwards, we did not go back to a Donna restaurant for nearly 12 years. This month, we decided to give the relatively new Al Dente a try because we were tempted by its Tosca-style generous offering of its entire menu for the 2014 DC Restaurant Week--both dinner AND lunch, no less. Having read a large section of Yelp reviews being down on Al Dente for inconsistent food and poor service, we tempered our expectations. Fortunately, we were deliciously rewarded with exemplary Italian cuisine: dishes prepared simply utilizing high quality ingredients. Not only was each dish skillfully executed in balanced composition, flavors, and presentation, each course was its full-sized portion and the service attentive. What we ordered: - Arugula Salad with Beets, Shaved Fennel, Orange Supremes, Ricotta Salata, and Vinaigrette: As my DC described, it was beautiful in its appearance, lacy and glistening like a wedding dress. The stunning presentation was matched by layers of bitter, crisp, cool, earthy, salty, and sweet, each component blended by a light, barely-there dressing. - Prosciutto, Burrata, and Dates: The generous shavings of the premium Parma ham worked well not only in tandem with the silky cheese and sweet dried fruit, but also with the Arugula Salad. The star was definitely the dates caramelized with a panko-topping--what a sweet, textural delight! - Deep-Fried Zucchini Blossoms Stuffed with Ricotta: A rare exception in portion size (one blossom, a few sticks of zucchini), the summery treat was fried to a light crisp and filled with molten cheese that transported us back to warm weather. - Grilled Branzino with Garlic Spinach and Salsa Verde: This top dish alone was reason enough for a return visit just a few days later. The fresh and meaty fish was grilled to a tantalizingly smoky exterior. Both filet halves of the fish were served, doubling our pleasure! The spinach carried ample garlicky notes in providing a virtuous accompaniment to the fish. While the salsa verde was not necessary for the fish, its bursting flavors of parsley, EVOO, and basil made for a palate-cleansing dip via fresh breads (mini-pizza crust and whole wheat loaf). - Roasted Salmon, Crushed Potatoes with Crab, Cherry Tomatoes, and Lemon Vinaigrette: The skin was toasted up to a crunchy char, while the large size of the filet retained plenty of the fish's flavors and natural oils, contrasted by tart tomatoes and dressing. The potatoes (loved having the skin and lack of dairy) were moist and a delicate pairing luxuriously studded with lump crab. - Grilled Beef Sirloin with Potato Tart, Brussels Sprout Leaves, and Gorgonzola Sauce: Prepared to the medium I requested, the beef had plenty of flavor and smooth, grisle-free texture. While not a huge cut, there was plenty to enjoy considering rich and funky cheese jazzing up layered potatoes. The toasted leaves gave a slight bitter and green change of pace to the luscious potato and cheese. - Hemisphere Tiramisu: Cuter-than-usual in presentation, the classic Italian sweet was well-executed, studded with crunchy shards of sugar, caramelized hazelnuts, strawberry, mint, and a side of pleasantly tart chocolate sauce infused with Balsamic Vinaigrette. - Panna Cotta with Preserved Cherries and Whipped Vanilla Bean: Yet another pleasant surprise, Al Dente's rendition rises above the standard thanks to the rich milk custard livened up by a wonderfully floral cherry sauce. Complete on their own, the whipped cream works well as a float for our coffee. - Dessert Pizza of Nutella, Strawberries, Pears, and Mascarpone: Definitely sized for two, they served this full-sized pie (no upcharge for DCRW) loaded with richness of hazelnutty chocolate, floral cheese, and fruit. After taking half home, I still enjoyed it breakfast without reheating it. - Chocolate Gelato: What Al Dente lacked in variety (only others were vanilla and no sorbet available when we ordered) it made up with a deeply-flavored ice cream which had a texture somewhere between a mousse and pudding. All in all, Al Dente has become a go-to for DCRW by utilizing the promotion with a generous attitude to showcase the depth of its menu as well as earning a spot in our short list of favorite Italian restaurants. After Ovvio's founding Chef Chris Watson left, we lost an affordable fine Italian spot, but thanks to Al Dente, it looks like we have that considerable void filled. read more

I attended a Wine Dinner by Banfi Vintners for $75. It was amazing.... We started with a soft shell crab with green pea puree and Garnished with yellow corn shoots. The crab came out warm and crispy. The pea purée tasted like it was made from fresh peas. It was smooth yet thick. With it we had the Prosecco Brut, Cantine Maschio, DOC, a lifestyle wine with peach & almond flavors: soft, fresh and simpatico! Next was the risotto with shrimp, fava beans, & ramp pesto. It was served with the Fontanelle Chardonnay - Toscana IGT. It is 100% Chardonnay; a wine that is soft, yet has a dry flavor with hints of apple, peach & apricot. Not oaky at all! Next course was the the grilled Amish chicken served with a green sauce and some grilled vegetables. The chicken had good flavors and spice; it wasn't dry. The green sauce may have had vinegar and/or lemon. The chef would not tell! This was served with the L'ardi' Dolcetto D'Acqui, DOC. A flavorful red wine, with hints of ripe cherry and harmonious, gentle bouquet. Next was the roasted lamb loin, carrot puree, & anise sauce. The carrot purée was sweet and the perfect accompaniment to the savory lamb which was a perfect medium rare and encrusted with parsley. This was served with the La Lus, Monferrato, DOC 100% Albarossa, a velvety, full-bodied harmonious red wine with soft tannins. Dessert was a chocolate amaretto pudding with flavorful meringue curls and hazelnut ice cream. This course was served with my favorite, Rosa Regale, Brachetto D'Acqui, DOCG, a sparkling wine. It was a Sunday night and still pretty busy. There were lots of waiters, service was good, but a little slow to remove empty glasses. read more

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Have ordered from them 2 times with Uber Eats. Both times service was fast and efficient. The family meal with a salad, 2 pastas and 2 pizzas is one of the best deals in the city. The lasagnette is delicious and you can tell the sauce and noodles are homemade. The cacio e pepe was amazing and the cheese sauce oozed through the wonderful pasta. The pizzas are also solid, maybe quite up to the same standards of All Purpose and Timber, but no complaints. The toppings are fresh and the crust is crispy. We will order from them again and encourage you to do so. Stay safe and support local restaurants! read more

Save your time and money. This restaurant serves food that's barely edible. Ordered the grilled salmon for lunch. It was so dry and tasteless that I sent it back. The eggplant parmesan appetizer wasn't awful--but it wasn't good. Too bad because the Wesley Heights neighborhood could use a good Italian restaurant. read more

Al Dente is awesome! We come here every time we come to DC! It is delicious, authentic & fun. Their menu is varied, they have a fantastic kids' menu and the service is attentive. Their music can be a little loud, but oh well. The atmosphere / decor is bright, current, very cheerful & updated. Take a visit to Al Dente. You will not be disappointed! read more

Al Dente - Pizza Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

We go here often and the food and service is good, but recently the restaurant called to cancel our Mother's Day reservation with less than 2 days notice. Such a bummer! read more

We (my father, brother, and I) got in around 12 it was basically empty. It stayed that way for most of our 30 min visit. The decor was nice and they had a cute tile oven. we skipped appetizers and drank water because it's Wednesday at noon! We ended up ordering the Salsiccia e Rapini pie to share amongst the three of us. The pizza had tomato, smoked mozzarella, pork sausage, broccoli rabe, garlic. It arrived fresh and warm,like melt in your mouth warm. The crust was nice and thick. It was a tad oily so I had to blot my slices but when you're picky about not burning your chin I guess it happens. There could have been more toppings it was rather sparse. Waitstaff was friendly, our glasses of water were always full and they had good menu knowledge. I would totally go again to try some other stuff next time I'm in the area. read more

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They obviously don't think they need any manager. So disorganized. Staff's are always on their cell phones. Very little attention to their guests. And for a new restaurant. Please get it together, or close it down. Awful restaurant. read more

Great food and service Party of 3 and all choices were yummy , appetizers, food and desert. Love how Italian style their pasta is. Will be back read more

I placed an order at 6:30 PM and it is 9 PM and I'm still waiting for it. We have guests at home waiting and it is so embarrassing. The estimated time was 7:30-7:45. Completely unreliable. The manager came out to offer me a glass of wine but at this point the whole meal should be comped. It's completely unacceptable. I will never order from this place again. read more

Literally the worst service I have had at a restaurant, ever. The staff, including the maitre d, were mostly absent, then rude and dismissive when they very rarely appeared. It took over 45 minutes from ordering simple food (pizza, plain salad, soup) for the food to appear and no one checked in on our party in the meantime. We had young children who literally could not wait that long for their food and started to cry. It was the lunch hour on a Saturday and there were maybe 4 other occupied tables, so the restaurant was not busy. We also had a reservation, so it's not like the restaurant was unprepared for our arrival. The food tasted good when it finally arrived, but by then it was too late to salvage any enjoyment out of the meal. Some dishes were not going to come at all, but were finally given to us in takeout bags on the way out--1.5 hours after we first sat down. On a stressful day for our families, what should have been a respite became a complete disaster. We received the complete opposite of hospitality. This place should close and let a friendlier neighborhood restaurant take its place. We will not go back. I believe this is maybe my second Yelp review ever -- the experience was that bad and I feel the need to warn other neighborhood families. read more

After 3 visits I'm done. My husband at each visit picked 3 wines from their wine menu. All 3 times and all 3 choices were not available. Their pizza at happy hour are worthy of a visit if that's all you want because even at happy hour and a couple of pizzas with wine or cocktails can reach nearly $100. Today I ordered the eggplant parm appetizer. Overly salty and globs of tough cheese. Even with a knife it was difficult to cut and 3 thin strips of eggplant. The arugula salad was Enough for 5 people+. Spouse got the shrimp panini. The shrimp were plump and tasty but the bread (remember this was supposed to be a panini) would have caused a concussion if it hit your head. $110 for disappointing wine, disappointing eggplant, arugula salad so bitter hardly edible. And a panini that had never seen a panini press. It gets 2 stars because of the staff that served us. read more

Nice restaurant, delicious food, nice server. but, tall woman receptionist with no smile..... read more

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Went here with a larger group and was seated pretty quickly. Service left much to be desired however, took forever to get drinks and anytime a water was empty it took another 20 minutes to get refilled. Now I understand it was busy however it took over an hour for our food to arrive and when it did my dish was severely undercooked and under seasoned. Best part of the meal was the side spinach that is a must if you go. Overall not worth the price especially when there are much better Italian restaurants at the same price point just a metro stop away. read more

Had a good experience here over Thanksgiving. The food was all quite good. The pasta and pizza were all very enjoyable. The decor feels a bit cheap, and it's a little on the pricey side, but I would eat here again for the quality. We had a mix up regarding the wine. The prices were listed below the wine, when I thought they were listed above. Given some odd spacing, this led to a mix up between a $40 bottle and a $90 bottle. Upon explaining the mix up, the manager took care of this after a bit of discussion. read more