Al Dente

In Business Since 1993

3.69 out of 5

Based on 13 reviews

Rate it at YellowPages.com
 

109 Salem St

Boston, MA02113

Get Directions

(617) 523-0990

Hours of Operation

Mon-Thu 4pm-10pm, Fri-Sun 11am-10:30pm

Payment Methods

AMEX, DINERS CLUB, DISCOVER, MASTER CARD, VISA

Products and Services

Features: Award Winning, Business Lunches, Celebrities, Delivery, Reservations, Singles, Take Out
Reservations: Takes Reservations.

About Al Dente

Family owned and operated, Al Dente is a cozy North End dining establishment where traditional entrees, including seafood, veal and chicken are featured. Pasta dishes are bursting in both size and flavor. Good food, great atmosphere, and low prices.


Accomodates Private Parties

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Reviews

Review it at YellowPages.com

I'm not Italian, but sometimes I wish I was

Posted byPalateerson 2/8/2009

Al dente is the type of Italian restaurant where the jovial, large Italian waitresses treat you like their own children. Our conversation with Donna, a passing hostess, about the Osso Busco soon led into an open and honest assessment of her oldest son moving out and her desire to let loose and return to downtown Boston. The familiarity was as comforting as the pork tenderloins were savory. In the pantheon of food choice, we decided to take one familiar and one less traveled culinary path. One can weigh the quality of an Italian restaurant by the weight of its eggplant parmigiana and one can be surprised and satisfied by the simple additions. In this case, it was what lies beneath. For under the softly layered comfort food was a hidden trove of gnocchi. Those round gummy creations, which are often a meal to themselves, lay nestled, dare I say cradled in a puddle of sweet red sauce. Taking a most radical route, our second entree was a distinctly colorful and segregated dish of pork tenderloin, spinach and mashed potatoes. Each flavor, while proudly distinct in its own right, was a willing companion to its neighbor. While the rival factions vied for dominance of our palate, it was the merger of tastes which ultimately won the dish. The sweet prune sauce tenderloins were in distinct contrast to the bitter garlic spinach, and the buttery potatoes played mediator between the two. While not the highlight, the wine flowed easily and did not distract from the more memorable aspects of the meal. We chose a moderately priced Sauvignon Blanc from the limited but sufficient wine menu. The overeager wine pouring from our motherly server was slightly intrusive. Al dente is pleasant for both the out of town guest, large gatherings and the casual diner. The warm atmosphere will be a welcome retreat from any cold New England evening--always enjoy with friends and olive oil dipped bread. Google "palateers" for other entertaining reviews and food related rants

Not worth waiting

Posted byJWLWon 9/1/2008

Made a reservation, which they apparently had no intention of honoring. Kept telling us we'd be seated in aother 5, 10 or 15 minutes, while we waited, and waited, and waited. Polite efforts to get a realistic estimate about setaing were rebuffed with surprising rudeness. There are too many good Italian restaurants in the North End to waste time on this one.

Amazing!!

Posted byMissy647790on 2/29/2008

I love Al Dente. Seriously. I recommend this place to everyone, including the hot-shot execs at my office (a bank). It's one of the gems of the North End, I've been going there since I was a freshman in college (have since graduated). I've tried many other places but I just keep coming back. The service is always great, the food is top-notch and generously portioned (I love the home-made raviolis--the best you will find anywhere, and believe me I have looked! Also try the pumpkin ravs if they have them on special, or the risotto, but anything you get will be fabulous. Love the alfredo!) I also love the atmosphere here--it's a small place, well decorated and with proper lighting. The only bummer is that the menu never changes...good thing it's all great food!!! Good for: evening out with friends, romantic dinner date Not good for: large parties (although 18 of my friends went together one time and it was fine, but we didn't all get to sit together because the place is just too small to accommodate that kind of size), small children

Great food for the price! Friendly staff and generous portions.

Posted bybaybeeeeeon 12/30/2007

I ate there last night with my boyfriend. The staff were so nice and the portions were generous; so was the pouring of the wine! Lovely vodka sauce...not heavy like some. Bread was fresh. House wine was pretty good for a house wine and the wine list offered some great other options for less than $30 a bottle. It's not a fancy place, nor a big place: just good food in a friendly atmosphere. I am enjoying the leftovers today. My boyfriend ordered chicken marsala which was really good...on angel hair pasta. The sauce was lovely...again not too heavy like some can be. The pasta was cooked perfectly: al dente! The caesar salad was fantastic: they offered the anchovies, which I love, and they came generously spread across the top of the salad. Delicious. Easy for my boyfriend to avoid and great for me! Try this place for a easy-going, not too fancy night out.

Excellent Food at a Great Value

Posted bymcpilateson 7/30/2007

My husband and I have eaten here twice and enjoyed it both times. We will be going back and we recommend this italian eatery to everyone. We have been to other places such as Mother Anna's, familial G... I cannot spell it nor pronounce it, and another place that only takes cash or American Express. The first visit we both ordered the traditional chicken parmiagana. We enjoyed it and took the leftovers home. The sauce is wonderful and flavorful. The pasta is ok.