Al Dente

Name: Al Dente
Address: 3201 New Mexico Ave. Suite E NW, Washington, DC, United States, 20016
Telephone: (202) 244-2223
Price range: $30 and under
Rating: 4.4

4.4

1179 Reviews

$30 and under

Italian

Top Tags:

Guests can enjoy fresh house-made pasta, fresh fish and meat offerings along with Italian desserts. Al Dente also showcases Neapolitan pizza from the restaurant’s centerpiece oven.

Make a reservation

Party Size

2 people

DateTime

May 22, 2022

May 2022

Sun

Mon

Tue

Wed

Thu

Fri

Sat

7:00 PM

Booked 22 times today

Order delivery or takeout

Takeout

(202) 244-2223

Delivery

Additional information

Dining style
Casual Dining
Cuisines
Italian
Hours of operation
Mon–Thu, Sun 11:30 am–8:30 pm Fri, Sat 11:30 am–9:30 pm
Phone number
(202) 244-2223
Website
http://www.aldentedc.com/
Payment options
AMEX, MasterCard, Visa
Dress code
Casual Dress
Catering
Catering is by request

Location
3201 New Mexico Ave. Suite E NW Washington, DC 20016
Neighborhood
Tenleytown
Parking details
Free parking weeknights after 5:00PM and all day Saturday & Sunday. 50% OFF weekdays before 5:00PM with validation
Public transit
Tenleytown/American University metro stop on the red line and the N2/N4/N6 bus lines.
Additional
Banquet, Bar/Lounge, Beer, BYO Wine, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Counter Seating, Delivery, Full Bar, Happy Hour, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Takeout, Weekend Brunch, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Popular dishes

Lentil Soup$8.95
Olive Oil and Parmesan Cheese
Focaccia$5.95
Baked Freshly in our Wood-Burning Oven, Sea Salt, Oregano, Rosemary, Parmesan
Baked Eggplant Parmesan$9.95
Tomato, Basil, Mozzarella, Gratinee
Fried Zucchini Flowers$12.95
Stuffed with Ricotta, Mint, and Lemon
Fried Calamari$12.95
Fried Squid Rings, Tentacles, Hot Slice Peppers. Served with Tomato Sauce and Lemon
Polpette$12.95
Meatballs "Al Dente Style"
Prosciutto di Parma$18.95
Burrata Cheese, Extra Virgin Olive Oil

Insalate

Roasted Beets
Baby Arugula, Buffalo Mozzarella, Grapefruit, Pine Nuts, Mustard Vinaigrette
- Small$11.95
- Large$16.95
Romaine
Anchovies, Crouton, Garlic, Parmesan Cheese, 5-Min Poached Egg
- Small$10.95
- Large$14.95
Spinach
Walnuts, Pancetta, Pecorino Cheese, Strawberries, Balsamic Vinaigrette
- Small$10.95
- Large$14.95
Caprese$11.95
Tomatoes, Buffalo Mozzarella, Balsamic

Add Protein - Insalate

Salmon$9.95
Shrimp$9.95
Chicken$8.95
Steak$11.95

House-Made Pasta

Home Made Gluten-free pasta available upon request

Calamarata$26.95
Squid, Shrimp, Mussels, Clams, Cherry Tomatoes, Garlic, Basil
Mezzi Rigatoni$26.95
Cream and Black Truffle Sauce, Pancetta, Fried Leeks
Gnocchi$23.95
Housemade Pork Sausage Ragu
Raviolini Delplin$25.95
Veal, Beef, and Pork Ravioli, Butter, Sage, Veal jus
Fettuccine alla Bolognese$20.95
Traditional Bolognese Meat Sauce
Lasagnette$24.95
Bescamella Sauce and Bolognese Sauce, Gratinated With Parmesan Cheese
Agnolotti di Anatra$28.95
Duck Agnolotti, Porcini Mushroom Sauce with Butter and Sage
Farro Taglatelle$18.95
Sweet Cherry Tomato Sauce, Basil
Cacio e Pepe$18.95
Short Rigatoni Pasta, Melted Pecorino Cheese, Black Pepper and Butter

Main Courses

Roasted Herb Marinated Salmon$26.95
Smashed Potatoes with Crabmeat, Garlic Roasted Peppers, Lemon Vinaigrette
Grilled Branzino Filets$29.95
Sautéed Spinach with Garlic, Salsa Verde
Cheeseburger$13.95
Tomato, Gherkins, House Cut Fries
Lemon Chicken$24.95
Served with Roasted Potatoes and Carrots
Ribeye Steak$28.95
Rosemary-Balsamic Sauce, House-Cut Fries, Arugula Salad
Veal Scallopini$28.95
Leeks, Fontina Cheese, Portobello Mushrooms, Marsala Sauce
Chicken Parmesan$20.95
Tomato Sauce, Mozzarella Cheese

Side Dishes

Sautéed Spinach$9.95
Garlic, Olive Oil
Roasted Cauliflower$9.95
Garlic, Capers, Anchovy, Bread Crumbs
French Fries$6.95

Pizza

Extra Toppings: $2.50 each - Anchovies, Black Olives, Cherry Tomatoes, Spinach, Arugula, Broccoli Rabe, Mozzarella, Fontina Cheese, Smoked Mozzarella, Eggplant, Mushrooms, Onions, Mortadella, Salami, Sausage, Whole Egg, Capers; Proscuitto di Parma - $3

Neopolitan-Style Pizza

Marinara$12.95
Tomato, Garlic, Olive Oil, Oregano
Margherita D.O.C.$13.95
Tomato, Mozzarella Flor diLatte, Basil
Pepperoni$13.95
Mozzarella Flor di Latte, Tomato, Basil
Romana$14.95
Anchovies, Capers, Olives, Chiles, Tomato, Mozzarella
Napoletana$13.95
Anchovies, Tomato, Mozzarella, Basil
Quattro Stagioni$15.95
Olives, Mushrooms, Artichokes, Ham, Tomato, Mozzarella, Basil, Oregano
Prosciutto Rucola$13.95
Prosciutto Crudo, Arugula, Tomato, Mozzarella Fior di Latte
Melanzane$14.95
Olives, Roasted Eggplant, Tomato, Mozzarella, Oregano
Salsiccia e Rapini$14.95
Sausage, Broccoli Rabe, Tomato, Smoked Mozzarella, Garlic
Capriciosa$14.95
Artichokes, Pancetta, Pesto, Tomato, Mozzarella Fior di Latte, Basil
Vegetariana$14.95
Grilled Vegetables, Smoked Mozzarella, Garlic, Tomato, Parmigiano Reggiano

White Pizza

Formaggi$14.95
Mozzarella, Provolone, Parmigiano Reggiano, Garlic, Rosemary, Oregano, Smoked Mozzarella
Piemontese$14.95
Fontina Cheese, Mozzarella Fior di Latte, Porcini Mushrooms, House-made Pork Sausage, Rosemary

Calzoni

Polpette$13.95
"Al Dente" Meatballs, Mozzarella, Tomato

Family Style

$45 Per Adult. Children under 12 - $15 Minimum 3 Persons / Table. Chef's Choices To Share

First Course: Three Appetizers
Second Course: Three Pasta Dishes
Third Course: Three Entrees
Dessert Course: Chef's Choice

What 1,179 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.4

4.4 based on recent ratings

4.4Food
4.3Service
4.3Ambience
4.3Value

Noise • Moderate

Loved For

District of Columbia
Kid Friendly

Sort by

Filters

BS
BlountS
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined 7 days ago
overall5food5service5ambience5
Food was outstanding. Ate outside; very quiet and pleasant. Service was very good.
LL
LindaL
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on May 12, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Friendly service, gorgeous food and a relaxing outdoor atmosphere. Highly recommend.
JG
JulietG
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on May 11, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Food was delicious, service was quick, ambience great. I would recommend 100%
SK
SusanK
Washington DC
4 reviews
vip
2.0
4 reviews
Dined on May 8, 2022
overall2food2service3ambience4
The food was not up to par with the competition. My son's Cacio e pepe was like a bowl of butter soup. The bolognese sauce was very bland. Overall, we were not thrilled.
b
barrys
St. Louis
17 reviews
vip
5.0
17 reviews
Dined on May 7, 2022
overall5food4service5ambience5
Food and service just delightful
C
Caroline
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on May 7, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
It was a great lunch! The food was delicious, and everyone there was very kind and attentive. Looking forward to going back!
C
Casualdiner
Washington DC
17 reviews
vip
5.0
17 reviews
Dined on May 6, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
We love Al Dente. Good cocktails and food and friendly service.
RF
RonnaF
Washington DC
12 reviews
5.0
12 reviews
Dined on May 2, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Wonderful authentic Italian food and good service. Neighborhood favorite!
RS
RuthS
Washington DC
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on April 30, 2022
overall5food4service5ambience5
We enjoyed the outdoor table , service, and food.
OT
OpenTable Diner
1 review
4.0
1 review
Dined on April 23, 2022
overall4food4service5ambience2
We like this restaurant a lot. Have been coming here since its earliest days, when it was called La Forchetta. We very much like sitting on the patio, but the last two times we have dined there we found it almost totally dark after the sun went down. We couldn’t even read our check without a flashlight when it was time to pay and leave. By contrast, the patio at Chef Geoff’s is brightly lit. What’s the problem? Light the patio! Also it seems like the menu hasn’t really changed in about two years. It has gotten pretty tired and boring. The pandemic is no excuse for not refreshing the menu once in a while.
GD
GwenDCG
Washington DC
3 reviews
5.0
3 reviews
Dined on April 23, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
We sat outside, so no noise level. Lunch was good!
M
Masha
Washington DC
31 reviews
vip
2.0
31 reviews
Dined on April 22, 2022
overall2food3service1ambience3
The restaurant was bustle as usually lots of empty tables inside and out but the staff looked stressed. We asked for an outside table and they would not accommodate us even though they had many empty tables even though we requested outdoors on our reservation. They told us to wait and see if they could seat us outside after 30 minutes we decided to just sit inside even though there were empty tables outside. We spoke to the new manager who had a very bad attitude and blamed Opentable for the reservation hiccup but did nothing to resolve the problem. I think this new manger is the problem. All the waiters looked very unhappy not their normal cheerful staff.
CR
CR1119
1 review
3.0
1 review
Dined on April 21, 2022
overall3food4service2ambience2
Good food but showed up at 6pm for happy hour which ends at 7pm and only got to order one round of drinks before it was past 7. They brought out 2/3 of the food then it took another 25 minutes to get the other one. Overall just not great service and not worth the price.
M
Michael
Washington DC
12 reviews
vip
5.0
12 reviews
Dined on April 16, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
The atmosphere is always pleasant and the food always good. It’s one of our regular haunts.
LS
LisaS
Washington DC
3 reviews
vip
1.0
3 reviews
Dined on April 15, 2022
overall1food4service2ambience1
Even though we had a reservation the restaurant was extremely overbooked. They did not honor our patio reservation and then the food took nearly 90 minutes to arrive after we ordered. Food was tasty and the manager was very apologetic, but all in all a disappointing experience.
JC
JudyC
Richmond
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on April 9, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Great food and service. Really enjoyed our meal there! Thanks!
RF
RonnaF
Washington DC
13 reviews
5.0
13 reviews
Dined on April 8, 2022
overall5food5service4ambience5
Fabulous authentic Italian with homemade pasta. Wonderful waitstaff.
N
Noni
Washington DC
4 reviews
4.0
4 reviews
Dined on April 2, 2022
overall4food5service3ambience3
The food was terrific. However it took a LONG time for someone to take our order, and the server who took the order apparently entered it wrong, so it took a LOMG time for another server to discover the error and get us our food. And the noise level was very high. To be fair, when the manager learned about the service issue, he apologized profusely and reduced our bill by a hefty chunk, so I assume service is normally much better. With the caveat about the very high noise level, I would recommend it because the food was so good.
DS
DavidS
Washington DC
10 reviews
vip
2.0
10 reviews
Dined on March 25, 2022
overall2food3service2ambience4
Disappointed as we were told the restaurant was “sold out”. Later told that if we would have booked before Wednesday for an indoor table we would have had a table for our family of four. l. Our reservation was booked a week in advance. I see that someone called earlier today yet no concern from the host about this poorly managed situation. It’s to bad. We used to be regular customers.
CL
CarlaL
Washington DC
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on March 19, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Great food, great prices and great ambiance. We picked Al Dente for a family celebration and it was the best decision - with youngsters and adults, the menu was perfect for everybody! Casual, chick and with a friendly neighborhood ambiance. Highly recommended!
A
Anonemouse
Washington DC
85 reviews
vip
5.0
85 reviews
Dined on March 16, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Happy Hour at Al Dente is my new favorite thing to do! The menu is brief but there is something for everyone and the food was delicious. The service was genial in spite of a big crowd of customers. I recommend making a reservation if you're interested in outdoor seating.
N
Nick
Washington DC
15 reviews
vip
3.0
15 reviews
Dined on March 15, 2022
overall3food5service2ambience3
Wonderful food Agonizing service--completely chaotic situation We waited for over an hour for our dinner to arrive Can't recommend to others based on our experience last night
OT
OpenTable Diner
Philadelphia
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on March 2, 2022
overall5food4service4ambience4
I picked this restaurant after finding it online, it was further away then expected but overall still great!! We came specifically for happy hour, their food was VERY reasonably priced, very delicious, and very filling. The drinks were flavorful and worth it! The manager was out and about trying to help and all the staff was very nice and respectful! We had a great time!
M
Mario
1 review
2.0
1 review
Dined on February 25, 2022
overall2food2service5ambience4
Quality of food not as good as it has been, pastas good Romaine salad tasteless , calamari needed salt & less oil, focaccia was really pizza but tasty, burger not good quality
J
Jjjj
New England
11 reviews
3.0
11 reviews
Dined on February 21, 2022
overall3food3service2ambience1
We were expecting a higher end restaurant from the reviews and menu. This was a hole in the wall restaurant. Bare bones almost like an old pizza place. The food was good and plentiful. They were out of bread when we got there. It finally came fresh from the bakery at the end of our meal. We were very excited for fresh baked bread when they finally served it. But it was terrible! Rubbery and no flavor. What a let down.
P
Patrick
Washington DC
7 reviews
vip
5.0
7 reviews
Dined on February 20, 2022
overall5food4service5ambience5
Went there with Family for dinner. Very lively atmosphere with a lot of young patrons. Food is good but for us is little bit salty, for other is maybe right taste.
S
Sheckie
Washington DC
24 reviews
vip
3.0
24 reviews
Dined on February 14, 2022
overall3food3service4ambience4
Overall, it was fine. The focaccia was amazing, and the pastas and cannoli were pretty good. We'd go back for the happy hour menu and given how good the focaccia was, I'd want to try the pizzas. Two misses - one small one big: the fried Zucchini flowers for $12.95 were a waste. Two "flowers" and some lightly breaded zucchini fries. But the biggest miss was a dessert called "Bugie" - fried dough with chocolate sauce, honey and powdered sugar. I was hoping for something like a beignet, instead we got a flavorless ribbon of fried dough with a light dusting of the toppings. It literally tasted like cardboard. Thankfully, they took it off the bill, but it really needs to be taken off the menu.
P
Patrick
Washington DC
8 reviews
vip
4.0
8 reviews
Dined on February 12, 2022
overall4food4service4ambience4
Went to lunch with family. Manager recognized us even went there only one. Food is great and service is standard but give extra credit to manager.
D
Dowzer
Washington DC
1 review
1.0
1 review
Dined on February 12, 2022
overall1food2service1ambience2
Service was terrible. We waited 15 minutes after sitting down before anyone took a drink order. Another 30 minutes before our appetizer - bread - came. We canceled our entrees. The bill was wrong. The table next to us (also only 2 people) left because they waited 30 minutes for someone to take their drink order after being seated. Unbelievably bad service for average food. First and last time going.
S
Sullidc
Washington DC
7 reviews
vip
1.0
7 reviews
Dined on February 11, 2022
overall1food1service1ambience2
Not a review of the food just the service ....or the lack thereof. Sat down , ordered a couple of glasses of wine. Left after 25 minutes with still no wine.
M
Masha
Washington DC
31 reviews
vip
5.0
31 reviews
Dined on February 5, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Always wonderful…nice employees great food and ambiance, lovely service!
d
diner
Washington DC
3 reviews
5.0
3 reviews
Dined on January 30, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Sunday night dinner was very enjoyable and excellent service.
AB
AdrianoB
Tampa
2 reviews
4.0
2 reviews
Dined on January 30, 2022
overall4food4service4ambience4
Pasta al dente e frutti di mare freschi. Ci fosse stato un po’ meno salsa di pomodoro le mezze maniche sarebbero state perfette. Molto buoni gli antipasti, sia il prosciutto che la burrata e le polpette. Eccellente la focaccia. Torneremo
PG
PatrickG
Washington DC
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on January 28, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Continues as a great "go to" option for high quality food at a reasonable price with friendly and helpful staff.
R
Ridg
1 review
3.0
1 review
Dined on January 23, 2022
overall3food1service4ambience3
Everything about this place is just okay. Food is an okay portion but it tasted flavorless. I got the lasagna and the fettuccine bolognese. The wait for food was a little long, but I imagine it’s because of a shortage of workers in the kitchen, but I wish we were put on notice about that because we were waiting for 30+ minutes and had to ask if they forgot about us. The customer service was just okay as well. They did just enough to keep us at peace. Overall, I wouldn’t go back but it wasn’t the worst of experiences.
ZC
ZarrinC
1 review
1.0
1 review
Dined on January 22, 2022
overall1food1service1ambience2
Service was terrible, spoon were dirty and smelled eggs. I didn’t like this restaurant at all.
m
mrbrunch
Cancun
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on January 21, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience4
staff was very kind and attentive--a great representation of what I'd expect from restaurant week in the DMV.
MP
MichelleP
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on January 19, 2022
overall5food4service4ambience4
Enjoyable place. Very good food. Really nice waiters :)
H
Henry
Washington DC
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on January 15, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Service excellent. Great pizza. Unfortunately, could not get a plain side salad with lettuce & other greens. Salads on menus were too exotic and all had nuts. Spinach was only green choice. Otherwise, a very nice experience for a Saturday night.
C
Commander3
Washington DC
23 reviews
4.0
23 reviews
Dined on January 1, 2022
overall4food4service5ambience4
THE TABLE WHICH FORCES I/2 OF THE PARTY TO FACE THE WALL COULD BE IMPROVED BY THE MATRE DE. THE WAITER WAS EXCEPTIONAL, AND MADE THE EXPERIENCE PRIMO!

Safety precautions

Cleaning & sanitizing
- Surfaces sanitized between seatings
- Digital, disposable or sanitized menu provided
- Common areas deep-cleaned daily
- Sanitizer or wipes provided for customers
Physical distancing
- Limited number of seated diners
- Distancing maintained in common areas
- Extra space between tables

Protective equipment
- Waitstaff wear masks
- Diners must wear masks unless eating or drinking
Screening
- Sick staff prohibited in the workplace

FAQs

Al Dente does offer delivery in partnership with Postmates and Uber Eats. Al Dente also offers takeout which you can order by calling the restaurant at (202) 244-2223.

Al Dente is rated 4.4 stars by 1179 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.