Al Dente

"My wife and I went here last night. Very disappointed. We walked in for our reservation at 5:00, orders were taken within 10 minutes. Our appetizers came out in less than 10 minutes after order. Our entrees did not come until 65 minutes later. I never received the drink I ordered. My wife had the ravioli and it was agreeable, but a shockingly small portion for the price. I had the surf and turf. The steak tasted like I went to Smart & Final, bought an $11 steak, took it home and microwaved it for 20 minutes. I may as well have gone full Patty Mahomes and put ketchup on it cause at least that way there would be some hint of flavor. For $55 you’d think the meat would be at least adequate but evidently that was too much to hope for. Service was poor. The staff appeared to be working quite vigorously but they clearly didn’t have enough help. At one point we sat for 50 minutes without food, drink or anyone checking our table. We won’t be back."

"After walking around looking for food, Isa welcomed us into the restaurant. Felt the Italian vibe immediately and was excited about eating fresh pasta. Honestly this felt like an Italian family. I ate here with my coworkers and ate so much food. I ordered the chef special in the cheese wheel and it was delicious. I shared it with my other coworkers and they thought it was the best they had. Im inclined to agree. I was so stuffed after the appetizer and pasta I was ready to go leave but Isa was so inviting and happy that she surprised us with two tiramisus. It was amazing! This was the best night of food I had in San Diego."

"I recently treated myself to a solo date at this amazing Italian restaurant, and let me tell you, it was a fantastic experience! This was actually my second time there, and I just can't get enough of their delicious food. The happy hour from 4-6 is a great deal, and the calamari they serve is simply amazing! The portion size is generous, pictured is a happy hour portion. The pastas are authentic and absolutely mouthwatering. I had the Capellini in vodka sauce, and it was delicious! But the star of the show was definitely the tiramisu. It was moist, soft, and absolutely heavenly. Shoutout to James for making my solo dinner experience so wonderful. I highly recommend this place for anyone looking for an authentic Italian dining experience!"

"Came here for dinner as part of a group of 5 around 7:30 on a Thursday. It was not busy at all and was seated right away. There is seating inside and on the patio, but we took a table inside. We were provided water right away and given time to look over the drink and food menu. Our server also provided recommendations and some insight on the chefs and their food. The pasta is said to be freshly made. We ordered appetizers for the entire table to share. The Artichoke alla Romana, Frittura di Calamari, and Zucchini Blossoms where delicious. I ordered the Linguine Vongole, which had good flavor. My wife ordered the Tonnarelli Carbonara which she had parmesan cheese added, and it was delicious. My friend ordered the Pecorino wheel for the Pasta of the Day, which was finished at table-side. Having it finished table-side cooled it off some, so it wasn't as hot as the rest of the food. To drink most of us ordered one of their sangria, which I got a white sangria. The sangrias were a little on the weak side. To finish the meal, we got a Tiramasu fir the table to share. It was soft and great taste. The friendly service and atmosphere was great. There isn't a parking lot onsite, only street parking around the area. I would come back if I'm in the area wanting Italian."

"We were greeted very warmly by our server upon arrival at Al Dente. A cozy, sleek spot that offers a varied Italian menu. We were surprised to find such a vacant spot that was reviewed so well upon research prior to our arrival. Our server gave us some prosecco in addition to the Pinot we ordered as a gesture of good faith in our return. Of course we accepted this generous gift! Thank you! We ordered (as pictured) the Bruschetta first. The bread was fantastic. While we weren’t the biggest fans of the portioning of the burrata, it didn’t take an overall detraction from the hors d’oeuvres. It had a great combination of flavor and the bread was slightly toasted, yum! I ordered the short ribs, however I really debated the Carbonara as both were described deliciously. The mashed potatoes served with the short ribs were so consistently fluffy and tasty. The short ribs were perfectly cooked, albeit missing a couple notches of spice (which was totally fine!) and was greatly enjoyed. My fiancée ordered the Gnocchi, adding shrimp. This was some of the best Gnocchi we’ve ever had. Soft, dense, and coated in a taste worthy sauce that we couldn’t get enough of. Last but certainly not least, the Tiramisu. SO DAMN GOOD! We were very surprised with how much creamy fluff made up the Tiramisu, as we’re used to more densely made ones, but it did not disappoint at all. Probably the best Tiramisu we’ve had in a long time. Recommended! Al Dente is a staple italian spot, located quaintly and their service and cost provided great value. Overall, a fantastic experience. When we come back to San Diego we will do our best to return!"