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Al Di La Trattoria
Category: Restaurants Italian Italian [Edit]
248 5th Ave(between President St & Carroll St)
Brooklyn, NY 11215
Neighborhood: Park Slope
(718) 636-8888
- Nearest Transit:
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Union St (D, N, R)
9 St (D, N, R)
7 Av (B, Q)
- Hours:
Mon-Fri 12 pm - 3 pm
Mon-Thu 6 pm - 10:30 pm
Fri 6 pm - 11 pm
Sat-Sun 11 am - 3:30 pm
Sat 5:30 pm - 10:30 pm
Sun 5 pm - 10 pm
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$$
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- No
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- No
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Beer & Wine Only
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
Barkley C. said: "Had an early dinner here on a Friday night with my children. Place was recommended by the Park South Hotel which is around the corner. my son had the pizza and my daughter and I enjoyed pasta dishes. Very tasty and good service.…" read more »
345 reviews for Al Di La Trattoria
Review Highlights
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"Ps: the wine bar was very nice too." In 63 reviews -
"Beet ravioli, with poppy seed butter." In 28 reviews -
"Amazing Ricotta Fritters with whip cream and chocolate." In 11 reviews
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345 reviews in English
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Review from Anna G.
New York, NY
4/24/2012
DELICIOUS...
+ amazing food (esp for those who are not into red sauce italian food) - we all ended up getting a pasta special. looking around other tables i saw a lot of dishes i'd be interested in
+ pleasant service once seated
- not pleasant: won't seat until the whole party arrives
+ suggested a wine bar around the corner, turns out under the same name
+ casual atmosphere
- not all tables are separate, but stacked in cafeteria style...
- last but not least: red wine served chilled ... o_0
OVERALL: i close my eyes on imperfections simply because it takes a lot to impress me with pasta -
Review from Judy F.
4/14/2012
I enjoyed Saturday brunch here. Before entering, I looked thru the window to make sure there were patrons sitting at several tables - nearly full house. I went in and was seated seconds later. I ordered the Duck confit potato hash ($14) and a cup of coffee. BTW, the staff warms the milk for your coffee - THAT's attn to detail, luv it!
Duck confit potato hash was delicious, good to the last drop (in reference to the yolk in the 2 poached eggs):
- 2 poached eggs were cooked perfectly - soft centers and firm exterior
- The shredded duck meat was tender, moist and seasoned perfectly.
- The chunks of potatoes were crispy & brown/caramelized and tender in the center. - A couple pieces of asparagus balanced out this entree.
- OH, I think some crispy bits of prosciutto were sprinkled atop the poached eggs.
Other items on the brunch & lunch menu looked equally promising. Nice portions, leaving a patron room for dessert. -
Review from Jerry K.
4/8/2012 1 photo
After hearing my friend plead and moan to go, I caved in. If anyone one recommends this place, take their word for it. Freshly made plates that hits your flavor buds with a frying pan.
I visited for both brunch and dinner. Each time seeing something else come out of the kitchen I wanted to sink my teeth into. The decor is rustic with big windows, that's so comfortable you find yourself chatting with your friends a bit longer than you should.
The wait tends to be long, especially during brunch, so plan accordingly. -
Review from Alicea P.
JAMAICA, NY
5/23/2012
The butternut squash ravioli is delicious! I've never tasted anything so good. There was a wait for a table, but the great thing is they have a wine bar around the corner. You can choose to have a glass of wine and chill or eat there. I definitely will be going back again!
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Review from Louise P.
4/24/2012
Maybe I didn't order the right dishes for my taste but I was underwhelmed. The pappardelle special with pork ragout and goat cheese was a bit greasy and didn't have a very interesting flavor. The oxtail and polenta appetizer was hard for me to stomach. Just a pile of mush basically. The flourless chocolate cake special was standard. Their website says they have half price wine in the vino side but we weren't offered any specials on wine.
Maybe I would like brunch better, but dinner didn't live up to the hype. -
Review from Mona H.
Brooklyn, NY
5/8/2012
When I move out to the city--- Al Di La is the one Brooklyn restaurant I'll make the trip back across the river for on a regular basis. Try the malfatti, the beet ravioli, and the spare ribs in the dense sweet balsamic sauce. Every dish combines flavors in unexpected yet perfect matches. Be prepared for a long wait to get a seat (they do not take reservations), as well as crowded tables and a small dining room. Host Emiliano's warmth will help you manage these inconveniences. And once you're seated, if you can overlook the elbow room, you will be treated to a perfect dining experience, which includes attentive service, intelligent wait staff and a great wine list. The food is wonderful and you have to come here atleast once ! Its a must go-to. The only reason it loses a star is because I have to wait to eat this wonderful food!
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Review from Jen O.
Brooklyn, NY
4/16/2012
Apparently, beet ravioli is an endangered species, judging by the portion size. Willing to try this restaurant again but we were not "wowed" like so many others. My husband and I sat in the wine bar while we waited to be seated. When our table in the restaurant became available, we asked the bartender to please send our half-eaten spicy fried chickpeas to our table and they never arrived, despite us following up with the waiter several times (he was pretty frazzled).
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Review from Cecilia Z.
New York, NY
4/2/2012
Dammit Al Di La, way to make me sad about not living in Park Slope so I could have your goodness at my disposal! Seriously though, how I wish Italian joints in my neighborhood were even half as good as this place is...
Came here for lunch during Dine In Brooklyn Week 2012. The charmingly decorated yet rustic dining room was surprisingly calm during weekday lunch hours. I loved how the sunlight just flooded the entire space through the large windows as it was a beautiful day out, but could definitely imagine the restaurant to be rather romantic at night.
The food: so since the Dine In BK menu offered 3 courses for just under $21, the bf and I decided to go with it and tack on al la carte options. For the prix-fixe courses, we ordered the winter white salad, braised lancaster county chicken, and vanilla panna cotta. Of course we also needed a pasta dish, and the tagiatelle al ragu seemed like a solid option. I was really blown away by the winter salad - a plate full of ribbons of white winter root veggies like parsnip, turnip, and cauliflower among other goodies - dressed in a zesty vinaigrette that had to have been the most flavorful plate of white foods I've ever tasted. The chicken was executed perfectly as well, juicy, tender, and pretty decadent with the creamy polenta it was served with. While the tagiatelle was not out of this world, it was well-seasoned and perfectly al dente the way fresh pasta oughtta be. Now while I'm used to restrained portions on prix-fixe menus, our lunch here was anything but. I was very glad to have split everything with the bf, and he surprisingly couldn't have agreed more.
You didn't think I'd leave off without commenting on dessert, did you? Our special dessert of the day was a vanilla panna cotta with a stewed rhubarb compote. This was no typical run-of-the-mill panna cotta... it was perfectly creamy and not overly gelatinous. Best of all, studded with flecks of real madagascar vanilla beans! The light creaminess and true vanilla flavor was complemented well by the slightly tart rhubarb, a perfect way to finish our satisfying lunch indeed.
So there you go, definitely check out Al Di La if you're ever in this part of Brooklyn. And even if you're not, it's worth the trip anyway. -
Review from Kara B.
Brooklyn, NY
3/22/2012
Cozy Italian restaurant with a creative menu and friendly service. Though the entire menu looks mouthwatering (think: risotto of the day, seasonal veggies with fresh Parmesan, lots of daily specials) my date and I narrowed our dinner to a couple appetizers and two entrees to share. Al Di La seems to excel in Italian standards with a twist, and our highlights were creamy polenta topped with oxtail and cuttlefish in sauce, and homemade ravioli filled with beets and ricotta. Don't miss the surprisingly good house wine.
Though other reviews seem mixed, I think dining here with the Italian attitude of taking the time to enjoy your company and a delicious meal is key. -
Review from Nima A.
Brooklyn, NY
5/15/2012
Bravo! Visited Al Di La on my own - they showed me just as much attention as a single diner as the large parties. Food unsurpassed.
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Review from nicola r.
Brooklyn, NY
3/11/2012
I've been here a few times over about 10 years.
This was by far my best experience there. The food was out of this world and the service was excellent, too. We ordered some of our favorites and some specials and everything was fresh and at its best.
The best surprise was showing up and expecting an an hour and a half wait, but getting seated in 10 minutes instead. The secret? Be a party of two. Works nearly every time. -
Review from Mishkin L.
Astoria, Queens, NY
2/27/2012
The place has a certain Victorian rustic charm. I liked the cute chandelier and dry florals decorating the walls. They offer a good selection of wines of which the house wine was a very proper yet inexpensive cab. The rabbit served with the moist and tasty polenta was superb; the three pastas I tried were not mind blowing, but good and the liver was a bit funky, so no to the liver. I loved the bread. The service though not enthusiastic, was efficient and effective. Ooh and the deserts were really nice, we all loved the earl grey ice cream and the pear (?) tart.
Just a decent meal. -
Review from Kelly S.
1/9/2012 1 Check-in Here
A solid standard in the P.Slope, but the real secret to Al di La is brunch.
You want to that Tagliatelle al Ragu? The Cavalo Nero salad (with a poached egg, please)? Polenta con Funghi? Come for brunch, walk right in and sit where ever you like. In a neighborhood jam packed with jam packed brunch spots, hit up Al di La for lunch on a Saturday afternoon and chow without wait.
Others have described the rustic feel better than I can, so I'll just say the spot is delightlfully rusticy-charmy. -
Review from Charles F.
Brooklyn, NY
12/22/2011 7 Check-ins Here
In a neighborhood riddled with bad, obscenely overpriced restaurants, Al Di La is like a beacon of hope for all of us who feel cheated when paying another $100 plus at another Slope den of mediocrity when we feel like treating ourselves. Sure, you might not care so much about mediocre food at Belleville or Fornino if you just want Aidan & Hunter to get a good feed before bed time, and you simply couldn't possibly find the time to cook after yoga and volunteering (sending your West Indian nanny to volunteer) at the CSA. Some of us in this neighbourhood aren't rich and a meal out is a luxury, and not your average Tuesday night fare.
I won't go into too much detail, save to say that I've been here four times and the food has always been at least very good, occasionally amazing. The specials in particular are always worth a shot, memorised perfectly by your server. You can't go wrong with the stuffed pastas. Ambiance is another forte here, perfectly cozy and inviting.
I've been to every other restaurant in Park Slope in the running for best in hood, and I can safely say none of them come close to Al Di La. It's really all you could ask for in a neighbourhood restaurant and more. It's also where I take out of town guests to say 'look at all the yummy shit in my bougie hood!' -
Review from Janice W.
NY
4/5/2012
We came in on a Wednesday night and were surprised that there was no wait for our party of two. It was a cute little place and the food was thoughtfully prepared.
We started off with the tomato onion soup topped with poached egg (perfection in a bowl) and an escarole salad with sunchoke, pancetta, and walnuts (the vinaigrette was distractingly sour--possibly because it was unevenly mixed). In contrast to the salad, the swiss chard gnocchi in brown butter sage sauce while beautifully assembled was somewhat one-dimensional and would have benefited from a touch of lemon juice to add some brightness to the dish. The breaded rabbit was tasty--it was like a fancied-up perfectly fried chicken, though some of the bones were in small shards and made eating slightly hazardous.
We ended the meal with a trio of sorbetti, which was a nice finish to a heavy meal. -
Review from Marina P.
Brooklyn, NY
1/11/2012
I came to this restaurant with my boyfriend on a Sunday night this past November (11/27/11 to be exact). We were in the area and decided to come here because it was full, which I took to be a good sign and had a good Zagat rating posted outside the window (27 for food). Also the menu was pretty small, which I think is a plus.
We ordered 2 appetizers and 2 entrees. The appetizers were brussel sprouts and the salad special of the day (some sort of leafy salad with pickled radish). The brussel sprouts arrived lukewarm-bordering-on-cold and overdone, but with a pleasant flavor at least. The salad was very small and inedible, a vinegary mess.
The entrees were the rabbit, a part of the regular menu and a braised rib dish that was a special. The rabbit was the best dish we had all night, it was actually decent. The "braised" rib that was $35 was a total disaster, especially for the price. It was bland and had a chewy, unpleasant texture and really reminded me of mediocre stew (in other words, it tasted like crappy chuck). I know my meat and this was overpriced garbage or was very badly prepared.
The restaurant had a really loud, obnoxious group there that annoyed everyone around them and none of the staff asked them to keep it down.
The service was slow and crappy. After plunking our food down in front of us the waiter would dash away and never once bother to come back and ask if we were enjoying it. The answer would have been "No." If given the chance we would have sent back 3 of those dishes (all but the rabbit).
This was completely unacceptable. We will never come back. -
Review from Craig Z.
1/9/2012
On previous visits--3 times, but not for years--I recall being happy twice and thrilled once. This time I was blown away. The food was great, with very reasonable prices and generous portions, and the services was pretty solid, too. Also love that they have some interesting wines.
Fried chickpeas are a can't miss, as are the grilled swiss chard stems. Beet ravioli were good, but missing a little balance from acidity or something. Similarly, the cuttlefish and oxtail ragu was very nice, but needed more spice or something. -
Review from Ronald I.
Brooklyn, NY
1/18/2012
We went there because of all the great reviews we found here and Zagat. In reality, the food was below average, inferior quality, overpriced, burnt, with a hideous presentation. We ordered two appetizers: the carpaccio and mussels. Our entrees were the two specials of the day, a veal and a pork rib dish. The carpaccio, a one ounce slice, was extremely salty and not worth twelve dollars. The mussels were average quality and not salty. The specials truly sucked--the pork ribs were burnt and rare inside (health violation). The veal looked and tasted very bad.
I would suggest looking for a place that truly lives up to its name. -
Review from Jonathan B.
Glendale, Queens, NY
4/14/2012 1 Check-in Here
Small menu executed really well. Hanger steak and arugula were delicious, as was the asparagus ravioli. There was a line to get in at 5:30 when it opened.
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Review from Gloria C.
12/15/2011
They have pretty good Italian food that isn't overly heavy.
My group and I came here for dinner and while their main bar was full, we went around the corner to the wine bar to eat dinner. In my opinion, that was a much better option since it was quieter and less crowded in the wine bar.
Overall, the food was quite delicious. I got the boneless pork loin with prosciutto and it came out to be flavorful and quite lean. Yum!
Their actual pasta dishes were delish, though my friend was irked by the black spaghetti sauce. No matter - it was cooked al dente, which is A-ok in my book. -
Review from Kenneth R.
Berkeley, CA
12/9/2011
Seven of us came and had a wonderful dinner here. I was happy with the food, wine and service.
After we arrived, I spent some time looking at the wine list, which you can find online at http://www.aldilatratt... . As you can see, all of the wines are Italian (I hope that's right!) and none of them are wildly more expensive than the average bottle price. For the five alcohol drinkers at the table, I ordered a bottle of Pigato @$44 and a bottle of Lagrein @$42. I'm sure that I would have been happy with lots of other choices, but these worked out perfectly well for us. Our server described the Lagrein as "medium-bodied," and he was right!
I ordered the Cavolo Nero Salad -- Tuscan kale, croutons, anchovy vinaigrette, lemon zest, shaved Parmigiano -- which sounded like a caesar salad to me. The lemon flavor was heavily dominant, and I loved the salad.
My main dish was the "Charcoal-grilled young chicken, fennel salad and mashed yukons," which again was quite good. There was a strong lemon component to this dish as well; I was a bit sorry that I hadn't made another choice. (Also, someone at the table said that all the food here was overly salty, and I was starting to agree.)
Fortunately, the diner to my left had ordered the "Sliced hanger steak deglazed in balsamic vinegar," and we'd agreed in advance to share. I liked the hanger steak a lot and was delighted to have the extra variety in my dinner. There was no lemon here, but the dish didn't knock me out.
I had a decaf espresso when dessert time came. It was quite good; most decaf espresso is pretty horrible. Someone at the table ordered an affogato; I liked that the restaurant's affogatos are made with *decaf* espresso, at least by default. A nice touch was that the coffee was poured over the ice cream at the table -- usually the "drowning" is done behind the scenes, in restaurant kitchens.
Conclusion: the wines and the salad were exceptionally good, but the main dishes were more at the four-star level. If I ever have another opportunity to dine here, I'll grab it in a flash. -
Review from Antonette L.
Manhattan, NY
12/10/2011
I've heard a lot about Al di la and how wonderful it is. I have also seen it as one of the best Italian restaurants in all of the boroughs, so I was expecting something exceptional.
Well, lets just say, I was extremely underwhelmed.
The place itself is adorable - very rustic and cozy. Service was very good and our server was great.
My boyfriend and I ordered wine and then we both got one primo and one secondo and a dessert to share.
My boyfriend got the Spaghetti Alle Vongole and he thought it was good. It wasn't as good to some other places that I have been, such as Babbo, Esca, Del Posto, etc, but I don't think it is fair to compare to those types of places. In my opinion there was too much sauce/olive oil, my boyfriend's dish looked like it was drowning. Also, the vongole were piccolissime ....so friggin small.
For my first dish, I ordered the Malfatti. It was not what I was expecting, but it was pretty good. I got about 6/7 huge gnocchi, made out of swiss chard (they were green). I actually thought that the waiter brought me the wrong dish, because I mistaked them for brussel spouts with the dim lighting. I guess I read the menu wrong, because I was expecting to have gnocchi with swiss chard and olive oil mixed or something. It was good, the gnocchi were not too heavy. Nothing to rave about, though.
For our secondi, my boyfriend ordered the Saltimbocca and I ordered the rabbit. My boyfriend liked the Saltimbocca, but he didn't think the potatoes were that great. He said it had some nice flavor, I also had some, and it was good. I liked my rabbit, but there were so many random bones in it! I could have choked on one. The polenta was awesome, though. I could eat a whole bowl of that, for sure.
The dessert was OK - we had the panacotta with the wine soaked cherries. Too soaked in my opinion though - kind of grossed me out, it was way too...liquidy - my boyfriend finished that for me and then I enjoyed the pannacotta which was delicious and light.
Overall, it was OK, but I had very high expectations and was pretty disappointed. I came from Manhattan to see how good it was, I should have just went to a Batali/Bastianich restaurant by my apartment instead. -
Review from gerald f.
Harleysville, PA
3/6/2012
It doesn't get much better than this people. Steak melts in your mouth, pasta that says I want more, soup that is super, rissoto that would make Caruso cry.
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Review from Jonathan Z.
Queens, NY
2/26/2012
Although I'd heard lots of good things about Al Di La, I was not impressed. Thursday night, crowded, tried to stand at the bar for a glass of wine, but went around the corner instead when their waitstaff body checked me not once but twice. The food was frankly average and there were no perks about the place. Save yourself the time and hassle.
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Review from Yves V.
North Miami Beach, FL
Updated - 11/12/2011
The food was good, not excellent.
Just not worth the wait !
They need to get a bigger place and not rush us out; next time I get to pick the place.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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9/25/2010
After looking for parking for 20 min, having to wait for over 90 min was not worth the food!
The… Read more »
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Review from Leigh K.
San Diego, CA
11/29/2011
Park Slope... one of my most favorite Brooklyn neighborhoods. Great eats everywhere.
A friend of mine who lives a few blocks away wanted to take me here for lunch while I was in New York. It was a rainy afternoon. First off, cute location and storefront. I love the yellow awnings. It looks cheery and inviting. Inside it was just large enough to feel like a restaurant and just small enough to be intimate.
The menu is unique, which is what I liked. It wasn't your standard lasagna and eggplant parmesan, or baked ziti and stuffed shells. This place has a decent, legitimate menu. We ordered a kale salad, which was perfect. Make sure you like kale though. It has pistachios, shaved parmesan, and a tangy dressing. Very simple and delicious. For my entree, I ordered the mushroom polenta with braised greens. Delicious. It was slightly oversalted for my taste (I am pretty sensitive to salt), but prepared so well. Served in a soup bowl, it was warm, rich, and comforting. I hardly touched it because it filled me up so fast. I appreciated the wait staff-- we were left alone without being ignored. And they never rushed us out the door.
I would recommend this little gem for a rainy afternoon lunch... or any other time for that matter. I've heard it gets pretty crowded, so plan accordingly. -
Review from Natalie F.
Brooklyn, NY
11/15/2011
I went here for lunch with my Mom last Friday and had my best meal yet since moving to Brooklyn. Don't be deterred by the somewhat shabby looking decor b/c you will soon discover that this place is working magic in the kitchen!
We ordered the soup of the day and kale salad (Cavolo Nero Salad) to start and our taste buds danced with delight. The fresh, seasonal and nutritious ingredients were perfectly balanced and not overcomplicated, allowing you to really taste each component of the dish.
For our main course we split the Funghi e Polenta dish which was out of this world! Sauteed wild mushrooms over braised greens and creamy polenta with parmigiano cheese and a poached egg on top.
I will definitely be going back here again soon, and highly recommend it to anyone looking for some great Venetian-style Italian eats. -
Review from Jiahui L.
Manhattan, NY
11/17/2011
Food:
~Tripe (5 stars): in a tomato-based sauce. This was so delicious! It reminded me of the tripe I had in Florence. Very authentic and warming. Very tender and flavorful without being overly 'tripey.'
~Ragu (3.5 stars): special pasta of the night. Pasta was cooked almost just right. Needed a little more salt, maybe, but that may have been because I'd been eating the tripe.
~Bread (4 stars): warm! It's hard to find a place that will serve the bread warm these days. I'm not sure where they get their bread from, but it was a hearth bread of sorts. Butter could have been a little softer though. Free.
Wine: good selection. Servers were very knowledgable.
Wait time: seated right away for 2 people close to 6pm on a Thursday night. Service was prompt and friendly. Extra points for giving prices with descriptions of the specials for the night! Food came out very quickly. Would recommend coming right when they open (6pm). Place filled up before we received our food.
Would definitely come back! -
Review from Charlie N.
Sunnyside, NY
Updated - 9/26/2011
OK. Fair is fair. I wrote an earlier review of Al Di La and it was not favorable. I am now giving another one...and say that dinner was excellent.
My friend's birthday...he wanted to go to ADL. The wife and I were not thrilled due to our last experience. Thought we were going to have to wait over an hour as they STILL don't take reservations (not sure why they insist on this). But we couldn't complain as it was our friend's birthday. They wound up taking us after 15 minutes of waiting.
The atmosphere upstairs is very warm and inviting...almost homey. The waitress was very attentive and kind. Not at all overbearing.
To our delight and surprise, everything was amazing from the service to the wine and the apps and the entrees. The SALTIMBOCCA ALLA ROMANA was amazing. The potatoes were carmelized and crusty. My wife had the seafood stew and loved it. The table shared the Mascarpone ravioli...BAM! Delish.
All in all it was a perfect evening.
So, well done ADL...way to improve. You have made a fan.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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3/7/2011
Totally and completely average. Average as they come.
Lines to get in because they don't take… Read more »
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Review from J S.
Brooklyn, NY
11/4/2011
This place is one that, to me, lives up to the hype. It reminds me of Flatbush Farm, two places I both love. I had the chicken (which takes 30 minutes to cook but is well worth the wait, (plus I was distracting myself with delicious bread and wine)). All, particularly the chicken and fennel, were fabulous.
Come on the early side to avoid the wait, which gets long. No reservations. We ate in the wine bar because they have the same menu. Same diff to us.
Wouldn't mind a more expansive dessert menu, but can't complain! -
Review from Philip W.
Oakland, CA
9/12/2011
Every visit to Brooklyn from the SF Bay Area we try and make it to Al Di La. Yesterday we had what must have been our 20th visit. It was our best!
Every dish, from the oxtail and seppa over creamy polenta, to the ink squid pasta with shell fish was sublime.
I keep forgetting how much better it is than most anyplace else. -
Review from L G.
Brooklyn, NY
2/18/2012
My boyfriend and I went here for a Friday evening dinner (last night) and had a great time. We got there around 8pm and were greeted by a friendly hostess who said there would be a 40 minute wait for 2. We were then greeted by a waiter who is my boyfriend's friend, a really nice guy who asked the hostess to get us a great table as his special guests. She took our phone number to call us when the table was ready, then offered to seat us in the wine bar while we waited. We declined since it was nice out we walked around the neighborhood. 20 minutes later we were back near the restaurant and got the call that our table was ready-cool!
We were seated in the back of the restaurant against the wall, next to where the servers came in a out from the kitchen. It was cozy but we had enough space that we didn't feel like we were joining the party of 4 seated next to us. The decor was nothing special, pretty simple/rustic, to the point that I didn't even notice the surroundings until my boyfriend asked how I liked the place. There was a stuffed boar head directly above my head once I looked up...sort of gross to me. There was a pretty chandelier, too.
Our friend the waiter asked our server to be extra good to us, we were his guests. The waiter was friendly and told us the long list of specials that night. We decided on a 1/2 carafe of house red wine. This was a great deal because it's basically half a bottle for $18. If we paid per glass it would have been $15 for 2 glasses. Plus the house wine was really tasty. They brought us two baskets of bread, the second basket tasted warm and fresh from the oven.
We shared the farro salad as an appetizer, and I wish we had more! This was the best thing I ate here. It was warm farro with nuts, beets, spinach, squash, and probably something I'm forgetting. It was SO GOOD. Perfect for a chilly night.
My boyfriend ordered one of the specials, a risotto with a seafood topping- scallops, calamari, and some other seafood I forget. He really enjoyed it and said the portion was almost too big (I think it's because he ate almost two baskets of the bread they brought out).
I had the gnocchi- swiss chard and ricotta gnocchi with brown butter and sage. It was really good. Lighter than a potato gnocchi, and really subtle flavors. The butter sauce was SO GOOD I wished I had one more slice of bread to soak it up with. The topping was swiss chard that was very cripy and soaked with butter...I also wished there were a few more pieces of this, it was a real treat.
For dessert, I had the gelati, three tiny scoops. Each scoop was a different flavor. I wasn't crazy about these, but I normally have gelato at Il Laboratorio on Houston, which is amazing and hard to beat. They had vanilla with chocolate covered nuts, earl Grey, and another creamy flavor I forget what it even was. Each scoop had a piece of toffee stuck in as a garnish. The bf had ricotta fritters which I didn't really like, but he enjoyed. His friend also brought over a creme brulee soaked with espresso. I tried this even though I don't enjoy coffee, and I can imagine it's a dream for coffee-lovers.
The bill was well under $100 for a great meal. We had superb service, and even without my bf's connection I think the service would be just as good. We didn't feel rushed, and the timing was perfect on the arrival/ departure of all our plates. Busboys were attentive with water and new silverware when needed.
Overall a great meal and experience. If you don't want to wait, try a weekday night, or go around 9pm weekends, the place started to empty slightly around 9pm. -
Review from di s.
Astoria, NY
4/7/2012
Went on Friday night didn't have to wait to get sit, I ordered lamb from the specials with pototatoe, lamb was amazing but potatoes were a bit salty, food is great but this place it's too loud I wanted to finish and go, couldn't really enjoy my dinner.
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Review from Kimi R.
Brooklyn, NY
1/7/2012
Things Change.
ADL is like the MTA - Much more expensive with a shocking decline in quality, presentation and portions.
I will venture to say I have been to ADL more than 25 times.
For the past 11 years, it has been our go-to place when family and friends are in town, several celebrations, and quaint romantic dinners for two.
My last meal, and I mean, my last meal there, was so disappointing, I was embarrassed to to be the host.
My favorite dish, "Galletto Alla Diavola," a charcoal-grilled young chicken served with a fennel salad and mashed yukon golds, was literally a four biter, and served luke-warm. This was a dish I happily waited 30 minutes for.
This too-young-to-be-plucked bird, was more an infant than young chicken.
The fennel salad doubled it's size- for $24? When others at the table immediately start offering you a bite of theirs, it's a bad sign.
My review won't affect their booming business, but can anyone help me find the next Al di La? -The secret little spot, with perfect, consistent, always delicious food, that felt like yours? -
Review from Blase K.
Ann Arbor, MI
7/3/2011
I should preface this by saying that I'm not an expert or even a frequenter of Italian places -- I'm a pescetarian and Italian food and myself are at odds for that reason. But my friend implored me to go here with her, so we did at the end of my first week in New York.
So this place tries to strike what I think is the "Park Slope" balance. You can dress casually -- there were plenty of tragically hip folks in flannel eating side-by-side with folks in formal attire. The restaurant has an open-air feel and long benches crowd patrons together along one wall.
On the other end of the see-saw is all the hallmarks of an upscale restaurant: salad forks, a non-static menu, and staff with a penchant for overly honorific language.
The menu itself though was delectable. I had a first course of some kind of salad with fava beans (I was too drunk to really remember the salad), which was pretty unremarkable. But, by the second course my memory returned and I had some ravioli stuffed with peas and with some sort of fancy Parmesan (I had to call my mother to identify it). The ravioli was the correct mix of firm around the edges and chewy in the center, and the cheese didn't get in the way of the crispness of the peas.
For the second course I had the fish, the name of which escapes me. It was seared in some kind of brown sugar and oil sauce that was served with it along the bottom -- the outside was succulent and salty and the inside was tender and flaky without being dry. It was very, very good. I liked the fish's oily sauce so much that I sopped it up with bread at the end of the meal.
In the end, very satisfying, if not a little overpriced. If in Park Slope and you have 120 to waste on a dinner for two, this is your spot to be. Its great if you want a place that's nice but not too stuffy or uncomfortable and unfamiliar. -
Review from Maddie O.
8/17/2011
Our party of 4 arrived shortly after 7 on a Tuesday and were seated right away (the line began to form shortly after). I was pleasantly surprised that our table was not too crowded and afforded plenty of elbow space.
The service was great. I waitress demonstrated an impressive memory when she recited upwards of 6-8 specials (including ingredients, preparations, and prices). She was refreshingly upfront about the prices which I really appreciate.
DISHES THAT I SAMPLED:
Seppia & Oxtail: a huge blob of savory black slop sitting on top of a generous portion of creamy polenta. This was the best and butteriest polenta I've ever tasted. I lived for the bites that included a thick chunk of oxtail. I enjoyed every bite of this but it was VERY RICH. I would recommend sharing among several people.
Summer Vegetable Soup: I had a bite of my friends, and it was great! The vegetables were the star with fresh tomatoes, sweet corn, and a cornucopia of other plants. A great light start to the meal.
Beet Ravioli: If you read a random sampling of my reviews, you will probably discover that I lam someone of a Beetangelist. I love these tasty pink dirt-dwellers, so naturally I had to try them in this much-yelped-about dish. The waitress warned me (sweetheart!) that the portion was on the small side--but with my belly full of cuttlefish, this was not an issue. Beet was the standout flavor, they're sweetness enhanced by some ricotta, poppy seeds and, of course, butter.
Mulfatti: This was my favorite bite of the evening (unfortunately, just a single bite that I stole from my friends plate) They were light and fluffy, yet dense and substantial, and set off perfectly by a healthy pool of sage butter (which we eagerly sopped up with the leftover bread).
Spaghetti with Clams: Another stolen bite. Perfectly cooked spaghetti with plenty of butter, garlic, and at least a dozen steamer clams in the shell. A generous portion, the girl who ordered it could not finish.
Black Spaghetti w/ Seafood: The pasta special of the evening, and another great value. The black pasta had a good texture and flavor, not overwhelmingly squid ink-y. There was SO. MUCH. SEAFOOD in this dish! Most noteable was the shrimp. Mmmm, plump and fresh with maybe a citrus y note? Another great value.
By dessert we were so stuffed that we shared the pound cake between 4 of us. The cake itself was great, a sweet slight crunch on the outside and moist cake within. It was served with some sort of ice cream that I didn't care for (a bit tart for me) and some lovely fresh blueberries that must have been reduced with some simple syrup.
Overall a great experience. Next time I will try to order some lighter fare (like a ridiculous sounding heirloom tomato salad) and one of the meat dishes. Most likely the whole fish. The dude sitting adjacent to me at our communal table ordered the fish and I stared jealously at him the entire time. #whepps.
Al Di La is not to be missed! -
Review from Eric N.
Baltimore, MD
1/10/2012 1 Check-in Here
Wonderful small restaurant experience
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Review from Ferd B.
Philadelphia, PA
3/11/2012
A big (and expensive) disappointment. Things did not get off to a good start when, despite being the second dinner party in the door after a chilly wait in line before opening, we were seated at the table right next to the door, subject to every draft from new incoming patrons. Several other more preferable table arrangements that would have accommodated our group of six went to later arrivals. So much for being early birds.
Still, we mostly forgot about the slight when our friendly waiter brought delicious and non-stop bread with butter - no olive oil (guess this is a northern Italian trattoria?) and then a creditable antipasto course, especially the special luscious grilled asparagus with cheese and a perfectly soft-boiled egg and the farro salad. After this great start, though, the rest of the meal fell apart badly. Though we were part of the first seating on a not particularly crowded early Saturday, the second course took forever to arrive, and when it did it was a letdown in practically every respect. The spaghetti alla vongole was an oily, lukewarm, clumsy mosh of too much garlic and an overpowering dollop of what seemed to be dried oregano. The special cavatelli alla ragu was flaccid, almost pasty, though the sauce was only a step or two away from the robustness needed to carry the day. Cranberry bean soup was too salty to take in all at once, and so went half uneaten. A grilled escarole (subbing for the unavailable Swiss chard stems) contorno was confounding: If there's a pocket of Italy where the hyper-vinegared preparation method for this dish would have been classified as a proper contorno, it's not one I'm familiar with. Even the dining companion who would rather eat grilled veggies than any other food gave up on this one after a single bite. Topping this off, the Ramitello wine (a Mogliese combine of Sangiovese and Aglianico) we had first was hardly distinguished but it made the carafe of house Cabernet which followed taste like the poor choice it was.
A $220 tab for our group of six was overpriced by about a third, notwithstanding our disappointment, which made it worth even less. Based on other reviews I'd certainly be willing to give this place another chance, if there weren't so many other choices. -
Review from Mike S.
12/11/2011
They do not take reservations. 30 min wait spent walking through park slope we received a phone call from the greeter for seating at the infamous communal table. We then met our server who had a full head of dreadlocks, it did seem like a classy joint from the exterior... The seppia oxtail polenta was rich and sublime, chicken liver risotto was a bit al dente and had too much wine which was not properly boiled off, their broiled chicken was tender and moist however it must have been garnished with the juice of a lemon as it was ascerbic and painful to eat. My companion who has been to Vienna did not enjoy her meal either and said that it was not a good representation of their cuisine.
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Review from Diane Z.
3/12/2011
Totally overrated. I tried coming twice before but because of the ridiculous wait times, I just went somewhere else. I decided to go at 9pm, thinking that there would be no or at least less of a wait. But I still had to wait about 30 minutes to get a table for two. I had high expectations because of the popularity and great reviews, but I was disappointed. They stuck us between two couples, and it was like a communal table, so we were very close to our neighbors. It was horribly close, but both couples were loud and annoying! I guess this contributed to my negative experience.
The waiter was a bit curt, but overall polite. The busboys were attentive, but very rushed. The food was nothing special at all! We had the seppia and oxtail, tripe stew, carpaccio, and rabbit. The rabbit and seppia dishes were bland. Both came with polenta, not my favorite, and way too much of it for one night. The carpaccio was very salty in some spots and bland in others. The rabbit just tasted like chicken and did not even have any good flavoring.
Didn't bother with dessert because nothing looked that great on the menu. The atmosphere isn't great for a date because it is so loud! I could barely hear anything. And one of the couples kept complaining that their food was taking a long time, so annoying!
