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: 4.3

4.3

1269 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

Jun 4, 2023

9:00 PM

Booked 13 times today

Order delivery or takeout

Takeout

(202) 244-2223

Other options

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 1,269 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

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

4.3

4.3 based on recent ratings

4.3Food
4.3Service
4.2Ambience
4.2Value

Noise • Moderate

Sort by

e
efranciscolopez1342
Washington DC
11 reviews
vip
4.0
11 reviews
Dined 2 days ago
overall4food4service4ambience4
Family dinner. Always a pleasant experience- kitchen closes at 10. No warning provided.
K
Kaya
Washington DC
2 reviews
4.0
2 reviews
Dined 7 days ago
overall4food4service5ambience4
Service and food are good and there is a wide selection of drinks; but Al Dente is very loud, which undermines conversaton.
GS
GSCMJOE
Washington DC
260 reviews
vip
4.0
260 reviews
Dined on May 24, 2023
overall4food4service5ambience3
Truly the best thin crust pizza in DC. Drink prices are reasonable and the wine list will fit any budget. The salads are fresh and dressing are homemade. Pasta is made in-house and is light and tender and compliments any of the fine sauces they offer.
KM
KellyM
New York Area
2 reviews
vip
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on May 18, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
This is a favorite of ours. ALL of the food is incredible.
K
Kevin
Washington DC
14 reviews
5.0
14 reviews
Dined on May 16, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Wonderful food and extraordinary service made for an exceptional experience.
GS
GSCMJOE
Washington DC
260 reviews
vip
4.0
260 reviews
Dined on May 14, 2023
overall4food4service4ambience3
Probably the best thin crust pizza in DC. Salad was superb and the lentil soup is a one-of-a-kind delicacy. Service was timely yet not overbearing.
P
Pattycm
Washington DC
8 reviews
3.0
8 reviews
Dined on May 10, 2023
overall3food3service4ambience5
It was a bit disappointing. The venue is great but the food was mediocre. We had the eggplant parmigiana and it wasn't hot and very skimpy slice of eggplant. The beet salad had a lot of arugula but the beets were chopped up into mini pieces which were difficult to stab with a fork and not many of them. Also, was looking forward to the zucchini flower appetizer but they were out of it. I hope improvements can be made because I would love to frequent this place.I'll give it another try in hopes that they can improve.
OT
OpenTable Diner
Washington DC
1 review
vip
1.0
1 review
Dined on May 6, 2023
overall1food1service2ambience1
The food was awful. The pizza had sausage with no taste and the frozen broccoli on the pizza was advertised incorrectly as rapini. Would not go back. Service was mediocre at best.
C
Carl
Washington DC
3 reviews
vip
4.0
3 reviews
Dined on May 1, 2023
overall4food5service4ambience4
Food was great. And when did they launch this happy hour, which is apparently hugely successful? I did notice a 20% automatic tip added to my group of 8. Since servers are no longer paid a sub-minimum wage under the new law, this is not appropriate.
g
genes
Washington DC
37 reviews
vip
4.0
37 reviews
Dined on April 14, 2023
overall4food4service4ambience3
Always one of our favorite places. Very good food. Excellent service from Ginnie (as usual). A bit loud.
K
Kari
Washington DC
4 reviews
5.0
4 reviews
Dined on April 11, 2023
overall5food5service4ambience4
Food is absolutely delicious! Always easy to find a table and something yummy to eat
SY
ShaheraY
Washington DC
21 reviews
vip
1.0
21 reviews
Dined on April 8, 2023
overall1food1service4ambience3
The food was really not good I expected much more having heard about this place. The service was great but the food not of a quality I exited or the price point and noise level intense. Our meal was almost $250 and no one finished their plate because the food was not fresh or tasty.
BH
BenjaminH
New York Area
16 reviews
vip
4.0
16 reviews
Dined on April 7, 2023
overall4food3service4ambience4
Great place to go for a simple pizza and pasta meal where you don’t have to clean up! Very kid friendly with a kind staff.
TB
ThomasB
Washington DC
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on April 6, 2023
overall5food4service5ambience5
The service and ambiance at Al Dente is reliably cordial and welcoming. I love their classic Italian dishes, but I tried their Cacio e pepe, which I've enjoyed at many Italian restaurants, and was disappointed here. Nevertheless, I will gladly return for their other menu items!
SA
SAR1
Washington DC
13 reviews
vip
5.0
13 reviews
Dined on April 3, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience4
Great happy hour, food, wine, and service! Will definitely be back soon!
j
john
Washington DC
21 reviews
vip
4.0
21 reviews
Dined on April 1, 2023
overall4food4service4ambience4
Food and service very good. Always reliable neighborhood gem.
JL
JeffL
Washington DC
7 reviews
vip
2.0
7 reviews
Dined on March 26, 2023
overall2food2service1ambience4
Usually I love this place but the experience was terrible this time. The service was abysmal. The server couldn’t answer ANY questions about the menu including food allergies. The salad was served without crouton and egg as stated. We ordered pizza and pasta but they came out at different times. those who got served pasta were finished eating by that time the pizza came. The waiter was invisible and never came back once to check in. We had to flag down people to bring silverware, the check etc. I’m not certain I would go back after I his bad experience. It’s a shame because we used to live this place
F
Foodie
Washington DC
15 reviews
vip
5.0
15 reviews
Dined on March 17, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience4
Birthday celebration. Staff very helpful.
TW
TracyW
Washington DC
2 reviews
3.0
2 reviews
Dined on March 10, 2023
overall3food3service3ambience3
Was ok, maybe not their best night. Would go back to try again. Some meals better than others.
OT
OpenTable Diner
Washington DC
10 reviews
5.0
10 reviews
Dined on March 6, 2023
overall5food5service4ambience5
This was a very fun spot for a low key bday celebration - great value and fun to discover a Saturday happy hour…
LB
LB59
Washington DC
26 reviews
vip
4.0
26 reviews
Dined on February 23, 2023
overall4food5service3ambience4
Good food, polite service , but a big delay between my companion’s main course and my own - 20 minutes
GS
GSCMJOE
Washington DC
260 reviews
vip
4.0
260 reviews
Dined on February 23, 2023
overall4food4service4ambience3
The best thin crust pizza in DC, add the lentil soup and the Romaine lettuce salad with anchovies, hardboiled egg and an excellent cheese base house dressing and you have one of the best Italian eateries in the District. No fancy frills just great food, excellent service and a great selection of wines and mixed drinks.
JK
JessicaK
Washington DC
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on February 22, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
We made this reservation for a business lunch and it was the perfect atmosphere for easy conversation and delicious food options.
OT
OpenTable Diner
New England
1 review
4.0
1 review
Dined on February 12, 2023
overall4food5service4ambience4
super chill i love their pizza!
H
Hsolfoodie
Washington DC
18 reviews
5.0
18 reviews
Dined on February 5, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Excellent food and service.
OT
OpenTable Diner
San Francisco
10 reviews
vip
2.0
10 reviews
Dined on February 4, 2023
overall2food2service4ambience4
The food is bit and miss as some other reviews agree. The pizza is ok. The tiramisu is good. The pasta, meatballs and eggplant parmesan are all poorly executed. There is nothing worth going back for.
NC
NikkiC
Chicago
1 review
1.0
1 review
Dined on January 22, 2023
overall1food1service2ambience2
This was hands down the worst Italian restaurant. I went with three friends and none of us liked our food (it looked microwaved) and was overpriced. The service was horrible. Only redeeming quality was the cocktails, which were perfection. Will never be going back.
OT
OpenTable Diner
Washington DC
100 reviews
vip
5.0
100 reviews
Dined on January 21, 2023
overall5food4service5ambience4
We really enjoyed our dining experience at Al Dente last night. We appreciated the large Restaurant Week menu and the woman who waited on us was fantastic! The calamari were very good, but beware, the hot peppers are very spicy. The pepperoni pizza was also delicious.
CT
CarrollT
Washington DC
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on January 21, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
I kept seeing so many great entrees. It was crazy hard to decide, which means we MUST go back for more!! What a great new restaurant find!
KE
KEArion
Washington DC
95 reviews
vip
3.0
95 reviews
Dined on January 19, 2023
overall3food3service2ambience2
I went here for DC Restaurant Week. While the food is good (and the special menu includes nicer items like salmon), the portion sizes are small (to American standards). And the only dessert you can have with Restaurant Week is gelato or sorbet, even in the winter, when you don't really want ice cream! Chef Geoff's is next door, and for the same $25 lunch special, you can get WAY more food (salmon isn't included, but a big bowl of shrimp scampi is!) so you have leftovers, and there are many delicious desserts to choose from. The restaurants are very close to each other, so I would recommend Chef Geoff's over Al Dente.
CC
CuriousCarnivore
Washington DC
105 reviews
vip
4.0
105 reviews
Dined on January 17, 2023
overall4food4service5ambience4
Very nice lunch and great service. Parking only partially paid for by restaurant.
OT
OpenTable Diner
Washington DC
6 reviews
3.0
6 reviews
Dined on January 16, 2023
overall3food3service3ambience4
Went for restaurant week. Server wasn’t bad, but just okay. Eggplant appetizer was mostly cheese. Salmon in lemon vinaigrette tasted plain and the vinaigrette was mostly oil, not lemon - not good at all. Bathroom needs to be fixed. Might try again (someday) to see if other menu options are better.
W
Williedell
Washington DC
40 reviews
vip
5.0
40 reviews
Dined on January 16, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience3
Great to have a chance to eat at Al Dente. It shows the value of restaurant week.
LE
LuvEverything
Washington DC
21 reviews
vip
3.0
21 reviews
Dined on January 15, 2023
overall3food3service3ambience3
Disappointed. Use to be much better and seems to have lost management focus. Nothing special.
JD
JenD
New York Area
15 reviews
2.0
15 reviews
Dined on January 15, 2023
overall2food2service2ambience3
They were out of many dishes, wines, desserts, etc! Never refilled water glasses, were hard to track down for questions and had to ask for the check by walking up front —and then we had to follow up 15 min later! Disappointing to say the least.
J
Janoux
San Diego
5 reviews
5.0
5 reviews
Dined on December 24, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Always reliable. The menu is interesting and the service pleasing. Staff are attentive but not overbearing. The food is excellent.
R
Raymond
Washington DC
4 reviews
5.0
4 reviews
Dined on December 24, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
This is a great Italian restaurant with the highest quality of food and services at very reasonable price. Plenty of free street parking is around the restaurant after 5:00 pm weekdays and entire days during weekend.
g
genes
Washington DC
37 reviews
vip
5.0
37 reviews
Dined on December 11, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience3
One of our favorite places to eat. Always fresh and high quality. Attentive service. Somewhat loud.
DB
DanB
Washington DC
9 reviews
vip
5.0
9 reviews
Dined on December 3, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience4
Nice place! great quality food and nice service gets a tad loud when full and it’s prices are a tad more than should be
S
Skidder
Washington DC
27 reviews
vip
1.0
27 reviews
Dined on December 2, 2022
overall1food1service2ambience3
I ordered the chicken breast. It had no breading - which was fine, but the chicken was all gristle. Not good.

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 4.3 stars by 1269 OpenTable diners.

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

Make a reservation

Party Size

2 people

DateTime

Jun 4, 2023

9:00 PM

Booked 13 times today

Order delivery or takeout

Takeout

(202) 244-2223

Other options

3201 New Mexico Ave. Suite E NW, Washington, DC 20016

Additional information

Neighborhood
Tenleytown
Hours of operation
Mon–Thu, Sun 11:30 am–8:30 pm Fri, Sat 11:30 am–9:30 pm
Cuisines
Italian
Dining style
Casual Dining
Dress code
Casual Dress
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.
Payment options
AMEX, MasterCard, Visa
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

Website
http://www.aldentedc.com/
Phone number
(202) 244-2223
Catering
Catering is by request

Al Dente

Make a reservation

Order delivery or takeout

Takeout

Other options

Additional information

Arugula Salad

Fried Zucchini Flowers

Baked Eggplant Parmesan

Antipasti

Lentil Soup$8.95

Focaccia$5.95

Baked Eggplant Parmesan$9.95

Fried Zucchini Flowers$12.95

Fried Calamari$12.95

Polpette$12.95

Prosciutto di Parma$18.95

Insalate

Roasted Beets

Romaine

Spinach

Caprese$11.95

Add Protein - Insalate

Salmon$9.95

Shrimp$9.95

Chicken$8.95

Steak$11.95

House-Made Pasta

Calamarata$26.95

Mezzi Rigatoni$26.95

Gnocchi$23.95

Raviolini Delplin$25.95

Fettuccine alla Bolognese$20.95

Lasagnette$24.95

Agnolotti di Anatra$28.95

Farro Taglatelle$18.95

Cacio e Pepe$18.95

Main Courses

Roasted Herb Marinated Salmon$26.95

Grilled Branzino Filets$29.95

Cheeseburger$13.95

Lemon Chicken$24.95

Ribeye Steak$28.95

Veal Scallopini$28.95

Chicken Parmesan$20.95

Side Dishes

Sautéed Spinach$9.95

Roasted Cauliflower$9.95

French Fries$6.95

Pizza

Neopolitan-Style Pizza

Marinara$12.95

Margherita D.O.C.$13.95

Pepperoni$13.95

Romana$14.95

Napoletana$13.95

Quattro Stagioni$15.95

Prosciutto Rucola$13.95

Melanzane$14.95

Salsiccia e Rapini$14.95

Capriciosa$14.95

Vegetariana$14.95

White Pizza

Formaggi$14.95

Piemontese$14.95

Calzoni

Polpette$13.95

Family Style

First Course: Three Appetizers

Second Course: Three Pasta Dishes

Third Course: Three Entrees

Dessert Course: Chef's Choice

Overall ratings and reviews

Sort by

Cleaning & sanitizing

Physical distancing

Protective equipment

Screening

FAQs

Does Al Dente offer delivery through OpenTable or takeout?