Al Dente

4.3

1316 Reviews

$30 and under

Italian

Make a booking

2 people

23 Nov 2024

19:00

Booked 7 times today

Great for happy hour
Neighbourhood gem
Child-friendly

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.

Order delivery or takeout

Additional information

Dining style
Casual Dining
Price
$30 and under
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
Area
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
Patio/Outdoor Dining

Popular dishes

Insalata RomanaUS$7.00
Romaine lettuce tossed with Caesar dressing and anchovies
Insalata di RucolaUS$11.00
Arugula and parmesan dressed with mustard dressing
Calamari Fritti con ParmigianoUS$11.00
Fried squid rings, tentacles, and hot pepper slices, served with tomato sauce and lemon
Polpette al DenteUS$7.00
Two “al Dente Style” meatballs, simmered in tomato sauce and parmigano
Lentil SoupUS$7.00
Parmesan cheese and olive oil

Large Plates

Penne All’ ArrabiataUS$12.00
Spicy tomato sauce and parmigiana
Fettucine AlfredoUS$12.00
Creamy Alfredo with Chicken
Calamarata PastaUS$16.00
Squid, shrimp, mussels, clams, spicy cherry tomato sauce
al Dente BurgerUS$8.00
angus ground beef patty, cheese, sliced tomato, lettuce, tomato mayo, brioche bun

What 1,316 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

4.2Food
4.4Service
4.3Ambience
4.2Value

Noise • Moderate

Diners' Choice Awards

District of Columbia
Child-friendly

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews

Al Dente is a charming neighborhood gem known for its "superb house-made pasta" and inviting terrace dining. Happy Hour offers fantastic deals with "generously discounted" menu items. While some diners note inconsistencies, regulars appreciate the "consistently good food" and attentive service, making it a beloved go-to spot.

1,316 Reviews

B
Bill
Washington DC
41 reviews
vip
5.0
41 reviews
Dined on 9 November 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Deliciously dressed arugula salad & truly al dente fettuccini bolognese. Great service.
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J
Joanne
Washington DC
17 reviews
1.0
17 reviews
Dined on 18 October 2024
1. Overall 1
2. Food 1
3. Service 3
4. Ambience 3
We used to love Al Dente when it was owned by Roberto Donna. It has seriously gone downhill. Food quality mediocre at best. Many longstanding dishes gone off the menu. Entrees already pre-prepared & overcooked. Sausage on pizza undercooked. This used to be in our regular rotation, but we will not be going back again
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E
Ellie
Washington DC
8 reviews
vip
2.0
8 reviews
Dined on 20 September 2024
1. Overall 2
2. Food 2
3. Service 2
4. Ambience 3
The food and service were mediocre at best. I wouldn’t go back.
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g
gene
Washington DC
49 reviews
vip
4.0
49 reviews
Dined on 28 August 2024
1. Overall 4
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 3
We always enjoy it. It is our go-to place. Service is always attentive.
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J
Janet
Washington DC
8 reviews
vip
5.0
8 reviews
Dined on 16 August 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 4
My friend (later) said the place early on had bad reviews but we had a lovely lunch. It’s Restaurant Week, so we had a salad, a personal gourmet pizza and gelato for dessert. The server was competent and friendly. They also have good pastas but I hadn’t had a pizza in a long time. It was a late lunch (around one) and there were few other customers; it was quiet and relaxed. Plenty of parking; even though they validate we still had to pay. I’ll be back!
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C
Casualdiner
Washington DC
28 reviews
vip
5.0
28 reviews
Dined on 14 June 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
We always love Al Dente, which offers consistently good food for good value!
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C
Cassiebdc
Washington DC
17 reviews
vip
4.0
17 reviews
Dined on 13 June 2024
1. Overall 4
2. Food 4
3. Service 4
4. Ambience 4
The food here is consistently good no matter what you order. I particularly like their meatballs and their white pizza with sausage and mushrooms. My husband likes their fish dishes. We both like their pastas and caesar salad.
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JR
JamesR
Atlanta Metro
7 reviews
vip
5.0
7 reviews
Dined on 11 June 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 4
4. Ambience 4
Perfectly good Italian restaurant (reliably good pizza, and plenty of more upscale options, too). From my POV, this is easily the best of the three dining options in this particular New Mexico Avenue building complex. (1) Al Dente, (2) Wagshals, and (3) Chef Geoff's
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OT
OpenTable Diner
Washington DC
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on 28 May 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 4
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Very good! I recommend. The gratuity of 20% is not a option....
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OT
OpenTable Diner
Washington DC
1 review
vip
3.0
1 review
Dined on 27 May 2024
1. Overall 3
2. Food 4
3. Service 3
4. Ambience 2
The food was good overall and had a reasonable price. However the inside of the restaurant had an off-putting chemical smell like chlorine or disinfectant, and I felt like the tap water they served us had a slight taste of that as well.
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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 1316 OpenTable diners.

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

Make a booking

2 people

23 Nov 2024

19:00

Booked 7 times today

Order delivery or takeout

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

Additional information

Area
Tenleytown
Hours of Operation
Mon–Thu, Sun 11:30 am–8:30 pm Fri, Sat 11:30 am–9:30 pm
Price
$30 and under
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
Patio/Outdoor Dining

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

Al Dente

Make a booking

Order delivery or takeout

Additional information

Popular dishes

Pepperoni

Margherita DOC

Napoletana

Menu

Drinks

Mojito MondayUS$19.00

BeerUS$5.00

WineUS$6.00

Rail Cocktails US$7.00

Small Plates

Insalata RomanaUS$7.00

Insalata di RucolaUS$11.00

Calamari Fritti con ParmigianoUS$11.00

Polpette al DenteUS$7.00

Lentil SoupUS$7.00

Large Plates

Penne All’ ArrabiataUS$12.00

Fettucine AlfredoUS$12.00

Calamarata PastaUS$16.00

al Dente BurgerUS$8.00

What 1,316 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Diners' Choice Awards

Review summary

FAQs

Does Al Dente offer delivery through OpenTable or takeout?

How is Al Dente restaurant rated?

Is Al Dente currently accepting bookings?

Make a booking

Order delivery or takeout

Additional information