Incredible authentic Italian experience! Lunch on a busy July Saturday afternoon was delicious! The wait staff was friendly and attentive. Highly recommend! read more

I have gone to this Restaurant with my boyfriend for the past 2 years because the food is outstanding - the gnocchi al dente is the best thing I have every had in my life and its completely homemade. Also, you can NEVER go wrong with their lobster ravioli or pumpkin ravioli! YUMMM This is a small restaurant but they really make each person very special and don't rush you out when its busy like some places do. This valentines day was extra special as we had an extraordinary waitress: Annette. She was the sweetest woman and really connected with all of her guests. She joked, make suggestions and was very patient with us. I will always ask for her every time I return! Thank you!! read more

Cute place, but so typically Italian. From the cheesy catholic statue against the brick wall to the 80's Italian Grandmother lap shades this place reminds me of my mothers house (a dear lovely Italian woman) when I was 10! The food was good, not great. I'd had better chicken cacciatorrie, but in all fairness, i've had worse. I was turned off by the staff because they kept trying to seat us at a table we did not want even when there were plenty of other seats. Sometimes people who work in restaurants get so caught up in the order (or disorder) or seating people and they forget about what true hospitality is all about. A patron should never feel uncomfortable and I was from minute number one! I work in the industry so I feel like I have the authority to criticize strongly. I get nailed all the time so why not! I would recommend going to this place if you are starving (portions are huge) and poor (not to expensive). It's good, not great. read more

My girlfriend and I went here for her birthday dinner the other night. If you come here on a weekend, reservations are a must. After a short wait, we were seated in the dinning room, which although is small, makes the most of the available space. The waitress came to our table very promptly, and was very helpful with the menu. We ordered drinks and an appetizer to start. The appetizer came quick and was delicious. They timed the entrees prefectly so they came just as we had finished it. I had lobster ravioli which was excellent, and I'm very picky about that dish. I could see other entrees that looked really good as well, and made we want to come back. We had a great meal, and will be returning soon. read more

As a born and raised italian, I know what this food should taste like. The homemade pasta was amazing. Try the spinach crepes w/ Alfredo sauce; a bit pricey, but tasty! NOTE: Arrabiata sauce is ARRABIATA. They don't just use red pepper, they use those HUGE green suckers of peppers! My mouth was on fire! Couldn't eat my dish in its entirety, so I stole some penne alla vodka from a friend. PHENOMENAL. read more

The tomato based pasta sauces were awesome. Pesto wasn't basilly enough. Service great, atmosphere superb. Mussels were, in a phrase, something I want to bathe in. Bread was great nice and fresh with an awesome crust. Gnocchi was a solid B+. read more

Yummy!! A real normal, neighborhoody place ... nothing fancy about it, just good food. Highly recommend sharing, especially at lunch ... our Shrimp and Scallop a la Vodka (which was SO good!) could easily feed 3 people. read more

Large and hearty pasta dishes are definitely the best way to get your money's worth here. I tried the lobster ravioli and their handmade tortellini. They have top quality ingredients and a very good tomato base for the red sauces that the pasta was heavily coated in. Solid north end Italian. read more

Delicious!! We went this past Friday night and it was well worth it. We had a reservation but still had to wait about 15 minutes. It happened to be parents visiting day at many schools and also the Head of the Charles Regatta so the wait was to be expected. The guy at the door was friendly and joking and working very hard to get everyone seated and keep those waiting in line happy. The food was delicious. We had the mussel appetizer that we shared with the table and it was awesome. Great garlicky marinara, sort of a combo of white wine/garlic and marinara. All of the pasta dishes were fabulous. I highly recommend read more

I simply loved the restaurant and it's atmosphere. I am really particular about Italian food and Al Dente did not disappoint. The meal was well cooked and portions were good. The waiter did not rush my friend and I and he was knowledgeable about the menu. My friend and I enjoyed our first trip there and I would like to go there another time. read more

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As good as it gets in terms of Italian food. I feel like I'm home having my mother's cooking. THE freshest tomatoes and mozzarella in the caprese salad and the penne in vodka sauce is heaven. The service is fast and very friendly. By far my favorite Italian place in Boston read more

Al Dente Restaurant - Chicken, broccoli and penne in vodka sauce - Italian Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

Fantastic first experience at Al Dente. Host was very welcoming to begin our 4:30 Saturday dinner reservation. Immediately were sat. I checked out the menu prior so I had an idea of what I was gonna have before. Marg was our waitress and was THE BEST. So funny and knowledgable. Gave us plenty of time with the menu, in between apps and entrees. Other servers in the industry take notes. She did an excellent job. We started with the typical Antipasta. Original, but well done. Then the shrimp appetizer. Hooooolyyyy heck. Delicious. I stole the last one. It was sweet and perfectly seared. I got the Al Dente Special. Veal. Chicken. Shrimp. Veggies and fettuccine. How can you go wrong with a perfect white wine sauce. Well Al Dente delivered. Night finished off with limoncello shots. Thick and sweet. Overall a great experience. I love the small, dark atmosphere and simple, authentic Italian menu. Definitely coming back for a date night. 100% going to Marg. The other servers were also efficient with clearing plates and busing food. A+ job, Al Dente. read more

I dined here on two occasions, both during the Patriot's Day weekend to carbo-load before the Boston Marathon. I had excellent dining experience during both. Authentic Italian food in ample size for very reasonable price. What else can I ask for? I had a spicy Pasta Puttanesca and one gigantic mother of an Italian antipasto here. Not sure if my uploaded pics will be directly visible from this review, but look at the size of the dish dang! Thanks for the friendly service and great food! read more

Al Dente Restaurant - Pasta Puttanesca with Penne. Hot, spicy, and very filling! - Italian Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

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After missing the cut at seating early for Giacomos, where we were rudely pushed out of the restaurant saying "no more tables"! We found this spot on Salem that was equally packed but much more accommodating. Nothing fancy inside but that's ok. Started with Mussels Marinara which was VERY good. I had the Shrimp and Scallop Ala Vodka, my wife had Tortelini pesto. Both were great! My sons had Lobster Ravioli and Linguine with Clams, not just clam sauce but real clams in shells as well. Both delicious. Even had a kids menu where my youngest ordered a cheese pizza that was from sister restaurant next door. It was huge and he and his brothers help finish it. Great authentic north End service with nice touch of limoncello shots for the parents to end meal. Would highly recommend. read more

Al Dente Restaurant - kids cheese pizza - Italian Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

This was an inexpensive restaurant in our old neighborhood that had great raviolis, terrific caesar salads, good bread, and a house red that went well with everything. My meat-eating husband liked the chicken marsala. This place kept me warm on chilly, Boston nights with inexpensive, good food and friendly servers. Recommend! read more

My girlfriend and I stopped here on our way out of Boston for lunch and thought this place was pretty good. The bread they brought out was ok nothing too special. We split a Caesar salad for an appetizer and it was goos but could have used a bit more dressing to make it great. We both actually got the pasta with vodka sauce and that was really good and the portion was huge so I liked that for sure. Overall Al Dente is a place I would recommend going to buy may not be my absolute favorite Italian place in the world read more

Al Dente Restaurant - Penne pasta with vodka sauce and chicken - Italian Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

Food was excellent, service was excellent. The pesto sauce is wonderful. Really enjoyed it! Our server Marion was fantastic! We returned 2 nights later for our anniversary and out server Angela took great care of us. Again, fantastic service, try the shrimp scampi with homemade fucilli pasta! Fantastico!! read more

I was craving some pasta and didn't want to go anywhere so I chose this place based on delivery options. The photos look great and it said that the portion sizes were big so considering I was splurging I decided to try the most popular item on the menu, the shrimp and scallops in vodka sauce with homemade fusilli. Portion size was not big at all, basically just filled a regular take-out container. The sauce was pretty plain the scallops were tasteless and I was very underwhelmed. Def not up to par for a north end restaurant at all! read more

Al Dente Restaurant - Mediocre at best - Italian Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

In a word - phenomenal. Home made pasta in incredible sauces. Yum. Being from Philly, we know Italian food. And Al Dente is the real deal. If you love authentic home made Italian fare, this is your place. read more

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I got the lobster ravioli, after reading great reviews and was greatly disappointed. The sauce was good but fairly thin- almost soup-like. The ravioli were filled primarily with ricotta, with small amounts of lobster. The ravioli pasta was thick and chewy.The shrimp in the sauce were over cooked and rubbery. The server was very brusque and rather unfriendly. Overall it was very disappointing. read more

This place is pretty decent if you're vegetarian. Personally I felt that the fried broccoli was overpriced but decent enough. The eggplant dish was overall a solid meal. I would go here again but there are better cheaper places if you're looking for vegetarian. As vegan goes, none of the entrees were vegan. read more

Everything was so fresh and amazing during our visit here. Loved all the fresh made pasta made there and the kiddos loved their huge raviolis. Our server was so nice and accommodating for our grumpy 1 yo and recommended an amazing bakery nearby. Would definitely return and wish we lived closer. read more

This place is off the hook. 5 of us and each day it's the best Italian meal we've had - ever. Fresh, great tasting sauces and homemade pasta. The lobster ravioli is as good as can be. Would highly recommend! read more

WOW! How does this place have the reviews it shows. We came as a party of four with reservations and expected at least a decent meal. As a family of four that frequents Italian restaurants in New Jersey and Brooklyn, I became grateful for them after eating here. The professionalism of the staff is subpar and needs more training. Mussels and fried calamari were the appetizers. The mussels were cooked well and the broth was great especially with the bread. It was then a roller coaster from there. The calamari came out and the breading was super soggy, it was not crispy at all. Makes me wonder how it was made in the kitchen. Next, chicken parm, al Dente special and the veal special of the day were ordered. The chicken parm was mediocre as the chicken was soggy as well and the entire Parmesan crust came off in one piece as if it was frozen. This was not a good sign for the rest of the meal. The al Dente special was also mediocre and overly cistrusy. It became painful for the gums to keep eating. The veal was the best part of the whole meal. Super tender and juicy. I'd pick another place. read more

Tried the take out from here and was pleasantly surprised. The vodka sauce was out standing and definitely my favorite. The house made meatballs were moist and packed with flavor. The carbonara was okay, more Alfredo like but still good. The calamari and shrimp fradiavlo was also okay. The calamari a bit tough and the sauce could have used more flavor but with the addition of some crushed red pepper and cheese it was pretty good. Overall it was pretty good and would try again. read more

Very good, small restaurant with great service. Food is easily split-able.

The atmosphere is casual and friendly, and seemed to be a popular spot for families. Though it could be a bit noisy, I enjoyed the lively and warm atmosphere. I loved the large portions and variety of options on the menu. I went with three other friends on a Sunday night and we got a variety of plates. The lobster ravioli and shrimp scampi were delicious! However, two of us got chicken in the pasta, and that was a mistake. Generally lovely experience (just stay away from the chicken)! read more

Food was decent, the lobster ravioli was packed full of meat, the pasta part was a bit more starchy than most ravioli. Husband got seafood risotto, he said also decent. Clams and mussels were flavorful, but the risotto's taste left more to be desired. Nice servers, good wine. read more

Easily my favorite go-to for Italian in the North End! I've been going for a few years and always have the same dish, chicken penne and broccoli in their white wine garlic sauce. Other options on the menu look great and my guests always try something new but I know this is the best around so I cannot even think about another dish. It's a small place, and the servers definitely treat you like your family once inside. Expect to wait, even if you have a reservation, but of course can have a drink or two at Beneventos, their sister restaurant right next door. read more

Classic neighborhood restaurant with huge menu, great food, and friendly service with a side of Boston attitude. Wouldn't have it any other way. The only minus here is that space is tight and the joint really packs 'em in. read more

We had good expectations for Al Dente but they were quickly dashed by a cloud of tiny flies at our table - this on a winter cold evening, not summer. They moved us to another table but all night we were shooing the flies away and didn't eat the bread we found them crawling on. We ordered broccoli and ravioli but neither were "al dente" - instead undercooked and harder than they should have been. Sad. read more

My favorite place in the North End. The pasta is AMAZING. They are crazy busy on the weekends, so make sure you make a reservation well in advance (like on a Tuesday or earlier) and expect to still wait 15 minutes or more; that's how busy they are. read more

- Host/Manager was a prick, but to be expected since every restaurant in the North End seems to have the same type of people running them. - Food was... 'eh' at best - sauce was bland - seafood overcooked +the hand-made pasta was good. -Waitress, as nice as she was, could not open and pour a glass of wine properly (basic waiter no-no's). read more

Al Dente is our go-to spot for a great North End meal. They have some of the best Frutti di Mare I've ever tasted. It's offered with 2 different sauces, I always opt for the red sauce. It's served over fresh home made fusilli. The fresh pasta is the backdrop for this wonderful dish but it is a knockout, none the less. Be sure to try the Chicken Buona Bocca, my mom's favorite. Think chicken, prosciutto, mozzarella, spinach, mushrooms in a buttery wine sauce. You really can't go wrong with any of their house specialties on the back of the menu. Wash it all down with some of their creamy limoncello. Delish. read more

Our most recent visit here was subpar. We felt extremely hurried to eat and leave. When I am paying 25 bucks per plate I would like to eat at my own pace. I also had a risotto dish this time, I find their risotto to be terrible. It was the first time going there that there bread has been completely cold, as well. Maybe I wouldn't nitpick on things like that at some restaurants, but for the price you pay here you would expect at least some quality. I regret having my last Italian meal in Boston at Al Dente, I really had higher expectations. read more

GF ordered the seafood with fresh pasta and vodka cream sauce. I ordered the eggplant parmigiana. Both were fantastic and had good portions. Great food, great service, and expedient seating! read more

I love the North End and enjoy trying new restaurants - and this one is a gem! The food was delish! The service wonderful! Prices extremely fair! Portions large! Our waitress was a cute, older lady who was so friendly and down to earth. She was making jokes and had a great personality. The homemade fussili was to die for. Three of us had it, just in different dishes/sauces. I got pesto alfredo and it was one of the best I have had. The pumpkin ravioli was also enjoyed by someone in our party. Can't say enough about this place. I don't have one complaint. Recommend making reservations as it was quite filled, even on a Monday night. We will definitely be returning! read more

I love the North End and love the restaurants in that area. However, this one is not part of the good North End experience so I would recommend avoiding it and trying something better. Prices: not bad ($19-24) We ordered veal and chicken platters and both were full of rice mostly and a LOT OF tomato sauce and the meats really did not have any flavor. I am not sure how a plate that looked THAT messy was lacking this much flavor. the service was good though I have to admit. read more

I would have given this 4 stars if the food had arrived hot. We had sausage cacciatore and a lasagna with eggplant (which was a special) and both were tasty, but I had to ask for the sausage dish to be reheated and if we hadn't already cut up the lasagna, I would have done the same for it. The ceasar salad we started with was pretty mundane for $11.95--for that, I thought it would be made tableside or at least fresh. It was decent but had been refrigerated since earlier in the day. The wine selection was pretty decent and pricing was surprisingly reasonable. read more

Amazing pasta The food was soo good. Pasta was fresh and delicious. Small place very nice service. Will definitely go back. Prices were very reasonable . read more