"This cozy Park Slope institution has hardly changed since it opened in 1998. And why should it? Al Di La, and its rustic Northern Italian menu, is pretty much perfect—like a just-right oversized sweater inherited from a boyfriend (particularly if that same boyfriend is still in your possession, too). It’s easier to get a table here than ever these days, making it an ideal choice for a spur-of-the-moment weeknight dinner when you’re feeling spontaneously mushy, or a highly specific anniversary you’re surprised you even remember, like the first time your cat threw up on his sofa. Curl up on a church pew under mismatched chandeliers, split a bottle of wine, and feed each other bites of malfatti." - neha talreja, bryan kim, molly fitzpatrick, sonal shah