Al Dente

I’ve been wanting to try this place for some time now, finally got the chance recently to get inside. The tablecloths were sheets of paper. That may be acceptable at a hotdog stand, But not an Italian restaurant. The waiter was never anywhere to be seen. I get excited when I see stuffed artichoke on a menu. It holds a special place in my heart, and it shows you know how to do it right. Aldente proved me wrong. The sauce at the bottom of the dish was actually very good. But the stuffing was nothing more than dry bread crumbs. It was like eating sand. At least I had the sauce to wet it a bit, but wow what a disappointment. The clams casino were only slightly better. The only word I can use to describe the dish is “sad”. My dinner was stuffed ravioli, Tasted like it was bought from ShopRite and made by children. No hate on ShopRite ravioli, They do great. Just not what I expect from an Italian restaurant in Jersey. After one disappointment after another, I refused to leave so unhappy. I was full, but so unsatisfied I felt the need to step in. I instructed them to make me fried calamari. Use the sauce from the artichoke and add cherry peppers. It was fantastic. If you do decide to go here, ask for this. It’s byob, but there is a wine store next door. I doubt I’ll ever be back, and recommend you spend your money elsewhere. Plenty of amazing options in north Jersey.

Translated from the Italian literally “to the tooth," it describes pasta that is cooked to be firm to the bite. Located at the Marketplace of Elmwood Park strip mall off of Market Street, my partner and I made a return trip after two years to Al Dente for an early dinner tonight. Reservations were easily made by calling the establishment at the spur of the moment. Greeted by the staff upon entering, the patrons seemed to be enjoying their dinners and were seated promptly by the window. The menu featured typical Italian cuisine with appetizers, salads, pastas, chicken, fish, and veal dishes, as well as a special menu. We decided on their specials and got their homemade spinach and ricotta ravioli with blackened julienne chicken in Alfredo sauce and homemade fettuccine with chopped shrimp and sweet Italian sausage in a vodka pink sauce with shaved provolone. Our meal came with a side salad. Complimentary warm bread accompanied by butter started our meal. Food was always made with fresh ingredients, just the right amount of spice, and unbelievably delicious. Portions were just right. They offer a dessert, but we had no room to even try to have any. The service was excellent and accommodating, and the whole wait staff worked in tandem with each other. The price is comparable to the area, and BYOB adds to the value of the dinner. We continue to recommend it to anyone who either loves genuine Italian food or actually knows what genuine Italian food is supposed to be.

We brought our high school orchestra here for dinner before going into the city to see an opera. They were able to accommodate 64 of us. The food was great and the pacing of the different courses was perfect for our group. Communication before and during our event was excellent. I can’t thank them enough for the food and service.

They should've warned us there's a $10 shared plate fee when we asked to share the entree (we didn't look in the menu to see the warning since we ordered from from the specials menu). Good portion app & small portion entree were tasty, but not hot. Disappointed, 2-stars. One and done for us, sorry.

They are so accommodating with delicious appetizers, entries, and Darlenes cheesecake and Stephen's osso Bucco. I always can't believe that such a local place is so good. I have hosted 30 people. They know how to do it!!

Cute place. BYOB but i ordered by phone for pick up. The vodka sauce on the ravioli was delicious I just wish the pasta was warm. I picked it up when they told me and the cheese was already hardened if that makes sense. I live 4 minutes away. I also ordered the Antipasta for 2. Clams oreganata were delicious would order again 100%. Clams casino was okay. Calamari was delicious, plenty of sauce on the side. Eggplant rollatini was not consistent. One had some filling the other had none but definitely not enough. Good size side salad with huge piece of soft italian bread. Would try again a different pasta.

Great authentic Italian food. With the amount of food that's served you'll never leave hungry. The staff is always making sure you have everything you need.

Had my sons bday party here. We had chicken, tilapia and eggplant rollantini,the food was good, the atmosphere was nice and the staff was friendly and accommodating. I will definitely return again.

A hidden gem! Super cozy family restaurant with the nicest owners and very reasonable prices. We were seated as soon we arrived (made a reservation) and were immediately provided complimentary bread. The food was truly something else - we started with the mozzarella en corrozza and the shrimp arrabbiata. Both were amazing. We were then given side salads while we waited for our entrees. We ordered from the specials menu and were not disappointed. Despite every table being filled, the food all came out in a timely manner. We ended our evening with some dessert. The tiramisu is absolutely to die for and the strawberries+cream (forgot what it was called) was a new item on the dessert menu that was also delightful. We left the restaurant feeling full and happy. Overall, had a great time and will definitely be back! FYI, the restaurant is byob!

Wanted to try an authentic Italian restaurant while visiting the Newark area. We found Al Dente when we Googled a family friendly Italian restaurant. I was surprised to find such a low rating on Yelp. They accommodated us on a Saturday evening with no reservation. The dining room is intimate- a home like atmosphere. The service was top notch. Our food was good to excellent. Our favorites were the Mozzerella en Carrozza, and the tiramisu was the best I've ever had. Really great were the side salad, the tortellini en brodo soup, my entree - the seasonal pumpkin ravioli with walnuts and a maple sauce as well as the tasty toasted ( sesame?) bread served on the side. My husband had the veal Giovanni. It was just good. My son had the chicken fingers as his entree. We would make the trip next time we're in town.

Translated from the Italian literally "to the tooth," it describes pasta that is cooked to be firm to the bite. Located at the Marketplace of Elmwood Park strip mall off of Market Street, my partner and I made a return trip after two years to Al Dente for an early dinner tonight. Reservations were easily made by calling the establishment at the spur of the moment. Greeted by the staff upon entering, the patrons seemed to be enjoying their dinners and were seated promptly by the window. The menu featured typical Italian cuisine with appetizers, salads, pastas, chicken, fish, and veal dishes, as well as a special menu. We decided on their specials and got their homemade spinach and ricotta ravioli with blackened julienne chicken in Alfredo sauce and homemade fettuccine with chopped shrimp and sweet Italian sausage in a vodka pink sauce with shaved provolone. Our meal came with a side salad. Complimentary warm bread accompanied by butter started our meal. Food was always made with fresh ingredients, just the right amount of spice, and unbelievably delicious. Portions were just right. They offer a dessert, but we had no room to even try to have any. The service was excellent and accommodating, and the whole wait staff worked in tandem with each other. The price is comparable to the area, and BYOB adds to the value of the dinner. We continue to recommend it to anyone who either loves genuine Italian food or actually knows what genuine Italian food is supposed to be.

The middle aged lady that greeted me had a kind face and was very sweet. I ordered a to go and when I got to my hotel... wow! That is ligitimately the best meal I've had in months. I tried the veal Toscano (not a big veal fan but I've had a lot of chicken and burgers lately so I wanted to switch it up). It did not disappoint. Everything was cooked TO PERFECTION. Vegetables (side dish with the veal toscano) in a seperate to go container to not ruin their flavor. Salad with dressing (haven't even gotten a chance to eat that and prolly won't but I'm sure it's delicious because it looks fresh as fuck. Oh and did I mention the tira MISU!!!!! Wow I thought the veal was good. Dammmnnn... this tira misu?... best I've ever had. They've gotta make it from scratch. I would be shocked if they didn't. Thank you Al Dente restaurant.... This meal was exactly what I needed today and will continue to need for the rest of my life.

Superb in every aspect . I almost didn't want to review to keep it a secret . Patrons were there from all over NJ . I overheard a conversation start that was a wave of information on demographics of everyone there . We actually live in town and will be back and often . Bring a spectacular bottle and enjoy .

We've eaten here several times since the beginning of November. We are always greeted warmly by the owner, the waitstaff, and the enticing aroma of the food. My husband and I have thoroughly enjoyed every item we have ordered. I love the spiciness of the marinara sauce. Last night, I just remembered my leftover Rigato I men Penne. Thank goodness, I remembered before I got in the car. It was that goodness, I remembered my dinner for tonight! I experimented, which I rarely did, and shared the huge appetizer of stuffed artichoke with my husband, a healthy and perfectly seasoned choice. I told the owner I wish they had a less filling dessert selection, baking cookies! which most Italian restaurants do not. She said she planned to start cookies and add them to the menu. My husband has tried several of their homemade desserts and never leaves a crumb. We were not surprised to learn Al Dente has many regulars! The portions are large, and the pasta is boiled as long as it should be. We have brought friends there, and they felt the same way. We especially like that are never rushed. Finally, it is BYOB. -Bonnie Lieberman- Fair Lawn

Great food. Great service. Friendly and accommodating. Go to restaurant for Italian food. We've had Cozy dinners for two and parties for 70. J

Lovely little Italian restaurant in a strip mall. Not overly crowded and tables spaced out nicely We had Spiedini as an appetizer it was cooked Nicely and tasted good. I had pasta with vodka sauce which was delicious. The servers were friendly and paid attention to timing. We also received a house salad with our meal. It's a nice little BYOB and they have special deals for takeout posted in the window. Just note that they are no longer excepting yelp discount that is offered. They didn't seem to know anything about it but there is a sign on the door that they are no longer excepting discount coupons so ignore the Yelp offer. Sorry no photos

We have been dining at Al Dente since it was Giovanni's for many many years and have always had great meals. Very affordable for the quality of the food. Steve is a great chef and Marlene is a wonderful hostess. Tonight we ordered a piece of Marlene's homemade cheesecake. It truly was homemade and not a Restaurant Depot product. Not to be missed!!! The staff is super friendly and very professional. A must try and see for sure!

This review is all about the fact that this restaurant is dishonest. We bought a Groupon for $25 off. We went in and sat down and the waitress told us we don't honor that. We can't since the Pandemic. I said well we just got it. She said yes we know but we are telling people they can't use it. You have to call Groupon and get a refund. And she adds there is a sign outside on the door. So I ask her why if they know this is happening and they aren't offering the deal why don't THEY call Groupon and tell them, and she said we do but it's still there. Hmm. Not usually the case imho. And so I go look and there is no sign on the door or window. So I tell her and she says, oh there isn't? There should be. I thought there was. I told her you realize that is bait and switch right? Lure us in and charge us a different price and don't honor the advertisement. She just shrugged her shoulders. We left. No way we were going to allow them to profit from this ruse. So the kicker, when I check in on Yelp, THIS deal I show in the picture pops up -- 15% off. I didn't feel like asking her if they were going to honor this! Funny part is it would be more than the $25 coupon. We will another time. And I will post again. In the meantime I will be reporting them to the BBB for bait and switch and am thinking of suing them for violation of the NJ Consumer Fraud Act. They are worse than shady. Do not patronize them. Oh and they charge a 4% credit card surcharge too. I believe that violates their agreement with the credit card companies by charging more than they pay to the service. I will be checking that too. Such a shame they are taking advantage of people. So many fair and good local restaurants around. Patronize them instead.

We've been dining at Al Dente (formerly Giovann's) for many years and always had a WONDERFUL meal at an incredibly reasonable price. Delicious specials and a great takeout menu add to making this an excellent dining option. Additionally, the owners have a gift in hiring the most attentive and personable staff. We've recommended this restaurant to friends and will continue to patronize and suggest to others forever!

Ordered my birthday dinner from Al Dente in Elmwood Park and got this nice surprise for dessert which included candle. They are the best. Thank you

Delicious food with great service, lacking some ambiance - it's in a strip mall. Have some good dinner specials

I am excited about spending a semi-quiet evening for New Year's Eve tonight. We ate at Al Dente 2 weeks ago and loved the food and the service. Everyone is pleasant. Shane was our server. He was kind, patient and attentive. We were welcomed warmly by the hostess, one of two owners. the other is her husband, the chef- responsible for cooking a wonderful meal!

We had the catering for Thanksgiving and all the food was great. They did a great job and we've eaten there in the past. It's a small establishment, but the food is always great at a fair price.

It's been years since we visited this restaurant and made reservations but was hardly necessary as most tables were empty. Was seated quickly and serviced well. Started with the fried calamari which was unbelievably mouth melting fresh and cooked to perfection. I don't remember ever having calamari this good, was pleasantly surprised. Wife have the Panco crusted Salmon with deijon mustard sauce which she completely finished. I had the Lamb Chips with double cooked onions and was so good. Finished off with carrot cake and coffee and under $100. Definitely one of our best meals and not sure why this place was so empty. Service was impeccable all around. Owner thanked us for coming. 5 stars all around. Highly recommend!

Quietly tucked away in a strip mall in Elmwood Park Al Dente serves up delicious classic Italian dishes. Nice appetizers like Spedini Alla Romana, Veal & chicken dishes and pasta galore. Attentive wait staff make the experience even better.

My family ordered the Italian Dinner Family special they offer. Came with penne vodka, Pasta with Bolognese, vegetables, potatoes, a salad with bread, chicken marsala and chicken Parmesan. Everything was delicious!! Our food was ready perfectly on time and everything was piping hot straight thru the 10 minute car ride home. Very happy!! Oy reason we gave 4 stars and not 5 is bc the two chicken platters were a little light. Was recommended to serve 5-7 and couldve been more.

I have to say I was very pleasantly surprised as I am extremely picky and have not had a good Italian food delivery in probably too many years, I had actually given up. It was my first time trying Al Dante and ordered Chicken parmesan with penne and vodka sauce over both (no red sauce) . I am in the industry so I can tell quality. They took every extra step for freshness, Including wrapping each container with film to keep the freshness in and the chicken perfectly moist. The simplest things can make your day, and this place has restored my faith in take out! I am so happy to have finally found "My Place" for good Italian Food

So the stuffed artichoke is to die for. Like really amazing. Order it. It's so good . Everything here is amazing. Its really really great comfort food. Byob. And make a reservation cuz the work is out amd it's not easy to get in. Love you guys

We wouldn't be going back again !!! I'm visiting a girlfriend whose lives in the neighborhood and been going there for years ... this time around the food is horrible and service is even WORST !! We ordered Linguine with White clams Sauce Shrimp & Scallops with marinara sauce !! Both dishes was disgustingly terrible ... the Linguine was so very salty and the pasta was very bland.., We wanted to send the Linguine back we do not like to send food back !!! The service was TERRIBLE .. the server (and every one else in the restaurant) did not come by once to check on us or even ask how the food was !!! We had to asked for everything The cheese for pastas ! She came back with the cheese and with an extra Attitude !!! I have been in restaurant business for over 30 years Always enjoyed food but this ?? We actually ate it because we were so hungry !!! BTW ... we were the ONLY table that we are not Caucasian !!! Is that why we don't get a decent service ??!!!

This Italian restaurant rocks! Make sure to try their $20 Dinner for 2 menu. Excellent selection. For a single person, it lasts over 2 days plus the salad that it comes with. Chicken marsala is the best with rigatoni Bolognese. It comes with dessert too. It's a once a week a must to have to and do :)

Very unassuming exterior in a little mall but don't fooled, the food is delicious. The spicy calamari is exceptional and the salmon is great. Portions are also plentiful. If you are interested in a great meal at a reasonable price-this is it.

We ordered the Dinner for Two special for takeout tonight. I must review because contrary to a review I just read regarding the Chicken Nonna, we thought it was absolutely delicious! The sauce the chicken is in is soo tasty. The whole meal overall I definitely would recommend and order again. Yum!

Ok, I must say, the house salad was Ok. Nothing really special. As I was eating the salad, I was expecting the rest to go down hill. But once we got our food, it was amazing! The wife and I had ordered from the daily special. It was amazing. See the pictures for photos of the food. I will definitely go back.

Was so fortunate to have a wonderful dinner delivered from Al Dente tonight. The food was excellent and even arrived hot. What a treat in these trying times! Hats off to the chef!!

We ordered take out the other night. We ordered: Chicken Marsala, rigatoni with tomato sauce & capers, and a large antipasto. The Chicken Marsala and antipasto were delicious, melted right in our mouths!! However the rigatoni was a little too salty for us. We will still continue to come here because everything on the menu is very tasty!

Went with a group of 6 on a Saturday night. Had reservations, and they were needed. We were seated promptly - but there is no designated hostess stand anywhere in the restaurant - so that's a tad confusing. Additionally when you first walk in from outside the small foyer has cute Italian murals painted on the walls - then you get into the restaurant and the identity crisis begins. There is the weirdest selection of wall decor EVER for an Italian restaurant inside this place -- going to the local Home Goods in the decor aisle would lead to far better options for pictures and paintings. But alas, onto the food - it was delicious!! Appetizers were good portion sizes. Tons of specials...4 of the 6 in our party found specials they wanted and the other 2 ordered off menu. Every entree came with choice of house or ceasar salad. BYOB is our preferred dining method so we enjoyed that. Overall, the bill was a bit steep for a BYOB but with appetizers, entrees and dessert it's understandable. May want to inquire as to prices on the specials because I think thats where we got surprised!

This is a really great local spot for either dining in or take out. We most do take out here as they offer pretty compelling specials for pick up. One deal they offer is a family special which includes a protein, pasta, veggies, and salad. Serves 4-5 adults and is a really great value. I've never been disappointed with the food. They also do a dinner for two special which includes a pasta, protein and dessert. Portion sizes for two aren't super big but definitely enough and the cannolis are awesome! The staff here is friendly, location is convenient, and the food is always delicious!

The chicken parm was excellent! I've tried to penne ala vodka. I've also tried the rigatoni bolognese all were excellent and a great value!

Me and my wife went there last night everything was absolutely fantastic. The service was great the food was delicious and extremely good. The staff was absolutely fantastic they were right there if you wanted or needed anything. I think that the owner was there she was non- stop and very friendly. We will be going back very soon. Just went back it was even better if you can believe that the food was unbelievable the service was fantastic we need to start going back more often the owner is very friendly and always very accommodating. If you have never been there you are absolutely missing out on a great dining experience.

Ordered dinner and dessert for the first time a few nights ago. The food was delicious and the desserts were also amazing. This place is a keeper!

Love the environment and the people.food is delicious can't wait to go again. I definatly recommend this restaurant.

Made a reservation, since very crowded. Food was fantastic. Tried spedini alla Romano appetizer. This was really good and most restaurants don't offer it. Portions are large. Quality And service excellent. Prices very reasonable and it is a byob.

I'm amazed at the scattered reviews -- we found the food to be well above average (basic Italian stuff, nothing fancy), the prices reasonable, and the service surprisingly good for a crowded Saturday night. Several fairly recent reviewers said they don't accept credit cards, but they took ours with no argument at all, so I don't know what that's about. For a small, crowded place in a strip mall, I think they do a very good job. (The space next door is vacant, so perhaps they will consider enlarging...) BYOB.

The Anti credit card resturant it's all about cash here When you walk in there is a sign asking you if you pay with a credit card, please leave your tip In cash. (Never saw that before). Then after Eating our $14.95 complete dinners (early Bird ) we were told that if we pay with credit card the price jumps to $18.95. I know the the card companies charge a fee but it's more like 2.5-5% max WOW so they jump the price up $4.00 which is 25+% more for using a credit card. Why jump it up that much is the ? Oh on the food part-small portions, the chicken dish's were 1 thin chicken cutlet. Everything is a Small portion, they are giving you an appetizer, salad , entrée and desert. Which is great value at $14.95. but when the tack on $4.00 it is not Taste in my opinion nothing special.

Tried Al Dente for the first time a few months ago. I was passing through the area and saw the "Dinner for Two" take out special. Included in the special was a choice of pasta and chicken. We decide on the Pollo de Nonna and Penne Vodka. It also included a House Salad, Bread and cannolis. Once we picked the food up we knew we made a mistake. The aroma coming from the bag was not pleasant. The penne vodka was average at best. The chicken dish sound great on paper but once eaten tasted like soggy rubbery chicken in a chicken broth sauce. More of a soup consistency then a sauce. No wine to be tasted. We didn't even eat the meal it ended up in the garbage. Best part was the cannolis! If you are looking for good Italian food this is not place!

Was at a work seminar and for lunch we decided on this place. The decor has the look of a little hometown romantic Italian place. Italian soft music in background. The food was very good. All of our dishes were so good. Lucky we shared one another's dishes. So I got to try different dishes on my first visit. Very tasty food. A very attentive staff. Nice crowd at 12pm lunch. So definitely I can see it to be a wait later in the day. So if your in the town. Check this place out

Great food. Great service. Friendly and accommodating. Go to restaurant for Italian food. We've had Cozy dinners for two and parties for 70. Steve and Laurie and staff are the best.

I truly love this place! Great food, good service, priced right, varied menu, lots of specials, wonderful appetizers and the owner Steve is so accommodating. We bring family and friends here all the time and everyone loves it! It can get busy towards the end of the week so try to call ahead. It's BYOB and there is a liquor store right next door. The bottom line is the food is excellent and you will leave with a smile. Enjoy!!

We've been going to this place for years and the food is consistently good. Previously they are called Giovanni. The restaurant is not big, nor fancy. The owner may appear to be tough but he is an excellent chef and a very kind person. Since I never bother to sign up yelp till recently, I never wrote a review for them. I was shocked to see the 3.5 star rating yesterday. They are quite busy, especially weekends when we could wait for 45 minutes to get in. We've been most of the known Italian restaurants in Bergen county, hardly anyone can compete with them. For a while, I took my son to this place 2-3 times a week after his sports trainings. That's how good they are!

My family and i had a family party here today. The experience was horrible the food as well as the service was awful. I had hopes but customer service and food go hand in hand just not here. I do not recommend here at all. I don't appreciate disrespectful staff either customer service is a big part f how a restaurant runs if you don't have that you will not have returning customers. The food was terrible, horrible presentation mixed with awful tastes. I wasn't he only one that had felt the same.

Great Italian food as my waistline will attest to. BYOB and enjoy a fine meal with attentive service. Also, their takeout specials are a great value for your events at home or just for a large family meal. Make sure to reserve well in advance for Holidays!

I had the stuffed artichoke & I LOVED it. It was a nice big size & the lemon garlic sauce was amazing. Main course was Frutti de Mare & it was loaded with delicious seafood. Our waiter (Dave) was very attentive to our needs. I highly recommend this restaurant.

Food is delicious!! Everything was good until the end. We had a Groupon which dos not say we needed to pay in cash(restaurant does take cards) and we were told to use the Groupon we needed cash. Then on the bill they charged us $10 for a corkage fee!!! It's BYOB! Seems unfair. (I looked up the law. If a restaurant in New Jersey is only BYOB then they legally can't charge a corkage fee. I want my money back!) Food was great as usual but after the corkage fee and the cash problem we won't be going back. And we were 30 cents short to reach the $50 min to use our $25 Groupon and the owner made us buy something to use the 30 cents.

I wanted to treat my parents to an Anniversary dinner. We didn't want the typical take out dinner. I found this place on Yelp because I no longer live in the area and so glad I did. Even my parents, who live in EP have never been here. I think they may now frequent this place more often. We ordered 4 different dinners and an appetizer and everything was delicious.

Every time my daughter and I come for dinner we are never disappointed! The pasta fagioli is the best I have ever tasted! Love this place.

Food is fresh and delicious,,, service was excellent!!! We will coming back!! Antipasto was just like back home. I have not had Mortadella since I left Brooklyn...

I love coming here with my grandparents. This place makes the best Italian food (with the exception of my grandmother and mother, who make the best food). Service is so so, but it's mainly because they are understaffed. Go there on a busy day and there are only like 3 waiters. Portions have gotten much smaller over the years unfortunately, but the food is still delicious.