Al dente Trattoria

Great flavors, wonderful service. Glad we had dinner here! Try there Frutti di Mare, excellent.

A pretty nice Italian restaurant in downtown Palm Springs, with outdoor misters, a pleasant interior with comfortable booths, and a nice little bar. My friends and I came here when we were hungry for Italian during a recent stay in the Palm Desert. They offer a large variety of sauces that can be applied to spaghetti, rigatoni, tagliatelle, etc. they also have a lot of salads, soups, and meat dishes. I ordered broccoli soup, a burrata salad, and tagliatelle with Pomodoro sauce. Everything was really fresh, though I think the burrata was the highlight for me, with the exceptionally flavorful, purplish tomatoes and the creamy cheese. The soup was all right, though slightly underwhelming, and the pasta, while perfectly cooked, lacked a bit of flavor in the pomodoro. Overall, a pretty good experience, stacking up to ~4.4/5 stars. The service was very attentive and friendly, the atmosphere was pretty good, and the food definitely had some high moments.

Such good classic Italian! Their marina / arrabbiata sauce is a MUST try if you like garlic. I love their tiramisu as well. The staff here are always so warm and treat us with the kindest hospitality. I prefer to sit outside but the inside is very nice as well (maybe slightly more formal inside).

We had such a wonderful experience at Al Dente. From the moment we walked in, Noel and the rest of the staff made us feel so welcome and attentive without being overbearing. The food was outstanding. My wife ordered the fish of the day special and loved every bite, while I had the spaghetti bolognese which was perfectly prepared and rich with flavor. The sauces here are truly something special. Prices are very fair, especially in today’s economy, and the ambiance strikes that perfect balance of cozy and lively. The patio is a gem, right in the heart of downtown Palm Springs. We will absolutely be back. This is our new favorite spot in town.

Very enjoyable traditional Italian restaurant, food is excellent, service was very nice. The location is nice peaceful but yet busy enough to enjoy nice outdoor dinner, heaters running to take the cool night nip off. Plenty of street parking around.

Went to Palm Springs in March and October of this year and dined at Al dente Trattoria both times for dinner. And, both times did not disappoint. The food was fresh, tasty, and delicious. Great menu options. Solid service and cute atmosphere. Nice outdoor space, too. I'll definitely return on my next trip to PS.

First time patrons for my birthday Eve Dinner with my husband and a special couple in our neighborhood. Entering from their rear parking area I was a bit concerned, as the entrance is a bit seedy/rundown, but opening the inside door exposed an elegant, intimate and very soothing atmosphere. The service was warm, attentive and expertly stealth. Well made cocktails, homemade bread with olive oil, balsamic, and refreshing tomato bruschetta to top the bread...and then the entrees! We each chose different menu items, mine being veal Marsala with a side of perfect oil, butter and parsley spaghetti. The Marsala sauce was superb...meaty mushroom slices in that rich wine gravy made with a splash of cognac. Everyone loved their meals (how often does that happen). They heard that it was my birthday and finished the meal with surprise desert of a frozen lemon Gelato ball with a candle! PERFECT EVENING!

Ate here 3/28/2026 5:30 pm. Fantastic host at the Front Desk. We sat outside for dinner and our server and the support staff were very polite and provided excellent service. Food was delicious too.