Edinburgh is stuffed full of friendly, fun, cheap and cheerful pizzerias and trattorias. Al Dente may be small and casual in style, but creates seriously sophisticated, regional dishes worthy of a more expensive, upmarket restaurant.
From a tasty selection of antipasti dishes, e.g. Baked figs with Parma ham, my dining companion selected Tortino, a smoked Apulia cheese and fennel pie, which was eaten in a flash. My Bruschetta was simple but so tasty with four different toppings: white bean, garlic mushroom, mozzarella and tomato.
The Pasta course here can be taken as a starter, an intermediate or a small main course. A speciality is Paccheri al Brazino, home-made pasta tubes stuffed with Seabass puree, smothered in mussels, prawns and seafood sauce. This was simply divine. Alternatively, try the Venetian dish, Risotto with squid ink, or classic Lasagna from Bologna. You really can dine around the cities of Italy here.
Main courses may include Lamb cooked in crusty bread with roast potatoes, a speciality from Rome. Also seasonal dishes and daily blackboard specials such as Patridge, Rabbit, Chicken with quail and asparagus and fresh Fish from the market.
For those with a sweet tooth you will be in heaven: Profiteroles with warm chocolate sauce, Lemoncello Gelati, Poached Pear in red wine.
Talking of wine, the list is very well priced. We enjoyed a glass of Prosecco to start as an aperitif and then slowly sipped a smooth cherryish Merlot with our superb dinner.
Every month or so a special Banquet evening features a selected Region – Puglia, Lombardy, Piedmont - to showcase a Tasting menu of fine Italian food with matched wine. These are very popular events so reserve a table in good time.
"Life is a combination of magic and pasta." - Federico Fellini
Visit Al Dente for perfect pasta, fish and meat - and a magical foodie experience.