Al Di La
25 Magnolia Rd, Charleston, SC, 29407
Al Di La Menu
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Antipasti
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Primi
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Secondi
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Dolci
Healthy Meal suggestions for Al Di La
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Antipasti
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Primi
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Secondi
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Dolci
Visit below restaurant in Charleston for healthy meals suggestion.
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Address :
25 Magnolia Rd
Charleston, SC, 29407 - Phone (843) 571-2321
- Website https://www.aldilarestaurant.com/#/home
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Tue
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Dinner
Parking : Valet, Street, Private Lot
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : No
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : No
Dogs Allowed : Yes
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : No
Categories
Italian Cuisine
The immense popularity of Italian cuisine globally isn't unknown. You can find an Italian Pizzeria around every corner of almost every city in the United States. Not to forget that in every house, people enjoy mac and cheese as comfort food. But it would be wrong to believe that Italian food starts with pizza and ends with good pasta as this Mediterranean country has much more to offer other than these two dishes. In Italian Cuisine, there is a high use of fresh tomatoes, all kinds of herbs, great quality of cheese, all types of meat, seafood and fresh handmade pasta. Many find it hard to believe that Italians have been making noodles long back.
Italian and Greek cuisines are always mistaken to be same, but they are poles apart. The primary difference between the two cuisines is the use of cheese in most of the Italian dishes. Italians love to cultivate their own cheese and process them as per their food requirement. It is believed that some cheese is so expensive that cheese producers secure them in lockers.
If you are bored eating the same old pasta or pizza, you can try some of the authentic Italian dishes like Risotto, Polenta, Ribollita, Lasagna, Fiorentina Steak, Bottarga, Ossobuco, Carbonara, Focaccia, Arancini and Supplì. Another item which Italians love to relish every morning is a good cup of Italian Coffee. Once you taste a freshly brewed cup of Italian Coffee, you might not visit Starbucks ever again. Authentic Italian food is made with heart and soul, so go find a restaurant where you can relish Italian cuisine in your city.
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Tara B.
This restaurant is one of my favorites in Charleston. The food is amazing and I've never been disappointed. I'm seriously salivating thinking about the salad I had when I went there last. It's perfect for a romantic date night or a couples night. The servers are efficient and knowledgeable. The food is fresh and ingredients are flavorful and in season! What makes this a top contender for dinner is the Avondale valet option for parking- so nice! From the bread to the dessert, I can't get enough! Try the gnocchi, the salad with anchovies and the tiramisu (duh!).
(5)Dano M.
Change the menu once in a little bit...Boring.....was a lot better when I was excited to go there...Now it is a chore, and I am not letting women influence me ever again...BORING.....Give me some Veal......
(2)Nicola G.
There was very little I enjoyed tonight at Al Di La, to begin I shared the Asparagus Risotto - which had a good flavor and was creamy, however it was overcooked and mushy, the scallops served with it were the single best thing I tasted all evening - and they were excellent. My husband had the liver crostini which was only ok - overly peppery but had good texture. He chose the Bolognese - which has rave reviews, but was not a bolognese that I have ever seen or tasted before (should be a heavy tomato based meat sauce), this had an odd lemony flavor and was in no way a bolognese. Others chose the Gnocchi which was not terrible - though not particularly memorable. My main course was an interesting sounding pasta with butterbeans, pancetta and pecorino - it was oily, bland and lacking apparently pecorino . The service started well, the waiter was helpful and seemed familiar with the menu, but once the food appeared was hard to find. We requested cheese to sprinkle - by the time it arrived 3 of us had finished and the others were about to. We did not bother with dessert at this point. A lack lustre restaurant with a limited menu and terrible parking, with so many other great restaurants in our city don't settle for this place.
(1)Becca S.
I thought the food,especially the sea bass, was wonderful. I also dug the excellent bottle of Italian wine for $24.
(4)Dave H.
The Italian food is great and served by a friendly and knowedgable wait staff. Most, if not all, of the food is made from scratch. My Black Angus tenderloin was perfect. Served with Mashed potatoes with a touch of garlic, asparagras spears and some kind of flavored pasta. Parking is difficult but not impossible. My wife's pasta dish was equally great. The main dining room does require reservations, but the adjacent wine bar is walk-in. It would be nice if the chairs had some kind of cushions for those of us who don't have built in padding.
(4)Francesca D.
Coming from a self proclaimed Italian food snob (my father is an Italian chef up north, and my grandparents are from Florence) this spot gets 5 stars! I'm always hesitant to try out an Italian restaurant simply because I'm spoiled and used to my family's cooking, and this place reminded me of home! I'm so glad one of my girlfriends and I gave it a try during restaurant week and I hope that the menu they had for that special is the same as what they normally offer. Now for the review: As stated, we did restaurant week. I opted for the 3 for $35 menu. It was a busy night, but we had a reservation and were promptly seated. We had a great table up top facing out to the dining room. Our waitress was very attentitive and had wonderful suggestions. I started with a nice glass of Prosecco and with a roasted beet salad 1st course. The dressing was perfect! Then opted for the Risotto with Scallops and asparagus.. even more yummy! The tiramisu was heaven on a plate. I could eat that every night. The perfect combo of sweet and savory. We had a wonderful meal and service. The food quality was fantastic and we left feeling full but not too stuffed. I will be back!
(5)AJ S.
Wonderful unexpected gem. We came on a saturday night when it first opened around 5:30. It was mistly empty then but filled up within just a few minutes. definately make a reservation if going durin peak nights. The staff was very attentive and friendly. We had the beet salad (a little low on the beets) and bruschetta for apps and the pork chop, scallop risotto, and rabbit pasta dish. All were amazing. There was a nice thick glaze on the pork chop, the scallops were large and perfectly seared, and the pasta was very rich and cheesy but countered by the substantial shredded rabbit meat. We decided to get the ricotta cheesecake for dessert- definitely recommended! Even if you're super full from all the creamy goodness before, it's smal enough that you can share and just get a few heavenly bites in. Can't wait for summer when they open up the patio! There will be much more seating and the smaller Magnolia street it's on would make for a nice al fresco setting.
(4)Deb B.
The rabbit was unbelievable and the the service was outstanding! Yay for them!
(5)Ashley W.
Al Di La is my FAVORITE restaurant in Charleston, hands down!!! I remember when it was half the size it is now. The gnocchi is incredible! I've tried gnocchi all over the US and I have never had any as amazing as Al Di La's. You have to order it! The prices are reasonable, even on wine! I can't say enough great things about this place. Delicious!! xo
(5)Rafael R.
Uneven portion sizes. My wife ordered a dish (gnocchi and shrimp) that was filling, while I ordered one (eggplant) that left me wanting more food. The gnocchi was good, though not the sauce. I can't say the ambiance is all that special. The seating was uncomfortable and the geometric wallpaper is a weird choice. Would have liked something a little cozier for the money.
(2)Jillian G.
Me and my partner just left after having the 3 for $20 restaurant week meal. I started off with something light - a salad with anchovies. Who knew I liked them?! Then I got the heavy dish - pasta with duck confit and truffle oil. It was delicious. Although personally I think truffle oil is a scam I still love the flavor. I finished my meal with a decadent white chocolate mousse, light but still had a full body taste. It came with a chocolate straw, berries and a sweet wafer. I sipped on a shot of limoncello and ice water during the meal. Our server was great and I also got to see my friend Caroline in action. Very pleased.
(5)Sandy S.
Al Di La is the best restaurant West of the Ashley...I know many folks that have their company Christmas Dinner there because it has never disappointed !! Always fresh, delish and service impeccable !!
(5)Keli T.
Amazing! Bruschetta, bolognese are a must... But the ever changing menu always satisfies.
(5)Jess V.
I absolutely love this place! Very intimate and the lighting is low so its perfect for a date night! Server was very knowledgable about wine and food. My favorite is the gnocchi and the homemade cheesecake. Also, try the fig appetizer (if offered)
(5)Lindsey K.
2 1/2 Stars... So I have been told many people Al Di La its the best, you have to try it, blah blah blah...well...I have been here twice now and still do not understand all the hype. The food had little to no flavor both times we dined here. To sum it up, the wine, service, and outdoor patio experience were all great...the food just wasn't there. With that being said, I really want to like this place since it's so close to our house...we will be back to give them a third chance....going with the pizza next time....can't mess that up...right? If you are looking for good Italian food check out Wild Olive or Il Cortile Del Re, you won't be disappointed..
(3)Suzi S.
Dinner was excellent. The asparagus pizza was definitely a delight. Pastas, risotto & fish, everything was delicious. Best dinner and service we've had in a long time. Mark and his staff made us an evening to remember!!!
(5)Donna C.
Very cool, hip, Manhattan kind of place. Order the carpaccio and the tagliatelle duck confit. Yummy!
(5)Alvaro M.
For a while there, this West Ashley trattoria had lost its way. I'm thrilled to report that Al Di La has found it footing again. Went there tonight with two friends and I don't think we had a bad dish. Standouts: The Asparagus and Scallop Risotto for a starter. The entrees were all spectacular: The "hunter style" chicken (why they don't call it Chicken Cacciatore I have no idea. it is an Italian restaurant for God's sake), served over polenta; The triggerfish (yummy) and the short ribs: amazing. Falling-off-the-bone-amazing. Skip the ricotta cheesecake (just disappointing) and go for the chocolate-mint custard.
(4)Rachel B.
We utilized a Groupon deal to have dinner here while on vacation. Our party consisted of five adults, one child and a baby. Our server was great, explaining the dishes, drinks and specials. There was a mix up with my meal that caused it to be served as the rest of the party was finishing, but it was still fantastic and the server took care of the problem like a pro. A great place for small groups. Everyone in our party had amazing comments on their dinners. Dessert was fantastic!!
(5)Emilie W.
Best gnocchi i have ever eaten
(4)Eyecant S.
This is a undiscovered gem of a place in Charleston. Of my 4 trips there all 4 have been very good. They have a good selection of food and wine and the service is great as well. They even have valet parking for tips only on some nights.
(5)Cindy F.
Incredible meal, the service was awesome, good wine selection, this is one of the best places I've eaten in Charleston!
(5)Laura K.
my husband and i live in the neighborhood near this restaurant, so we frequent the avondale restaurants quite a bit. al di la is by far my favorite. the menu changes per season and they strive to use local ingredents. this italian is on par with anything i've had in little italy in boston and in the authentic italian restaurants in NYC - they even make all of their own pasta from scratch! the prices are moderate, and you definitely get what you pay for! a must if you are near avondale
(5)Nick V.
I can't say enough good things about Al Di La! The food was authentic and delicious, all the meals were reasonably priced and you received large portions, the atmosphere in the restaurant was perfect, and the service was amazing. I went last Friday as an engagement party with my family and my fiance's family, and the management pulled out all the stops to make sure we had a great evening. We plan to go back on a date night sometime soon. Thank you, Al Di La - you've earned yourself some new regulars.
(5)Richard B.
Always crowded, and rightfully so . . . an inventive, delicious look at Northern Italian food. And now they have free valet parking!! (A major plus in that area). We started with a tasty plate of cheeses and soppresata [sp?], together with a special of roasted dates (or was it figs), stuffed with gorganzola and wrapped in prosciutto. We decided to pass on pasta and concentrated on the daily fish special - a perfectly tuned flounder with rosemary mashed potatoes . . . and a marvelous roasted half game hen, which looked almost too good to eat, on a bed of risotto (I think) and a host of fresh veggies. 3 different wines . . . followed by a tiramisu with hazelnuts and a deadly ricotta cheesecake thyat could be declared a "per se" weapon. And the service - Andre - was professional, in tempo and knowledgeable. Switching languages, tres yummesque . . . rhb
(5)Calvin W.
I give this place 3 stars because the service was less than desired, but the food was excellent! I had a fresh spaghetti-type meal (not sure what they were called, but like spaghetti noodles, but fatter) and fresh italian sausage in a nice alfredo sauce. The place wasn't that roomy and the server was not very good. The food came out very slow and the server only came out to us a few times...taking almost an hour to fill our drinks again. Albeit we were a party of 8 and it was busy....that shouldn't be an excuse for bad service. The plate of olives were a little pricey as you really get half a handful, but my main meal was excellent...and the food was the main redeeming quality of the place.
(3)Giancarlo B.
NICE LITTLE PLACE. Their focaccia bread was excellent. The chairs and booths are very uncomfortable, those kind of straw jobs that are sheer torture. We had some nice appetizers that were seriously over-priced, $7.50 for a few white anchovies and strings of red peppers. The typical bruchette and a weak beet salad. Fresh pastas were very good, I had a fresh farfalle primavera, my friend had a trout in filo pastry that was well prepared and fresh, the risotto was very tasty but the rice itself was so over cooked (pre-cooked) that it was mush, I could not have eaten it . The bar area had a nice wood burning oven and looked lively. Will not be a top pick of mine in Charleston area, I don't mind driving over the bridge for good food.
(4)Eric B.
Delicious food at reasonable prices and a warm, comfortable atmosphere. This is one of my favorite restaurants in West Ashley.
(4)Morgan S.
I had a hard time deciding what to level to rate Al Di La at... I obviously decided to go with a middle of the road '3' star rating. I've been to Al Di La four or five times and have never been wowed. On the flip side, I've never had a horrible experience either. Overall it's just decent. Decent service. Decent menu. Decent taste. Decent Decent Decent. Who wants to be JUST decent?!?!
(3)Mary J.
My recent visit to Al Di La was one of the best dining experiences I have ever had in Charleston. Since buying a home in the lowcountry eighteen years ago my husband and I have had the opportunity to frequent many highly lauded and excellent restaurants. Alas, many have come and gone. After our meal at Al Di La last week with our nephew and his family it is clear why this restaurant has enjoyed both longevity and a consistently top rating. Both my nephew and his wife are Mad Men fanatics and were instantly in love with the newly remolded restaurant's mid-century vibe. Alban, our very passionate, personable and capable server went out of his way to make sure our out of town family had a memorable experience. He was very patient and knowledgeable and explained the features of every dish in guiding us towards making sumptuous choices. Every one at the table felt the mussels were some of the best we have sampled anywhere and a true bargain given the quantity and quality. Alban was never far away to replenish the fresh in-house focaccia so we could savor every bit of the rich, complex broth. Other stand out dishes included veal, duck confit and the Bolognese. Especially notable is the perfectly seasoned thick and juicy pork chop. It is very apparent that all the food at Al Di La is prepared in-house, including the very refreshing Limoncello. Every restaurant has its not so great feature and sadly for Al Di La it is trying to find parking in the popular Avondale neighborhood. There was no valet on duty on a Thursday evening or else he/she were out of sight. Once inside the doors, though, parking issues become a faded memory. Thank-you, Al Di La and Alban for a most enchanting experience.
(5)Aaron B.
The gnocci was quite good, and the prices were very reasonable.
(4)Ind R.
Like "a lot of people," I dig Al di La :) They make everything from scratch, and have done wonders with a location that's low on glamour. The bottom line- it's hard to find a nice meal in West Ashley. Make reservations in advance. I've called days ahead, and still haven't scored a table.
(4)Tommy V.
A lot of people like Al di La, and don't get me wrong, their food is decent, but it's not great. The dishes that I've had there have all been either mediocre preparations of standard dishes or somewhat inventive plates with some flavor that was totally out of whack. There are so many better restaurants in Charleston, and the prices at Al di La don't match the quality of the food. The decor is chalkboards with wine prices and black and white photos hung on a cinder-block wall. A few of their appetizers stood out as pretty good. Stuffed figs wrapped in prosciutto were great but that's not enough to bring me back. Their wine list is organized by varietal (generally one bottle of each that they have), and all Italian.
(2)Anna H.
This place gives you a real Italian experience. With its family style cooking, romantic ambience, and great service this is the place to try! We started our meal with their savory mussels. The sauce that the mussels marinaded was so delicious I wanted to suck up all the sauce with my straw! My husband had the large fettuccine bolognese. It came piled on his plate! It was enough for two meals or people. The seasoning was perfect and the pasta was al dente! I selected the roasted eggplant with polenta and sautéed green beans. The roasted eggplant had minimal seasoning, but it's simplistic flavor blended well with the cheese it was topped with and the buttery flavor of the polenta. I was quite pleased with my entree! The beans were slightly overcooked because they were wilted, but still not lacking in flavor. They have a great wine menu that are mainly Italian wines. The service is also wonderful. They were all very helpful in answering our questions. If you are looking for a date night place or a place with authentic Italian experience, this is the place for you!
(5)Tania W.
Shannon provided Amazing service. She was personable and knowledgeable.... We started with the carpaccio and asked for a hint of truffle oil drizzled over it. Amazing it's a must ! Second course tomato basil soup another THUMBS UP. ...DELICIOUS For dinner we decided on the ribeye and asparagus risotto with sea scallops. The scallops were the best, the risotto was less then desirable. It was not creamy it was very starchy and to me just over cooked no taste. .. We paired our dishes with a yummy bottle of Sassomagno. It was heavenly. All in all we will come back in excited to try new things. I'd like to see something other then kale as a,side. How about beets or Brussel sprouts. ..! Limoncello was very tasty
(4)Doug W.
Slow service, no water refils, no bead, no option other than restaurant week menu, with smaller than normal portions... don't know if I'll go back again, but definitely won't for restaurant week.
(2)Kathy D.
We had a little trouble finding the restaurant but it was well worth it. We ordeed the figs wrapped in prosciutto, the caprice salad, the pork chop and the short ribs. Thanks short ribs were succulent and tasty tender meat. The mashed potatoes were delicious and our sever Kevin was outstanding making it a hit all the way around.
(5)Jaimie L.
What an amazing meal!!! I've eaten here before but it has been a while. We dined on Wednesday 2/18 and had the best meal! I order the beef carpaccio, and the duck confit. I was feeling adventurous as neither of these dishes are something I had tried before. AMAZING. Our server was awesome and she recommended a great wine, a Cabernet blend. If you haven't tried al di la yet, get on it!
(5)Lauren F.
The food here was DELICIOUS! My friend and I managed to find a groupon for $50 worth a food so we sampled several things on the menu. We made our own cheese/meat plate which came with a generous portion of each; as well as the mussels which came in a delicious broth perfect for bread-dipping! My friend had the fettuccine bolognese and I had the tagliatelle duck confit, both were AMAZING! Pasta was cooked perfect and the prices were very inexpensive for the quality of food you were receiving.
(4)Amy Lauren S.
I'm really thankful I gave Al Di La a second chance. My husband and I visited last week for a date night and I was more than happy with both our food, service, and the value. First, Al Di La is doing some great things for the community by raising money and awareness of autism. They've had some special menu items over the last few months where 100% of the profits from those dishes' sales went toward autism charities. In addition, on certain nights of the week, they have donated a percentage to those charities. Second, the service the last time we went was outstanding. Our server did a great job explaining every dish to us, taking care of us, and also packaging our leftovers to go (the portions here are a great size for the price). We have also visited again with a Groupon deal and experienced the same great service. Third, Al Di La has some really good happy hour specials on dishes and drinks, including the gnocchi. The gnocchi is the BEST here! But, if you're coming for dinner, you definitely want to make a reservation some nights. From now on, I'll definitely consider Al Di La one of my go-tos for a nice meal in West Ashley. The only downside is the parking situation in Avondale, which really isn't their fault, so we always park at the bank/Harris Teeter and walk over (good tip for anyone who doesn't want to hunt for a street park or risk being towed).
(4)Lauton S.
Really awesome italian fare. This is one of my go to spots in west ashley. Best gnnochi in town, and best tiramisu as well. During restaraunt week they are the best deal to be found. Make a reservation as it can get busy or head to the bar for happy hour specials on food and drink. Go here, thats about it.
(5)Lauren C.
This is one of my favorite restaurants in Charleston, Al Di La has an authentic Italian feel and is quite romantic. I can never decide between the truffle/duck pasta dish or the homemade gnocchi with fresh local shrimp. Their menu is simplistically perfect and right on the nose. Everyone will be able to find something they love and you can't visit just once!
(5)Bill B.
Cool, funky place in West Ashley. If you don't want to deal with parking downtown this is a great option. Staff is friendly outside dining in great and the food is wonderful. Scallop Risotto was fantastic. Every community needs an Italian Bistro like Al Di LA
(4)Kim F.
Very good shrimp gnocchi. It came in a red sauce but I asked for white sauce and they accommodated. Nice atmosphere inside and out. Extensive wine list! Reservations recommended.
(4)Kelly F.
My car was egged at this location which completely ruined the experience. Not really sure why as I don't have any offensive decals or anything of that nature, but beware of the parking here.
(2)Vy D.
Came here for restaurant week with a friend. Great deal and great service. We had the Beef Carpaccio, Shepherd's Salad, Gnocchi, and Strangozzi Spoletina. I really enjoyed the Shepherd's salad. The other dishes I thought were average tasting, with the gnocchi being a little gummy. All in all I would probably return for drinks/pizza at the bar.
(4)Erin R.
Was there just last week for a family members birthday. Wonderful presentation, great staff, however I got food poisoning from the spotted bass special. I emailed the staff via Facebook to let them know but never heard anything back which I felt was a bit rude. Either way I don't feel I would ever go here again.
(2)JP S.
Waiter was knowledgeable but busy and seemed a bit distracted. Not a very relaxing atmosphere.. noise level from poor acoustics and vibrant bar scene crowd and feel kept things at a high-pitch. Olive plate was a bit too salty for my taste. The Sheppard's Salad was good. Darn good. My wife's Pork shoulder special, while I found tasty, did not appeal to her. Organic multicolored carrots were very good. side of grits... well, they were grits. Forget about parking anywhere close on a busy Fri or Sat. Valet is available. Decor... dated 1970's mix of lighting and wall-paper... is that the look they were going for? If not... a face lift is in order. Also volume of music plus the other patrons were like a "trumpet on the ear". SaleebScore: Value 5/10; Food 6.5/10; Noise: 3/10; Service: 8/10; Parking 2/10.
(3)Ang R.
Delicous pasta. Had the parpadelle with duck confit and mushrooms. Others had the fish special and loved it. Nice outdoor patio - dogs welcome. Excellent service. Love the Avondale neighborhood. Closed Sunday and Monday!
(4)Ruby G.
Al Di La is absolutely one of our favorite restaurants in Charleston. We eat their quite frequetly and don't think I've ever had any real complaints. We love the staff and how frinedly and courteous they are. Who can complain when you walk in the door and they know who you are! Thew new remodel on the dining room is side is great. It's definitely a small restaurant so seating is limited. Make a reservation on Open Table before you head up there. My favorite area to sit are the new elevated tables in the back of the dining room. Something about those sheer curtains makes me feel very VIP. The menu...where can you go wrong? I think I've tried just about everything on the menu and love it all. I've been tempted at times to just tell our server to bring me out what you want. The beef carpaccio and tuna crudo with meyer lemon are my favs. If they have the proscuitto wrapped figs with gorgonzola as a special you better get them before they sell out! My favorite pasta dish use to be the gnocchi, then the duck tagliatelle, and not currently it is the tonarelli. The tonarelli dish is think noodles in a cream sauce with sausage, beans, and mint. Oh my goodness. It's a play off another dish they use to serve, the strangozzi, but hasn't made an appearance on the menu in a while. They have a great wine list as well. I like to order the flights and try different wines through my dinner. Try Al Di La during Charleston Restaurant Week for a great deal. Look around on Groupon to get a deal also. You can't go wrong!
(5)David S.
I've been here several times and the food, service and cleanliness (including the bathroom) is always outstanding. On this last visit (6-5) my wife and I took our parents there. Our server was Kenny and he gave great service that we've come to expect there. He knew the specials and the menu inside and out. Everyone enjoyed their food (eggplant, gnocchi, lamb)...except for me. I ordered the flank steak and was highly disappointed all the way around. The caramelized shallots and mushrooms were excellent, but the steak was a huge disappointment. 1) It was very chewy. It did not seem to have been marinated, which is essential for a flank steak. The sear wasn't the best either. 2) It wasn't seasoned well at all, VERY lacking in salt. 3) It was cooked to 2 different temps---Medium rare on 1/2 and Rare on the other 1/2. And then there was the reduction sauce...also severely lacking in flavor and salt. Obviously a very disappointing experience, which I'm sure was an anomaly (which is why I gave the restaurant 4 stars based on my past experiences and the experiences of the other guests at my table). They need to rethink the prep and cooking of the steak, entirely too many technical errors. All of that being said, they definitely deserve the 4 stars overall and I'll definitely be back!
(4)Joy G.
Always been a great place but tonight was so good....the fish was snapper cooked perfectly with lima beans, turnips, greens...so so good and then pasta with pancetta and sausage with a hint of lemon that was delish....we split both between the two of us...and then our waitress gave us a to go tiramisu.....my only suggestion...I love the lighting, but it is so hard to read your menu.....I'd say we didn't read half of it....who knows what great stuff we missed.... thank you....I will be back....
(5)Ashton P.
Delicious food and wine! Definitely some of the best Italian in Charleston.
(4)Michael B.
I will start off by saying I have been here probably close to 50 times if not more. From the moment you walk in and they hit you with some of the best focaccia bread on earth, you can tell you're in for a real treat. I truly love Al Di La and have been having a secrect affair with it for years and years. Everytime I'm back in Charleston, I go to Al Di La. Here's the rundown of the best dishes in my opinion. Baby Lettuces and Shepards Salad - both are; clean, crisp & properly dressed Ricotta Gnocchi - the best ever hands down, I eat gnocchi's all over and these are the tops and my favorite dish they prepare. I dare you to find a better one and if you do please tell me where Beef carpaccio - seared and seasoned to perfection, simple and elegant Milk Braised Pork Shoulder - so effin tender its insane, I'm salavating just thinking about this dish Seared Scallops and Asparagus Risotto - a perfect pairing and I adore how the risotto has an essence of asparagus I always sit at the bar and have a Moretti. They make a killer expresso martini that I always order for dessert and I love that they have Barbera by the glass. As you can tell, Im a huge advocate of Al Di La and would highly recommend it to all.
(5)Elizabeth S.
Absolutely the worst dining experience we have ever had in Charleston. We were served the wrong order twice, and the third time it was cold. We sent the food back and asked that the pizza be taken off the check. The order was again delivered to the wrong table, then brought over to us. We were told we would not be charged for the pizza. When we asked for the check, we were charged for a party of 7, not our party of 2. When we spoke to the bartender/manager about having part of our meal comped, he said that he was able to do so but refused (not even the pizza originally promised). He said we could "call later in the week and deal with it." Then walked away. We were then called profanities by patrons at the bar as we walked out. Humiliating and awful experience. I would not recommend dining here- we will not be returning. Really a shame they treat their customers that way.
(1)Julie B.
I have been to Al Di La three times and I don't think I will go back anytime soon. The first time was just ok, the second time was good but I went for restaurant week and feel truly jipped. It seemed like a good deal listed at 3 for $20 but to get what I really wanted it was 3 for $30 AND my bowl of risotto was half the size of the normal entree. So I feel like I paid more! They would not let you order off the regular menu so either way you were stuck getting three courses...which you need since they were tiny. This was the first time I spent $30 at an Italian place and was still hungry afterwards... So moral of the story is that they were hoping no one would realize that restaurant week was a huge rip off.
(3)Robyn G.
Have been there twice now and both times the food, wine and service were amazing! Will definitely return!
(5)Julia R.
Love Al di La! We come often for appetizers, wine and dinner. The happy hour is great (4:30-6:30)! $10 off bottles of wine. Love the duck tagliatelle, shrimp gnocchi. The cheeses are delicious and just the right amount, though you should ask for extra crostini. The bread is delicious too! Cocktails are refreshing. Service has always been good. Great place to meet up with friends for a nice dinner or cocktail hour!
(4)Jon M.
Believe it or not, West Ashely has a couple of decent choices for Italian food. Al Di La rests squarely at the top of that list. I have dined here multiple times, and have been consistently impressed by both the food and the service. (I have NOT dined here during restaurant week and cannot speak to those negative reviews) Food at Al Di La is not the most creative Italian fare to be had in Charleston, but the dishes are consistently delicious and made with quality ingredients. They offer wine flights, which serve as a wonderful way to experience 3 different Italian wines, forcing you to branch out from the typical chianti or super tuscan. The only reason I am not giving 5 stars, is that I am actually not a fan of their remodel. From the funky wall paper to the alcove of love booth in the back corner, the art deco revamp does not fit their honest northern Italian cuisine.
(4)Paula B.
We went here on Saturday night for restaurant week. My husband was in a shirt and tie (the only one in the restaurant doing so), and I had a nice dress on. Almost everyone else was in shorts, tees, polos, and flip flops. We were elbow to elbow with the next table...another reviewer said the lighting was dim, but not where we sat in the large indoor dining room. The wallpaper has a dizzying geometric pattern that I just couldn't look at. The place was very crowded and a bit loud. Atmosphere needs some help. That being said, the food was good. For the first course we got the mussels and the beet and goat cheese salad. Definitely needed more beets in the salad. My husband asked for more bread for the delicious juice in the bottom of the mussel bowl and the waiter asked if he wanted a spoon instead. NO. Bread, please. Like we asked for. Then another waiter came by and poured olive oil into a little bowl on the table. After asking for bread again, our waiter brought my husband a couple of slices on a little plate....but did he place a larger dish of bread on the table for us to dip in the olive oil, like the other diners had? No. Moving on -- my husband had the pasta with sausage and fava beans, and loved it. I completely enjoyed my pasta with duck confit and mushrooms, as well. Just enough of a portion to eat without being stuffed. Perfect. We both had the tiramisu, served in a martini glass. Nothing spectacular, I guess because it is restaurant week, they probably made a huge pan of it and just dished it up...it's like it was a rush job. One of us had a much larger portion than the other. Our waiter was brusque, almost short with us, and seemed very, very busy. We will try Al di La again in a few months and hope to give them another star.
(3)Erin C.
awesome food, especially with the Groupon deal. Will be back, maybe the menu will change and we can try something new! We got both the appetizer and entree specials and they were delicious.
(4)Dipti P.
Restaurant was nice and everyone liked their dishes. The scallops in my dish were delicious, but I didn't care for the "al dente" texture of my risotto. I like it more cooked. The server was fairly nice, but not attentive enough, in my opinion. Also, he didn't offer to split our check among our party of six. We usually are offered that at all restaurants we visited in the Charleston area.
(3)Stephanie S.
My family and I absolutely love this restautant. I get the same thing everytime: the gnocchi. The gnocchi are so divine that I choose to only eat half the portion so I can save the other half for the next day. Although this restaurant can be a little pricey, I've yet to have a bad meal, and the service is always incredible. The gnocchi are made with ricotta, so they aren't dense like most potato gnocchi, and they basically melt in your mouth. They are absolutely delicious. You are served bread with olive oil, and they have a full bar. The seating can be a bit overwhelming, and isn't terribly handicapped accessible, but the staff is always more than accommodating. I wish they served more choices as far as salads and the like, but over all I think the food is phenomenal.
(5)Frank K.
A really good restaurant, with reasonably priced food. Consistent in their preparation and presentation, I don't think I've had anything bad at Al Di La in the 7 or 8 years I've been going. This review was instigated by a recent dinner--I had the trout entree with spinach, and other veggies on top. Dining partner had eggplant with a salad. We both liked our entrees, and to be honest, the trout was excellent--crispy on the outside, moist within. However, the "spinach" topping consisted of three (maybe it was 2) small spinach leaves, along with some strands of artichokes and potatoes--very meager. That being said, the price of the dish was reasonable by Charleston standards these days--$18. But honestly, I would have paid a couple of bucks more for a more substantial accompaniment to the trout. The dining partner's braised eggplant was similarly priced and similarly small-portioned. Did not taste it, but she said it was good... Good service, nice bread, and OK atmosphere. Had a vanilla torte with blueberries and for dessert it was OK, not great. In the past we have had absolutely killer tiramisu here, but the last few year, not so much. The only real critique I have of this place is that the menu changes very little over the years. With the change of owners a few years ago, there were a few changes, but not much. We would probably go more often if there was more variation in the menu.
(4)D V.
Weird that at such a classy, atmospheric, Italian, romantic restaurant, they were blaring 70s Classic Rock on the patio. I like 70s Classic rock but didn't think it really fits that atmosphere. When we said it was distracting and would rather hear something more laid back (we were one of 2-3 groups on the patio), the server said that the bartender likes the music and so it didn't change and the volume wasn't decreased. Pretty telling that they'd rather please the bartender than their customers. The server was pretty great outside of this (not sure how much sway he had in the music selection). About the food, it was okay but it didn't seem as good as a few years ago.
(2)Ryan H.
Restaurant week, great option! Love their ambiance. This time we did not get a reservation so we hit the bar. Luckily we barely beat the rush by getting there before 6. We started out with the scallops. Yum! I had some pasta option that had plenty of garlic and pesto in it. Wow, was it good and my spouse had the shrimp knocci which was fantastic. We split our meals and I could not have been happier. The bartender was in the weeds but had a good bit of help that made it bearable. WE finished off our restaurant week special with the tiramisu and some white chocolate moose. Both delicious. Almost a 5. Will be back again for sure.
(4)Gerald T.
Its been a couple of years since our last visit. The decor and restaurant set up have changed but the service and food are still a hit. If you like a nice relaxed dinner pace where you can enjoy each course before the next is brought out then this is the place for you. We started with a glass of the super tuscan and mussels. Both were exceptional. We then both had pasta for dinner. My wife had the gnocchi, and I had the fettucine Bolognese. The fettucine was defintely the winning dish of the night. This is a cute little restaurant in a tucked away part of town. That being said finding a parking spot can definitely be a challenge. Give Al Di La a shot, I think you will enjoy it.
(4)Tony D.
Took the wife here for dinner. Had a three course meal that was great, but had a few drawbacks. First the biggest problem with this restaurant is the parking provided. Drove around for 10-15 minutes looking for parking. There are but 3-4 spots out front, and no parking, and the 2 block radius all around is full along the streets on a Saturday night. Finally found a spot, to walk up and discover there is "complimentary" valet, but they don't set up till after 1830 apparently. Should be set-up prior to doors opening. On to the food though; the most important part. First course was Beef Carpaccio, which was a dream. It was an explosion of flavor, with a perfect crisp crouton and fresh arugula. Primi course was the gnocchi, which we were really looking forward too. The gnocchi had more of a potato taste than a pasta taste, but texture was perfect. The sauce was clearly made in house, but lacked more of a flavor than just fresh tomato. For a secondi we had the Veal Scaloppini, which had a little too much breading, but the veal was cooked well and tasted great. The potatoes on the side were also quite good. Overall, we were happy with our choices, but not overly thrilled with the place all together. I think its worth a second try for us, but the frustration of parking might keep us at bay.
(3)Liz L.
This is the first Italian restaurant I've checked out in Charleston (just moved here, gimmie some time) and it did not disappoint. We had the bruschetta, the Spoleto special pasta, and the shrimp gnocci. Everything tasted fresh and delicious; the gnocci was interesting in that I felt like was a Shrimp-n-grits meets Italy dish. Yummy! I would recommend trying the caprese salad over the bruschetta. While the bruschetta was good, I think having the housemade mozzerella fresh, rather than melted over the bread, would do it more justice. We got the 1/2 portion of each pasta dish and shared. We were stuffed! If you're on a budget, I would recommend splitting and appetizer and full size pasta dish (for 2 people). It'd be enough food for sure. The service was great and the ambiance was nice too. It's nice enough for a date night but not pretentious at all. We ate in the main restaurant part, but checked out the bar menu as well - they have a nice variety of meat and cheeses to do your own plates. I look forward to trying that. I'll probably try some other Italian joints before I come back, just since I'm the NKOTB, but I will definitely go back again.
(4)Andrew H.
It's restaurant week, boys and girls, which is like Christmas for people who like good food. It is also like Christmas because Tom, Dick and Harry from the midwest and upstate come to Charleston to eat at our restaurants. Thanks to them, a lot of the better places in town have pulled out because the cost of cleaning up the grease stains and watching folks in cargo shorts walk around the restaurant became a bit much. For my first restaurant during RW, my friends and I chose Al Di La, a neighborhood Italian place in Avondale that I have been eating at for years. This is a huge secret, so don't tell them. We walked in and I immediately noticed they had remodeled the dining room. Rest assured, for all you locals reading, it still smells musty, kind of like the attic at your grandparents' house where they keep vintage items from the 50s and 60s, so it's charm never left. Oh, and the dining room was full of olds, so maybe my analogy has merit. ADL offers 3 for $20 and 3 for $30. Because I am back to being unemployed and I want my summer earnings to fund my alcoholism for as long as possible, I went with the 3 for $20. For my first course, I ordered the mussels. Why? Because it gives you the biggest bank for your buck. My friends ordered soup and beef capriccio, and while they said it was delicious, they were jealous of me because my app was so big. It's sort of like when your best friend lands the hottest stripper at the gentleman's club. You all wonder how he did it. He acts like he just had the skill, but in reality, it was because he had been going there far more than he wanted to admit. Oh, in case you cared, the mussels were delicious as usual. Get them if you're hungry. Don't question this advice. For dinner, I shied away from my usual Bolognese and gnocchi and instead ordered the pasta with fava beans and sausage. The fava beans drew me in because I am a big fan of Silence of the Lambs. I felt like Hannibal Lector as I downed my entree, minus the human flesh (I hope the sausage was pork). I will say after our meals, we were all so full that it would have been easy to skin us alive had old Hannibal been around. Kind of twisted, isn't it, Clarice? ADL gets 4 stars for being the same as it always has been. The bar was nice. The food was excellent and a great value to boot, and the service was acceptable. The only thing keeping this from a 5 star review is that I asked for more bread, and the server thought I was being a sarcastic ass. How on earth did she know?
(4)Doug H.
The food? Who knows? We never got that far. We arrived five minutes before our 8:00 reservation. There was no hostess to be found. Wait staff walked by without a word or comment. Eventually, the hostess showed up and told us the folks in "your table have paid, but not left, so it will be a few minutes. Please wait in the bar." Not the best start, but not all that unusual. We assumed it would be just a few minutes, so we decided to wait and order a bottle of wine when seated. Big mistake. We noticed one group of four in the bar also waiting on a table. Another group of four showed up about 8:10. The first group got their table around 8:15. Since it had been a while with no word from the hostess, I thought I would check on where things stood, and took a glance in the dining room. I noticed them setting up a table and assumed it was ours. It took ten minutes for the hostess to find time to set the table. By 8:25, I decided to hang out by her. Obviously unhappy I was standing by her, she asked if she could help me. I told her my name, my reservation time, and that I assumed the open table was ours. She said all the tables are reserved (what a surprise), and that the open table wasn't ours. She said it belonged to another group - the group of four that showed up at 8:10. She pointed out that we were a group of three. There was a table that had three women at it, with still half full wine glasses, and she told us that was our table. It, of course, was the same size as the table that was open. I told her we arrived before the group she was about to seat. First, she denied that. Then, she said they had an earlier reservation. Then, she said they had an earlier reservation, but agreed to move it back because the restaurant was busy. She was pissed off that I was asking, rude and completely unapologetic. She sat the other group. I asked for the manager. It was Saturday night. She said there is no manager. Then she said I could talk to the bartender. I spoke to him, after he tried to move me away from other customers. He apologized and promised to look into it right away. He then headed back behind the bar. At that point we left. On the way out, another group told me they were still waiting on their 8:00 reservation as well. I am a local who lives downtown, and usually eats downtown. We decided to try Al-di-la based on its reputation. It's a shame we won't ever get the opportunity to do so. I guess if you are so busy that you overbook reservations, you don't care about customer service, and you can afford to employ a rude, unhelpful host. We'll see how that works out for this place in the years to come.
(1)C W.
The food and service was exceptional. The bartender and waiter did a good job answering my questions about wine and food choices. I wish I had tried this place sooner. The only negative is the parking situation. I'll be back!
(5)Ashton P.
Delicious food and wine! Definitely some of the best Italian in Charleston.
(4)Stephanie S.
My family and I absolutely love this restautant. I get the same thing everytime: the gnocchi. The gnocchi are so divine that I choose to only eat half the portion so I can save the other half for the next day. Although this restaurant can be a little pricey, I've yet to have a bad meal, and the service is always incredible. The gnocchi are made with ricotta, so they aren't dense like most potato gnocchi, and they basically melt in your mouth. They are absolutely delicious. You are served bread with olive oil, and they have a full bar. The seating can be a bit overwhelming, and isn't terribly handicapped accessible, but the staff is always more than accommodating. I wish they served more choices as far as salads and the like, but over all I think the food is phenomenal.
(5)Frank K.
A really good restaurant, with reasonably priced food. Consistent in their preparation and presentation, I don't think I've had anything bad at Al Di La in the 7 or 8 years I've been going. This review was instigated by a recent dinner--I had the trout entree with spinach, and other veggies on top. Dining partner had eggplant with a salad. We both liked our entrees, and to be honest, the trout was excellent--crispy on the outside, moist within. However, the "spinach" topping consisted of three (maybe it was 2) small spinach leaves, along with some strands of artichokes and potatoes--very meager. That being said, the price of the dish was reasonable by Charleston standards these days--$18. But honestly, I would have paid a couple of bucks more for a more substantial accompaniment to the trout. The dining partner's braised eggplant was similarly priced and similarly small-portioned. Did not taste it, but she said it was good... Good service, nice bread, and OK atmosphere. Had a vanilla torte with blueberries and for dessert it was OK, not great. In the past we have had absolutely killer tiramisu here, but the last few year, not so much. The only real critique I have of this place is that the menu changes very little over the years. With the change of owners a few years ago, there were a few changes, but not much. We would probably go more often if there was more variation in the menu.
(4)D V.
Weird that at such a classy, atmospheric, Italian, romantic restaurant, they were blaring 70s Classic Rock on the patio. I like 70s Classic rock but didn't think it really fits that atmosphere. When we said it was distracting and would rather hear something more laid back (we were one of 2-3 groups on the patio), the server said that the bartender likes the music and so it didn't change and the volume wasn't decreased. Pretty telling that they'd rather please the bartender than their customers. The server was pretty great outside of this (not sure how much sway he had in the music selection). About the food, it was okay but it didn't seem as good as a few years ago.
(2)Ryan H.
Restaurant week, great option! Love their ambiance. This time we did not get a reservation so we hit the bar. Luckily we barely beat the rush by getting there before 6. We started out with the scallops. Yum! I had some pasta option that had plenty of garlic and pesto in it. Wow, was it good and my spouse had the shrimp knocci which was fantastic. We split our meals and I could not have been happier. The bartender was in the weeds but had a good bit of help that made it bearable. WE finished off our restaurant week special with the tiramisu and some white chocolate moose. Both delicious. Almost a 5. Will be back again for sure.
(4)Kathy D.
We had a little trouble finding the restaurant but it was well worth it. We ordeed the figs wrapped in prosciutto, the caprice salad, the pork chop and the short ribs. Thanks short ribs were succulent and tasty tender meat. The mashed potatoes were delicious and our sever Kevin was outstanding making it a hit all the way around.
(5)Francesca D.
Coming from a self proclaimed Italian food snob (my father is an Italian chef up north, and my grandparents are from Florence) this spot gets 5 stars! I'm always hesitant to try out an Italian restaurant simply because I'm spoiled and used to my family's cooking, and this place reminded me of home! I'm so glad one of my girlfriends and I gave it a try during restaurant week and I hope that the menu they had for that special is the same as what they normally offer. Now for the review: As stated, we did restaurant week. I opted for the 3 for $35 menu. It was a busy night, but we had a reservation and were promptly seated. We had a great table up top facing out to the dining room. Our waitress was very attentitive and had wonderful suggestions. I started with a nice glass of Prosecco and with a roasted beet salad 1st course. The dressing was perfect! Then opted for the Risotto with Scallops and asparagus.. even more yummy! The tiramisu was heaven on a plate. I could eat that every night. The perfect combo of sweet and savory. We had a wonderful meal and service. The food quality was fantastic and we left feeling full but not too stuffed. I will be back!
(5)Anna H.
This place gives you a real Italian experience. With its family style cooking, romantic ambience, and great service this is the place to try! We started our meal with their savory mussels. The sauce that the mussels marinaded was so delicious I wanted to suck up all the sauce with my straw! My husband had the large fettuccine bolognese. It came piled on his plate! It was enough for two meals or people. The seasoning was perfect and the pasta was al dente! I selected the roasted eggplant with polenta and sautéed green beans. The roasted eggplant had minimal seasoning, but it's simplistic flavor blended well with the cheese it was topped with and the buttery flavor of the polenta. I was quite pleased with my entree! The beans were slightly overcooked because they were wilted, but still not lacking in flavor. They have a great wine menu that are mainly Italian wines. The service is also wonderful. They were all very helpful in answering our questions. If you are looking for a date night place or a place with authentic Italian experience, this is the place for you!
(5)Tania W.
Shannon provided Amazing service. She was personable and knowledgeable.... We started with the carpaccio and asked for a hint of truffle oil drizzled over it. Amazing it's a must ! Second course tomato basil soup another THUMBS UP. ...DELICIOUS For dinner we decided on the ribeye and asparagus risotto with sea scallops. The scallops were the best, the risotto was less then desirable. It was not creamy it was very starchy and to me just over cooked no taste. .. We paired our dishes with a yummy bottle of Sassomagno. It was heavenly. All in all we will come back in excited to try new things. I'd like to see something other then kale as a,side. How about beets or Brussel sprouts. ..! Limoncello was very tasty
(4)Doug W.
Slow service, no water refils, no bead, no option other than restaurant week menu, with smaller than normal portions... don't know if I'll go back again, but definitely won't for restaurant week.
(2)Amy Lauren S.
I'm really thankful I gave Al Di La a second chance. My husband and I visited last week for a date night and I was more than happy with both our food, service, and the value. First, Al Di La is doing some great things for the community by raising money and awareness of autism. They've had some special menu items over the last few months where 100% of the profits from those dishes' sales went toward autism charities. In addition, on certain nights of the week, they have donated a percentage to those charities. Second, the service the last time we went was outstanding. Our server did a great job explaining every dish to us, taking care of us, and also packaging our leftovers to go (the portions here are a great size for the price). We have also visited again with a Groupon deal and experienced the same great service. Third, Al Di La has some really good happy hour specials on dishes and drinks, including the gnocchi. The gnocchi is the BEST here! But, if you're coming for dinner, you definitely want to make a reservation some nights. From now on, I'll definitely consider Al Di La one of my go-tos for a nice meal in West Ashley. The only downside is the parking situation in Avondale, which really isn't their fault, so we always park at the bank/Harris Teeter and walk over (good tip for anyone who doesn't want to hunt for a street park or risk being towed).
(4)Lauton S.
Really awesome italian fare. This is one of my go to spots in west ashley. Best gnnochi in town, and best tiramisu as well. During restaraunt week they are the best deal to be found. Make a reservation as it can get busy or head to the bar for happy hour specials on food and drink. Go here, thats about it.
(5)Lauren C.
This is one of my favorite restaurants in Charleston, Al Di La has an authentic Italian feel and is quite romantic. I can never decide between the truffle/duck pasta dish or the homemade gnocchi with fresh local shrimp. Their menu is simplistically perfect and right on the nose. Everyone will be able to find something they love and you can't visit just once!
(5)Bill B.
Cool, funky place in West Ashley. If you don't want to deal with parking downtown this is a great option. Staff is friendly outside dining in great and the food is wonderful. Scallop Risotto was fantastic. Every community needs an Italian Bistro like Al Di LA
(4)Kim F.
Very good shrimp gnocchi. It came in a red sauce but I asked for white sauce and they accommodated. Nice atmosphere inside and out. Extensive wine list! Reservations recommended.
(4)Kelly F.
My car was egged at this location which completely ruined the experience. Not really sure why as I don't have any offensive decals or anything of that nature, but beware of the parking here.
(2)Vy D.
Came here for restaurant week with a friend. Great deal and great service. We had the Beef Carpaccio, Shepherd's Salad, Gnocchi, and Strangozzi Spoletina. I really enjoyed the Shepherd's salad. The other dishes I thought were average tasting, with the gnocchi being a little gummy. All in all I would probably return for drinks/pizza at the bar.
(4)Jaimie L.
What an amazing meal!!! I've eaten here before but it has been a while. We dined on Wednesday 2/18 and had the best meal! I order the beef carpaccio, and the duck confit. I was feeling adventurous as neither of these dishes are something I had tried before. AMAZING. Our server was awesome and she recommended a great wine, a Cabernet blend. If you haven't tried al di la yet, get on it!
(5)Lauren F.
The food here was DELICIOUS! My friend and I managed to find a groupon for $50 worth a food so we sampled several things on the menu. We made our own cheese/meat plate which came with a generous portion of each; as well as the mussels which came in a delicious broth perfect for bread-dipping! My friend had the fettuccine bolognese and I had the tagliatelle duck confit, both were AMAZING! Pasta was cooked perfect and the prices were very inexpensive for the quality of food you were receiving.
(4)Erin R.
Was there just last week for a family members birthday. Wonderful presentation, great staff, however I got food poisoning from the spotted bass special. I emailed the staff via Facebook to let them know but never heard anything back which I felt was a bit rude. Either way I don't feel I would ever go here again.
(2)JP S.
Waiter was knowledgeable but busy and seemed a bit distracted. Not a very relaxing atmosphere.. noise level from poor acoustics and vibrant bar scene crowd and feel kept things at a high-pitch. Olive plate was a bit too salty for my taste. The Sheppard's Salad was good. Darn good. My wife's Pork shoulder special, while I found tasty, did not appeal to her. Organic multicolored carrots were very good. side of grits... well, they were grits. Forget about parking anywhere close on a busy Fri or Sat. Valet is available. Decor... dated 1970's mix of lighting and wall-paper... is that the look they were going for? If not... a face lift is in order. Also volume of music plus the other patrons were like a "trumpet on the ear". SaleebScore: Value 5/10; Food 6.5/10; Noise: 3/10; Service: 8/10; Parking 2/10.
(3)Ang R.
Delicous pasta. Had the parpadelle with duck confit and mushrooms. Others had the fish special and loved it. Nice outdoor patio - dogs welcome. Excellent service. Love the Avondale neighborhood. Closed Sunday and Monday!
(4)Ruby G.
Al Di La is absolutely one of our favorite restaurants in Charleston. We eat their quite frequetly and don't think I've ever had any real complaints. We love the staff and how frinedly and courteous they are. Who can complain when you walk in the door and they know who you are! Thew new remodel on the dining room is side is great. It's definitely a small restaurant so seating is limited. Make a reservation on Open Table before you head up there. My favorite area to sit are the new elevated tables in the back of the dining room. Something about those sheer curtains makes me feel very VIP. The menu...where can you go wrong? I think I've tried just about everything on the menu and love it all. I've been tempted at times to just tell our server to bring me out what you want. The beef carpaccio and tuna crudo with meyer lemon are my favs. If they have the proscuitto wrapped figs with gorgonzola as a special you better get them before they sell out! My favorite pasta dish use to be the gnocchi, then the duck tagliatelle, and not currently it is the tonarelli. The tonarelli dish is think noodles in a cream sauce with sausage, beans, and mint. Oh my goodness. It's a play off another dish they use to serve, the strangozzi, but hasn't made an appearance on the menu in a while. They have a great wine list as well. I like to order the flights and try different wines through my dinner. Try Al Di La during Charleston Restaurant Week for a great deal. Look around on Groupon to get a deal also. You can't go wrong!
(5)David S.
I've been here several times and the food, service and cleanliness (including the bathroom) is always outstanding. On this last visit (6-5) my wife and I took our parents there. Our server was Kenny and he gave great service that we've come to expect there. He knew the specials and the menu inside and out. Everyone enjoyed their food (eggplant, gnocchi, lamb)...except for me. I ordered the flank steak and was highly disappointed all the way around. The caramelized shallots and mushrooms were excellent, but the steak was a huge disappointment. 1) It was very chewy. It did not seem to have been marinated, which is essential for a flank steak. The sear wasn't the best either. 2) It wasn't seasoned well at all, VERY lacking in salt. 3) It was cooked to 2 different temps---Medium rare on 1/2 and Rare on the other 1/2. And then there was the reduction sauce...also severely lacking in flavor and salt. Obviously a very disappointing experience, which I'm sure was an anomaly (which is why I gave the restaurant 4 stars based on my past experiences and the experiences of the other guests at my table). They need to rethink the prep and cooking of the steak, entirely too many technical errors. All of that being said, they definitely deserve the 4 stars overall and I'll definitely be back!
(4)Joy G.
Always been a great place but tonight was so good....the fish was snapper cooked perfectly with lima beans, turnips, greens...so so good and then pasta with pancetta and sausage with a hint of lemon that was delish....we split both between the two of us...and then our waitress gave us a to go tiramisu.....my only suggestion...I love the lighting, but it is so hard to read your menu.....I'd say we didn't read half of it....who knows what great stuff we missed.... thank you....I will be back....
(5)Michael B.
I will start off by saying I have been here probably close to 50 times if not more. From the moment you walk in and they hit you with some of the best focaccia bread on earth, you can tell you're in for a real treat. I truly love Al Di La and have been having a secrect affair with it for years and years. Everytime I'm back in Charleston, I go to Al Di La. Here's the rundown of the best dishes in my opinion. Baby Lettuces and Shepards Salad - both are; clean, crisp & properly dressed Ricotta Gnocchi - the best ever hands down, I eat gnocchi's all over and these are the tops and my favorite dish they prepare. I dare you to find a better one and if you do please tell me where Beef carpaccio - seared and seasoned to perfection, simple and elegant Milk Braised Pork Shoulder - so effin tender its insane, I'm salavating just thinking about this dish Seared Scallops and Asparagus Risotto - a perfect pairing and I adore how the risotto has an essence of asparagus I always sit at the bar and have a Moretti. They make a killer expresso martini that I always order for dessert and I love that they have Barbera by the glass. As you can tell, Im a huge advocate of Al Di La and would highly recommend it to all.
(5)Elizabeth S.
Absolutely the worst dining experience we have ever had in Charleston. We were served the wrong order twice, and the third time it was cold. We sent the food back and asked that the pizza be taken off the check. The order was again delivered to the wrong table, then brought over to us. We were told we would not be charged for the pizza. When we asked for the check, we were charged for a party of 7, not our party of 2. When we spoke to the bartender/manager about having part of our meal comped, he said that he was able to do so but refused (not even the pizza originally promised). He said we could "call later in the week and deal with it." Then walked away. We were then called profanities by patrons at the bar as we walked out. Humiliating and awful experience. I would not recommend dining here- we will not be returning. Really a shame they treat their customers that way.
(1)Julie B.
I have been to Al Di La three times and I don't think I will go back anytime soon. The first time was just ok, the second time was good but I went for restaurant week and feel truly jipped. It seemed like a good deal listed at 3 for $20 but to get what I really wanted it was 3 for $30 AND my bowl of risotto was half the size of the normal entree. So I feel like I paid more! They would not let you order off the regular menu so either way you were stuck getting three courses...which you need since they were tiny. This was the first time I spent $30 at an Italian place and was still hungry afterwards... So moral of the story is that they were hoping no one would realize that restaurant week was a huge rip off.
(3)Robyn G.
Have been there twice now and both times the food, wine and service were amazing! Will definitely return!
(5)Julia R.
Love Al di La! We come often for appetizers, wine and dinner. The happy hour is great (4:30-6:30)! $10 off bottles of wine. Love the duck tagliatelle, shrimp gnocchi. The cheeses are delicious and just the right amount, though you should ask for extra crostini. The bread is delicious too! Cocktails are refreshing. Service has always been good. Great place to meet up with friends for a nice dinner or cocktail hour!
(4)Jon M.
Believe it or not, West Ashely has a couple of decent choices for Italian food. Al Di La rests squarely at the top of that list. I have dined here multiple times, and have been consistently impressed by both the food and the service. (I have NOT dined here during restaurant week and cannot speak to those negative reviews) Food at Al Di La is not the most creative Italian fare to be had in Charleston, but the dishes are consistently delicious and made with quality ingredients. They offer wine flights, which serve as a wonderful way to experience 3 different Italian wines, forcing you to branch out from the typical chianti or super tuscan. The only reason I am not giving 5 stars, is that I am actually not a fan of their remodel. From the funky wall paper to the alcove of love booth in the back corner, the art deco revamp does not fit their honest northern Italian cuisine.
(4)Paula B.
We went here on Saturday night for restaurant week. My husband was in a shirt and tie (the only one in the restaurant doing so), and I had a nice dress on. Almost everyone else was in shorts, tees, polos, and flip flops. We were elbow to elbow with the next table...another reviewer said the lighting was dim, but not where we sat in the large indoor dining room. The wallpaper has a dizzying geometric pattern that I just couldn't look at. The place was very crowded and a bit loud. Atmosphere needs some help. That being said, the food was good. For the first course we got the mussels and the beet and goat cheese salad. Definitely needed more beets in the salad. My husband asked for more bread for the delicious juice in the bottom of the mussel bowl and the waiter asked if he wanted a spoon instead. NO. Bread, please. Like we asked for. Then another waiter came by and poured olive oil into a little bowl on the table. After asking for bread again, our waiter brought my husband a couple of slices on a little plate....but did he place a larger dish of bread on the table for us to dip in the olive oil, like the other diners had? No. Moving on -- my husband had the pasta with sausage and fava beans, and loved it. I completely enjoyed my pasta with duck confit and mushrooms, as well. Just enough of a portion to eat without being stuffed. Perfect. We both had the tiramisu, served in a martini glass. Nothing spectacular, I guess because it is restaurant week, they probably made a huge pan of it and just dished it up...it's like it was a rush job. One of us had a much larger portion than the other. Our waiter was brusque, almost short with us, and seemed very, very busy. We will try Al di La again in a few months and hope to give them another star.
(3)Dipti P.
Restaurant was nice and everyone liked their dishes. The scallops in my dish were delicious, but I didn't care for the "al dente" texture of my risotto. I like it more cooked. The server was fairly nice, but not attentive enough, in my opinion. Also, he didn't offer to split our check among our party of six. We usually are offered that at all restaurants we visited in the Charleston area.
(3)Erin C.
awesome food, especially with the Groupon deal. Will be back, maybe the menu will change and we can try something new! We got both the appetizer and entree specials and they were delicious.
(4)Gerald T.
Its been a couple of years since our last visit. The decor and restaurant set up have changed but the service and food are still a hit. If you like a nice relaxed dinner pace where you can enjoy each course before the next is brought out then this is the place for you. We started with a glass of the super tuscan and mussels. Both were exceptional. We then both had pasta for dinner. My wife had the gnocchi, and I had the fettucine Bolognese. The fettucine was defintely the winning dish of the night. This is a cute little restaurant in a tucked away part of town. That being said finding a parking spot can definitely be a challenge. Give Al Di La a shot, I think you will enjoy it.
(4)Tony D.
Took the wife here for dinner. Had a three course meal that was great, but had a few drawbacks. First the biggest problem with this restaurant is the parking provided. Drove around for 10-15 minutes looking for parking. There are but 3-4 spots out front, and no parking, and the 2 block radius all around is full along the streets on a Saturday night. Finally found a spot, to walk up and discover there is "complimentary" valet, but they don't set up till after 1830 apparently. Should be set-up prior to doors opening. On to the food though; the most important part. First course was Beef Carpaccio, which was a dream. It was an explosion of flavor, with a perfect crisp crouton and fresh arugula. Primi course was the gnocchi, which we were really looking forward too. The gnocchi had more of a potato taste than a pasta taste, but texture was perfect. The sauce was clearly made in house, but lacked more of a flavor than just fresh tomato. For a secondi we had the Veal Scaloppini, which had a little too much breading, but the veal was cooked well and tasted great. The potatoes on the side were also quite good. Overall, we were happy with our choices, but not overly thrilled with the place all together. I think its worth a second try for us, but the frustration of parking might keep us at bay.
(3)Sandy S.
Al Di La is the best restaurant West of the Ashley...I know many folks that have their company Christmas Dinner there because it has never disappointed !! Always fresh, delish and service impeccable !!
(5)Keli T.
Amazing! Bruschetta, bolognese are a must... But the ever changing menu always satisfies.
(5)Jess V.
I absolutely love this place! Very intimate and the lighting is low so its perfect for a date night! Server was very knowledgable about wine and food. My favorite is the gnocchi and the homemade cheesecake. Also, try the fig appetizer (if offered)
(5)Lindsey K.
2 1/2 Stars... So I have been told many people Al Di La its the best, you have to try it, blah blah blah...well...I have been here twice now and still do not understand all the hype. The food had little to no flavor both times we dined here. To sum it up, the wine, service, and outdoor patio experience were all great...the food just wasn't there. With that being said, I really want to like this place since it's so close to our house...we will be back to give them a third chance....going with the pizza next time....can't mess that up...right? If you are looking for good Italian food check out Wild Olive or Il Cortile Del Re, you won't be disappointed..
(3)Andrew H.
It's restaurant week, boys and girls, which is like Christmas for people who like good food. It is also like Christmas because Tom, Dick and Harry from the midwest and upstate come to Charleston to eat at our restaurants. Thanks to them, a lot of the better places in town have pulled out because the cost of cleaning up the grease stains and watching folks in cargo shorts walk around the restaurant became a bit much. For my first restaurant during RW, my friends and I chose Al Di La, a neighborhood Italian place in Avondale that I have been eating at for years. This is a huge secret, so don't tell them. We walked in and I immediately noticed they had remodeled the dining room. Rest assured, for all you locals reading, it still smells musty, kind of like the attic at your grandparents' house where they keep vintage items from the 50s and 60s, so it's charm never left. Oh, and the dining room was full of olds, so maybe my analogy has merit. ADL offers 3 for $20 and 3 for $30. Because I am back to being unemployed and I want my summer earnings to fund my alcoholism for as long as possible, I went with the 3 for $20. For my first course, I ordered the mussels. Why? Because it gives you the biggest bank for your buck. My friends ordered soup and beef capriccio, and while they said it was delicious, they were jealous of me because my app was so big. It's sort of like when your best friend lands the hottest stripper at the gentleman's club. You all wonder how he did it. He acts like he just had the skill, but in reality, it was because he had been going there far more than he wanted to admit. Oh, in case you cared, the mussels were delicious as usual. Get them if you're hungry. Don't question this advice. For dinner, I shied away from my usual Bolognese and gnocchi and instead ordered the pasta with fava beans and sausage. The fava beans drew me in because I am a big fan of Silence of the Lambs. I felt like Hannibal Lector as I downed my entree, minus the human flesh (I hope the sausage was pork). I will say after our meals, we were all so full that it would have been easy to skin us alive had old Hannibal been around. Kind of twisted, isn't it, Clarice? ADL gets 4 stars for being the same as it always has been. The bar was nice. The food was excellent and a great value to boot, and the service was acceptable. The only thing keeping this from a 5 star review is that I asked for more bread, and the server thought I was being a sarcastic ass. How on earth did she know?
(4)Rafael R.
Uneven portion sizes. My wife ordered a dish (gnocchi and shrimp) that was filling, while I ordered one (eggplant) that left me wanting more food. The gnocchi was good, though not the sauce. I can't say the ambiance is all that special. The seating was uncomfortable and the geometric wallpaper is a weird choice. Would have liked something a little cozier for the money.
(2)Jillian G.
Me and my partner just left after having the 3 for $20 restaurant week meal. I started off with something light - a salad with anchovies. Who knew I liked them?! Then I got the heavy dish - pasta with duck confit and truffle oil. It was delicious. Although personally I think truffle oil is a scam I still love the flavor. I finished my meal with a decadent white chocolate mousse, light but still had a full body taste. It came with a chocolate straw, berries and a sweet wafer. I sipped on a shot of limoncello and ice water during the meal. Our server was great and I also got to see my friend Caroline in action. Very pleased.
(5)Doug H.
The food? Who knows? We never got that far. We arrived five minutes before our 8:00 reservation. There was no hostess to be found. Wait staff walked by without a word or comment. Eventually, the hostess showed up and told us the folks in "your table have paid, but not left, so it will be a few minutes. Please wait in the bar." Not the best start, but not all that unusual. We assumed it would be just a few minutes, so we decided to wait and order a bottle of wine when seated. Big mistake. We noticed one group of four in the bar also waiting on a table. Another group of four showed up about 8:10. The first group got their table around 8:15. Since it had been a while with no word from the hostess, I thought I would check on where things stood, and took a glance in the dining room. I noticed them setting up a table and assumed it was ours. It took ten minutes for the hostess to find time to set the table. By 8:25, I decided to hang out by her. Obviously unhappy I was standing by her, she asked if she could help me. I told her my name, my reservation time, and that I assumed the open table was ours. She said all the tables are reserved (what a surprise), and that the open table wasn't ours. She said it belonged to another group - the group of four that showed up at 8:10. She pointed out that we were a group of three. There was a table that had three women at it, with still half full wine glasses, and she told us that was our table. It, of course, was the same size as the table that was open. I told her we arrived before the group she was about to seat. First, she denied that. Then, she said they had an earlier reservation. Then, she said they had an earlier reservation, but agreed to move it back because the restaurant was busy. She was pissed off that I was asking, rude and completely unapologetic. She sat the other group. I asked for the manager. It was Saturday night. She said there is no manager. Then she said I could talk to the bartender. I spoke to him, after he tried to move me away from other customers. He apologized and promised to look into it right away. He then headed back behind the bar. At that point we left. On the way out, another group told me they were still waiting on their 8:00 reservation as well. I am a local who lives downtown, and usually eats downtown. We decided to try Al-di-la based on its reputation. It's a shame we won't ever get the opportunity to do so. I guess if you are so busy that you overbook reservations, you don't care about customer service, and you can afford to employ a rude, unhelpful host. We'll see how that works out for this place in the years to come.
(1)C W.
The food and service was exceptional. The bartender and waiter did a good job answering my questions about wine and food choices. I wish I had tried this place sooner. The only negative is the parking situation. I'll be back!
(5)Suzi S.
Dinner was excellent. The asparagus pizza was definitely a delight. Pastas, risotto & fish, everything was delicious. Best dinner and service we've had in a long time. Mark and his staff made us an evening to remember!!!
(5)Donna C.
Very cool, hip, Manhattan kind of place. Order the carpaccio and the tagliatelle duck confit. Yummy!
(5)Liz L.
This is the first Italian restaurant I've checked out in Charleston (just moved here, gimmie some time) and it did not disappoint. We had the bruschetta, the Spoleto special pasta, and the shrimp gnocci. Everything tasted fresh and delicious; the gnocci was interesting in that I felt like was a Shrimp-n-grits meets Italy dish. Yummy! I would recommend trying the caprese salad over the bruschetta. While the bruschetta was good, I think having the housemade mozzerella fresh, rather than melted over the bread, would do it more justice. We got the 1/2 portion of each pasta dish and shared. We were stuffed! If you're on a budget, I would recommend splitting and appetizer and full size pasta dish (for 2 people). It'd be enough food for sure. The service was great and the ambiance was nice too. It's nice enough for a date night but not pretentious at all. We ate in the main restaurant part, but checked out the bar menu as well - they have a nice variety of meat and cheeses to do your own plates. I look forward to trying that. I'll probably try some other Italian joints before I come back, just since I'm the NKOTB, but I will definitely go back again.
(4)Tara B.
This restaurant is one of my favorites in Charleston. The food is amazing and I've never been disappointed. I'm seriously salivating thinking about the salad I had when I went there last. It's perfect for a romantic date night or a couples night. The servers are efficient and knowledgeable. The food is fresh and ingredients are flavorful and in season! What makes this a top contender for dinner is the Avondale valet option for parking- so nice! From the bread to the dessert, I can't get enough! Try the gnocchi, the salad with anchovies and the tiramisu (duh!).
(5)Dano M.
Change the menu once in a little bit...Boring.....was a lot better when I was excited to go there...Now it is a chore, and I am not letting women influence me ever again...BORING.....Give me some Veal......
(2)AJ S.
Wonderful unexpected gem. We came on a saturday night when it first opened around 5:30. It was mistly empty then but filled up within just a few minutes. definately make a reservation if going durin peak nights. The staff was very attentive and friendly. We had the beet salad (a little low on the beets) and bruschetta for apps and the pork chop, scallop risotto, and rabbit pasta dish. All were amazing. There was a nice thick glaze on the pork chop, the scallops were large and perfectly seared, and the pasta was very rich and cheesy but countered by the substantial shredded rabbit meat. We decided to get the ricotta cheesecake for dessert- definitely recommended! Even if you're super full from all the creamy goodness before, it's smal enough that you can share and just get a few heavenly bites in. Can't wait for summer when they open up the patio! There will be much more seating and the smaller Magnolia street it's on would make for a nice al fresco setting.
(4)Deb B.
The rabbit was unbelievable and the the service was outstanding! Yay for them!
(5)Ashley W.
Al Di La is my FAVORITE restaurant in Charleston, hands down!!! I remember when it was half the size it is now. The gnocchi is incredible! I've tried gnocchi all over the US and I have never had any as amazing as Al Di La's. You have to order it! The prices are reasonable, even on wine! I can't say enough great things about this place. Delicious!! xo
(5)Alvaro M.
For a while there, this West Ashley trattoria had lost its way. I'm thrilled to report that Al Di La has found it footing again. Went there tonight with two friends and I don't think we had a bad dish. Standouts: The Asparagus and Scallop Risotto for a starter. The entrees were all spectacular: The "hunter style" chicken (why they don't call it Chicken Cacciatore I have no idea. it is an Italian restaurant for God's sake), served over polenta; The triggerfish (yummy) and the short ribs: amazing. Falling-off-the-bone-amazing. Skip the ricotta cheesecake (just disappointing) and go for the chocolate-mint custard.
(4)Rachel B.
We utilized a Groupon deal to have dinner here while on vacation. Our party consisted of five adults, one child and a baby. Our server was great, explaining the dishes, drinks and specials. There was a mix up with my meal that caused it to be served as the rest of the party was finishing, but it was still fantastic and the server took care of the problem like a pro. A great place for small groups. Everyone in our party had amazing comments on their dinners. Dessert was fantastic!!
(5)Emilie W.
Best gnocchi i have ever eaten
(4)Eyecant S.
This is a undiscovered gem of a place in Charleston. Of my 4 trips there all 4 have been very good. They have a good selection of food and wine and the service is great as well. They even have valet parking for tips only on some nights.
(5)Cindy F.
Incredible meal, the service was awesome, good wine selection, this is one of the best places I've eaten in Charleston!
(5)Laura K.
my husband and i live in the neighborhood near this restaurant, so we frequent the avondale restaurants quite a bit. al di la is by far my favorite. the menu changes per season and they strive to use local ingredents. this italian is on par with anything i've had in little italy in boston and in the authentic italian restaurants in NYC - they even make all of their own pasta from scratch! the prices are moderate, and you definitely get what you pay for! a must if you are near avondale
(5)Nick V.
I can't say enough good things about Al Di La! The food was authentic and delicious, all the meals were reasonably priced and you received large portions, the atmosphere in the restaurant was perfect, and the service was amazing. I went last Friday as an engagement party with my family and my fiance's family, and the management pulled out all the stops to make sure we had a great evening. We plan to go back on a date night sometime soon. Thank you, Al Di La - you've earned yourself some new regulars.
(5)Richard B.
Always crowded, and rightfully so . . . an inventive, delicious look at Northern Italian food. And now they have free valet parking!! (A major plus in that area). We started with a tasty plate of cheeses and soppresata [sp?], together with a special of roasted dates (or was it figs), stuffed with gorganzola and wrapped in prosciutto. We decided to pass on pasta and concentrated on the daily fish special - a perfectly tuned flounder with rosemary mashed potatoes . . . and a marvelous roasted half game hen, which looked almost too good to eat, on a bed of risotto (I think) and a host of fresh veggies. 3 different wines . . . followed by a tiramisu with hazelnuts and a deadly ricotta cheesecake thyat could be declared a "per se" weapon. And the service - Andre - was professional, in tempo and knowledgeable. Switching languages, tres yummesque . . . rhb
(5)Calvin W.
I give this place 3 stars because the service was less than desired, but the food was excellent! I had a fresh spaghetti-type meal (not sure what they were called, but like spaghetti noodles, but fatter) and fresh italian sausage in a nice alfredo sauce. The place wasn't that roomy and the server was not very good. The food came out very slow and the server only came out to us a few times...taking almost an hour to fill our drinks again. Albeit we were a party of 8 and it was busy....that shouldn't be an excuse for bad service. The plate of olives were a little pricey as you really get half a handful, but my main meal was excellent...and the food was the main redeeming quality of the place.
(3)Giancarlo B.
NICE LITTLE PLACE. Their focaccia bread was excellent. The chairs and booths are very uncomfortable, those kind of straw jobs that are sheer torture. We had some nice appetizers that were seriously over-priced, $7.50 for a few white anchovies and strings of red peppers. The typical bruchette and a weak beet salad. Fresh pastas were very good, I had a fresh farfalle primavera, my friend had a trout in filo pastry that was well prepared and fresh, the risotto was very tasty but the rice itself was so over cooked (pre-cooked) that it was mush, I could not have eaten it . The bar area had a nice wood burning oven and looked lively. Will not be a top pick of mine in Charleston area, I don't mind driving over the bridge for good food.
(4)Eric B.
Delicious food at reasonable prices and a warm, comfortable atmosphere. This is one of my favorite restaurants in West Ashley.
(4)Morgan S.
I had a hard time deciding what to level to rate Al Di La at... I obviously decided to go with a middle of the road '3' star rating. I've been to Al Di La four or five times and have never been wowed. On the flip side, I've never had a horrible experience either. Overall it's just decent. Decent service. Decent menu. Decent taste. Decent Decent Decent. Who wants to be JUST decent?!?!
(3)Mary J.
My recent visit to Al Di La was one of the best dining experiences I have ever had in Charleston. Since buying a home in the lowcountry eighteen years ago my husband and I have had the opportunity to frequent many highly lauded and excellent restaurants. Alas, many have come and gone. After our meal at Al Di La last week with our nephew and his family it is clear why this restaurant has enjoyed both longevity and a consistently top rating. Both my nephew and his wife are Mad Men fanatics and were instantly in love with the newly remolded restaurant's mid-century vibe. Alban, our very passionate, personable and capable server went out of his way to make sure our out of town family had a memorable experience. He was very patient and knowledgeable and explained the features of every dish in guiding us towards making sumptuous choices. Every one at the table felt the mussels were some of the best we have sampled anywhere and a true bargain given the quantity and quality. Alban was never far away to replenish the fresh in-house focaccia so we could savor every bit of the rich, complex broth. Other stand out dishes included veal, duck confit and the Bolognese. Especially notable is the perfectly seasoned thick and juicy pork chop. It is very apparent that all the food at Al Di La is prepared in-house, including the very refreshing Limoncello. Every restaurant has its not so great feature and sadly for Al Di La it is trying to find parking in the popular Avondale neighborhood. There was no valet on duty on a Thursday evening or else he/she were out of sight. Once inside the doors, though, parking issues become a faded memory. Thank-you, Al Di La and Alban for a most enchanting experience.
(5)Aaron B.
The gnocci was quite good, and the prices were very reasonable.
(4)Ind R.
Like "a lot of people," I dig Al di La :) They make everything from scratch, and have done wonders with a location that's low on glamour. The bottom line- it's hard to find a nice meal in West Ashley. Make reservations in advance. I've called days ahead, and still haven't scored a table.
(4)Tommy V.
A lot of people like Al di La, and don't get me wrong, their food is decent, but it's not great. The dishes that I've had there have all been either mediocre preparations of standard dishes or somewhat inventive plates with some flavor that was totally out of whack. There are so many better restaurants in Charleston, and the prices at Al di La don't match the quality of the food. The decor is chalkboards with wine prices and black and white photos hung on a cinder-block wall. A few of their appetizers stood out as pretty good. Stuffed figs wrapped in prosciutto were great but that's not enough to bring me back. Their wine list is organized by varietal (generally one bottle of each that they have), and all Italian.
(2)Nicola G.
There was very little I enjoyed tonight at Al Di La, to begin I shared the Asparagus Risotto - which had a good flavor and was creamy, however it was overcooked and mushy, the scallops served with it were the single best thing I tasted all evening - and they were excellent. My husband had the liver crostini which was only ok - overly peppery but had good texture. He chose the Bolognese - which has rave reviews, but was not a bolognese that I have ever seen or tasted before (should be a heavy tomato based meat sauce), this had an odd lemony flavor and was in no way a bolognese. Others chose the Gnocchi which was not terrible - though not particularly memorable. My main course was an interesting sounding pasta with butterbeans, pancetta and pecorino - it was oily, bland and lacking apparently pecorino . The service started well, the waiter was helpful and seemed familiar with the menu, but once the food appeared was hard to find. We requested cheese to sprinkle - by the time it arrived 3 of us had finished and the others were about to. We did not bother with dessert at this point. A lack lustre restaurant with a limited menu and terrible parking, with so many other great restaurants in our city don't settle for this place.
(1)Becca S.
I thought the food,especially the sea bass, was wonderful. I also dug the excellent bottle of Italian wine for $24.
(4)Dave H.
The Italian food is great and served by a friendly and knowedgable wait staff. Most, if not all, of the food is made from scratch. My Black Angus tenderloin was perfect. Served with Mashed potatoes with a touch of garlic, asparagras spears and some kind of flavored pasta. Parking is difficult but not impossible. My wife's pasta dish was equally great. The main dining room does require reservations, but the adjacent wine bar is walk-in. It would be nice if the chairs had some kind of cushions for those of us who don't have built in padding.
(4)Kathy D.
We had a little trouble finding the restaurant but it was well worth it. We ordeed the figs wrapped in prosciutto, the caprice salad, the pork chop and the short ribs. Thanks short ribs were succulent and tasty tender meat. The mashed potatoes were delicious and our sever Kevin was outstanding making it a hit all the way around.
(5)Francesca D.
Coming from a self proclaimed Italian food snob (my father is an Italian chef up north, and my grandparents are from Florence) this spot gets 5 stars! I'm always hesitant to try out an Italian restaurant simply because I'm spoiled and used to my family's cooking, and this place reminded me of home! I'm so glad one of my girlfriends and I gave it a try during restaurant week and I hope that the menu they had for that special is the same as what they normally offer. Now for the review: As stated, we did restaurant week. I opted for the 3 for $35 menu. It was a busy night, but we had a reservation and were promptly seated. We had a great table up top facing out to the dining room. Our waitress was very attentitive and had wonderful suggestions. I started with a nice glass of Prosecco and with a roasted beet salad 1st course. The dressing was perfect! Then opted for the Risotto with Scallops and asparagus.. even more yummy! The tiramisu was heaven on a plate. I could eat that every night. The perfect combo of sweet and savory. We had a wonderful meal and service. The food quality was fantastic and we left feeling full but not too stuffed. I will be back!
(5)Anna H.
This place gives you a real Italian experience. With its family style cooking, romantic ambience, and great service this is the place to try! We started our meal with their savory mussels. The sauce that the mussels marinaded was so delicious I wanted to suck up all the sauce with my straw! My husband had the large fettuccine bolognese. It came piled on his plate! It was enough for two meals or people. The seasoning was perfect and the pasta was al dente! I selected the roasted eggplant with polenta and sautéed green beans. The roasted eggplant had minimal seasoning, but it's simplistic flavor blended well with the cheese it was topped with and the buttery flavor of the polenta. I was quite pleased with my entree! The beans were slightly overcooked because they were wilted, but still not lacking in flavor. They have a great wine menu that are mainly Italian wines. The service is also wonderful. They were all very helpful in answering our questions. If you are looking for a date night place or a place with authentic Italian experience, this is the place for you!
(5)Ashton P.
Delicious food and wine! Definitely some of the best Italian in Charleston.
(4)Tania W.
Shannon provided Amazing service. She was personable and knowledgeable.... We started with the carpaccio and asked for a hint of truffle oil drizzled over it. Amazing it's a must ! Second course tomato basil soup another THUMBS UP. ...DELICIOUS For dinner we decided on the ribeye and asparagus risotto with sea scallops. The scallops were the best, the risotto was less then desirable. It was not creamy it was very starchy and to me just over cooked no taste. .. We paired our dishes with a yummy bottle of Sassomagno. It was heavenly. All in all we will come back in excited to try new things. I'd like to see something other then kale as a,side. How about beets or Brussel sprouts. ..! Limoncello was very tasty
(4)Doug W.
Slow service, no water refils, no bead, no option other than restaurant week menu, with smaller than normal portions... don't know if I'll go back again, but definitely won't for restaurant week.
(2)Amy Lauren S.
I'm really thankful I gave Al Di La a second chance. My husband and I visited last week for a date night and I was more than happy with both our food, service, and the value. First, Al Di La is doing some great things for the community by raising money and awareness of autism. They've had some special menu items over the last few months where 100% of the profits from those dishes' sales went toward autism charities. In addition, on certain nights of the week, they have donated a percentage to those charities. Second, the service the last time we went was outstanding. Our server did a great job explaining every dish to us, taking care of us, and also packaging our leftovers to go (the portions here are a great size for the price). We have also visited again with a Groupon deal and experienced the same great service. Third, Al Di La has some really good happy hour specials on dishes and drinks, including the gnocchi. The gnocchi is the BEST here! But, if you're coming for dinner, you definitely want to make a reservation some nights. From now on, I'll definitely consider Al Di La one of my go-tos for a nice meal in West Ashley. The only downside is the parking situation in Avondale, which really isn't their fault, so we always park at the bank/Harris Teeter and walk over (good tip for anyone who doesn't want to hunt for a street park or risk being towed).
(4)Lauton S.
Really awesome italian fare. This is one of my go to spots in west ashley. Best gnnochi in town, and best tiramisu as well. During restaraunt week they are the best deal to be found. Make a reservation as it can get busy or head to the bar for happy hour specials on food and drink. Go here, thats about it.
(5)Lauren C.
This is one of my favorite restaurants in Charleston, Al Di La has an authentic Italian feel and is quite romantic. I can never decide between the truffle/duck pasta dish or the homemade gnocchi with fresh local shrimp. Their menu is simplistically perfect and right on the nose. Everyone will be able to find something they love and you can't visit just once!
(5)Bill B.
Cool, funky place in West Ashley. If you don't want to deal with parking downtown this is a great option. Staff is friendly outside dining in great and the food is wonderful. Scallop Risotto was fantastic. Every community needs an Italian Bistro like Al Di LA
(4)Kim F.
Very good shrimp gnocchi. It came in a red sauce but I asked for white sauce and they accommodated. Nice atmosphere inside and out. Extensive wine list! Reservations recommended.
(4)Kelly F.
My car was egged at this location which completely ruined the experience. Not really sure why as I don't have any offensive decals or anything of that nature, but beware of the parking here.
(2)Vy D.
Came here for restaurant week with a friend. Great deal and great service. We had the Beef Carpaccio, Shepherd's Salad, Gnocchi, and Strangozzi Spoletina. I really enjoyed the Shepherd's salad. The other dishes I thought were average tasting, with the gnocchi being a little gummy. All in all I would probably return for drinks/pizza at the bar.
(4)Jaimie L.
What an amazing meal!!! I've eaten here before but it has been a while. We dined on Wednesday 2/18 and had the best meal! I order the beef carpaccio, and the duck confit. I was feeling adventurous as neither of these dishes are something I had tried before. AMAZING. Our server was awesome and she recommended a great wine, a Cabernet blend. If you haven't tried al di la yet, get on it!
(5)Lauren F.
The food here was DELICIOUS! My friend and I managed to find a groupon for $50 worth a food so we sampled several things on the menu. We made our own cheese/meat plate which came with a generous portion of each; as well as the mussels which came in a delicious broth perfect for bread-dipping! My friend had the fettuccine bolognese and I had the tagliatelle duck confit, both were AMAZING! Pasta was cooked perfect and the prices were very inexpensive for the quality of food you were receiving.
(4)Erin R.
Was there just last week for a family members birthday. Wonderful presentation, great staff, however I got food poisoning from the spotted bass special. I emailed the staff via Facebook to let them know but never heard anything back which I felt was a bit rude. Either way I don't feel I would ever go here again.
(2)JP S.
Waiter was knowledgeable but busy and seemed a bit distracted. Not a very relaxing atmosphere.. noise level from poor acoustics and vibrant bar scene crowd and feel kept things at a high-pitch. Olive plate was a bit too salty for my taste. The Sheppard's Salad was good. Darn good. My wife's Pork shoulder special, while I found tasty, did not appeal to her. Organic multicolored carrots were very good. side of grits... well, they were grits. Forget about parking anywhere close on a busy Fri or Sat. Valet is available. Decor... dated 1970's mix of lighting and wall-paper... is that the look they were going for? If not... a face lift is in order. Also volume of music plus the other patrons were like a "trumpet on the ear". SaleebScore: Value 5/10; Food 6.5/10; Noise: 3/10; Service: 8/10; Parking 2/10.
(3)Ang R.
Delicous pasta. Had the parpadelle with duck confit and mushrooms. Others had the fish special and loved it. Nice outdoor patio - dogs welcome. Excellent service. Love the Avondale neighborhood. Closed Sunday and Monday!
(4)Gerald T.
Its been a couple of years since our last visit. The decor and restaurant set up have changed but the service and food are still a hit. If you like a nice relaxed dinner pace where you can enjoy each course before the next is brought out then this is the place for you. We started with a glass of the super tuscan and mussels. Both were exceptional. We then both had pasta for dinner. My wife had the gnocchi, and I had the fettucine Bolognese. The fettucine was defintely the winning dish of the night. This is a cute little restaurant in a tucked away part of town. That being said finding a parking spot can definitely be a challenge. Give Al Di La a shot, I think you will enjoy it.
(4)Ruby G.
Al Di La is absolutely one of our favorite restaurants in Charleston. We eat their quite frequetly and don't think I've ever had any real complaints. We love the staff and how frinedly and courteous they are. Who can complain when you walk in the door and they know who you are! Thew new remodel on the dining room is side is great. It's definitely a small restaurant so seating is limited. Make a reservation on Open Table before you head up there. My favorite area to sit are the new elevated tables in the back of the dining room. Something about those sheer curtains makes me feel very VIP. The menu...where can you go wrong? I think I've tried just about everything on the menu and love it all. I've been tempted at times to just tell our server to bring me out what you want. The beef carpaccio and tuna crudo with meyer lemon are my favs. If they have the proscuitto wrapped figs with gorgonzola as a special you better get them before they sell out! My favorite pasta dish use to be the gnocchi, then the duck tagliatelle, and not currently it is the tonarelli. The tonarelli dish is think noodles in a cream sauce with sausage, beans, and mint. Oh my goodness. It's a play off another dish they use to serve, the strangozzi, but hasn't made an appearance on the menu in a while. They have a great wine list as well. I like to order the flights and try different wines through my dinner. Try Al Di La during Charleston Restaurant Week for a great deal. Look around on Groupon to get a deal also. You can't go wrong!
(5)David S.
I've been here several times and the food, service and cleanliness (including the bathroom) is always outstanding. On this last visit (6-5) my wife and I took our parents there. Our server was Kenny and he gave great service that we've come to expect there. He knew the specials and the menu inside and out. Everyone enjoyed their food (eggplant, gnocchi, lamb)...except for me. I ordered the flank steak and was highly disappointed all the way around. The caramelized shallots and mushrooms were excellent, but the steak was a huge disappointment. 1) It was very chewy. It did not seem to have been marinated, which is essential for a flank steak. The sear wasn't the best either. 2) It wasn't seasoned well at all, VERY lacking in salt. 3) It was cooked to 2 different temps---Medium rare on 1/2 and Rare on the other 1/2. And then there was the reduction sauce...also severely lacking in flavor and salt. Obviously a very disappointing experience, which I'm sure was an anomaly (which is why I gave the restaurant 4 stars based on my past experiences and the experiences of the other guests at my table). They need to rethink the prep and cooking of the steak, entirely too many technical errors. All of that being said, they definitely deserve the 4 stars overall and I'll definitely be back!
(4)Joy G.
Always been a great place but tonight was so good....the fish was snapper cooked perfectly with lima beans, turnips, greens...so so good and then pasta with pancetta and sausage with a hint of lemon that was delish....we split both between the two of us...and then our waitress gave us a to go tiramisu.....my only suggestion...I love the lighting, but it is so hard to read your menu.....I'd say we didn't read half of it....who knows what great stuff we missed.... thank you....I will be back....
(5)Michael B.
I will start off by saying I have been here probably close to 50 times if not more. From the moment you walk in and they hit you with some of the best focaccia bread on earth, you can tell you're in for a real treat. I truly love Al Di La and have been having a secrect affair with it for years and years. Everytime I'm back in Charleston, I go to Al Di La. Here's the rundown of the best dishes in my opinion. Baby Lettuces and Shepards Salad - both are; clean, crisp & properly dressed Ricotta Gnocchi - the best ever hands down, I eat gnocchi's all over and these are the tops and my favorite dish they prepare. I dare you to find a better one and if you do please tell me where Beef carpaccio - seared and seasoned to perfection, simple and elegant Milk Braised Pork Shoulder - so effin tender its insane, I'm salavating just thinking about this dish Seared Scallops and Asparagus Risotto - a perfect pairing and I adore how the risotto has an essence of asparagus I always sit at the bar and have a Moretti. They make a killer expresso martini that I always order for dessert and I love that they have Barbera by the glass. As you can tell, Im a huge advocate of Al Di La and would highly recommend it to all.
(5)Elizabeth S.
Absolutely the worst dining experience we have ever had in Charleston. We were served the wrong order twice, and the third time it was cold. We sent the food back and asked that the pizza be taken off the check. The order was again delivered to the wrong table, then brought over to us. We were told we would not be charged for the pizza. When we asked for the check, we were charged for a party of 7, not our party of 2. When we spoke to the bartender/manager about having part of our meal comped, he said that he was able to do so but refused (not even the pizza originally promised). He said we could "call later in the week and deal with it." Then walked away. We were then called profanities by patrons at the bar as we walked out. Humiliating and awful experience. I would not recommend dining here- we will not be returning. Really a shame they treat their customers that way.
(1)Julie B.
I have been to Al Di La three times and I don't think I will go back anytime soon. The first time was just ok, the second time was good but I went for restaurant week and feel truly jipped. It seemed like a good deal listed at 3 for $20 but to get what I really wanted it was 3 for $30 AND my bowl of risotto was half the size of the normal entree. So I feel like I paid more! They would not let you order off the regular menu so either way you were stuck getting three courses...which you need since they were tiny. This was the first time I spent $30 at an Italian place and was still hungry afterwards... So moral of the story is that they were hoping no one would realize that restaurant week was a huge rip off.
(3)Robyn G.
Have been there twice now and both times the food, wine and service were amazing! Will definitely return!
(5)Julia R.
Love Al di La! We come often for appetizers, wine and dinner. The happy hour is great (4:30-6:30)! $10 off bottles of wine. Love the duck tagliatelle, shrimp gnocchi. The cheeses are delicious and just the right amount, though you should ask for extra crostini. The bread is delicious too! Cocktails are refreshing. Service has always been good. Great place to meet up with friends for a nice dinner or cocktail hour!
(4)Jon M.
Believe it or not, West Ashely has a couple of decent choices for Italian food. Al Di La rests squarely at the top of that list. I have dined here multiple times, and have been consistently impressed by both the food and the service. (I have NOT dined here during restaurant week and cannot speak to those negative reviews) Food at Al Di La is not the most creative Italian fare to be had in Charleston, but the dishes are consistently delicious and made with quality ingredients. They offer wine flights, which serve as a wonderful way to experience 3 different Italian wines, forcing you to branch out from the typical chianti or super tuscan. The only reason I am not giving 5 stars, is that I am actually not a fan of their remodel. From the funky wall paper to the alcove of love booth in the back corner, the art deco revamp does not fit their honest northern Italian cuisine.
(4)Paula B.
We went here on Saturday night for restaurant week. My husband was in a shirt and tie (the only one in the restaurant doing so), and I had a nice dress on. Almost everyone else was in shorts, tees, polos, and flip flops. We were elbow to elbow with the next table...another reviewer said the lighting was dim, but not where we sat in the large indoor dining room. The wallpaper has a dizzying geometric pattern that I just couldn't look at. The place was very crowded and a bit loud. Atmosphere needs some help. That being said, the food was good. For the first course we got the mussels and the beet and goat cheese salad. Definitely needed more beets in the salad. My husband asked for more bread for the delicious juice in the bottom of the mussel bowl and the waiter asked if he wanted a spoon instead. NO. Bread, please. Like we asked for. Then another waiter came by and poured olive oil into a little bowl on the table. After asking for bread again, our waiter brought my husband a couple of slices on a little plate....but did he place a larger dish of bread on the table for us to dip in the olive oil, like the other diners had? No. Moving on -- my husband had the pasta with sausage and fava beans, and loved it. I completely enjoyed my pasta with duck confit and mushrooms, as well. Just enough of a portion to eat without being stuffed. Perfect. We both had the tiramisu, served in a martini glass. Nothing spectacular, I guess because it is restaurant week, they probably made a huge pan of it and just dished it up...it's like it was a rush job. One of us had a much larger portion than the other. Our waiter was brusque, almost short with us, and seemed very, very busy. We will try Al di La again in a few months and hope to give them another star.
(3)Dipti P.
Restaurant was nice and everyone liked their dishes. The scallops in my dish were delicious, but I didn't care for the "al dente" texture of my risotto. I like it more cooked. The server was fairly nice, but not attentive enough, in my opinion. Also, he didn't offer to split our check among our party of six. We usually are offered that at all restaurants we visited in the Charleston area.
(3)Erin C.
awesome food, especially with the Groupon deal. Will be back, maybe the menu will change and we can try something new! We got both the appetizer and entree specials and they were delicious.
(4)Stephanie S.
My family and I absolutely love this restautant. I get the same thing everytime: the gnocchi. The gnocchi are so divine that I choose to only eat half the portion so I can save the other half for the next day. Although this restaurant can be a little pricey, I've yet to have a bad meal, and the service is always incredible. The gnocchi are made with ricotta, so they aren't dense like most potato gnocchi, and they basically melt in your mouth. They are absolutely delicious. You are served bread with olive oil, and they have a full bar. The seating can be a bit overwhelming, and isn't terribly handicapped accessible, but the staff is always more than accommodating. I wish they served more choices as far as salads and the like, but over all I think the food is phenomenal.
(5)Frank K.
A really good restaurant, with reasonably priced food. Consistent in their preparation and presentation, I don't think I've had anything bad at Al Di La in the 7 or 8 years I've been going. This review was instigated by a recent dinner--I had the trout entree with spinach, and other veggies on top. Dining partner had eggplant with a salad. We both liked our entrees, and to be honest, the trout was excellent--crispy on the outside, moist within. However, the "spinach" topping consisted of three (maybe it was 2) small spinach leaves, along with some strands of artichokes and potatoes--very meager. That being said, the price of the dish was reasonable by Charleston standards these days--$18. But honestly, I would have paid a couple of bucks more for a more substantial accompaniment to the trout. The dining partner's braised eggplant was similarly priced and similarly small-portioned. Did not taste it, but she said it was good... Good service, nice bread, and OK atmosphere. Had a vanilla torte with blueberries and for dessert it was OK, not great. In the past we have had absolutely killer tiramisu here, but the last few year, not so much. The only real critique I have of this place is that the menu changes very little over the years. With the change of owners a few years ago, there were a few changes, but not much. We would probably go more often if there was more variation in the menu.
(4)D V.
Weird that at such a classy, atmospheric, Italian, romantic restaurant, they were blaring 70s Classic Rock on the patio. I like 70s Classic rock but didn't think it really fits that atmosphere. When we said it was distracting and would rather hear something more laid back (we were one of 2-3 groups on the patio), the server said that the bartender likes the music and so it didn't change and the volume wasn't decreased. Pretty telling that they'd rather please the bartender than their customers. The server was pretty great outside of this (not sure how much sway he had in the music selection). About the food, it was okay but it didn't seem as good as a few years ago.
(2)Ryan H.
Restaurant week, great option! Love their ambiance. This time we did not get a reservation so we hit the bar. Luckily we barely beat the rush by getting there before 6. We started out with the scallops. Yum! I had some pasta option that had plenty of garlic and pesto in it. Wow, was it good and my spouse had the shrimp knocci which was fantastic. We split our meals and I could not have been happier. The bartender was in the weeds but had a good bit of help that made it bearable. WE finished off our restaurant week special with the tiramisu and some white chocolate moose. Both delicious. Almost a 5. Will be back again for sure.
(4)Tony D.
Took the wife here for dinner. Had a three course meal that was great, but had a few drawbacks. First the biggest problem with this restaurant is the parking provided. Drove around for 10-15 minutes looking for parking. There are but 3-4 spots out front, and no parking, and the 2 block radius all around is full along the streets on a Saturday night. Finally found a spot, to walk up and discover there is "complimentary" valet, but they don't set up till after 1830 apparently. Should be set-up prior to doors opening. On to the food though; the most important part. First course was Beef Carpaccio, which was a dream. It was an explosion of flavor, with a perfect crisp crouton and fresh arugula. Primi course was the gnocchi, which we were really looking forward too. The gnocchi had more of a potato taste than a pasta taste, but texture was perfect. The sauce was clearly made in house, but lacked more of a flavor than just fresh tomato. For a secondi we had the Veal Scaloppini, which had a little too much breading, but the veal was cooked well and tasted great. The potatoes on the side were also quite good. Overall, we were happy with our choices, but not overly thrilled with the place all together. I think its worth a second try for us, but the frustration of parking might keep us at bay.
(3)Rafael R.
Uneven portion sizes. My wife ordered a dish (gnocchi and shrimp) that was filling, while I ordered one (eggplant) that left me wanting more food. The gnocchi was good, though not the sauce. I can't say the ambiance is all that special. The seating was uncomfortable and the geometric wallpaper is a weird choice. Would have liked something a little cozier for the money.
(2)Jillian G.
Me and my partner just left after having the 3 for $20 restaurant week meal. I started off with something light - a salad with anchovies. Who knew I liked them?! Then I got the heavy dish - pasta with duck confit and truffle oil. It was delicious. Although personally I think truffle oil is a scam I still love the flavor. I finished my meal with a decadent white chocolate mousse, light but still had a full body taste. It came with a chocolate straw, berries and a sweet wafer. I sipped on a shot of limoncello and ice water during the meal. Our server was great and I also got to see my friend Caroline in action. Very pleased.
(5)Sandy S.
Al Di La is the best restaurant West of the Ashley...I know many folks that have their company Christmas Dinner there because it has never disappointed !! Always fresh, delish and service impeccable !!
(5)Keli T.
Amazing! Bruschetta, bolognese are a must... But the ever changing menu always satisfies.
(5)Alvaro M.
For a while there, this West Ashley trattoria had lost its way. I'm thrilled to report that Al Di La has found it footing again. Went there tonight with two friends and I don't think we had a bad dish. Standouts: The Asparagus and Scallop Risotto for a starter. The entrees were all spectacular: The "hunter style" chicken (why they don't call it Chicken Cacciatore I have no idea. it is an Italian restaurant for God's sake), served over polenta; The triggerfish (yummy) and the short ribs: amazing. Falling-off-the-bone-amazing. Skip the ricotta cheesecake (just disappointing) and go for the chocolate-mint custard.
(4)Andrew H.
It's restaurant week, boys and girls, which is like Christmas for people who like good food. It is also like Christmas because Tom, Dick and Harry from the midwest and upstate come to Charleston to eat at our restaurants. Thanks to them, a lot of the better places in town have pulled out because the cost of cleaning up the grease stains and watching folks in cargo shorts walk around the restaurant became a bit much. For my first restaurant during RW, my friends and I chose Al Di La, a neighborhood Italian place in Avondale that I have been eating at for years. This is a huge secret, so don't tell them. We walked in and I immediately noticed they had remodeled the dining room. Rest assured, for all you locals reading, it still smells musty, kind of like the attic at your grandparents' house where they keep vintage items from the 50s and 60s, so it's charm never left. Oh, and the dining room was full of olds, so maybe my analogy has merit. ADL offers 3 for $20 and 3 for $30. Because I am back to being unemployed and I want my summer earnings to fund my alcoholism for as long as possible, I went with the 3 for $20. For my first course, I ordered the mussels. Why? Because it gives you the biggest bank for your buck. My friends ordered soup and beef capriccio, and while they said it was delicious, they were jealous of me because my app was so big. It's sort of like when your best friend lands the hottest stripper at the gentleman's club. You all wonder how he did it. He acts like he just had the skill, but in reality, it was because he had been going there far more than he wanted to admit. Oh, in case you cared, the mussels were delicious as usual. Get them if you're hungry. Don't question this advice. For dinner, I shied away from my usual Bolognese and gnocchi and instead ordered the pasta with fava beans and sausage. The fava beans drew me in because I am a big fan of Silence of the Lambs. I felt like Hannibal Lector as I downed my entree, minus the human flesh (I hope the sausage was pork). I will say after our meals, we were all so full that it would have been easy to skin us alive had old Hannibal been around. Kind of twisted, isn't it, Clarice? ADL gets 4 stars for being the same as it always has been. The bar was nice. The food was excellent and a great value to boot, and the service was acceptable. The only thing keeping this from a 5 star review is that I asked for more bread, and the server thought I was being a sarcastic ass. How on earth did she know?
(4)Jess V.
I absolutely love this place! Very intimate and the lighting is low so its perfect for a date night! Server was very knowledgable about wine and food. My favorite is the gnocchi and the homemade cheesecake. Also, try the fig appetizer (if offered)
(5)Lindsey K.
2 1/2 Stars... So I have been told many people Al Di La its the best, you have to try it, blah blah blah...well...I have been here twice now and still do not understand all the hype. The food had little to no flavor both times we dined here. To sum it up, the wine, service, and outdoor patio experience were all great...the food just wasn't there. With that being said, I really want to like this place since it's so close to our house...we will be back to give them a third chance....going with the pizza next time....can't mess that up...right? If you are looking for good Italian food check out Wild Olive or Il Cortile Del Re, you won't be disappointed..
(3)Doug H.
The food? Who knows? We never got that far. We arrived five minutes before our 8:00 reservation. There was no hostess to be found. Wait staff walked by without a word or comment. Eventually, the hostess showed up and told us the folks in "your table have paid, but not left, so it will be a few minutes. Please wait in the bar." Not the best start, but not all that unusual. We assumed it would be just a few minutes, so we decided to wait and order a bottle of wine when seated. Big mistake. We noticed one group of four in the bar also waiting on a table. Another group of four showed up about 8:10. The first group got their table around 8:15. Since it had been a while with no word from the hostess, I thought I would check on where things stood, and took a glance in the dining room. I noticed them setting up a table and assumed it was ours. It took ten minutes for the hostess to find time to set the table. By 8:25, I decided to hang out by her. Obviously unhappy I was standing by her, she asked if she could help me. I told her my name, my reservation time, and that I assumed the open table was ours. She said all the tables are reserved (what a surprise), and that the open table wasn't ours. She said it belonged to another group - the group of four that showed up at 8:10. She pointed out that we were a group of three. There was a table that had three women at it, with still half full wine glasses, and she told us that was our table. It, of course, was the same size as the table that was open. I told her we arrived before the group she was about to seat. First, she denied that. Then, she said they had an earlier reservation. Then, she said they had an earlier reservation, but agreed to move it back because the restaurant was busy. She was pissed off that I was asking, rude and completely unapologetic. She sat the other group. I asked for the manager. It was Saturday night. She said there is no manager. Then she said I could talk to the bartender. I spoke to him, after he tried to move me away from other customers. He apologized and promised to look into it right away. He then headed back behind the bar. At that point we left. On the way out, another group told me they were still waiting on their 8:00 reservation as well. I am a local who lives downtown, and usually eats downtown. We decided to try Al-di-la based on its reputation. It's a shame we won't ever get the opportunity to do so. I guess if you are so busy that you overbook reservations, you don't care about customer service, and you can afford to employ a rude, unhelpful host. We'll see how that works out for this place in the years to come.
(1)C W.
The food and service was exceptional. The bartender and waiter did a good job answering my questions about wine and food choices. I wish I had tried this place sooner. The only negative is the parking situation. I'll be back!
(5)Suzi S.
Dinner was excellent. The asparagus pizza was definitely a delight. Pastas, risotto & fish, everything was delicious. Best dinner and service we've had in a long time. Mark and his staff made us an evening to remember!!!
(5)Donna C.
Very cool, hip, Manhattan kind of place. Order the carpaccio and the tagliatelle duck confit. Yummy!
(5)Liz L.
This is the first Italian restaurant I've checked out in Charleston (just moved here, gimmie some time) and it did not disappoint. We had the bruschetta, the Spoleto special pasta, and the shrimp gnocci. Everything tasted fresh and delicious; the gnocci was interesting in that I felt like was a Shrimp-n-grits meets Italy dish. Yummy! I would recommend trying the caprese salad over the bruschetta. While the bruschetta was good, I think having the housemade mozzerella fresh, rather than melted over the bread, would do it more justice. We got the 1/2 portion of each pasta dish and shared. We were stuffed! If you're on a budget, I would recommend splitting and appetizer and full size pasta dish (for 2 people). It'd be enough food for sure. The service was great and the ambiance was nice too. It's nice enough for a date night but not pretentious at all. We ate in the main restaurant part, but checked out the bar menu as well - they have a nice variety of meat and cheeses to do your own plates. I look forward to trying that. I'll probably try some other Italian joints before I come back, just since I'm the NKOTB, but I will definitely go back again.
(4)Tara B.
This restaurant is one of my favorites in Charleston. The food is amazing and I've never been disappointed. I'm seriously salivating thinking about the salad I had when I went there last. It's perfect for a romantic date night or a couples night. The servers are efficient and knowledgeable. The food is fresh and ingredients are flavorful and in season! What makes this a top contender for dinner is the Avondale valet option for parking- so nice! From the bread to the dessert, I can't get enough! Try the gnocchi, the salad with anchovies and the tiramisu (duh!).
(5)Dano M.
Change the menu once in a little bit...Boring.....was a lot better when I was excited to go there...Now it is a chore, and I am not letting women influence me ever again...BORING.....Give me some Veal......
(2)AJ S.
Wonderful unexpected gem. We came on a saturday night when it first opened around 5:30. It was mistly empty then but filled up within just a few minutes. definately make a reservation if going durin peak nights. The staff was very attentive and friendly. We had the beet salad (a little low on the beets) and bruschetta for apps and the pork chop, scallop risotto, and rabbit pasta dish. All were amazing. There was a nice thick glaze on the pork chop, the scallops were large and perfectly seared, and the pasta was very rich and cheesy but countered by the substantial shredded rabbit meat. We decided to get the ricotta cheesecake for dessert- definitely recommended! Even if you're super full from all the creamy goodness before, it's smal enough that you can share and just get a few heavenly bites in. Can't wait for summer when they open up the patio! There will be much more seating and the smaller Magnolia street it's on would make for a nice al fresco setting.
(4)Deb B.
The rabbit was unbelievable and the the service was outstanding! Yay for them!
(5)Ashley W.
Al Di La is my FAVORITE restaurant in Charleston, hands down!!! I remember when it was half the size it is now. The gnocchi is incredible! I've tried gnocchi all over the US and I have never had any as amazing as Al Di La's. You have to order it! The prices are reasonable, even on wine! I can't say enough great things about this place. Delicious!! xo
(5)Rachel B.
We utilized a Groupon deal to have dinner here while on vacation. Our party consisted of five adults, one child and a baby. Our server was great, explaining the dishes, drinks and specials. There was a mix up with my meal that caused it to be served as the rest of the party was finishing, but it was still fantastic and the server took care of the problem like a pro. A great place for small groups. Everyone in our party had amazing comments on their dinners. Dessert was fantastic!!
(5)Emilie W.
Best gnocchi i have ever eaten
(4)Eyecant S.
This is a undiscovered gem of a place in Charleston. Of my 4 trips there all 4 have been very good. They have a good selection of food and wine and the service is great as well. They even have valet parking for tips only on some nights.
(5)Cindy F.
Incredible meal, the service was awesome, good wine selection, this is one of the best places I've eaten in Charleston!
(5)Laura K.
my husband and i live in the neighborhood near this restaurant, so we frequent the avondale restaurants quite a bit. al di la is by far my favorite. the menu changes per season and they strive to use local ingredents. this italian is on par with anything i've had in little italy in boston and in the authentic italian restaurants in NYC - they even make all of their own pasta from scratch! the prices are moderate, and you definitely get what you pay for! a must if you are near avondale
(5)Nick V.
I can't say enough good things about Al Di La! The food was authentic and delicious, all the meals were reasonably priced and you received large portions, the atmosphere in the restaurant was perfect, and the service was amazing. I went last Friday as an engagement party with my family and my fiance's family, and the management pulled out all the stops to make sure we had a great evening. We plan to go back on a date night sometime soon. Thank you, Al Di La - you've earned yourself some new regulars.
(5)Richard B.
Always crowded, and rightfully so . . . an inventive, delicious look at Northern Italian food. And now they have free valet parking!! (A major plus in that area). We started with a tasty plate of cheeses and soppresata [sp?], together with a special of roasted dates (or was it figs), stuffed with gorganzola and wrapped in prosciutto. We decided to pass on pasta and concentrated on the daily fish special - a perfectly tuned flounder with rosemary mashed potatoes . . . and a marvelous roasted half game hen, which looked almost too good to eat, on a bed of risotto (I think) and a host of fresh veggies. 3 different wines . . . followed by a tiramisu with hazelnuts and a deadly ricotta cheesecake thyat could be declared a "per se" weapon. And the service - Andre - was professional, in tempo and knowledgeable. Switching languages, tres yummesque . . . rhb
(5)Calvin W.
I give this place 3 stars because the service was less than desired, but the food was excellent! I had a fresh spaghetti-type meal (not sure what they were called, but like spaghetti noodles, but fatter) and fresh italian sausage in a nice alfredo sauce. The place wasn't that roomy and the server was not very good. The food came out very slow and the server only came out to us a few times...taking almost an hour to fill our drinks again. Albeit we were a party of 8 and it was busy....that shouldn't be an excuse for bad service. The plate of olives were a little pricey as you really get half a handful, but my main meal was excellent...and the food was the main redeeming quality of the place.
(3)Giancarlo B.
NICE LITTLE PLACE. Their focaccia bread was excellent. The chairs and booths are very uncomfortable, those kind of straw jobs that are sheer torture. We had some nice appetizers that were seriously over-priced, $7.50 for a few white anchovies and strings of red peppers. The typical bruchette and a weak beet salad. Fresh pastas were very good, I had a fresh farfalle primavera, my friend had a trout in filo pastry that was well prepared and fresh, the risotto was very tasty but the rice itself was so over cooked (pre-cooked) that it was mush, I could not have eaten it . The bar area had a nice wood burning oven and looked lively. Will not be a top pick of mine in Charleston area, I don't mind driving over the bridge for good food.
(4)Eric B.
Delicious food at reasonable prices and a warm, comfortable atmosphere. This is one of my favorite restaurants in West Ashley.
(4)Morgan S.
I had a hard time deciding what to level to rate Al Di La at... I obviously decided to go with a middle of the road '3' star rating. I've been to Al Di La four or five times and have never been wowed. On the flip side, I've never had a horrible experience either. Overall it's just decent. Decent service. Decent menu. Decent taste. Decent Decent Decent. Who wants to be JUST decent?!?!
(3)Mary J.
My recent visit to Al Di La was one of the best dining experiences I have ever had in Charleston. Since buying a home in the lowcountry eighteen years ago my husband and I have had the opportunity to frequent many highly lauded and excellent restaurants. Alas, many have come and gone. After our meal at Al Di La last week with our nephew and his family it is clear why this restaurant has enjoyed both longevity and a consistently top rating. Both my nephew and his wife are Mad Men fanatics and were instantly in love with the newly remolded restaurant's mid-century vibe. Alban, our very passionate, personable and capable server went out of his way to make sure our out of town family had a memorable experience. He was very patient and knowledgeable and explained the features of every dish in guiding us towards making sumptuous choices. Every one at the table felt the mussels were some of the best we have sampled anywhere and a true bargain given the quantity and quality. Alban was never far away to replenish the fresh in-house focaccia so we could savor every bit of the rich, complex broth. Other stand out dishes included veal, duck confit and the Bolognese. Especially notable is the perfectly seasoned thick and juicy pork chop. It is very apparent that all the food at Al Di La is prepared in-house, including the very refreshing Limoncello. Every restaurant has its not so great feature and sadly for Al Di La it is trying to find parking in the popular Avondale neighborhood. There was no valet on duty on a Thursday evening or else he/she were out of sight. Once inside the doors, though, parking issues become a faded memory. Thank-you, Al Di La and Alban for a most enchanting experience.
(5)Aaron B.
The gnocci was quite good, and the prices were very reasonable.
(4)Ind R.
Like "a lot of people," I dig Al di La :) They make everything from scratch, and have done wonders with a location that's low on glamour. The bottom line- it's hard to find a nice meal in West Ashley. Make reservations in advance. I've called days ahead, and still haven't scored a table.
(4)Tommy V.
A lot of people like Al di La, and don't get me wrong, their food is decent, but it's not great. The dishes that I've had there have all been either mediocre preparations of standard dishes or somewhat inventive plates with some flavor that was totally out of whack. There are so many better restaurants in Charleston, and the prices at Al di La don't match the quality of the food. The decor is chalkboards with wine prices and black and white photos hung on a cinder-block wall. A few of their appetizers stood out as pretty good. Stuffed figs wrapped in prosciutto were great but that's not enough to bring me back. Their wine list is organized by varietal (generally one bottle of each that they have), and all Italian.
(2)Nicola G.
There was very little I enjoyed tonight at Al Di La, to begin I shared the Asparagus Risotto - which had a good flavor and was creamy, however it was overcooked and mushy, the scallops served with it were the single best thing I tasted all evening - and they were excellent. My husband had the liver crostini which was only ok - overly peppery but had good texture. He chose the Bolognese - which has rave reviews, but was not a bolognese that I have ever seen or tasted before (should be a heavy tomato based meat sauce), this had an odd lemony flavor and was in no way a bolognese. Others chose the Gnocchi which was not terrible - though not particularly memorable. My main course was an interesting sounding pasta with butterbeans, pancetta and pecorino - it was oily, bland and lacking apparently pecorino . The service started well, the waiter was helpful and seemed familiar with the menu, but once the food appeared was hard to find. We requested cheese to sprinkle - by the time it arrived 3 of us had finished and the others were about to. We did not bother with dessert at this point. A lack lustre restaurant with a limited menu and terrible parking, with so many other great restaurants in our city don't settle for this place.
(1)Becca S.
I thought the food,especially the sea bass, was wonderful. I also dug the excellent bottle of Italian wine for $24.
(4)Dave H.
The Italian food is great and served by a friendly and knowedgable wait staff. Most, if not all, of the food is made from scratch. My Black Angus tenderloin was perfect. Served with Mashed potatoes with a touch of garlic, asparagras spears and some kind of flavored pasta. Parking is difficult but not impossible. My wife's pasta dish was equally great. The main dining room does require reservations, but the adjacent wine bar is walk-in. It would be nice if the chairs had some kind of cushions for those of us who don't have built in padding.
(4)