Buongiorno!
Only last week Daniel called his mom telling her how much he missed her Italian cooking. He spoke to her on Sunday afternoon, a time at his house when the kitchen is busy and the inside air smells of garlic, olive oil and the featured roast that day. Oh, to be home again.
Luckily, while chatting with friends this week, we were recommended a place that might be the closest thing to a Marilyn Stern home-cooked feast. And just as we like our pasta at home, this week it was Ristorante Al Dente.
Located just above Escafe on the south end of the Downtown Mall adjacent to the skating rink, Al Dente brings the taste of Italy, specifically Venice, to Charlottesville. And despite being somewhat hidden, Al Dente does its best through window and sandwich board style placards to lure hungry patrons upstairs to this "floating city" eatery.
Making your way up the wooden stairs, visitors are welcomed by an elegant environment with dark soothing yellows on the walls with hangings of Venice and other traditional Italian vistas. Greeted instantly, we were taken to a gorgeously decorated table next to a window overlooking the Mall and with a nice view of those skating at the rink.
Although the dress is not very formal, this place is fancy. Beautiful table cloths and napkins as well as hand-polished silver utensils sat on each table. To add a bit extra, each napkin is stuffed with an imported trio of Italian breadsticks, for use either during your meal or as a keepsake.
As we glanced over the menu, Italian music played at the perfect volume. Just then, our waiter delivered our bread and native olives. The bread, although typical, was the perfect starter, and the olives, Daniel's personal favorite, had to be refilled several times.
To be honest, the menu, although not that large, was probably too big. We were given a separate sheet for the specials on top of the three-page daily menu.
The main menu is split into five sections: Antipasti, Zuppe, Primi Piatti, Secondi Piati and Dolce. Remember Italians eat a lot, and they like to eat slowly, so we planned on being there for a while.
To start, we ordered the Capesante gratinate ($8) and the Minestrone di verdure ($6). The first, fresh scallops served with wild mushrooms and brandy, was divine. After the first bite, we knew this was how scallops were to be eaten -- soft, tender and full of flavor. Each scallop was served on top of a large real sea shell, believe us we checked, and topped with a brandy induced besciamella sauce (cream sauce).
The soup, which came highly recommended over the Lentil simply because of its lightness, was just that. Served in a gorgeous China bowl, the minestrone soup rivaled Mrs. Stern's. Full of tender veggies like corn, pea pods and various beans, and finished with a dash of basil and parsley, this piping hot soup warmed the belly, but left it eager for more as well.
Next came our house salads, gratis with our entrees. These moderately-sized portions were traditional blends of baby lettuces, long, thinly cut carrots and cucumbers, all tossed in a light arugula dressing with a hint of lemon.
At this point, it is worth noting that the service at Al Dente was top notch. Family owned and operated, we could not have asked for a more courteous or knowledgeable staff.
Having eaten quite a bit already, and wanting to save room for dessert, we chose to simply order one entree each instead of the possible two. In doing so, we ordered the Pollo Speciale ($22) and the Filetto di sogliola a modo mio ($26).
The chicken, garnished with pears and apricots and finished with a white wine sauce, was the better of the two. It was so tender no knife was needed, and the side of risotto topped with a sprinkling of parmesan cheese made for the perfect blend of textures.
The filet of sole also was good, but it was a bit too much cream sauce for our liking. It too was like air, and was a more than adequately sized portion. The best part of the dish, however, was the side, a veggie pate served inside of a large-shell macaroni. The pate, made up primarily of peppers, carrots, eggplant and breadcrumbs, could have been a larger entree on its own. But nonetheless, our main dinner concluded on an overall high note.
The best, however, was yet to come. For dessert, we chose the Tartufo di cioccolate al espresso ($7) and the Creme Speciale ($8). The first was chocolate ice cream with a vanilla center, topped with a cocoa sugar shell and flooded with espresso. The contrast in textures from frozen to soft and from soft to sugary outer shell was this treat's best feature. Served inside a champagne glass and finished with a sprig of mint, the tartufo made our A list.
However, even better was the cream puff special. This trio of cream puffs was filled with a light and creamy vanilla custard and smothered in a rich and smooth dark chocolate mousse. Each bite was a chocolate lovers dream, and one that we fought over. Nothing was spared.
In all, Al Dente is a welcomed addition to the Downtown Mall, and one that will no doubt have a healthy following as soon as its name gets out there. For only being open six months, this Venetian venue has made all the right decisions, from the napkins to the olives and of course the main menu. Although a bit on the pricey side, Al Dente's Italian masterpieces and its personalized and attentive service make it a definite name stay in Charlottesville.
Mrs. Stern, the competition is closing in fast.
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