Al Dente Edinburgh

On the food front, Al Dente is a solid 4, maybe 4 and a half.

This is a cosy Italian restaurant with a lovely waiter who introduced us to some Italian off the beaten track specialities - an incredible red wine from the

Al Dente has been on my 'to do' list for a while based on a friend's recommendation but one of the biggest put-offs for me is where it's situated - it's

Would rate a 10/5 if I could! this place is amazing! I went with a few friends on holiday! there is a very domestic feeling, and they can say it is very authentic! the couple that ran the place were the only ones that were next to us when we went, but they did not encourage us or about our table waiting to order or finish us! I have to mention how amazing it was to eat! we ordered to start the roasted red pfeffer and goat cheese bruschetta, and all gobbed it down in 5 minutes! it was incredible! for dinner we ordered a bottle chianti, with the risotto with garnelen, and orichette with broccoli and speck! we have cleaned all our tellers! the best risotto I ever had! at the end they gave us free chocolate salami! that was something I never had! it was incredible! the prices are very reasonable, service was impeccable and the food was to die! will definitely come back when I go back to edinburg!

It was a quiet Monday night as we rolled up to Al Dente on Easter Road, a tiny Italian restaurant that sits unassumingly half-way down Easter Road. You’re instantly drawn to the Ospitalia Italiana gold award proudly stamped into its façade; in my experience, these less glamourous eateries always turn out to be a winner. There’s an open kitchen, and chef/owner Graziano is gabbing away in his native tongue to a friend. On entering, he is swiftly out to greet us, alongside our waitress for the evening. The Italian excitedly takes us through today’s specials and retreats back behind the stove. My starter tonight is warm-baked Apulian potato tart with cured meat and mozzarella £5.30), with Sarah going for ‘Sautee de pesce’ priced at £6.80. The dining room is immediately awash with the wonderful aromas of garlic and white wine, and with one large breath drawn in, Sarah boldly states “Mmmm, it doesn’t get better than that”. She might be right. Her dish comes out first and I was glad to see just a simple plate of mussels, calamari, prawns, clams, and a decent chunk of good bread to soak us those juices. The last time we ordered this in a restaurant the shellfish were full of grit; thankfully, this chef has given his produce the respect it deserves, and that respect extends to the cooking of it – simple, but effective, the way it should be. My dish was equally as good: quality ham, gooey cheese, crunchy top and potatoes with a slight bite to them – a dish most suited to this cold winter evening. Another couple of Italian gentlemen entered the restaurant and the banter between chef and customer flowed. It’s a definite indicator of authenticity when fellow countrymen dine in such restaurants, and a far cry from the more generic offerings that lie over on Leith Walk. I opted for one of the specials in the form of pork loin with gorgonzola, honey, and roasted vegetables £14.80). This plate is never going to win any awards for presentation, but its rusticity wasn’t without