For gals who simply don’t want to leave Brooklyn in order to enjoy a fabulous meal or for jaded Manhattan foodies who are seeking escape, check out Al Di La, a Northern Italian Park Slope eatery guaranteed to answer all your dining prayers. Inside, the decor is simply elegant, sumptuous and warm with the tile floor, the rustic tin ceiling, flowered wallpaper, mismatched china and silverware, the dramatic red velvet curtain at the entrance and co-owner Emiliano Coppa’s grandmother’s crystal chandelier from Venice. Mind you ladies, I haven’t even begun to dish on the food yet. With an ever-changing menu inspired by Veneto, a region flavored by Venice and the countryside that surrounds it, chef and co-owner Anna Klinger, formerly of Lespinasse, local patrons have been flocking to this charming trattoria since 1999.

Start with baccala mantecato (salt-beaten cod) with grilled polenta or the buttery carpaccio served with argula and shaved parmesan. For your primi, or first course, sample any one of their homemade, decadently rick pastas, such as poppy-seeded sweet beet ravioli, brown-butter-slicked squash tortelli, and airy swiss chard-ricotta “malfatti” (misshapen gnocchi with fried sage). And just when you thought your mouth couldn’t water any more, the char-grilled organic chicken served on a bed of fennel and mash potatoes guarantees to delight.

With a bevy of divine desserts (chocolate and hazelnuts anyone? or maybe some delish ice cream spiked with scalding espresso?) and a friendly, communal atmosphere, no doubt Al Di La will soon be your favorite Brooklyn eatery.

Tip: For patrons who want to snag a table, warning, Al Di La has a no reservation policy, but delight in waiting at their cozy wine bar located just around the corner.

Al Di La
607 Carroll St
Brooklyn, NY 11215
(718) 783-4565
Cross Street: 5th Avenue
Subway: F to 4th Ave-9th St; M, N, R at Union St

Famished Girl | Email | Print | //