BEST ITALIAN IN BROOKLYN
A no-reservations policy and creative, affordable Venetian-inspired fare ensure lines of locals at Park Slope's Al Di La. Not to worry, though: You can grab a seat at the wine bar next door (Al Di La Vino) until your table is ready. Owned by husband-and-wife team Anna Klinger (chef) and Emiliano Coppa, this funky yet subtly romantic trattoria nails the neighborhood feel and is a refreshing respite from the overdone preciousness at Manhattan's most expensive northern Italian restaurants. Steamed Prince Edward Island mussels or grilled sardines over arugula and tripe stewed with white wine, herbs and tomatoes lead off the antipasti. Rustic pastas include the tagliatelle with meat ragu, risotto with cuttlefish, and ravioli stuffed with fava beans, pecorino and mascarpone cheeses. Pork loin scaloppini and the signature braised rabbit with olives and polenta satiate those craving meat. A smooth gelato finish reminds that with Italian cuisine, simplicity can be bliss. Reservations not accepted. Beer and wine available. Serving dinner Wed-Mon. Closed Tue.
Where The Locals Eat rating
Best Italian, Brooklyn
Top 100 Restaurant, New York City
"I sing the praises of Al di Là, sung so many times before, because it deserves the music. Because there are food lovers from outside Brooklyn who have never been, and Al di Là is worth a trip. ... Italian food doesn't need to be fancied up or elaborately fussed over to rise to a high level."
– Frank Bruni, The New York Times , Jan. 11, 2006
"For all the praise the pasta gets at this Park Slope Venetian sensation, the entrées might be even better. ... The house-made gelati are wonderful, too."
—New York magazine
"It would be hard to improve upon [the] braised rabbit with black olives atop polenta."
—Time Out New York
"The high-ceilinged room boasts a certain faded chic, with its church-pew seats and eccentric touches, such as the coffee pots hanging from the walls."
—Michelin New York City
How others rate Al Di La
The New York Times
** (very good)
Top Pick
New York magazine
* (good)
Critics' Pick
Zagat 2009
26 food rating (extraordinary to perfection)