Al di Là

Whole charcoal-grilled young organic chicken served with fennel salad and mashed potatoes.

I meet up with friends for dinner on Tuesday night in Park Slope. We checked out Al di Là a northern Italian restaurant which my friend described as,"slightly over-hyped and crowded" but still a favorite of hers nonetheless. The restaurant doesn't take reservations so be prepared to wait. I visited on a Monday night and the wait was not terrible. We headed around the corner to their wine bar and enjoyed a glass of red and olives while we waited.

After a glass, the table was ready and the three of us headed upstairs to a cozy restaurant with exposed brick, decorative tiled floors, a large Venetian glass chandelier, and my favorite black candy-cane style bentwood chairs. The atmosphere was intimate with a neighborhood feel.

We checked out the menu that included a large section of appetizers emphasisizing shellfish, homemade pasta dishes, and hearty entrees like charcoal-chicken and hanger steak. I've read of lot of raves for the steak. I'm not a steak kinda girl and wasn't feeling adventurous that night.

I went for the blood orange salad to start and then the "casunziei" ravioli stuffed with a blend of roasted beets and ricotta, then coated with melted butter and poppy seeds and felt like I totally scored. The roasted beets were delightful and were not masked with any heavy ingredients. The dish felt pure, light, and simple. The poppy seeds were interesting. I was a little perplexed by them and was in fear of an 80's Spa Dish, but was pleasantly surprised that the texture was a welcomed addition.

Check out this video I found of owner Anna Klinger talking a little bit about the origins of her food and how she likes that the restaurant has a neighborhood feel.

Al di Là
248 Fifth Avenue (Carroll Street)
Park Slope, Brooklyn
(718) 783-4565
aldilatrattoria.com