Downtown Westwood welcomed a new Italian restaurant called Al Dente in late January. Immediately walking in, you could feel the restaurant’s cozy atmosphere. Although there was seating, it wasn’t your typical sit-down restaurant. It was similar to a Panera because customers ordered and paid at a kiosk or the front counter before sitting down.           

Al Dente’s menu has a wide variety of options to pick from: they serve primarily pasta in addition to a few salads, and they have a section of their menu dedicated to fried foods. 

There is an option to make your own bowl of pasta, but I decided to order one of their specials called the Sausage and Broccoli Rabe, which also had angel hair, garlic, and oil. The dish was $23.00, which I thought was reasonable given the large portions. The sausage had just the right chewiness and the bitterness of the broccoli rabe complemented it by cutting through the richness of the pasta and sausage. However, I had a hard time eating a lot because the dish had way too much oil for me, so I probably wouldn’t order it again.

I also tried the Zucchini for $14.00. I thought the price was appropriate because it came with many large fried zucchini pieces that it could be enough for an appetizer to share with friends. The zucchini was very good because the panko breadcrumbs made it nice and crunchy. The lemon aioli sauce on the side also helped add more flavor to the zucchini. 

Lastly, I ordered a salad called the Garden for $14.00. This was my favorite dish because it was so fresh and their citrus vinaigrette dressing was perfect. The variety of different vegetables, including carrots, tomatoes, and cucumbers helped contribute to the flavor of the dish. I would definitely go back to Al Dente just for this salad!

The food also came in take-out containers instead of plates, so it was easy to just take home any leftovers. The service was fast too, but it wasn’t too crowded when I went. 

I would give Al Dente 4 out of 5 stars because the oily pasta was a letdown, but the salad and zucchini were so tasty that I would still recommend going there for a quick Italian meal.