I have a special love for real Italian cuisine and after several trips to Italy, it is always difficult for me to find the taste of the food enjoyed on-site back in France… I had already told you about a very good Tuscan bistro in a previous article, and today I have a new great address in this area to share with you.
A few steps from Rue du Bac and Le Bon Marché, and across from the Italian Embassy, Sylvain Lindon (yes, the brother of actor Vincent Lindon!) and his wife Marie opened their restaurant, Al Dente, over ten years ago.
Sylvain and Marie welcome you like guests in their own home, meaning with a constant focus on putting the customer’s needs first, which translates into fast and always impeccable service. You never wait for your dishes, even in the middle of a rush, and if you ask for a carafe of water, they bring it to you immediately… This might seem like a detail, yet too often in Parisian restaurants, I eventually get a little annoyed after asking for the bread basket for the third time…
As for the venue, the restaurant has just had a makeover, with a space entirely redesigned to be more modern and cozy, featuring comfortable red banquettes, all highlighted by soft and warm lighting.
The restaurant offers a gourmet and inventive Italian menu (antipasti, primo piatto, secondo) and a selective choice of authentic and quality seasonal products.
In the kitchen, Elio, the talented chef from Puglia, has built the restaurant’s reputation by offering Italian dishes for 9 years (carpaccio, meats, fish, pizzas and of course pasta ”al dente”), some of which have even become the establishment’s ”classics”, such as the scallop carpaccio (a must-try!), the Linguine with squid & bottarga, the Trofie with green asparagus and lime (again, I highly recommend you discover this dish!), or the beef fillet Tagliata served with arugula and parmesan shavings, as per the Italian tradition (the same goes for the famous veal Milanese escalope).
The chef’s new formula also offers chalkboard suggestions that change every month to account for the seasonality of the products.
The concept: choice of 2 appetizers, 2 pasta dishes, a meat and a fish, not to mention the risotto, served every Thursday and prepared according to the chef’s inspiration, which is one of his specialties (this makes me want to go back on a Thursday just to discover his risotto, a dish I am crazy about and find hard to enjoy well in Paris…).
Al Dente also offers pizzas (between €13 and €16.50), which can be enjoyed on-site or at home, allowing smaller budgets to come and enjoy the restaurant’s qualities as well.
As for the desserts, they are homemade, except for the artisanal ice creams from the Pozzetto house and the ‘café gourmand’, created by the Pâtisserie des Rêves and renamed ”Café des Rêves” (€12). However, as a great lover of tiramisu, I can only advise you to taste the house one (€8.70), creamy and melting as you could wish. Definitely one of the best I have been able to taste in Paris (not counting, of course, the one my colleague makes, which is to die for!).
Finally, regarding the cellar, the chef has chosen a very beautiful selection of exclusively Italian wines to accompany his menu, which is very appreciated.
In conclusion, after almost 10 years of enduring success, Al Dente remains an essential address for food lovers in love with Italy, which I am happy to have finally discovered thanks to this invitation. Even if the prices are not within everyone’s reach, as I often say, sometimes it is better to go to a restaurant less often, but to treat yourself to a beautiful table like this one, once in a while…
Restaurant Al Dente 38 rue de Varenne 75007 Paris open from Tuesday to Saturday from 12:00 PM to 2:30 PM and from 7:45 PM to 10:45 PM expect between €35/€40 a la carte, excluding drinks
Find my restaurant reviews in Paris below:
⇒ My restaurant reviews in Paris
⇒ My Italian restaurants in Paris
MY ITALIAN RESTAURANTS IN PARIS
⇒ Pizzeria addresses in Paris
⇒ Little Nonna gluten-free pizzeria
⇒ Italian brunch
⇒ Dai Dai
⇒ Ammazza
⇒ Gemini Family
⇒ Simonetta, trattoria on the Canal de l’Ourcq
Photo credits: Mademoiselle Bon Plan and Al dente Photos not free of rights, photographer's permission required before any use
