Al Dente's — Restaurant in Florida

Very poor service, sad because it could be a good place but would never recommend based on the service we received. Restaurant was also extremely loud and cafeteria like... why did random tables have tablecloths and not all the tables (ours did not but both tables beside us did)?

We ordered our toddler's food with our appetizer so that it would be brought out ASAP. We asked about a kids menu only to be told it wasn't printed anywhere as our waitress struggled to remember what was on it. After we finished our appetizer and still not receiving our toddler's food we were told it ended up being sent to another table. Then finally when it showed up, it was well after we were already done with our food (yes, we fed our kid from our plates). Once it finally arrived, waitress acted like there was no issue with that.

This is on top of bringing the wrong dish to me but I wasn't about to wait another 45 mins for them to fix it (might have helped if she had written anything down)... Took over 25 mins from telling waitress we were missing our kid's food (simple linguine with marinara - should be extremely quick to make). I politely mentioned it to the waitress and her response was "that's not what I heard". We were not offered any sort of compensation or even a genuine apology for either situatioon. Waitress then started ignoring us after she had embarrassed herself twice making things take even longer. Every table near us was brought more bread throughout their meal, we weren't given the offer and was never delivered when asked.

Food was just okay. Picatta was actually pretty good but marinara was watery and very "tinny". Despite asking for sweet tea twice the tea was unsweet so I can't comment whether they brought the wrong thing both times or if the tea is just lacking any measurable amount of sweetener.

Very disappointing experience. Sad because it would be nice to have this sort of Italian restaurant nearby. For nearly $75 for 2 adults and a toddler, a much better experience is expected.

2 Updates: #1) Surprise, surprise an email to the owner as requested by the owner in their response to my review elicited zero response from them. Obviously lip service.

#2) My wie, kid, and inlaws went again tonight to give them a 2nd try. Food took an hour and fifteen minutes for toddler and an hour and half for adults. They asked to speak to the manager who was both extremely rude and full of excuses. The one I find the funniest: "We're a new restaurant, we're still working out the kinks, we've only been open for 2 years". lol 2 years and still working out the kinks huh?

Obviously any respone is mere lip service as they obviously don't intend to change or improve. Avoid this establishment. At this rate, they won't be in business much...

My family and I went here to eat for the first time. There was 4 of us total. It started good and Zuppa soup I ordered to start was wonderful. (I wish they sold cup sizes however, as the bowl is too big to start with, but it's also not a listed appetizer so I understand why it's a bowl size). I ordered the filet, the others in the party ordered alfredo, chicken parmesan, and chicken marsala. Their meals were excellent. My filet when it came out looked fantastic and smelled wonderful. I had asked for a medium cook. I cut the first piece, it was well but I ate it and it was flavorful. I cut the second piece, it was well also. So my husband and another at the table said I should send it back, because we don't eat out often due to money and the food is on the pricier side, but we were okay with that. We just wanted what we paid for because of the costlier side. So we unfortunately sent the steak back. I never send back food especially not filets as I know they have to throw the food out. But I was embarrassed as I never do that especially not in a nice restaurant. The waitress was cordial the whole time, until I sent the steak back. I was baffled when she came back out with it cut in half and in front of the whole dining room said, "the chef wanted you to know that he cut it in half and it was medium in the middle." I apologized and said the two pieces I cut off were well but I'll eat it that's fine. She said, "no, he put another one down for you but wanted you to know that it was the way you wanted." I was so embarrassed that the chef even said bring it out and do that, and the fact the waitress did that as well. After about 30 minutes I got my refire...when they took my steak back they took the entire plate of food so I had nothing to eat while waiting for the steak refire. When it came out, it was so raw I had a hard time cutting into it because it was so raw...the others at the table saw how it was cooked and we all said oh wow...I ended up saying to just take it off the bill as I felt I was upsetting the crew over a steak.. otherwise it was a good atmosphere, great soup, great sangria. Their beer menu isn't up to date. It lists a bunch of bottles and when my husband asked for a corona the waitress said they don't have it. So he asked for another bottle beer and she said they don't have them. When my husband said it was on the menu she said the Bottled beer has been gone but nobody updates the menus...anyway, could have just been a fluke night for the steak and...

DO NOT come to this restaurant. The service is a nightmare. I came in to order two meals to go. One was a meatball sub and the second was a chicken parmesan sub. I walked into this place and it wasn’t busy. There were very few customers. I went to the bar to place an order to go. As I’m sitting and waiting, a few customers come into the already pretty vacant restaurant and are seated. Everyone around me is having their orders taken and drinks made up, but not me. At first, I waited patiently thinking they were gonna get to me, but no one acknowledged my presence. I had to get up from the bar and go up to the waitress for her to notice me. She apologized and took my order. I explained to her I would be back to get my order since I had to pick up my daughter's order at Canopy next door. I came back to Al Dente and waited for my order. The server who took my order came out of the kitchen doors looked at me and immediately ran back to the kitchen. She did this a couple of times until FINALLY she came up to me and said that they working on my order as fast as they could. I continued waiting. Another 10 minutes go by and still no food. I wait some more until finally I’m given my food. I bring it home and open up the containers only to find the photos below. My wife’s sub had a single meatball cut in half to make it look like a complete sandwich. My sub had wet, soggy, chewy chicken. Both sandwiches were barely filled with any contents and were disgusting wet. You could blame the wetness on condensation but I live 5 minutes from this restaurant so that is very unlikely. Also, for the price of the subs, these were cheaply made. You don’t even get two meatballs. You get a SINGLE meatball cut in half. I’m never coming back here and recommend anyone else to stay away. We used to love this place. Always ordered take out and it was great. Not anymore. This experience and the horrendous food destroyed any chances of them ever receiving my business again.

*Please note this is a review from my father. He doesn’t normally leave reviews so I offered to post it for him. I’m completely appalled at how my father was treated and the quality he was given. He said he had better quality food and service from a McDonalds. Everything has just gone down hill at this restaurant. I myself would not recommend from experiences I...