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Went there last night after reading the great reviews. When we arrived, there was a 30 minute wait so we had to go aroudn the corner to the bar. The table are very close, very difficult to be intimate. I have been to some of the best restaurants in NY - which include Blue Ribbon, Tao, Gotham Grill, River Cafe and can truly say the food is less then mediocre. The food is definitely unique but does not taste Italian at all. I was very unsatisfied.

i'll say this about al di la: i've had a good time with three of the last four dates i've taken to this restaurant. (the fourth was my roommate.) order the malfatti, the mussels, a bottle of wine, anything else on the menu, and you are golden. just be selective who you take - it'll be at least $80 per person, so she should be worth it. also, you'll get major minus points if you go there on tuesdays - it's closed. no reservations, but the wine bar around the corner is a great place to wait and get her a little tipsy before the meal.

really loved the salad and syrah and ravioli. went on a wed at around 7:15 and got the last table available for two. was really a nice meal. don't know why some don't like it. the service was pretty good. i wouldn't say outstanding. but we never needed anything and the food came in a timely manner. i was glad that the waiter gave us the specials along with the prices. who likes asking how much something is and then not ordering it because you don't want any surprises when the bill comes? just give the prices up front. which our waiter did. we didn't have dessert here but walked down to the chocolate room instead. a great night.

I went here with my beautiful girlfriend and had an hour wait so we went to one of the local bars and had a couple of drinks during the wait. We could have just gone to the swanky wine bar attached to the restaurant but thought "Hey, lets go to a bar." So we did. Then we got a call from the owner an hour later on the DOT saying your table is ready in a thick northern italian accent. At this time we both proceded to promenade down 5th ave to the restaurant where we wined and dined the night away. Great food, try the specials, they were great!!!!!!!! Just don't fill up on appetizers!!!!!

this restaurant is completely overpriced, and the food bland. I took my mom here, and she got the special pasta with duck and greens. Not only was the portion small, but there was about 1/2 tablespoon of duck in the dish, and about 1 tablespoon of green; the dish was bland as well. All of my side vegetables were drowned in olive oil. The waiter forgot simple thinks like plates on the table for our appetizer, and olive oil for the bread. The only good thing was the wine. Skip this place and make your own pasta!

My husband and I just ate here again last night and I have to say it really is worth the hour+ you have to wait every time! The food is always excellent and I have never had any waiters with attitude here. They know the food and the wine and are always attentive without being intrusive. I highly recommend it!

Why oh why are there so many rave reviews for this restaurant? The food is highly overrated and tough to choke down. I gave this restaurant two shots, and both times were a disappointment.