Al di La

Maggie Books
September 26 2007

Al Di La is a hidden gem with a loyal following of locals and frequent Charleston visitors alike. I myself had never been before I started writing this piece and I have to say that most of the food and the atmosphere live up to the hype. I’ll always be a fan of a restaurant that offers homemade focaccia bread to keep me satisfied until the appetizer arrives.

It takes some mouthwatering items to get me to deviate from the regular menu. However, Al Di La offers some enticing appetizer specials. On my first visit my roommate and I split the prosciutto wrapped figs stuffed with gorgonzola cheese and topped with balsamic vinegar. There’s something special about fresh figs and creamy cheese, but Al Di La missed it on this dish. All I tasted was the prosciutto and cheese and maybe a hint of fig. If I’m ordering figs, give me figs. The second visit was exceedingly more exciting when it came to appetizers. Our waiter, one of the many qualified servers at Al Di La, described a Panzanella salad which made my taste buds tingle with anticipation. The salad consists of local heirloom tomatoes, sourdough bread pieces, just enough red onion to taste and topped with a touch of balsamic and olive oil. If they are offering this salad, it is absolutely necessary to get the fresh in-house made mozzarella cheese on top. It melts in your mouth as only the freshest cheese can.

The main courses had some ups and downs. During my initial visit, my friend chose the braised lamb shank served with polenta, asparagus, and julienne zucchini. The couple pieces I tasted were moist with good flavor. My friend adores lamb and gave the dish her stamp of approval. I went knowing I was ordering the mascarpone and ricotta gnocchi served in a tomato sauce with shrimp. A must have at Al Di La’s. The gnocchi were fluffy and disappeared on my tongue, allowing the flavor to seep down my throat. The sauce was the reddest sauce I had ever eaten and tasted like fresh tomatoes. My shrimp were the only let down of the dish. They were rubbery, overcooked, and after trying a few I pushed most of them to the side.

On the second visit I ordered the rainbow trout with black pearl lentils, orange scented fennel and creamy potatoes. My sister, who rarely ventures away from the gnocchi, branched out and tried the pork tenderloin, the plate filled in with various vegetables. The plates were gorgeous and smelled delicious, but the first bite of lentils and potatoes told the rest of the story. There must have been a salt monkey in the kitchen that night because our side dishes were far too salty. The trout, however, was very good and had a wonderful fresh fish aroma and smooth, flaky texture. The pork was juicy and flavored to perfection. Lucky for us, the stars of the dishes were perfect, but the salty sides made the meal less than fabulous.

I tried the fresh tiramisu once and it is on my list of things to try again and again. The portion is big enough to share with a friend, though you might be fighting over the last chocolate covered morsels.

Al Di La has a lot to offer and though they may be inconsistent in their side dishes, the main idea gets across and the evenings I spent there were lovely. The wait staff is enthusiastic without being overbearing, the atmosphere is quaint with the right touch of ambience, and the wine list is varied and reasonably priced. Be sure to get a reservation no matter the night, go with a good friend and spend the night in a trendy gem of a restaurant.

Al Di La
25 Magnolia Rd
West Ashley
(843) 571-2321
Closed Sunday and Mondays