The Evening News - Edinburgh
The cooking was hard to fault. It's the kind of friendly neigh-bourhood restaurant I've always wanted to have round the corner, and I'll definitely be back.

Metro - by JONATHAN TREW
Aiming above the simple ambitions of many pizza and pasta joints, Al Dente is a traditional Italian trattoria with a selection of antipasti such as cured meats; primi dishes such as the spicy puttanesca spaghetti and main courses or secondi such as the grilled king prawns or the meat mixed grill.

It is a restaurant with the potential to become as much a part of the local landscape as Tinelli's was.

The restaurant's new owners are extremely friendly, enthusiastic and passionate about what they are doing and they have priced their menu to suit Al Dente's neighbourhood location.

The Leither - Edinburgh
Al Dente opened just back in July. Situated on Easter Road just opposite the Hibs ground, this little restaurant with its newly painted frontage, used to be Tinneli’s until it recently closed its doors after nearly 25 years. Graziano Spano and chef Stefano Di Caterina are the new owners.

Although the decor is much the same as before, quite plain and understated, you can’t help but feel when you walk through the door that there is a different energy about the place. Contemporary Italian music plays from the kitchen making it feel very upbeat and modern. It suggests that the new owners are steering away from the more traditional Italian restaurant.

Very much based on fresh, quality produce, Al Dente offers traditional Italian cuisine in Edinburgh with a contemporary twist. Both originally from the south of Italy, they have also been keen to feature quite a few delicacies from their own region.

Trip Advisor
On a warm May evening my husband, a friend and myself stepped into Tuscany via the magic portals of Al Dente, the Easter Road restaurant owned by the very welcoming and charming Graziono Spano. This was the second of Graziano’s themed evenings designed to introduce diners to authentic regional Italian cuisine accompanied by carefully chosen wines. The small Italian restaurant has been enlivened by a plethora of photographs, including Graziano’s native Bari in the South of Italy and by fresh roses on the tables.

After canapés and prosecco we had caciucco alla Livornese, a traditional dish of shell fish and fish in tomato sauce – absolutely delicious, as was the white Galestro wine Graziano served as an accompaniment. This was followed by a prima patti of homemade pasta and duck ragout (pappardella al ragu di anatra). The rose wine (rosa di ninfa) which accompanied the pasta dish was my absolute favourite. It really had the aroma and taste of strawberries!

The arista di maiale con rosmarino (pork loin with rosemary, served with artichokes and roast potatoes) which followed melted in the mouth. The potatoes were particularly tasty and I’d love the recipe. This was served with a full bodied Chianti. How did I cope with all this food, you may ask? I simple ate a little of every course, while many of the diners cleared their plates with relish.

The zuccotto sweet of light sponge cake with white chocolate and nuts was the perfect desert and the Il santo wine complemented it perfectly. It was an exquisite conclusion to the Tuscan banquet – Graziano’s answer to “Babette’s Feast”.

Graziano was the perfect host, telling us about the wines, keen to hear what we thought of the food created by chef Antonello. After coffee I floated up Easter Road full of the light, warmth and sheer joy of Italy – as well as all that wonderful food.

The menu, including wines and coffee cost £38 per person. The next theme night features the Lazio region and will be on 29th May. See you there!

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