"Al Di La is a Northern Italian restaurant on 5th Avenue run by a couple who lives a few blocks away and know all the longtime Park Slope parents. After all, the place has been hosting ladies' luncheons, birthday dinners, and casual weeknight pasta meet-ups since 1998. On a regular Tuesday, prioritize the tagliatelle al ragú. For a no-hassle birthday dinner, do the exact same thing, plus the trippa alla toscana, and the pork shank if it's on special. It’s usually easy to walk in and get a table, and if there’s a wait, you can grab your first glass of wine at their wine bar right behind the restaurant." - willa moore, neha talreja, will hartman
"Al Di LA makes some of our favorite Italian food in all of New York, and even though everything is served in to-go containers right now, dishes like their tagliatelle bolognese, squid ink pasta with octopus confit, and corn tortelli are still worth traveling for. If you want your food outdoors this summer, you can do it at one of their seat-yourself patio tables. Keep this spot top of mind when the next time your past craving hits hard and check their Instagram for limited specials like their homemade ice cream." - nikko duren
"The dark, cozy space of Park Slope restaurant has been a favorite since 1998, both as a dining destination for Anna Klinger’s northern Italian pastas and as a dinner go-to for locals. Go for the spaghetti neri all chitarra (black spaghetti with octopus confit, basil, and hot chile peppers) and tagliatelle if it’s a first-time visit, but know that there is plenty to explore. Listen for the specials, and prepare to wait for a table at peak hours." - Nadia Chaudhury
"Italian delivery and takeout available - call or order online." - hannah albertine, nikko duren, bryan kim, arden shore, matt tervooren
"This cozy Park Slope institution has hardly changed since it opened in 1998. And why should it? Al Di La, and its rustic Northern Italian menu, is pretty much perfect—like a just-right oversized sweater inherited from a boyfriend (particularly if that same boyfriend is still in your possession, too). It’s easier to get a table here than ever these days, making it an ideal choice for a spur-of-the-moment weeknight dinner when you’re feeling spontaneously mushy, or a highly specific anniversary you’re surprised you even remember, like the first time your cat threw up on his sofa. Curl up on a church pew under mismatched chandeliers, split a bottle of wine, and feed each other bites of malfatti." - neha talreja, bryan kim, molly fitzpatrick, sonal shah