Cafe AL Dente in Kansas City

Great place for well priced spaghetti or a quick lunch sandwich. Friendly service right in the city market.

Cozy sums it up for me. After passing visual inspection from the outside upon being drawn by the shaded patio on a summer day, I was greeted when I walked in by the smell of what I could've sworn was my mother's baked ziti. We were waited on by the cutest little old Italian lady who I guess has ran it for like ever with her husband. I was really impressed that everything on the menu was under $10, though they said they're having to up them a little in the fall. Cozy, relaxed, and anything but a pretentious atmosphere coupled with very affordable prices and great tasting food made me a pleased patron. They may be going through some staffing changes, but my service was just fine.

Parts of the restaurant wee in poor condition. The restrooms had explicit decor. And worst of all the food was not seasoned at all. On a good note they are going out of business.

The staff are great! The food is plentiful and tasty.. I find the sauce a little spicy - but continue to go back as it is good.. Just used to a sweeter red sauce. The waitress' keep me coming back as much as the food! My grandchildren love the shrimp fettuccine!

The meatball sandwich from here (I think they call it the Reverse) is AMAZING. Best I have found. I just bought lunch for my employees from here and they gave nothing but praise for the food. I think my team has found a new favorite spot for lunch. Give it a try if you haven't yet, you wont be disappointed.

Cool place! I didn't have any food but it smelled really good. The patio area is cool. Beer selection is limited but it had some good ones. YMMV

The food was good. The service was bad... went on a Tuesday night around 7 pm... I think we were the only table there... except for the off duty wait staff drinking at the bar... we very much came is second to the owners who talked to them instead of helping us, or filling our drinks, or bringing a check, or thanking us when we cashed out. It was happy hour, no mention of it to us. Lots of complaining at the bar about wait staff that had come and gone over the years. They have potential... but the owners need to get a real house manager... and they need to get off the floor. Its also pretty tacky to b*tch about people out loud at the bar with the staff.

Great quiet spot with friendly staff. The food is good but nothing to write home about. I often end up here on a weeknight to just chill out have a meal and a quiet drink.

I love the food here, and I don't care how busy they are, I bet you can't get out of there without noticing all the smiles from the staff. Very friendly and again the food!!! Love It, Love It, Love It!!!

Best Lunch Specials & great staff/owners!

Sat down quick. Got drinks quickly. Ordered food. Waited about 30 minutes. Food was good. Food was cold. Was not happy😐

Thought it was super cute the first time we stopped in. Just took my mother who's in town for some holiday shopping because I had told her how much I liked it... And we sat and waited forever without the waitress ever once acknowledging us. She seemed busy/flustered but that's unacceptable. Got a table immediately at a nicer restaurant two doors down.

Northeast loves you!!! Please move here and we will show you love! It's affordable and customers can still enjoy your delicious food!

Amazing Pizzas! Only place that tastes remotely like Chicago style pizza.

I am 42, and I basically spent my entire adult life in Kansas City when I moved to the area when I was 18. I lived in the River Market for about the last 15 years, literally watching our downtown blossom into what it is today from the perfect view I had in my much missed loft. Remember when Grand Slam was not a gas station? It was a beautiful thing ... and Cafe Al Dente was certainly a big part of the heart of that. Jacqueline and Leonard are the finest of people, and it reflects in the family the raised. It is with great, great sadness that I see it is closed. I moved to STL a couple years ago to watch over an aging parent, and I had no idea. I'm beside myself. My name is Matt ... I was the high school teacher that often spent my lazy nights there ... feeling as if I was in my own home. It was love. Thanks for the many wonderful memories. Remember your waiter Doug? LMAO ...

It's inexpensive and the food is plentiful, but it just wasn't particularly good. Service is friendly, however. Value is good, but I probably wouldn't go out of my way to go back.

Very nice cozy and even romantic with the right person. Also fun and laid back. Had a great waitress names Heather. She was fun knowledgeable and made me feel relaxed. I highly recommend this restaurant I kinda look at it like a classic Kansas City Italian restaurant.

Meaguggah may very well have a line out the door when you visit but you will be rewarded for your patience. I cannot say enough good things about these folks. The bagels and toppings are fantastic, the coffee is good and the people and atmosphere are charming. Do not miss.

Waitress slow. So if you want a leisurely meal you will be fine. Sometimes they run out of stuff so ask before ordering

Loved this place. Went to visit a couple of days ago and found that they were kicked out. Very sad. I hope they find a new location.

Food was good, once we got it... service was kinda slow. It was a really nice evening out so it wasn't all bad.

I found out out about Cafe Al Dente after asking my KC friends on Twitter to recommend a restaurant with a patio that was casual. The staff were friendly and the patio allowed for lots of people watching as well as hanging out with patrons. I had the Caprese Salad which was delicious. My husband had the Shrimp Alfredo. Our bill was less than $30. For good home-cooked Italian food and great company on a patio, make your way to Cafe Al Dente.

Great food! Great service! I've eaten here multiple times, and always have a good experience.

Excellent food. Excellent service. A wonderful night.We called it the Japanese French Laundry! Or Japanese Laundry!