Cafe Al Dente of New York

Hours
Where it is
Get directionsCafe Al Dente of New York is a small New York-style Italian restaurant in Coligny Plaza, the Hilton Head outpost of a Long Island original, open here since February 2024. The menu is built on handmade pasta and fresh seafood, the dining room is snug, and it is the plaza’s pick for a date night. The dining room is open for dinner from 4 p.m. every day. Lunch is takeout only: order through the Toast link on the restaurant’s website, or on DoorDash or Uber Eats. A second Cafe Al Dente is open in Bluffton, at 303 Parkside Commons in New Riverside Village.
Cafe Al Dente of New York Menu
Cafe Al Dente of New York is open for dinner. The menu centers on Italian food, with fine-dining prices.
What to Order at Cafe Al Dente
Reviewers keep coming back to the short rib gnocchi, the chicken parmesan and the lasagna, and the burrata ravioli, the rigatoni and the corn tortellini in summer all get mentioned. The espresso martinis have a following of their own. Portions are generous, and there is a kids menu at the bottom of the dinner menu: pasta with butter or marinara, spaghetti and meatball, and chicken fingers. An early-dining menu runs from 3:30 to 5 p.m.
Reservations
Book on Resy with the Reserve button above; reviewers say indoor tables fill quickly in season, and there is outdoor seating as well. Cafe Al Dente is at 1 N Forest Beach Drive, Unit A-5. For more Italian on the island, see Italian restaurants in Hilton Head, and for the rest of the plaza, the Coligny Plaza restaurants.
What diners say
Reviewers praise the Italian cooking by name, the short rib gnocchi, the chicken parmesan and the lasagna, and say the portions are generous. The espresso martinis and the cozy, romantic room come up often. Friendly, attentive service is the other constant.
Frequently Asked Questions
Updated
Does Cafe Al Dente take reservations?
Yes, on Resy. Reviewers recommend booking in season because the indoor tables fill up.
What is Cafe Al Dente known for?
Handmade pasta, especially the short rib gnocchi, plus chicken parmesan, lasagna and espresso martinis.
When did Cafe Al Dente open in Coligny Plaza?
In February 2024. It is the Hilton Head outpost of a Long Island original, and a second Cafe Al Dente has since opened in Bluffton.
Is Cafe Al Dente open for lunch?
For takeout only. There is no seated lunch: order through the Toast link on the restaurant’s website, or on DoorDash or Uber Eats. The dining room opens for dinner at 4 p.m.
Is there a kids menu at Cafe Al Dente?
Yes, at the bottom of the dinner menu: pasta with butter or marinara, spaghetti and meatball, and chicken fingers.
Is there a Cafe Al Dente in Bluffton?
Yes, at 303 Parkside Commons, Suite 103, in New Riverside Village on the west side of Bluffton. The original is in Coligny Plaza on Hilton Head.
What are the hours at Cafe Al Dente of New York?
Monday through Thursday, 4 p.m. to 9 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 4 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.; Sunday, 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. Call (843) 802-0125 to check holiday and off-season hours.
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