Reviews & Ratings for Ii Fornaio

06/11/08

A family favorite

by palmera at Citysearch

I have eaten at both the Irvine and Del Mar locations of this restaurant countless times, and am never disappointed. If you are looking for a really unique, quiet setting with the best food outside of Italy, this is not the place. If you are looking for consistently good food at good prices with reliable good service, this is the perfect place. The wine list and pasta selection are large and it's a great place for a large group. I've reserved groups of 10-15 at the Irvine location and it's always a success. The servers are accustomed to large groups and it's a big place so you can be talkative and open. The manager always comes up and says hello, how are you, how is everything. You won't even get that a high-priced restaurant with exceptional food. My family and I will continue to go there when in Irvine.

• Pros: consistent food, service, prices

05/02/08

Avoid

by finickyitalian at Citysearch

I eat at orange county italain restaurants several times a week, and I must say this is one of the worst exeperiences i have ever had.

Despite having a reservation, they kept us standing in the open corridor 35 minutes, ignoring us the whole time. When we did get seated, they took forever to even get us water and menus.

I can try to excuse bad service if the food is worthwhile. Not even close.

Pasta was overdone. Sauces bland. Meat tough. The menu was imaginative, but the chefs didnt deliver. The shrimp dish was overcooked, and the bread,,for which they are famous--stale.

We like ot bring a botlte of wine to open, a hard to find barolo, and they made us feel like sinners to use their corkage services. Def an attitude from the waiters to the manager.

Ambience is pleasant, even modern. TOo bad the experience is so subpar. Skip this place and head to Il Farro or Romeo cucina..youll be happier

• Pros: atmosphere
• Cons: attitude and food

01/25/08

A really great place for after work drinks and dinner.

by KittyPD123 at Citysearch

A really great place for after work drinks and dinner. Loved the crowd- very sophisticated . The service was excellent, very friendly and prompt , however, they should make a greater effort at making their pastas more flavorful. Especially liked the desert cart- shared two deserts with my friends and I must say, we finished them both.

I would definitely recommend Il fornaio as a good place to meet friends after work.

12/07/06

Big, brassy, and hot, Il Fornaio demonstrates that chain restaurants can do it right.

by Contributor at Citysearch

The Scene
At first glance Il Fornaio looks too frenetic and unwieldy to be a serious restaurant--but it is. The sprawling, stylish dining room attracts a diverse crowd. Adding to the show are the pyrotechnics in the gleaming open kitchen. At peak hours the place can be loud but not distractingly so.

The Food
The kitchen turns out well-honed renditions of regional northern Italian fare, with a dozen or more daily specials. For starters, salads are vibrant and attractive, as is the grilled ciabatta bread swathed with chopped tomatoes, basil and kalamata olives. All the pastas can be recommended--don't miss the ravioli filled with Swiss chard and pinenuts, and the mesquite-grilled chicken flattened with a brick (no joke) to make it extra crispy. Be sure to check out the impressive and fairly priced wine list.