Great pizza. Good cocktails and great environment, i will definitely come back
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Cheryl Hu
Il Fornaio in Mountain View has quickly become a favorite for a reason! We visited twice within three weeks, and each experience was fantastic, with the second visit exceeding the first.On our most recent visit, I opted for the nightly special, the 22oz prime rib. It was a resounding success, cooked to a perfect medium-rare. Every dish at the table was exceptional.Il Fornaio is a perfect choice for a special occasion or a truly memorable upscale Italian dining experience.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
LovesLattes
Reserved ahead of time yet we were seated at a small table next to two larger groups, meanwhile other groups of 2 came in after and got larger tables (for 4). Also - seems like there's a whole back area that might have been nicer to sit at (even the bar had better ambience). I had to flag down the manager (? Shift manager?) so we could order as it was taking an exceptionally long time and no one had come by). Even after, service was still slow. Drinks were weak (especially for the price) and food was meh. Both dishes were ordered needed something (some kind of sauce - or just more sauce). I'd been looking forward to coming here but was very underwhelmed. Don't think I'd return.
Sarah Leung
The food had no taste and overcooked.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 2
Service: 5
American Angler
He just kept mumbling something about Il Fornaio in Mountain View, So I ask the Weasel what the hell's in Mountain View, we're almost to San Francisco and if you want Italian food we'll go to North Beach and get it.We must have Trimshoen at least 40 Flangler Hips down at the Hatbox Canyon Ranch for old Peckerwood Johnson, and we were tired and hungry. I took my pal Weasel along to keep the Higgliediggers sharp, ready and full of oil, and he did nothing but complain about everything, and now he wants to stop at the Mountain View Il Fornaio Italian Restaurant for some pasta, he says it's the best in the bay area! 5 stars he says ☆☆☆☆☆
Marilyn T.
The last time I went to Il Fornaio was maybe 15 years ago at the Palo Alto location. A friend recently came to the new Mountain View location that took over the old Paul Martins and said it was much better than her last Palo Alto experience. I came for a weekend lunch date with my daughter, and they have a nice kids' menu and crayons. I started with a Tiki Taormina: rum based with peach and pineapple. A bit sweet but refreshing Food: - Cestino del pane: bread basket with olive oil and balsamic. It's normally $2 on the menu, but they ended up not charging us for it, which was nice - Carpaccio: classic preparation with arugula, lots of shaved cheese, olive oil, lemon - Cassarece: with chicken breast, mushrooms, truffles - my daughter loved this, but it was a bit too creamy and under salted for me. It was great for kids! The staff were all very gracious, and it's actually really family friendly inside. Their happy hour menu (Monday to Friday 3-6pm) also looks like a great deal, so I would come back to try that.
BrankoR
Octopus salad was great, but very small size, too small for the price. Pizzas had great, fresh and tasty ingredients, but the dough was substandard. That is not how Italian pizza dough is supposed to be and Il Fornaio used to do this much better. Spumone ice cream was also substandard, like a cheap imitation of the real thing and we also had that before there and it used to be better. Service was excellent.
A W.
Came here on two occasions. Nice environment, good for dates and gatherings. First time was Valentine's day, it was extremely busy so a bit slow but server was courteous. We ordered a lot of food to taste: Pear salad: I love salad, the sweetness of pear makes even better. Calamari: can't go wrong with calamari Bruschetta: very delicious, come in three flavors, I love the eggplant one the most, but all super flavorful and delicious Seafood ravioli: simmered in tomato sauce and with decent amount of seafood in stuffing, I like the dish. Chicken mushroom pasta: disappointed in this dish because of how little porcini mushrooms it had, it was alright, nothing special Second time was during weekday happy hour. Great price for decent amount of food! Meatball with grits: pretty decent and filling Pizza with sausage: good pizza and portion size Highly recommend the happy hour!
jenniferg
We love the food and service. However the ambiance was very diner feeling for the price of the food. The lighting is way too bright as well. The halogen lights should be turned off and just use the nice pendants
Very high noise level on Friday night 7pm in dining room banquete table area adjacent to the heated patio & next to waiter station. My sister had difficulty with hearing waiter who was a bit terse and seemed eager to get our table finished and clock out. We ordered a pear salad and beet salad to start, which was ok, but not near the quality of past experiences. The pears & beets were diced and scarce along with cheese & nuts, just tossed in greens instead of nicely arranged on top with garnish. Fortunately, I know menu well from Palo Alto because our waiter did no actual selling or describing of food. Menu ordering could have been on computer with busboy delivery! I was disappointed because previously we had eaten at or in bar and the bartender and service was outstanding. Pizza and chicken scallopini were good, but really, prices are very steep for no service, such tight seating and high noise level. The bathroom had a no service toilet. Location is perfect, love new design of bar area and entrance. Noise level not good for conversation. Prices are high considering there are no tablecloths or waiter service.
Overall, a wonderful experience. I have I say, their wines are a rip off. Paying $28 for a glass for red, was a bit much. The reds ranged from $24-$28 for a 9oz pour. The food was good. Service was excellent. The noise level was insane, once the restaurant filled up. I would recommend this location. Maybe being a good bottle and pay the corkage fee ;)
C P.
Although the hostess was kind, We waited 20 minutes to not be greeted by any server. We ended up leaving.
StephanieD
We invited our friends here since the service and food surpass any other IF we've been to. I requested a nice quiet table. We were seated with two loud parties on either side and another behind us. It was very busy. Cocktails and appetizers were ordered. Carpaccio was excellent, the Calamari just so so, the bits were very small. Entrees arrived warm only, the exception was the Lasagne which was piping hot. Wine served promptly. I want to mention that our server's extravagantly decorated fingernails were so long that they impeded certain efforts, i.e., being able to unfold a to-go box, serving in general. We all shared a delicious Tiramisu. Maybe it's just me, being 30 years in hospitality, but I find it too informal when placing an order and the server says, "You got it." Or when to-go orders are scraped into a box at the table. At the end of the meal, our server backed into our table, knocking and breaking a glass of water. Of course, accidents happen, but the above par service we have received the past 4 times was not there. I know it shouldn't be a topic in today's atmosphere, but between the extremely long false eyelashes and the decorated fingernails, it distracted from the ambiance. The people at the front desk were very nice and formal, they just gave us an awful table. In the future I'll try to be more specific in making a reservation. We will most likely wait a bit before returning.
Ali G.
Went here with my husband for a date night and we had a great time. All of the staff were super friendly and attentive throughout the whole dinner, especially our server Kat. We got the calamari, vodka pasta, and a ravioli dish. All were big hits! We ended the night with a slice of tiramisu and it was a lovely evening.
Nicholas Pun
Came for one of their cooking demonstrations and while it was interesting, I wish the experience was a bit more interactive. Spent a whole lot of time twiddling my thumbs and staring into space.The food was ok. The cacio e pepe was nothing special. The braised short rib was unseasoned. The bread pudding was the best out of the 3, but I've had better. (I'm also a bit concerned that the one they made for the demonstration is just going to be wasted)For $45 (pre-tax and surcharge), it was a disappointing and mediocre experience. Would love to see something more advanced or a little bit more of the chef's expressiveness in the dishes.Might come back some other time to try out their actual dishes, but the cooking demonstration is a big no for me for now.
Great pizza. Good cocktails and great environment, i will definitely come back
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Il Fornaio in Mountain View has quickly become a favorite for a reason! We visited twice within three weeks, and each experience was fantastic, with the second visit exceeding the first.On our most recent visit, I opted for the nightly special, the 22oz prime rib. It was a resounding success, cooked to a perfect medium-rare. Every dish at the table was exceptional.Il Fornaio is a perfect choice for a special occasion or a truly memorable upscale Italian dining experience.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Reserved ahead of time yet we were seated at a small table next to two larger groups, meanwhile other groups of 2 came in after and got larger tables (for 4). Also - seems like there's a whole back area that might have been nicer to sit at (even the bar had better ambience). I had to flag down the manager (? Shift manager?) so we could order as it was taking an exceptionally long time and no one had come by). Even after, service was still slow. Drinks were weak (especially for the price) and food was meh. Both dishes were ordered needed something (some kind of sauce - or just more sauce). I'd been looking forward to coming here but was very underwhelmed. Don't think I'd return.
The food had no taste and overcooked.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 2
Service: 5
He just kept mumbling something about Il Fornaio in Mountain View, So I ask the Weasel what the hell's in Mountain View, we're almost to San Francisco and if you want Italian food we'll go to North Beach and get it.We must have Trimshoen at least 40 Flangler Hips down at the Hatbox Canyon Ranch for old Peckerwood Johnson, and we were tired and hungry. I took my pal Weasel along to keep the Higgliediggers sharp, ready and full of oil, and he did nothing but complain about everything, and now he wants to stop at the Mountain View Il Fornaio Italian Restaurant for some pasta, he says it's the best in the bay area! 5 stars he says ☆☆☆☆☆
The last time I went to Il Fornaio was maybe 15 years ago at the Palo Alto location. A friend recently came to the new Mountain View location that took over the old Paul Martins and said it was much better than her last Palo Alto experience. I came for a weekend lunch date with my daughter, and they have a nice kids' menu and crayons. I started with a Tiki Taormina: rum based with peach and pineapple. A bit sweet but refreshing Food: - Cestino del pane: bread basket with olive oil and balsamic. It's normally $2 on the menu, but they ended up not charging us for it, which was nice - Carpaccio: classic preparation with arugula, lots of shaved cheese, olive oil, lemon - Cassarece: with chicken breast, mushrooms, truffles - my daughter loved this, but it was a bit too creamy and under salted for me. It was great for kids! The staff were all very gracious, and it's actually really family friendly inside. Their happy hour menu (Monday to Friday 3-6pm) also looks like a great deal, so I would come back to try that.
Octopus salad was great, but very small size, too small for the price. Pizzas had great, fresh and tasty ingredients, but the dough was substandard. That is not how Italian pizza dough is supposed to be and Il Fornaio used to do this much better. Spumone ice cream was also substandard, like a cheap imitation of the real thing and we also had that before there and it used to be better. Service was excellent.
Came here on two occasions. Nice environment, good for dates and gatherings. First time was Valentine's day, it was extremely busy so a bit slow but server was courteous. We ordered a lot of food to taste: Pear salad: I love salad, the sweetness of pear makes even better. Calamari: can't go wrong with calamari Bruschetta: very delicious, come in three flavors, I love the eggplant one the most, but all super flavorful and delicious Seafood ravioli: simmered in tomato sauce and with decent amount of seafood in stuffing, I like the dish. Chicken mushroom pasta: disappointed in this dish because of how little porcini mushrooms it had, it was alright, nothing special Second time was during weekday happy hour. Great price for decent amount of food! Meatball with grits: pretty decent and filling Pizza with sausage: good pizza and portion size Highly recommend the happy hour!
We love the food and service. However the ambiance was very diner feeling for the price of the food. The lighting is way too bright as well. The halogen lights should be turned off and just use the nice pendants
Very high noise level on Friday night 7pm in dining room banquete table area adjacent to the heated patio & next to waiter station. My sister had difficulty with hearing waiter who was a bit terse and seemed eager to get our table finished and clock out. We ordered a pear salad and beet salad to start, which was ok, but not near the quality of past experiences. The pears & beets were diced and scarce along with cheese & nuts, just tossed in greens instead of nicely arranged on top with garnish. Fortunately, I know menu well from Palo Alto because our waiter did no actual selling or describing of food. Menu ordering could have been on computer with busboy delivery! I was disappointed because previously we had eaten at or in bar and the bartender and service was outstanding. Pizza and chicken scallopini were good, but really, prices are very steep for no service, such tight seating and high noise level. The bathroom had a no service toilet. Location is perfect, love new design of bar area and entrance. Noise level not good for conversation. Prices are high considering there are no tablecloths or waiter service.
Restaurantji Recommends
Overall, a wonderful experience. I have I say, their wines are a rip off. Paying $28 for a glass for red, was a bit much. The reds ranged from $24-$28 for a 9oz pour. The food was good. Service was excellent. The noise level was insane, once the restaurant filled up. I would recommend this location. Maybe being a good bottle and pay the corkage fee ;)
Although the hostess was kind, We waited 20 minutes to not be greeted by any server. We ended up leaving.
We invited our friends here since the service and food surpass any other IF we've been to. I requested a nice quiet table. We were seated with two loud parties on either side and another behind us. It was very busy. Cocktails and appetizers were ordered. Carpaccio was excellent, the Calamari just so so, the bits were very small. Entrees arrived warm only, the exception was the Lasagne which was piping hot. Wine served promptly. I want to mention that our server's extravagantly decorated fingernails were so long that they impeded certain efforts, i.e., being able to unfold a to-go box, serving in general. We all shared a delicious Tiramisu. Maybe it's just me, being 30 years in hospitality, but I find it too informal when placing an order and the server says, "You got it." Or when to-go orders are scraped into a box at the table. At the end of the meal, our server backed into our table, knocking and breaking a glass of water. Of course, accidents happen, but the above par service we have received the past 4 times was not there. I know it shouldn't be a topic in today's atmosphere, but between the extremely long false eyelashes and the decorated fingernails, it distracted from the ambiance. The people at the front desk were very nice and formal, they just gave us an awful table. In the future I'll try to be more specific in making a reservation. We will most likely wait a bit before returning.
Went here with my husband for a date night and we had a great time. All of the staff were super friendly and attentive throughout the whole dinner, especially our server Kat. We got the calamari, vodka pasta, and a ravioli dish. All were big hits! We ended the night with a slice of tiramisu and it was a lovely evening.
Came for one of their cooking demonstrations and while it was interesting, I wish the experience was a bit more interactive. Spent a whole lot of time twiddling my thumbs and staring into space.The food was ok. The cacio e pepe was nothing special. The braised short rib was unseasoned. The bread pudding was the best out of the 3, but I've had better. (I'm also a bit concerned that the one they made for the demonstration is just going to be wasted)For $45 (pre-tax and surcharge), it was a disappointing and mediocre experience. Would love to see something more advanced or a little bit more of the chef's expressiveness in the dishes.Might come back some other time to try out their actual dishes, but the cooking demonstration is a big no for me for now.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 2
Service: 3