waiter wasn't pleasant and food was mediocre. we ordered branzino and seafood pasta, portion was good but didn't taste as expected and my old fashion drink was bleh. we showed up at 5:30pm on weekday and got seated immediately which was nice.
alissa amrein
I really like this restaurant! I ordered seafood with potatoes and vegetables! It was delicious! The service was great!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Alice H.
Normally, I love Il Fornaio. But this last time I ordered the risotto. Now I know rissoto and have ordered it numerous times. This was not risotto. This was made with white rice. There is a huge difference in consistency and creaminess. So disappointed which makes me question their ability to properly list and describe their meal selections. Don't trust the description on the menu. Shortcuts to preparation and using alternative ingredients is not the way to bring in customers. Very disappointing.
Yolanda M.
I Will Never Eat There Again!!!! My husband walked to the restroom the same time our waiter walked in to urinate. While my husband was washing his hands he noticed our waiter walked out the restroom without WASHING HIS HANDS.
Tiffany B.
I kept getting ads for Il Fornio on social media, which looked so good we were compelled to order dinner from there tonight. We were excited because all the ads looked so tasty but we were very disappointed. My margarita pizza was raw and cold and my husbands pasta was hard and inedible. The only thing that did taste decent, although salty. It was a 70 dollar meal I really wish I never ate ... we will not be back. So disappointing
matt wojcik
Really nice spot. Love their seafood platter.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
Bree R.
Had lunch here for the first time! We came around 3 on a Sunday and got seated immediately! Ambiance was nice and quiet. They gave yus bread for starters! For my entree, I got the ravioli di magro. My gf got the casarecce alla norcina! We both enjoyed our meals! They were both small servings but really filling. Would def be back!
Thomturner3636
This is great and different Italian food. We had the cheese ball appetizers, the calamari, and the veal scallopini with brown sage butter. We eat calamari whenever we can, and this was absolutely fantastic- so light and flavorful. Our server was friendly and efficient. The whole experience was wonderful. And it was my birthday!!
BethC
We had an excellent experience for my daughters birthday. Food was great and our server was great. Very personable and experience. meal was not rushed, well timed and checked on us regularly. Never waiting for anyting but not at all rushed which sometimes happens and ruins the experience.
Michael C.
il fornaio is one of the Italian restaurants, I most often visit and I always order the linguine mare chiaro. When we arrived at the restaurant the place was kind of slow at first, arriving at the last of the hour unexpectedly. Our calamari we ordered was served cold and lacked crispiness, but the server quickly brought us a fresh batch. Overall we ordered 3 I items in total which included the linguine mare chiaro, bruschetta pizza and some calamari. I must say that the food was decent but I wouldn't get the calamari again. I seem to also like the downtown Sacramento location a bit more.
Was a birthday dinner. My daughter's pizza was great. I ordered the Ahi and it had two tiny chunks of avacado, about 1/3 of the size of tuna chunks. Disappointed. The bread was good and service was very quick. My husband ordered the lasagna; and nearly $30; it should have had some flavor. Both my daughter and I tasted it and agreed. It was like cheese, meat and a can of tomatoes heated up over it. I went to another Italian chain for lunch the next day and their lasagna had more taste for less than half the price. Overall, a good experience in dining; save for the two issues with the food quality/quantity.
Shivarama Bhat
The most disappointing thing is that they have hardly anything vegan except a soup, a salad and cauliflower sauté. Very expensive and I think I will be avoiding going there again in the near future. We went there to celebrate the 16th birthday of our granddaughter.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 3
Service: 5
Freddie S.
First, our server was great but at the same time disappointing. One, when I made the reservation I stated we would be a party of 6 and celebrating my birthday. My wife reminded Kevin when we sat down as well as a BD toast of drinks while Kevin still at table. Not that I expected anything but sadly the table next to us received a card and gelato with a candle. OUR TABLE - NOT A THING even after my wife informed him. I guess turning the table was more important! As for the foods, everyone loved their meals except one who ordered the Mafaldine - expected seeing some sea food but blended in the sauce?? Sent back and loved the Mare Chiaro. The waiter was gracious in making sure he got something he liked. As for the liquor: if you have money to burn and like alcohol this is your restaurant. Drinks very expensive and what will keep us from going back. We simply like our well drinks and nice wine so the bill was rather INFLATED due to our drinks. For the cost of food and drinks there is NO REASON for additional add on charges! Love to go back but unfortunately for a "celebration" just some verydisappointing issues.
mountbell
This is a beautiful room. Ideal for romantic as well as high level business meetings. We have been there many times. The food is sometimes erratic. But on this visit it was superb.
GeraldS
Carlos, our server was very helpful. My wife's dish was way overpriced and very disappointing to her. They charged $35 for a bowl of pesto risotto that lacked flavor, was overwhelmed with the pesto sauce, had some grilled chicken, but really lacked additional ingredients that could have added some flavor to the dish - sun-dried tomato, olives, artichoke, and some spice, like pepper flakes. In addition, the zucchini was overcooked and mushy. Overall, this dish was a huge disappointment, especially with that price tag.
waiter wasn't pleasant and food was mediocre. we ordered branzino and seafood pasta, portion was good but didn't taste as expected and my old fashion drink was bleh. we showed up at 5:30pm on weekday and got seated immediately which was nice.
I really like this restaurant! I ordered seafood with potatoes and vegetables! It was delicious! The service was great!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Normally, I love Il Fornaio. But this last time I ordered the risotto. Now I know rissoto and have ordered it numerous times. This was not risotto. This was made with white rice. There is a huge difference in consistency and creaminess. So disappointed which makes me question their ability to properly list and describe their meal selections. Don't trust the description on the menu. Shortcuts to preparation and using alternative ingredients is not the way to bring in customers. Very disappointing.
I Will Never Eat There Again!!!! My husband walked to the restroom the same time our waiter walked in to urinate. While my husband was washing his hands he noticed our waiter walked out the restroom without WASHING HIS HANDS.
I kept getting ads for Il Fornio on social media, which looked so good we were compelled to order dinner from there tonight. We were excited because all the ads looked so tasty but we were very disappointed. My margarita pizza was raw and cold and my husbands pasta was hard and inedible. The only thing that did taste decent, although salty. It was a 70 dollar meal I really wish I never ate ... we will not be back. So disappointing
Really nice spot. Love their seafood platter.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
Had lunch here for the first time! We came around 3 on a Sunday and got seated immediately! Ambiance was nice and quiet. They gave yus bread for starters! For my entree, I got the ravioli di magro. My gf got the casarecce alla norcina! We both enjoyed our meals! They were both small servings but really filling. Would def be back!
This is great and different Italian food. We had the cheese ball appetizers, the calamari, and the veal scallopini with brown sage butter. We eat calamari whenever we can, and this was absolutely fantastic- so light and flavorful. Our server was friendly and efficient. The whole experience was wonderful. And it was my birthday!!
We had an excellent experience for my daughters birthday. Food was great and our server was great. Very personable and experience. meal was not rushed, well timed and checked on us regularly. Never waiting for anyting but not at all rushed which sometimes happens and ruins the experience.
il fornaio is one of the Italian restaurants, I most often visit and I always order the linguine mare chiaro. When we arrived at the restaurant the place was kind of slow at first, arriving at the last of the hour unexpectedly. Our calamari we ordered was served cold and lacked crispiness, but the server quickly brought us a fresh batch. Overall we ordered 3 I items in total which included the linguine mare chiaro, bruschetta pizza and some calamari. I must say that the food was decent but I wouldn't get the calamari again. I seem to also like the downtown Sacramento location a bit more.
Restaurantji Recommends
Was a birthday dinner. My daughter's pizza was great. I ordered the Ahi and it had two tiny chunks of avacado, about 1/3 of the size of tuna chunks. Disappointed. The bread was good and service was very quick. My husband ordered the lasagna; and nearly $30; it should have had some flavor. Both my daughter and I tasted it and agreed. It was like cheese, meat and a can of tomatoes heated up over it. I went to another Italian chain for lunch the next day and their lasagna had more taste for less than half the price. Overall, a good experience in dining; save for the two issues with the food quality/quantity.
The most disappointing thing is that they have hardly anything vegan except a soup, a salad and cauliflower sauté. Very expensive and I think I will be avoiding going there again in the near future. We went there to celebrate the 16th birthday of our granddaughter.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 3
Service: 5
First, our server was great but at the same time disappointing. One, when I made the reservation I stated we would be a party of 6 and celebrating my birthday. My wife reminded Kevin when we sat down as well as a BD toast of drinks while Kevin still at table. Not that I expected anything but sadly the table next to us received a card and gelato with a candle. OUR TABLE - NOT A THING even after my wife informed him. I guess turning the table was more important! As for the foods, everyone loved their meals except one who ordered the Mafaldine - expected seeing some sea food but blended in the sauce?? Sent back and loved the Mare Chiaro. The waiter was gracious in making sure he got something he liked. As for the liquor: if you have money to burn and like alcohol this is your restaurant. Drinks very expensive and what will keep us from going back. We simply like our well drinks and nice wine so the bill was rather INFLATED due to our drinks. For the cost of food and drinks there is NO REASON for additional add on charges! Love to go back but unfortunately for a "celebration" just some verydisappointing issues.
This is a beautiful room. Ideal for romantic as well as high level business meetings. We have been there many times. The food is sometimes erratic. But on this visit it was superb.
Carlos, our server was very helpful. My wife's dish was way overpriced and very disappointing to her. They charged $35 for a bowl of pesto risotto that lacked flavor, was overwhelmed with the pesto sauce, had some grilled chicken, but really lacked additional ingredients that could have added some flavor to the dish - sun-dried tomato, olives, artichoke, and some spice, like pepper flakes. In addition, the zucchini was overcooked and mushy. Overall, this dish was a huge disappointment, especially with that price tag.