IL FORNELLO, Richmond Hill

I am regularly here for dine in or takeout. The staff is amazing and Michael the manager/owner is a class act. I had a drink with him tonight and appreciate how well he treats his staff and his guests. I will be returning many more times in the future.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️☆ Il Fornello – 4/5

The atmosphere felt more geared toward an older crowd, with mellow vibes and old classical music playing in the background 🎶. Service was nice and welcoming.

🍽️ The meals were tasty overall—pizza was very good and the Caesar salad was fresh and flavorful. I did ask for the chicken in the Asiago dish to be well done, but it came out undercooked with rubbery skin.

💰 Prices are fair, but they’ve stopped serving complimentary bread—it now costs $4, which takes away from the overall value.

Still, a good dining spot with tasty dishes and a relaxing vibe.

Atmosphere: 3

Food: 4

Service: 4

The food was good—we really enjoyed the pizza. However, the cheese felt a bit out of place. The table setup could be improved, as nothing is provided until the food arrives—not even bread, olives, salt and pepper, or perhaps some sparkling water from the soda machine to give the table a welcoming touch.
We visited during the week when the restaurant wasn’t busy. Despite this, our waiter seemed rushed the entire time, though she had an amazing attitude and was very friendly. The food arrived quickly, and the portion sizes were decent.

Atmosphere: 3

Food: 3

Service: 3

I had an amazing experience at Italian Restaurant! The atmosphere was warm and inviting, and the food was absolutely delicious – fresh, authentic, and full of flavor. What really stood out, though, was the service. GUY( the bald guy)went above and beyond to make sure everything was perfect. Attentive, friendly, and professional, he made the whole evening feel special. It’s rare to find service this genuine and thoughtful. I’ll definitely be coming back and highly recommend this place to anyone looking for great Italian food with exceptional service!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Been here twice as I'm not from the area anymore (sadly after two family funerals) but it's been picked by both of my families for it's delicious food and Italian flare. The service was caring and professional and the dessert, coffee and wine was great, even impressed the family we had over from Italy with all the courses. Thanks ❤️

Atmosphere: 4

Food: 5

Service: 5

Was there with large group and service was flawless. Food was great. Had all the apps mussels especially great. Pasta verdura was almost perfect. Eggplant needed roasting.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Lovely Italian restaurant, beautiful environment and decor. Great food flavours and portion. Great service.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

We’ve been coming to IL Fornello Richmond Hill many times over the years with friends and family, and it’s always a great experience. On our most recent visit (Aug 9, 2025), we enjoyed a variety of pizzas along with some appetizers — everything was delicious, as always.

The patio has been completely updated and now has such a warm, inviting vibe — perfect for summer dining. We also really appreciate that the owner personally comes by to greet us each time we visit. It’s a thoughtful touch that makes the experience even more enjoyable. Highly recommended!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 4

I love the champ pizza as vegan with salmon!! Too delicious and you can check it in vegan menu that you are interested in!!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

A wonderful place to share an excellent meal with family and relatives from Italy. We'd like to thank the staff and especially our server Isabella who was just the most congenial and attentive server I've had in years.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

The servers were Anthony and Isabella. They were excellent! The rainbow trout special was very, very good.

Atmosphere: 4

Food: 4

Service: 5

Manager was passive aggressive and condescending..

The food is well-prepared, but the portion sizes do not justify the price. While the service is good, it can occasionally be a bit bothersome. At the end of the meal, a surprise charge was added, including an 18% tip that was handwritten under the excuse that we weren't informed in advance. Tips are a privilege at the customer's discretion. I will not be returning.

Atmosphere: 1

Food: 3

Service: 3

This incident happened a week back. We were a party of 10 hence called in advance to caution the restaurant we won’t pay 18/20% tips. We were assured by the person who booked that we have the option to pay as per the quality of service.
After the dinner the bill came with 18/% added already. When we shared this with the manager/ owner along with the fact that the 3 plates of dinner salmon were ver dry (my friends left those steaks half eaten) he started defending the food and said to me that this is the most ridiculous thing he has ever heard. He was so rude we were shocked by his behaviour. He insulted us by talking down to us and telling us we don’t know what we are talking about. We are all senior citizens who eat out frequently but we have never seen such an atrocious and obnoxious behaviour from a manager. I also told him my friends from Mississauga are here because I recommended this place to them. He kept on being rude and disrespectful to us by giving excuses such as the person who said you can tip according to the service on the phone will lose his job and that he wants to walk away from the conversation.
My husband asked what is special about our table of 10 that you would expect more tip to which he said you have table cover. He lied because every table had it. We paid the bill and shaking our heads lwe were coming out when he stopped us as an afterthought and started giving excuses etc, and then gave us a gift card. The point is he had already insulted us. We took the card but haven’t used it as yet because we don’t even feel like going the restaurant after this incident. We have never felt so humiliated before. Shame! This is happening in my Richmond Hill!! The girl who served us was nice!

Atmosphere: 1

Food: 2

Service: 4

Pricey, food was tasty, one plate hit the table cold.

Atmosphere: 4

Food: 3

Service: 3