Finally got to try Forno and was not disappointed! I came here with 3 friends and we did not have a reservation, but got lucky and we were able to be sat pretty quickly. The space itself is small but homey, which I liked. It's a little bit of a tight fit for everyone in there but it works. The service overall was great. The chef came over and greeted us, and even checked in later, and we had a great conversation with their somm. The food was fantastic! The pasta's and pizzas were both unique and delightful. We split a ceasar salad, meatballs, the greek pizza, a sausage pizza, and two speciality pastas- a cacio e pere (pear), and another one that I can't pronounce in italian but was a very thin lasagna like noodle with meats/spices inside. We also split one of their desserts, which i really liked. Shout out to the hazelnut gelato which was particularly delicious. I will absolutely return! read more

Forno - pizza, pasta - Pizza Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

This was my first time at Forno and I can't wait to go back. It is in the old DiPasquale's marker location. It's called a "speakeasy" but I walked in and you can see the restaurant. There was a curtain, but it was pulled back. The market stuff is still there and the outside of the building is pretty dark. I wish they had played up the speakeasy part more, but they made up for it in service, food, and drink. We were seated quickly. There were only a few tables left and we felt lucky to grab one. Our waiter came quickly and we immediately ordered the drink special, a butternut squash old fashioned. It was amazing and the bartender came out and told us how he made it. I volunteered to be taster for future creations. I don't know if he will take me up on it. We ordered the Plum and Burrata Salad, Fristo misto, and a Goat pizza. The salad was so good. I could have had it as a meal. It had a generous amount of plums, barrata and prosciutto. The pizza had a perfect hand tossed crust. The toppings were also great. I should have asked for some red pepper flakes but that was my fault. The Frito misto was not my favorite. The breading seemed fresh which is good. I liked the shrimp better than the calamari. We didn't get to try dessert because we were about to explode. I can't wait to go back and explore more on the menu. read more

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Tried this speakeasy restaurant tonight. Lol when you first walk in it looks like an abandoned antiques shop, but the dining area beyond the curtain and very intimate and cozy. Definitely for smaller groups. We actually got lucky, apparently every Wednesday they do a free wine tasting and if you choose to buy a bottle it's 30% off so of course we got the bottle. The Polpette was to die for, hands down my favorite dish of the night. I initially wanted the Rigatoni but it was sold out so I decided on the Agnolotti and my friend got the Spaghetti alla Chitarra. The Agnolotti was not bad but the flavor was more earthy than I prefer, but my friend thought it was delicious so we swapped pastas. All in all it was cute spot to catch up with the gals the service was great. Will definitely be coming back to try the Rigatoni and some of their cocktails. read more

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Walked in on a saturday and had one of the best dinners. We love Dipasquales and have been wanting to try out their "speakeasy" which is opened later. I absolutely loved it!! When you walk in, it looks like a random place but when you walk all the way to the back theres the restaurant. Its small area maybe 20 tables. The food was absolutely incredible. Very light, delicious, fresh. The service was good. The chef even made the effort to visit each table and check-in. You can see the pizza's being made. The pizza is thin and crispy. Fried artichokes were so flavorful. Sausage so good. Even the drinks were 10/10. I usually skip dessert but this one... unbelievable. Pricing js very reasonable. We cant wait to come back!! read more

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Forno is such a vibe! The speakeasy atmosphere is absolutely beautiful inside--warm lighting, stylish decor, and the perfect balance of cozy and chic. The staff was incredibly friendly and welcoming from the moment we walked in. We tried the Margherita pizza and the vegan pizza, and both were delicious! I added pepperoni on one side (because why not?) and it hit the spot. The crust was perfectly crisp with just the right chew. The drinks were amazing--creative, balanced, and full of flavor. You can tell the bartender really take pride in his craft. If you're looking for a place that's equal parts laid-back and upscale with great food, drinks, and energy, Forno Speakeasy is it. Highly recommend! read more

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I've been to Forno twice now, once just for drinks, once just for food (one day I need to go for both) and had a wonderful time both times! Really attentive staff and a great ambience as a neon-lit speakeasy that's a mix of casual and up scale. This time around we ordered the Arancini (presentation out of this world), N'Duja Potatoes, and broccolini. I'm usually an appetizer and entree person, my eyes don't usually go to sides, but the potatoes and broccolini (particularly the broccolini) were my favorites that night! The broccolini was so well seasoned, roasted so it had the perfect crisp, and overall so good I am still thinking about it. read more

Forno - Pizza Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

Great speakeasy if you don't pay attention you will get lost. My friend and I were hungry after playing pickleball and decided to give forno a try. Located at a run down di Pasquale's building If you're not paying attention you could easier Miss It. You'll get greeted by the mannequin lady that will scare you but after you walk past the curtains you're welcomed to a low lighting pick your spot dining area. Our waiter was friendly and offered our menu immediately. My friend and I both ordered the espresso martini to start. For $12 It was decent. It's not the best I've had in Baltimore. Next was the sweet and spicy Calabrian pizza. This was actually very spicy and the peppers are a bit overwhelming the fig does add a nice sweetness to It but honestly that's all you taste. I also ordered an old fashioned that I wasn't a fan of. Overall I'll be back read more

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Everything here was delicious! The restaurant is behind the red curtain when you walk inside the deli shop. It's dimly lit creating an intimate setting. We ordered cocktails to start - a Sicilian Mai Tai for me and Spicy Margarita for my partner. They were both very good. For food, we shared everything we ordered - Arancini, Broccolini, Fried Artichokes, and the Wild Mushroom & Arugula pizza. The pizza was full of veggies and I loved the caramelized onions in it. All the dishes we had were really good. We also ended up sharing the Affogato with pistachio ice cream and an Amaro Nonino. It was my first time trying both. I enjoyed the Affogato and the Amaro Nonino was ok to me but at least my friend enjoyed it. All around, the food and drinks were pretty top notch. Service was good too and attentive. I'm so glad we checked out this fun pizza speakeasy! read more

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I'm so excited for this new speakeasy like concept in the old DiPasquales location. The entrance isn't too hard to find, but it's fun to open the door and find yourself in this cute vibey Italian restaurant in the back. Parking around the area is not bad. Our server had great recommendations on what we should get. We really enjoyed their cocktails and got some spritzes and espresso martinis! We ended up getting the Cacio e Pepe ravioli to start which we really enjoyed. We got the mushroom pizza and the goat which were both amazing! Ended up having some leftovers for 3. read more

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The food is delicious! It's my new favorite go to spot. The service is spot on, the people are kind and it's a very relaxed and quaint environment. It's my favorite spot in the area! read more

Been patiently waiting to stop into Forno since it opened and I'm happy to have finally made it. The restaurant is cute, tucked in the back, it's small and intimate. It was a Saturday night and super busy so was a bit disappointed in how long it took to get any service (we sat down at a open table, didn't know if we were to be seated). The espresso martini was yummy, I love lemon in my espresso. Definitely will be back to give their food a try! read more

Forno - Pizza Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

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Visited this charming spot, formerly DiPasquale's, which has now transformed into a speakeasy. I really enjoyed everything I had! It was quite packed, but we got lucky--there was one table left, so no wait for us. They offer a great variety of cocktails. My husband had the Old Fashioned, which was delicious, and I opted for something bubbly. They also have an excellent wine selection, so we'll definitely be back to explore that next time! For appetizers, we shared the meatballs, which were fantastic with the ricotta underneath. The only downside was that they came out a bit cold, but the flavor was outstanding, so no big deal--they're likely still working out a few quirks. We also had the Caesar salad, which was well-proportioned and delicious. Next, we shared the Scooch pizza, and I loved the authentic brick oven taste. The only thing I would have changed? Adding tomato sauce--it would have taken it to the next level! For dessert, we shared the vanilla gelato, which was tasty. The only issue I noticed was the ventilation; we sat near the open kitchen, and I found myself coughing a bit from the smoke. Service was good overall, though a bit slow at times, especially between finishing our meal and ordering dessert. It seemed like there was some confusion, so I imagine they're still ironing out the details. Overall, I'm thrilled to welcome Frono to the neighborhood--such a great use of the space! I can't wait to come back and try their arancini. read more

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Forno nailed the trifecta -- bomb food, cozy vibes, and super friendly service The pizza was so good, the meatballs were packed with flavor, and the cocktails were perfection. Definitely a spot I'll be coming back to! read more

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The vibe in the restaurant was very upbeat, the live music was fun and the lighting set a good mood (if you can't already tell from the photos). The staff were all very friendly and had great recommendations for us! The entrance was simple to find but still had a fun vibe walking through the deli, so I wouldn't worry about having to search around for a door or anything. We heard great things about the fried artichokes and can confirm they lived up to the hype, the Cacio e Pepe sauce was paired perfectly with them and was a great first time trying fried artichoke! The pizzas were creative, we got the goat and blueberry brie, I would never have thought of either combo but they went so well! The arincini was delicious as well, I don't have much to go off of with these as they were also new to me. The drinks were also delicious and reasonably priced for how good they were! read more

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Food: Apps - arancini (feel like every Italian rice ball I've ever tried is dry - this is not! served with a delicious sauce, and nicely sliced for easy sharing), broccolini (nicely charred), and polpette (giant meatballs). Pizzas - scooch (tasty) and goat (LIFE CHANGING). Desserts - zeppole (I'd describe this as a croissant with a little cream and few strawberries; not my fave), affogato (espresso over a scoop of ice cream, simple and delicious), flourless chocolate cake (delicious, though small). Service: Friendly, attentive, recommended the wine based on our preferences. Ambiance: You walk through the old DiPasquale's store front and behind the curtain is an intimate, dimly lit speakasy. Bottles of wine displayed on the wall. read more

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I'm so glad to have something going on in the old Dipasquale's space! I walked over to Forno on a recent Thursday and once inside I was greeted by an empty room. The space that was formally used for cashier checkout now has a vespa and a mannequin. You have to proceed through a curtain to enter the dining room. It's a cozy, casual, and dimly lit space with an open kitchen and bistro tables and high tops. The menu includes appetizers and pizza. They also have cocktails, wine, and beer. I had the burrata salad (excellent!) and the scootch pizza (also good). The burrata was fresh as was the arugula and the balsamic dressing was flavorful. Looking forward to trying more from the menu! read more

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Worth the hype and very intimate. Great for lowkey dates or seeing your ex. High Life and pizza can never go wrong. The real spotlight was the meatballs. Whoa! The service is very attentive. read more

Forno - Meat balls and drinks. Cheers! - Pizza Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

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This place is a great addition to the Baltimore Italian food scene! We came for just cocktails since we heard it was a speakeasy theme. But we quickly got talked into some food. Cocktails were great. My husband for a limoncello spritz and I got the Nergoni. Both wonderful! We got the fried artichokes with Cacio e peppe sauce. Holy moly it was good and sorry not photo since we devoured them. Then we did a pizza we got the fennel pizza with impossible sausage. Again 10 out of 10. I'm so happy we stayed for dinner. The staff were all fantastic. Jackie the bartender/mixologist was great! Love this place and we will continue to come back. read more

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I feel like a shit for breaking the five star review streak. Don't get me wrong, I had a great time at Forno, but I feel like some improvements could be made. Jeremy and I visited DiPasquali's back when this was their ONLY location. I loved it then, even though it was a little tight for my wheelchair. This is when I started drooling over the food items in their deli case. Back then they had a small back dining area that I never used, but which reminded me of some old nonna's kitchen in the 70s. Like my own grandmother's kitchen with the linoleum floors in those autumn colors, if my grandmother had been Italian (She was Polish, though, so same "Didja eat?" and food as a love language). The back room has been converted into this cute dining area, with the wood-fire pizza oven where you can watch your pizza being made. There was plenty of seating available when we arrived around 6:30pm on Sunday. It was really filling up as we were leaving. We were afraid to park in the lot next door, as there are all kinds of signs about it being property of the funeral home, and while it has been a bit since Jeremy and I stopped at DiPasquali's to pick up a few things for carry-out and had several gentlemen yell at us and basically chase us off the lot (even though it was completely empty at the time), I didn't want that kind of hostile energy damping my enthusiasm for the evening. We met with friends, who enjoy pizza. Chris likes to keep it simple with pepperoni (he finished the whole pie himself, which I think says a lot about how tasty it was), but his wife doesn't like marinara/red sauce so she got the Wild Mushroom & Arugula Pizza, which was fresh, pretty to behold and delicious. Both couples got the meatball appetizers, but I don't think any of us were all that impressed. This confused me because I've had that meatball sub at Dipasquali's, where they fill the loaf of bread with meatballs and that's usually amazing, but personally I was put off by the COLD whipped ricotta beneath the meatballs. The different temperatures didn't bring anything positive to the dish. Our friends also ordered the truffle fries but they were not fries. They were soft chips. And I'm pretty sure the chef uses truffle OIL which can be over-powering in flavor and nothing like actual truffle. They did not finish them. Jeremy and I shared a Scooch pizza, which leaned toward spicy without blowing your tastebuds away. The crust was amazing. Our waitress was really lovely, explaining menu items when we needed. I feel like she would have sold more cocktails if she had checked on us more often, but that's okay because those "Sicilian/Italian mai tais" are DANGEROUS. I had two and was feeling pretty good by the time we left. I love our city, and patronizing these unique restaurants that do their best to give customers a fun evening out that they'll tell their friends about. We had a great time. Would recommend. read more

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Forno speakeasy was such a treat! The front is a rendition of the original di pasquales grocery store. While we waited to be seated, we were greeted by the servers and served drinks. Once our table was ready, we were seated in the back which was so cutely decorated! We ordered drinks and pizza which were both equally delicious! Our favorite part of the night, however, was our server Marco. Marco provided the most excellent service, always made sure our glasses were full and kept us laughing and entertained all night! Make sure to ask for Marco next time you visit Forno and you will not be disappointed! Overall, Forno was a huge hit and we can't wait to go back! read more

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Tried to get in on Friday night and the line was almost out the door so we tried again early on Sunday and got seated immediately in the cute speakeasy area. The service was quick and attentive. We ordered drinks, pizza, and zeppole (fried dough with cream and strawberries!) The spicy Brie and Blueberry pizza was soooooo yummy. The margarita pizza was decent. Nice to see the DiPasquale family spot being used for this new venture. We need more places like this in Highlandtown and I'm glad to see them having success so far! read more

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So here is the thing, if you haven't been to Forno, you are missing out. It's a small quaint place with a big tasty menu. I didn't get to taste the wines yet, but I'm sure there are some great parings. It was the first time we went and were with some out-of-town friends. We got the Frito Misto which was fresh tasting, crunchy, and fried to perfection. The sauce that comes with the artichoke side was incredible. I could have eaten that and some bread for the whole meal. We got the Rigatoni, the Gnocchi, the Carbonara, and one of the specials. We all raved about each other's dishes. We also got the pizza to share, we got the Italiano. GREAT PIZZA TOO!!! Dominico dropped by the table to make sure we were enjoying ourselves and then the chef did as well. We all saved room for dessert, and it was just a perfect ending to a meal. So, it's time for you to step out of your house and visit Forno. Can't say enough about it. We were with friends otherwise I would have taken some pics. Next time. read more

Feels like steeping into a hidden corner of Europe! The entrance is discreet , almost secretive, but once inside, the crackle of the oven and the aroma of fresh pizza and handmade pasta make your forget you are in Baltimore. read more

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A fun night out. The wait staff was engaging, the interior is loft chic but very approachable. Huge props for plenty of parking and seating availability on a Friday night. The meal was excellent but the highlights were the chicken wings appetizer. Would return just for those. read more

The pizza oven is as good as it ever was with a new, trendy vibe and excellent cocktails. Terrific.

A speakeasy with delicious food, especially their pizza! Everything is made in house and you can see the pizza oven and your pizza being made from where you sit! We ordered the goat pizza and it was delicious. Our server Marco was one of a kind! Definitely will be back. read more

Such a great experience. The food was incredible, very cool vibe, and everyone was super nice. Would definitely recommend!

Atmosphere and pizza are both fantastic! Love to see the old DiPasquales location getting new life like this!

Awesome food, cocktails, and atmosphere. The pizza is out of this world. Domenico is the man