Il Fornaio in Irvine is one of our favorite Italian restaurants, and we were lucky to get a last‑minute reservation today on Mother's Day. Parking is easy with the validated structure, and the restaurant's location is beautiful. We were seated right away and placed our drink and food orders. We ordered several appetizers and entrées -- our usual favorites are the calamari, Caesar salad, rigatoni alla vodka, and spaghetti with marinara. Their bread is always delicious. The calamari and salad arrived promptly; the salad was great, but the calamari was only warm and not as crispy as we had requested. Unfortunately, things slipped a bit after that. Our entrées took a very long time to arrive, and only two pastas were brought out -- one of which was the wrong dish. When the manager came by, I clarified what we had ordered and let him know we were still missing a pasta. The remaining dishes eventually arrived and were delicious, but by then the first two people were nearly done eating. Il Fornaio is usually very consistent for us, so I'm hoping this was simply an off night due to the Mother's Day rush. read more

Il Fornaio - CALAMARETTI FRITTI - Italian Near Me - Irvine, California

Went here for a date and it was a good experience. Parking is in the parking garage and has to be validated in order not to pay for it. The restaurant itself is very nice and service is okay, maybe on the slower side if anything. The food was very good, we both got pasta dishes and they came out tasting fresh. read more

I don't know how to feel. Not in a bad way, but I'm kind of shaken up by how my experience went. Again, not in a bad way. So, let's time travel back to when I went here for the first time. Shall we? Enter POV: I walk into the restaurant and immediately am attracted to the stunning ambiance. So pretty! So vibrant! My eyes are practically darting at 1,000,000 miles per second at just how much there is to take in. But that's just where the story begins. I am then greeted by a charming man who holds the door open for me(his name is Tony by the way). 'Nice,' I thought. 'This guy has basic manners.' I check in and sit down. That same man comes over to my table and introduces himself as my waiter. I grab my water and drink it really quickly and-woah, look at that, it's already gone. Not even 1 minute later, he's already come and filled it back up. He's on roller skates for sure. As for the food? It was nothing short of mouth-punching. Literally. I ordered the rigatoni vodka and asked them to make it spicy. Let's just say they did just that. Instead of most spicy vodka pastas I've had that have a gradual spice where it sneaks up on you, this spice just punches you in the face and leaves it at that. And honestly, I might prefer that over the gradual type. But even without the spice, the pasta was still amazing! So much flavor, it was like a dance party in your mouth. The sauce was especially excellent. Finally, I finish my meal and slump on my chair (carb coma), pay for my meal, and as I walk out the waiter holds the door for me. What a perfect night. 5/5 stars will be coming back. read more

Great! This restaurant is located in a very nice area and has a great outdoor seating setup. The staff here is friendly and very accommodating. The food was delicious. They have daily happy hour specials which changes each day. It was a nice touch! Will definitely be back when I'm in the area. read more

Il Fornaio - Italian Near Me - Irvine, California

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Nice team dinner! Had a group of 25 and our server, Alejandra was friendly and efficient. The entrees were varied and offered a little bit of everything. The NY Strip steak entree was a little underwhelming so would not order it again but appreciated the atmosphere and the fact that the restaurant validated the valet parking! read more

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Tried to get an early dinner reservation for Saturday but there were no openings. My husband and I arrived around 4:50 and a very nice gentleman opened the doors early and seated us. We were starving this day because our son had games and our last meal was at 9am! We were immediately offered water and bread by Tony. OH yum! The bread was warm and fresh with flavorful olive oil and vinegar to dip it in. We ordered the calamari- delicous soup of the day- can't remember what it was called! Had leek, potato, mushroom and it was such a mild flavored comfort meal. loved it. linguine mare- good amount of seafood, very well made, yummy! shrimp pesto pasta - can't remember actual name, amazing and honestly best pesto ever!! la colomba - a refreshing drink that was well balanced tiramisu - we can't help ourselves, this was perfect and authentic tasting. Overall a wonderful experience, Tony was a great waiter, so sweet and attentive even though he was so busy. Service is not super fast if you're in a rush which we were not. We got to enjoy our meal and each others company without feeling like we are getting kicked out. The restaurant itself was bright, beautiful, clean and aesthetic but also warm and romantic. read more

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Went for happy hour on Thursday and there was plenty of seating (you can sit at the bar, regular tables near the bar, or outside). Tried several items on the happy hour menu and they were all pretty good. We also wrote that we were celebrating a birthday and the staff definitely had a nice little treat and we're so kind and helpful! Clean restaurant and restroom as well. Parking is validated or you can valet. read more

Il Fornaio - Bruschette Assortite - Italian Near Me - Irvine, California

Great place, beautiful place, they just can't make coffee it was cold , they can't differentiate what a cappuccino is vs a latte was very disappointing, the manager had to come make it and was still not right , they did the best they could that day they just need training on being baristas sorry I don't like pointing out bad stuff but this was pretty bad this day read more

This place was a real surprise. Absolutely beautiful location and free parking validation for 3 hours. Servers and wait staff were outstanding from the get go. Had the hand made pasta ala vodka which is perfectly al dente and texture between the deep rich vodka sauce to the bacons bits was excellent. Next was the Pomodoro bolognese which was equally good . My only issue was the pizza which was pretty horrid for a Margherita. Barely any greens and amateurish and looks like a regular cheese pizza that just added some extra toppings. Overall a great dinner and atmosphere just skip the pizza read more

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Incredible fun evening at the private table in the kitchen. I made a reservation here to celebratae a friend's BD, they had come up with 4 choices, and this was my suggestion. So glad it was the right choice! The dishes were just so delicious, Steve our server was great, and we all had a blast. I told my friends, I didn't care what my check cost, it was worth every dollar. My leftovers were just as delicious. read more

I've been to Il Fornaio in Irvine two different times, and honestly the food has been really good both times. That's why it's disappointing that both visits had issues with charges being added without any explanation from the staff. The first time we went, we were offered bread and only later realized we were charged $4 for it. The second time was even more frustrating. Our waiter, Tony, asked if we wanted water, and when we said yes, he brought out a bottle of water that ended up costing $9. We thought we were just getting regular tap water like most restaurants automatically give. While sitting there, we noticed that tables around us with other waiters all had free glasses of tap water, while every table Tony was serving had the bottled water instead. When we got the check, we saw the $9 water charge and were also charged another $4 for bread that we didn't even receive this time. It honestly made us feel like Tony purposely avoids explaining prices so people end up paying extra without realizing it. On top of that, the service was really slow. We waited around 45 minutes for just one pasta dish and one pizza. The food itself was good, but the experience this time left a bad impression and made the whole dinner feel unpleasant. read more

Il Fornaio - Italian Near Me - Irvine, California

Service.. every one very nice.. from waiter... servers... hostess... We knew we couldn't finish full meals so my daughter and I split everything.. thank you for splitting the dishes for us prior to serving I would love to sit in patio seating one of these times... looked pretty outside Indoor patio seating looked fun too Bread and oil vinegar- love the crusty bread**** Ciliegini -Spaghetti with fava bean puree Insalata de Pere with Gorgonzola cheese... yummy...***** Budino di pane alla gianduia for dessert With dk choc gelato ...sooooo yummy... a perfect way to finish off a meal and leave beyond Was my second time in 6 years... only because I live in the central valley... otherwise believe me... I'd be here more often read more

Il Fornaio - Italian Near Me - Irvine, California

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Il Fornial offers a warm and welcoming dining experience with flavorful dishes and friendly service. The calamari was a standout crispy and perfectly cooked without the rubbery texture you often find elsewhere. The pizza had a well balanced flavor and an excellent crust that held up nicely. The white fish was tender with a soft, buttery sauce that paired well without overpowering it. The beet salad had great flavor, though a bit more toasted walnuts would have added an extra layer of texture. For entrees, the salmon was another highlight the crust was excellent, and the potatoes were crisp and seasoned well. The spinach, however, was a bit underwhelming and could use more seasoning or punch. Service was pleasant overall; the servers were kind and welcoming. Appetizers took a little longer than expected, but entrées arrived promptly. read more

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Il Fornaio is my new favorite italian place in Irvine. This place has great ambiance. It's a very large building and has multiple outdoor sections. The waitstaff upgraded our table last minute which was super nice. The service was also great and our waiter was extremely friendly, and gave us great wine recommendations. Also should mention there is valet and they validate your parking for you. Overall the ambiance outside was very nice and definitely the best part. Food was delicious, wine was great. Overall I would definitely recommend this place. Super nice spot for a family dinner or date night read more

Il Fornaio - Italian Near Me - Irvine, California

My guests loved their chicken and veal parm, but my gnocchi was mushy and tasteless. Had to struggle to get through it. The sauce was great but I ordered gnocchi not a bowl of sauce. The waiter was nice and attentive, but spilled a little wine each time he filled my glass. I resolved to pour my own. Fornaio is a wide open floor plan with a lot of glass. Not at all intimate. The bar is too modern for my taste...can't imagine they stock Schlitz or PBR. All in all a little too sanitary for me. read more

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Great Italian food, excellent service, good wine. Decor is suitable for business dinners or celebrations, and it's a very nice place to get a fine meal. read more

I can't take my mind off Cristina, la pizza. The texture, the cheese, the savory prosciutto paired with the fresh arugula, and the fragrant truffle that left me wanting one more bite after the last slice was gone. Although we ordered the Cristina and Lasagna, la pizza won my heart. The lasagna was good too, but about halfway through it felt like I already had enough. The service was good, attentive and helpful. The restaurant was clean, but there were some annoying flies/pests that kept buzzing around the food... probably coming from the patio seating. read more

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I love the one in Pasadena, but this was my first time here. Free valet parking is a great option. The restaurant is huge with indoor and outdoor seating. We went on a Friday for Happy Hour and were very happy. Excellent, friendly service. The Diavola pizza was excellent as were the wines and cocktails on the menu. I will definitely come back, since this is closer and has great parking. read more

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I came here for a dinner event and this food was what was on their set menu. The salad was my favorite part of the meal. The dressing was fantastic, the croutons flavorful and crispy, the lettuce was crispy. Overall a great salad. The tenderloin was just okay. It was prepared a nice medium rare so in that regards was pretty much cooked perfectly. However I didn't like the sauce that much as it was overly sweet and not very flavorful. I ended up adding a lot of black pepper and salt to make up for the lack of flavor. The veggies were decent also not super flavorful, but mashed potatoes were great. Very fluffy, very flavorful, and just a solid mashed potatoes. The tiramisu was also yummy. The coffee flavor was great and I loved the cream and extra chocolate shreds on top. Overall good experience. Service was quick and the waiters were kind. I definitely want to come back and try the main restaurant and their pasta. read more

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It's the best Italian restaurant in town. Good foods good music. Service is great! Will call me back when i back to the town.

Nice Italian restaurant with all the traditional menu items and a nice variety of wines and desserts. Service was quite attentive and the ambiance is nice for a casual meal or date night. We most recently visited for an event in a private room, and it was set up with a big screen for a presentation while the staff went around and delivered food and drinks to the guests. The meal took a long time to serve, but the food was pretty good. read more

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Incredible service followed by amazing food. Special thanks to Rose for being so welcoming to our group and to Brian for making sure we got everything we need. The Hawaiian pizza and meat balls are a must have to get started. Followed by gin and tonic and a few martinis. Super grateful they're back in full swing better than ever. read more

Il Fornaio - It's lit! - Italian Near Me - Irvine, California

We had another great meal at Il Fornaio in Irvine. Instead of looking at the menu, I looked at the pictures of the dishes on Yelp. I found what looked like Linguini and clams in light, wine sauce. I asked for this from our waiter. He said no problem and will talk to the chef and make it happen. The dish was amazing. Just what I wanted. Fresh clams in a light, butter, and wine sauce that really highlighted the fresh made pasta. I like to really taste the pasta, and this was a perfect dish. I highly recommend this place for its service, atmosphere, and excellent food. Food made to order. The chef did exactly what I wanted. read more

Il Fornaio - Italian Near Me - Irvine, California

We sat on the Patio this Thursday night for Happy Hour We were the only ones out there. It was a nice view. Service was ok. A few lulls but the food was great. My daughter had the margarita with lemoncello & loved it. $9 . We had the meatballs. Delish. 3 large with bread. So yummy. Then we had a minestrone soup which hit the spot. We finished off on one of their pizzas. Happy Hour was a success. read more

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Came back after 1 year and I will say that I adore everything of this Italian restaurant! We ordered few different things to try out today which is the Beef Carpaccio, Capricciosa and Seafood Linguine always my fav. Overall service is outstanding! Our server was really nice and constanky check on our table. He offered us another dessert which is the cherry on top. Will be supporting this restaurant business in the future! read more

Il Fornaio - Tiramisu - Italian Near Me - Irvine, California

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A group of us had dinner here. I used to come here a lot but hadn't been back in a few years. The restaurant itself looks the same and has held up over the years. The food was very mediocre. We ordered multiple appetizers and all of us had entrees, so I got a chance to try many of the dishes. Everything was bland and underwhelming. Service was OK except that our server got pulled into cover the bar, so we were ignored for a little while. He came back to take our dessert order but forgot to place the order for one person. We eventually got that dessert (they were gracious enough to comp it) but it costs us an extra half hour. Il Fornaio has always been a viable dinner option but with so many new restaurants in the area, there are probably better options. read more

Came here on New Years Eve and was shocked at how quickly everything came out. The service was excellent, but the food was even better. The pasta was packed with so much flavor and the wine paired nicely with the food. The standout was the tiramisu, as I did not leave even a crumb left. The ambiance felt very high end and luxurious and I enjoyed the light music they played. Cool place! read more

Il Fornaio - Italian Near Me - Irvine, California

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I ordered the chicken parm and the chicken was dry. Very disappointed. The Calamaretti Fritti was delicious. The service was great and the ambiance was wonderful. read more

I came here with a group of coworkers for lunch. The restaurant is nice and cozy. I love the complimentary fresh baked bread with olive oil and vinegar dip. It was so good. For appetizer, we had the fried calamari. It was nice and crispy and not oily. I ordered the seafood pasta. It was delicious and they even brought out more which went great with the pasta. For dessert, we ordered tiramisu which was a perfect end to our lunch. The service was great and our waiter came by several times to check on us. The reason I only rate this place as 4 stars because of the automatic 3% surcharge. read more

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Food, service and ambiance was out of this world, great cozy genuine Italian place, real clean and organized, the service was out of this world! read more

This place is amazing. Rafael is doing an incredible job at keeping this place really nice. The food is fantastic. Wonderful date spot. 1-10 it's a 100!!!! read more

Our entire family loves this restaurant! It's a staple in OC- food is always delicious, pasta cooked to perfection. Our server tonight, Tony, was delightful. Can't wait for our next visit! read more

Amazing service on a Thursday evening before dinner rush. Really like how the restaurant looks and their sun roof - we got to see them open it! Reminded me of those Steam punk ceiling openings that would let the hot air balloon out. Anyway, everything we ordered looked great. I had the Vodka sauce Rigatoni with added basil. Delish. Also liked their calamari, meatball, and bruschetta. Tiramisu was yums read more

Came here recently for a work dinner and it did not disappoint! The interior of the restaurant was beautiful and our server was very professional. The food was great, I really enjoyed the gnocchi and veal dish. We also got a lava cake to share and everyone enjoyed that. Only complaint is that we did have a wait long periods of time for our server to visit our table despite the restaurant being pretty quiet. read more

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The better version of North Italia, Il Fornaio has actual Italian food and not just reservations. There's a few selections for vegetarians, especially if gnocchi is up your alley, they have a couple options and each ball of dough just melts in your mouth. They're generous with the portions but not overly so, personal pizzas are thin, hot and definitely handmade. That chocolate lava cake though, or volcano cake, is... VERY chocolatey. Rich with quality chocolate and molten in the center. Good to see restaurants like this not degrading over time and fashion. read more

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My boyfriend took me here for my birthday dinner and it was our first time trying this restaurant, and we were not disappointed! The service was amazing, the staff were friendly and helpful, and the food was sooo good! I also had a glass of rose and they sung happy birthday to me and gave me strawberry ice cream. This is a really cute date night spot! They have valet parking but the structure is also available. They do validate so luckily we don't have to pay for parking once we left. I'll definitely come back here again. And thank you to Geraldo who was our waiter for the night!! read more

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They validate here and gave plenty of parking. The food and service was good! Our server felt bad for our wait an gave us like 3 rounds of bread lol. The prices were pretty good too considering the atmosphere. I would go back here. The pasta tasted homemade! read more

Il Fornaio - Pappardelle alla Norcina con Pollo - Italian Near Me - Irvine, California

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We've been to Il Fornaio several times when we're in the area, and the experience has been consistently the same: great ambience, mediocre food, and disappointing service. During our latest visit for the OC Restaurant Week menu, our server seemed rushed and a bit rude. Drinks took a long time, and although the set menu includes bread, he oddly asked if we wanted it after our appetizer had already arrived. It would have been nice to have the bread while we were waiting. The bigger issue was my main dish--it came out undercooked (basically raw). Our server was nowhere to be found, so I had to ask someone else for help. When he finally heard about it, he quickly said "I'm sorry" and walked away. That was it. Mistakes happen, but how they're handled matters. At many restaurants you get a sincere apology or some effort to make things right. Here, it felt like no one really cared. Overall, a very disappointing meal. read more

Food here is solid. Came for happy hour and an entree. The Tagliatelle Bolognese, a traditional meat ragu, was nice and lightly creamy. A delicious texture almost like it was homemade. The Arancini Al Sugo in bolognese sauce was delicious as well. Crispy on the outside and flavorful. And for dessert the Volcano, a warm chocolate cake with creamy center and caramel sea salt gelato was a perfect ending. Service was warm and attentive. read more

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I had such a wonderful experience at Il Fornaio, and I can't recommend it enough. From the moment we walked in, everything felt elevated--but what truly made our visit unforgettable was our waiter, Mauricio. He was absolutely phenomenal--attentive, knowledgeable, and genuinely passionate about providing great service. You can tell he takes pride in what he does, and it shows in every interaction. The food was just as impressive. The caprese salad was incredibly fresh and flavorful--the quality of the ingredients really stood out, from the perfectly ripe tomatoes to the rich, creamy mozzarella. It was simple, but executed flawlessly. And I have to mention the bread... my daughter could not get enough of it! She kept going back for more, which says everything. Fresh, delicious, and the perfect start to our meal. Top-notch service, amazing food, and an all-around fantastic dining experience. We'll definitely be back! read more