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    Il Fornaio

    4.2 (2.4k reviews)
    PriceyPizza, Seafood, Italian
    Open 11:30 am - 9:30 pm
    Updated 3 months ago

    Order Il Fornaio Takeout or Delivery

    Il Fornaio Photos

    Business Info

    IL FORNAIO ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Trendy
    Romantic

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    Recommended Reviews - Il Fornaio

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    Reviews With Photos

    Karen A.

    I'd give a 4.5 stars if I could... We enjoyed our evening here and would happily return. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The restaurant strikes a great balance between energy and sophistication. The open kitchen adds a sense of theater to the dining room, while the soaring ceilings, warm wood finishes, and thoughtfully designed space create an inviting setting for a special night out.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] The staff delivered attentive, polished service from start to finish. We began with the calamari, which arrived hot, crisp, and plentiful. The marinara complemented the dish well, but the garlic aioli we requested on the side stole the show. Its rich, garlicky flavor transformed the appetizer and took it to another level. I only wish the restaurant served it automatically alongside the calamari. The beef tenderloin arrived perfectly cooked and paired nicely with the mushrooms and mashed potatoes. The red wine reduction added depth, but its sweetness overpowered the meat slightly. A bit more salt on the tenderloin would have created better balance. The lamb shank impressed with its fork-tender texture and generous portion, yet it also needed a touch more seasoning to fully showcase the richness of the dish. The kitchen clearly uses quality ingredients and presents each plate with care. While a few dishes fell just short of their full potential, the combination of attentive hospitality, striking surroundings, and thoughtfully prepared food made for a memorable dining experience.

    Menu
    Joyce T.

    Burrata con Prosciutto - burata was a bit watery, not the rich and creamy kind. Prosciutto with arugula and grilled ciabatta was my favorite. Bread was great especially the sourdough, love the crunchy crust and soft bread. We tried the Tuesday trio pasta, all three types of pastas were in room temperature when served. They're just meh. Seafood pasta was awesome , the shrimps were huge and fresh. INSALATA DI PERE (salad) was great, love the roasted pears, lettuces, red grapes and the candied pecans. It's a good combination of fruit and vegetable. Pizza was meh. I had better elsewhere.

    Caprese di Bufala
    Tahir N.

    Gone are the white tablecloths that used to grace the tables at other locations. We came here at 6 PM on Father's Day without a reservation, but were immediately seated. This is the kind of place you would go to for Father's Day as it's kind of place to go to for a business lunch or a business dinner. The staff here is very good in terms of level of service and knowledge of the menu and making you comfortable. Really the only reason I am giving three stars rather than something higher is because I don't think they do a good job with their pasta dishes. I had the spaghetti Pomodoro with Italian sausage added (upcharge), and there was almost no Italian sausage in the dish. And the noodles were a sticky mass. I believe you are better advised to order from the grill as my dinner mate's rosemary chicken looked very good and he ate it all. My wife is vegetarian and there is almost nothing hot for her to eat apart from the disappointing spaghetti pomodoro or the grilled zucchini. There are also some pizzas. The beet salad was excellent as was the Caprese salad and the minestrone soup. I had the Volo cocktail which is their version of a Paper Plane. Another dinner mate had the Sorrento King which comes under glass with smoke. My drink was good, but hers was better. It has been probably 15 or 20 years since ate at one of their locations and I don't think I'll be back without a protest. They have their target market, but I realize I am not part of it. They will do fine without me and I will keep looking for an Italian restaurant I like in the Bay Area.

    FUSILLONI AL PESTO E POLLO
    Pauline L.

    CALAMARETTI FRITTI - 10/10. The calamari was perfectly crispy on the outside, tender on the inside, and not greasy at all. The batter was so thin and was not overpowering the squid. Paired with the tangy dipping sauce, it was one of those appetizers you can't stop reaching for. TAGLIATELLE BOLOGNESE - 8/10. The pasta was cooked beautifully, and the meat sauce was rich, hearty, and packed with flavor. It's the kind of classic Italian dish that's comforting and satisfying, though it didn't quite steal the show compared to the other dishes ordered. FUSILLONI AL PESTO E POLLO - 10/10. The pesto was fresh, vibrant, and coated every twist of pasta perfectly. The chicken was juicy, the flavors were balanced, and every bite tasted like something I'd immediately order again. BREAD - 5/10. The bread was on a drier/ crustier side and was more stale than I would have preferred. I did like the fact that it came with olive oil and balsamic vinegar because I prefer that to butter (no hate to butter because I also love butter too).

    Rigatoni alla vodka
    Laura P.

    Surprising good! I wasn't sure what to expect since this place is a chain, but the food was great! The rigatoni pasta was creamy and flavorful, and the fresh bread was great as well. I'd definitely come back!

    Insalata Cesarina
    Arthur T.

    Did a doordash pick up order! Two of us ordered quite a bit: cesarina $15 regina $15 calamaretti $22 tagliatelle $24 pappardelle alla norcina $31 tiramisu $14 Caesar salad and tagliatelle were biggest let down. Caesar salad had no taste. Taliatelle had minimal meat and over cooked clump of noodles. Everything else was relatively good. Parking here in the plaza is a nightmare.

    Shamina W.

    I visited this location for a private dinner with a group of about 20 people, where we enjoyed a fixed menu. While it didn't include the full menu, there was still a great variety of food and drink options to choose from. The service was outstanding--everyone on the staff was friendly, attentive, and incredibly patient with our large group. My meal was absolutely delicious and cooked perfectly. It was a wonderful dining experience, and I'll definitely be back. I can't wait to return and try more items from the regular menu!

    Branzino in Crosta*
    Kevin S.

    We had our 36th anniversary dinner there tonight. Our waiter Manny was amazing. The best service we have had in a long time. [[HIGHLIGHT]]It's a beautiful restaurant, with a nice relaxed dining experience.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] We started with the bread & Fritto Misto (fried shrimp, calamari & veggies), great start! I had the Branzino as my entrée. My wife had the Pappardelle. Both were perfect! Manny brought us a free gelato desert for our Anniversary. Il Fornaio is now on our go-to list. We will be back! I highly recommend you ask for Manny. He's amazing!!!

    Special  June 2026
    Andrew H.

    We ordered the Calamari and two pasta dishes. My pasta was a special and it was a good portioned, tasty dish. I enjoyed the lemonciello margaritas. Gilberto provided smooth, professional service. We never felt rushed throughout the dinner.

    Piatto Salumi
    Roxanne I.

    Our server was nice and polite. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The restaurant was pretty quiet at 6pm.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] We had reservations but the restaurant had plenty of seating available. We ordered two drinks and two appetizers to start. Both drinks were okay. The Tuscan lemonade tasted pretty watered down & medicinal. The kickin old fashioned was too sweet for my taste. The salami plate was okay, a little expensive for what it was. I enjoyed the gnocchi, but the portion size is a bit small for the price. Pesto pasta was good, and had many different textures. Risotto was a little bland.

    Front entrance
    EM H.

    Il Fornaio Santa Clara is the fourth locale of the upscale Italian dining chain that I have visited. Tucked in the Santa Clara Square retail-residential complex, Il Fornaio Santa Clara offers free ample parking and an authentic Italian culinary journey in a rustic but modern environment. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The Tuscan farmhouse-inspired wide-open dining room with high ceilings comes with a bar of marble counters, overhead television screens, an enclosed, spacious patio area, open kitchen and a stylish floor-to-ceiling glass wine wall.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] The upmarket chain appears to offer the same menu across all of their locations, featuring fresh, handmade pastas, thin-crust pizzas using housemade dough and regional specialties. Consistent with its sister stations, Il Fornaio Santa Clara serves delectable dishes with thoughtful presentation. Below are some of what I enjoyed at a team dinner on Monday, March 25, 2024: CALAMARETTI FRITTI ($21) - The deep-fried baby squid were perfectly crispy and tasty. ESPRESSO MARTINI ($15) - This stirred and shaken classic craft cocktail was creamy and decadent. SALMONE ALLA GRIGLIA ($34) - I replaced the roasted yukon gold potatoes with grilled asparagus, yum. The simple entrée, sans unnecessary embellishments, focused on the fresh ingredients, allowing the natural flavours to shine through. TIRAMISÙ ($13) - Il Fornaio's version of this classic Italian dessert, made with coffee-soaked ladyfingers, was perfectly moist and was a perfect sweet ending to dinner, paired nicely with a Double Espresso. Service was attentive yet unobtrusive, enhancing our dining experience. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Il Fornaio Santa Clara's welcoming atmosphere and restaurant's visual appeal perfectly complemented its warm hospitality and menu of authentic and award-winning Italian cuisine.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]]

    Udyot K.

    Always wanted to visit this restaurant and got a chance yesterday. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The ambiance was pretty decent with loads of roses specially for Valentine's Day.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Ordered two cocktails - old fashioned was pretty standard and then the sorrento was pretty nice with a lot of smoke. For food, gnocchi was pretty decent, CAPRICCIOSA pizza was good too, they removed meat as per the request. Spaghetti pasta was flavorful too. Servers were really attentive and paid full attention to detail to all our requests. Will visit again.

    Chocolate hazelnut gelato
    Bob K.

    We've been to other locations for Il Fornaio, and this one compared well. Wilmer was our very attentive server for a Tuesday night birthday date night. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The interior is very impressive overall, and we watched as other servers carefully prepped a long table near ours for a large party yet to arrive.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]Everything was quite clean.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] I started with my favorite cocktail, a Sorrento King, with the fun smoke. It definitely imparts a smoky flavor, so be prepared. I ordered a Caesar salad and linguine mare, with shrimp, mussels and scallops. All of my food was well prepared, and Wilmer was right there with the parmesan. The Wife had gnocchi alla Sorrentina, which comes out extremely hot. Again, very well cooked. The Il Fornaio chianti is quite decent as well. For dessert, I had the cannoli plus cappuccino, while The Wife had chocolate hazelnut gelato. The cannoli was so-so, as I prefer larger shells with an abundance of filling. The gelato had crystals, indicating either overchurning, or having been thawed and refrozen. We pointed that out to Wilmer, who offered alternatives, and removed the dessert from the check. The updated check came in a sleeve that asked for personal information to connect with the restaurant, but rather than being blank, it was already filled out by another party. I'm very fond of this chain, and will no doubt be back. The hardest part is deciding between the pasta and pizza!

    Seafood pasta

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    Page 1 of 60

    Il Fornaio Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Il Fornaio

    Does this restaurant have a kids menu?

    Don't think so. But hey, it's Italian food! Just get them some pasta

    Do you accept private party on a Sunday afternoon?

    Is the outdoor seating somewhat protected from rain?

    Yes, it is covered. There are also hit lamps. It is also somewhat inclosed with sun shades and glass all around but still lets the breeze through.

    Do they have outside seating during pandemic?

    Yes. It is nice. Partially inclosed with glass and sun shades. It is also covered and has hit lamps.

    Does it have pesto pasta? And any other vegan pasta options?

    Vegetarian yes....Vegan no. But should you indulge, quality of ingredients is a notch about Olive Garden. The new owners of this chain has cut cost in every possible way....possible. Oh yes...they have Pesto...occasionally. Good luck...

    Is this restaurant toddler/kid friendly?

    Yes, extremely.

    Can we bring our own bottle of champagne/wine?

    According to this person who claims to be affiliated, yes and it will cost $20. A corkage fee is to be expected when bring your own.… 

    What's your corkage fee?

    Good Evening Dave, Our corkage is $20 per 750ml bottle. Thank you for your great question Dave.… 

    What time is happy hour? what are the H/H Menu options?

    Good Morning Susan, Il Fornaio Santa Clara offers our guests who have joined our mailing list… 

    Can I have a small Bday cake delivered to the restaurant? And is there a fee?

    Good Morning Lewis, Yes, we do accommodate deliveries of cakes and flowers for guests… 

    Hi there my wife has a gluten allergy, do you serve gluten free pasta?

    Ciao Joe, yes we do! Please find several of our gluten free pastas below, and we also have many other items on our gluten free menu.… 

    What kind of Vegetarian options are there in the menu?

    Good Morning Myra, That's a great question. We have many vegetarian and vegan options on our… 

    Is the outdoor patio heated, and are dogs allowed?

    Hello Stephanie, Yes, our fully enclosed patio has plenty of strong heaters that can make it… 

    Do you take American Express card? Thanks?

    Yes, I paid with my AmEx card

    View All 17 Questions

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    La Casa Mia

    3.9
    (773 reviews)
    3.2 mi
    $$

    Tried this lovely Japanese-Italian fusion spot in the Bay Area for the first time. We tried their…read moremochi pizza-Mentaiko Mayo Mochi Cheese Pizza. I love mochi, so I was really curious how it would work on a pizza. It actually worked surprisingly well. The chewy mochi added a unique layer of texture to the crispy crust and paired nicely with the other toppings. We also had a variety of pastas, both seafood and meat. The portions-especially the seafood and pork cutlet-were generous, and I really enjoyed the subtle sweetness in the meat sauce. The blueberry yogurt drink was beautifully presented. The little heart-shaped container held syrup that you can pour over the ice to turn it into flavored shaved ice, which was a fun touch. The matcha parfait was also tasty and a great way to end the meal.

    Great good and great service. The server offered the children jelly while waiting for the food, I…read morepersonally think that is such a kind act that excited the kids and looking forward for the meals. The servers are very attentive and the wait time for the food is barely 10 minutes. Very efficient. The meals are great, the baguettes came with refilled. The whipped butter is light and creamy. I kept wonder if a drizzle of honey could amplified the taste. Pizza and pasta are obviously very taste and chewy. The restaurant is very nice and cozy as well, a mixtures of Japanese and Italian cuisines. It's a cutesy and vibrant, perfect for date. Overall, I think it's a wonderful experience and meals. Very unique concept!

    Photos
    Strawberry parfait
    Strawberry parfait
    Front photo
    Front photo
    Wreath Salad with Caesar

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    Paesano Ristorante Italiano

    Paesano Ristorante Italiano

    4.1
    (1.4k reviews)
    5.3 mi
    $$$

    The gnocchi in pesto cream sauce is really so heavenly. Just melts in your mouth, like little…read morepillows. Cloudlike feeling, really. I cannot get over it. The outdoor covered garden area is so serene and pretty in the evenings. Very attentive and friendly waiters too. We had the lemon tart for dessert and it was such a light, refreshing dessert! Perfect amount of sweetness. Of course, a little expensive, but a good treat/celebration place!

    I first tried Paesano back in 2017, and since it had been a while, we decided to come back for…read moreanother visit. We ordered two Pollo Saltimbocca dishes (one with a cream pasta substitution for an additional $8), the Pollo al Limone, and a half bottle of Chardonnay. The restaurant offers one indoor dining area and two outdoor seating areas--one in the front and one in the back--which gives guests plenty of seating options. The food was a bit saltier than our personal preference. The cream pasta substitution, despite the extra charge, wasn't anything particularly memorable compared to similar dishes we've had at other restaurants. However, the highlight of our visit was definitely the warm and welcoming customer service. The staff was friendly, attentive, and made us feel appreciated. We also appreciate that the restaurant closes for a few hours in the afternoon before reopening for dinner service. It's nice to see a business that gives its staff a break during the day. Parking can be a bit challenging due to the busy neighborhood. Be aware that street parking is paid, and most spots have a two-hour limit, so you'll need to keep an eye on the time. Overall, we'd come back to try more of the pasta dishes on the menu and hope to discover a new favorite.

    Photos
    Dining room
    Dining room
    Chocolate chip cookies  cookies by Sha-Sha's Sweets
    Chocolate chip cookies cookies by Sha-Sha's Sweets
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    Trattoria 360

    Trattoria 360

    4.7
    (698 reviews)
    6.8 mi
    $$$

    I am writing this review in the glow of my extraordinary experience on a quiet Wednesday evening. I…read morecan't say enough about the food flavor and the wonderful staff that makes me want to return because of their kind personal touch. We called ahead around 845 to verify our 9pm reservation because we saw they closed at 9:30pm and we wanted to be respectful of their time. Bryan answered the phone and assured us we will have enough time to be seated and served before closing. He was very kind and welcoming so we headed over. We were greeted by Chris and seated immediately in the table that he let us choose. He made thoughtful suggestions on location being by the window, the booth where it was quieter or wherever we wanted because "this place is yours". This is not a typical thing I usually experience when being seated so this stood out to my wife and I. We appreciated this gesture. Once seated he took our drink orders, my wife wanted to try one of the wines before getting a glass so he brought a small sample. Once returning he asked if she wanted to select another or "take this one for a drive". The expression was simple and displayed the thoughtfulness that came from him the entire night. Simply taking time to craft words and be present is something that we noticed and appreciated. We ordered a carbonara and a pasta with prawn. The food came out fairly quickly since we arrived at a time past some of the peak hours. The bread with olive oil and balsamic came out first obviously. The carbonara and prawn pasta was so beautifully plated and presented that we forgot to take a picture for this review. We dug into the food immediately. At this time, maybe a coincidence, I checked my watch to be mindful of the time. At the same time, Kevin walked up to our table to let us know what we are good on time and that, "the back hasn't started the dishes or started cleaning up yet". There were still other parties around at that time. This was another detail that stood out to me. He might have seen me check my watch but to know what I was thinking at that moment and then respond to it is a first for me. This is beyond thoughtful. After a couple more wholesome interactions with Kevin and Chris, we ended up ordering a pannacota. This was the best I have ever had in my life. Kevin stayed for a while to chat while Chris was tending to other tables at the time. I can't say enough about the warmth in this place shown by Bryan, Chris and Kevin. I will definitely return and I want to bring my family there. The food was top tier but the people were what will bring me back.

    Trattoria 360 is a delightful Italian restaurant in the heart of Campbell. The food was excellent,…read moreespecially the gnocchi and the Chilean sea bass. The staff was very helpful in getting us to pick menu items and then let us enjoy our meal without too many interruptions. This was a date night and we really enjoyed it and would highly recommend the spot.

    Photos
    Us at your restaurant on our first date
    Us at your restaurant on our first date
    Scallop Rissoto
    Scallop Rissoto
    Branzino al Rosemarino

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    Branzino al Rosemarino

    Il Fornaio - pizza - Updated August 2026

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