Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    Il Fornaio

    3.2 (1.3k reviews)
    PriceyItalian, Seafood, Pizza
    Open • 11:30 am - 9:30 pm
    Updated 1 month ago

    Order Il Fornaio Takeout or Delivery

    Il Fornaio Photos

    IL FORNAIO ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Classy
    Happy hour specials
    Good for groups

    You might also consider

    Recommended Reviews - Il Fornaio

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos

    Menu
    Rachel M.

    Huge Italian American restaurant chain in downtown Walnut Creek. My girls and I celebrated a birthday here for lunch and definitely had a carb fest. Interior was spacious and classy. Food was pretty good but a bit commercial tasting. I did like my pappardelle that I customized by switching out the chicken for shrimp. The creamy sauce was tasty. The other dishes were ok, but nothing stood out. Also prices were $$$. Service had its ups and downs. Our server was friendly but slow to bring our entrees, forgot to refill waters a few times, and charged us for a dessert that she had told us was complimentary due to a birthday, which she had awkwardly fixed by giving us the extra charge back in cash, which also took a long while. I'd come back if I had to for an event but wouldn't go out of my way.

    Violeta R.

    We had a beet arugula salad and a Rosè Pinot Noir, that was delicious. The staff was really kind, from the manager that gave us the greetings and farewell, also our server, which was so attentive and intuitive to let us talk and enjoy our time together. A beautiful place to have a great moment.

    Raosted Garlic Cauliflower (4 stars)
    Daniel C.

    We were blown away by the Thanksgiving 2025 dinner at Il Fornaio in Sacramento. For my wife's birthday we decided to book dinner at the Walnut Creek location. Il Fornaio is a fixture in Walnut Creek's Broadway Plaza, with some Yelp reviews dating back more than a decade! I'm pretty sure I ate here. before becoming a Yelper.... We had an excellent dinner so overall 4 stars. Our 5yo son ate a bit of everyone's dinner including dessert, which is always a good sign! We ordered: 1. Kid's Rigatoni and Cheese - cooked al dente and surprisingly mild and not too cheesy nor salty. 2. The seafood combo was my wife's favorite - salmon, scallops, prawns, white fish, and veggies. Low carb, healthy, and super delicious. 3. I ordered the airline chicken breast with root veggies. Surprisingly juicy and well-seasoned for white meat. I got their orange peppery sauce on the side since it packs a bit of heat. Not as good as brick chicken, but still solid dish. 4. We could not finish the dessert of two large bricks of spumoni gelato. I haven't has spumoni in aves, and I love the combo of dark cherry, pistachio, and chocolate. Normally it comes in a swirl but it. looks like Il Fornaio used a layer-by-layer approach. Definitely plan on coming back. Main reason I'm bot giving 5 stars is that our expectations were a bit too high after going to the Sacramento branch. Sacramento's Il Fornaio was bigger, brighter, and had even better quality food and attentive service.

    George S.

    Il Fornaio; An Authentically Italian Experience On my first visit to Il Fornaio, I confirmed something I have always believed: when the cuisine is truly authentic, the real taste of Italy is immediately felt on the palate. However, a memorable dining experience is not built by the kitchen alone; it is also defined by its atmosphere, attention to detail, and above all, the human quality of its service. From the very beginning, Roberto, the restaurant's General Manager, welcomed us with warm and genuine hospitality that set the tone for the entire evening. From that moment on, every member of the team contributed to making the experience smooth, elegant, and memorable. Special recognition goes to Agustín, our server, whose service was impeccable; attentive, friendly, and always ready to guide us through the menu with knowledge and enthusiasm. The appetizers were simply outstanding: the classic Bruschetta, crispy Calamari Fritti, traditional Polpette, and a delicate Beef Carpaccio, all of which opened the palate with fresh and authentic flavors true to Italian tradition. Then came the stars of the evening: a spectacular Tomahawk Steak, perfectly prepared, accompanied by a delicious Penne al Vodka, a dish that balances richness and elegance in every bite. The experience was elevated further by a remarkable Italian wine, a Brunello di Montalcino, whose robust yet refined character created the perfect pairing with the meal. And as every great Italian meal deserves a memorable finale, the evening ended with a delicate Affogato, the perfect marriage of Italian espresso and creamy gelato. Enjoying this feast is, without a doubt, allowing the palate to travel directly to Italy... while having the privilege of experiencing it here in the United States.

    Mixed seafood grill with salmon, petrale sole, 4 shrimps, 4 scallops, broccolini, carrots and potatoes.
    Annie L.

    This review is based on a group luncheon I went to. We were given a reserved room. Our server was Diego, who was excellent, very attentive and bent over backwards to accommodate our many little requests. He came by often to fill our water glasses, clear dishes, and to ask if we needed anything else. I was very impressed by his service. I had the grilled mixed seafood which consisted of a piece of salmon, a piece of petrale sole, 4 shrimps and 4 scallops with carrots, broccolini and Yukon gold potatoes. They were nicely presented and were delicious! Many of the others in our party had the entrée salads or pasta. All looked very delicious and all said they enjoyed their meals.

    Rigatoni alla Vodka
    Paolo C.

    Came here for a work lunch and left pretty satisfied overall. They start you off with bread, and the penne alla vodka was genuinely tasty. The pasta and sauce were well done. My one gripe: the bacon in the dish was completely soft, no crispiness at all. A little texture there would've taken it from good to great. The tiramisu was a fine way to end the meal, nothing mind-blowing but solid. Service was attentive and the ambiance made for a comfortable, professional setting. Easy to have a conversation without feeling rushed or cramped.

    Courtney A.

    Went here to celebrate a friend's birthday and had a great time. We made a reservation and didn't have to wait for our table. We were promptly sat and our waters were filled quickly. The server was incredibly nice and answered all questions we had about drinks. Being as the dinner was pre planned, we already knew what we wanted. We opted to do the Sunday "Cena in Famiglia" dinner ($70 for two). It unfortunately wasn't my favorite from a flavor standpoint, but it's a great value deal. It comes with 6 items total. The fresh baked bread was delicious. I recommend adding the tomatoes and mixed olives for an extra $4. The Caesar salad was also delicious. I loved the large shaved pieces of Grana Padano but could do without the croutons. They felt very budget and like they didn't belong. I recommend requesting the dressing on the side because it was drenched more than I would have liked. Next on the list is a mushroom lasagna, but it was brought out on a larger share plate with the roasted chicken. The lasagna wasn't to my liking at all. It didn't have much dimension and was lacking in flavor depth. The chicken felt overcooked and the sauce was barely there, making me wish we also got that on the side. The roasted veggies were good... but nothing exceptionally spectacular. Lastly, the desserts. The family meal comes with a tiramisu and cannolis. The server was also nice enough to bring the birthday Sunday (which was my favorite out of the three but not part of the family meal). The tiramisu was just okay. I didn't find there to be the rich, creamy bite I usually experience with tiramisu from other kitchens. The cannolis got soggy fast and the candied orange overpowered the flavors. We also ordered one coffee and one cappuccino with dessert. My friend enjoyed her coffee... I wish Mr cappuccino was hotter. I think if you're looking for a quantity budget option, this may be for you. I prefer quality budget option and this did not strike me as that. I'm interested in coming back to try their happy hour menu but will skip on the meal deal.

    Salmon
    Molly L.

    After hearing such great things about Il Fornaio, I finally got to try it! There are a ton of parking garages and lots nearby, so parking wasn't an issue on a Friday. There's also a lot of cool shopping nearby too. It smells so good inside too! I decided to go with the salmon and it was cooked perfectly and came with potatoes and spinach. It was a large portion of salmon, so it was pretty filling. The chicken looked amazing too, but I was very happy with my choice. :) Definitely going to come back and try more of the menu.

    And more than 1/2 went home..wasn't feeling it.
    Tamika T.

    Stopped in for a quick solo meal. Decided on the lasagna and a glass of wine. I'd been here before several years back and the decor is still nice and polished as I'd remembered it. Service was so so. My server started off very nice and attentive..but then disappeared shortly after serving my wine and water. Tracked him down to order bread and my entree, then again to order another glass and find out what was taking so long for my entree (apparently the lasagna takes a bit longer). When my food arrived it was piping hot! Unfortunately it didnt taste like much. Definitely need some a but more tomato and/or spice..for me. Very bland dish. I ended up taking most of it home..and my hubby said the same. You couldn't even taste the mushrooms m, which i love. And I'd argue the noodles are NOT handmade. Wasn't the worst meal..but definitely not the best. IMO

    View of the Patio
    Katherine F.

    This restaurant has made a remarkable improvement ...and become my favorite spot when shopping in Walnut Creek. Today was Back to School shopping for DGD the younger, who is in total agreement...the Rigatoni Alla Vodka is heaven ...between the Bacon and the Grans Padano Cheese the flavor sings. Greeting and Service was perfection. We were seated in a quiet spot looking out on to their Patio...and had a wonderful time. I treasure my time with my teenaged granddaughters, this was memorable.

    Lunch menu 10/25
    Aida F.

    Met a friend here for lunch. The service was stellar; the host had already seated my friend & knew exactly where to direct me to. Water was brought over, drink orders taken. We snacked on an appetizer of the roasted cauliflower; a tad on the al dente side, yet still tasty. There was an order of a bowl of minestrone soup, the house salad & the grilled salmon. The grilled salmon came with sautéed spinach & little roasted Yukon potatoes - all was delicious. Too full for dessert. Overall it was pleasant, definitely come back & try them for dinner. Ambiance for lunch was casual, it could easily upscale for dinner or a private party.

    Inside
    Tina K.

    Big restaurant with indoor and outdoor seating. Service at this location tends to be better than the others. Full bar and good wine list. Some of my Il fornaio faves are: Calamari - crispy and classic Lasagna - always good Papradelle - classic with meat sauce Pesto - I ask for pasta instead of gnocchi! This is my fav - served with tomatoes and asparagus, it's perfection!

    Campari Spritz

    What a great place. My wife and I decided to stop by yesterday for a quick drink and were seated at the bar right away. I wish I remembered our bartender's name because she was fantastic. She made an excellent Campari Spritz and really made the whole experience feel welcoming and fun. We ended up ordering the Fra Diavola pizza and it was amazing. The crust had the perfect crisp and the toppings were flavorful and well balanced. Sanela, the manager on duty, also came by to check on us and she was incredibly warm and kind. You can really tell the team cares about hospitality. Big kudos to both the BOH and FOH teams. The restaurant was clean, the energy was great, and the ambiance made us want to stay longer. I really hope they recognize our bartender because she truly made our night special.

    Rigatoni alla Vodka (no bacon)

    See all

    Photo of Jeff H.
    789
    1735
    486

    1 month ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    3 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 2
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Billy K.
    0
    78
    268

    4 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 2
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    6 months ago

    Helpful 5
    Thanks 1
    Love this 4
    Oh no 0

    3 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    8 months ago

    Helpful 7
    Thanks 2
    Love this 3
    Oh no 0

    7 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    8 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    4 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    8 months ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    9 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    18 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    10 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    1 year ago

    Helpful 7
    Thanks 1
    Love this 3
    Oh no 0

    11 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 month ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Tina K.
    198
    547
    2931

    1 year ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 months ago

    Great service. Food was delicious. restaurant was very clean And classy. Get the TAGLIATELLE BOLOGNESE you won't regret it!

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    28 days ago

    In person, 5/5, review is based on takeout order quality. You can tell they don't care as much unfortunately.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    9 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 2
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    10 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    11 months ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 3
    Photo of Jerry R.
    50
    34
    43

    9 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    6 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    1 year ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    2 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 1
    Photo of T P.
    9
    60
    4

    5 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of L B.
    0
    5
    3

    2 months ago

    Food and service were excellent as usual. We will be back soon. My favorite is the Penne Ala Vodka and the Calamari.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 2

    4 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    9 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Don M.
    1
    48
    3

    9 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 2
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Will G.
    0
    13
    16

    5 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    Page 1 of 32

    Il Fornaio Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Il Fornaio

    What time is happy hour on Fridays?

    Do they have brunch on Saturday?

    Where do people park?

    Tons of parking nearby or across the street at the shopping center. I believe they have their own parking lot, street parking is much easier.

    View All 4 Questions

    You might also consider

    The Hideout Kitchen - Lafayette Salad

    The Hideout Kitchen

    4.2(2.8k reviews)
    3.4 mi
    •$$

    Quick fact before I do my review: Before officially being in a relationship, The Hideout Kitchen is…read morewhere we had our very first date. And it was at the former location. So what better place to dine in to celebrate out 2nd Year Wedding Anniversary at The Hideout Kitchen :) We went for dinner. Our server was KEVIN. Simply...HE IS JUST AWESOME. He knows the menu, he knows the history, and has amazing stories to share with everyone. Great guy. A lot of people there that night seemed to be celebrating something. The noise was a bit loud that I felt I had to almost yell to have a conversation with my husband. But the vibe was great. I enjoyed looking around at the decor. We ordered: - TRUFFLE FRIES for appetizers - I loved everything about it. haha. Tastey! - linguine & clams - I ordered this. It was good. However, I felt it was way oily. And after every bite I took, I had to wipe my mouth. And I accidentally spilled oil on my shirt. - PASTA ALLA CARBONE with steak - My husband enjoyed it and started to get full towards clearing out his bowl haha. - SCALLOPED POTATOES - I ordered a side of this. Definitely was not expecting to look the way it did, but I thought the presentation was beautiful. It was good; however, I was not a fan at how crunchy and hard the top first layer was. In a few areas, it was almost burnt. But I thought it was pretty good without the need for a type of sauce on the side. - For drinks, I had to Summer sangria and my husband had the Rumble in the Jungle. We enjoyed it. Definitely hit the spot. No complaints at all about these drinks. - And Kevin surprised us with a dessert to celebrate : Cranberry Bread Pudding. This was delicious. Very flavorful. I am not really into Cranberry, but this is definitely an exception. Loved the fruits on the side as well. The Hideout Kitchen will always have a place in our hearts. We will definitely come back. We still need to try this place out for Brunch. We need to try their UBE pancakes! hehehe. And thanks Kevin for being amazing that night!

    3.75 stars. The…read moreHideout Kitchen's front patio on a warm morning, as well as their sophisticated interiors, make this eatery a good choice if atmosphere is as important as the food itself. I noticed a couple Filipino-inspired dishes on the brunch menu -- Pulled Pork Silog, & the one we tried, Ube Hotcakes. Fluffy & coated in a deep purple sauce, but they didn't posses the distinct taste of ube. My Breakfast Burrito was very well put together, & so hearty, I could only get through half. Every bite saw a dip into the tasty hot sauce. And like the five-year old that I am, I loved that tater tots were a side option. I wouldn't make the drive from my neck of the woods specifically for the Hideout Kitchen, but should I find myself in Lafayette again, I wouldn't say no to an invite here.

    Photos
    The Hideout Kitchen - Bar Lounge Seating

    Bar Lounge Seating

    The Hideout Kitchen - Octopus appetizer

    Octopus appetizer

    The Hideout Kitchen - Pulled pork silog

    See all

    Pulled pork silog

    Il Fornaio - italian - Updated September 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...