We went here for Happy Hour on Monday. The food and drinks were excellent! Service was decent the ambiance was relaxed and welcoming. We had the Margherita and spicy honey pizzas as well as the miso fritto and meatballs. Their Italian old fashioned drink was on point! Everything was great! This is one of my favorite happy hour spots now! read more

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I had a preplanned reservation at Il Fornaio for a Monday dinner. Parking was not too bad in the area, especially since meters are free after 6pm. The inside of the restaurant has a nice sized main dining area with a private dining area on the side, just past the restrooms. I was able to get seated right away due to the reservation, but I assumed walk-ins would've been accepted since there were tables available when I arrived. Aside from the bread with dipping oil, the meal started off with calamaretti fritti and bruschetta pomodoro. The calamari batter fell off upon touch as if it was frozen and reheated and tasted like mostly cornstarch with minimal spices; the crunch was there but not attached to the pieces of squid. The bruschetta was put together a little better, though the taste was standard and nothing extraordinary. Next, I had the insalata d'uva which looked like a salad mix straight from the bag at first glance. The taste of the pomegranate dressing was there, though very faint, and the red grapes and pecans were minimal. The gnocchi gratinati was a little better with the Padano-cream sauce. For my main course I had the salmone alla griglia. The fish portion was a nice size with a decent amount of olive oil on top. However, the "seasonal vegetables" were just green beans with little to no taste and the Yukon Gold potatoes lacked flavor as well; I had to try my best to soak up the olive oil with the green beans and potatoes. Lastly, for dessert I had the chocolate torte which was a thick and rich chocolate cake with strawberry sauce drizzled over with nothing remarkable to note. I've been to this Il Fornaio location occasionally over the years, and the quality of the food is the same every time; there is definitely room for improvement. Service was okay at best and the waiter didn't do anything above and beyond basic expectations. There are many other Italian restaurants nearby that I would prefer to dine at over Il Fornaio. read more

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HORRIBLE SERVICE!!! OUR SERVER WAS RUDE, UNPROFESSIONAL, AND AUTOMATICALLY CHOSE A 20% TIP FOR A PARTY OF TWO. I have never had a server at ANY restaurant choose the tip for the customer unless it's a party bigger than 5 or 6. We did a dine in order as well as a Togo order and he AUTOMATICALLY CHOSE A 20% TIP FOR BOTH. This ruined the experience completely and throughout the dinner service he was not friendly and did not check in with us. And he brought out to go order to us without a bag, we ordered a pizza, pasta, and appetizer. And when we asked for a bag he said "for this?" and mugged us. And did not say thank you for dining here instead he mugged us again before we left. RIDICULOUS. We went around 5:30 pm on Oct 9, the server was a taller gentleman with a beard and served the middle section of the restaurant, he did not even introduce himself to the table either. The food was mid af too. The pasta was bland and lacked any real seasoning, salad was not fresh, and bread was hard. Charging $4 for hard and stale bread is insane to me. Overall DEFINITELY will NOT be coming back. If I could give them 0 stars I would. read more

Il Fornaio - Caesar Salad - 1/5 , lettuce was not fresh - Italian Near Me - Burlingame, California

I felt like Il Fornaio was just ok for a group meal - granted our multiple hundred dollar tab was paid for by a vendor. I think I would be more upset if I paid for this myself. The food was just ok. We started with bruschetta and fritto misto. It came with little shrimps, calamari, and some miscellaneous vegetables (artichokes, asparagus?, and a single fried squash blossom). I thought it was pretty oily and not that crispy. The pappardelle alla norcina was inoffensive. It had plenty of mushrooms, but I substituted chicken for shrimp at an extra cost and got a total of 6 tiny shrimps. It normally comes with chicken, but the traditional Umbrian dish is pork sausage so they just wanted a fancy name for especially alfredo sauce with artifical truffle oil. The ambience was pretty lively for a Tuesday night, so I could just barely hear everyone talking. Our server was very attentive throughout the night, but had the general vibe of being irritated we were there. But, the food came relatively fast for a group of 10. read more

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

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Linguine Mare Chiarowas one of the best versions I've ever had. It was a light but flavorful sauce with bits of garlic, a ton of flavor, a hint of lemon for brightness, perfectly done scallops, shrimp, clams, mussels & linguine. We kept saying "Mmmmm...this is so good!!" My friend kept giving me more to eat! The Tagliatelle Bolognese is good, a little acidic so I think some salt would've enhanced it. Didn't want to use the salt container sitting on the wooden table, though. The warm Rustic Bread was crunchy on the outside & soft inside. It paired perfectly with Olive Oil & Balsamic Vinegar as our starter. Our male host was friendly & pleasant. Rey, our waiter was efficient & direct but hard to flag down because he was slammed with so many tables. He wasn't as engaging as Karla our waitress before. It was busy for a Wednesday night with bigger groups. Nice ambiance but a little loud. read more

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Il Fornaio is not a new Italian restaurant to many of you, however the downtown Burlingame location is new to me, and I'm satisfied I finally was able to dine here. Actually, I had dined here several times in 2025. Parking is a mixed bag as there are public lots nearby and also further down the main street or you could get lucky and find street parking across from the restaurant. The location and interior is charming and warm. The space is sizable and can accommodate large parties. The menu is typical Italian fare and my favorite to date is their Linguine Mare Chiaro(seafood) and their Calamari starter is solid. They do have a full bar as well. Service has been solid thus far and I'm looking forward to more visits in 2026. read more

Il Fornaio - PAPPARDELLE ALLA NORCINA CON POLLO - Italian Near Me - Burlingame, California

We've had dinner here a handful of times before and it's never had a lasting impression but they just hit it outta the park and wowed us this time. Honestly nearly each dish - the calamari, the uva salad, the gnocchi gratinati had folks moaning, branzino alla livornese had a surprisingly crispy skin even in the light sauce, and the filetto al vino rosso was perfectly med rare as requested and so tender. Even the simple green beans and potato sides were perfectly cooked. Really great tiramisu. My only "gripes" were: Somehow too many pecans and not enough salad but I also love pecans). I prefer my gnocchi a lil fluffier. Cannoli siciliani shells are a little thick, but freshly filled so not stale/soggy! Room was VERY warm but felt like a hot Italian summer..? Omg the bread was so good, had me taking leftover bread basket home (only leftover bc we had so much other food) and hubby ate most of it immediately, stating "it's not every day you get good bread like this" and his family literally owns a multigenerational Italian bakery. Service was great - Jose and Ray killed it! So friendly and professional. Big props to them for juggling our private event and rolling with all our food and orders, many courses, refilling glasses, bringing boxes (I told you we had a lot of food). read more

Il Fornaio - Branzino - Italian Near Me - Burlingame, California

It was our first time at this restaurant. Everyone was friendly, but the person who served us, Diego, was very quick and efficient at taking our orders and making sure everything was okay. The food was delicious, with a unique mix of flavors. The place is elegant yet family-friendly, perfect for spending time with friends. I highly recommend it and hope to return soon! read more

Il Fornaio - Italian Near Me - Burlingame, California

Ridiculous asked why no Bread was told its on request. Received charged $4 utter craziness. The 3% up charge to cover costs ok fine. The meal was mediocre not again. read more

Il Fornaio - Over priced complimentary bread $4 - Italian Near Me - Burlingame, California

Closer to 3.5 stars. Il Fornaio has been in downtown Burlingame for a long time and there is a reason this place is so popular as it is. First off, parking can be easy or challenging. It really depends on the time and day. The good news is there are lots of parking options within a decent walking distance. The interior is warm and I like the tall ceilings. They can also accommodate large parties. This is a white tablecloth kind of restaurant if you're not familiar with this chain. Service during our most recent experience was as one would expect from such a restaurant. I recently ordered their Linguine Mare Chiaro(clams, mussels, shrimp, scallops, tomato sauce). This dish was fresh and not overly salty. The table bread was also quite nice. Overall, I would be back in the future again. read more

Il Fornaio - Italian Near Me - Burlingame, California

I came for Il Fornaio's M-F happy hour (3pm-6pm) around 3:15pm. The whole restaurant is beautiful, but even more stunning with the intricate Christmas decor. The friendly hostess let us know that HH included open seating in the bar. There were around 4 groups of people or individuals already seated in the bar area, and we were easily able to grab a two top table. They have two TVs which were playing sports. Their HH deals are great for both food & drinks. To sip, I went with their house red ($9) which offered a generous pour. To eat, we shared the Pizza Margherita ($13), the Polpettine ($13), and the Cavolfiori ($11). The pizza was large and the crust looked incredible. Heads up - I didn't see a gluten free option for pizza crust but did see they offered a gf pasta option on the menu. The Polpettine came with three beef meatballs sitting in a delectable & savory red sauce. My husband ate these meatballs up. I saved some of the marinara for the roasted cauliflower. The sprig of rosemary on the cauliflower added an aromatic touch to the dish. All in all, the ambiance, food, and drinks at Il Fornaio are not to be missed! read more

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Nice fancy ambiance and classy feels! I came here first on December 2024 and December 2025. Both for my work holiday dinner. So our party was around 20 to 30 people! The server were excellent in making sure we had enough drinks and served our food promptly. I ordered the Rigatoni with mushroom truffle sauce and tiramisu for dessert. My colleagues ordered the fillet salmon, chicken piccata and steak with wine red sauce. They had Variety of drinks and mocktails. I love the rigatoni with the truffle mushroom sauce, right amount of texture and taste of the truffle. Glad they also put fresh cheese on the spot to your liking. I'm sure we'll be back again for another work holiday dinner. Thank you for the awesome classy dinner experience! read more

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Came here for a work event and thankfully they changed some of the menu. Il Fornaio never fails to deliver really good food. Service staff was great. Although we had to flag a few of them to refill our waters, they were quick at serving us our food and drinks. They're known to host big parties and are an expert at it. Place could probably use a little upgrading but oh well. The food makes up for it. Not shown here is the il fornaio spritz! So good :) 4 stars because one of my coworkers ordered the marguerite pizza and it was just meh. read more

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Been here a few times. Food is overall okay. Service is okay. A bit old school here. Restaurant is big. Drinks are nice too. Tried their fish last time it was really nice. Very flavorful. This seems to be a popular place. But nothing too personal to me so I find it hard to come back. But once I am in, I enjoy my food most of the time. Might be back later. read more

Il Fornaio - Italian Near Me - Burlingame, California

We were in the mood for Italian and had heard good things about Il Fornaio. The menu certainly looked good, but sadly, the actual taste just didn't match up. My friend's beet salad was basically a pile of arugula with a small addition of tiny beets. My fusilli pesto with chicken was similar - loads of pasta with a handful of sun-dried tomatoes and some cubes of dry chicken. The servers were all fantastic and friendly, the atmosphere is quite beautiful, but the food itself leaves much to be desired. read more

Met up with friends from SoCal for dinner at Il Fornaio on a beautiful Friday night. Solid four-star Italian. The food at Il Fornaio is the main draw -- fresh ingredients, well-seasoned dishes, and portions that leave you satisfied without feeling stuffed. The bread alone is worth the trip. Our server was excellent -- warm, attentive, and made the whole experience feel effortless. Not quite five stars, but the kitchen and the staff clearly know what they're doing. A reliable spot for a quality Italian meal. Will definitely return! read more

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My mom, brother, and I came here last week for dinner since the Palo Alto location recently closed! It was super busy and the restaurant was super cozy on a cold day. Our waiter was friendly, but there were a few minor issues. I ordered the vodka rigatoni, my brother had branzino, and my mom had steak. We also ordered the bread and burrata/proscuitto appetizer. We had ordered the lobster bisque to share, but it never came. We also all ordered our own desserts (tiramisu, chocolate lava cake, affogato) and my mom got a coffee, and he brought her a decaf instead of regular. The food was pretty good but nothing to write home about. I'm sure we'll be back sometime since it's a good place to meet people, but I wouldn't say it's one of my favorite restaurants in the area. read more

The ambiance of Il Fornaio is nice, but I feel there are better Italian restaurants close by. I visited on a Sunday night with my husband, and we had the rigatoni alla vodka and the tagliatelle bolognese. Both were nice dishes - we could tell the pasta was homemade and was not overcooked. The complimentary bread was crusty and fresh, and came with olive oil and balsamic. However the menu felt limited (would have loved some more pasta options). Service were great though - very attentive and friendly. Overall, I wouldn't protest to returning, but I probably won't be craving their dishes. read more

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Loveeeee their happy hour and staff. Shout-out to the staff at the bar. They make excellent drinks and have the best welcoming personalities! Super friendly (shout out to Alex and the team). Happy hour is from 4 to 6pm. Drinks are $9 and they have excellent appetizers. I love the arancini and the pizza. The calamari is also very good! Recently got the lasagna and it was really rich. It was a hefty slice! The pappardelle pasta is good but the chicken could use a bit of flavor. I've been here before a long time ago for brunch when they had the crab cake Benedict. I enjoy their bread and they have tasty salads too. This is a great place for a business meeting. Overall, it's a nice atmosphere and I highly recommend coming for happy hour. read more

Il Fornaio - Lasagna - Italian Near Me - Burlingame, California

The food was delicious. It could have used a little more seasoning but overall the taste was great. Our service was amazing and they went above and beyond to make sure you are taken care of. The restaurant has a lovely interior that is adorable. read more

Il Fornaio - Gnocchi Gratinati - Italian Near Me - Burlingame, California

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Lovely vibes at the Burlingame Il Fornaio! We celebrated my sister's birthday here and really enjoyed our meal. Portions were generous, our server was attentive and friendly and the rigatoni alla vodka was the standout dish read more

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I am a frequent patron of this place for their happy hour menu. I've tried a variety of their drinks and food items. Both the taste and the price are solid. The standout dishes are the arancini, the calamari, the meatballs and the pizzas. The bartenders are super friendly and it's always a good time sitting at the bar watching them make drinks. We love spending our Friday afternoons here to unwind after work. I tried the Pappardelle Alla Norcina from their regular menu this week. Sadly this was quite a bit of a letdown. The chicken breast meat was dry and lacked flavor. The sauce was heavy and I couldn't taste any truffle. The pasta was overly ardente that borderlines undercooked. read more

Il Fornaio - Pappardelle Alla Norcina - Italian Near Me - Burlingame, California

One of my favorite places to eat in Burlingame! Food is always prepared perfectly. Menu selection is great, and made with quality ingredients. Staff are always friendly and attentive. I suggest making a reservation, as it gets quite busy most nights. Parking can be hit or miss. there is a large lot just past the restaurant, as well as street parking. But it can fill up fast on a busy night. read more

Bland food calamari/shrimp poor quality steak/mash $55 over priced I can get better elsewhere seafood platter bland service was ok not returning since prices not worth the food they've served... read more

Came with a friend on Friday night at around 6 pm and was able to snag a table for 2 pretty quickly. The interior is very spacious, wooden and cozy. The staff were very friendly and our food came out very quickly after we ordered. Sourdough bread - My friend loves their bread and I definitely understand her hype about it now. The bread itself is warm with a crunchy exterior but a soft interior. It wasn't tough to eat and it went so well with the olive oil balsamic vinegar but did cost 1-2 dollars for a plate. Cristina - The toppings were all very fresh, especially the prosciutto and the cheesy mushroom top shone through. The pizza itself was thin and could have been a little more charred to make it crispier but it wasn't soggy and held all the toppings well. Casarecce Al Pesto E Pollo - A highlight of the dinner. The dish came out piping hot, had a rich nutty and herby flavor from the pesto and the best with parmesan on top. From the nice service to the solid dishes, a great dinner spot to go to in the Burlingame area. read more

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The food here was delicious! I also ordered their seasonal pumpkin martini which was very tasty. A standout was their seasonal bread pudding with Nutella. The place was very lively for a Wednesday evening and great place for date night which you can dress up or dress down for. A great place to try if you're craving Italian. read more

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Food: Really Good Seafood Pasta fillet mignon prawns salad Pizza were very good. Service: "Shout Out" to Ms. Jennifer , she was very friendly and did an excellent service. Very funny as well. Keep it up. Ambiance: Very nice and clean. The Chef gave us a complimentary appetizer . Thank you guys that is why we always comes back here and it is one of our favorite restaurants in Burlingame. Shierly&Prinses read more

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We are locals and frequent at this restaurant. However the past two times we've gone (a family gathering & an anniversay) we received some of the worst service we've had, both from the same waiter. Many of us were literally belittled, even when simply asking to change the noodle type or not knowing the specific name. He had zero manners, was never polite, didn't even mention Happy Anniversary when it was clearly written on our table and ignored our thank you's. We kept coming back because the food is amazing and all the other workers & servers have always been pleasant, but unfortunately now our 3 diff families won't be returning any longer. read more

We came for a big team lunch around 12 and there was plenty of seating. Parking can get pretty hard since it's downtown burlingame but you'll eventually find a spot. We got free bread when we sat down and it was good and soft. Calamari: 3/5 Was hoping for the calamari to be a bit crispier. By the time we got it, the breading was already getting a bit soggy. Ravioli: 4/5 Good portion size. Cream sauce was nice but definitely needed some more salt, the actual ravioli was kind of bland. Overall the food was fine but was nothing special, i've had better italian food around the bay. read more

Il Fornaio - bread - Italian Near Me - Burlingame, California

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Been here many times over the years for lunch and dinner, staff are kind, food is ok. The main reason my family and I like to come here is for the ambience. They have beautiful decor during the holidays and throughout the year the vibe inside is very warm, lively and suitable for the more casual special occasion meals. Food wise, butternut squash ravioli is my favorite, but everything else , (pizzas, calamari, lasagna, most other pastas) taste very commercial, and gives similar vibes to the cheesecake factory. Prices are also similar to cheesecake factory, where it is a bit pricey for the portion and quality you get. So overall if you're prioritizing ambience this is your spot, but if you're looking for more authentic Italian food, might need to keep looking. read more

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We've been here a few times. First, was a Christmas Parties and dinner for two. Il Fornaio in Burlingame delivers a dining experience that's hard to forget--thanks to its beautifully curated ambiance and exceptional cuisine. From the moment you step inside, the warm, rustic decor sets the tone for an evening that feels both elegant and inviting. We started with the calamari, which arrived perfectly crisp and tender, a true testament to the kitchen's finesse. The Linguine Mare Chiaro was the star of the night--al dente pasta swirled with a generous medley of seafood in a sauce that struck the perfect balance between richness and freshness. It was cooked to perfection and plated with care. To round out the meal, a Grey Goose martini--smooth, chilled, and just the right pour--added a touch of sophistication. While the food and setting were outstanding, the service unfortunately didn't match the same standard. Our waiter's inattentiveness detracted from what could have been a flawless evening. That said, the culinary team deserves full credit for crafting a meal that left a lasting impression. If you're seeking a spot where the flavors speak louder than the flaws, Il Fornaio is well worth a visit. Just cross your fingers for a more attentive server next time. read more

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Had dinner delivered and it was really delicious. We had soup, pork belly, a pistachio pesto pasta and lasagna. All good. The pork belly was particularly tasty. The lasagna was rich and comforting. The pasta was flavorful and interesting. Worth the price compared to other Italian options in the area. We will do this again. read more

Stopped in to have a quick personal celebration. We got the house special lentil soup to start. The soup was a bit bland and we added some salt and red pepper flakes. Then the rigatoni alla vodka and the margherita pizza! All very good. Beautifully decorated restaurant and staff were great. read more

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Let's start with parking .... Plenty of it!! Street and lots thankfully this area is busy in the evening. Location is beautiful every elegant and open We came for the Happy Hour which was from 3-6pm Monday through Friday Great deals for delicious Italian cuisine Associate Eddie at the bar was very welcoming we sat at a table but he was very kind and helped us order wine and food. Aurora was wonderful as well very made our date night a very pleasant experience! We order an calamaretti fritti and the pizza fradiavola both great choices delicious and filling!! Over all 5 stars we will be back but next time with friends read more

Il Fornaio - Finally I get to try - Italian Near Me - Burlingame, California

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Pretty much spot on with what others have said -- Il Fornaio nails the ambiance and the food, but service can be hit or miss. I, too, have had the issues of inattentive servers or long waits until first greeted, which isn't a one-off issue from what I've heard. Once things got moving, though, the meal was solid. The pastas are flavorful, if occasionally a bit oily, and the sourdough bread is everything you want it to be -- warm, crusty, and perfect with olive oil and wine. Speaking of wine, their list is consistently good and well-priced. Being allergic to seafood limits my choices a bit since much of the menu leans that direction, but what I can have is always enjoyable. If the service ever matches the quality of the food, this place would be an easy five-star. read more

Amazing service, hospitality, food and ambiance! I eat here practically every day. 5 stars. Will return. read more

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It's been over eight years since I've eaten at this location. To my knowledge, it was pretty much the same. The service was very good and the server was extremely attentive. The location is in the heart of Burlingame. It's nestled around a pleather of restaurants of all different types of food. How do they stay in business? It must be loyal customers and consistent good food. The menu didn't change since I visited here eight years ago. The dining area was spacious and roomy. Like most fine dining resturants, bread and vinegar/olive oil was offered to wet your pallette. We ordered a rigatoni dish along with a bolognese with pasta. For appetizer, we ordered the burrata with prosciutto. Overall the food was good. No complaints. For dessert, we ordered a pastry with cream filling and strawberry puree. read more

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I'm shocked I never posted the review for this. II Fornaio is absolutely amazing and the level of service is too notch.

Food looked so unpleasant was so sour and tart and my friends had no sauce! Continued our dinner when I know I should've sent it back. Went home and ended up with severe stomach cramps and stayed up all night sick to my stomach with food poisoning it's 6am almost and I still haven't slept! Horrific wouldn't wish this restaurant on my worst enemy! We ordered two pastas Dirty silverware and pasta wasn't fresh when biting into it I got a stale piece im sure they reheat it all day long read more

I passed by this restaurant from the scenery outside I fell in love with this restaurant just absolutely gorgeous it cut my eyes how elegant it looks from the outside and the inside not only that one day I would love to go over there and I recommend this place because it's a touch of class people would enjoy their food when you could fix your plate like it's gourmet and beautiful it talks value it represents itself I highly recommend this place and I'm sure there hospitality's top 10 too so this is in Burlingame California whenever I could afford it I'm going to go I'm not going to deprive myself from going into this restaurant looks so beautiful and I'm sure the food is good take a look at my photos doesn't that look good they took pride and rearranging their food and dish read more

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