I took the ferry out here for a lunch and Il Fornaio was just what I was hoping it would be. I had the Italian Chop and an Aperol spritz and both were very nicely presented and tasty. Great views and friendly staff!! read more

Il Fornaio - Italian Chopped Salad - Italian Near Me - Coronado, California

Food was good, they advertise that it is fresh pasta but didnt taste, look, or feel like homemade pasta like we were told. It was still good but definitely was not homemade. One of us ordered the new york strip, we asked for it medium and it came more medium well. Now for the reason why the review is low, we had a group of 11 people. Our servers name was named Ricardo. He was not accommodating or welcoming. He never asked us for our drink orders and seemed pretty annoyed when we asked for drinks other than water as well as refills. He never checked in to our table. We could barely hear a single word he said. Once we got our appetizers we never saw him until he brought the check after we ate our entrees. He never asked if everything was tasting okay nor asked if we wanted dessert. As someone who worked in the service industry, I try to be as understanding as possible but this was just a disappointing experience all around. We sadly will not be back. read more

I made a reservation about a week in advance, and upon arrival, we were seated in less than five minutes. Our table had an incredible ocean view, making the dining experience even more enjoyable. The food was fresh, delicious, and generously portioned. The staff were exceptionally friendly and welcoming, from the host who greeted us upon arrival to our waitress, Maria. Everyone contributed to making our experience memorable. The restaurant's architecture is also stunning and adds to its unique charm. Overall, it was an outstanding dining experience, and I highly recommend this restaurant to anyone looking for great food, excellent service, and beautiful ocean views. read more

We came in to celebrate a birthday and unfortunately, our experience was made extremely uncomfortable because of our server, Alfredo From the moment we sat down, we felt rushed. His attitude throughout the meal was unpleasant, and it made it difficult for us to relax and actually enjoy what was supposed to be a nice birthday celebration. The experience became even more uncomfortable when we were paying the bill and gathering our to-go items. We were planning to leave a cash tip, so there was obviously no tip listed on the card receipt. Before we even had the opportunity to give him the tip, Alberto called out to us from across the bar and said, "So you know the tip isn't included on the receipt, right?" We were fully aware of how the bill worked and had every intention of tipping. Being called out and essentially reminded/demanded to tip before we had even left was extremely uncomfortable and completely unnecessary. Servers have a difficult job, and we understand that, but basic professionalism and making guests feel welcome should still be expected. Unfortunately, Alfredos attitude and the way he handled the end of our meal took away from what should have been a special birthday experience. We left feeling uncomfortable rather than celebrated, and I hope management addresses this kind of behavior moving forward. read more

Il Fornaio - Italian Near Me - Coronado, California

A pretty fancy restaurant on coronado with great friendly service. Beautiful views of the bay. Very delicious food. Love that they make their own fresh pasta. You can certainly tell. Meats were cooked perfectly and drinks were great too. Just wish they had a little heavier pour. Seemed a little light handed even with ice. But from appetizers to desserts, the food was scrumptious. Very nice but casual ambiance inside as well as the outside seating. Will certainly be back for a fancier type meal. read more

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Friday lunch was beautiful with a scenic view and delicious food. Our server was nice and helpful. There were three of us and we started with Calamaretti Fritti. Pretty tasty with one cup Minestrone and two bowls of Lobster Bisque. I had the Insalata Bietole which was plentiful and delicious. We also had an order of Insalata Cesarina with added Shrimp and Linguine Con Fiori Di Zucchine. We topped it off with Spumone Gelato and two birthday parfaits and three coffees. They also charge for a basket of bread and 3% Surcharge. Total bill with tax and gratuity was $216. I paid their suggested 18% gratuity based on the total bill including tax and surcharge. Their calculations should be based on pre-tax subtotal. Pretty pricey for a fairly simple lunch. But I guess you're paying for the view and no complaints on the soups, salads, pasta with dessert and coffee. read more

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I'm not sure how I've never heard of this place before! We came for the first time last month and have already been back. Our first visit was for dinner on the patio, where we enjoyed a great view, good food, and a relaxing atmosphere. The second time, we stopped in for early drinks and appetizers and grabbed seats at the bar. The cocktails good, and the truffle gnocchi with bread was absolutely delicious. The gnocchi was rich, flavorful, and the perfect small plate to share while enjoying a date night. Im sure we will be back again! read more

Il Fornaio - Bar View - Italian Near Me - Coronado, California

Had a great meal here well on vacation! The service was very nice and they were by the table often to ensure we were taken care of. I really enjoyed my fish special! I also had a very good old-fashioned. read more

Il Fornaio - Italian Near Me - Coronado, California

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This is a romantic place for a date night. I had a great time service was great, food was amazing, and the ambience fit the price on the meals. My only complaint would be if they had anything other than wine or beer to drink I wouldn't had known because I was not shown the drink menu. Overall would return, favorite part was there was plenty of parking and that can be a challenge in Coronado. read more

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Il Fornaio has a beautiful interior made better by the fantastic views of downtown San Diego. It is unfortunate that the food is a bit lacking in flavor. The pasta I ordered just tasted like noodles with oil. The artichoke appetizer was a dish I would especially not recommend as it was just essentially dry leaves with no flavor. One plus side is that Il Fornaio offers a lot of great specials every day of the week. Our server was also really great and brought us over a small ice cream since we were celebrating a graduation. I would be willing to try Il Formaio again but I would have to find a dish more to my liking. read more

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The food was ok, it wasn't anything to rave about. But the view is fantastic! Service was good and so were the drinks

We stopped in during happy hour and had the hot honey pizza, meatballs, and bruschetta... all tasty! I especially loved the margarita, my husband enjoyed his Old Fashioned, and the espresso martini was STRONG and made with real espresso. The restaurant was clean, the staff was wonderful and attentive, and the location was beautiful. Great spot for happy hour with a nice atmosphere. read more

Great service and beautiful view! We got oil and balsamic vinegar with bread to start which was delicious. We ordered pasta and pizza for our main dishes. The rest of the menu looks so good as well. Definitely want to come back for more! read more

Il Fornaio - Rigatoni alla Vodka and Pizza (I forgot the name) - Italian Near Me - Coronado, California

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I made a reservation to celebrate three birthdays in our family! I called personally over a month ago because we were visiting coronado and i wanted to have special dinner together. i requested outdoor seating so we would have a nice view. when we arrived they wanted to seat us at the side patio which was dirty and no view! we finally were seated at the front patio where we sat literally at the side of the restaurant by ourselves. food was marginal at best, our waiter marginal at best...had to get up and get some things for myself because our waiter was not present. then we got hit with an $18 service fee to cover the benefits of the employees. totally disappointed as we were celebrating birthdays. personally would never go back for marginal food and service. read more

I love Italian. We came here for my son. He wanted calamari. He gave it a 9 out of 10. I got the gnocchi with wild boar. Paired with an expresso martini. Would highly recommend a seating in between the view & kitchen. As busy as the place is. The whole staff was great with seating & smiles. As a chef myself it was so great to come see the utmost in everything. read more

Il Fornaio - Expresso Martini - Italian Near Me - Coronado, California

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First time. Thursday night, graduations. Sat at the bar, kind of a shitshow.Crappy service, salty ass artichokes, staff didn't know the menu, had to ask management. Never checked on us after appetizers, 20 minutes after ordering main course manager had questions about order. Bread came without butter like requested. Artichokes were salty. Cesar salad was great. Burata salad delicious. Vodka pasta delicious. Salmon delicious. Solid meal, crap service from friendly staff. Do better! read more

Il Fornaio - Check - Italian Near Me - Coronado, California

The place is open with lots of light. Quite nice. We ordered the salmon, beet salad, and meatballs. All were...nice. Salmon was cooked moist (medium), just as we ordered. The spinach was just spinach. Not great, just ordinary good. The potatoes were just large pieces, soft, not really seasoned or roasted. The potatoes need a lot more work. The meatballs were good, nice sauce. But nothing beyond. The salad was good. Again, nothing to elevate it to five stars. They brought a lovely strawberry parfait gratis for my partner's birthday. read more

Had a great family lunch at Il Fornaio in San Diego! We got there early, so the place was still quiet which was an awesome treat. It actually worked out perfectly because I was able to snap some photos and grab behind-the-scenes video for my Forks UP! series. Loved catching the bar team warming up for the day and the chef getting ready for what turned out to be a great dining experience. The restaurant itself is beautiful, elegant with a classic Italian feel that's inviting without being stuffy. Between the big bar and the spacious patio, there's a spot for everyone, whether you're here for a casual lunch, happy hour, or a fancy dinner dated. Now get ready, we ordered a ton (no regrets): Bruschetta: Light, fresh, and full of flavor. Gnocchi Gratinati: Perfectly fluffy and rich -- easily my favorite. Gnocchi al Sugo di Cinghiale: Absolutely delicious -- comforting and hearty. Linguine Mare Chiaro: A seafood lover's dream. Rigatoni alla Vodka: Kid-approved and adult-enjoyed. Pizzas (Fradiavola, Cristina, Margherita): All very good; thin crust, nicely balanced -- just a bit similar to each other. Service was solid, attentive, organized, and everything came out right. While it wasn't the kind of service that makes you feel like family, it was smooth and professional, which made for a relaxing time with our big group. Overall, Il Fornaio is definitely worth checking out if you're in the San Diego area. Great food, pretty setting, and a nice mix of upscale and comfortable. Can't wait to share our full video review soon on our socials at @colefamilyvalues --- stay tuned for that one! read more

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Been to this restaurant multiple times and it never disappoints. I have always go during lunch time and when the weather is great I would get seated outside with the nice view. Great service and great food! Rigatoni alla vodka and calamaretti are the top favs. read more

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We reserved on Open Table here to bring our friend who was visiting town. Our party of 3 was excited to try this place out. Il Fornaio is on the water in Coronado, right next to Peohe's. We arrived 5min before our 7p reservation time and the hostesses were able to locate our reservation and seat us immediately. We were seated at a wonderful window view dining seat inside. There were air conditioning vents on the window panes that made it chilly for those of us who sat next to the window. The view was great, we had daylight and nightlight dining at this reservation time...bonus! Our server was customer service oriented and he was very attentive. He checked in with us often. We ordered: Bruschetta Asortito for the table, a Papardelle and Chicken dish with creamy sauce, a Pesto Gnocchi dish no meat, a steak entree with gravy, one 0% beer, 1 Old Fashioned, and 1 Tequila drink. Dessert was the "Vulcano" Cake which I thought was spelled wrong, but maybe that is how they spell it in Italian? My Gnocchi Pesto entree was not good at all. There was no pesto flavor. It was brown colored, gravy consistency sauce with flecks of green herbs in it...NOT pesto. The "Bruschetta Asortito" for the table had the correct pesto on one of the breads, but my entree's execution failed. I am a BIG traditional PESTO FAN. The gnocchi also was too soggy. The Old Fashioned drink was made perfectly. Dessert Vulcano Cake was good. The whole party had a lot of gas in the evening, upset stomach at 2am, as well as the day after this meal. For our dining table choice, customer service experience, the drinks, and dessert, I gave 2 stars overall for our dining experience. The food execution, gassy tummies, and upset stomachs after eating here took away 3 stars read more

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I'm usually not a fan of places when it seems like a usual tourist trap. I was pleasantly surprised by this place. For starters they were really accommodating with my elderly doggo on their patio and even made of water for him. Our server Hector was simply outstanding and attentive . Had a sampling of the menu and everything was spot on. The penne alla vodka was perfectly al dente and the vodka sauce was nicely balanced with hint of a char from the bacon. The seafood di marre pasta was spectacular with plump and generous seafood and with a savory marina sauce. All the round a fantastic stop here and would definitely recommend given its amazing views as well read more

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First time trying Fornaio, and it was a great experience. The views of the bay were spectacular and the food was delicious. read more

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As a family, we come here a lot. It's a great place for large parties, easy to get reservations and be the water! Service is always good and the food is consistent. I usually go for the vodka pasta. I enjoy the cauliflower app and the lava cake. Thank you Il Fornaio for all the great memories! read more

My friend and I went here to celebrate our 9 year friendship anniversary and they did not miss!! Our server was so fun and sweet. Really made our experience excellent. There was also a manager that saw me struggling with the salt grinder and he was attentive and so helpful! We ordered two drinks: Espresso martini - my friend loved it! Tiki drink- fruity and fresh deliciousness! I loved it! For appetizer we ordered the grilled octopus. It was tasty and fresh. I think they used a pesto type sauce and it was soooo goooood!! I ordered the pear salad with shrimp. The shrimp was AMAZING. The salad delicious. I don't really like Gorgonzola so I took that off . The salad was amazing. Fresh light and tasty amazing combination of flavors between the grapes and pears and pecans! She ordered the pasta and LOVED it. Then they surprised us with a friendship anniversary dessert and it was delightful and simple. The ocean view off the back deck was such a nice touch it was so beautiful and the weather was perfect to sit outside and enjoy our lunch. I'd def go again! read more

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Best Italian restaurant with waterfront views on Coronado Island! We came here for a romantic dinner and this restaurant has a wide menu variety with affordable pricing and great service. Easy to come here on a date or family dinner. Highly recommend for those traveling to Coronado island! read more

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Located in Coronado, right along the water. Good views of the bay. Came here on a Tuesday night. Free parking. Plenty of seating. Place looked nice in the inside. Service was good and very nice. Food came out promptly. Got the Calamaretti Fritti, hamachi crudo, Lasagna Ferrarese, and the Tagliatelle Bolognese. The calamari was not bad. Was not chewy. I never had crudo in big chunks. Not bad. The sauce was very overpowering. Taking away from the yellowtail. The lasagna was very good. Have not had lasagna this good in a very long time. The sauce was thick. You can cut through it without everything falling apart. The cheese did not slide off. The tagliatelle was also very good. Because of those entries. We are definitely coming back to try other items from the menu. read more

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An idyllic location to enjoy excellent Italian food in Coronado! My cousins and I had dinner here before watching the Parade of Lights. The restaurant is an excellent viewing location, by the way! The food is so good. I had the tagliatelle bolognese and it was to die for! Our server was very sweet, but could have checked in on us a bit more. I've also dined on the patio in the warmer months, and it has fabulous views of the San Diego skyline. I'd like to come back and visit again in the warmer months. There is parking in front of the restaurant, but it tends to fill up quickly. I'd recommend leaving a little extra time for parking. Thank you! read more

UPDATE. I've visited this place a few times now, and I must say, the food and view have never disappointed me. Our server and team was attentive. There were 5 of us in the group. The only thing was the Negroni that I ordered. It was not balanced compared to others that I had. The cocktail came across as harsh and lingering, with a bitter aftertaste that wasn't pleasant for my palate. Overall, the Negroni felt more intense than enjoyable. read more

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Came tonight for my anniversary with my boyfriend. We Had a reservation that we waited only a couple extra minutes for, staff was very polite and apologetic even though we weren't in a rush. We had espresso martinis and they were so freaking good and I got buzzed off only one and I can drink. My boyfriend absolutely loved his salmon, and I loved my pasta. We had two (ish) servers cause one was training, both were very sweet, and one more funny. They brought us a complimentary desert for our anniversary. I had a great time. And we are both servers ourselves, so THANK YOU FOR GOOD SERVICE read more

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My wife and I were visiting Coronado recently for my wife's work conference. I went out to dinner one evening with her colleagues and her to Il Fornaio, a wonderful Italian restaurant on Coronado that has other locations around California and Las Vegas. They are known for using fresh ingredients and traditional cooking techniques. We sat outside where we had a beautiful view of the bay. The service was rather quick, and we ordered drinks and meals. I gave the Tuscan Lemonade a try, which included Conciere vodka, blackberry purée, lemon, and soda. It was tasty and refreshing though it was a bit bubbly as it had soda in it. My wife and I then shared a Margherita pizza, which was thin-crust using housemade dough and included mozzarella, tomato sauce, oregano, and fresh basil. Everyone enjoyed their meals and found them to be quite filling. There are locations all across California, though the one in Coronado is certainly one of a kind. This particular location is next to the Coronado Ferry Plaza with breathtaking views. It is open Sunday through Thursday from 11:30 AM to 9 PM and Friday through Saturday from 11:30 AM to 10 PM. They have indoor and outdoor dining options available. Happy Hour is weekdays from 3-6 PM and includes food and drink specials. Also, in July if you bring in your favorite bottle of wine, there is no corkage fee. Nice! If you go to the Il Fornaio website (https://www.ilfornaio.com), you can make reservations, check out the menus, learn about catering and private dining options, order online, and learn about gift cards. You can join the Il Fornaio Insider program (rewards program) by going to https://www.ilfornaio.com/rewards. You will then be the first to know about specialty menus, promotions, and events as well as can earn rewards for free items and surprise offers including free tiramisu for your birthday. There are many great restaurants on Coronado, but definitely consider this one to be one of them, especially near the Coronado Ferry Plaza. read more

Il Fornaio - Margherita Pizza - Italian Near Me - Coronado, California

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My family and I came here before the SD Bay Parade of Lights. Reservations were limited well in advance. Parking was limited due to the event. When we came, we were seated right away. Service was slow to start. We started with Burrata con Prosciutto. I got rigatoni alla vodka, my cousin got tagliatelle bolognese & my brother got margherita pizza. Everything was good but overpriced. Idk if I'd come back. read more

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It might've been the day we were there, but the experience didn't live up to expectations for such a popular restaurant. You need reservations, but there either isn't enough staff or they just don't make rounds enough. Everything took ages to come out, but worse, it took ages to even get water refilled, let alone drink refills. Our chilled wine was just set on the table, no bucket, despite it being 86°. Yes, the food is good, around 4 stars, and the view and dining setup is gorgeous, but the experience was such a let down. I'd absolutely eat there again for the food and view, but I expect a lot more from a restaurant in terms of service, regardless of if it's busy. read more

Il Fornaio - Italian Near Me - Coronado, California

I would give this place a 3.9! The beauty and ambiance is impeccable however the food lacked for the price. My dish didn't have much flavor and needed more salt. But the service was quick! The wine choices were good. And if you only care about the aesthetic it's a cute place for dinner. read more

Il Fornaio - Mushroom Chicken Pasta - Italian Near Me - Coronado, California

This Italian spot pairs incredible food with an even better view of the San Diego downtown skyline. We started with the bruschetta, which was fresh, bright, and loaded with flavor. The gnocchi was the standout--pillowy soft and perfectly coated in a rich, comforting sauce. The margherita pizza was simple, classic, and done right with a crisp crust and fresh mozzarella. Between the skyline backdrop and the quality of the dishes, this place is an easy favorite for a relaxed, delicious night out. Service was hands down great throughout the dinner service. read more

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Parking is free for the first two hours. Plenty of disabled spots and the restaurant has accessible ramps with a wide width and gentle slope. We had Chef's Special Steak with 3 sauces Chef's Special Fish Vodka rigatoni Branzino Calamari Chocolate Lava Cake We made a reservation through Yelp. We were seated with a great view for a birthday celebration. Everything was delicious and served hot table side. The fish and meat were tender and cooked just right. The calamari and fish were really fresh. They know how to handle seafood here. Any special requests for extra sauces we're accommodated. What a great dining experience. Shout out to Jen who was assigned to our table. She was awesome. read more

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The food and drinks were fantastic and Andre's provided fabulous service, gave great recommendations and was very efficient! He is a fantastic server and they are lucky to have him! read more

IL FORNAIO @ Coronado This place was a pretty standard italian restaurant off of Coronado Island. I was excited to come to this place for the view point being right by the water. I had a party of 10 reserved and was seated pretty quickly. The service was great, our server was kind and was always asking us if we needed more time and if there were any questions. I decided to get a margherita pizza since I had pasta the other day. It was $20 (before tax and tip) and it was as decent as a frozen pizza. Flavor was bland, I wish there was more basil added. My friend got the pasta, and it was overly salty, but still had a lot more flavor than the pizza I got. Calamari was okay to share, it was pretty pricey for small portion to share, however was flavorful, more on the oily side. We were also placed away from the water which was a bummer, but overall i wish the ambiance was more darker and less bright especially for a new restaurant. Overall, I enjoyed the service, but I don't think it's authentic. read more

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We had dinner here tonight while visiting Coronado. The restaurant has the best view of the bay. When we were first seated, there were at least 10-15 ants crawling around our table. We let our server know and asked for a new table. She was quick to find us another table, which we appreciated. After being reseated, we realized we didn't have menus and asked for them. Surprisingly, the menus we were given were picked up from the original table that had the ants, which was a bit concerning. Once we were settled, our experience improved. The waiter in the section where we were reseated was very kind and attentive throughout the meal. A manager named Jorge also stopped by our table to personally apologize for the issue with the ants, which was appreciated. We liked the food overall. But I am deducting at least one star for the ants. read more

10/10 Our server was truly so sweet and definitely made our night even better!! First time here and will definitely be coming back again read more

Il Fornaio - Grilled Branzino in Crosta* I asked for grilled (no breading) - Italian Near Me - Coronado, California

My friends and I, a group of 10, were in the mood to try a new Italian spot, and we landed on this place based on a recommendation from a friend who lives in Coronado. From the start, I was impressed. Making a reservation was extremely easy, and we were seated promptly upon arrival. Our server was attentive and efficient. Our drinks were brought out quickly and our meals followed shortly after. I ordered the Rigatoni alla Vodka, and it did not disappoint. The portion was generous, and the flavor was rich and creamy. Parking was surprisingly easy and the view of downtown from both the windows and the patio added a really nice touch to the atmosphere. Overall, the food and service were excellent. If I had to offer one small critique, it would be the interior ambiance. I was expecting a more romantic, dimly lit setting based on the online photos, but the lighting was a bit brighter than anticipated. That said, it didn't take away from the great experience we had. Highly recommend this place for a casual dinner with friends! read more

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