1. Ample covered parking. 2. Great location in Del Mar. 3. Spacious restaurant with both indoor and outdoor seating. 4. Solid food and quick service. 5. Prices are fair for Del Mar, especially considering the quality of the food and the restaurant's prime location. 6. SERVICE: Our server, Emigerta, was wonderful. A couple with a young child was seated next to our table. Both adults were rude from the get go, seemed upset before they even arrived at the restaurant, and were very demanding. Their child was also extremely active. Despite the challenging situation, Emigerta never lost her composure. On the contrary, she remained calm, patient, professional, and attentive throughout. I left the restaurant genuinely admiring her poise and outstanding customer service. When you visit, ask for Emigerta--you won't be disappointed. read more

Came here on a Friday with a couple of girlfriends for happy hour and sat on the patio which has a view of the ocean. They have great happy hour specials but the service was a little slow even though it wasn't that crowded when we got there.... The drinks were good, the pizza delicious and what a view. All of that definitely is deserving of 5 stars , but it's hard to overlook the slow service. It took well over 20 minutes just to get the server to close out our tab with me eventually having to go inside to look for her. read more

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Il Fornaio is currently offering a pasta trio as a Tuesday special. My husband and I tried it at lunchtime yesterday. What a lovely experience! We were seated immediately on arrival, and were seated at a prime table on their glass-enclosed terrace which offers a limited but nice view of the water and surf at Del Mar. Service was prompt, attentive, and knowledgeable. And the pastas-- wonderful! Cooked to perfection (al dente), and cloaked in three masterfully done sauces. The trio comprised rigatoni in vodka sauce with bacon, corkscrews with pesto and shrimp, and tagliatelle Bolognese. Delicious! Great job, Il Fornaio! read more

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I tried this place for the first time on 4/12/26. Food was good but not spectacular, in my opinion. The view and ambience on the covered patio, on the other hand, were beautiful. You get a great view of the ocean, which was breathtaking. The restaurant is within walking distance of the ocean, which is an added plus if you come here for a date. Service was good too. My partner and I ordered the AGNELLO AL LIMONE, LINGUINE CON FIORI DI ZUCCHINE, and CESTINO DEL PANE. We liked the Agnello al limone. The lamb shank was soft and flavorful. The linguine was okay. Portion sizes were kind of small for the price, especially with the additional surcharge of 3% that is separate from gratuity. I was not a fan of the cestino del pane either. The olive oil and balsamic vinaigrette were fresh and very good, but the bread itself was hard and did not stand out in flavor. read more

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This Italian restaurant is a classic at the Del Mar plaza and I always like the service so attentive and friendly. Dishes are huge so when I go with my girlfriends we always share. Also, I like that they serve coffee at their bar and it is a pleasant way to spend an afternoon there having some coffee and dessert. Nice and elegant. read more

Absolutely incredible experience from start to finish. I had the bolognese and my fiancé ordered the vodka pasta--both dishes were rich, flavorful, and perfectly cooked. You can really tell the kitchen puts care into every detail. What made the night truly special was the service. Gilbert went above and beyond to make our evening memorable. We were celebrating our 5-year anniversary, and he surprised us with a delicious strawberry ice cream dessert, which was such a thoughtful touch. Between the amazing food and outstanding service, this place exceeded all expectations. Highly recommend and we'll definitely be coming back! read more

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I've dined here twice and have enjoyed both visits. The first time was for dinner awhile back and I had the following: -Margarita Italiano -Spiced spritz -Polpettine -Fiori di zucca -Rigatoni vodka -Spumone gelato Our server gave meh service, which was a bummer because everything else was really good. More recently I returned and dined outside by the bar. I love frequenting their location in Las Vegas, so was looking forward to giving them another shot. I had their pizza which was scrumptious and familiar along with their cocktails. For drinks I tried their Margarita Italiano and the Milano Mule subbing tequila. The ambiance was gorgeous on the warm evening I dined here! It was after sunset and the service was wonderful with the rooftop bustling with many folks around from most likely the nearby Farmer's Open, but overall much more better than my previous trip. I look forward to returning again soon. 4.5 Stars! read more

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Been coming here for years. They're always consistent and great value for the amount of food you receive. Their service has always been impeccable from the 13 years I've been dining here. Tonight, I decided to order take-out. Mario I believe was his name is who took my order and he was soooo friendly! When I arrived, my food (ordered Rigatoni Alla Vodka - sub Penne instead for gluten free pasta) and it was delicious. The restaurant is clean and maintained very well. They have an outdoor patio & plenty of indoor seating as well. Great bar area. Great staff. Great food. read more

Il Fornaio - Rigatoni alla Vodka but I subbed it w Penne (gluten free pasta avail) and added chicken (extra charge) - Italian Near Me - Del Mar, California

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It was my first time dining at Il Fornaio Del Mar for dinner, as I had only visited previously for happy hour. Tonight, Franco provided outstanding service to our group of more than 15 guests in a private dining room. He was the perfect combination of professional and personable. His tone was mellow and genuine, and he handled the evening with ease. Despite managing a large group, he was attentive to every single guest, always with a warm smile. His hard work and positive attitude truly elevated the entire experience. While the food was exceptional, the service was what truly stood out. I highly recommend the Chicken Marsala or the salmon. Both were beautifully prepared and full of flavor. We ended the evening with tiramisu (which I took to go), and I'm already looking forward to enjoying it tomorrow read more

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Came here for date night I would definitely say the ambiance and service is great. A busy plaza with a nice view overlooking the ocean (even thought it was dark haha). I would say that is the main attraction of this place as opposed to the quality of food. The pizza would be a 4/5. The crust was chewy and the toppings flavorful. The calamari and pasta were average. Nothing too special. The chicken in the pasta was overcooked. read more

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Other than the location, II Fornaio doesn't have much going for it. It's a gorgeous patio and view, one of my favorites in Del Mar. However, the food was mediocre at best; we both had pasta dishes and both were undercooked and reminded me more of a high school cafeteria pasta rather than an authentic Italian (or even American-Italian) pasta. We ordered one round of drinks but didn't have a server come back in time to order a second so we decided to leave right after our entrees. Servers were understaffed and stressed, which was obvious, and management was pretty rude when they came by to ask how the meal was and we answered politely but honestly. He didn't care for our honest feedback and made sure we knew that. read more

Was crowded on a Friday afternoon sunset but found a table outside and Franco was quick to help us and let us know that, despite the crowds, he would make sure we received prompt service. He made sure we were taken care of routinely. He made our night! Food and drinks were amazing. 10/10 recommend. Beautiful outdoors space. read more

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Highly recommended for anyone looking for great authentic food and the service is the best ! We have pretty much tried nearly everything on the menu and never a disappointment. The environmental is quiet and relaxing and you have some of the best food / service anywhere. read more

Franco took great care of us in this beautiful rooftop setting. Good cocktails, excellent view, fun people watching

I dined here recently with my mother, and we had a great time. Emma was so lovely and made very helpful suggestions! Loved the wine we got

Had such a great experience here. The food was honestly amazing. Everything we ordered came out fresh, flavorful, and just really well done. You can tell they put care into what they serve. What really stood out though was the service. Bernardo was exceptional from start to finish. He was super attentive, friendly, and made sure we had everything we needed without being overbearing. It made the whole experience even better. Definitely coming back and would recommend to anyone looking for good food and great service. read more

Il Fornaio - Italian Near Me - Del Mar, California

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Birthday celebration with friends and Il Fornaio saved us!! I had planned to be at Monarch with a party of 10 and was told 3 1/2 hour wait! I was shocked and didnt know what to do... headed to other options like bar top area or ??? I'd never been here, they were very busy too but I explained my situation and after clearing some tables II Fornaio took us right in and saved the day... the food was delicious, the service was great, ambiance was perfect and we caught the sunset, and they brought ice cream to sing happy birthday. Thank you!! read more

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I think the last time I ate at an I'll Fornaio was back in the '90s in Manhattan Beach (on Rosecrans)! I came here Monday for a business dinner and I was at first surprised that my client picked it. Il Formaio, for some reason or other, just wasn't what I pictured as a fine Italian eatery. Maybe because it's a chain...maybe because, despite it standing the test of time, it just seemed like a worn out option or maybe it's because when my friends chose to meet here for dinner in the 90's I was either dieting or broke and ordered only water! Seriously, I know I'd been a few times because it was fresh and new back then, but I was a weirdo and never actually ordered the food! Well, I now know what I was missing! The location in Del Mar is quite nice inside and the patio on the side is lovely, affording a nice view of the ocean, especially to the north. It wasn't crowded at all on a Monday at 5:15pm & we were seated quickly. Bernardo was our very nice, professional and attentive waiter. We ordered & enjoyed a couple of rounds of cocktails ($16/each). My client had ordered and really enjoyed the rigatoni a la vodka (with bacon / $23) there earlier in the week so I couldn't resist ordering the same. My client ordered the Caesar Salad ($15) and I ordered the grilled octopus starter ($22). The octopus was amazing and had a lot of flavor accompanying it. The Rigatoni was as promised; cooked perfectly al dente with lots of yummy flavor...the bacon was amazing. My only comment would be to change the description from "bacon" to like "speck" because this wasn't any old BLT or breakfast bacon! Highly recommend...and ask for Bernardo; he was fantastic! read more

Il Fornaio - Polipo Starter $22 (Octopus) - Delish and very flavorful - Italian Near Me - Del Mar, California

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There's a 3% surcharge in addition to tax. For large groups (there were 7 of us) they can't split the bill even two ways. No Apple Pay and you can't pay separately (it all has to be on one card per table). Slow service. I asked for table salt and it never came. read more

Hannah was the best!! So thoughtful, attentive & made our entire night being from out of town! 10/10 recommend :)

Food is great, service was ok but we had to ask several times for things. Ambiance was fine except for an issue with dogs. We were seated in a small room with 4 tables and a counter. It seemed perfect as we wanted a place where we could chat. Following a noisy episode in an adjacent room, a woman with four smallish white dogs was escorted into our room. After securing the dogs under the counter, the woman ordered, placed her purse on the counter and wondered out without her dogs and purse. She returned about ten minutes later and sat on the floor under the counter and played with the dogs. Then she got up, asked us to watch the purse and left without the dogs again. She returned after about twenty minutes and sat in a seat and continued to play with the dogs. We shared an appetizer with a flower (marigold?) with mozzarella crust and tomato sauce, followed by Ravioli LORCAN which was quite good and salmon which was also well prepared and tasty. For dessert, we shared a Volcano which was salted caramel gelato with a chocolate lava cake which was terrific. I particularly enjoyed the gelato. If dogs are to be allowed, I would like to suggest that there be a dog free area. I realize that the situation we were subjected to was not caused by the dogs however I also do not want to be eating in a room with four abandoned dogs without food. Perhaps, there could be a rule that you must stay with your dog if you choose to bring one. I also think any dog involved in an altercation should be removed. I don't care to eat where animals are fighting or abandoned. read more

Nice ambiance. Good service and friendly staff. Food was alright. We attended a holiday party so food was buffet style and was ok. Will have to come back to try a meal. read more

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Beautiful view and great service, but the food itself as just mid. The highlight of this restaurant is definitely the view. If you're able to sit outside on the patio around sunset, it's absolutely stunning and makes the whole experience worth it. The atmosphere is really relaxing and scenic, and the staff were attentive, friendly, and provided excellent service throughout the meal. The food portions were generous, but the dishes themselves were a bit under seasoned and didn't fully live up to the price point. It felt slightly overpriced for the overall quality, especially considering how many amazing Italian restaurants there are in San Diego. I would definitely recommend making a reservation in advance to secure an outdoor patio table for sunset. Overall, I'd recommend it if you're in the area and want a beautiful view and good service, but if you're prioritizing the best Italian food, there are better options in SD. read more

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We had an excellent lunch with a million dollar view. I had the Linguini Mare Chilaro. A very generous portion of pasta, 3 Shrimp, 3 scallops, mussels and clams in a delicious red wine sauce. Others had the Chicken Fungi and Polo Parmesan. All excellent. Our server, Rafael, was very informative about the specials, engaging and attentive. All to say, a wonderful experience. read more

AMAZING SERVICE! Bartender was very friendly. Made great drinks and had awesome suggestions. Tried Pizza Fradiavola with no sausage and it was great! Also tried the pistachio pesto pasta and it was ok, kinda dry but with shrimp it was good. Great spot for nice views, good drinks/food and service. read more

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We recently dined at Il Fornaio in Del Mar with a group. When I booked the reservation on July 31 for August 1, we were told there was no corkage fee for the month. Based on that information, we brought our own wine. At the end of dinner, we were charged a $50 corkage fee because management said the promotion had ended in July. We explained that the reservation was made in July and that we relied on what we had been told, but management would not make any adjustment. The $50 was disappointing, but what bothered us more was the lack of flexibility or concern after we explained the misunderstanding. The wording should have been made clear when the reservation was booked. Unfortunately, this left a negative impression on an otherwise enjoyable group dinner. read more

Emma was the best! We had to send back food and it was easy and seamless. Chef delivered meals and service was top notch.

We just enjoyed this restaurant each time. Would have given a 5 stars except we were there on the weekend and tried the 3 course family meal for $75. Not worth it. The portions are so small we through it was just for one person. Don't get the family bargain, not worth the money. Order from the regular menu, it's far better and worth the bucks. Ambiance is always a plus. read more

Emma! Thank you so much for the best service! We had a great time with our family and friends from GCU visiting. Your service was top notch. Thank you so much, Emma read more

First off, I want to thank our server and staff for making the experience unforgettable, it was me and my gf's anniversary and they really went above and beyond :) .Second, the view was amazing and wait time was pretty low since we had reserved a table already. Now for the food, the food is pretty decent, portions are a little small but they do taste good. We ordered the calamari, hot honey pizza, and two pasta dishes! The only downside is the parking for this place is terrible, so I recommend getting here like 20-30 minutes early to find a spot. read more

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Amazing food & service by Franco. Highly recommend vodka rigatoni pasta. Pretty sunset view & golden hour.

Absolutely amazing service from Emma. She was so positive and helpful. She went above and beyond by helping my friend get a stain out of her dress. Great drinks and food and even better service. The fried zucchini was amazing. read more

We enjoyed an afternoon having a couple of glasses of wine, an amazing view and excellent service! We had a lovely happy hour appetizer and loved a leisurely afternoon! read more

Went for lunch. I got the fusilloni. I really like alfredo with individual pastas so I was biased to like this. The views were absolutely beautiful with the ocean in the background. Service was a bit slow. I liked the diner layout of the interior. There was also an outdoor patio area to sit with shade and heating. read more

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Fernando was the best bartender/server we could have ever imagined. He was gentle, extremely polite and attentive. Our experience here was 10/10. Food was ehh...ok! However, we will recommend based on service. TY' read more

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Bernardo gave us great service! We enjoyed the time and he was very professional, kind and helpful. Beautiful ocean view. read more

We ordered the food from grab hub and it was ready on 7:22pm ( it says on the receipt) and we got there 7:30 and asked the server 2 times but the foods is not ready and finally we asked different server at 8:00, he grabbed the pizza boxes which are already cold. Worse experience. Pizza was good but never go there again. read more

Il Fornaio - It says food was ready 7:22 - Italian Near Me - Del Mar, California

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Always a good time with food, people watching, and good service and drinks. I've only sat outdoor and sometimes the other restaurant would have live music. My fur baby love this place read more

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Ambiance is amazing, food is mid though. The ONLY thing that was worth eating again was the gnocchi appetizer. That alone could be an entrée. It's so good. Very creamy, the cheese is high-quality, the pasta is cooked to perfection, and the mushrooms had a nice flavor. My friend got the pizza and one of their pasta entrée dishes..the pizza was dry and felt very thrown together as if I went to pieology or blaze. The pasta was OK, you could easily make the same at home or even go to Olive Garden and probably get a more satisfying dish. This is definitely a place you book for special occasions because of the ambience, rather than the food (4 tables around me were celebrating birthdays, and one was celebrating a graduation) read more

5 Stars for an Amazing Experience at Il Fornaio Del Mar! Our work group last month had the pleasure of gathering at Il Fornaio in Del Mar, and it was an absolute hit! With about 30 people in our group, we started out on the beautiful patio, enjoying the fresh air, but as luck would have it, the rain rolled in. No worries--thanks to their accommodating staff, we seamlessly moved inside, where the vibe was just as great. But what really stood out was Bernardo, our waiter. From start to finish, he went above and beyond, checking in with everyone in our group and making sure all our needs were met. His energy and enthusiasm were contagious, and he truly worked his tail off the entire night. Bernardo was not only incredibly attentive but also super patient, friendly, and always ready with a suggestion when we couldn't decide. You could tell he was genuinely invested in making sure we had an exceptional experience. Huge kudos to Bernardo for being such an incredible asset to the team! He's the kind of person who makes you feel welcome and valued, and he's a big reason we'll definitely be back. If you're looking for a place with great food, a welcoming atmosphere, and service that truly stands out, Il Fornaio in Del Mar is the place to be! read more