I think we may have just found our favorite Italian restaurant in the Bay Area. The interior was gorgeous and had such an elegant atmosphere. We came here to celebrate my birthday, and wow... every single thing we ordered was amazing. There wasn't one dish we didn't love. The biggest highlight for me was our server, Jose. He was so professional, dressed impeccably, smelled great, and you could tell he genuinely cared about giving great service. Everything came out at the perfect time, and he made us feel so welcome. Restaurants are lucky to have people like him, and if I were the owner, I'd do everything I could to keep an employee like Jose. I also loved seeing the manager walking around the restaurant checking on every table. That's honestly something we don't see very often around the Bay Area. Even though the restaurant was packed, everything ran so smoothly. We'll definitely be coming back again and again. Thank you for making my birthday dinner such a memorable one! read more

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Il Fornaio's incredible Happy Hour does not disappoint for this hungry guy and my Posse of foodies! We were pleasantly surprised to find that on Mondays, Happy Hour prices on Food and drink specials lasts for the whole day! At our wonder server Manal's suggestion, we started with the deliciously tender and beautifully seasoned artichoke followed by the Margarita Pizza (perfect crust with the right amount of crispiness) Meatballs like Grandma used to make and a Calamari that would put all the local seafood places to shame! My friends drank from their well selected array of wines and were quite pleased. Our waters were filled and dishes cleared like a well tuned orchestra. Manager John and waiter Marco checked on us throughout our meal and made us feel like VIP's. Thanks again Il Fornaio for a Perfect Experience! read more

HAPPY HOUR! 4.2 One of the perks of early retirement is that Happy Hour can happen whenever you want... at least in my mind. At this Il Fornaio location, Happy Hour runs daily from 3:00-6:00 p.m., with Mondays offering Happy Hour pricing all day long. The bar and lounge area features three seating options: cozy sofa-lounge seating, a long communal table, and individual seats at the bar, complete with two TVs mounted overhead. We arrived with just 30 minutes left to enjoy it. The Happy Hour menu includes Italian and domestic beers ($7), Italian and local wines ($8), nine different cocktails ($9), plus a selection of antipasti and pizzas for snacking. One thing I appreciated was that the drinks were served in full-sized glassware; nothing scaled down just because it was Happy Hour. I ordered the Tiki Taormina, made with Don Q Piña rum, peach purée, pineapple, lime, and mint. It was absolutely delicious. My husband chose the Margarita Italiano, featuring Herradura Silver Tequila, Lucano Limoncello, Cointreau, mango purée, lime, and a salted rim. Naturally, I had to conduct my obligatory taste test; his was quite good as well. For food, we started with the Polpettine ($13): three flavorful beef meatballs in tomato sauce, topped with creamy stracciatella cheese (the soft center of burrata). Served alongside were three slices of crostone, or toasted rustic bread, perfect for soaking up the sauce. We also shared the Pizza Fradiavola ($14), topped with mozzarella, Italian sausage, tomato sauce, mushrooms, bell peppers, red onions, and spicy peperoncino. It was tasty, nicely topped, and ideal for sharing. Service was good with at least two bartenders working throughout our visit. Between the quality drinks, satisfying bites, and good service, this spot has earned a place on our growing list of favorite Happy Hour discoveries. read more

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Tasty Italian cuisine in a beautiful environment & very good service. I came for lunch on a weekday so it was not crowded. Free parking in the lot. I had the Insalata De Pere and added grilled salmon. The salad had just the right amount of candied pecans grapes, Gorgonzola cheese, slices of roasted pear and baby salad greens with just the right amount of pomegranate dressing. The salmon was a nice compliment to the salad. We shared an order of the fresh bread, served with good olive oil & balsamic vinegar. For dessert we had the affogato and a lemon panna cotta. Both were very good and in generous portions, especially the affogato. Professional and very good service. Prices are decent for a nice restaurant. read more

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Had dinner last Friday night to celebrate a birthday. We had a nice private room and the service was great! Our server checked on us throughout the evening to make sure we had everything we needed. I had the swordfish (which was one the specials) I think it was a cilantro sauce (which really made the food pop). All the dishes we ordered were plated great. This was my 1st time at this location (as Palo Alto was our go-to, but it has now shuttered). Mtn View location was very busy and lively! read more

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Legit one of the BEST if not THE best Italian I've had in a long time. If you're not up to going out to dine, you will not be disappointed by their deliveries via DoorDash. Excellent packaging. Hot food. Perfection. Every time. As for the food...yum! Everything is delectable. So much so I have trouble deciding what to order. I've been known to order 2 entrees when I can't make up my mind! Favorites have been the lasagna, vodka-sauce penne pasta, and the grilled chicken Caesar salad. Their food literally makes me happy. It's just filling & consistently good. read more

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Came here for happy hour on Sunday. As far as I know, this is the only Il Fornaio location in the Bay Area that has happy hour every day from 3-6pm. It's also one of our favorites. It's very spacious with modern decor inside; service was always friendly. While their happy hour menu wasn't very extensive, everything we had tried had been solid, and their cocktails were delicious and never watered down; pricing was very reasonable, but they did have a 3% surcharge. This time we ordered the Sorrento King and Tiki Taormina cocktails and 3 food items. My husband liked his whiskey with the smoky flavor; my cocktail was fruity and refreshing, just a little on the sweeter side. The calamari was lightly battered and not oily, it's very flavorful with or without the spicy marinara sauce. I liked that they included a lot of tentacle pieces. While I missed their roasted cauliflower, which was no longer on the menu, their braised artichoke was surprisingly good. It was soaked in a yummy garlicky olive oil, perfect for dipping the crostini in. It took a bit of work to get to the artichoke heart, but it was well worth it. The center was so soft and tasted heavenly. I liked the Pizza Fradiavola's thin crust, and it had just the right amount of spiciness with the peperoncino. The complimentary vanilla gelato with raspberry sauce and birthday candle was a really nice touch. We also claimed the tiramisu birthday reward we received via email. Both were very satisfying. Until next time. read more

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Excellent service and good. Had the house salad and added grilled salmon. Wine and then some gelato and espresso to boot. Clean place and great staff. read more

Il Fornaio - Before - Italian Near Me - Mountain View, California

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This is a new location for the popular Italian chain that we frequented when they were operating in Seattle downtown. The decor is similar in style as the Santa Clara one and services equally superb. They offered Happy Hours from 3 to 6pm and we took advantage of that: Pizza, Calamari, Meatballs, Roast Cauliflower, all good. Then we ordered from the dinner menu the grill seafood plate, also excellent. I think I will come for happy hours frequently. read more

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First time here and Lilia was a rockstar! She greeted us as soon as we walked in and made great recommendations. I took my girlfriend here for her birthday and definitely will be coming back. The care and attention Lilia gave us made the experience and birthday celebration that much more special. Thank you and I appreciate you for being so kind! read more

Il Fornaio - Trio pasta on TUESDAYS! - Italian Near Me - Mountain View, California

Visited for drinks during happy hour and had a lovely experience! It wasn't too busy on a Sunday at 5pm, so my party of two was seated immediately at the bar. The atmosphere of the restaurant was inviting and cozy, with warm lighting, lots of booth seating, and light chatter. The bartenders were super friendly and offered recommendations based on my preferences. The happy hour menu was impressive! There was a variety of reasonably priced drink and food selections. I really enjoyed the tuscan lemonade, which featured conciere vodka, blackberry purée, lemon, and soda. It was quite a sweet drink and had a strong fruit flavor. The tiki taormina was another very solid and sweet drink. It contained don q piña rum, peach purée, pineapple, lime, and mint. Both drinks were strong. I would definitely come back for happy hour deals! read more

Il Fornaio - Tiki Taormina, Tuscan Lemonade - Italian Near Me - Mountain View, California

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I had a great experience dining here with reservation on a Saturday evening. I enjoyed the restaurant service and ambiance, definitely has a higher end kind of vibe, would be nice for special occasions. The food was good but not amazing. The pasta portions were small for the price, usually I can't finish all the pasta when I go out at similar restaurants but I was able to finish a pasta without filling super full, even with appetizers and sharing pizza. The pappardelle was a little bland, wouldn't get again. The tagliatelle bolognese was solid, and I really enjoyed the gnocchi ragu sauce, though the gnocchi itself was super mushy, a texture I wasn't expecting. Standouts were the beef carpaccio and tuscan lemonade (a sweet drink where you can barely taste the alcohol). Would come again to try different menu items! read more

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Decided to try Il Fornaio for the first time and it didn't disappoint. For a Tuesday evening, it was packed, especially at 5:45PM. I can tell this is well loved restaurant and for many good reasons. The ambiance from the get go is great, from an attentive hostess to a great waiter, it made the experience even better. The food was also delicious. The salad was a great starter and if you want a pizza as a starter, the one with zucchini was delicious. Lastly the pasta dish I had was creamy, savory and really comforting. I would definitely come again and try anything else read more

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Great food, atmosphere, and service. I dined here last night on a Wednesday with girlfriends. One of us commented how nice the atmosphere was - lively, but you can still hear each other while talking. I had the Griliata Di Pesce Misto, which was a delicious array of fish, scallops, shrimp, veggies and potatoes. My friends had the salmon alla griglia, tagliatelle bolognese, and gnocchi alla sorrentina. Everyone liked their dishes. We all enjoyed Affogato's for dessert. There's a private room that may take a party of 8-10; I'm not sure. Outdoor seating that is shaded. I didn't ask if the patio is dog friendly, but it looked like it might be. read more

Il Fornaio - Affogato - espresso poured over a scoop of vanilla ice cream and whipped cream. - Italian Near Me - Mountain View, California

I've been to Il Fornaio twice recently, both times watching sports at the bar, and being served by Antonio, who is excellent. The first time, I arrived during happy hour, so my first two drinks, a Kickin Old Fashioned and a Sorrento King, were only $9, and the chianti with dinner only $8. The Sorrento King is a smoked drink, very entertaining to watch be prepared. I ordered linguine mare, and was very pleased. For dessert, I was saddened that there was no cannoli, but enjoyed the Napoleone with an Americano. It's a very classy looking place, and the second time I sat at the bar, I watched my baseball team lose on one TV, and my football team lose on the other. So I console myself with a very delicious margarita pizza, very roman style with a great crust. And another Sorrento King, of course. I also had a Caesar salad, with very healthy looking lettuce, and great flavor overall. I can foresee future visits. read more

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We've dined at Il Fornaio numerous times over the years, and it's always been a reliable choice. Recently, we stopped by the Mountain View location during happy hour for a quick bite, and it exceeded our expectations. The atmosphere was inviting, the food was delicious, and the staff was exceptionally warm and welcoming. What really stood out was the outstanding hospitality. Manager Armando took the time to stop by our table, personally welcome us, and make sure we were well taken care of. That extra level of attention made us feel like valued guests and turned a casual happy hour into a memorable experience. We'll definitely be back! read more

Delicious, great service. Happy hour deals were affordable drinks were strong. Will come again read more

Il Fornaio - Tiki - Italian Near Me - Mountain View, California

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This restaurant was amazing! The main thing that called me here was the happy hour. They have discounted prices on their drinks and appetizers. However, the prices of the regular menu are worth it because their servings are huge. The service was amazing. They checked on us plenty of times to make sure everything was alright. There are a handful of other restaurants in this plaza but a lot of parking available. There's also a lot of seating indoors, at the bar, or on the patio. read more

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Came in for dinner while in the area. Ordered the bread, a pizza, and meatballs. The pizza had a nice crust but was soggy in the middle. The bread was fresh and soft. The meatballs were a little cold, but the sauce was tasty. We ate them anyway. Service was friendly and attentive. read more

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Dinner was great, it's always nice to celebrate with family. The service was blah, the main reason for 3 stars. Ambiance is nice, but it's time for education on why service is important. Didn't get our bread until after we already eaten all of our meals. Staff would not respond to us, even when we raised our hands to try to get their attention. read more

Great service and very helpful staff, especially when ordering vegetarian options. The food was delicious, with pizza being the highlight. We sat outside in the heated tent with our dogs and had a cozy, comfortable experience. read more

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I came here with some coworkers for a work dinner. I really liked the ambiance--felt super comfortable and great decor. I was craving seafood and ordered the Gamberoni, and safe to say it hit the spot! Absolutely loved the seared scallops, which were juicy and melt-in-your-mouth tender. The lobster cream sauce was a fantastic complement to smother all over the seafood. Prawns were massive and I really liked how easy it was to remove from the shells. The risotto cake was also delicious and had this pleasant crisp. Food quality wise, it was great! But, the portions were underwhelming. I saw that my coworkers who ordered pizzas had so much food leftover, but I could probably down at least 2 or 3 of these Gamberoni dishes For dessert, I'd highly recommend the panna cotta. Loved the pleasant coffee aftertaste and had the perfect lightness to finish my meal read more

Il Fornaio - Gamberoni - Italian Near Me - Mountain View, California

This is my favorite Il Fornaio location. It's new, fit for happy hour or team outings alike, service is friendly, and the pasta quality beat my expectations. Some dishes are better than others - check Yelp before you order! I highly recommend the lasagna and tiramisu (it's big, too!). The chocolate cake that came with a yummy scoop of ice cream was pretty good, too but could have been a tad more molten. Portions are big and apparently they have a good happy hour! I'll definitely be back for that. read more

We came to Il fornaio on Mother's Day and it was nice that they had a special Mother's Day menu. The service was pretty good and the restaurant is quite big inside and I like the setting. The food however was just okay. The best thing we got was probably the pizza. The minestrone soup was not good and the vegetables were too overcooked. The bruschetta tasted kinda odd too. The pasta dishes were both kinda sour and not that great. Not sure I'd come back here to be honest read more

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Beautiful location. Considering the time we arrived for dinner, I was surprised I was able to find decent parking. For dinner we had spaghetti and lasagna, delicious. The service was surprisingly poor considering the amount of staff working. Likely won't try this location again. read more

I'm really surprised this place is so highly rated. It's not authentic Italian food. On our last visit, the linguini had a very weird consistency and taste. It wasn't al dente or even slightly overcooked, just mushy. My daughter said the same of her spaghetti pommodoro. Everyone was underwhelmed. The caesar salad didn't taste authentic either. Dessert was underwhelming as well. The parking for this area is terrible but we were hoping it would be worth it to have a good meal. The positive was that our waiter was very nice and the bread was good. read more

We walked in at around 8pm on a Friday night and was sat quickly. But it took like 20 mins before someone came and gave us waters and they walked away just as fast. It took another 10 mins before our actual server came and took our order. We ordered the calamari to start. It was alright. My bf got the pappardelle and I got the linguine. The pappardelle is covered in a mushroom sauce and it was more of the star than the pasta. The linguine was good and the portion size was perfect for a light eater like me. But due to the service, we probably wont be coming back here. read more

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Vegetarian reviewer: Went to this restaurant on Valentine's Day. The restaurant is beautiful and sooo well lit. It looked aesthetic, and it was crowded (actually full). We ordered: 1. Bruschette Assortite - This was the best dish amongst all our orders. There were 3- pesto cheese, mushroom, and one with tomato. All of them were great! I think $15 for this one still made sense. 2. App Gnocchi Gratinati - Super mediocre. Tasted kind of weird, and was pretty much a waste of $16. 3. Ravioli Zucca - Extremely oily. The gravy was mostly oil with some nuts and a couple of leaves. The nuts and leaves gave a nice flavor, but it couldn't cut it. Salt was less and it didn't justify a price of $28. This was actually our server's top recommendation. 4. Pizza Margherita - this was really underwhelming. $20. 5. Kick in Old Fashioned - My partner liked this drink, I liked it too. $15 The service wasn't great either. It took a long time and it is not the server's fault, but none of the suggestions worked great for us. Given the price point, I wouldn't recommend this place that much. I highly recommend going at a time when they have some happy hour/ offers for the try. I did read some people mentioning about it in reviews. The server offered me a taste of a cocktail but never came back with it, maybe I was confused. But then I just skipped ordering one altogether. Overall, it was a good experience--nothing fancy coz food wasn't top notch, but we loved the ambiance. We enjoyed our nice date night and made a memory for the next two weeks we were gonna live away! read more

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Pretty disappointed. Average Italian fare with upmarket prices. Having moved from NJ, am used to authentic Italian food from 'Sopranos' country, this was an insult. The Caprese salad - Mozzarella was dead, Tomatoes insipid. The Ravioli had a bland sauce & the filings didn't taste anything. Worst was the Seafood pasta, the clams and/or mussels were stale, confirmed by an upset stomach later. Appalled at the Quality & that too at such exorbitant prices. Place is big, decor nice. Service ok. Maybe good for an office party where wine & starters r more important than food. Best of Luck. read more

I've been coming to the Mountain View location for over a year, specifically because of the incredible service! Everyone here is extremely welcoming and warm, whether I stop in for lunch or bring in friends and family. Special thanks to John and Gerardo who always make our family events easy to enjoy and special. On NYE they catered all our favorites and new ones! Even my sister in law who's a vegetarian loved the food! And for my sisters graduation, they set us up in the wine room which made her feel even more special and happy (: I also want to shout out Lucia, Antonio and so many other people on the team for making this Il Fornaio location feel like home! read more

I visited this spot for Happy Hour which runs daily from 3-6 pm. We arrived around 4 or 5 pm and it wasn't crowded at all. We were seated outdoors and it was a very relaxing atmosphere. We tried the Pizza Fradiavola, Calamaretti Fritti, and Bruschetta, along with a few cocktails. All of the dishes were delicious and a great value for Happy Hour! I'll definitely be coming back! read more

Il Fornaio - Bruschetta and Calamari - Italian Near Me - Mountain View, California

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Walked in to this local Italian joint in downtown Palo Alto on a weekday evening after 7pm. The vibe was family style, casual and relaxing. Sat at a small booth with mirrors inside the restaurant. They have outside seating as well. Ordered the grilled Halibut with risotto. The fish was fresh and portion was generous, the risotto was a bit mushy. Ordered a side dish of cauliflower which was baked with rosemary to healthify the meal. It was a bit bland and I requested hot sauce. The only one they had was a buffalo style dip used to create one of their pizzas. It went well with the cauliflower. Ordered spumoni for dessert. Once again, the portion was big. The servers were friendly. Ambiance was good. PS. Read somewhere that Steve Jobs had his last meal here. read more

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Been here two times and had the same waitress both times and she remembered us! That was very sweet. The second time we came here we had a large group of 10 people and they seated us in our own private room for no charge, the ambiance was great and I would recommend this for any large group setting! Food was good overall, definitely one of the better italian places in the bay! I think the service here puts it a notch over others but I have no complaints for food: my ranking of things to try - gnocchi gratinati : very mushroom but I love it, I would get this as an entree rigatoni alla vodka: best pasta here! I prefer to sub the bacon w mushroom. One time we did other asserted veggies w brocolini and asparagus and carrot..if you go with this option I would remove the carrot casarecce al pesto: also good! not as good as vodka sauce but needs a bit more salt ravioli di zucca: a bit too much cheese/sweetness for me but not bad fradiavola: It was good/fine - I think the pastas are more unique/ better We also always get the cestino del pan (bread and olive oil) it's usually warm and fresh!! And free refills on this! Would recommend.. it would be nice if they added some fresh parmesan to the olive oil too but just a suggestion!! Also all the drinks ive gotten here are good! I liked the tiki drink it tastes like no alcohol. They also always give a free dessert for a special occasion! First time I came was for a bday and second time was for a work celebration! I was touched that they thought to give a dessert for the second one :') Overall great place for a special occasion!! Would recommend read more

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The space was quite spacious and clean. I was able to get a same day reservation for a party of 5. We ordered an array of appetizers and pasta dishes. I ordered the iced tiramisu which I enjoyed! The fried Mac and cheese balls were very good. The burrata was creamy and delicious! The pizza was good, crust was nice and crispy! All pasta dishes were good. The chicken cutlet was a bit soggy by the time I got it as it was laying on a bed of noodles. The service was great, no complaints. read more

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Finished out the night with desserts can coffee with an old college buddy. Did not know there was an Il Fornaio in Mt. View. I have to the original in downtown Palo Alto and the one in Burlingame. IF always satisfies. It's a great new spot in Mt. View (i have no idea how long it has been opened). I had the Spumone Gelato (raspberry & chocolate sauce) and an Americano coffee. My buddy had the Affogato al Caffe and a shot of cognac. Both were excellent and an ideal way to top off a day of eating and drinking way too much. The service was also very good and we were well attended to. The interior is very modern, yet classy. Fellas this is a good date spot. To sum up, it was good for dessert and I am guessing even better for dinner. I am definitely keeping this place on the list. Now for the pics... read more

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Atmosphere is very warm and inviting, especially during the Christmas holidays. This is the perfect place for date or after work happy hour. The servers are very friendly and professional some of the best in their field. Happy hour is very affordable for the area, which is why I like bringing friends back here all the time. For less than $10 you can get a variety of beers, wines, and cocktails. For about $12-$15 you can get a nice appetizer or pizza. You simply cannot go wrong with the ambience, service and food! read more

Il Fornaio - Italian Near Me - Mountain View, California

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This review is 3.5 stars. And maybe I'm being a little tough on Il Fornaio, but the experience felt good, not great. I made a reservation for 6:30 on a Saturday night. We arrived on time, and when we gave them our name for the reservation, the hosts chatted amongst themselves for quite some time on where to seat us. The host asked whether we would be okay with sitting on a high top in the bar, and it felt like we were being treated as if we were just walk ins, which felt strange to me. What is the purpose of a reservation? We did end up sitting near the bar, which was a table that was a hybrid of a bench and high chair seating. The service was slow. My two dining companions ordered drinks, and I just opted for water. The two other drinks arrived, and it took a long time for me to receive water. It wasn't delivered until half the bread basket we ordered was gone, which also took quite some time to arrive. Our meals also took some time as well, but I couldn't say whether that was a service issue or due to a back up in the kitchen. I used to be a server, so I try to be as understanding as possible when it comes to service, but the restaurant was not packed and our server and others passed by our table multiple times when we needed drinks and refills. On a brighter note, the restaurant was decorated beautifully for the holidays, with big gold stars, hanging snowflakes, candy cane Christmas trees, and wooden nutcrackers adorning the interior. The only thing that would have elevated the holiday experience was if they added Christmas lights on the interior. The food was good. I ordered the Branzino which was complimented by a tomato olive sauce. I was very happy with the dish, which was well seasoned and served with broccolini, carrots, and roasted potatoes. My dining companions ordered Margherita pizzas with proscuitto. They both finished their plates sans the crust and said the pizza was good. But I noticed there was quite a lot of cheese on it, instead of the dots of fresh mozzarella that you often see on a true margherita pizza. Overall, Il Fornaio was a good dining experience, and I'd probably return for the Branzino, but I could not say it exceeded my expectations. read more

Il Fornaio - Margherita with proscuitto - Italian Near Me - Mountain View, California

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Had an amazing experience here! The pasta was delicious, and the drinks were on point. I'm already planning my next trip back to try the pizza. Highly recommend! read more

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First of all, huge kudos to this place for being open on Thanksgiving Day and serving up a wonderful dinner experience. We made reservations a couple of weeks in advance online, and they called us a couple of days before Thanksgiving to confirm our party size, which I thought was thoughtful. For the holiday menu, one could choose between their Thanksgiving set menu ($59pp), ordering items a la carte, or ordering from their usual menu - I liked this setup because different members of our party could adjust their order flexibly. The set came with a butternut squash soup, a salad, a turkey entree with all the fixings, and a lovely pumpkin pie dessert. It was way too much food for 1 person but luckily not everyone ordered the full set so we could share the food around. I ordered the rigatoni alla vodka which tasted heavenly and was cooked to perfection. The ambiance of the restaurant was upscale but cozy and offered a warm atmosphere to celebrate the holiday. Overall 4.5 stars! Cons: - They packed the tables to the brim, so the service was at times slow, and they messed up one of our drink orders - The salad was very plain and dry, which was a little disappointing read more

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We have been here a number of times, primarily because some of our family members really enjoy their meals here, but we find it typically overpriced and underwhelming. The thing that put me over the top was a panzanella salad for $15 that was tiny and had 4 croutons. That is not a panzanella salad. Other dishes were also small - the fusilloni for example ($21). Even the affogato at $14 had way too much whipped cream that took away from the drink that really should be coffee and ice cream. My salmon was good, I'll say that much. read more

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