OMG. OMG. OMG. Meatball appetizer. OMG Mussels appetizer. OMG Butternut squash ravioli. OMG Pappardelle salsiccia. OMG Dreamt about it all night. Still thinking about it. We are going back again tonight. read more

Nice classy Italian restaurant in Greek town. Their $10 pizzas lured me in (dine-in only). Most of the pizzas that are part of the promotion don't have meat on them but there are a few. You can check out my picture of the menu. I offered the pizza prosciutto and it was much larger than I expected and a good amount of topping. My boyfriend and I weren't very hungry so we just ordered one pizza to try it out. They brought it out on 2 separate plates and I thought that was a thoughtful gesture. Pizza had a VERY thin crust which was soft and chewy. Pizza was very delicious. Would come back for pizza even without the promotion. Definitely worth a try! read more

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Let me start by saying that I did not eat here. I met up with some friends for a drink on the patio after they'd finished dinner. They have 3 young children and rave about how accommodating the staff are. Tonight's visit involved getting and paying the bill four times, knocking over a basket of bread, and the 6-year-old deciding that she wanted to try mussels so they made one just for her! The waiter we had was awesome - always smiling and pleasant. My Stella was good and everyone had a good time. I would definitely return for dinner and I give the place extra props for pleasing my friends and their children! read more

I've finally given up on Il Fornello. My husband and I have vowed never to eat there again after our last experience. Mind you, that was the third bad experience we'd had at the place. The service is always mediocre at best with servers so nonchalant in their service it's practically non-existent. The food lacks flavour. Every time. The pastas are dull, the pizza alright, the lasagna is dull, the caesar salad is boring, the caprese salad is okay. It was just a disappointing experience time and time again. And it is ALWAYS overpriced. I would always leave feeling guilty about spending so much money on such a disappointing meal. So, never again! read more

It probably could be rated 2 stars but those 2-seater booths in the showcase-style windows at the front are worth a star. "It's like we're in a fishbowl!" said the Missus. So, we've walked by Il Fornello plenty of times along the Danforth, usually on a Tuesday as I remember there always being a "$10 Pizza Tuesdays" sign out on the sidewalk, as well as the countless people sharing pizzas on the patio. Tonight, we wanted a place closest to home that wasn't a pub and this place fit the bill. Speaking of "the bill," while service, cleanliness, comfort & timing were all fine, I feel the pricing is the main issue here. The size of my $17 Lasagna was average, and while it was good, it had no "wow" factor. The missus had the Chicken Parmigiana which had the portion size (and taste? I can't remember, and I tasted it myself. That can't be good) and she was able to get 2 meals out of it. We skipped the wine list and went for something from the tap, which included a selection of one (1) brand: Stella Artois. I respect that. As a restaurateur, how do you choose if you can only provide one brand of draught beer? Big, important decision. I think Stella was a fine choice. Il Fornello was not a horrible experience, I just felt that I never got value for my dollar. We left feeling short changed. In contrast, as I write this, it's the following day and I am in Montreal, having just returned from a local Italian restaurant . We ordered the exact same meals (although I had the parm this time, and the missus was not with me, I was having dinner with my Mom), and I walked out of there "wowed." Incredible value, portion sizes, service and complimentary dessert & coffee because "we were a couple of cool customers." My feelings towards Il Fornello took another hit, but it's hard to compare Montreal eating to anywhere else. read more

Have been to this location several times over the years. Service has been inconsistent, but generally good. Enjoy the fact that the restaurant is kid-friendly and that the kitchen is visible for all in attendance. Who doesn't like sitting in the front window enticing passersby to come in for a bite?!?! Great for my friends with celiac issues. Love the Insalata Roma and gnocchi. mmm so good! read more

Il Fornello is a favourite of my friend's family, so when we decided to head into the city for a saturday night supper, this was an obvious pick. I've never been before, but heard they offer some gluten-free options, so I was excited to give that a go. It's definitely a popular place; not packed, but busy for the time (7PM, Saturday). The highs are that service is attentive and quick, the lows are that several families with small (read: loud) children were in the vicinity. Not the end of the world, but it does make it more difficult to talk to people close to you! The variety of salads on the menu are outstanding; In fact, I'd be tempted to order just salad the next time I visit, or insist someone share one with me. We shared three among a table of 8, and all were well dressed with great toppings. My main was a specialty pizza with gluten free crust, which was pleasant. My one complaint is the temperature of the pizza when it arrived at the table. GF crust is hard to do well, and to be done the best it needs to be hot hot hot when served. I got a lukewarm pizza, but all things considered it was still okay. I'd give this place another go, but I'd be tempted to come on a lazy weeknight or Sunday afternoon just to avoid the Saturday night din. read more

I've been here a number of times now and the food and service had been excellent. I've tried a number of different dishes and they've all been really well executed, so the quality seems consistent. The atmosphere is also quite pleasant. So the lower ratings seemed disconnected. read more

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Service was fairly good for a busy Friday night and food was great. I had Alfredo with chicken which had a very rich sauce and everyone else enjoyed their meal no complaints and desert was amazing, the only thing was they used to serve better bread at the beginning of the meal. read more

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Stopped by for a bite Wednesday night. Got seated right away. Shared a $10 pizza special and calamari. Food was great, service was friendly and multiple check-ins, warm comfortable decor. Definitely recommended. read more

Their $10 Pizzas in Tuesday night are a draw, however their best pizzas are not available at a discount. The patio is also a strong feature. read more

Il Fornello Danforth - This is the sausage pizza. It is delicious and mildly spicy. - Italian Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

Our office Xmas party has voted to come here the last 3 years in a row - is a staff favourite. Stacey is amazing and we always do the prix fixe menu. The beet salad is so fresh, and the pasta with seafood sauce gorgeous. My colleagues always go nuts over the cheesy cannelloni, and huge pizzas cooked in a woodburning oven. For us celiacs - lots of choices in terms of pasta and pizza. Their gluten-free chocolate cake is a rich, molten lava cake and to die for. The creme brule is so rich people tried to share -- but we were so full! Stacey and her team really know their wine and the service is impeccable. read more

best Italian food in the city, nice staff, would recommend making a reservation on Friday/Saturday nights gets busy in the summer! They have a new vegan menu and it's delicious! read more

We enjoyed a late dinner, were treated right away, our server was great, very friendly, accommodating and professional. Even though it was late at night. Our food was great, my gluten free allergy was well accommodated. Although some of the staff were chatting very loudly and making unprofessional comments at one another not acknowledging the clientele, who were trying to enjoy a quiet dinner. Otherwise I could have easily rated this place a 5 star. Young people not understanding the importance of staying professional especially while in their work place! Comments such as I'm too white, I can't eat so much spice (as the chef was preparing their dinners I guess) and another young girl shouting yes I'm so mad at you, storming out) conversations which could have been made in private or a much lower tone/ volume. The restaurant is small and open concept and created for a very awkward end to a nice dinner. Otherwise, the food was very god as I mentioned and our server did a great job. read more

Had dinner here with friends and we all enjoyed our food. We had the Pappardelle Salisccia and the $12 Pepperoni pizza deal, they were delicious Also, the warm bread was awesome! Our server Simon was excellent, will definitely be back soon! read more

I recently tried Il Fornello for the first time. I was very impressed with the service and food. Upon arrival we did have to wait for a table (not surprising for a restaurant on the danforth at 7pm on a Friday!). The first table that became available was behind the host stand and the host was kind and honest enough to tell us that we might not be comfortable there due to a draft and overhearing him speaking all night; he assured us that within a few minutes another table would be available and offered us the choice between the two. We ended up sitting in this great table at the front window. Our server was nice and came to check up on us just enough. I was delighted by the gnochi assiago- absolutely the best meal I have had in a long time. I also had a salad to start and it was very flavourful. Had we been seated within the main part of the restaurant I might have found the noise level overwhelming, and therefore when I return I will be sure to make a reservation and request one of the few tables that are in the secluded areas by the windows. Although pricey, this restaurant has been my favourite italian food yet in Toronto. read more

Seems like it's stuck halfway between a family restaurant and a fine dining establishment. Not a good fence to straddle. Very strange ambiance. Dimly lit romantic decor with kids screaming and running about. Entrees were mediocre. The Pizza Fichi was a drippy, oily mess. I traded a slice for a slice with my brother and his wasn't any better (can't recall what his was) I did quite like the Arancini appetizer but the portion for 9 dollars was tiny. Extra star for their service. Both the hostesses and our waiter were fantastic. read more

Il Fornello has so much going for it, but it has one fatal Achilles heel. The service. I've been to Il Fornello dozens of times over the years and I'd say that the service was poor to terrible about four times out of five. At least they're varied in terms of the bad service. Problems range from being understaffed (which happens all the time) to just being lazy and inattentive (like the time the waitress lead us to our table, slammed down the menus without saying a word and then went and talked to the hostess and ignored us). If there's some sort of event going on, then terrible service is guaranteed. I remember there was a children's birthday party and the entire staff stayed in the back of the restaurant for probably 20-25 minutes. Not once did a single server come and check on the other half of the restaurant. How about the "bread waitress"? She asks if we want bread. "Yes please." Bread never comes. The next time we go it's her again. "Would you like bread?" "Yes please." Nearly 30 minutes pass and she comes by the table and asks again "Would you like bread?" YES. We also wanted it half an hour ago when you asked the first time. Maybe there's some sort of short term memory loss issue. How about the time we went on our anniversary, enjoyed a great meal and then asked for the bill. We waited, waited, waited. After 20 minutes I said to the older surly waitress that we'd asked for the bill 20 minutes earlier and she said "Oh, you haven't been waiting that long!" Yesterday a waiter was run off his feet because Il Fornello was, yet again, understaffed. He was friendly, but we still hadn't ordered after at least 15 minutes (and after being told twice that he'd be with us "in just a second"). This was the last straw after years of undependable service. I like Il Fornello. I really do. The atmosphere is wonderful and the food is great. Reasonable prices as well. But enough is enough. Yesterday we walked out and went to a Persian restaurant, Herby, and the service was out of the world (see my five star review). I won't be returning to Il Fornello because a 20% success rate in terms of service just doesn't cut it. And before anyone reads this post and thinks "Oh, this guy is just a big complainer" I'd point out that the majority of my restaurant reviews are very positive. In all modesty, my husband and I are great customers. We always like the food (I think I've sent back a meal once is the last 30 years), we're friendly and we're great tippers. But Il Fornello? The bad service has finally worn me out. read more

Another outstanding dinner at Il Fornello on the Danforth! The food was, as usual excellent and our server last night, Simon, was great - fast, efficient and most affable. A lovely evening. read more

Ordered a simple dish where eggs were the main ingredient. Eggs were cooked completely wrong, as were the eggs of my companions dishes. The dish was tasteless and totally disappointing. read more

This is good Italian Food from a chain restaurant. The service is normally very good and wait staff are attentive. Their pizzas are wood oven baked and delicious. One of my favourite dishes is the lasagna. Quite a large portion. If you like to add some heat, ask for the chili oil. read more

This is not the Il Fornello I grew up with. I used to delight in their sun dried tomato pizzas, the best ceasar on town but no more. Now filled with noisy families, babies and toddlers, I feel more like I'm at a Kelsey's or Olive Garden. The food now mirrors these restaurants as well. And my beloved sun dried tomatoes? Not even on the menu anymore. The end of an era ... read more

I know it's a chain, but how can you not love Il Fornello on the Danforth? It's consistent, it's menu changes seasonally and the food is well priced and delicious. They also offer a brunch menu on the weekends at this location. Now I love Italian-style food with a capital L. That includes your basic noodles and sauce if I'm really in a jam, but some of the menu offerings at Il Fornello are so creative and they make sure with most pasta options to include a hit of protein (whether that be via legumes, dairy or meat) so that you're not filling up on carbs and then falling asleep at your table. They prepare well balanced meals at good prices, what more can you ask for? They also have pizzas cooked in a stone-fired oven and a great bar menu. The servers are sometimes a bit like Mike Myers in the Sprockets skits, but what they may only sometimes lack in service they make up for in deliciousness. This is another place where everything is fresh and made to order. A lot of restaurants won't make anything to order or deviate from their menu in any way- even if you have allergies or religious reasons for needing the alteration (YOU HEARD ME, TERRONI!). And like all good establishments, they keep whatever you're drinking flowing, provide lots of fresh water to drink and don't pressure you into feature items, appetizers or the like. They just let you do your thang. It's also beautiful inside and out, with a lovely patio for the warmer months and they hold their own version of Summer and Winterlicious, offering a three or four course prix-fixe menu. Definitely worth a visit (though I wouldn't recommend other locations as highly). read more

I wasn't impressed with the food here. The Fettucini Alfredo was nothing special at all. I would even go as far as saying it was pedestrian. After knowing what I paid for it I felt ripped off. Probably won't come back. read more

I love Il Fornello. I really do. But this location is the worst. We ordered the beet salad, (beets came from a can) and the chicken parmesan, for me , a veggie pasta in tomato sauce with no pasta noodles. My partners chicken was dry, and my veggie pasta was literally 3 broccoli trees and a couple of green beens (I can't have pasta noodles for health reasons, yes I can cook for myself, but we thought we would treat ourselves). This cost 40 dollars for pick up. Absolutely horrid. I keep trying to give this location a chance but, never again. read more

I like the spot, and the ambience. The booths are nice and the vintage-y entrance is a gem. I've been here twice. The first time I had the truffle pasta and that was this amazing melting truffley woody meaty like goodness. By the time I came back a few months later, it was no longer on the menu, which was a huge disappointment. I had the arugula fig proscuitto "fichi" pizza instead. UGH, do not come here for the pizza. Dominos and Pizza Hut makes better pizza than these guys. The crust was soggy, the pizza was made up of mostly arugula, you couldnt really taste the figs, lemon or the proscuitto. It was edible but bland. If you want great tasting pizza, go to Terronis, which is always solid or Pizza Libretto. The service was a hit and miss but generally passable. The Mohawk dark ale was really really good, a light refreshing brew. Amazing.. Bring back the truffle pasta!! read more

Came here for dinner on a weeknight evening. There is a pretty large patio which is great. Restaurant was surprisingly busy which was a good sign. I opted for the pizza funghi which was quite good. The lemon ricotta was a nice touch. Service was attentive. Pizzas are reasonably priced - they have a $10 deal for lunch and dinner on weekdays. I would definitely return if I was in the area! read more

Agree with Katie W. The last time I went, it was thanks to a gift certificate. Pasta was okay, nothing spectacular. Caesar Salad was watery and why don't they switch to whole wheat pasta? What I was really unhappy with was the bill - $60 for two people, with no booze for LUNCH. A $60 lunch?! Really? Yeah, I know that I didn't have to pay but still. For $60 you can go to a number of Danforth restaurants and get a much better deal than that - with booze!! read more

it's been many years that I enjoy with my family the great food at Il Fornello, and the warm welcome of Lisette. My favourites are the Caprese Salad, the Boconccini balls, the Chicken Parmigiana and the Lamb Chops. And nothing better to enjoy it with a Beringer Cabernet. And not to say about their great location on Danforth, in the wonderful Greek Town. I absolutely recommend it! read more

I've eaten here many times. The restraint is a nice casual place. The service has always been fine. Nothing over the top amazing but it has always been good. The food is good, again nothing amazing. I wouldn't say it is like home made Italian cooking but it is nice and fresh. I would come back here to eat if I was invited but I wouldn't choose Il Fornello's on my own. To many other great places to eat in the city. read more

Spaghetti carbonara at an Italian restaurant, with cut up pieces of sliced ham? Give me a break and for 18 dollars. The egg base was in a puddle in the bottom of the bowl and it was topped with pre grated fake Parmesan, YUK! It was so salty I couldn't eat it anyway and it was taken of my bill. My gf had a mushroom pizza that was baked with a puddle of ricotta or something in the middle, rather than spread out, so the center of the pizza was mush and inedible. How they run a kitchen of that poor standard, with those prices are beyond me. Maybe from the family parties with screaming kids, eating pizza which was half the patrons. I'm no chef but I could cook twice as good for half the price at home. Will never be back, would rather go hungry than eat there. read more

Great spot on the Danforth. Nice spot, great food and reasonable prices. I was impressed

Came here for a bday party. Food was ok. Too much salt for my liking and at $30 you would assume they would make a portion that is filling to a man of my size. Then our server kept screwing up the bill with things that we did not order. Not cool and I won't be returning. read more

This was my first time trying the place and it was actually pretty good. When I went it was around 3 on a Wednesday and it wasn't very busy. I ordered the (pizza) and my girlfriend ordered the (pizza) and we split the bruschetta. The bruschetta was pretty good but they packed it with too much tomato which overpowered the general taste. The pizza had perfect flavour and was the perfect balance between crunchy and soft. We ordered the Zeppole for dessert which takes longer than the other menu items but it's worth the wait. The service and wait staff was 10/10 and worth an extra star. They are very attentive and friendly. I would come back if I was in the area an craving Italian. read more

My daughter and I wanted the menu selection of the Queen Street Il Fornello, and that has recently closed, so we tried out the Danforth location. The choices are significantly greater. Kelly had a lovely Margherita pizza with fresh basil and buffalo mozzarella. She saved some to take home to her boyfriend because it was so tasty. The waitress could not tell me if the sea bass was from a sustainable source. I opted to have it as I felt that if there is demand, awareness will continue and we will harvest the fish responsibly. I hope this is not naiive. The fish was cooked to perfection but the cut was meagre. The escarole assemblage was delightful and old school, like Nana used to make. The place had a noisy end-of-the-week vibe, with lots of multi-generation groups. Eating from marble topped tables with the intimacy of incandescent filament bulbs and a generous number of atypical booth seating enhanced our experience. I had a glass of the Malbec which was an enjoyable accompaniment to the fish. read more

Il Fornello Danforth - Yelp accesses my photos but wouldn't let me edit this. Can you see the filament vibrating? - Italian Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

We had a lovely lunch here with our family. We were 11 adults and 3 kids and the staff was awesome. Really appreciate the service and patience. The pizzas were great too. A perfect spot if you're planning a lunch or dinner for a larger family gathering. read more

I've read other people's comment amd I must say I don't agree with some people. I think the food, at least the pizzas we ordered, were delicious. I loved the caesar salad. I do agree that the service is not amazing, but I've had much worse. I'm definitely going back to try other items in their menu! read more

I've been here many times over the years and the quality of food has gone down hill. My most recent experience: Had a get together with a few of my friends a while back - we came here because it was close to home. I had a pasta dish - I'm not sure how an Italian restaurant can mess up the most basic thing: cooking the pasta so that it is no longer raw. Well it happened. I couldn't finish my dish and was quite upset given this is not the first time where I had a disappointing meal here. My friends had pizza - nothing special. Like someone had mentioned in another review - for the price you pay you you expect to be impressed. Needless to say I've given enough chances - won't be coming back here again! read more

Had a great lunch here today. The food was delicous. Our server Marc was the best. Very friendly and professional. He made our lunch throughly enjoyable. Will most certainly be a repeat visitor read more

Wonderful experience. Affordable prices. Thoroughly enjoy the gluten free choices this establishment has to offer.