Il Fornaio

We had the Pappardelle alla Norcina con Pollo and the Linguine Mare Chiaro. The Pappardelle had a rich truffle aroma and a creamy sauce — the chicken and mushrooms were tender and full of flavor. The Linguine Mare Chiaro featured fresh seafood in a light tomato sauce with great balance. Both dishes were beautifully presented and well-prepared. We sat outside by the fire, which made the atmosphere warm, cozy, and classic.

Love the food here, tasty! Their customer service is excellent. They also have a nice collection of Italian wines, and the one we chose turned out to be excellent. I love that they have plenty of seating areas where you sit inside or outside with a covered patio, and you watch the beach and sunset! Beautiful views.

We went with friends to celebrate a birthday. Two of us ordered one of the specials the lobster & shrimp with a brandy cream sauce. Unfortunately the lobster was chewy so either it was a bit old or overcooked. I thought the brandy cream sauce would be more of a white sauce. It had a red sauce that wasn’t special. I didn’t say anything since I didn’t want to ruin the party but the special was $50 and I should have ordered something else. We drove from over an hour away so not worth it for the food. The view was great & waiter good.

Review from a European: More American than Italian Really loved the service. I came in with a baby so was a little nervous but a young lady looked after me wonderfully! The food was so-so. Had pizza and lovely wine. The diavolo style pizza was American style with lots of hot sauce all over it (which I had to remove with napkins 😅) but I enjoyed it anyway. Great service, but probably wouldn’t rush back for the food. Super if you like American style :)

The spot is great for a cozy Italian dinner with a beautiful view of the ocean. The minestrone soup was pretty tasty. The pasta was fresh and well-made. And the tiramisu was creamy and sweet. The servers were nice and professional, and the atmosphere was great! I would definitely recommend visiting this place for a nice dinner date if you’re craving some good Italian food in Del Mar area.

Amazing restaurant with wonderful ambiance, delicious food and beautiful views! We went there for our anniversary dinner date and the staff was extremely nice, and accommodating to our needs since we had a toddler. The bruschetta was delicious, the pasta was so well made and the dessert was perfect! We had the specials dessert - the chocolate mousse and it was superb. My husband had made reservations in advance and they even decorated our table. We forgot to take a lot of pictures of the food because it looked tooo good and we started eating it right away lol. Highly highly recommend to everyone!

We made a reservation to celebrate my mom’s birthday, and the staff and service were excellent. Everyone was kind and attentive. Unfortunately, the food was very disappointing. We visit the Coronado location quite often and expected the same quality here in Del Mar, but it didn’t come close. I ordered the beef in wine sauce, and the meat was bland and a bit cold. The lasagna, on the other hand, was very hot on the outside but completely cold on the inside, almost as if it had been pre made and just reheated in a microwave. It also had no real meat flavor, it mostly tasted like mushrooms. We didn’t want to say anything at the moment since it was a birthday celebration and we didn’t want to ruin it, but honestly, no one at our table was happy with their meal. Hopefully things improve, because we really enjoy Il Fornaio in general but we probably won’t be coming back to this location anytime soon.

The pasta was so, so, so good. Huge thank you to Blake for the amazing service. He was attentive, friendly, and made the whole experience even better. We felt taken care of from start to finish and cannot wait to come back.

From their, to their meatballs, I had a wonderful experience. If you didn't know, Il Fornaio's invented to tiramisu in Treviso Italy. I've eaten at the restaurant in Treviso Italy and it is unbelievable. Their food is quality and worth exploring. Can't wait till I return.

They have a bomb happy hour. Yummy and affordable bites and 8 bucks for a glass of wine. And the perfect view. The bartenders are very friendly. It's a large space so you could easily have an event there. I'm still dreaming about their fried mac and cheese. They call it something different which I can't recall but it also has momozzarella for an added twist

Had dinner here recently with a girlfriend and it was delicious. Arrived around 730pm on a Saturday to a busy restaurant but no wait for 2. We shared the Polpettine (meatballs) and Fiori di Zucca (fried stuffed zucchini) for appetizers, the Rigatoni Alla Vodka pasta for our entree and Spumoni ice cream for dessert. Everything tasted amazing. The meatballs were soft and flavorful, the zucchini had melty cheese inside, the pasta was cooked perfectly and the spumoni was a delicious palate cleanser to end the night. I also had their Italian Margarita cocktail and it tasted so good and nothing like I've had before. Service was okay that night for us. It didn't match how great the food was. The waiter greeted us as we got seated but took a long time to take our order, despite walking by and making eye contact a few times. We didn't get checked up on a lot but the interactions we did have with him were friendly. Restaurant is nice and clean with indoor and outdoor dining

We came to celebrate two birthdays, the food was all well prepared and delicious. We had a fabulous meal and impeccable service. Bernardo was intuitively available but never hovering. Recommend.

Ugh. We used to go here all the time. Was SO looking forward to a great date night. Got seated next to the expediting window (no worries at first), not bad except the trashy trash can we had to stare at the whole time. Service was spotty. This place is NOT the classy place it used to be. It operates like a chain. Food is decent but don't expect anything remotely special.

This place is so easily overlooked because of the Monarch bar up front, however, views are equally stunning. Food is also on par! My friend and I stopped by there to celebrate my birthday and we got vanilla gelato with chocolate swirl on the house which was much appreciated. My friend also could not find anything she wanted on the menu (no restaurant's fault just one picky friend ) and wanted basic alfredo - kitchen was kind enough to accommodate.

Quiet day at IF. Seated at an excellent table with a great view of the Pacific. We were there for lunch. Food: good not great but good. Ordered the Bruchetta, a side of bread and the tagliatelle. Food was deliver promptly and very hot. We shared a meal and the portion sizes were perfect for two. Service: excellent. With so many choices I may not return soon. Seafood is really my first choice.

I really enjoy coming here. We have been coming here for more than 20 years. The food is always delicious, and the portions are quite big recently we have been and the chef was very good cooked the seafood perfectly seasoned perfectly as well, which is very hard to find these days. I highly recommend everyone to come here they have a beautiful view, and the food is delicious.

my favorite Italian place in this area. And our server, Bernardo, was such a delight!

Sat down in outside bar area. It was a busy Saturday night, so it was not very quiet. They let you bring your dog on the outdoor patio which is a huge bonus. A bartender took our wine order, then got busy, Franco took over. He was awesome! Very attentive. We ordered two glasses of wine which we did not like and Franco replaced those no questions asked. New wine was good. Food was delicious! Really good and fresh calamari and my butternut squash ravioli was amazing.

Wonderful ambiance overlooking the Pacific sunset, with very attentive wait staff and really good food. We weren't all that excited about the $25 corkage fee, but at the end of the evening we were all very pleased with the whole experience.

It used to be pretty good. It's been a while so we popped in for lunch. Pasta was overcooked and mushy, and when we asked for it to be redone al dente, we were given a bit of an attitude from the server. I'm not a really fond of paying for bread and an Italian restaurant. They forgot to check in our reservation which we did through OpenTable so I had to work through all that. Not horrible, but not great, and with all the Italian options around town, I don't think we will be back.

Dinner was amazing! I definitely recommend the gnocchi. Bernardo's service was the best! The vibes inside and on the patio are both great.

Il Fornaio is a solid upscale chain. It was our first time at this location and the third floor setting in Del Mar Plaza didn't disappoint with a memorable sunset view. Their calamari fritte is excellent. We also enjoyed the veal and seafood pasta. Cheesecake dessert was a lovely finish. Shout out for excellent bar service while waiting for our reservation. The tall, blonde female barkeep was awesome. She helped us select the perfect wines by the glass for our red and white palettes. Much appreciated!

Thank you Giovanni for the incredible meal for our friend's birthday!!! Chloe met us at the door and gave us inside or outside options and we started the party up. Great wine better food and a bunch of laughs. It's a beautiful space overlooking the ocean at Del Mar and beyond. Magical. Service pace in the beginning at a tad slow, but you walked and took over. The chefs did the rest. What a birthday night for our Omaha bud. Limoncello shots to end, it's the only way? Gratzi!!!!

We ordered the vodka pasta, gnocchi appetizer, and cristina pizza. All were great and Bernardo was amazing!

Amazing experience! We came for cocktails and Robert came to our table to help us! He was so amazing we decided to stay for dinner! If you go, he makes a mean pumpkin martini!

I love Il Fornaio in Del Mar! The rigatoni pasta with vodka sauce was amazing, I could have it every night for dinner. And our server, Bernardo, was fantastic! So friendly and attentive. He made sure our kiddo was happy and got her dinner out asap. And the bar tender, Robert, is so friendly. He makes you feel like you're with friends. The whole thing was lovely. Highly recommend this spot!

My wife and I celebrated our wedding anniversary last night at Il Fornaio. Bernardo was attentive and made us feel at home. My wife has several severe food allergies, including nuts, and the chef and staff were so respectful of them! They came out multiple times to make sure we were comfortable with the options and even suggested the homemade gluten free penne to insure no cross contamination would occur! This alone will have us returning to the restaurant. We were seated at the window overlooking the ocean at sunset which was beautiful. I know some complain about it being slow but honestly we enjoyed our time at Il Fornaio and it reminded us of our recent trip to Europe. The food was absolutely delicious and perfectly proportioned. Thank you for a wonderful evening Bernardo! We will be back!

It was a very busy day here, some big horse race going on nearby. The service was excellent and the food mediocre. We would not come back here.

Had a nice time here tonight, hostess and waitstaff were all skilled and warm without overdoing it, food was good, wine was good. Sat and watched the sunset on Del Mar beach and was surprised that a place with such good food and atmosphere didn't hit my wallet too hard. My wife really enjoyed the cocktails and I liked everything we tried, especially the ARANCINI CON CREMA DI PISTACCHIO (sorry, copied and pasted and it's in caps) and the GNOCCHI GRATINATI and Cristina Pizza. It's a return trip for sure.

They have a good happy hour. You really can't beat their prices. There are nice views and the staff is friendly. I had a Sicilian mule and it was delicious. I'd go back just for that!

This is a must stop by restaurant in the Del Mar area. Fantastic eats with a great atmosphere. Service was also exceptional.

Delicious. Excellent view and ambiance. Perfect service .. thanks Bernardo and crew!!

Excellent experience. We visited for happy hour. This is a beautiful spot with a nice vibe overlooking the ocean. What more could you ask for? Our waiter, Robert, was one of the highlights. He was so upbeat and personable. We ordered a small pizza, the vodka sauce pasta, bread, bruschetta, and few drinks on happy hour. Chef's kiss. Please note that the appetizers on happy hour ARE THE SAME SIZE AS THE REGULAR MENU ITEMS. They are not sized down for happy hour. The most notable food item was certainly the pasta. I look forward to my next trip to this spot and definitely recommend.

We stopped in for dessert and did the affogato. Delicious. We enjoyed the fire, the view and the atmosphere. Thank you. Romantic spot.

One of my favorite Italian restaurants to visit. Consistent quality. Like the minestrone and carpaccio the most.

Our server Bernardo was very hospitable and paid very good attention to my table. We had a lovely experience!

Unbeatable calamari, hard to impress an Italian person with pasta, but they did!! I tried the short rib ravioli, and I'm definitely getting that next time! It was insanely flavorful. The italian margarita made my night. It was such a wonderful experience and a great way to spend a special occasion. The vews and ambiance are unbeatable, I feel special when I eat here! Grazie mille, Il Fornaio!!!

I've been to this location and few times and sadly it's hit or miss. However, I went a few weeks ago and it was amazing! I had the Rigatoni alla Vodka and it was the best vodka pasta I've ever had. My friends and I sat at the bar and the service was great. We were also able to see the sunset from our seats which was perfect.

We went for a work party and they were more than accommodating. We had the patio reserved, but it was a rare raining day in S.D. and they sectioned offa part of the restaurant to move us indoors. Very cool, since it was freezing outside! The service was pretty good for such a large party. Never really had to wait a long time for drinks, meals or anything else. Food was tasty and full of flavor. Dessert was amazing.

Found was perfect, service was awesome, will definitely be back for Bernardo - he was very attentive.

Sage was amazing! Great food and cocktails Make sure to order the calamari as an app

Excellent date night spot last night! Stopped in before a concert at the fairgrounds for dinner. We had the Tartara di Tonno and Insalata di Pere as appetizers and the Ravioli Zucca e Amaretto and Linguini Mare Chiaro as entrees. Everything tasted amazing and was cooked to perfection. Well done chefs! The managers Monique, Angela and Heather all checked in on our table to make sure we were having a wonderful evening and our server Haruka was top notch! My girlfriend and I both highly recommend. Thank you Il Fornaio Del Mar, you made our evening perfect!

Nice spot, scenic and there's a parking garage with free parking for up to 1hr. I went without a reservation and the polite staff seated me pretty quickly in the covered patio. I had high expectations that weren't met, but it wasn't terrible. Got the seafood mixed grill and everything was fried and quite greasy (as you can see from the pic). Also the scallops were over cooked and rubbery. The flavor was there, it just wasn't what was advertised on the menu.

Bernardo was an amazing server. So attentive and great. I highly recommend you ask for him. He made a normal Monday night so much better!

I came in last week and my server Gena was so amazing, I genuinely felt like it was the best service Ive ever had. Its rare when you have a server at a restaurant that makes your experience so happy and shows you a good time. I feel like I wouldve had such a different experience if she wasnt my server. I plan to come back just to see her, I had so much fun and enjoyed my experience. Besides the ambiance and food which was amazing, I think the service was ultimately what made my experience worth writing a review. Thank you Gena for making my night! I had to come back here a week later and write a review! Make sure you get the Bruschetta and Calamari!!!

Had a wonderful dinner at this restaurant! Food was delicious and service was impeccable. Our server Bernardo was friendly, courteous, and his service was top notch. Highly recommend!

Bummer that I forgot to take pictures. The restaurant was very quiet for a Saturday evening. The salmon was ok and the pasta (we were thinking linguine and clams) was also ok. It was in a tomato based sauce and also had other seafood. They were able to modify and take out the scallops due to allergy. However the cheesecake was PHENOMENAL!!!!!! I would go back just for dessert to enjoy this. The service was awesome and we stayed to chat for almost 3 hours and we did not feel rushed at all. The view was fantastic too.

Had a wonderful dinner with my sister Friday evening, and everything was perfect. The food, ambiance and customer service were top notch. Robert was our server and he made sure our experience was unforgettable. Will definitely be returning in the future!

Rigatoni alla vodka was one of the best pasta dishes I've ever had. Really wanted panna cotta, but the semifreddo di tozzetti was closest option to that and it did not disappoint. Service was friendly and observant - always there when we needed something. Location is great, though it's a bit hidden behind the Monarch and other restaurants.

The place is very good, we went with my family. Also the service and attention of Mr. Franco was excellent. Thank you.

Had to shout out the terrific time we had here. Good food. Nice ambience. And terrific service from Franco!

Excellent service franco!! Gre..at atmosphere just makes the food taste even better. We'll have to bring the rest of the family.Excellent location

Franco provided amazing service and our experience was wonderful! He was so knowledgeable about the menu items and gave us a perfect run down of what we'd like. I would definitely come back and be sure to ask for him! I got tiramisu and it was made in house and so fresh and delicious.

They have a really great gluten free selection which is hard to find with most Italian foods. The ambiance was nice and wine options were great. I gave it one less star since the service could have been better. I dined here with my pregnant friend and sadly they kept forgetting she asked for water which was kinda sad. I practically had to beg for water for her at the end by walking to the kitchen.

I had been here once before but this time really exceeded all expectations! Everything we ordered was so delicious! From the short rib ravioli to the lasagna to the vodka pasta. I can't wait to come back. We made reservations in advance and they sat us in the covered patio, which has a fabulous view of the ocean and sunset! It was a busy night, and a bit loud but overall a great experience. I will definitely be coming back very soon!

I walked in and was sat in the patio. The view is spectacular. I ordered the caprese and the basket of bread. Went to town on it! So delicious. But the best part, other than the view, was Bernardo. His service was impeccable. He was friendly and engaging. Best service I've had in quite a while! Highly recommend this location and ask for Bernardo, you won't be disappointed.

I had a 24 guest party last Sunday at lunch time at the Coronado location. The food was excellent, the banquet manager Antonella and her assistant Sunny made muy life easy when I HAD TO GO UP FROM 22 guests to 24 The servers Alfredo and Ricardo did a fantastic job and my husband had a very happy Birthday I have been a regular at this restaurant because is always as expected. Thanks Il Fornaio team. Great job!