Il Forno

A true treat! Everything is delicious! Cooked fresh with high quality ingredients . Quick expedite and true traditional crispy crust pizza cooked out of a brick oven. Simple self serve system with great service and attention to detail. Presentation is also amazing. This spot deserves more than the five stars for its consistent great quality.

Initially, I called to find out what type of flour is used for their pizza. I was happy to hear from the chef/owner, Jason, that they used red wheat, non bleached, non -fortified AP flour. Their salads are deelish, pizza was made with love. The staff are very friendly. April answered the phone when I called and was very polite, helpful and informative. I look forward in patronizing this downtown gem. Great job, Mr. Jason, thank you for a nice dining experience.

I’m on a quest to find the best pizza in San Antonio and that led me to Il Forno. We started with the meatballs—these were SO delicious. Super flavorful. Then we shared two pizzas: the Verdura and the Intero. Both had great flavor and fresh ingredients.

What a pleasant surprise! While small and humble sized, this pizza shop offered a moderate selection of pizzas along with lots of sides, appetizers, and drinks. We loved their mushroom carbonara pizza, caprese salad, and pesto potato’s! The servers were very polite and our food came out without us waiting too long. Highly recommend this spot for great pizza!

Excellent! The dough was both soft and crispy. The toppings were well-balanced, and we could taste each flavour represented on our pizza. Great beverage choices, too! Servers were attentive and helpful. We noticed the beautiful vegetable gardens in the front as we walked out. Well done, y'all!

Went here last Saturday and got a couple pizzas, the meatballs, and the olives. Meatballs were a bit dry and not that flavorful, so minus half star for failing to execute one of the simplest Italian American staple dishes. They finished them in the wood oven, which was a nice touch, but the recipe needs work with respect to moisture, texture (they were a bit tough), and flavor. The pizza dough itself was not bad but it looked better than it tasted and I expected more of a crunch and some better fermentation. Minus half star there. I'd consider adding about 5-10% semolina to fortify it a bit. I guess we are just spoiled with my sourdough pizzas at home. Olives were quite good though - the seasoned olive oil that these are served with is very tasty, so great job there. It was really good drizzled over the bread that the meatballs come with. Also the house made pepperoni was pretty tasty, so nice work there, and I love that you have a garden on site for the herbs and such, very cool.

Don't judge a book by its cover! Forno is a 10-minute walk for us, and we forgot about it... We did a Thirsty Thursdays Event a few years back. It rocked then as it did again this week. We tried something different than the pizza and wasn't disappointed! We sat outside as inside was packed. Cool patio area to hang out at. As downtown residence for 15 years, we apologize for not supporting you more and will be back soon. Your rewards, in our opinion, well deserved.

Honestly, it's one of the best wood oven pizzas I have had in years, ok!! Photos from left to right the intero pizza, house meatballs with flat bread, pesto potatoes w/goat cheese, and the house salad.

This was my first time ordering from IL Forno. I was very excited after reading the reviews and seeing the pictures. I ordered the Parma, because I do love prosciutto. The topping were wonderful but unfortunately, the crust underneath and on the edges was so burnt that it overshadowed the lovely toppings. I do love wood-fired thin crust, but this was just a bit too charred for the toppings to stand out. I will try them again, because it has such possibilities to be the most delicious pizza ever! On the non-burned crust portions, it was the perfect balance of crunch and chew.

Il Forno - A Hidden Gem Worth Every Bite - Food and Staff Deserve 10-Stars You know you've stumbled upon something special when a restaurant can ditch the front-of-house staff and still make you feel like you've been hugged by a warm slice of perfection. Il Forno in Southtown is that place. No maître d'. No servers. Just a crew of insanely talented kitchen wizards who somehow manage to toss dough, pull mozzarella, bake pizzas, and deliver professional-level hospitality--all while juggling flaming-hot ovens. Seriously, are these people human, or did Southtown breed a secret superhero squad? And about those pizzas. Oh. My. Dough. Hands down the best in town. The crust is a miraculous feat of engineering: crisp enough to hold every topping like a champion, yet chewy enough to make your carb-loving soul weep tears of joy. The toppings? Nothing short of artisanal magic. We're talking house-pulled mozzarella that's so fresh it probably knows your first name, and local ingredients so good you'll want to stand up and slow clap for the farmers. Every bite feels like a passport stamp straight to Naples. If Il Forno doesn't already have a VPN certification, it should--because this is as authentic as it gets without hopping on a plane. Pro tip: if you're ordering pickup, go straight to their website. It's easy, up-to-date, and refreshingly clutter-free--unlike third-party apps, which are best saved for delivery emergencies. Il Forno's streamlined system keeps the ordering process as smooth as their marinara. Trust me, skip the middleman; your pizza will thank you. Bottom line? Il Forno is proof that good things don't need bells and whistles--they just need phenomenal food and people who care. Don't sleep on this place. Unless you hate pizza (in which case, I don't think we can be friends).

We're visiting SA for 2 days and we wanted pizza for dinner tonight. A local friend suggested Il Forno - so here we are! It wasn't very busy at 6:15 pm this Thursday night. We ordered at the counter and took seats at the long table with bench-type seating. Our server (April) came by with table service. She was super sweet and returned to check on us often. Staff let me take pics of the wood fired pizza oven and a pizza with an egg in the center, fresh out of the oven. Our salads came out quickly and were fresh and tasty. Pizzas took about 10 to 15 minutes to come out. They were hot and tasty. I got a chance to speak with co-owner Jacob for a few minutes after dinner. He and his partners are very proud of what they've created at Il Forno. From making their own sausage and pizza dough, the locally sourcing as much ingredients as they can, there's a lot of intentionality and what their doing here that make great pizza and more. There's a Neapolitan style pizza place we go to in Goshen, Indiana. It's very good as well - but I'm placing Il Forno above it. Read their Mission Statement on the wall before you enter, then decide for yourself if they're meeting their mission. I believe they are. Thank you Il Forno for a great tasting meal with great service!

My favorite pizza joint in town! I can't believe I hadn't written a review before but here it is. Il forno is unassuming and wonderful at their pizza craft. Ingredients are fresh and their food all homemade. I stopped by around 2 on Saturday. I got the verdura and margherita pizza. Both pizzas were delicious! Whilst I did not get their salad this time, I highly recommend. How I wish I had their vinegrette recipe. Parking is mostly street parking. Service is always friendly and fast. They've always got something playing on their projector inside. They don't have fountain drinks but do have bottled drinks, alcoholic and non. They do offer unsweet/sweet tea. They have a fantastic Happy hour menu and lunch specials. Do pay attention to the days they're open because they're limited. Come try fantastic pizza!

Tried this place for the first time and I have to say b6 far the best pizza in San Antonio. The place doesn't look like m7ch from the outside but when you walk in you feel you're eating at a friend's house. Everyone was friendly and welcoming. We tried the pizza americano and from the first bite I took i was blown away. The sauce is a simple red sauce but the flavor is not simple at all. Very fresh tasting tomato flavor and the crust was outstanding. Crispy and full of flavor. We didn't even have to wait long. We sat down and maybe 10 minutes later we were eating our delicious pizza. I highly recommend trying this place and you won't be disappointed

I would have left a 5-star review if it wasn't for one of the managers. But before we get to that let me break everything down. Food: 5 's Comfort: 4 's Customer service: 2 's (it would be higher other than the manager on duty. Had black chef outfit on, long hair, and beard (not chef jason) Very cocky attitude. Experience: 2 's. Food was excellent and gave me a sense of being in naples italy. So delicious. The experience with the manager (not chef jason) was interesting though. The staff committed a small mistake with our order and they tried to resolve it as best as possible. To the point that they made us believe that we were being compensated for the mistake (a potato). But the manager on duty made it a point that we would have to pay for the additional potato besides what the staff had said earlier. He came across snippy and with an attitude. I was ok paying for the extra potato . But the moment that made it uncomfortable was seeing him debate with 2 people who were about to dine in that had a pet. He asked if they were a service dog and the lady presented some sort of id. The manager instantly snatched the ticket and a cup from the male dining in and refunded their purchase and told them to leave. You can literally hear a pin drop after that incident. I don't know if this is common practice but be on the look out. I believe his name is Joel. Note: This incident should not discourage anyone to not come to the place. Food is still excellent.

Quality pizza and very quick service. They were able to complete my takeout order in 5-10 minutes. Particularly enjoyed the Entero and Fun Guy pizza - regular size. Got takeout, the cashier was friendly, and the place looked cozy and clean.

Love this place & need to come back! I met up with some friends here on a weekday and we had a fantastic time. The pizza is great- classic thin crust and made fresh. They have plenty of beer and wine to choose from as well as canned beverages that are mostly Texas brews. It can be a difficult area to park, and I'd imagine it would be especially bad on a weekend. The seating is great for large groups because there's a lot of bench style seating. The outdoor patio was also really nice and kept us comfortable.

The inside of the restaurant is very rustic. They have large benches for seating. This is a small locally owned neoplitan pizza shop where they take pride in their ingredients and the community. We came for a pizza making class and it was such a great experience. 10/10 recommend. You order right at the front register and there is a small quality menu to choose from. The pizza is unbelievable, tasty and fresh. A must try!

I got the Carbonara and my husband got the Entero, I believe. We both enjoyed our pizzas, I really don't have anything to complain about. Service was great and every one was so friendly! One of the best pizzas I have had!

If you're a true pizza lover, this place is an absolute must-visit! Hands down, the best Neapolitan-style pizza I've ever had. From the moment my order arrived, I could tell this was something special--the perfect balance of simplicity and bold flavors that define authentic Neapolitan pizza. The crust was perfection: light, airy, and beautifully charred with just the right amount of chew. You can tell it's made with high-quality dough, fermented to perfection, and baked in a scorching-hot oven that gives it that signature leopard-spotting. The sauce? Pure magic--bright, tangy San Marzano tomatoes with just a touch of sweetness, letting the fresh ingredients shine. And the mozzarella? Creamy, melty, and perfectly balanced with the flavors of fresh basil and high-quality olive oil. Every bite transported me straight to Naples. It's rare to find a place that stays so true to tradition while delivering an unforgettable, melt-in-your-mouth experience. Whether you're a purist who loves a classic Margherita or you like to explore creative toppings, this is the place to indulge in truly exceptional pizza. I'll definitely be coming back for more!

The hummus is amazing, however the portion size seems to have shrunk considerably and the price is now significantly higher. Please reconsider this change. It just isn't worth it.

Service: Needs improvement. We went in and saw there was not a lot of customers. Ordered two pizzas. Seated 7:50pm. No one checked on us but yet they looked over our table. They brought one pizza to our table 8:30pm. We were THEN notified that the other pizza was dropped & they'll bring another one out. They seemed nonchalant when it was mentioned and there was no sense of urgency. I just wished they cared to check our table and notified us of the wait. First pizza was warm but you can tell it has been sitting out for a little bit. The second pizza they brought out was fresh & hot. For pizza that are $17 to $20 each, you would expect great service and superior food. Food: It was good but not jaw dropping and not worth the wait. I do love that everything they put on the pizzas are house made/grown ingredients. Ambiance: Outdoor and indoor seating available. Nice ambiance.

You may be tempted to eat in the lovely garden outside, but if you eat inside you can watch them make your pizza in the wood-burning oven. That's what we chose to do tonight, and it was fascinating. We had the Americano (pepperoni) and it was anything but basic. We also had the chocolate mousse for dessert. The people are nice, service is fast, and the vibe is casual cool (flip flops and Tshirts are totally fine.)

Small pizza joint with big flavors. The pizzas run a little small but the quality of ingredients are top notch.

OMG! This is the best pizza I've ever had. I can see why they have all of the accolades like being the top 50 best pizza places in the USA. I went for the lunch special and was sad because I wanted more! I can't wait to go back for more pizza and sweet tea.

Super busy, pizza was on point, flat bread with sauce and pesto was excellent, pesto is mild and not overly garlicky. Potatoes with pesto and goat cheese were really good. Potatoes are well seasoned. Pizzas had a nice chew to the dough, and house sauce was not too acidic.

I was in San Antonio for a quick trip and I'm so glad I found this little gem. The interior was super relaxed and the staff was super friendly upon your arrival. There is also outdoor seating, but it was raining the day I went, so I couldn't take advantage of it. We got to try their margarita pizza and intero (similar to a meat lovers) pizza and it was delicious! The pizzas were made fresh and their ingredients tasted great. The crust was thin and there was a generous amount of toppings. Each pizza was about 12in and was the perfect amount for one person. If you're craving pizza and you're in the San Antonio area, I highly recommend this spot!!

It had been a minute and a half since I had eaten at Il Forno(2019). I am glad they are still alive and well. I was there for the happy hour special. I got a margarita pizza for $8 and a pint of beer for $4. The happy hour ends at 6:30pm. The pizza was very good and satisfying. The beer was good value. The service was excellent. I got everything I needed. The parking is limited to street parking. It's a great place for a big group,small group or just yourself. I would recommend giving them a try if you are in the South Town area.

Super laid back place with delicious pizza. The place was really busy when we went but our order didn't take as long as I was expecting it to. We got the Coppa pizza which had their house cured ham, ricotta, olives, and calabrian peppers. Absolutely delicious! Really great pizza and their specially made oven gives it a unique taste. It was a bit warm inside but better than being outside right now in this heat. They do to go orders and have beer and wine available. I saw a vegan pizza on the menu as well. Good to see that they have that option. Also they have a great happy hour during the week which I will definitely come back for! Highly recommend trying this place out.

Very tasty! Everyone is so nice and the food was delicious. I love the creativity in the pizza toppings. I can't do red sauce right now so I chose the Carbonara with the roasted garlic sauce. The pizza crust is so good you can taste the homemade. We started off with the antipasto and I'd come back for that alone with a glass of wine. The weather was perfect for eating al fresco and the music was a great selection of 80's, 90's and freestyle.

I'm down in San Antonio every other week. I've probably visited 15 different pizza joints in SA and generally like them all. But, I'm back in north Texas now and I can't quit thinking about the pizza I got Wednesday from Il Forno. A-mazing!!! I can't wait to get back down in two weeks. I need Il Forno ... SOON!!

Just picked up take out from here, but even as take out eating it 30 minutes later, this is the best pizza in San Antonio (and I'm a bit of a pizza snob!) The crust is perfectly doughy and crispy. The pizzas are unique with interesting flavor combinations. I had the Things Found Underground pizza - potato's, lemons, leek - never expected to be on a pizza but they worked together so well! The restaurant looked very cute and I will come back to eat inside next time!

A very much "hole in the wall" feeling, the pizza and meatballs were "exquisite." That is all.

Heck yeah. This place was awesome!! A friend and I went for lunch and loved it. They have a great lunch special that comes with pizza or flatbread sandwich with a salad and drink. We shared Piadina sandwich and Verdura pizza, as well as a chocolate mousse. The food was incredible! Will definitely be returning, would have loved to pair the meal with some wine. The staff was very friendly. We went shortly after they opened at 11:30 on a Thursday and it wasn't busy at all. Has a cozy feeling in the restaurant with a mix of community and private tables. They also have a patio if you'd prefer outdoor seating as well. Excited to return here again!

You have to eat here! The Calabrese Hummus (comes spicy) is absolutely some of the best I have ever tasted. The is cooked perfect , non of that burnt tasting bottom crust like other places.

hands down best pizza I've ever had. I've gone almost ten times since I moved here in July. You order at the counter and sit down so there's always space and the service is great. I went in a group of five and we ordered 4 diff pizzas it was amazing. The garlic sauce ones are good I could only have one slice because they were very garlicky but the taste was delicious. I also always get the caprese salad and it never disappoints. Over the summer they had a watermelon feta salad that I was obsessed with. Will be coming back for sure.

Easily the best pizza in Texas. Seems a bit out of the way, it's never disappointed. Can not recommend it enough.

Wow! I assumed the pizza would be great but stop and get the pesto potatoes and the kolsch on tap, then dine under the grapevine and your night will be complete. I'm in love!

I believe this Pizza parlor was just rated #24 in the US. (Robb Report/Jun 27, 2024) So I had to check it out! Let's just start that this was an expensive pizza ($19 for a 12 inch pizza) that was a pure failure. Think I'm biased--see the attached pictures. I went in on a Saturday afternoon--it wasn't busy and everyone was very nice. I was very excited to see what they had to offer. The top part of the pie looks perfect (pic 1), the bottom was definitely under cooked (pic 2). When you pick up a slice, if you don't use two hands, the topping fall off immediately (pic 3). And the worst part is the crust was soaked, I mean soaked, with grease (see pic 4). And... the pepperoni didn't have much flavor. When I picked up my first slice, all the topping fell off and I wondered if I had ordered pizza or soup. Some will think this is a harsh review--look at the attached picture from Jun 29, 2024--and you decide.

Americano pizza with pepperoni was good but not great. Served lukewarm but had a good taste. Salad was tangy but good. Service was great, well attended at the table

Il Forno is by far one of my favorite neapolitan style pizzas in San Antonio! This is not your average pepperoni pizza shop, II Forno offers generous layers of delicious toppings on a chewy, thin crust pizza (very similar to naan bread). My favorites include: - Carbonara Pizza: roasted garlic, guanciale, porto, onion, parm, fontina & egg - Americano Pizza: pomodoro, mozzarella & pepperoni - Entero Pizza: all of the house cured meats with mozzarella Additionally, they offer salads, pesto potatoes, hummus, meatballs, marinated olives, and flatbread with red sauce & pesto (get this and extra sauce to dip your pizza in.. trust me on this one).

Can't beat a fresh personal pizza. Been going for years and will continue to rave about this place. It's not too pricey for what you're getting and you're guaranteed a hearty pizza. I appreciate the self serve water station and their selection of drinks covers a lot of bases.

Hands down the best pizza you're gonna find in San Antonio. (Still does not compare to NYC pizza, but definitely worth the trip here!) They have a Happy Hour menu on weekdays, which includes draft beer, wine, margherita pizza, pepperoni pizza, and antipasto. I've been here a couple times, and the quality of the ingredients is very consistent, as well as the pizzas themselves. The carbonara pizza, which is not on the happy hour menu, was quite yummy, but I will probably stick to margherita and pepperoni in the future. It wasn't worth the price difference in my opinion. There is self-seating both inside and outside, with a self-serve water station indoors. I quite like that you can see the open kitchen and the pizzas being made in front of you as you dine.

We absolutely love this place. The pizza is probably one of the best tasting we have had and we know our pizza! I love how the ingredients on the pizza are so creative and tasty. Have I mention the pizza dough? Soft, chewy and flaky at the same time. Definitely will be repeat customers!

The pizzas are tasty but small for the price. The appetizers were worth it though. They have a small selection of beer and wine.

Updated review: sticking w the three stars. Just not a hug variety to chose from. Restaurant is very small with limited seating, and gets very hot inside. The crust was still my favorite part.

This place was amazing. That was one of the best pizzas I ever had in my life and I am a snob when it comes to pizza. The meatballs for an appetizer were so good my husband and I were fighting over the the last on. I asked the cashier which pizza he recommends because every chocie sounded good. I opted for the one that was infused with lemon and potatoes. Sounds weird at first, but when I started eating it my taste buds were jumping. Idk it's almost like that specific pizza is an aphrodisiac. You gotta gave a sexy pallate to like it maybe. Idk!!! But soooo good!

Some of the best pizza that I've ever had. Right when we walked in, we were greeted by the very friendly staff, and they took care of everything we needed and explained everything. I would highly recommend this place.

Literally the best pizza and antipasto I have had in San Antonio or anywhere in Texas. I had never been here before bc it's a ways from where I live, but man this place is fire. It's warm inside, but it's cute! The people are so friendly be chill. The red wine I got was delicious. So apparently they grow all of their veggies and stuff there in their own garden and use it for the salads and pizzas. I'm not even lying...EVERYTHING WAS DELICIOUS! People are def sleeping on this spot! GO TRY IT!!! I imagine in the fall This place is DEF A SPOT TO BE AT bc there's outdoor seating also.

Everything is so fresh and new and so good! I ordered the meatballs and the Americano Pizza and the dough is so fresh. The meatballs were hot and spicy. Definitely recommending to family and friends.

If you ever find yourself on a Tuesday evening venture down south to Alamotown--perhaps even to buy a wetsuit from Facebook Marketplace--and you need a dinner rec... look no further than Il Forno pizzeria. Neapolitan style with house made pep and sausage (that's right, they tried it at home!) and if you order two they come STACKED. A double decker, south-central-Texas-meets-Mediterranean-coastal-Italy crossover episode for the ages. Tested the Americano (pepperoni) and carbononara (fried egg and all!). Come to mama!

We finally tried this place and we should have a long time ago! Such a cute spot. The patio was adorable and green. We didn't sit outside because it looked it like might rain, otherwise we would have. The inside is cozy and minimal. Order at the counter and they bring you food. Excellent wine list. Pesto potatoes were such a tasty starter. We had the margarita pizza and some meaty one that I can't remember the name of. They were both delicious and food came out without having to wait too long. This is definitely a go to for us now anytime we want quality pizza at a reasonable price with amazing wine.

After several hours of playing at Hemisfair park, we were looking for pizza. Yelp reviews had this ranked high and close by and it did not disappoint! Warm olive appetizer was yummy and something we had never tried before. The caprese salads were so fresh and shareable amongst 3-4 people. But the pizzas were the highlight! We ordered 4 pizzas for 10 of us and it was just the right amount. The Quad and Parma were our favorites but the Americana and Carbonara were great too! We wanted to sit outside but the sun was really warm today. The inside is very quaint and smelled so good. Plus we were able to easily sit our large group. I would certainly recommend this spot for pizza!!

Absolutely delicious. I wanted to try this place out since they were recently featured as a top 50 of best wood fired pizza places in the US. Man they knocked the ball out of the park. We tried 3 different pies and they were all just spectacular. But man the hummus!! It was in a class of its own. I have never had hummus so delicious. It has such a smoky flavor. We stopped in with the 2 boys and they were equally bedazzled with the meal. If you are visiting San Antonio you must make this a stop.

Yasss that pesto potato dish is delicious! literally a baked potato with sgoat cheese and pesto goodness! Definitely recommend. Pizza was not bad and what made this pizza kivk...that chili sauce! It's so good, they have it for sale...and yes I bought some! The outside has vines of grapes draped everywhere, and the service was nice! Coming back for the potatoes for sure!

It is a quaint little place with fabulous pizza! I had white wine and my husband had red and we both thought they were great. The margarita pizza and the pepperoni pizza were both fantastic!!

I was recommended this restaurant by a co-worker and it didn't disappoint! I went with my boyfriend and then I took my friends back the following week. We love the atmosphere and the food is A+. There was nothing that we didn't like.

The Americano Pizza is ON POINT. One of the best pies I've had. Their beer selection is outstanding (if you're into IPA's for sure give TUPPS Fresh Squeezed Juice Pack a go) and their turnover time is incredible. You guys rock