Il Fornaio - Palo Alto Restaurant - Palo Alto, CA

Il Fornaio - Palo Alto

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Address:
520 Cowper Street
Palo Alto, CA 94301

Neighborhood:
Palo Alto

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Cuisine:
Italian

Price: $30 and under

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Il Fornaio - Palo Alto Details

Dining Style: Casual Dining
Website: http://ilfornaio.com
Email: info@ilfornaio.com
Phone: (650) 853-3888
Hours of Operation: Breakfast: Monday - Friday: 7:00am - 10:30am, Saturday - Sunday: 8:00am - 11:00am; Lunch: Sunday - Saturday: 11:30am - 5:00pm; Dinner: Sunday - Thursday: 5:00pm - 10;00pm, Friday - Saturday: 5:00pm - 11:00pm
Payment Options: AMEX, Carte Blanche, Diners Club, Discover, MasterCard, Visa
Cuisine: Italian
Dress Code: Casual Dress
Accepts Walk-Ins: Yes
Additional Details: Banquet/Private Rooms, Bar Dining, Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cafe, Counter Seating, Full Bar, Happy Hour, Non-Smoking Area, Non-Smoking Restaurant, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Personal wines welcome (corkage fee applies), Private Room, Takeout, Weekend Brunch, Wheelchair Access, Wine
Catering: Off-site catering available. Please contact Event Coordinator for more details.

Getting there

Cross Street: Hamilton
Public Transit: Cal Train
Parking: Valet
Parking Details: Valet parking is available for $10. In addition, there is also the hotel parking lot, as well as a public lot available.

A word from Il Fornaio - Palo Alto

Il Fornaio means "The Baker" in Italian. This award-winning restaurant offers an authentic and unique dining experience. Specialties include wood-fired rotisserie and grilled meats, poultry and game; housemade pastas; pizzas from an oak wood burning oven; fresh salads and housemade soups; a wide… variety of desserts; and fresh baked bread made daily from scratch. Winner of the Wine Spectator Award of Excellence 2007.Continued

Foodspotting photos

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Awards voted by OpenTable diners

Diners' Choice WinnerMost Booked

Diner Reviews

"I never been to the Palo Alto one. I have been to the Burlingame one and I remember the food was decent. But this time, none of our food were worth mentioning. I only made this reservation cause I couldn't get another restaurant that I originally wanted to book."
Dined on 3/10/2014
"Consistently good experience. Service was a little slower than I've experienced in the past, especially at the beginning and end of the meal."
Dined on 3/10/2014
"Went for a late business lunch and was genuinely pleased to be able to spend an exceptional amount of time talking - before ordering lunch. Service was attentive, and unobtrusive. We were seated in the "Piazza" courtyard area. Noise level was low, and we felt at ease discussing business matters without being listened to. We were there almost 3.5 hours, which must really have tested the patience of the staff, but we felt no pressure to hurry up and go. The Piazza is a pleasant semi-outdoor area of the restaurant, which feels airy and very calm. If one is going to go to a "chain" restaurant, this is one which simply doesn't feel like part of a corporate culture."
Dined on 3/8/2014
"A warm welcome, our favorite table and a basket of hot bread and buns with fragrant olive oil. I had "Ravoli De Melanzane" and my husband had "Battuta Di Pollo All’aglio E Limone." Which is chicken with lemon, garlic and olive oil. My husband raved about the sauce. he loved the chicken. I had to taste it. We enjoyed our meal! For dessert we chose our favorites. Mine was "Gelati Misti" - one scoop of rich Dark Chocolate and one scoop of oh so good, Vanilla Bean Gelato and one scoop of fruity Raspberry Sorbet. My husband's was "Spumone Gelato." He loves it so much and orders it every time."
Dined on 3/8/2014
"Our entire family has been coming to Il Fornaio since they opened many years ago. Everything is consistently good -- food, service. It feels like a neighborhood place, with the buzz of Silicon Valley occurring at the next table. A nice mix."
Dined on 3/6/2014
"Seven of us gathered for lunch to celebrate a birthday! The service was excellent and the food was wonderful! Thank you very much! Jane"
Dined on 2/24/2014
"The Palo Alto Il Fornaio hosted a lively Mardi Gras Night, complete with masks and magicians and a special menu."
Dined on 3/4/2014
"This is very good Italian Restaurant. I like the soup and beef it is excellent"
Dined on 3/1/2014
"Dinner service was very slow. From the time we were seated until any food arrived took 1 hour. I do not recommend this restaurant."
Dined on 3/1/2014
"This used to be a favorite date night/special occasion destination. But our party of four dined on oily, oversalted food served by an unctuous waiter. We were initially shown to a table by the bathroom, and when I asked if there was anything else, were moved to the back room. I've been to meetings in that back room -- it's fine for a business get-together, but a little bright and plain for an upscale restaurant experience. My pasta dish: rubbery ravioli bathed in canned tomato sauce. Il Fornaio is ok for a business lunch but I'm not going back for dinner."
Dined on 2/28/2014
"What more could one want -- polite, helpful, and knowledgeable staff, but not intrusive, excellent food, pleasant surroundings, and reasonable pricing."
Dined on 2/27/2014
"We look forward to eating at Il Fornaio every time we come to Palo Alto to visit our daughter. It's always fabulous in every way: the food, the service, the ambience. Highly recommended!"
Dined on 2/22/2014
"Great Restaurant in Palo Alto. The food is always delicious."
Dined on 2/19/2014
"We dined here on a weekday night, not very busy but the service was too hurried and food had too much sauce."
Dined on 2/17/2014
"Perhaps we got this place on a bad night! We arrived on time with a party of 7, one of whom was an elderly lady. After being told to wait for 5-10 mins for the table to be ready in an empty restaurant we had to sit by the drafty door until called, ( no apology in sight!) . Overall food was tasty ( except for the stale bread rolls) . Service was inattentive for example, the wrong wine selection arrived after the entree! Not sure we will go back to see if this was just a bad night or what to expect!"
Dined on 2/16/2014
"Went there for a special occasion. Arrived on time for our reservation. Checked in, was told they needed just a moment, please have a seat in the bar. 15 minutes later I went back to discover they had forgotten us, and given all the tables in the front right section but one to the people that came after us. We asked for that table, but were told "A doctor called and reserved that table." Neither of us were doctors, so we waited. We tried to sit near the kitchen, but it was loud and crazy, then the patio, but the heaters were so hot that it was uncomfortable. After several more attempts we took the table near the kitchen. 2 drinks, 2 salads and 2 pastas took 2 hours and were average at best. This place used to be much better. Sad."
Dined on 2/15/2014
"Went to Il Forniao in Palo Alto and were greeted promptly and seated right away. The table was very snug for five and also felt very We ordered a pizza to share and it was amazing, then our main dishes came and everyone was delighted. The calzone could have fed 2 or 3 people. I expecially like that the pasta entrees came in a small and a larger serving. I had the small ravioli and it was just perfect. All in all, we will return to Il Forniao."
Dined on 2/11/2014
"It was a dark and rainy Winter evening and then we went into the warmth of Il Fornaio. A welcome and a basket of warm bread, rolls and fine olive oil to dip them in. Heavenly "Gnocchi di Bietole a Spinaci" which is tiny spinach and beet dumplings in a wonderful cheese/garlic/mushroom sauce with crispy sage leaves. The most delicious Valentine dessert of "Fondente ai Tre Cuori" which is dark flourless chocolate cake with white chocolate and mixed berry gelee hearts. So good! Our favorite waiter and his crumb vanishing trick. He is such a professional! My husband enjoyed "Anaira alla Perugina" which is wood-fired rotisserie duck with a citrus sauce and roasted potatoes among the vegetables. His favorite dessert of "Spumone Gelato.""
Dined on 2/8/2014
"We wanted to take a newly-widowed friend out to dinner, especially to a quiet place where we could talk and have a good dinner. It was perfect for that."
Dined on 2/4/2014
"My date and I were given a special table, the orange one, which means one gets to try a few free orderves. These were things we might not otherwise have tried and they were excellent...I can't recall the Italian names. The main course was excellent as well, and the the servers went out of their way to be provide a good dining experience."
Dined on 2/7/2014
"Il Fornaio is always a great experience. We sit at the bar for dinner and the staff is the BEST and very attentive! Food delicious"
Dined on 2/5/2014
"Great service and great food. I loved this place as I was here with a group of 10 people (customers) and the service we got was excellent. Thank you!"
Dined on 2/4/2014
"For the first time since our recent trip to Italy, we had a great pizza served really hot, just like Italy. Our meal tonight was a combination of things which we shared and it was all very good. We've dined here frequently and have enjoyed every meal."
Dined on 1/24/2014
"To start out they did not have any of the 3 drinks I wanted prior to the meal (Baileys, white Zinfandel or Muscato) Wait person wanted us to order our meal before we even were served the appetizer. We felt rushed. My dinner was barely warm. I ordered regular coffee while my two friends ordered Cappachino. the waitress brought us all Cappachinos. After I left the restaurant I did not feel well and after getting home continued to not feel well. I was ok in the morning. I am not sure if it was something I ate. I would not go back to this restaurant. It was quite pricey and I didn't feel the food or the experience was worth the price."
Dined on 1/18/2014
"I have tried Il Fornaio for lunch before and i liked it so I booked this place thinking brunch would be good too but it was really diappointing. First of all, the server was not courteous at all. We ordered our food, i asked for cholestrol free scrambled egg. He brought the food but gave my dish to someone else who ordered omelette. I could see that he mixed so i asked him which one is the scrambled egg. He insisted mine was correct, we looked at each other and ignored the server since he had no cluse what everyone ordered so among each other we switched. We were expecting bread but nothing came until we pointed out that all tables received bread when they sat down. Bread also seemed stale so save money,dont go to this place."
Dined on 1/26/2014
"I took my team at work here for lunch. Everyone enjoyed the restaurant and its food. What stood out was our waiter's service. The chef had a seafood risotto on the menu. I didn't really want the seafood, and asked if the chef might prepare a vegetarian risotto, with whatever reasonable veggies might be available. Out waiter didn't even bat an eye: "of course!" And the chef did: an excellent, flavorful veggie risotto. Kudos, Il Fornaio!"
Dined on 1/24/2014
"All of the pasta dishes were perfectly prepared. The veal was tender and the sauce light. Our waiter was extremely accommodating to our special occasion 40th Birthday celebration. Pre dinner pizza was made just as I ordered it with very thin crust and very light cheese, just as I had in Tuscany 2 months ago."
Dined on 1/18/2014
"I went with a friend, and we enjoyed our dinner, however, it was difficult to hear each other. The tables are pretty close to each other, and we were near the kitchen and rest room... We will return, as the food was excellent and our wait server was very friendly."
Dined on 1/7/2014
"Mediocre service at best. Had a 7:30 reservation, arrived at 7:20 and waited until 7:50 before being seated. No one came to inform us or check on us while we were waiting. Had their regional Italian promotion; mediocre food."
Dined on 1/10/2014
"Ordered an egg white omelet which wS not on the brunch menu and they were happy to accommodate me. It was delicious! Also the bread basket had several kinds of warm house made breads which were wonderful"
Dined on 1/12/2014
"We dined on a Saturday evening and had the worst service in all our years coming here. We were told a large party had the kitchen backed up. The problem is that there are parties here most weekends. So, call ahead to check, or allot four hours for dinner."
Dined on 1/11/2014
"that is the question. I've been to this restaurant many times over the past 15 years and the quality of food has always been consistently good, and was again this time. The problem was the service...it was very poor. Disappointing."
Dined on 1/11/2014
"I will NEVER order grilled salmon or any grilled fish again! There wasn't even a lemon slice for it. I was very disappointed! I prefer delicious ravioli and the wonderful sauces, especially the cheese sauces here. The ravioli is very, very good! The corn polenta has changed and it tastes like baby cereal. I do not like soft polenta and did not enjoy my meal! I had to use the polenta and the topping as a sauce. But I do not drink alcohol and I did not want it in my food. My religion forbids me to eat rabbit, seafood and pork. I did not want a salad. I should have ordered a pizza. I can only hope, that next time, there will be a ravioli I can eat and a wonderful sauce again."
Dined on 1/11/2014
"this is one of my go to restaurants. But during this visit, Chris, my waiter was nowhere to be found. I watched all the tables being served by their wait staff, often asked if everything is ok, constantly having their drinks refilled. Chris, was never around, in spite of the fact that my table is in a walk area of all the servers. I had to ask another waitstaff 3 times to get him to come to my table. Very, very disappointing."
Dined on 1/9/2014
"We eat here frequently, and enjoy the regional menus. This time we tried the three course sampling which always gives us more than enough to eat, and provides us with an opportunity to sample other items on the menu. This months regional menu is warm comfort food which was very nice on our cold night. We had the pork chop special wrapped in bacon, and it was delicious and a very large piece of meat. We enjoyed our evening."
Dined on 1/7/2014
"We had a great dinner at Il Fornaio. The food was excellent and we go there often because of the consistency of the food and service."
Dined on 1/2/2014
"The entrees are diverse - even though in the same general family of food (Italian). The bread (it is also a bakery) is FABULOUS. The service was gracious from checking in with the hostess to the many water refills and the graciousness of the server. You leave feeling cared for, but not intruded upon. Highly recommended!"
Dined on 12/31/2013
"A long-time favorite restaurant but the food on New Year's Eve was mediocre."
Dined on 12/31/2013
"When we arrived we were immediately seated, offered refreshments and a variety of fresh baked breads. I ordered the rack of lamb, which is one of my favorites at Il Fornio. My date ordered large tiger prawns with pasta. The food was excellent as usual. However, we didn't receive the attention we usually receive from the wait staff. Our waiter was not on his game and we waited between courses, had to request additional beverages and request more bread... things an attentive waiter should have noticed. I ordered coffee after dinner which never arrived. With that being said, this still remains one of our favorite romantic get aways and we always enjoy the food and atmosphere."
Dined on 12/31/2013
"The service was reasonable but perfunctory. The restaurant was well lit from 7 to 9 on Saturday with a family and small kid oriented atmosphere. The food was good but seemed mass-produced---there was nothing special about it really, though I did like the beet salad. I think I might go back but just to sit at the bar and order a pizza."
Dined on 12/27/2013

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