Il Fornaio - Walnut Creek Restaurant - Walnut Creek, CA

Il Fornaio - Walnut Creek

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Address:
1430 Mt. Diablo Blvd.
Walnut Creek, CA 94596

Neighborhood:
Walnut Creek

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Cuisine:
Italian

Price: $30 and under

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Il Fornaio - Walnut Creek Details

Dining Style: Casual Dining
Website: http://www.ilfornaio.com
Email: info@ilfornaio.com
Phone: (925) 296-0100
Hours of Operation: Lunch: Monday - Sunday: 11:30am - 4:00pm; Dinner: Sunday - Thursday: 4:00pm - 10:00pm, Friday & Saturday: 4:00pm - 11:00pm; Brunch: Saturday & Sunday: 10:00am - 2:00pm
Payment Options: AMEX, Diners Club, Discover, MasterCard, Visa
Cuisine: Italian
Executive Chef: Mario Radilla
Dress Code: Casual Dress
Accepts Walk-Ins: Yes
Additional Details: Banquet/Private Rooms, Bar Dining, Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cafe, Counter Seating, Fireplace, Full Bar, Happy Hour, Non-Smoking Restaurant, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Personal wines welcome (corkage fee applies), Private Room, Takeout, Weekend Brunch, Wheelchair Access, Wine
Catering: Delivery service available for orders over $100 in the Walnut Creek area.

Getting there

Cross Street: North Broadway
Public Transit: BART
Parking: Street Parking
Parking Details: Valet located in Broadway Pointe Plaza, entrance located on Duncan off North Main. Cost is $6.00 with validation.

A word from Il Fornaio - Walnut Creek

Il Fornaio means 'the baker' in Italian. This award-winning restaurant offers an authentic and unique Italian 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

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Diner Reviews

" Arrived 15 mins. early and we had a couple of cocktails apiece before dinner. As it turned out these drinks cost more than two entrees. Waitstaff was friendly and accomodating, we started on the patio which was nice, but quickly turned cold. They were happy to move us to an indoor table. The beef shanks with polenta were very tender and tasty. I have been here twice and will return in the future. Overall an enjoyable and memorable experience."
Dined on 4/19/2014
"I believe it's just this Il Fornaio, but I was very disappointed with the experience, especially the food. I've been to other Il Fornaios and loved the food. I'm going to avoid this one in the future."
Dined on 4/12/2014
"The food was good, although the descriptions (on the menu) did not seem to match the food served in all respects. A chicken dish in a light lemon sauce was too acidic for one of our party to eat. The bread is great and the olive oil and balsamic yummy. The children's menu was great and offered several choices that satisfied our picky six year old. Service was good and always polite and helpful."
Dined on 4/12/2014
"I was so ready for my waffle (brunch special) having seen other tables order it. When it came, it was a huge disappointment: about 1/2 the size of others', hardly any bananas, berries or whipped cream. It shouldn't be SO inconsistent. Also, spumanti flight only had 1 decent sparkling, the other 2 were seriously lacking."
Dined on 4/6/2014
"We celebrated out 25th wedding anniversary there. They did a fantastic job. They had a special table cloth on our table. Provided us a champagne toast (free of charge). The staff was attentive to every need and the food was fantastic. It is a great place to celebrate a special day."
Dined on 10/15/2013
"Parking is easy nearby the Walnut Creek "Il Fornaio". We had a pleasant meal. We chose a pasta dish, both of which were delicious. The wait staff was attentive but in no rush. There was a birthday group at the next table; however, the restaurant is spacious and our conversation was comfortable. I've been to this restaurant on other occasions and on each occasion the result has been a pleasant evening of good food. On a beautiful spring evening, a walk around the downtown area of Walnut Creek after dinner provides another pleasant opportunity."
Dined on 4/6/2014
"Il Fornaio is usually one of my favorite places but maybe it was an off day. Our server was not very good, he was frantic, but it was not at all busy. He would show up a lot, but kept forgetting things. The food was average at best. Had the pasta bolognese and it was not very warm but he never came back for me to ask him to reheat it. We asked for more bread, never got that either. Overall, I think we were there on an off day. It was a fun girls lunch so I was not very happy with the service at all and the food should have been better."
Dined on 3/23/2014
"I'm not much of a fan of food chains but Il Fornaio does not feel like one. The food can be a little boring at times but that is why I'll try food from the specials menu. But the fresh bread they serve is delicious and the wine list is quite diverse. My daughter loves the pasta here and specifically requests eating here."
Dined on 4/3/2014
"But the food doesn't match the ambiance. Why is it on a Sunday night, which was somewhat slow and the other tables seemed to be populated by birthday parties, the service seems equally slow. Buratta starter looked like it was plated by an amateur. Pasta dishes were average. Not an Italian on staff. Next time we go into the city for La Briciola."
Dined on 3/30/2014
"For a great lunch/dinner selection and fantastic desserts eat at Il Fornaio's and the wine and bread ain't too bad either! Not our first time and we will be back."
Dined on 3/29/2014
"We absolutely love this place. It's our "date night" favorite. The managers and staff are friendly and welcoming. Food is always good with the added bonus of their Passport program that features dishes from specific regions in Italy each month, so there is a constant variety of special dishes to choose from. This place also features a terrific Happy Hour menu with incredibly prices pizza & pasta dishes to go with the specially priced drinks: the bar area is always packed at this time with lively conversations and mingling. And if that's not enough, check out their special Wine * Beer Tasting events and special cooking classes."
Dined on 3/12/2014
"It is hard to believe Il Fornaio is a group of restaurants. Each on we visit is perfect in every way. Good food, good service, lovely ambiance, and "regional" Italian specialties that vary throughout the year. We seek them out when we travel. The Walnut Creek restaurant is an excellent example."
Dined on 3/29/2014
"Had a great meal here. Lots of choices and a special menu for a friend of ours that needs gluten free."
Dined on 3/27/2014
"I have eaten at this restaurant in Walnut Creek many times and have always been pleased with the food and service. However, the service was very slow and we had to ask for everything. The waiter pretty much ignored us for another table until the check was brought to our table and then he became quite friendly. The restaurant that day was very slow and there was no excuse for the poor service."
Dined on 3/26/2014
"Outstanding service and food on such an extremely busy night (Saturday)."
Dined on 3/22/2014
"A below average experience, at an above average price. Cold calamari fritti, incorrect glass of wine, server seemed uninterested and rushed. Entrees were well prepared and tasty. Overall, a meh experience."
Dined on 3/21/2014
"I don't recommend this restaurant for anything. Both my wife and I were very disappointed with the food. She had a pasta dish which she said was tasteless. And I had lasagna which was the worst I've ever had. I think one has to go out of his or her way to make a lousy lasagna. I've had much better ones in much lesser restaurants like Marie Callender and Macaroni Grill. The food also came lukewarm. Il Fornaio is definitely not a go-back-to eatery for us. Syl Winocur"
Dined on 3/16/2014
"We have ate at the Il Fornaio in Sacramento several times and the only thing that made the Walnut Creek one less enjoyable was the waiter. We do the Festa Regionale and had to ask for the passport, we also did the wine flight and at this location he brought all the glasses of wine at the same time so the table was filled up with wine glasses. We had to ask for our dirty plates to be removed from the table. Overall the Sacramento location provides much better service. The food at Walnut Creek was excellent though."
Dined on 3/15/2014
"Dropped in for early dinner with (young) grand daughters They were very accommodating with our Special requests to changes of menu"
Dined on 3/15/2014
"From the greeting by the hostess to the last bite of dessert, we had a very enjoyable evening. We generally have the tasting menu from the regional menu and it was fabulous! I especially enjoyed the main course of Braciolette (rolled beef) which was very flavorful."
Dined on 3/13/2014
"I tagged 'kid-friendly' only because there are often way too many families here. This time we moved to the bar because crying babies and angry toddlers were a around. I definitely recommend Il Fornaio for the night bar scene, but a leisurely brunch or quiet experience? Not so much. The problem with eating at the bar is that the service is not as attentive. It's friendly, for sure, but it's slow."
Dined on 3/1/2014
"We had a party of four and all of us enjoyed every course except maybe the triamaso which was a bit on the bitter side. The bushetta sampler was excellent as was thin sliced beef appetizer. The 4 entrees were prepared very well and was just the right size portion for all of us. The only negative was the service wasn't up to standards e come to expect from Il Fornio. The server seemed a bit uninterested and didn't follow up during the meal. The restraunt has been running a special based on the different regions of Italy but our server didn't even bring it up until I asked about it and even the wine specials were not brought up until I asked. I would think a restaurant of this caliber would suggest these themes the chef's had put together."
Dined on 3/7/2014
"My friend took me here tonight for my birthday, per my request. The service was very good and the ambience quite enjoyable. The appetizer of peppers, eggplant, goat cheese was great! Unfortunately, the food went downhill from there. The pasta dish with mushrooms that we ordered was cold by the time we got it. The grilled mixed seafood platter was ridiculously over-salted, even the broccolini. I have been to this location a few times and had much better meals in the past."
Dined on 3/7/2014
"I took my daughter there for her birthday lunch and she had an infant in a stroller. I shared both of these needs and they were very accommodating--put us in a quiet, secluded area so we had room for a stroller, and ease to exit to the ladies room to care for the infant if needed. They did a nice gelato birthday sundae too. Felt very taken care of."
Dined on 2/27/2014
"We chose Il Fornaio for a special birthday celebration Though the noise level was a little high (they were very busy that evening), it wasn't too loud to converse The food and service were great - a good time was had by all!"
Dined on 3/1/2014
"Very nice dishes and don't forget they bake their own very educated bread. Start with their excellent bread with olive oil and balsamic vinegar. Then split a nice salad or some freshly made pasta. Then try some veal scolpini for the main dish. Finish with a nice scoop of house made gelato. Yummmm."
Dined on 3/1/2014
"Brunch met our expectations, although nothing in particular gave us the "WOW" factor or made us want to rush back there. Still, all in all, the server was attentive & personable. Nice experience."
Dined on 3/1/2014
"From the time we arrived, we received great service. My minestrone and mushroom pasta were delicious. They serve 2 sizes of pasta dishes which is much appreciated."
Dined on 2/24/2014
"I've dined at Il Formio at its various locations throughout the years and always felt that you could count on a predictably good Italian dinner. Not so at this visit. Both my friend and I were completely underwhelmed by our dinners. The salad was soggy and way too overdressed, and my dinner, the cannaloni, was drenched in sauce and cheese with little substance beyond that in terms of flavor or chicken. There's too many really good restaurants to choose from in this area to risk another poor meal at il Forniao it was that disappointing."
Dined on 2/21/2014
"Service was outstanding and food delicious and we were had time for a nice long lunch and visit."
Dined on 2/22/2014
"Good ambiance. Good service. Good food. What more do you need to enjoy a night out wit your sweetie and friends."
Dined on 2/22/2014
"We had a wonderful dinner as we took our Grandson who just turned 18. The food was very good however the waiter we had was so very hard to understand. The three of us could not understand him. When he explained the dessert cart we did not know what anything was so we chose by looks. We had to have him explain more than once each part of the dinner and still we came away not knowing what he said. The ambience is very good but not outstanding because of the noise level at times."
Dined on 2/21/2014
"Our table of eight was well accommodated. Pleasant staff and nice menu."
Dined on 2/21/2014
"Il Fornaio Walnut Creek is comfortable, has a great range of menu choices and a wine list that offers good lower-priced options as well as splurge options, and the food and service are consistently very good. The parking is easy too. We've sat at the bar and enjoyed the service there as well. It's always a pleasure to dine at this restaurant."
Dined on 1/31/2014
"Went there for lunch but arrived to early, so brunch was the only option. Ok menu for brunch, however our food arrived lukewarm and the butter for our pancakes was nearly frozen. Nice waitress but very slow service. A friend suggested that I should have waited for the lunch menu or go there for dinner, I should have listened to their advice."
Dined on 2/16/2014
"the Duck was awfull. The server was over worked, little attention to us during meal, I would have sent the duck back, but never had a chance to. My wifes tenderloin was good, but she had to share it with me. Not your usual experience."
Dined on 2/17/2014
"I've been a number of times for lunch - Walnut Creek is a "meeting half way" with my daughter who lives in San Francisco. The food is consistently good. My daughter loves the Vodka Sauce and I absolutely agree. It's creamy and rich. I really enjoy the mushroom Pappardelle. We always end with sharing a Rosina al Cioccolato which I highly highly recommend. I love the outside seating away from the street. The only draw back is that the service is only mediocre. I've only been at lunch so dinner service may be better but our waiter went missing a number of times, we poured our own wine through out the meal, had to flag him down to ask for a desert menu long after our lunch plates had been removed from the table."
Dined on 2/17/2014
"I like this restaurant because it is so close to shopping. We arrived on time but were told along with others we would have to "wait" while the servers got clocked in. We had specified a nice table on the reservation but much to my chagrin were escorted to the claustrophobic back of the restaurant. Believe me, I know this restaurant & this is not the place to be seated. This night we had a nice server but I would say 3 /4 times you get servers who really hate their jobs & treat you as such. The food is hit & miss & deviations outside your usual order can be disappointing & expensive. My husband noted that the "presentation" of dishes was sloppy. The consensus after a $110 + tip meal for two was it was just "OK" but NOT worth the $."
Dined on 2/15/2014
"Fresh pasta and delicious! One of my favorite places and it never disappoints."
Dined on 2/15/2014
"Arrived at 5:00 pm for early dinner and hostess seated us to a table of four situation in the middle of two tables for 2s. Since one of our guests used a cane and seating could be a problem in the middle, we asked for another table. Restaurant was almost empty and there was a lot of empty tables of fours. However, hostess in red, grabbed the menus and proceeded to move us without a word to another table near the window which was great. No words -- just body language! What was her problem?? No words were exchanged between her and us. Just her bad body language. She should NOT be a hostess."
Dined on 2/14/2014

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