Il Fornaio - Carmel

Name: Il Fornaio - Carmel
Address: Ocean Avenue & Monte Verde St, Carmel, CA, United States, 93921
Telephone: (831) 622-5100
Price range: $30 and under
Rating: 4.1

4.1

1848 Reviews

$30 and under

Italian

Top Tags:

Il Fornaio means the Baker in Italian. Located in downtown Carmel, Il Fornaio offers an authentic and unique Italian dining experience and a Wine Spectator Award of Excellence wine list. Enjoy wood-fired rotisserie and grilled meats, poultry and game; house made and imported pastas; pizzas from an oak wood burning oven; fresh salads and house made soups; antipasti and a wide variety of desserts made daily from scratch.

Make a reservation

Party Size

2 people

DateTime

Jul 4, 2022

7:00 PM

Booked 15 times today

Order delivery or takeout

Takeout

(831) 622-5100

Private dining

Book your next event with us

View details

Additional information

Dining style
Casual Dining
Cuisines
Italian
Hours of operation
Mon–Thu 12:00 pm–8:30 pm Fri 12:00 pm–9:00 pm Sat 9:00 am–9:00 pm Sun 9:00 am–8:30 pm
Phone number
(831) 622-5100
Website
http://www.ilfornaio.com/
Payment options
AMEX, Diners Club, Discover, MasterCard, Visa
Dress code
Casual Dress
Executive chef
Gabriel Rodriguez
Catering
Catering services through our take-out retail area are available and include: • Boxed Lunch – sandwich, salad, Italian cookie and drink packaged individually. • Platters – pastries, sandwiches, salads or cookies. Perfect for any social or business meeting held at your location. <br />Larger off-site full service catering is also available by request. Please contact our on-site Event Coordinator for more details.
Private party facilities
Il Fornaio offers distinct dining options for large or small groups. We will assist in creating a special menu perfectly suited for the needs of your group.
Private party contact
Event Coordinator: (877) 352-2788

Location
Ocean Avenue & Monte Verde St Carmel, CA 93921
Neighborhood
Carmel
Parking details
Street Parking
Additional
Banquet, Bar Dining, Beer, BYO Wine, Cafe, Corkage Fee, Counter Seating, Full Bar, Happy Hour, Indoor Fireplace, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Takeout, View, Weekend Brunch, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Popular dishes

Calamaretti Fritti$18.95
baby squid, lightly floured & deep fried, served with spicy marinara
Carpaccio*$17.50
thinly sliced raw certified piedmontese beef, shaved grana padano, capers & wild arugula, drizzled with lemon-olive oil
Bruschette Assortite$12.95
garlic grilled ciabatta with 3 toppings: caponata; roasted cherry tomatoes; pesto & stracciatella cheese
Cavolfiori Tricolore$11.95
roasted tricolor cauliflower with roasted garlic and rosemary olive oil
Piatto di Salumi$19.95
sliced meats including mortadella with pistachios, speck & spicy salame served with caponata, stracciatella cheese, grilled ciabatta & marinated olives
Cavolini al Grana Padano$12.95
crispy brussels sprouts drizzled with spicy peperoncino sauce
Pinsa Romana$17.95
light & crispy flatbread topped with fresh mozzarella, gorgonzola, speck, roasted cherry tomatoes, mixed mushrooms & arugula
Burrata con Prosciutto$16.95
imported burrata with prosciutto, arugula, ciabatta croutons & basil-olive oil
Cestino del Pane
basket of Il Fornaio fresh baked bread with extra-virgin olive oil and balsamic vinegar
- Serves 4$2.00

Pasta Fatta In Casa

fresh, handmade pasta gluten-free options available

Paccheri alla Vodka$18.95
pasta tubes with bacon, vodka-cream-tomato sauce & grana padano
Casarecce al Pomodoro$17.95
short twist pasta with chopped vine-ripened tomatoes, garlic, marinara sauce & fresh basil
Spaghetti alle Vongole$27.95
pasta strands with clams, garlic, extra-virgin olive oil & crushed red pepper
Tagliatelle Bolognese$19.95
egg pasta ribbons with traditional meat ragu & grana padano
Linguine Mare Chiaro$30.95
thin pasta with clams, mussels, prawns & scallops in roasted cherry tomato sauce, crushed red pepper, garlic & trebbiano wine
Fusilloni al Pesto e Pollo$20.95
large corkscrew pasta with sautéed chicken, sundried tomatoes, traditional pesto & cream
Lasagna Ferrarese$25.95
pasta sheets layered with meat ragu, porcini mushrooms, grana padano & béchamel; baked in the oven

Ravioli Freschi

Ravioli Lucana$24.95
spinach ravioli filled with italian sausage, ricotta, grana padano & fennel; topped with fresh tomatoes, spicy tomato sauce, imported peperoncino & stracciatella cheese
Tortelloni di Zucca$25.95
ravioli filled with butternut squash, walnuts & grana padano with brown butter tomato sauce; topped with crispy sage & walnuts

Minestre e Insalata

Soups & dressings are made on site

Minestrone di Verdure$7.25
seasonal vegetable soup made with vegetable stock
Insalata Cesarina$12.95
romaine lettuce, grana padano & croutons with housemade caesar dressing
Insalata Bietole$13.95
organic red & gold beets with red wine vinegar, wild arugula, toasted walnuts & goat cheese with lemon-olive oil dressing
Caprese Tradizionale$15.95
sliced heirloom tomatoes, fresh mozzarella, basil & mixed olives; drizzled with basil olive oil
Insalata Regina$13.95
wild arugula salad with couscous, avocado, tomatoes, red onions, capers, raisins, lemon & extra-virgin olive oil

Add To Any Insalata

Chicken$8.00
Salmon*$9.00

Pizza

thin-crust pizza using housemade dough

Margherita$15.95
mozzarella, tomato sauce, oregano & fresh basil
Rapini e Salsiccia$18.50
fresh mozzarella, broccoli rabe, calabria peppers, sausage & grana padano
Capricciosa$19.95
mozzarella, ham, artichokes, mushrooms, kalamata olives, tomato sauce & oregano
Cristina$21.95
fresh mozzarella, prosciutto, shaved grana padano, mushrooms & wild arugula; drizzled with white truffle oil
Fradiavola$18.95
mozzarella, italian sausage, tomato sauce, mushrooms, bell peppers, red onions & spicy peperoncino

Girarrosto e Griglia

authentic italian specialties from our rotisserie & grill

Salmone alla Griglia*$30.95
grilled norwegian salmon with lemon & extra-virgin olive oil; served with sautéed broccoli rabe & roasted yukon gold potatoes
Controfiletto Ai Ferri*$46.95
grilled 12oz new york steak with salmoriglio sauce; served with roasted tricolor cauliflower & yukon gold potatoes
Pollo Toscano$27.95
free-range chicken seasoned with rosemary; served with roasted tricolor cauliflower & yukon gold potatoes
Filetto di Costata*$43.95
grilled 8oz center-cut ribeye filet topped with creamy brandy peppercorn sauce; served with grilled asparagus & mashed potatoes
Pollo Ai Funghi$28.95
chicken breast lightly pounded & roasted with mixed mushrooms & marsala wine sauce; served with grilled asparagus & mashed potatoes
Grigliata di Pesce Misto$34.95
mixed grill of fish fillet, scallops & prawns, topped with lemon-olive oil sauce; served with broccoli rabe & roasted yukon gold potatoes

What 1,848 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.1

4.1 based on recent ratings

4.2Food
4.1Service
4.2Ambience
3.9Value

Noise • Moderate

Loved For

Monterey / Carmel
Vibrant Bar Scene

Sort by

Filters

JG
JonG
Central Coast
4 reviews
5.0
4 reviews
Dined 1 day ago
overall5food5service5ambience4
Food and service were excellent. We had a very fun evening.
K
Krusinalong
Los Angeles
6 reviews
vip
2.0
6 reviews
Dined 3 days ago
overall2food2service2ambience4
Waiter had no personality was bored and kept looking at his watch. Definitely didn’t want to be waiting on us or anyone else. Food was not the best. Tomato out of a can with no herbs is how the sauce tasted. Soooo many other options in Carmel. Go elsewhere!
B
Birthdays
Central Coast
6 reviews
5.0
6 reviews
Dined 5 days ago
overall5food5service4ambience5
Beautiful spot for dinner. Food was great. We will be back.
BU
BobU
Portland
5 reviews
5.0
5 reviews
Dined 7 days ago
overall5food5service4ambience5
Great meal. Their bread is to die for. Excellent value.
MG
MaggieG
Naples
2 reviews
3.0
2 reviews
Dined on June 25, 2022
overall3food2service3ambience3
My husband got a seafood pasta that was way too salty. We also had the same complaint with the roasted cauliflower appetizer. The server was pleasant but not very attentive (refreshing water, clearing plates and cleaning crumbs from tablecloth).
v
vinnyb
San Francisco
12 reviews
vip
5.0
12 reviews
Dined on June 24, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Great table side service by Genesis. Superb host care and conversation with Mr. Tony Albano. The cannoli and Al Gaga to were outstanding as well as their veg cuisine. A gem with a gorgeous patio. Cheers!
E
Ejko
Raleigh
46 reviews
5.0
46 reviews
Dined on June 23, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Great menu, nice wine selection, incredible value. Highly recommend.
OT
OpenTable Diner
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on June 23, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Great service and really good pasta made right like Italy!
P
Patrick
San Francisco
133 reviews
vip
5.0
133 reviews
Dined on June 22, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
We were guests at The Pine, and booked Il Fornaio as a matter of convenience for our first night. Well the service was fantastic and the wine, meal, and dessert were terrific. Very happy we selected Il Fornaio for our first night in Carmel.
PR
PeterR
1 review
2.0
1 review
Dined on June 22, 2022
overall2food2service1ambience2
I used to love this place. 10 years ago we held our wedding dinner here. Wife and I made reservations while visiting the area and what can I say? The service was poor, we were barely acknowledged. Place was not busy at 5 pm, but still had to wave down the waiter to get a second glass of wine or to ask for water. Wife’s ravioli was good, the bolognaise was without any taste. Altogether underwhelming.
KB
KimB
San Francisco
1 review
3.0
1 review
Dined on June 20, 2022
overall3food3service2ambience3
We requested outdoor table with a heater because we had a dog. They ended up seating us inside but with the noise level it was really hard for the dog to relax. We were sat at a table in the middle of the restaurant with not linens and that was not set. We had made reservations a few days before and we really felt like we were just add-ons - no bread offered other supplemental items - had to request refills. It was pricey for portions considering that was all you got.
OT
OpenTable Diner
San Francisco
1 review
1.0
1 review
Dined on June 19, 2022
overall1food2service1ambience2
Service was slow. Silverware was not clean. Server failed to come back and check on us. Never got a refill on our water and drink. Server seemed busy talking to the hostess and a few times forgot the items we asked for. Over all the service was not up to par for a reputable restaurant. Always liked I’ll Fornaio but this time I was disappointed.
s
safrenn
San Diego
1 review
3.0
1 review
Dined on June 19, 2022
overall3food3service3ambience4
Have to say fairly disappointing…. Place is nice enough but food and service were lacking. Was expecting more. -Drinks came out after appetizers -Entrees were served more than 2 min apart from each other - Pasta dishes came out luke warm Again, not awful but nothing to remember or go back to.
GI
GIbrook
San Francisco
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on June 15, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Amazing food as usual, the service was great and it’s always a plus when they make my favorite, off-the-menu dish!
OT
OpenTable Diner
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on June 12, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Everything was great! Food and service were top-notch!
SB
SBDiner
Los Angeles
5 reviews
5.0
5 reviews
Dined on June 11, 2022
overall5food4service5ambience4
We had a fantastic meal experience last night. Hadn’t been here for 20 yrs but ALWAYS love our Il Fornaio memory makers. The food is reliably very good, and a good value. But the SERVICE and attention make the meal memorable. Our server, Tiffany, was/is the perfect combination of friendly, attentive, and professional.
MS
MeShe2
Sacramento
14 reviews
4.0
14 reviews
Dined on June 11, 2022
overall4food4service4ambience4
long wait for food after ordering otherwise good.
OT
OpenTable Diner
Central Coast
1 review
3.0
1 review
Dined on June 9, 2022
overall3food3service2ambience5
I ordered a pasta and they brought me a different one. it was kind of flavorless but still acceptable. service was long. I ordered two bruschettas but was only served one.
OT
OpenTable Diner
Central Coast
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on June 9, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
The food is always great! We had steak and seafood as well this time. Very good!
C
Charles
Washington DC
38 reviews
vip
1.0
38 reviews
Dined on June 2, 2022
overall1food1service1ambience2
I was looking forward to a wonderful meal, sadly the restaurant missed on all areas. The server Jason advised us that the bar was backed up with a private party, I checked the bar and there were very few customers. He took 20 minutes to bring our drinks, another 30 minutes for appetizers and then our entrees arrived in an hour and 15 minutes. My entree linguine with seafood had clams that were unopened and broken. I sent it back and 30 minutes later he returned when my wife’s entree was finished. Finally after almost 2 hours the manager asked if we wanted the linguine, which we declined. The waiter explained “ I’m just an employee” taking no responsibility for any part of the service e or email. Don’t waste your time money or patronage on this failure of a restaurant.
OT
OpenTable Diner
Central Coast
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on May 31, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
My wife and I hadn’t eaten here in several years. We have stopped by for a cocktail at the bar. Last night we had a salad, steak and ravioli. Both meals were excellent. It was nice and quiet as most tourists had left for home. Our server Ramone was great. Manager came by and checked on us. All in all it was a great date night.
m
markd
Central Coast
6 reviews
vip
3.0
6 reviews
Dined on May 30, 2022
overall3food2service2ambience3
Pasta special was inedible. Bruschetta with eggplant was blah.
LT
LauraT
San Francisco
4 reviews
5.0
4 reviews
Dined on May 29, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Ambiance was good and many familiar faces on staff. Menu has a smaller selection than in the past. What we ordered was excellent and included the beet salad, pizza, brioche, and vegetable soup.
BF
BrFe
San Francisco
13 reviews
5.0
13 reviews
Dined on May 28, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience4
We all ordered from the specials menu. Wonderful way to start the weekend!
LO
LoriO
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on May 26, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Beautiful restaurant great food, full bar with a nice wine list. Staff was friendly and knowledgeable of the menu.
A
Anne
Chicago
6 reviews
3.0
6 reviews
Dined on May 20, 2022
overall3food3service2ambience4
I wanted to eat here because my daughter and I had previously really liked it. It was okay, not special. I waited for the maitre'd to seat me--she was busy doing a take out order. I was dining by myself and no one came for quite a while to bring me water. The waiter for our room was extremely busy and doing the best he could so I don't fault him at all. It's the short staffing everywhere. I won't make an effort to go back another time.
OT
OpenTable Diner
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on May 19, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience4
Was perfect
HK
HelmutK
1 review
3.0
1 review
Dined on May 19, 2022
overall3food4service2ambience4
Was a 1 hour wait for the pizza in an only 1/3 filled restaurant
KW
KellyW
1 review
4.0
1 review
Dined on May 18, 2022
overall4food5service4ambience3
Our server was nice but the restaurant staff as a whole is not very welcoming, we arrived 5 minutes before our reservation and the host seemed annoyed at us. Manager was walking around and never made eye contact with guests or said a word to anyone except other staff members
M
Moni
San Francisco
4 reviews
vip
1.0
4 reviews
Dined on May 15, 2022
overall1food1service4ambience1
The team is chalked
MA
MarleneA
New Mexico
1 review
4.0
1 review
Dined on May 14, 2022
overall4food5service2ambience5
We had a delicious lunch but experienced disappointment in the service. We walked into a nearly empty restaurant five minutes after it opened. We had reservations for a table by the window in the Garden room where there was only one other couple. A new waiter brought our wine and only came back when our wine was almost finished. He took our order and didn’t check back until the room had filled up and the other people’s orders were taken. The others received their orders, and ate while we were still waiting for an hour for ours. He apologized and said that ours was on the way. We were the last to be served after waiting an hour for our food. It was unfortunate that this restaurant we have been frequenting for many years didn’t meet expectations on service that day. We had booked a week in advance and mentioned it was our Anniversary on the reservation. Needless to say, the food was , as always, excellent and we will be back because it’s our top favorite romantic destination. Let’s hope that this was a one time experience.
L
Libra51
Central Coast
36 reviews
vip
4.0
36 reviews
Dined on May 8, 2022
overall4food4service3ambience4
The restaurant was packed on Mother’s Day. Service was not as good as usual due to new servers and the crowd. Oddly, our appetizers came out just after the main dishes. Two supposedly hot entrees arrived at room temperature, and one entree was mistakenly sent to the catering department. Apologies were made for errors and the flavors were good, so we left happy. Luckily we were not in a rush as lunch took about two hours start to finish.
MF
MelissaF
1 review
1.0
1 review
Dined on May 7, 2022
overall1food1service1ambience1
The only thing that was worth the money was the brussel sprouts appetizer and the calamari appetizer. Other than that save your money and time
TC
ToddC
San Francisco
9 reviews
vip
5.0
9 reviews
Dined on May 6, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Great service and tasty food.
LG
LorraineG
Central Coast
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on May 1, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience4
Our waiter was very attentive to our requests and so pleasant. We asked the manager for a bandaid and he went out of his way to find one for us. We were very pleased with our evening.
WF
WilliamF
San Francisco
4 reviews
5.0
4 reviews
Dined on April 30, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Il Fornaio consistently delivers good food and value with great ambience at its locations in Carmel and Palo Alto.
AH
AliH
1 review
4.0
1 review
Dined on April 28, 2022
overall4food4service5ambience4
Cocktails, Bloody Mary and Margarita, were terribly bad! They need a new bartender!
LA
LeeAnna
Dallas
11 reviews
vip
5.0
11 reviews
Dined on April 25, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience4
Loved the food. The lasagna was so good and the pasta so light. The room Maude decor seemed a little old’sh but I would definitely go back for the pasta. Highly recommend.
F
Frances
Kent
6 reviews
2.0
6 reviews
Dined on April 24, 2022
overall2food3service3ambience3
Too rushed. We aren’t given the opportunity to have pre dinner drinks- even though we had asked for them. One starter came out 15 mins before the other. Other than that - ok
OT
OpenTable Diner
New York Area
10 reviews
vip
4.0
10 reviews
Dined on April 21, 2022
overall4food4service5ambience4
Last evening of CA vacation in Carmel. Would have liked to sit outside but terrace was closed. Great server, made us feel very welcome. Food and wines very good!

Safety precautions

Cleaning & sanitizing
- Surfaces sanitized between seatings
- Digital, disposable or sanitized menu provided
- Sealed or wrapped utensils used
- Common areas deep-cleaned daily
- Sanitizer or wipes provided for customers
- Contactless payment available
Physical distancing
- Limited number of seated diners
- Distancing maintained in common areas
- Extra space between tables

Protective equipment
- Waitstaff wear masks
- Diners must wear masks unless eating or drinking
Screening
- Sick staff prohibited in the workplace

FAQs

Il Fornaio - Carmel offers takeout which you can order by calling the restaurant at (831) 622-5100.

Il Fornaio - Carmel is rated 4.1 stars by 1848 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Make a reservation

Party Size

2 people

DateTime

Jul 4, 2022

7:00 PM

Booked 15 times today

Order delivery or takeout

Takeout

(831) 622-5100

Ocean Avenue & Monte Verde St Carmel, CA 93921

Additional information

Neighborhood
Carmel
Hours of operation
Mon–Thu 12:00 pm–8:30 pm Fri 12:00 pm–9:00 pm Sat 9:00 am–9:00 pm Sun 9:00 am–8:30 pm
Cuisines
Italian
Dining style
Casual Dining
Dress code
Casual Dress
Parking details
Street Parking
Payment options
AMEX, Diners Club, Discover, MasterCard, Visa
Executive chef
Gabriel Rodriguez
Additional
Banquet, Bar Dining, Beer, BYO Wine, Cafe, Corkage Fee, Counter Seating, Full Bar, Happy Hour, Indoor Fireplace, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Takeout, View, Weekend Brunch, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Website
http://www.ilfornaio.com/
Phone number
(831) 622-5100
Catering
Catering services through our take-out retail area are available and include: • Boxed Lunch – sandwich, salad, Italian cookie and drink packaged individually. • Platters – pastries, sandwiches, salads or cookies. Perfect for any social or business meeting held at your location. <br />Larger off-site full service catering is also available by request. Please contact our on-site Event Coordinator for more details.
Private party facilities
Il Fornaio offers distinct dining options for large or small groups. We will assist in creating a special menu perfectly suited for the needs of your group.
Private party contact
Event Coordinator: (877) 352-2788

Il Fornaio - Carmel

Make a reservation

Order delivery or takeout

Takeout

Private dining

Additional information

Lasagna Ferrarese

Salmon

Chicken

Menu della Cena

Antipasti

Calamaretti Fritti$18.95

Carpaccio*$17.50

Bruschette Assortite$12.95

Cavolfiori Tricolore$11.95

Piatto di Salumi$19.95

Cavolini al Grana Padano$12.95

Pinsa Romana$17.95

Burrata con Prosciutto$16.95

Cestino del Pane

Pasta Fatta In Casa

Paccheri alla Vodka$18.95

Casarecce al Pomodoro$17.95

Spaghetti alle Vongole$27.95

Tagliatelle Bolognese$19.95

Linguine Mare Chiaro$30.95

Fusilloni al Pesto e Pollo$20.95

Lasagna Ferrarese$25.95

Ravioli Freschi

Ravioli Lucana$24.95

Tortelloni di Zucca$25.95

Minestre e Insalata

Minestrone di Verdure$7.25

Insalata Cesarina$12.95

Insalata Bietole$13.95

Caprese Tradizionale$15.95

Insalata Regina$13.95

Add To Any Insalata

Chicken$8.00

Salmon*$9.00

Pizza

Margherita$15.95

Rapini e Salsiccia$18.50

Capricciosa$19.95

Cristina$21.95

Fradiavola$18.95

Girarrosto e Griglia

Salmone alla Griglia*$30.95

Controfiletto Ai Ferri*$46.95

Pollo Toscano$27.95

Filetto di Costata*$43.95

Pollo Ai Funghi$28.95

Grigliata di Pesce Misto$34.95

Overall ratings and reviews

Loved For

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Filters

Cleaning & sanitizing

Physical distancing

Protective equipment

Screening

FAQs

Does Il Fornaio - Carmel offer delivery through OpenTable or takeout?

How is Il Fornaio - Carmel restaurant rated?

Is Il Fornaio - Carmel currently accepting reservations?

Make a reservation

Order delivery or takeout

Takeout

Additional information