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Il Fornaio - Palo Alto, Palo Alto, CA

Il Fornaio - Palo Alto

4.6 (2783)
$30 and under
Italian
520 Cowper Street, Palo Alto, CA 94301

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM
Booked 25 times today
Experiences are available.

About this restaurant

  • Neighborhood gem
  • Good for special occasions
  • Charming
Step inside Il Fornaio and take an award-winning culinary journey through Italy. Specialties include house made pastas, wood-fired pizza, grilled fish, authentic risotto, and rotisserie meats. Using the freshest ingredients and traditional cooking techniques, Il Fornaio offers a wide variety of premium-quality Italian food paired with great cocktails and a Wine Spectator Award of Excellence wine list.

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Casual Dining
  • Price
    $30 and under
  • Cuisines
    Italian, Unspecified
  • Hours of operation
    Mon–Wed 5:00 pm–9:00 pm Thu–Sun 12:00 pm–9:00 pm
  • Phone number
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Carte Blanche, Diners Club, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Dress code
    Casual Dress
  • Catering
    Off-site catering available. Please contact Event Coordinator for more details.
  • Private party facilities
    Celebrating 30 years in downtown Palo Alto, Il Fornaio offers 2 private dining rooms and a heated, covered, garden Piazza. Banquet menus for large parties features the best of Il Fornaio's authentic Italian cuisine and Chef Maurizio's signature dishes.
  • Private party contact
    Juli Calderon: (650) 853-3720
  • Neighborhood
    Palo Alto
  • Cross street
    University
  • Parking details
    Valet parking is available for $20. In addition, there is also the hotel parking lot, as well as a public lot available.
  • Public transit
    Cal Train
  • Additional
    Banquet, Bar/Lounge, Beer, BYO Wine, Cafe, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Counter Seating, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Happy Hour, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Takeout, Weekend Brunch, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Experiences

  • Il Fornaio's Daou Wine Dinner

    $125.00 per person

    Jun 25, 2025 only
    Indulge in a 5-course Italian feast perfectly paired with premium Daou wines. Enjoy dishes like mesquite seared ahi tuna, housemade spinach & beet gnocchi in a porcini mushroom cream sauce, braised duck in an orange-demiglace & other chef-curated specialties. With expert wine insights shared throughout the meal, you & your guests are in for an unforgettable evening. $125 per person | price does not include tax, tip & surcharge 3% SURCHARGE – PLEASE NOTE THAT A 3% SURCHARGE WILL BE ADDED TO THE BILL. THIS SURCHARGE IS NOT A GRATUITY FOR THE STAFF BUT ALLOWS US TO CONTINUE TO PROVIDE QUALITY EMPLOYEE PROGRAMS & BENEFITS FOR OUR TEAM AMID RISING COSTS & REGULATORY INCREASES. GRAZIE MILLE FOR YOUR UNDERSTANDING & SUPPORT.
    Il Fornaio's Daou Wine Dinner Photo

Private dining

What 2,783 people are saying

Il Fornaio - Palo Alto reviews from people who’ve dined at this restaurant. Based on recent rating.

Overall ratings and reviews

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

4.6
4.6 based on recent ratings
  • 4.7Food
  • 4.6Service
  • 4.5Ambience
  • 4.4Value

NoiseModerate

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews
Il Fornaio in Palo Alto offers "excellent food and service" in an "elegant setting," perfect for both casual and special occasions. Guests appreciate the "warm, fun atmosphere" and diverse menu options, including standout dishes like salmon, lasagna, and pizza. The restaurant consistently delivers "great service," making it a reliable dining choice.

2,783 Reviews
  1. Mary Ellen VIP

    San Francisco3 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 5 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    The veal piccata was absolutely delicious-one of the very best I have ever had. Kudos to the chef!

    Is this helpful?

  2. steve

    San Francisco2 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on May 11, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    I’ve been going to Il Fornaio Palo Alto for over 30 years. Just a fantastic restaurant. My favorite. Always great service great food , cannot go wrong.

    Is this helpful?

  3. Yan

    San Francisco3 reviews

    2.0

    Dined on May 11, 2025

    1. Overall 2
    2. Food 1
    3. Service 2
    4. Ambience 2
    Would not recommend this location. First the server was unfriendly and condescending. The food was very mediocre at best. The chicken with mushrooms with Masala sauce was dry and the potatoes were burnt and tough and leathery. Pizza with sausage was passable. This location is much worse than their Santa Clara restaurant.

    Is this helpful?

  4. Cynthia VIP

    San Francisco9 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on May 10, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Excellent food and service in an elegant setting. Try it!

    Is this helpful?

  5. Vanessa

    San Francisco5 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on May 4, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Delicious food and great service from our server Jason. Extremely knowledgeable and very helpful. Wish they would bring back the short rib ravioli!

    Is this helpful?

  6. Peter VIP

    San Francisco121 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on April 25, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Always a great place to go. It's consistently good!

    Is this helpful?

  7. Tracy

    San Francisco2 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on April 20, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Excellent service , great food and warm, fun atmosphere!

    Is this helpful?

  8. charles

    San Francisco16 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on April 17, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    Service was excellent and the fresh branzino delicious.

    Is this helpful?

  9. John VIP

    San Francisco34 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on April 10, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Good drinks, reasonably priced. The sea bass on spinach was excellent as was the risotto and cheese cake at the end. The three of us had a great time.

    Is this helpful?

  10. Ralph VIP

    San Francisco15 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on March 27, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    Excellent service from Jason. Food description s we spot on and he was alway nearby.

    Is this helpful?

FAQs

Il Fornaio - Palo Alto offers takeout which you can order by calling the restaurant at (650) 853-3888.

Il Fornaio - Palo Alto is rated 4.6 stars by 2783 OpenTable diners.

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

  1. Home
  2. United States
  3. San Francisco Bay Area
  4. Peninsula
  5. Palo Alto

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM
Booked 25 times today
Experiences are available.
Google Map for Il Fornaio - Palo Alto

520 Cowper Street, Palo Alto, CA 94301

Additional information

  • Cross street
    University
  • Neighborhood
    Palo Alto
  • Hours of operation
    Mon–Wed 5:00 pm–9:00 pm Thu–Sun 12:00 pm–9:00 pm
  • Price
    $30 and under
  • Cuisines
    Italian, Unspecified
  • Dining style
    Casual Dining
  • Dress code
    Casual Dress
  • Parking details
    Valet parking is available for $20. In addition, there is also the hotel parking lot, as well as a public lot available.
  • Public transit
    Cal Train
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Carte Blanche, Diners Club, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Additional
    Banquet, Bar/Lounge, Beer, BYO Wine, Cafe, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Counter Seating, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Happy Hour, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Takeout, Weekend Brunch, Wheelchair Access, Wine
  • Phone number
  • Catering
    Off-site catering available. Please contact Event Coordinator for more details.
  • Private party facilities
    Celebrating 30 years in downtown Palo Alto, Il Fornaio offers 2 private dining rooms and a heated, covered, garden Piazza. Banquet menus for large parties features the best of Il Fornaio's authentic Italian cuisine and Chef Maurizio's signature dishes.
  • Private party contact
    Juli Calderon: (650) 853-3720
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