Il Fornaio - Pasadena

Yes, it's a chain restaurant, but Il Fornaio does its level best to transcend that label. We dropped in for dinner tonight, and were seated immediately (although in a back corner table that was incredibly cramped). The service was friendly, patient and detail-oriented without being fussy. We tried two dishes from the monthly special menu (they feature dishes and wines from a different region of Italy every month) and both were excellent -- innovative flavors beyond the usual lasagna, pesto penne, etc. fare that you see at most Italian restaurants. The beef tenderloin risotto w/ crispy shallots and gorgonzola cream was so good, I wished I had ordered it instead of just tasting a bit from my boyfriend's plate. We've had mixed experiences before with the monthly special menu, but were pleasantly surprised by how good both dishes we ordered were this time around. The wine selection is excellent as well, as we both enjoyed glasses of Italian varietals that we've never seen before. ""Il Fornaio"" means ""the Baker"" and yes, the bread is always great too. All in all, I'm a happy diner, and I'll be sure to be back. Pros: Excellent service, delicious food, great wine list Cons: Seasonal menu can be uneven, on the pricier side for a chain restaurant more

Although this restaurant does manage to render itself a Fine Dining Italian Establishment, it is at the expense of the authenticity and the prices. I am a firm believer that Italian dining should be ample portions and great prices in that red-checkered-tablecloth, mom-and-pop sort of way. The cuisine here is good, exquisite in some cases, but the vibe is corporate and the bills are high. Pros: Ambience, Fine Dining Cons: Inauthentic, Pricey more

The food is always good, my favorite is the Butternut Squash Ravioli with Sage butter. The outdoor patio is definitely the way to go, inside seating is too loud. A bit crowded and always a wait. Still, it is at the top of my list of restaurants in Pasadena even though it is a chain. Pros: Excellent Food, Vareity of Dishes Cons: a little pricey, crowded more

once you get past the scatterbrained hostess who always forgets write down your name on the list, hence sometimes forget that you're even there, the restaurant is great. the servers are wonderful and the food is great. the menu is nothing too fancy; just simple classic dishes like gnocchi and ravioli. their zabaione alla gritti is just delish~ just remember that this is a chain restaurant. it will be crowded, noisy, and sometimes filled with obnoxious teens trying to have ""a mature date."" definitely not recommended for a romantic date unless you reserve a table at the indoor patio which is more quieter. Pros: great food, wonderful servers, decent price Cons: ditsy hostess, noisy more

I'll come here only if the occasion is a special one. We dined here on Valentine's Day '03 and it wasn't bad. The patio was filled, but the food wasn't all that great anymore. The whole Il Fornaio experience wasn't the same as it was in the mid 90's...even their menu shrunk (in variety, not in price)! Pros: ambience, patio, location Cons: , menu, food more

My date and I both got specials, ahi and duck. The ahi wasn't fresh (grey spots), and was extremely bland (not even salt & pepper). It was supposed to have spring vegetables, which was mostly just celery. The duck was tough, and tasted like it was previously frozen. The service was good, as in not poor. Overall, the food was disappointing but the experience was average. Pros: patio, oil and vinegar for b, read Cons: food more

This has good Italian sytle dishes, but it is not the Italian ambience you might be looking for. It's better for lunch. Their bread is the best on earth, served fresh and free on your table. They do have very good pasta dishes and excellent desserts. It's not small and private, but it is good food. Pros: Affordable, Delicous, Casual Cons: Inexperienced Waiters, Atmoshphere more

I love Il Fornaio. sure its a chain, but the food is just delicious. Their bolognese is wonderful. The bread is amazing. good cappucino too! I've been to many branches in SoCal and they all are delicious. And BTW some branches serve breakfast--try it its some of the best breakfast in LA Pros: bolognese, bread, pizza more

Average Italian food but the location and ambience make Il Fornaio a nice place for a date. The desserts are always good especially the chocolate mousse creme brulee!! more

I was anxious to try this restaurant based on reviews I've read. My first time there was for my birthday. A friend of mine went out of his way to make reservations and tried to make arrangements with the serving staff to make the occasion special. We waited a long time, despite having reservations (Wed. night). The food looked appetizing, but it was bland. I can't even remember what I ordered. We had difficulty flagging down our server. It may as well have been an ordinary day because nothing else happened. No birthday wishes, no dessert (as my friend had arranged). I was very disappointed. I gave Il Fornaio another chance. I went there for lunch with coworkers. Service was poor, my steak was undercooked and rubbery. Everyone fought for the salt to try to make their food more palatable. Maybe the other locations have better service/food. Not this one! Pros: Good Ambience Cons: Poor Service, Bland Food, Parking Structure more

When I stepped into the Il Fornaio in Orange County, I felt like I was home again. There were several Italian speaking waiters and waitressess, who greeted us right away and took us to our table. The bread, served with wine and olive oil was very nostalgic and our meal was impeccable. My very favorite ristorante outside of Italy. more

Overall, this is not a bad restuarant. What can make it better? The food. Don't get me wrong. The food is fine but it should be better to match the competing restuarants nearby and for the value. However, when you are in a pinch, he head here for mediocre meals. more

There's always a good-looking crowd here. The bar is fun. Seating is a little on the tight side, or cozy if you like. There's no too many entrees that'll knock your socks off, mostly decent to not-quite-there. I do enjoy the salmon carpaccio and the breads. Pros: good ambience, convenient location Cons: undistinguished food more

Il Fornaio is the kind of place you go to when you know exactly what you're craving, and you're not in the mood for surprises. The dinner menu is solid and food is well-presented and flavorful. For those who work in the area, the take-out lunch counter is ideal for a quick salad or sandwich. Do try to arrive early, by 1pm the pickings are slimmer. Recommended: Fornaio salad and the eggplant sandwich. Pros: Dependable more

The restaurant does a nice job of upscale, but slightly corporate Italian food. A nice wood-fired oven makes for crispy pizza, and the desert cart is fully stocked. Their private rooms are a fun place for a large group to have a dinner or brunch. But it's the little cafe on the backside of the place (opposite the Metropolitan Museum store) that's the real find. A great place for a quick sandwich or salad, some baked goods or a cup of coffee that's reasonably-priced. Also, they will validate your parking for the Union garage (across Fair Oaks from the One Colorado Plaza), which can save you some bucks. Pros: cafe sandwiches, coffee, parking validations more