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Il Fornaio - Palo Alto, Palo Alto, CA

Il Fornaio - Palo Alto

4.6
4.6
2773 Reviews
$30 and under
Italian

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2 people
7:00 pm
Booked 24 times today
  • Good for special occasions
  • Charming
  • Neighbourhood gem
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.

Order delivery or takeout

Private dining

Private dining

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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
    (650) 853-3888
  • Website
    https://www.ilfornaio.com/location/il-fornaio-palo-alto/
  • 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
  • Location
    520 Cowper Street, Palo Alto, CA 94301
  • Area
    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, Takeaway, Weekend Brunch, Wheelchair Access, Wine

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Menu

View menu on restaurant's website

What 2,773 people are saying

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
  • 4.5Food
  • 4.6Service
  • 4.5Ambience
  • 4.3Value

Noise • Moderate

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews
Il Fornaio - Palo Alto is celebrated for its "excellent quality food and good service" with a warm, welcoming ambiance. Diners appreciate the "reliable favorites" on the menu and the attentive staff, who ensure a delightful dining experience. The restaurant's outdoor patio and festive decor add to its charm, making it a favored spot for special occasions.

2,773 Reviews

  1. Kelly

    VIP

    Phoenix

    8 reviews

    5.0

    8 reviews

    Dined 1 day ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Such wonderful food and service! We are from out of town and will eat here as much as we can before returning home !

    Is this helpful?

  2. Tiffany

    San Francisco

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined 2 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    We had a very pleasant experience at Il Fornaio during Valentine’s Day. The staff was very respectful and kind towards us. We made a reservation two weeks in advance for 5:30 and was seated immediately upon arrival. Our server was very enthusiastic in greeting us and checking up on us. The food was amazing! They had a special menu for Valentine’s Day and we had a ravioli with lobster bisque that my partner and I both absolutely loved. The steak was also cooked perfectly medium rare and tasted delicious. We also got their Valentine’s Day dessert that was prepared beautifully with a chocolate cake that melted in your mouth. Loved the whole experience and can’t wait to go back to try the other pastas on their menu!

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  3. Veronica

    San Francisco

    12 reviews

    5.0

    12 reviews

    Dined 6 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    Exactly what we wanted. A table off To the side to enjoy a romantic dinner that we so rarely have the time for. The service was perfect and the food was delicious.

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  4. Harold

    New Mexico

    21 reviews

    5.0

    21 reviews

    Dined on 9 February 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Always a delight to eat at IL Fornio. One of our favorite spots when visiting the bay area.

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  5. Fulvia

    San Francisco

    3 reviews

    5.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on 29 January 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Beginning with the Irvine location, I have been going to this restaurant since the 90's. The Palo Alto location exceeded my expectations. The concept, food and service have been remarkably consistent over all these years. Well done! We look forward to our next visit.

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  6. Patrick

    Pittsburgh

    4 reviews

    5.0

    4 reviews

    Dined on 23 January 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Fantastic service and food. Would recommend!!!!!!!

    Is this helpful?

  7. May

    San Francisco

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on 21 January 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    It's a nice restaurant. I am going to make it my family kitchen place. Thank you for your services.

    Is this helpful?

  8. Don

    San Francisco

    38 reviews

    5.0

    38 reviews

    Dined on 19 January 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    We hadn’t been to any Il Fornaios in more than 10 years, only because there are so many restaurants to try. Tonight’s experience reminded us what we liked about Il Fornaio - delicious food, generous portions, friendly and efficient service, and comparatively good value. They have managed to maintain their level of quality all these years. We’ll be sure to put them back in the rotation.

    Is this helpful?

  9. Mary

    VIP

    San Francisco

    58 reviews

    4.0

    58 reviews

    Dined on 17 January 2025

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 4
    It was our first time at this location of Il Fornaio, and it was very good. The restaurant is attractive, and it wasn't too crowded at 6:00pm. There are quite a few choices of starters, salads, pasta, pizza, and meat and seafood, so there's something for everyone. Our waiter was pleasant, and our meals (gnocchi, salmon, and tagliatelle) were very good. The cocktails and wine choices were good, too. I wouldn't call it extraordinary, but it is a very good, reliable restaurant when you want a pleasant evening out, and don't mind spending some money. .

    Is this helpful?

  10. Pat

    VIP

    San Francisco

    21 reviews

    5.0

    21 reviews

    Dined on 17 January 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Jason is a wonderful server. He made us all feel special. He didn’t miss a beat.

    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 2773 OpenTable diners.

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

Make a booking

2 people
7:00 pm
Booked 24 times today

Order delivery or takeout

Google Map for Il Fornaio - Palo Alto

520 Cowper Street, Palo Alto, CA 94301

Additional information

  • Cross Street
    University
  • Area
    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, Takeaway, Weekend Brunch, Wheelchair Access, Wine
  • Website
    https://www.ilfornaio.com/location/il-fornaio-palo-alto/
  • Phone number
    (650) 853-3888
  • 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

Featured in

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