Il Forno

I have been going here for thirty years everything is perfect. Service food and most of all the people who work there. It’s fantastic

Jeff Titmass

I have been going here for thirty years everything is perfect. Service food and most of all the people who work there. It’s fantastic

Schani Abeyesundere

The service was excellent the appetizers & food were presently well. My dining experiences at Il Forno has always been enjoyable.

Just Mom

Food was great and while I did not order the spaghetti and meatballs, I got to taste them and the meatballs were phenomenal. Unfortunately, our server paid little to no attention to us, including giving us the wrong bill for another table.

Maxis

Great staff! Very polite and friendly. One of the best I've seen. Nice atmosphere. I work in the area and often pick up orders from this restaurant. I was treated to a delicious lemon tart while waiting for my order. It was absolutely delicious. I often see the owner there. He often greets guests personally. It's a pleasant place!

Jim Stevenson

A friend and I visited Il Forno Trattoria last Saturday. After we left, my friend realised she had lost her grandmother's ring, of great sentimental value. We telephoned the restaurant even though it had already closed for the night, and the team immediately invited us back to search. When we arrived, the staff were cleaning up but had already started to look for the ring and helped us look through the restrooms and, kitchen. At least three or four employees actively helped, including providing gloves and helping us go through the trash to ensure it was lost in a restroom trash can. It was clear that everyone was genuinely concerned and willing to do whatever they could. Although the ring was not found, their professionalism, empathy, and willingness to stay late and actively help without question have left a lasting impression. I mustn’t forget the meal itself had been excellent: well‑prepared dishes, attentive yet unobtrusive service, and a well‑chosen wine list. Taken together with the staff’s extraordinary support, the experience showed Il Forno Trattoria at its best. It is the epitome of excellent service. Whether you are looking for quality Italian cuisine or a restaurant where the team truly cares about its guests, I cannot recommend Il Forno Trattoria highly enough.

The food was fine overall. Good atmosphere. I ordered the salmon pasta, which was slightly overcooked for my taste. Parking is available with validation code — 90 minutes free during lunch and 2 hours free during dinner.

I've been coming to Il Forno since its opening. An Ocean Park staple. Consistently good. Same chef and workers make it a beloved favorite. The complimentary bread is the same fresh dough they use for their pizzas. They used to give you free garnish, so it was like bruschetta. But now they charge for the fresh bruschetta toppings. It's still delightful and I would order it on the side on occasion. Our family's favorite is the tagliatelle (black & white pasta) with pan-fried scallops. But tonight's special was a seafood pasta, but with same delicious sauce. I will order this from now on, when they offer it. We also order the BBQ chicken pizza. It's been a favorite for us locals (kids live it!) If you come early, you'll often see politicians, sports broadcasters, and other "familiar-looking" media personalities here. Many of them are regulars as the wait staff treat the. We'll. Actually, the service is really good. Friendly and personal. We sometimes walk from our house to Il Forno, but the free parking at this plaza is great.

Solid experience. Went for leisurely lunch and it did not disappoint. Food was well made and service attentive but not intrusive. Would definitely come back.

This is one of our favorite restaurants in Santa Monica for over a decade. Always a lovely atmosphere and great service. The food is usually quite good, especially their freshly made pasta dishes, however, on our recent visit a couple of us was not too impress, the food felt a bit off, not as exciting as on our previous visits. Perhaps, a new chef, yo no se… Nonetheless, we have not given up on them and will certainly visit again— soon…

Warm, neighborhood but still upscale restaurant with easy parking, friendly atmosphere, and good food. Nothing spectacular but all the essential pizzas, pastas and meat course were decent.

Great neighborhood place with always great service by Michael. Food is above average and sometimes really great. Big menu with lots of variety. Recent special with seared scallops and black squid ink past was spectacular. Saffron risotto was good but a bit dry.

The food was good. Service and staff was great. A bit overpriced for what you get. I got the lamb which was delicious but wish it came with veggies. My friend got the steak, which was tender and well cooked. The staff was very jovial as well.

Once when I lived in Santa Monica as a young man, I was a regular here. Later, when the restaurant opened a joint venture in Japan, I often went to its Tokyo branch, which closed already. Decades later, I come here and am impressed by how good the food still tastes as before.

Henry Ting

I've been coming to Il Forno since its opening. An Ocean Park staple. Consistently good. Same chef and workers make it a beloved favorite. The complimentary bread is the same fresh dough they use for their pizzas. They used to give you free garnish, so it was like bruschetta. But now they charge for the fresh bruschetta toppings. It's still delightful and I would order it on the side on occasion. Our family's favorite is the tagliatelle (black & white pasta) with pan-fried scallops. But tonight's special was a seafood pasta, but with same delicious sauce. I will order this from now on, when they offer it. We also order the BBQ chicken pizza. It's been a favorite for us locals (kids live it!) If you come early, you'll often see politicians, sports broadcasters, and other "familiar-looking" media personalities here. Many of them are regulars as the wait staff treat the. We'll. Actually, the service is really good. Friendly and personal. We sometimes walk from our house to Il Forno, but the free parking at this plaza is great.

Leila Cooper

Solid experience. Went for leisurely lunch and it did not disappoint. Food was well made and service attentive but not intrusive. Would definitely come back.

Novelette Witt

This is one of our favorite restaurants in Santa Monica for over a decade. Always a lovely atmosphere and great service. The food is usually quite good, especially their freshly made pasta dishes, however, on our recent visit a couple of us was not too impress, the food felt a bit off, not as exciting as on our previous visits. Perhaps, a new chef, yo no se… Nonetheless, we have not given up on them and will certainly visit again— soon…

Denise Phan

Warm, neighborhood but still upscale restaurant with easy parking, friendly atmosphere, and good food. Nothing spectacular but all the essential pizzas, pastas and meat course were decent.

John Fanaris

Great neighborhood place with always great service by Michael. Food is above average and sometimes really great. Big menu with lots of variety. Recent special with seared scallops and black squid ink past was spectacular. Saffron risotto was good but a bit dry.

Farzad Hasnat

The food was good. Service and staff was great. A bit overpriced for what you get. I got the lamb which was delicious but wish it came with veggies. My friend got the steak, which was tender and well cooked. The staff was very jovial as well.

AB Tokyo

Once when I lived in Santa Monica as a young man, I was a regular here. Later, when the restaurant opened a joint venture in Japan, I often went to its Tokyo branch, which closed already. Decades later, I come here and am impressed by how good the food still tastes as before.

Busy evening, the service and the quality both got affected. The dishes were not upto the usual standards, the wait for the food to arrive was excessive.

kewal kohli

Busy evening, the service and the quality both got affected. The dishes were not upto the usual standards, the wait for the food to arrive was excessive.

This place is just mediocre. Staff was not overly friendly, service was a little slow. Food is just ok, you have to ask for olive oil for the bread which they did not offer up. 3 stars is being generous.

The food was a little oversalted to my taste. It was not bad but there are restaurants with better food in this price range. If you haven’t tried good italian, this may work. My husband’s order was done incorrectly so he had to wait 15 more minutes for a new one. Service is slow. Drinks were ok and good wine selection. We probably wouldn’t go back but it is a ok place for a dinner if you want something casual.

Great food and drink selection, and the service is great as well. What this restaurant needs is some acoustic treatment of the main dining room. It is near impossible to have a conversation at this place while waiting for your order. It is unbearably loud.

Dennis Schweitzer

Great food and drink selection, and the service is great as well. What this restaurant needs is some acoustic treatment of the main dining room. It is near impossible to have a conversation at this place while waiting for your order. It is unbearably loud.

lyuba buklemisheva

The food was a little oversalted to my taste. It was not bad but there are restaurants with better food in this price range. If you haven’t tried good italian, this may work. My husband’s order was done incorrectly so he had to wait 15 more minutes for a new one. Service is slow. Drinks were ok and good wine selection. We probably wouldn’t go back but it is a ok place for a dinner if you want something casual.

Nicole K

This place is just mediocre. Staff was not overly friendly, service was a little slow. Food is just ok, you have to ask for olive oil for the bread which they did not offer up. 3 stars is being generous.

The Delivery Driver Saga: You Seriously Can’t Make This Stuff Up!” Hey food lovers — buckle up, because this one’s straight out of The Twilight Zone: Restaurant Edition. So, I eat out a lot. Like… “I should probably get a loyalty card from Restaurants” a lot. I’ve seen my fair share of restaurant chaos — wild managers, confused waiters, and customers who think “well-done” means “crispy fossil.” But this story? This one deserves its own Netflix documentary. 🎬 I’m out with a friend, enjoying dinner, when a poor delivery driver walks in. He’s just trying to pick up an order. Simple task, right? WRONG. He politely asks four different staff members — “Hey, where do I pick up this order?” And they all… ignore him. Like, full-on “You’re invisible” mode. 🫥 I half expected someone to walk right through him like a ghost. Then he tries one more waiter who’s glued to his cell phone texting. Driver: “Excuse me, can you help me?” Waiters Guy: …typing noises continue Five minutes later, without looking up — “Wait here, someone will come.” Sure, buddy. I’ll just grow a beard while I wait. 🧔‍♂️ So, I start timing it. Because why not? ⏱️ 13 minutes go by. THIRTEEN. Finally, the “manager” appears — walking out like he just landed a rocket at NASA. 🚀 Does he greet the driver? Nope. Does he say hello? Nope. Does he say can i help you? Nope. Nothing ignores him. He helps a random lady who just walked in. The driver, still polite: “Sir, I’ve been here for a very long time — I just need to pick up an order, I’m running late.” Manager: “I don’t care. I didn’t see you, so you can wait… or leave.” 😐 Driver: “Why are you being rude? I just need the order.” Manager: “Because you’re rude.” Ah yes — 🤦‍♂️ Reverse psychology, genius-level stuff right there. Straight from crazy land Management School. 🎓 Driver: “Can I please have the order?” Manager: “Get out. I’m not giving it to you. Cancel it. Send a different driver ” Driver (looking tired but still polite): “Sir, please — I can’t just cancel it. The app won’t let me. If I do, I lose a point — and it takes, like, a hundred deliveries to earn that back! For what? For being on time?” He pauses, trying to stay calm: “So I lose 45 minutes because you delayed and were rude? That’s not fair.” Driver: “Man, I’m just trying to survive out here. We get paid so little… can you please just give me the order?” And the manager? Still standing there like a brick wall of arrogance & narcissism . 😐 Manager: “I don’t care. I guess that's not my problem Leave.” Bravo, sir. Excellent customer service. Academy Award performance for arrogance rude and narcissism .Here’s the thing: Delivery drivers (represent customers speaking for their customers ) are the bread and butter 🥖🧈 of restaurants. They keep food moving, customers happy, and your reputation alive. If this guy’s the manager — fire him yesterday. If he’s the owner — congratulations, you’re your own worst Yelp review. ⭐ you’re sabotaging your own business with your “I’m-the-boss” narcissistic attitude. As for me? That place is officially off my list. 🚫 Because no meal tastes good when it’s served with a side of narcissism, ego, disrespect and deeming a delivery driver . 🍽️