Delivery
No
Payment
Credit Cards Accepted
Parking
Valet, Garage
Good for Kids
Yes
Attire
Casual
Alcohol
Yes - Full Bar
Reservations
Yes
Step inside Il Fornaio and take a culinary journey through Italy. Early mornings bring rustic, crisp crusted bread hot from the oven accompanied by the scent of fresh brewed espresso. During lunch and dinner hours, pastas and flavorful sauces simmer while meats and vegetables roast over hot coals. Bottles of wine from small, regional wineries are uncorked to complement the dishes, which have been crafted in the custom of Italy's chefs, bakers and homemakers. In the tradition of Italy's trattorias, the sight, sounds and aromas of authentic Italian cuisine are recreated fresh everyday at Il Fornaio Cucina Italiana.
| 5 star |
|
|
3 reviews | 10% | |
| 4 star |
|
|
13 reviews | 43% | |
| 3 star |
|
|
12 reviews | 40% | |
| 2 star |
|
|
1 review | 3% | |
| 1 star |
|
|
1 review | 3% |
07/13/2024 - Mady E.
good
05/25/2008 - MenuPix User
This restaurant has terrible and rude service. (Especially, their hostess Lindsey. What a terrible person to have as the first impression to a restaurant. I can not believe she has been there long enough to oversee every bad experience I have had there.)
1. Most recently, my parents had reserved a room for an important anniversary dinner. After a long phone conversation the day before and a terrible fight ten minutes before their guests arrived, they were not given a room, another table, or even an apology or an acknowledgement of the mistake that was made.
Basically, they had double booked and they just disregarded our reservation. Despite the fact that there was a room open, we were not given the room since there was another reservation for the room in an hour. We left after the lead hostess left for twenty minutes to "call the manager." During this whole ordeal, a table for four repeatedly asked Lindsey for their table. (Half the restaurant was empty). They were told each time that they had to wait, despite the evidence to the contrary.
We left and went to Mi Piace just a block down. The service was much better. The Bolognese pasta was excellent.
2. Two nights earlier, my boyfriend and I went to Il Fornaio. We were told there was a 25 minute wait for the patio. We waited 35 minutes and then went to Lindsey (yeah her again) and she said it would be another 5 minutes for a table on the patio. After another 10 minutes and threat to leave the restaurant, we were told our table was ready. We walked over to the table closest to the kitchen door, which was not on the patio. (And of course, the table had been empty the whole time we had been there.) When I complained and mentioned Lindsey's own acknowledgement of our request for a patio table, we were told that we had to wait to speak with “Queen” Lindsey. That was the limit. We walked out. The other hostess ran after us. What was her offer … an opportunity to speak with Lindsey right away. Honestly, we started laughing, because it was such a ridiculous offer. We went to Twin Palms and received great service. We were seated in a matter of seconds.
3. A few months earlier during the winter chill, I went to Il Fornaio with my girlfriends, two of whom have kids. We were rudely told that high chairs are not allowed inside. My girlfriends told me to lighten up and face the reality of eating out with kids, so I kept my mouth shut and sat outside on one of the coldest days of the year. The inside was never full during our long stay. The bread was good though. I have to give them that.
I have eaten at the Beverly Hills and Santa Monica branches of this restaurant. They have good food and good service, but the Pasadena branch suffers terribly from rude and disorganized management. Avoid it, especially, if you want to organize an event. There are several other Italian restaurants in Pasadena.
See all restaurants in Old Town Pasadena
