Il Fornaio

I’ve eaten lunch here twice in the last two weeks. Both times, it was just OK. The food was not hot, a plate of salmon was sent back for being severely under cooked and the pizza was very doughy, slimy and also under cooked. My pasta was cold, the sauce had that «been sitting for a while in the window» flat color and dryness to it and it was under sauced. The service was fantastic! The waiter was eager to please on both occasions (same guy) and took great care of us. The food just fell short big time. I’m sure due to the group I was with, we might end up here again. I just hope things improve.

I made a booking on OpenTable for this place. As soon as I got there they sat my date and I. We were first timers and really enjoyed the ambiance and service. Everyone was extremely helpful and the bread kept coming.
The servers are very helpful as there is a lot going on, on the menu so that was nice.
It is an upscale place with great food — Make sure to go with big appetites!

My husband and I were planning our vow renewal ceremony and reception for the 9^th of January. I phoned Maggianos and were told we would have to sign a contract and pay a deposit in order to use them for our reception. I wasn’t very excited with the menu choices and prices, or reviews either. We only planned for 11 guests plus myself and my husband. Their approach seemed a bit more corporate than intimate. I contacted Janice the event coordinator with Il Fornaio and she was so much more accommodating for such a small group. She worked with me without requiring a contract or deposit. Each time I had a request or change from my original plans she was more than happy to assist. When we arrived at the restaurant we were welcomed warmly, our room was set nicely, exactly how I expected it to be. Our server Marco was fabulous. He was very personable, attentive and prompt with any requests from our guests. The food was extraordinary! Our guests couldn’t stop commenting about the entire experience. It is the attention to detail, outstanding food and extraordinary service that will bring us back to Il Fornaio.

Last Monday we celebrated our wedding dinner here and oh my gosh! It was beyond our expectations and we will definitely be back anytime we go to visit. Our waiter is what made it the best, or maybe it was the food, a toss up, but either way the service and food was impeccable. I felt like such a princess and I wish I could remember our waiters name (I want to say it was hector?) he really took care of us and was very attentive. I ordered the butternut squash ravioli and it was to die for! We also shared the meat and cheese platter which was so mouth watering! Thank you for such a fabulous time we will definitely be coming back!

Went here on a first date and it was delicious. I ordered the cappellacci di zucca, Ravioli filled with butternut squash and walnuts served with tomato sauce,
brown butter, Grana Padano and crispy sage. I have had a few cravings since then for that exact same thing. I really liked the ambiance, the lighting was low but not to dark and the service was great! Our server was attentive but not overbearing. My ONLY regret, is bringing home my leftovers, sadly I didn’t end up eating them and my tummy was mad at me for not devouring it all while I was dining in. My fault, I always think I’m going to eat leftovers but then sometimes it ends up going to waste… I’ll be back.

We had a wonderful (and unexpectedly good) dinner here one weekend this month.
We walked in without a reservation, but thankfully it was later than a typical dinnertime, so we were seated immediately. The table we were initially shown to was a poor location, but a passing manager stopped our hostess and suggested she seat us at a table for four that was a far better location. I am eternally grateful for that change, it was a much better location.
The restaurant has various sections you can be seated in, each separated from the next by either a visual cue (column, curtains) or a physical barrier (doors separating into another room). It kept the noise level at a much lower level, something I look for in a nicer restaurant. It meant that everyone could speak in more intimate tones instead of shouting to be heard above their neighbors.
We are vegetarians, and opted to share two dishes. We chose the Fra Diavolo pizza, minus the sausage, and a seasonal ravioli dish with fontina cheese and porcini mushrooms. Both were heavenly! The pizza had a nice spicy sauce on it (not too spicy, but enough to be worthy of the name) and a wonderful flavor. The ravioli was just slightly undercooked (a bit to the tooth), but that in no way detracted from our enjoyment of the dish. It had a wonderful mushroom flavor (the mushrooms were on the outside only) and I’ve decided fontina cheese is the way to go instead of any other too-​mild typical ravioli cheese. They also served us fresh (warm) bread before our meals arrived, alongside olive oil and balsamic vinegar.
We were a bit parched and drained our drinks several times, but the glasses were always refilled immediately. I wish they would have replenished some of my ice in my glass for my iced tea, because by the second glass it was mostly gone, but that’s a minor complaint.

I want to say my wife and I had a wonderful experience here last night. It was our first time. We were chosen to sit at a special table with extra special service. We were compensated for a couple appetizers. The pasta ravioli one was amazing. Also given a comp. on our desert a coffee flavored Dolci. Our waiter was amazing and knowledgeable on the menu and had great suggestion paring for our bottle of wine. Also when we left received a gift bag of items; seasonings, salts, olive oil, pasta and a plate. Was a very special and memorable evening. Thank You.

The food and service was AMAZING! If it’s your first time going make sure you tell them when you make your reservation. They will bring you samples of some of their in-​house made from scratch food. Worth every penny!

The food was very good, the price of the food was fair for the portions. Was it authentic Italiano??? Their meals, preparation, presentation, and ambiance were all wonderful. The love in the food was all that was missing; ergo, 4 of 5 stars!

Went in for a late lunch by myself… Bartender never introduced himself but his service was great. Got the bolognese and it was clearly house made pasta worth every penny! I would highly recommend this place if you are looking for good Italian food.
Bar area is meh… Not a cool place to hang out or a place to grab a drink if you are waiting for a table… But I imagine if you get a table service will also be great and the menu will provide you with a great dining experience!

If you’re looking for great ambiance, service, wine and Italian food, go here. The butternut squash is flawless.

The food was excellent, and the service was phenomenal. Our waiter Jessie helped my group of 9 decide on meals which everybody loved, and the dessert was absolutely wonderful. The pizza I had was great, and the steak was so delicious with this savory glaze. I never get tired of coming here.

I took my niece and nephews for lunch here (ages 12,9,6) yesterday and sat outside. Our waiter was great and had so much patience with the kids. Whomever you were, thank you! He even had the kitchen make Mac and cheese for the 12 year old even though it wasn’t on the menu. Kids can be picky like that. Two of the kids had French fries and said they were the best fries they ever had. I know it’s an Italian restaurant but, the fries were on the kids’ menu. My dish which was the noodle dish with the vodka cream sauce was just ok though. We’ll be back because of the way you treat kids with that special touch. That does not go unnoticed.

Il Fornaio was a familiar territory because I have had a few amazing lunches and dinners there, though not at this location but in Virginia where I live.
Walking into this particular location in Denver was a refreshing experience. Our waitress was super friendly and all smiles. The food was delicious and I walked out with the same familiarity as I walked in with.
The bread is amazing and they make it fresh everyday.
If you havent been here, give them a try, you will be happy you did.

This restaraunt is a great Italian place! I have a soy and gluten allergy and they are very accommodating. They have a gluten free menu and there is no soy in anything (except a few dessert items). The entire staff is attentive and friendly. My favorite server is Matt M, he is hilarious and so helpful!
I highly recommend this place! They have the best gluten free pasta!

My husband and I come back to Il Fornaio for dinner again and again, and usually bring visiting friends or employees with us. In addition to the food being consistently terrific, the service is ALWAYS awesome. We are checked on by manager at least once (usually twice) and every server we’ve had is very attentive.
I really enjoy the authenticity of the menu, and the special menus they rotate throughout the year, which are based on different regions of Italy. They provide a history of the region and the food there, and then offer multiple courses (which you can order as a «Taste of…» for a great price) from that region. They also have a passport you can get to memorialize ordering from each region.
Keep up the great service and food, Il Fornaio — we’ll see you again soon!

Exemplary service.
Superior food quality.
Immaculate presentations.
Why does this place have a rating of less than four stars???
I ate here three times in about a week (thank you company expense accounts). Each time I was met with friendly bartenders and delectable delights. George, Milo, and John made each trip in a culinary delight.
The regular menu is good, but go right to the last item on the specials menu for some of the best of the day. I was fortunate enough to enjoy grilled duck breast, veal chops smothered in asparagus and melted cheese, and mushroom risotto with grilled tenderloin (not all at once). The artistry of their presentation impressed me enough to come back repeatedly.
Don’t skip out on dessert either. The tiramisu is incredibly fluffy. The raspberry chocolate torte (or whatever its name is) was simply marvelous.
Do not be mislead by the low ratings of others. Give it Il Fornaio a try and enjoy.

Il Fornaio would get a 5 star from me, if it wasn’t for the several times I’ve been here at lunch and had to wait 45 minutes for my food to come out. This is a big problem… because in the DTC, you need to have quick lunch meetings and haul back to work. It’s never busy at lunch, so I’m not sure why there is such a long wait. The server never comes to inform us of why it’s taking so long. I’ve honestly had to inhale my food.
As for food… exquisite authentic Italian. I know this is a franchise, but it’s still very authentic. The price is to be expected for well made Italian. Great happy hour pizza and wine. I have never had anything I didn’t like here. The dinner menu is fantastic. You can always ask the server for advice if you need. I like that they give you cloth napkins even for lunch.
My favs on the recent menu: carpaccio, calamari (this is not «typical» calamari), linguine mare chiaro (seafood linguini), grigliata di pesce misto.
Overall, you’ll have a great dining experience, might want to tell them to rush on lunch if you have to run. I love the ambience, it’s quiet, romantic, classy Italian. The patio is very cute also. They also have several small rooms for private parties and meetings.

Great place to go on a business lunch, close to the tech center and pretty quiet, especially if you go at 11:30am. The servers are really friendly and attentive and take care to make sure your drink is full often.
The food is great, just don’t get full on appetizers. The free bread is amazing and you’ll find yourself eating 3 or 4 pieces if you aren’t careful! Calamari is also a good starter. I am not a fan of the Caesar salad here, the dressing is tart, the parm flakes are huge and it comes with hard boiled eggs and 4 gigantic croutons.
The pasta is great. I had the fettuccine alfredo with roasted boar meatballs and mushrooms. The pastas are nice and creamy and the presentation is great. I just can’t read a damn thing on the menu because all titles are in Italian. The ones that are especially bad are on the print out that comes with the menu, cramped Italian writing in CURSIVE! Put just point to what you want to order ;) I will be going back.

Prices here have gone up in the past few years (as many restaurants have), but service and food quality have been adjusted more than accordingly.
If you are looking for authentic Italian food and five star service, look no further. The menu offers a good variety of salads, italian-​style pizzas, unique pastas, items from the grill (rotisserie chicken, seafood, beef), and classics (lasagna, canneloni).
Our lunch was fantastic. I tried the new CALMARATA CON PESTO ALLA PUGLIESE, which is large ring pasta with pesto, oven roasted tomatoes, buratta cheese and pine nuts. One word: heavenly. All my favorite ingredients in one dish. And why did I never think of putting burrata on pasta (it’s usually found atop salads)? Brilliant and delicious.
The others in my party had the INSALATA CESARINA (caesar salad) and FRADIVOLA PIZZA (mozzarella, italian sausage, mushrooms, bell peppers, red onions, & spicy peperoncino oil. Both were very pleased with their meals. Caesar salad perfectly dressed and had a good balance of anchovy, not overly done as in the past. My other guest that had the pizza noted that this was one of the tastiest pizzas he’s ever had. Cooked to perfection (crispy but not burnt) and an amazing blend of flavors. He is sold on Italian pizzas for life now. Hurrah, another one converted! :)
All time favorite dishes include: RUSTICHELLA (a pizza-​like appetizer with goat cheese, mozzarella, tomatoes, red onions, & kalamata olives), INSALATA DI BIETOLE (beet salad), and CAPPELACCI DI ZUCCA (butternut squash ravioli). And, of course, don’t leave without having a piece of homemade TIRAMISU.
The managers have really turned this place around. Service was much more friendly and attentive. Overall, everyone seems more happy. And I also noticed that the restaurant also is much cleaner than in the past — from the restrooms to the side stations and everywhere in between.