Il Fornaio Reviews

Reviews

• Rachel Sent on 08/06/2019
  5 out of 5 rating

  5.0
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    5.0 out of 5 rating
    5.0
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    5.0 out of 5 rating
    5.0
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    5.0 out of 5 rating
    5.0
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    5.0 out of 5 rating
    5.0
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    5.0 out of 5 rating
    5.0

  Great reception venue!

  My husband and I had our reception at Il Fornaio, using the Ocean Room and the patio. The service was fantastic and our guests could not stop raving about the appetizers. Their entire staff was super professional and accommodating for us.

  My husband and I had our reception at Il Fornaio, using the Ocean Room and the patio. The service was fantastic and our guests could not stop raving about the appetizers. Their entire staff was super professional and accommodating for us.
• Mike Sent on 08/23/2014
  5 out of 5 rating

  5.0
  • Quality of service
    5.0 out of 5 rating
    5.0
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    5.0 out of 5 rating
    5.0
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    5.0 out of 5 rating
    5.0
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    5.0 out of 5 rating
    5.0
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    5.0 out of 5 rating
    5.0

  After having dinner at Il Fornaio, I was sure this was the place to have my rehearsal dinner. The food is amazing and the service was top notch.
  
  Setting up the menu for the rehearsal dinner was painless, and a joy. There were no restrictions placed on what I could bring into the menu in the way of food. I was also able to choose the wines I wanted served, allowing me to keep to a theme of Monterey area wines easily.
  
  The day of the event all was ready for our party and the private dining room was perfect. To add one more level was the patio that was attached. It was blocked off for us to be able to use it during our event.
  
  Once again the food did not disappoint one bit and the service was amazing. We never felt rushed or that we had to. It was almost like being at home.
  
  When I return to Carmel I will eat here again and have a fantastic memory to loose myself in.

  After having dinner at Il Fornaio, I was sure this was the place to have my rehearsal dinner. The food is amazing and the service was top notch.
  
  Setting up the menu for the rehearsal dinner was painless, and a joy. There were no restrictions placed on what I could bring into the menu in the way of food. I was also able to choose the wines I wanted served, allowing me to keep to a theme of Monterey area wines easily.
  
  The day of the event all was ready for our party and the private dining room was perfect. To add one more level was the patio that was attached. It was blocked off for us to be able to use it during our event.
  
  Once again the food did not disappoint one bit and the service was amazing. We never felt rushed or that we had to. It was almost like being at home.
  
  When I return to Carmel I will eat here again and have a fantastic memory to loose myself in.
• Morgan Sent on 08/30/2012
  5 out of 5 rating

  5.0
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    5.0 out of 5 rating
    5.0
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    5.0 out of 5 rating
    5.0
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    5.0 out of 5 rating
    5.0
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    5.0 out of 5 rating
    5.0
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    5.0 out of 5 rating
    5.0

  We used Il Fornaio for our rehearsal dinner and an after wedding brunch and both events were fantastic. Kim was very attentive over the phone and via email when I had questions. The rehearsal dinner was delicious and the private room we used was set up beautifully. The brunch went off without a hitch thanks to the wonderful team and Kim at Il Fornaio. They set everything up, went straight to work on cooking the food and spotlessly cleaned up after themselves. Again, just like dinner, the food was great! Thank you!

  We used Il Fornaio for our rehearsal dinner and an after wedding brunch and both events were fantastic. Kim was very attentive over the phone and via email when I had questions. The rehearsal dinner was delicious and the private room we used was set up beautifully. The brunch went off without a hitch thanks to the wonderful team and Kim at Il Fornaio. They set everything up, went straight to work on cooking the food and spotlessly cleaned up after themselves. Again, just like dinner, the food was great! Thank you!
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• Hope A. Sent on 06/26/2012
  5 out of 5 rating

  5.0
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    5.0
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    5.0 out of 5 rating
    5.0
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    5.0 out of 5 rating
    5.0
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    5.0 out of 5 rating
    5.0
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    5.0 out of 5 rating
    5.0

  Best wedding food I have ever eaten. Brunch buffet had so many options and was rich and flavorful. To cut costs we decided on no alcohol but guests enjoyed the restaurant bar in the next room. Staff was excellent and helpful. Kim was 100% responsive and flexible. She allowed us pretty much free range with the decorations and lent a screen for projecting the slideshow.
  
  Amazing value at $15 a head for brunch and four hours of space, including linens, cleanup and cake cutting. Out of this world. No regrets!!!

  Best wedding food I have ever eaten. Brunch buffet had so many options and was rich and flavorful. To cut costs we decided on no alcohol but guests enjoyed the restaurant bar in the next room. Staff was excellent and helpful. Kim was 100% responsive and flexible. She allowed us pretty much free range with the decorations and lent a screen for projecting the slideshow.
  
  Amazing value at $15 a head for brunch and four hours of space, including linens, cleanup and cake cutting. Out of this world. No regrets!!!
• Terri Sent on 10/29/2013
  4.9 out of 5 rating

  4.9
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    5.0
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    4.5 out of 5 rating
    4.5
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    5.0 out of 5 rating
    5.0
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    5.0 out of 5 rating
    5.0
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    5.0 out of 5 rating
    5.0

  Il Fornaio was the perfect place to hold our wedding reception. Ours was a small, intimate gathering. I was told that the tables weren't quite set up properly when guest started to arrive, but it all worked out in the end and the reception turned out to be perfect for us. The service was outstanding, as was the food.

  Il Fornaio was the perfect place to hold our wedding reception. Ours was a small, intimate gathering. I was told that the tables weren't quite set up properly when guest started to arrive, but it all worked out in the end and the reception turned out to be perfect for us. The service was outstanding, as was the food.
• Cayla Sent on 10/18/2015
  4.8 out of 5 rating

  4.8
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    5.0 out of 5 rating
    5.0
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    5.0 out of 5 rating
    5.0
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    5.0 out of 5 rating
    5.0
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    5.0 out of 5 rating
    5.0
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    4.0 out of 5 rating
    4.0

  We had our rehearsal dinner, ceremony and reception here. Everything was lovely! The food was wonderful, the employees were amazing, the venue had gorgeous views of the ocean... but for 70 people, it was too small. People were standing during the ceremony! That was the only problem, and that was never mentioned to me until the very last minute. I would've been perfectly fine finding another location because had all my grandparents attended the wedding, a lot more people would've been standing. I'd say if you have a group 50 or less, it's perfect. Otherwise look elsewhere.

  We had our rehearsal dinner, ceremony and reception here. Everything was lovely! The food was wonderful, the employees were amazing, the venue had gorgeous views of the ocean... but for 70 people, it was too small. People were standing during the ceremony! That was the only problem, and that was never mentioned to me until the very last minute. I would've been perfectly fine finding another location because had all my grandparents attended the wedding, a lot more people would've been standing. I'd say if you have a group 50 or less, it's perfect. Otherwise look elsewhere.
• Victoria N. Sent on 05/15/2023
  2.8 out of 5 rating

  2.8
  • Quality of service
    3.0 out of 5 rating
    3.0
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    2.0 out of 5 rating
    2.0
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    3.0 out of 5 rating
    3.0
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    3.0 out of 5 rating
    3.0
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    3.0 out of 5 rating
    3.0

  Great food, not preferred for a wedding dinner

  We hosted 20 people for a wedding dinner at the Carmel location. I'll start by saying, we love Il Fornaio and have never had a bad meal there- our food itself was a 5-star.
  
  The 3 star is mostly due to the added stress and frustration in working with the event coordinator, and the lack of communication. None of our information was passed along to the kitchen/ day-of staff, so the day-of we were trying to coordinate and re-request everything that had been sent over via email and number unanswered phone calls. The day of staff were flexible and were able to meet most of our needs, fortunately, but it was a lot of unnecessary stress.
  
  Also- the room set up (which is a VERY cute room that I was super excited about) was not how I discussed with the coordinator, so I was very surprised when we walked in to see the set up. While intimate, it was set up in a very clunky and awkward fashion. Many of our guests commented that it made for an awkward dinner. The day of staff told us the set up I discussed with the event coordinator wasn't even an option...
  
  Of all our vendors, Il Fornaio was definitely the most difficult and also the most disappointing given the price of the meal, unfortunately. It has SO much potential, and while I will gladly go back for a meal, I would not recommend for an event space.

  We hosted 20 people for a wedding dinner at the Carmel location. I'll start by saying, we love Il Fornaio and have never had a bad meal there- our food itself was a 5-star.
  
  The 3 star is mostly due to the added stress and frustration in working with the event coordinator, and the lack of communication. None of our information was passed along to the kitchen/ day-of staff, so the day-of we were trying to coordinate and re-request everything that had been sent over via email and number unanswered phone calls. The day of staff were flexible and were able to meet most of our needs, fortunately, but it was a lot of unnecessary stress.
  
  Also- the room set up (which is a VERY cute room that I was super excited about) was not how I discussed with the coordinator, so I was very surprised when we walked in to see the set up. While intimate, it was set up in a very clunky and awkward fashion. Many of our guests commented that it made for an awkward dinner. The day of staff told us the set up I discussed with the event coordinator wasn't even an option...
  
  Of all our vendors, Il Fornaio was definitely the most difficult and also the most disappointing given the price of the meal, unfortunately. It has SO much potential, and while I will gladly go back for a meal, I would not recommend for an event space.