IL Forno
6606 E McKellips Rd,Ste 104, Mesa, AZ, 85215
IL Forno Menu
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Visit below restaurant in Mesa for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Mesa for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Mesa for healthy meals suggestion.
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Address :
6606 E McKellips Rd,Ste 104
Mesa, AZ, 85215 - Phone (480) 807-0888
- Website https://www.italianrestaurantsmesaaz.com/
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :11:00 am - 9:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Accepts Bitcoin : No
Good For : Dinner
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Quiet
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : Yes
Dogs Allowed : No
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : Yes
Categories
Italian Cuisine
The immense popularity of Italian cuisine globally isn't unknown. You can find an Italian Pizzeria around every corner of almost every city in the United States. Not to forget that in every house, people enjoy mac and cheese as comfort food. But it would be wrong to believe that Italian food starts with pizza and ends with good pasta as this Mediterranean country has much more to offer other than these two dishes. In Italian Cuisine, there is a high use of fresh tomatoes, all kinds of herbs, great quality of cheese, all types of meat, seafood and fresh handmade pasta. Many find it hard to believe that Italians have been making noodles long back.
Italian and Greek cuisines are always mistaken to be same, but they are poles apart. The primary difference between the two cuisines is the use of cheese in most of the Italian dishes. Italians love to cultivate their own cheese and process them as per their food requirement. It is believed that some cheese is so expensive that cheese producers secure them in lockers.
If you are bored eating the same old pasta or pizza, you can try some of the authentic Italian dishes like Risotto, Polenta, Ribollita, Lasagna, Fiorentina Steak, Bottarga, Ossobuco, Carbonara, Focaccia, Arancini and Supplì. Another item which Italians love to relish every morning is a good cup of Italian Coffee. Once you taste a freshly brewed cup of Italian Coffee, you might not visit Starbucks ever again. Authentic Italian food is made with heart and soul, so go find a restaurant where you can relish Italian cuisine in your city.
Pizza
Pizza is a famous Italian dish savored around the world. The entire credit for the popularity of Pizza in the United States goes to the chain of pizzerias all over the country. While the base and the texture of Pizza remains same across the globe, it's the toppings that differs from country to country. In the United States, you will find the top pizzerias serving pizzas with the toppings of mainly beef, bacon, chicken, ham, and sausage for the non-vegetarians. Other than these famous meat options, Pizzas with veg toppings such as mushrooms, pepperonis, garlic, tomatoes, spinach, etc. are also famous in most restaurants in the United States.
Irrespective of your locality, you will find a variety of different restaurants in your cities offering pizzas of all different types. Pizza is hot favorite among people of all ages in the United States. A large size pizza is enough to feed a family of 3 or 4 at large. Pizza is also the most preferred food whenever a group of friends is hanging out together. Pizza gained popularity in the United States after the American soldiers stationed in Italy returned from World War II.
Over the years, different pizzerias in the United States have developed their own respective regional variations. Pizza gained popularity as the iconic dish in the United States in the second half of the 20th century. Whether you prefer thin or thick crust pizza, you can find a pizza of your preference at the best pizza restaurants in your city.
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Pat G.
I really wanted to love this place. Small, looks like it's family owned, nice ambience. The hostess and waitress were friendly and accommodating. As we were waiting for the food, the young staff kind of forgot they were running a restaurant. They all ended up in the kitchen laughing and joking around. A couple of the girls had long hair, and there were no hair nets in sight. This included a teenage girl and a guy in t shirt and shorts. The kitchen of a rest. Is no place for everyone to hang out. We got our food, and it actually tasted great, but sure enough, we found a hair in my shrimp pasta. No Bueno. My wife's lobster ravioli was tasty, but needed to have a couple more to be a full meal. End result- love the place, food tasted great, but remember you are a professional food establishment. If I could I would attach a pic of the hair, it's on my phone.
(3)Travis S.
So, after two carry-outs and now dining in I'm due for a review. The pizza is pretty good, thin crust, brick-oven baked. I've had the margarita and the smoked salmon. Both were quite delicious. Drink prices were quite good as well, other than the wine. But I can't say I've found a place with wine prices I've liked. When you check in at this joint Yelp is going to give you a $10 discount on your tab. But, they won't honor it, therefore they lose another star!
(3)Lynnette S.
My coworkers and I used to frequent this place all the time, but they have definitely gone downhill quickly (maybe new management?). The food is amazing and everything is homemade which makes all the difference! We attempted to stop in for lunch on Friday, June 5th around 11:30 am and found the door locked. A lady came out and explained the cook was running late and they wouldn't open till 12:30 or so. Ok, I can get over that- stuff happens. But then we tried to go again on Thursday, June 11th and was surprised to find yet another locked door! I called the business as we couldn't see anyone in the restaurant. A lady answered and explained the owner lives far away and had to check on his other restaurant so they'd be opening late again. In my opinion, they should just change their hours and quit making me waste my time! I will definitely not be trying again.
(2)Bruce W.
Nice ambiance, the constant loop of Frank Sinatra is a bit irritating after awhile though. Ordered the linguini mussels, chicken ravioli, kids penne pasta with meatball and the parpadelle. Everything tasted excellent but don't expect to pay less then $20 per person, not much on the below $15 except the appetizers. The take out menu has more options then the eat in menu which was disappointing
(3)Michael K.
First of all, i have got to say i was really impressed with the inside view of the IL Forno restaurant. I came out here a month ago and had dinner here with a friend and his cousins for dinner. It was a really small and quiet amount of people here on a Saturday night. I ordered the spaghetti and meatball dish which was a little bland. The italian bread was really good as the staff served us before our dinner was served. The restaurant is really small with a good outside view of Michaels and several other businesses outside the strip mall. Restaurants meets right by highway 60. Great place to come and dine or hang out with friends. Will be back again when i have the chance again.
(4)Krista G.
I've been here before, shortly after it opened, and went back again recently. Both times I've ordered the pizza, and I was slightly surprised to find the pizza was different than I remembered. It was really good - love the thin crust and wood-fired taste, and their lunch price wasn't bad (although beware, the yelp coupon that pops up upon checking in is from the previous owner, and no longer honored). Which leads us into why the pizza was probably different - the server informed me that the business is under new ownership (I don't know how new, I didn't ask, just sometime since I went last in mid-2013) So if it's been a while since you've been here, I suggest giving it another try. I hope they do well, it just seems like they don't do much marketing - I wouldn't know this place was there if I didn't drive by it all the time.
(3)Kimo K.
GF and I went for a simple dinner last night. The place is quaint and cute and the gals who serve all wear black with red ties -- very cute and nice. We had some drinks and just a simple salad and a large specialty pizza. I have a small issue with the wines --- they have no bulk wine offerings nor half bottles. They pour glasses from 750 ml bottles, and do not have a nitrogen replacement system. So if you get a glass from a bottle opened yesterday, you may get a slightly yucky tasting glass of wine. This might not be big problem since their wines are not of the highest ratings, but still an issue to me. The pizza was pretty darn good. Thin crust and very crispy and nicely done. Good toppings and good cheese. A little pricey at $25 a pie, but OK, I guess.
(3)Steve B.
We drove 25 miles from San Tan Valley to have lunch at this place after reading all the exciting reviews. When we got there at 2pm the "Open" sign was on and the first thing we noticed when we stepped inside, was that there wasn't a single guest. A lady told us "Sorry, I don't have a chef, he didn't show up". This does not seem to be unusual for this place, they should rather put a sign at their door "Lunch by appointment only" rather than "Open from 11am to 9 pm". Wasting our time and gas. Big disappointment and very embarrassing for me since I was inviting someone.
(1)Christine G.
Terrible quality food. Prices are not competitive, neither is what's included in a meal. $15 bucks will get you a simple, subpar, disappointing bowl of pasta served on a dirty table with some tasteless bread. Worst $37 spent in a long time.
(1)George P.
Food was good, server was not great. I don't know if she was new. Didn't seem like she enjoyed her job. Didn't bring bread, didn't bring our glass of wine in which we canceled that. Will try a different waiter next time.
(3)Jennifer A.
Wonderfully delicious! I've been wanting to try this place since they opened, but in looking at their menu online, they seemed a bit pricey which had me nervous we would pay quite a bit for a mediocre meal based on some of the reviews. With today being Small Business Saturday, we took advantage of the AmEx promotion and the fact that they participate in the Southwest Rewards Dining program, and gave it a shot. We went for lunch at 3PM (yes, I'm weird - I eat lunch at 3 on most days!). I am so glad we did! Neither my husband nor I are huge eaters at one sitting, so we agreed beforehand that we'd split an entree there and order a pizza to go for dinner tonight (yes, I need a break from turkey - it's back to turkey soup tomorrow!). It took us forever to agree on an entree, but our server Patty was super patient and friendly. She promptly brought us drinks and yummy bread - okay it's the fault of the bread and balsamic/olive oil (and all the delicious aromas in the air!) that it took me forever to decide as I couldn't concentrate on the menu! We finally agreed on lobster ravioli as our entree and the salami picante pizza with added olives and jalapenos as our dinner to go. Our entree came out in about 10 minutes and my first thought was yikes - we're splitting this little bit of food? Then, we tore into the deliciousness! Perfection - good chunks of lobster and the vodka cream sauce was amazing. We were stuffed! Then Patty brought out our pizza to go and showed it to us to make sure it was correct - we both started drooling on the spot, but give us credit please - we did make it the 1/2 mile home and inside the front door before we agreed that we each needed "just a bite" to try it hot and fresh - it tasted even better than it looked and smelled, if such a thing is possible. We've been home a few hours now - alternating between napping off all that deliciousness and having "just another bite" of pizza heaven... now I need to figure out what's for dinner! Glad we finally made it into Il Forno! Patty was very friendly and efficient and the food was ahhhhhmazing! We shall be back! (And we also got their take out and delivery menu - delivery is $1/mile which is a bargain!) Only negative - would have been nice to enjoy the patio today and eat outside (and escape all those mouthwatering aromas that had my stomach growling as soon as we walked in!) but that option was not available. I'm guessing after reading more reviews before posting this that it was some of the negative ones that caused them to do away with that option - boo-hiss! Adding ~ looked at the survey questions before posting and regarding dress code - we went in mid-day after local shopping and were casual - jeans/sweater/boots for me and shorts/tee/sneakers for my husband. I felt comfortable, but probably would want to dress up a little nicer in the evening - so I answered "not sure" for that one.
(5)Shaunna S.
This place is worth checking out! The bread is the best part! I had the eggplant parm with spaghetti and my fiancé had the homemade pasta with shrimp. Everything was great and we will def be back.
(4)Karlin T.
the homemade pasta parpadelli with shrimp was fantastic. The only negative was service was very slow.
(4)Steve B.
We drove 25 miles from San Tan Valley to have lunch at this place after reading all the exciting reviews. When we got there at 2pm the "Open" sign was on and the first thing we noticed when we stepped inside, was that there wasn't a single guest. A lady told us "Sorry, I don't have a chef, he didn't show up". This does not seem to be unusual for this place, they should rather put a sign at their door "Lunch by appointment only" rather than "Open from 11am to 9 pm". Wasting our time and gas. Big disappointment and very embarrassing for me since I was inviting someone.
(1)Christine G.
Terrible quality food. Prices are not competitive, neither is what's included in a meal. $15 bucks will get you a simple, subpar, disappointing bowl of pasta served on a dirty table with some tasteless bread. Worst $37 spent in a long time.
(1)George P.
Food was good, server was not great. I don't know if she was new. Didn't seem like she enjoyed her job. Didn't bring bread, didn't bring our glass of wine in which we canceled that. Will try a different waiter next time.
(3)Krista G.
I've been here before, shortly after it opened, and went back again recently. Both times I've ordered the pizza, and I was slightly surprised to find the pizza was different than I remembered. It was really good - love the thin crust and wood-fired taste, and their lunch price wasn't bad (although beware, the yelp coupon that pops up upon checking in is from the previous owner, and no longer honored). Which leads us into why the pizza was probably different - the server informed me that the business is under new ownership (I don't know how new, I didn't ask, just sometime since I went last in mid-2013) So if it's been a while since you've been here, I suggest giving it another try. I hope they do well, it just seems like they don't do much marketing - I wouldn't know this place was there if I didn't drive by it all the time.
(3)Pat G.
I really wanted to love this place. Small, looks like it's family owned, nice ambience. The hostess and waitress were friendly and accommodating. As we were waiting for the food, the young staff kind of forgot they were running a restaurant. They all ended up in the kitchen laughing and joking around. A couple of the girls had long hair, and there were no hair nets in sight. This included a teenage girl and a guy in t shirt and shorts. The kitchen of a rest. Is no place for everyone to hang out. We got our food, and it actually tasted great, but sure enough, we found a hair in my shrimp pasta. No Bueno. My wife's lobster ravioli was tasty, but needed to have a couple more to be a full meal. End result- love the place, food tasted great, but remember you are a professional food establishment. If I could I would attach a pic of the hair, it's on my phone.
(3)Travis S.
So, after two carry-outs and now dining in I'm due for a review. The pizza is pretty good, thin crust, brick-oven baked. I've had the margarita and the smoked salmon. Both were quite delicious. Drink prices were quite good as well, other than the wine. But I can't say I've found a place with wine prices I've liked. When you check in at this joint Yelp is going to give you a $10 discount on your tab. But, they won't honor it, therefore they lose another star!
(3)Kimo K.
GF and I went for a simple dinner last night. The place is quaint and cute and the gals who serve all wear black with red ties -- very cute and nice. We had some drinks and just a simple salad and a large specialty pizza. I have a small issue with the wines --- they have no bulk wine offerings nor half bottles. They pour glasses from 750 ml bottles, and do not have a nitrogen replacement system. So if you get a glass from a bottle opened yesterday, you may get a slightly yucky tasting glass of wine. This might not be big problem since their wines are not of the highest ratings, but still an issue to me. The pizza was pretty darn good. Thin crust and very crispy and nicely done. Good toppings and good cheese. A little pricey at $25 a pie, but OK, I guess.
(3)Bryan M.
I'll Forno is quickly becoming one of my favorite places to eat. The wood-fired pizza is just perfect. I love the thin, crispy crust with just a hint of wood char. You can tell the ingredients are fresh and high quality. The chef came out to greet us and it's clear he has a passion for the food. I love finding a hidden place where the food is better than most other free-standing restaurants. I've had the pizza, the pastas, and the lobster ravioli was awesome!
(5)Chuck B.
I don't understand the good reviews here. Must be people who know the owners. We are new to the area and saw this place and figured we would try it. Over $100 with tip for a pizza, lobster raviolis (only 5 - not enough) and 2 glasses of house Cabernet. Very mediocre at best. The pizza is not that good. Many better places cheaper around the area.
(2)Alexis J.
I went about two weeks ago. They start out with this fresh baked yummy bread. I got the chicken parm and it was amazing! My group got a caprese salad to share, amazing!, and my 6 year old got a cheese pizza. I was blown away that this pizza was made from scratch and cooked in a real wood fire oven. This pizza was so amazing! And it reheated as left overs perfectly in my toaster oven. 10/10 I recommend this place. The bar selections are excellent and plan to become a regular.
(5)L L.
We tried the pizza, sandwiches and ravioli. All were very good!. We loved the fresh stringy mozzarella cheese and fresh ingredients on the wood fired pizza. The bread used for the sandwiches was fantastic! The ravioli was definitely home made without question. It was amazing! The food is pricey for dinner so lunch is a good option. They do have lunch specials and the lunch prices are good. The service was amazing! We will be returning.
(4)Melissa A.
This place is over priced and tastes like canned pasta. The only thing edible was the bread and bottles beers. I spent 54 dollars on what tastes like a frozen pizza and spaghettios Don't waste your time or money!
(1)Diane K.
This is a small restaurant that serves fantastic Italian food. Love their pizza and pasta dishes. Everything is made right there.The people working there,are so nice, they make you feel like your so special.,I like supporting locally owned restaurants....
(5)Heather W.
First I'd just like to mention that they do not accept the check-in offer any more. Apparently, this offer was from the previous owner. They really need to remove this offer from yelp because it is quite deceiving. Now on to the food; we ordered a large pizza, 1/2 pepperoni/sausage & 1/2 chicken/mushroom. The crust was crispy on some pieces & soggy on others. The sauce was a bit bland, it really could use some flavor. The chicken also didn't taste that great. My husband said the pepperoni/sausage was just meh. Overall we didn't really enjoy the pizza. It was pricey & the quality was not that great. So if I were you i'd skip this place and go somewhere else.
(1)Michelle B.
I've heard great things about this restaurant went to try it out for lunch and it was closed. The open sign was turned on, the hours listed said it would be open at 11, it was 11:15 and the door was locked. We knocked and got the attention of a lady inside who came and open the door and said there was no chef and sometimes he is an hour late. Very disappointed was looking forward to trying this restaurant. Don't know if we'll ever be back...
(1)Gordon F.
We are from St. Louis and we went on vacation to Phoenix this past summer. We went kayaking on the Salt River and when we were done, we were looking for a pizza joint nearby. We found Il Forno and thought it would be just your average pizza. This was so much more than that. Their pizza was so delicious, you could tell it was made from scratch. The sauce and toppings are all fresh, and the crust and cheese were cooked just perfectly. This was our whole family's favorite pizza we've ever had. We've been looking for a place like this in St. Louis (St. Charles County), but haven't found one so far. Coming back next time we come to Phoenix.
(5)Jeanielle H.
This place says it's open till 9pm, the waitress started by telling us all the things that were unavailable on the menu. We got here at 7:45 and ordered bruschetta to start,the waitress said the kitchen was closing so she would "see if they could make it", she said yes, but they would have to cut everything up from scratch. Um okay. They started putting up the chairs around us, it's now 8:20 mind you they close at 9, another couple came in and were told the kitchen was closed that the only thing they could have was pizza. Bad business, making your customers walk out and rushing the ones that were there.
(1)Frank T.
The food was ok (had bruschetta and the limoncello cake) however, their hours state that they are open until 9 but they close the kitchen at 8 and started putting chairs up at 7:30. One couple walked in thinking they could order dinner and had to leave. Pretty poor business practice for a restaurant. If you want to close earlier, change your hours.
(2)Crystal J.
The prices do not match the quality or portions of the food served. Poor customer service. My 99 year old neighbour purchased a 100.00 gift certificate for someone for Christmas. Months later the couple that received the gift certificate went to the restaurant to use their 100.00 gift certificate. When the bill came and when trying to use the gift certificate they were told "those expire in two months after purchase. " It did say that on the gift certificate in minuscule writing. Once my neighbour told me what happened I thought it would be worth a try to go there and talk to the manager. They basically said tough luck and screw you. I think that's intentional on the restaurants behalf to get something for nothing. Reading a lot of other reviews of this place I'm surprised they are still in business. Maybe they sell a lot of gift certificates knowing most likely that was free money just handed to them. I would not recommend their food, their service, or supporting them based on their lack of values.
(1)Patrick P.
I have had pizza all over the valley and would rather have IL Forno Italian Restaurant pizza than any of them. I always eat it there, perfect thin crust with perfect imported pepperoni and sausage, just like the Chef Georgino's family does in their restaurant in Palermo. It is amazing.
(5)Michael K.
The service was casually formal which was a nice change from too much attention. The wood fired pizza was crunchy around the edges and had GREAT Italian seasoning even on the Hawaiian. The Fruitti DE Mare was delicious with a white wine sauce. None of seafood was overcooked as is so common lately. Will go back again and see what other great dishes they have!
(5)Nancy T.
We called in an order for a pizza last Friday at 4:15pm to be picked up at 5pm. We arrived right at 5pm and the guy in front said it would be "5 minutes" although there was only one other table occupied in the place, and they were leaving. Ten minutes later a woman finally came out from the back and started making our pizza, studiously avoiding looking at us or talking to us although we were standing right in front of the prep station. After putting the pizza in the oven, she quickly went into the back room until she had to take it out. She gave it to the young guy in front to give to us rather than facing us herself and she appeared to be the manager, no less. SHE should have come to talk to us and apologize. Unfortunately, this type of poor service has happened to us at this restaurant before so we won't be back.
(1)mark g.
Ok people get it together either you deliver or you don't as my previous reviews state the pizzas are one of the best in the east valley but god dang it every time I want a delivery there not delivering this night for some reason or that night for another reason ..... Either you deliver or you don't
(3)Frankie S.
Really, really, really good pizza!!!! The waitress said the cheese is made there on the premises as well as the sausage. This is the best pizza I've had in a long time. We also had their bruschetta which was excellent - Seriously loaded with tomatoes. The waitress scraped the tomatoes off and put them in a separate container when she packaged the leftovers - love that special touch with service. We will absolutely be back.
(5)Heda H.
Thanks to you Yelpers we found this wonderful restaurant for the rehearsal/welcome dinner for forty-eight guests for the night before our son's and daughter-in-law's wedding. Matt, the manager, put together a versatile menu that consisted of salad, eggplant parmesal, salmon, chicken marsala, New York strip steak, and dessert. The tables looked beautiful, complete with vases with red and white roses. Giorgiano, the owner and chef prepared the meals with skill and love. Everything was delicious, from start to finish. The bartender, Don, and the wait staff were warm, kind and hard-working - they all went above and beyond expectations. We truly thank everyone at Il Forno for a memorable evening. We highly recomment this restaurant. (We've sampled the pizza before - extraordinary.)
(5)C H.
This place has remained a local favorite of ours foe several years now. The wait staff is friendly and the food is consistently yummy. Of the things on the menu, the salami pizza is a favorite of ours.
(4)Elizabeth B.
Excellent homemade food! My husband and i are having lunch here right now for our first time and the food is so good couldn't wait to review them. So here I am eating my ravioli's and starter bread and typing. The staff is very friendly as well. We just bought a house out here at mountain bridge (having it built) this will be our restaurant of choice here! Glad we found them
(5)Kaitlyn W.
I had the lunch cheese ravioli, and it was very good. I thought the service was very good as well. I think the location of this place is kinda random. It's a really nice, very small restaurant in a shopping center with a Dunkin Donuts, Michaels, Port of Subs, Petco, Home Depot, etc. I expected it to be casual, however it's actually pretty fancy. What bugged me is when we walked in for lunch (around 1pm) on a Sunday, they were not offering their lunch menu, only dinner. I thought that was weird. The prices on the dinner menu is outrageous for a lunch. Fortunately the waitress was super sweet and still gave us ravioli at the lunch price. Also, if you check in, you get a $10 off anytime coupon.
(4)Laura C.
The best Italian food in East Mesa. Food is consistently good. Friendly service. The Fettuccini Alfredo with chicken and Lasagna are winners. Good place for casual conversation.
(5)Damian R.
Tasty, friendly neighborhood spot, yet a little odd. The decor doesn't know quite what it wants to be: sports bar showing NHL and FIFA on flat-screens , or Italian Ristorante playing a classic soundtrack by Sinatra overhead. The menu is sparse, but flavorful. They make their own mozzarella for their pizzas and have a delicious fire-baked crust. The Lasagne was sweet and meaty. The service is friendly and helpful. The prices are reasonable for the freshness of the ingredients and quality, but you'll pay almost double the cost of a meal at the Chili's in the same strip. It's worth it to support a local business trying to get off the ground.
(4)Chris S.
Pretty good pizza and salad plus if you want some desert Dunkin Donuts is next door :)
(4)Landon S.
A little gem in NE Mesa. Fresh ingredients, including fresh mozzarella (you rarely find a place that uses fresh Mozzarella). Service was top notch. We went on a Friday night with a large party and we were seated in less than 10 minutes with warm bread with olive oil and balsamic arrived before we could settle in. Give it a try, you won't be disappointed.
(4)Dom B.
Excellent place, great food and good service. One of those hidden gems! We recently discovered it, and we keep coming back. Guarantee not to disappoint!!!
(5)Gene T.
We got a flyer in the mail and decided to try this place despite the one bad review from a disgruntled patron. Let me tell you I'm Italian and picky about my pizza. So if I'm going to be impressed win me over with the pizza. This restaurant is on the corner of a strip mall so the outside isn't impressive. When you walk through the door your nose is immediately greeted by fresh basil and garlic. The place is well lit as there are windows on 2 sides and one wall with a full length mirror to reflect the natural light and give a roomier appearance. The décor is appropriately Italian with soft Italian themed music in the background. We were immediately greeted by our waitress and seated. We ordered a 12" pizza with 2 toppings. While the pizza was being made, the waitress brought out a small complimentary order of garlic bread. Our order was out in a reasonable amount of time and our sodas were refilled. The pizza is thin crust and hand tossed baked in a wood fired oven. The sauce is freshly made with pieces of fresh basil in it. The Italian sausage topping is bursting with flavor and the cheese is freshly grated. After the meal we were greeted by Giorgio, the owner. He was interested in our experience as the waitress told him we were first time customers. He informed us that he makes everything fresh every day from the sauce to the pasta. He learned the secrets of Italian cooking in Italy where he grew up. This restaurant has gained a new patron by winning this Italian over with its authenticity and cuisine. I am looking forward to experiencing more items from the menu.
(5)Sue P.
Tried to use their 10 off offer and they said the current owner doesn't do yelp anymore. Not a good way to start off.
(1)Lisa J.
I have been here for lunches and dinner. Never a disappoint. The pasta is delicious. The pizza is tasty and filling. The sandwiches are wonderful. Ask the staff for their recommendations. They are always helpful and friendly. A favorite Italian restaurant.
(5)Lex R.
This was one of the first restaurants I visited since I've moved to Mesa. We weren't expecting it to be quite as fancy, but the ambiance truly created a nice, serene atmosphere- perfect for a date night. The prices are relative to most nice sit-down restaurants. Not prices you'd find at any chains in the area (Chili's, etc.), but definitely not food you could find anywhere else either. The food was amazing. We had absolutely no complaints, the pizza was one of the best I've ever had. You could truly tell that the chef/owner really made this restaurant his baby- he makes all the dough, mozzarella, pasta, everything. The service was great, the food was quick, and the restaurant was not busy at all. I'd definitely recommend this to anyone in search of quality Italian food.
(5)Margaret S.
I can't believe how easy it was to get a table if six on a Saturday night! Our waitress was polite, helpful and met our every need. Not to be negative but I didn't expect this in Arizona. After living here six years, I was surprised to have a delicious Italian meal in the Wild West. Bravo to the owners! I had some spicy shrimp fettuccine and it was pretty good. My daughter had the salmon which was a bit overcooked but as a nine year old she didn't notice. My other two had lasagna and spaghetti and meatballs and everybody was happy.
(4)Scott S.
This place was not very good at all. Maybe it was the fact that the oven was broken on 11/15/2013, a little detail the server neglected to tell us until after our drinks arrived. So we couldn't order from half the menu. Dishes run $16-$22, which I thought was a little pricey, especially considering we didn't get anything with our entrees; no bread, no soup, no salad. The lobster ravioli was just okay. There was some lobster, but mostly just a mix of some seafood/krab salad made with mayonnaise stuck in a ravioli shell covered with some orange sauce. I was expecting much more. Didn't come close to the Lobster ravioli at macaroni grill. The Mediterranean pizza was a little better, included all the right elements, but just lacked any sort of spark to set it apart. And we both got heartburn after dinner, not sure if that was from pseudo seafood or garlic on the pizza. The bill for two people was around $60, not including the tip. The servers seemed understaffed, there wasn't any bussers to clean tables, so servers had to do it all. We wanted to support small business, but I felt like I got ripped off for what we paid. The competition from Red White and Brew is going to be tough to beat if this business expects to stay in business with the poor menu selection and bland flavors that we experienced. We won't be returning.
(1)Brown M.
This place was good but is has really gone down hill. Food is not consistent. Over cooked salmon. The menus don't represent what is served. They say they are served with spinach and potatoes but the salmon showed up with pasta. One time we showed up at 8:40 on a Saturday night and they were closing, not one customer in the place. They say they are open until ten. We should have known then. My daughter got sick on the next visit. Skip this place.
(1)Vernie E.
Tried this tonight. We were the only folks there, not a good sign. I had the eggplant and my friend had the chicken Marsala. It was bland sauce on over cooked noodles and the eggplant was cooked to death. The chicken was not much better. We won't be back.
(1)Michelle H.
This was the best Italian food we have had in the valley. The raviolis were perfect. The bruschetta was very fresh and tasted amazing. The wood fired pizza had the perfect burn on the crust to give it a wonderful taste and texture. Atmosphere was nice and staff was very attentive. Prices were reasonable. We will definitely be back!
(4)Saul G.
I love Pizza, but I try to stay away for dietary reasons. I went here last week with my daughter and mom, and was pleasantly surprised. Thin crust New York style pizza at a good price. The menu is kind of simple, but that's the way these places are nowadays. Friendly staff and clean simple surroundings.
(4)C P.
I and a friend arrived on a Saturday, around 12:30; there were two other parties of 2-3 in the restaurant. Perhaps that should have been a hint. The interior is clean and new fixtures, but there is no unique feeling to the restaurant. Nothing says 'welcome' or 'family' or even 'local'. There is so little 'feeling' to the place I would call it sterile. We took a long time to order, as my friend wanders around a menu. We were not offered a lunch menu and I failed to ask for one. Knowing now that they have a lunch menu and that it wasn't offered, it is one of several reasons I won't be back. My pet peeve is ice tea delivered with no spoon for stirring, and Il Forno matched most other restaurants. However, unlike many other restaurants a spoon was delivered upon request. I know my friend and I take a long time to eat lunch, but the 3rd time the same Sinatra song started was a bit too much. A few more songs on the loop are in order. A bread basket with oil and vinegar was included in our order. The bread had a good crust with a flavorful topping but was light on the texture; so many air pockets it looked like Swiss cheese. The olive oil was nothing to write home about - tasted like the run-of-the-mill off-the-shelf and had a bitter taste. I am spoiled by the fresh olive oil from the Olive Mill. The vinegar, well, one can't mess up balsamic vinegar that much. The olive oil dispenser was delivered full to the brim, no room for air to help push the oil out. The bottle came pre-oiled on the outside. No matter, as the lid kept leaking no matter how many times we tried to correct it. We asked for extra napkins, pointing out the leaking bottle. The server delivered cloth napkins but didn't replace the olive oil. They did explain the lack of paper napkins - the restaurant was out and didn't expect any until tonight. We ordered the 12" Caprese pizza (garlic sauce, mozzarella, marinate, tomato and fresh basil). The crust was quite good; thin and crispy. However, the pizza wasn't delivered with a warming plate and soon cooled. I don't know what the marinate was for, it certainly wasn't for the fresh tomato. The tomato was a bit tasteless. The garlic flavor was very minimal; have a good imagination if you order the garlic sauce on the pizza. The mozzarella was almost unnoticeable. I laughed when the parmesan offered looked like it was straight out of the Kraft green shaker from when I was a kid. No fresh parm from a restaurant that advertises the 'finest ingredients' in their story on the web page? I don't think it would take much for Il Forno to step up their product a bit. However, with the lack of taste in the pizza ingredients, the bitter olive oil, the messy olive oil bottle and bread that was way too airy I recommend heading east on McKellips to one of the several other Italian restaurants which delivers on all of these. If concerned about cost, there are those options as well with pizza ingredients that taste better than I had here.
(2)Dr G Y.
Ate here for dinner. Very pleasant and quiet. The service was very good and the staff very friendly and on top of everything. The food was a good portion and very tasteful. Definetely recommend if you are looking for quiet and good food.
(4)W C.
Seriously, the worst food experience ever. Easily the worst pizza in 30 yrs of eating pizza. Zero taste. No cheese, sauce, or pepperoni. Crust had zero taste as well. Chinese buffet pizza is much better. Pizza 0/10. Calamari was at least somewhat edible. Maybe 4/10. Also, would not honor $10 yelp discount, which I could not care less. They stated it was not posted by them. Worst service to boot, but that is the least of their worries.
(1)Lexington L.
Another mom and pop that you want to be something to rave about but it only meets you half way. That half was the food, I wish I could have just tipped the chef! Everything was delicious, a little steep in the price but it was delicious. The service was horrible. It took 10 minutes for our drinks. At this point the staff out numbered the patrons so there was no reason for that. Then all the bad service attributes- didn't come to check if we were doing okay or if we needed anything. Our salad didn't have dressing on it, and we ended up just getting a to-go box for it because by the time she acknowledged us again we completed the rest of the meal. My suggestion, go eat there and maybe it will be different, or order to go!
(4)Tyler H.
Best calamari I've ever had! Full calamari cut perfectly served with an amazing marinara. Their pizza is fantastic and made with fresh cheese. I always ask for extra marinara and I use it at home with spaghetti. I can't find a place that can beat their Italian food so I drive 30 minutes from Tempe every time I want real pizza and calamari.
(5)Julia C.
Did carry out and everything was great. Fantastic pizza and pasta. Lobster ravioli was a pleasant suprise with fresh, delicious sauce. Kids liked pizza as well as adults. Pizza ranks up there with Bianco's. Great to find this place in Mesa.
(5)Alec R.
The service is a little slow. They're finding their rhythm and it's obvious some of the servers are new to this location. Having said that their pizza is outstanding. Easily the equal if not better than Grimaldis. Everything was made fresh, the mozzarella, the sauce the dough and it showed. The owner was very warm and obviously took pride in his establishment. It may be a little rough at first but the place was packed last night and I didn't hear a single complaint. Their deserts were out of this world. I highly recommend the lemon-cello and the cannoli.
(4)Bonnie H.
Food rates a better than 3 stars but the service does not. White wine was not cold...she brought me a glass of ice!
(3)Sarah O.
Just had the best pizza I've had in along time. We had the special and ate every bite even after eating all of the fresh bake bread and salad we were served. It is so nice to have a great place to get good pizza!
(5)Edward M.
My wife and I just came back from Il Forno. The service was great and the food better. The portions were very large and we did not realize we could split the portions for a $4.00 charge. Very reasonable We will definiely be back
(4)Jeff P.
What a surprise!! The food here is wonderful. I gave them five stars in spite of the fact that they are Steelers fans. Yes, it's that good!
(5)Robert V.
I'm giving the food 5-stars. Outstanding. I had the home made stuffed pasta and a cannoli for desert. Delicious. Only small nit pick is that the restaurant decor is lacking. Bit of a cross between chinese buffet and italian bistro. But food makes it worth it!
(5)BL R.
Yummm-E! Just heard about Il Forno being in the hood. I LOVE Italian, so hubby and I gave it a try. The place was busy but didn't have to wait for a table. Waitress brought fresh warm bread to the table that was slathered in garlic and olive oil, to hold us over while we waited for our pizza. Hubby ordered a house salad, and received a VERY generous portion (so we shared). I gotta tell ya, the pizza was the best I've had in Arizona! Seriously! I had to hold back from eating the whole thing. The crust was perfect and toppings were fresh with sausage, and I understand mozzarella, made in-house. The sauce was just right for me! So good! I look forward to going back and trying some of their pasta dishes. Oh happy day!
(4)Aaron S.
Fantastic food! Best pizza in Mesa. Very fresh high quality taste. We ordered a pizza with tomato and basil on it and everything from crust to sause to toppings and cheese were wonderful. Server recommended a lemon cake type desert, I can't remember what it was called, but we all thought it was the best desert we've ever had. Very light and delicate. Service is very friendly but can be a bit awkward at times, but I found it endearing and think it is because they are so focused on the food. We will be back often.
(5)N F.
WOW! I am very, very surprised to read all the positive reviews for this place. We had sticker shock when reading the menu, which looked like it was printed from a home computer. A spaghetti and meatball dinner is 13 dollars WITHOUT a dinner salad! Other pasta based entree's were around $15-19. Not filet mignon or a lobster tail, just pasta, ALSO WITHOUT a dinner salad. The caesar salad we ordered was HORRIBLE. Can you say VINEGAR dressing??? We ordered a pizza that ended up tasting like a frozen pizza you buy from the store. The wine glasses were tiny and the wine was cheap. I changed my glass of wine for something at least drinkable. The couple next to us had the same problems, and experience. When the owner came out to their table argued with them and didn't offer a discount on their meal. I'm sure they will never be dining there again, as we will not either. SAD, because it would have been nice to have a quaint place to eat just down the road from us.
(1)Michael U.
This restaurant has been around for over a year now- which is about 9 months longer than I ever would have originally guessed (only because its Mesa were talking here)...and it's because of the food. Basically, it is ridiculously good. On a whim, my wife and two young sons decided we would try this restaurant because we've been hearing some things. We sat down and received quick service, amazing dinner bread, and a smiley server. We ordered calamari and found out that their dipping sauce is incredible. We then ordered a half n half pizza and I ordered their salmon salad. GOOD LORD that salmon was perfect and cooked just right and hot as molten lava over a plate of fresh greens and tasty balsamic. I'm talking about a salad here! (Oh, and their pizza rivals ANYTHING in Manhattan or that Grimaldi garbage.) Then, we ordered their cheesecake for desert. This was my least favorite part, only because I'm not a fan of strawberries and "froufrou" on top of my cheesecake. But it was still killer. My wife loved it. My kids hoovered it up. Basically, this place is DAMN GOOD.
(5)Bee R.
I really enjoyed the pizza here. It tastes authentic and fresh. This place beats the other Italian restaurants around the area.
(5)Martisa V.
If you want authentic Italian cuisine, this is the place. The service is beyond expectations and the manager makes sure everything is nice. He is nice to his employees and they know it is a great place to work and they show pride in their work and in turn, they give excellent service to their customers. I wish more restaurant managers would understand this concept.
(5)Annette T.
Went in for lunch today. The restaurant is cute and the pizza was very good. the wine list looked comprehensive and the serve Stella Artois! What can I say! I love cold beer and Pizza!
(4)Lori C.
I don't know what Brendan M. was talking about. Maybe he's never seen grated parmesan before... ;) I brought my 4 and 7 year-old daughters for an early dinner. Wonderful waiter. Very experienced. I love linguini with clams/white sauce, I've had it many times at many great restaurants over the years, so I tried theirs. It was delicious and I was surprised from the bite of the crushed red peppers; if you don't like a little heat, order without, it will taste superb either way. There must have been at least 12 clams surrounding the linguini. Perfect sauce; just enough clam juice, white wine, butter, etc. Didn't taste any garlic. My daughters split the lasagna. These are ALL homemade dishes and it's a family restaurant. The atmosphere was pleasant. They have a decent wine list, though I didn't order off of it. We took 1/2 the lasagna home for Daddy and he loved it, too. The lasagna is slightly sweet, and the layers of pasta, meat and sauce are terrific. I am picky and I was impressed with this place. We will be back soon. Thanks.
(4)Cc R.
This has to be the best pizza in mesa. This is my first time visiting IL FORNO and this is my new neighborhood pizza place. Everything tasted homemade and fresh. Service was prompt and very friendly.
(5)Sharon C.
We visited this restaurant a few times now. Our first time was with friends who told us about it as they live nearby (we live in Gilbert). We had a couple bottles of wine and all had entrees. They have several 'homemade' pastas daily in addition to the regular pasta meals. My husband had the homemade Fusilli which has red sauce, peppers, mushrooms and ground up Italian sausage. The noodles are smooth and not spiral like typical fusilli but man it was so good you don't care! It was delicious!! I had the pasta in a vodka sauce with shrimp. The shrimp were HUGE and perfectly cooked. The pasta was al dente and the sauce was rich and tasty. They serve a wonderfully soft italian bread with butter and parm w/seasonings over the top which is really good!! We really liked the place so returned to try the pizza. The wood fired oven really makes a great pie! It is definitely in the top pizzas here in the Valley which says a lot from an east coast gal! Their brushetta, which is like a pizza without sauce or cheese just the brushetta toppings, on a small pizza dough crust is really good as well. Lots of fresh garlic which we just LOVE! My husband continually gets the fusilli each time we go as he just loves it...that's his staple dish. I like to try new things. I tried the shrimp scampi the last time I was there and it was SO good..the sauce is different than I've had before...so good you wanted to just eat more bread dipped in the sauce until it was gone. Our friends had the seafood (mussels, shrimp etc) dish and said it was very good and also the pesto alfredo which I tried and have to say it was as amazing! They are supposed to be introducing a larger bar menu in October (other than beer and wine which they had previously) with some specialty drinks so I'll be looking forward to another visit soon to try one out!! Oh and we had the lemon dessert and my daughter had the spumoni...both were delish! The lemon cake was simply terrific!!
(4)George R.
Finally!!!!! Awesome Italian food in North East Mesa. I had the lasagna and cheese pizza. The sauce had so much flavor and the pizza was a perfect crust. You can taste the freshness in every bite. Highly recommend.
(5)Bob G.
I highly recommend this restaurant. The food is awesome. The lasagna is to die for. This is my new favorite place to eat. Great atmosphere and great staff A must do!
(5)Bryan M.
I'll Forno is quickly becoming one of my favorite places to eat. The wood-fired pizza is just perfect. I love the thin, crispy crust with just a hint of wood char. You can tell the ingredients are fresh and high quality. The chef came out to greet us and it's clear he has a passion for the food. I love finding a hidden place where the food is better than most other free-standing restaurants. I've had the pizza, the pastas, and the lobster ravioli was awesome!
(5)Chuck B.
I don't understand the good reviews here. Must be people who know the owners. We are new to the area and saw this place and figured we would try it. Over $100 with tip for a pizza, lobster raviolis (only 5 - not enough) and 2 glasses of house Cabernet. Very mediocre at best. The pizza is not that good. Many better places cheaper around the area.
(2)Alexis J.
I went about two weeks ago. They start out with this fresh baked yummy bread. I got the chicken parm and it was amazing! My group got a caprese salad to share, amazing!, and my 6 year old got a cheese pizza. I was blown away that this pizza was made from scratch and cooked in a real wood fire oven. This pizza was so amazing! And it reheated as left overs perfectly in my toaster oven. 10/10 I recommend this place. The bar selections are excellent and plan to become a regular.
(5)L L.
We tried the pizza, sandwiches and ravioli. All were very good!. We loved the fresh stringy mozzarella cheese and fresh ingredients on the wood fired pizza. The bread used for the sandwiches was fantastic! The ravioli was definitely home made without question. It was amazing! The food is pricey for dinner so lunch is a good option. They do have lunch specials and the lunch prices are good. The service was amazing! We will be returning.
(4)Melissa A.
This place is over priced and tastes like canned pasta. The only thing edible was the bread and bottles beers. I spent 54 dollars on what tastes like a frozen pizza and spaghettios Don't waste your time or money!
(1)Diane K.
This is a small restaurant that serves fantastic Italian food. Love their pizza and pasta dishes. Everything is made right there.The people working there,are so nice, they make you feel like your so special.,I like supporting locally owned restaurants....
(5)Heather W.
First I'd just like to mention that they do not accept the check-in offer any more. Apparently, this offer was from the previous owner. They really need to remove this offer from yelp because it is quite deceiving. Now on to the food; we ordered a large pizza, 1/2 pepperoni/sausage & 1/2 chicken/mushroom. The crust was crispy on some pieces & soggy on others. The sauce was a bit bland, it really could use some flavor. The chicken also didn't taste that great. My husband said the pepperoni/sausage was just meh. Overall we didn't really enjoy the pizza. It was pricey & the quality was not that great. So if I were you i'd skip this place and go somewhere else.
(1)Michelle B.
I've heard great things about this restaurant went to try it out for lunch and it was closed. The open sign was turned on, the hours listed said it would be open at 11, it was 11:15 and the door was locked. We knocked and got the attention of a lady inside who came and open the door and said there was no chef and sometimes he is an hour late. Very disappointed was looking forward to trying this restaurant. Don't know if we'll ever be back...
(1)Gordon F.
We are from St. Louis and we went on vacation to Phoenix this past summer. We went kayaking on the Salt River and when we were done, we were looking for a pizza joint nearby. We found Il Forno and thought it would be just your average pizza. This was so much more than that. Their pizza was so delicious, you could tell it was made from scratch. The sauce and toppings are all fresh, and the crust and cheese were cooked just perfectly. This was our whole family's favorite pizza we've ever had. We've been looking for a place like this in St. Louis (St. Charles County), but haven't found one so far. Coming back next time we come to Phoenix.
(5)Jeanielle H.
This place says it's open till 9pm, the waitress started by telling us all the things that were unavailable on the menu. We got here at 7:45 and ordered bruschetta to start,the waitress said the kitchen was closing so she would "see if they could make it", she said yes, but they would have to cut everything up from scratch. Um okay. They started putting up the chairs around us, it's now 8:20 mind you they close at 9, another couple came in and were told the kitchen was closed that the only thing they could have was pizza. Bad business, making your customers walk out and rushing the ones that were there.
(1)Frank T.
The food was ok (had bruschetta and the limoncello cake) however, their hours state that they are open until 9 but they close the kitchen at 8 and started putting chairs up at 7:30. One couple walked in thinking they could order dinner and had to leave. Pretty poor business practice for a restaurant. If you want to close earlier, change your hours.
(2)Crystal J.
The prices do not match the quality or portions of the food served. Poor customer service. My 99 year old neighbour purchased a 100.00 gift certificate for someone for Christmas. Months later the couple that received the gift certificate went to the restaurant to use their 100.00 gift certificate. When the bill came and when trying to use the gift certificate they were told "those expire in two months after purchase. " It did say that on the gift certificate in minuscule writing. Once my neighbour told me what happened I thought it would be worth a try to go there and talk to the manager. They basically said tough luck and screw you. I think that's intentional on the restaurants behalf to get something for nothing. Reading a lot of other reviews of this place I'm surprised they are still in business. Maybe they sell a lot of gift certificates knowing most likely that was free money just handed to them. I would not recommend their food, their service, or supporting them based on their lack of values.
(1)Patrick P.
I have had pizza all over the valley and would rather have IL Forno Italian Restaurant pizza than any of them. I always eat it there, perfect thin crust with perfect imported pepperoni and sausage, just like the Chef Georgino's family does in their restaurant in Palermo. It is amazing.
(5)Michael K.
The service was casually formal which was a nice change from too much attention. The wood fired pizza was crunchy around the edges and had GREAT Italian seasoning even on the Hawaiian. The Fruitti DE Mare was delicious with a white wine sauce. None of seafood was overcooked as is so common lately. Will go back again and see what other great dishes they have!
(5)Nancy T.
We called in an order for a pizza last Friday at 4:15pm to be picked up at 5pm. We arrived right at 5pm and the guy in front said it would be "5 minutes" although there was only one other table occupied in the place, and they were leaving. Ten minutes later a woman finally came out from the back and started making our pizza, studiously avoiding looking at us or talking to us although we were standing right in front of the prep station. After putting the pizza in the oven, she quickly went into the back room until she had to take it out. She gave it to the young guy in front to give to us rather than facing us herself and she appeared to be the manager, no less. SHE should have come to talk to us and apologize. Unfortunately, this type of poor service has happened to us at this restaurant before so we won't be back.
(1)mark g.
Ok people get it together either you deliver or you don't as my previous reviews state the pizzas are one of the best in the east valley but god dang it every time I want a delivery there not delivering this night for some reason or that night for another reason ..... Either you deliver or you don't
(3)Frankie S.
Really, really, really good pizza!!!! The waitress said the cheese is made there on the premises as well as the sausage. This is the best pizza I've had in a long time. We also had their bruschetta which was excellent - Seriously loaded with tomatoes. The waitress scraped the tomatoes off and put them in a separate container when she packaged the leftovers - love that special touch with service. We will absolutely be back.
(5)Heda H.
Thanks to you Yelpers we found this wonderful restaurant for the rehearsal/welcome dinner for forty-eight guests for the night before our son's and daughter-in-law's wedding. Matt, the manager, put together a versatile menu that consisted of salad, eggplant parmesal, salmon, chicken marsala, New York strip steak, and dessert. The tables looked beautiful, complete with vases with red and white roses. Giorgiano, the owner and chef prepared the meals with skill and love. Everything was delicious, from start to finish. The bartender, Don, and the wait staff were warm, kind and hard-working - they all went above and beyond expectations. We truly thank everyone at Il Forno for a memorable evening. We highly recomment this restaurant. (We've sampled the pizza before - extraordinary.)
(5)C H.
This place has remained a local favorite of ours foe several years now. The wait staff is friendly and the food is consistently yummy. Of the things on the menu, the salami pizza is a favorite of ours.
(4)Elizabeth B.
Excellent homemade food! My husband and i are having lunch here right now for our first time and the food is so good couldn't wait to review them. So here I am eating my ravioli's and starter bread and typing. The staff is very friendly as well. We just bought a house out here at mountain bridge (having it built) this will be our restaurant of choice here! Glad we found them
(5)Kaitlyn W.
I had the lunch cheese ravioli, and it was very good. I thought the service was very good as well. I think the location of this place is kinda random. It's a really nice, very small restaurant in a shopping center with a Dunkin Donuts, Michaels, Port of Subs, Petco, Home Depot, etc. I expected it to be casual, however it's actually pretty fancy. What bugged me is when we walked in for lunch (around 1pm) on a Sunday, they were not offering their lunch menu, only dinner. I thought that was weird. The prices on the dinner menu is outrageous for a lunch. Fortunately the waitress was super sweet and still gave us ravioli at the lunch price. Also, if you check in, you get a $10 off anytime coupon.
(4)Laura C.
The best Italian food in East Mesa. Food is consistently good. Friendly service. The Fettuccini Alfredo with chicken and Lasagna are winners. Good place for casual conversation.
(5)Damian R.
Tasty, friendly neighborhood spot, yet a little odd. The decor doesn't know quite what it wants to be: sports bar showing NHL and FIFA on flat-screens , or Italian Ristorante playing a classic soundtrack by Sinatra overhead. The menu is sparse, but flavorful. They make their own mozzarella for their pizzas and have a delicious fire-baked crust. The Lasagne was sweet and meaty. The service is friendly and helpful. The prices are reasonable for the freshness of the ingredients and quality, but you'll pay almost double the cost of a meal at the Chili's in the same strip. It's worth it to support a local business trying to get off the ground.
(4)Chris S.
Pretty good pizza and salad plus if you want some desert Dunkin Donuts is next door :)
(4)W C.
Seriously, the worst food experience ever. Easily the worst pizza in 30 yrs of eating pizza. Zero taste. No cheese, sauce, or pepperoni. Crust had zero taste as well. Chinese buffet pizza is much better. Pizza 0/10. Calamari was at least somewhat edible. Maybe 4/10. Also, would not honor $10 yelp discount, which I could not care less. They stated it was not posted by them. Worst service to boot, but that is the least of their worries.
(1)Jennifer A.
Wonderfully delicious! I've been wanting to try this place since they opened, but in looking at their menu online, they seemed a bit pricey which had me nervous we would pay quite a bit for a mediocre meal based on some of the reviews. With today being Small Business Saturday, we took advantage of the AmEx promotion and the fact that they participate in the Southwest Rewards Dining program, and gave it a shot. We went for lunch at 3PM (yes, I'm weird - I eat lunch at 3 on most days!). I am so glad we did! Neither my husband nor I are huge eaters at one sitting, so we agreed beforehand that we'd split an entree there and order a pizza to go for dinner tonight (yes, I need a break from turkey - it's back to turkey soup tomorrow!). It took us forever to agree on an entree, but our server Patty was super patient and friendly. She promptly brought us drinks and yummy bread - okay it's the fault of the bread and balsamic/olive oil (and all the delicious aromas in the air!) that it took me forever to decide as I couldn't concentrate on the menu! We finally agreed on lobster ravioli as our entree and the salami picante pizza with added olives and jalapenos as our dinner to go. Our entree came out in about 10 minutes and my first thought was yikes - we're splitting this little bit of food? Then, we tore into the deliciousness! Perfection - good chunks of lobster and the vodka cream sauce was amazing. We were stuffed! Then Patty brought out our pizza to go and showed it to us to make sure it was correct - we both started drooling on the spot, but give us credit please - we did make it the 1/2 mile home and inside the front door before we agreed that we each needed "just a bite" to try it hot and fresh - it tasted even better than it looked and smelled, if such a thing is possible. We've been home a few hours now - alternating between napping off all that deliciousness and having "just another bite" of pizza heaven... now I need to figure out what's for dinner! Glad we finally made it into Il Forno! Patty was very friendly and efficient and the food was ahhhhhmazing! We shall be back! (And we also got their take out and delivery menu - delivery is $1/mile which is a bargain!) Only negative - would have been nice to enjoy the patio today and eat outside (and escape all those mouthwatering aromas that had my stomach growling as soon as we walked in!) but that option was not available. I'm guessing after reading more reviews before posting this that it was some of the negative ones that caused them to do away with that option - boo-hiss! Adding ~ looked at the survey questions before posting and regarding dress code - we went in mid-day after local shopping and were casual - jeans/sweater/boots for me and shorts/tee/sneakers for my husband. I felt comfortable, but probably would want to dress up a little nicer in the evening - so I answered "not sure" for that one.
(5)Shaunna S.
This place is worth checking out! The bread is the best part! I had the eggplant parm with spaghetti and my fiancé had the homemade pasta with shrimp. Everything was great and we will def be back.
(4)Karlin T.
the homemade pasta parpadelli with shrimp was fantastic. The only negative was service was very slow.
(4)Gene T.
We got a flyer in the mail and decided to try this place despite the one bad review from a disgruntled patron. Let me tell you I'm Italian and picky about my pizza. So if I'm going to be impressed win me over with the pizza. This restaurant is on the corner of a strip mall so the outside isn't impressive. When you walk through the door your nose is immediately greeted by fresh basil and garlic. The place is well lit as there are windows on 2 sides and one wall with a full length mirror to reflect the natural light and give a roomier appearance. The décor is appropriately Italian with soft Italian themed music in the background. We were immediately greeted by our waitress and seated. We ordered a 12" pizza with 2 toppings. While the pizza was being made, the waitress brought out a small complimentary order of garlic bread. Our order was out in a reasonable amount of time and our sodas were refilled. The pizza is thin crust and hand tossed baked in a wood fired oven. The sauce is freshly made with pieces of fresh basil in it. The Italian sausage topping is bursting with flavor and the cheese is freshly grated. After the meal we were greeted by Giorgio, the owner. He was interested in our experience as the waitress told him we were first time customers. He informed us that he makes everything fresh every day from the sauce to the pasta. He learned the secrets of Italian cooking in Italy where he grew up. This restaurant has gained a new patron by winning this Italian over with its authenticity and cuisine. I am looking forward to experiencing more items from the menu.
(5)Sue P.
Tried to use their 10 off offer and they said the current owner doesn't do yelp anymore. Not a good way to start off.
(1)Lisa J.
I have been here for lunches and dinner. Never a disappoint. The pasta is delicious. The pizza is tasty and filling. The sandwiches are wonderful. Ask the staff for their recommendations. They are always helpful and friendly. A favorite Italian restaurant.
(5)Lex R.
This was one of the first restaurants I visited since I've moved to Mesa. We weren't expecting it to be quite as fancy, but the ambiance truly created a nice, serene atmosphere- perfect for a date night. The prices are relative to most nice sit-down restaurants. Not prices you'd find at any chains in the area (Chili's, etc.), but definitely not food you could find anywhere else either. The food was amazing. We had absolutely no complaints, the pizza was one of the best I've ever had. You could truly tell that the chef/owner really made this restaurant his baby- he makes all the dough, mozzarella, pasta, everything. The service was great, the food was quick, and the restaurant was not busy at all. I'd definitely recommend this to anyone in search of quality Italian food.
(5)Margaret S.
I can't believe how easy it was to get a table if six on a Saturday night! Our waitress was polite, helpful and met our every need. Not to be negative but I didn't expect this in Arizona. After living here six years, I was surprised to have a delicious Italian meal in the Wild West. Bravo to the owners! I had some spicy shrimp fettuccine and it was pretty good. My daughter had the salmon which was a bit overcooked but as a nine year old she didn't notice. My other two had lasagna and spaghetti and meatballs and everybody was happy.
(4)Scott S.
This place was not very good at all. Maybe it was the fact that the oven was broken on 11/15/2013, a little detail the server neglected to tell us until after our drinks arrived. So we couldn't order from half the menu. Dishes run $16-$22, which I thought was a little pricey, especially considering we didn't get anything with our entrees; no bread, no soup, no salad. The lobster ravioli was just okay. There was some lobster, but mostly just a mix of some seafood/krab salad made with mayonnaise stuck in a ravioli shell covered with some orange sauce. I was expecting much more. Didn't come close to the Lobster ravioli at macaroni grill. The Mediterranean pizza was a little better, included all the right elements, but just lacked any sort of spark to set it apart. And we both got heartburn after dinner, not sure if that was from pseudo seafood or garlic on the pizza. The bill for two people was around $60, not including the tip. The servers seemed understaffed, there wasn't any bussers to clean tables, so servers had to do it all. We wanted to support small business, but I felt like I got ripped off for what we paid. The competition from Red White and Brew is going to be tough to beat if this business expects to stay in business with the poor menu selection and bland flavors that we experienced. We won't be returning.
(1)Brown M.
This place was good but is has really gone down hill. Food is not consistent. Over cooked salmon. The menus don't represent what is served. They say they are served with spinach and potatoes but the salmon showed up with pasta. One time we showed up at 8:40 on a Saturday night and they were closing, not one customer in the place. They say they are open until ten. We should have known then. My daughter got sick on the next visit. Skip this place.
(1)Vernie E.
Tried this tonight. We were the only folks there, not a good sign. I had the eggplant and my friend had the chicken Marsala. It was bland sauce on over cooked noodles and the eggplant was cooked to death. The chicken was not much better. We won't be back.
(1)Michelle H.
This was the best Italian food we have had in the valley. The raviolis were perfect. The bruschetta was very fresh and tasted amazing. The wood fired pizza had the perfect burn on the crust to give it a wonderful taste and texture. Atmosphere was nice and staff was very attentive. Prices were reasonable. We will definitely be back!
(4)Saul G.
I love Pizza, but I try to stay away for dietary reasons. I went here last week with my daughter and mom, and was pleasantly surprised. Thin crust New York style pizza at a good price. The menu is kind of simple, but that's the way these places are nowadays. Friendly staff and clean simple surroundings.
(4)C P.
I and a friend arrived on a Saturday, around 12:30; there were two other parties of 2-3 in the restaurant. Perhaps that should have been a hint. The interior is clean and new fixtures, but there is no unique feeling to the restaurant. Nothing says 'welcome' or 'family' or even 'local'. There is so little 'feeling' to the place I would call it sterile. We took a long time to order, as my friend wanders around a menu. We were not offered a lunch menu and I failed to ask for one. Knowing now that they have a lunch menu and that it wasn't offered, it is one of several reasons I won't be back. My pet peeve is ice tea delivered with no spoon for stirring, and Il Forno matched most other restaurants. However, unlike many other restaurants a spoon was delivered upon request. I know my friend and I take a long time to eat lunch, but the 3rd time the same Sinatra song started was a bit too much. A few more songs on the loop are in order. A bread basket with oil and vinegar was included in our order. The bread had a good crust with a flavorful topping but was light on the texture; so many air pockets it looked like Swiss cheese. The olive oil was nothing to write home about - tasted like the run-of-the-mill off-the-shelf and had a bitter taste. I am spoiled by the fresh olive oil from the Olive Mill. The vinegar, well, one can't mess up balsamic vinegar that much. The olive oil dispenser was delivered full to the brim, no room for air to help push the oil out. The bottle came pre-oiled on the outside. No matter, as the lid kept leaking no matter how many times we tried to correct it. We asked for extra napkins, pointing out the leaking bottle. The server delivered cloth napkins but didn't replace the olive oil. They did explain the lack of paper napkins - the restaurant was out and didn't expect any until tonight. We ordered the 12" Caprese pizza (garlic sauce, mozzarella, marinate, tomato and fresh basil). The crust was quite good; thin and crispy. However, the pizza wasn't delivered with a warming plate and soon cooled. I don't know what the marinate was for, it certainly wasn't for the fresh tomato. The tomato was a bit tasteless. The garlic flavor was very minimal; have a good imagination if you order the garlic sauce on the pizza. The mozzarella was almost unnoticeable. I laughed when the parmesan offered looked like it was straight out of the Kraft green shaker from when I was a kid. No fresh parm from a restaurant that advertises the 'finest ingredients' in their story on the web page? I don't think it would take much for Il Forno to step up their product a bit. However, with the lack of taste in the pizza ingredients, the bitter olive oil, the messy olive oil bottle and bread that was way too airy I recommend heading east on McKellips to one of the several other Italian restaurants which delivers on all of these. If concerned about cost, there are those options as well with pizza ingredients that taste better than I had here.
(2)Dr G Y.
Ate here for dinner. Very pleasant and quiet. The service was very good and the staff very friendly and on top of everything. The food was a good portion and very tasteful. Definetely recommend if you are looking for quiet and good food.
(4)Lexington L.
Another mom and pop that you want to be something to rave about but it only meets you half way. That half was the food, I wish I could have just tipped the chef! Everything was delicious, a little steep in the price but it was delicious. The service was horrible. It took 10 minutes for our drinks. At this point the staff out numbered the patrons so there was no reason for that. Then all the bad service attributes- didn't come to check if we were doing okay or if we needed anything. Our salad didn't have dressing on it, and we ended up just getting a to-go box for it because by the time she acknowledged us again we completed the rest of the meal. My suggestion, go eat there and maybe it will be different, or order to go!
(4)Tyler H.
Best calamari I've ever had! Full calamari cut perfectly served with an amazing marinara. Their pizza is fantastic and made with fresh cheese. I always ask for extra marinara and I use it at home with spaghetti. I can't find a place that can beat their Italian food so I drive 30 minutes from Tempe every time I want real pizza and calamari.
(5)Julia C.
Did carry out and everything was great. Fantastic pizza and pasta. Lobster ravioli was a pleasant suprise with fresh, delicious sauce. Kids liked pizza as well as adults. Pizza ranks up there with Bianco's. Great to find this place in Mesa.
(5)Alec R.
The service is a little slow. They're finding their rhythm and it's obvious some of the servers are new to this location. Having said that their pizza is outstanding. Easily the equal if not better than Grimaldis. Everything was made fresh, the mozzarella, the sauce the dough and it showed. The owner was very warm and obviously took pride in his establishment. It may be a little rough at first but the place was packed last night and I didn't hear a single complaint. Their deserts were out of this world. I highly recommend the lemon-cello and the cannoli.
(4)Bonnie H.
Food rates a better than 3 stars but the service does not. White wine was not cold...she brought me a glass of ice!
(3)Sarah O.
Just had the best pizza I've had in along time. We had the special and ate every bite even after eating all of the fresh bake bread and salad we were served. It is so nice to have a great place to get good pizza!
(5)Edward M.
My wife and I just came back from Il Forno. The service was great and the food better. The portions were very large and we did not realize we could split the portions for a $4.00 charge. Very reasonable We will definiely be back
(4)Jeff P.
What a surprise!! The food here is wonderful. I gave them five stars in spite of the fact that they are Steelers fans. Yes, it's that good!
(5)Robert V.
I'm giving the food 5-stars. Outstanding. I had the home made stuffed pasta and a cannoli for desert. Delicious. Only small nit pick is that the restaurant decor is lacking. Bit of a cross between chinese buffet and italian bistro. But food makes it worth it!
(5)Landon S.
A little gem in NE Mesa. Fresh ingredients, including fresh mozzarella (you rarely find a place that uses fresh Mozzarella). Service was top notch. We went on a Friday night with a large party and we were seated in less than 10 minutes with warm bread with olive oil and balsamic arrived before we could settle in. Give it a try, you won't be disappointed.
(4)Dom B.
Excellent place, great food and good service. One of those hidden gems! We recently discovered it, and we keep coming back. Guarantee not to disappoint!!!
(5)BL R.
Yummm-E! Just heard about Il Forno being in the hood. I LOVE Italian, so hubby and I gave it a try. The place was busy but didn't have to wait for a table. Waitress brought fresh warm bread to the table that was slathered in garlic and olive oil, to hold us over while we waited for our pizza. Hubby ordered a house salad, and received a VERY generous portion (so we shared). I gotta tell ya, the pizza was the best I've had in Arizona! Seriously! I had to hold back from eating the whole thing. The crust was perfect and toppings were fresh with sausage, and I understand mozzarella, made in-house. The sauce was just right for me! So good! I look forward to going back and trying some of their pasta dishes. Oh happy day!
(4)Aaron S.
Fantastic food! Best pizza in Mesa. Very fresh high quality taste. We ordered a pizza with tomato and basil on it and everything from crust to sause to toppings and cheese were wonderful. Server recommended a lemon cake type desert, I can't remember what it was called, but we all thought it was the best desert we've ever had. Very light and delicate. Service is very friendly but can be a bit awkward at times, but I found it endearing and think it is because they are so focused on the food. We will be back often.
(5)N F.
WOW! I am very, very surprised to read all the positive reviews for this place. We had sticker shock when reading the menu, which looked like it was printed from a home computer. A spaghetti and meatball dinner is 13 dollars WITHOUT a dinner salad! Other pasta based entree's were around $15-19. Not filet mignon or a lobster tail, just pasta, ALSO WITHOUT a dinner salad. The caesar salad we ordered was HORRIBLE. Can you say VINEGAR dressing??? We ordered a pizza that ended up tasting like a frozen pizza you buy from the store. The wine glasses were tiny and the wine was cheap. I changed my glass of wine for something at least drinkable. The couple next to us had the same problems, and experience. When the owner came out to their table argued with them and didn't offer a discount on their meal. I'm sure they will never be dining there again, as we will not either. SAD, because it would have been nice to have a quaint place to eat just down the road from us.
(1)Michael U.
This restaurant has been around for over a year now- which is about 9 months longer than I ever would have originally guessed (only because its Mesa were talking here)...and it's because of the food. Basically, it is ridiculously good. On a whim, my wife and two young sons decided we would try this restaurant because we've been hearing some things. We sat down and received quick service, amazing dinner bread, and a smiley server. We ordered calamari and found out that their dipping sauce is incredible. We then ordered a half n half pizza and I ordered their salmon salad. GOOD LORD that salmon was perfect and cooked just right and hot as molten lava over a plate of fresh greens and tasty balsamic. I'm talking about a salad here! (Oh, and their pizza rivals ANYTHING in Manhattan or that Grimaldi garbage.) Then, we ordered their cheesecake for desert. This was my least favorite part, only because I'm not a fan of strawberries and "froufrou" on top of my cheesecake. But it was still killer. My wife loved it. My kids hoovered it up. Basically, this place is DAMN GOOD.
(5)Bee R.
I really enjoyed the pizza here. It tastes authentic and fresh. This place beats the other Italian restaurants around the area.
(5)Martisa V.
If you want authentic Italian cuisine, this is the place. The service is beyond expectations and the manager makes sure everything is nice. He is nice to his employees and they know it is a great place to work and they show pride in their work and in turn, they give excellent service to their customers. I wish more restaurant managers would understand this concept.
(5)Annette T.
Went in for lunch today. The restaurant is cute and the pizza was very good. the wine list looked comprehensive and the serve Stella Artois! What can I say! I love cold beer and Pizza!
(4)Lori C.
I don't know what Brendan M. was talking about. Maybe he's never seen grated parmesan before... ;) I brought my 4 and 7 year-old daughters for an early dinner. Wonderful waiter. Very experienced. I love linguini with clams/white sauce, I've had it many times at many great restaurants over the years, so I tried theirs. It was delicious and I was surprised from the bite of the crushed red peppers; if you don't like a little heat, order without, it will taste superb either way. There must have been at least 12 clams surrounding the linguini. Perfect sauce; just enough clam juice, white wine, butter, etc. Didn't taste any garlic. My daughters split the lasagna. These are ALL homemade dishes and it's a family restaurant. The atmosphere was pleasant. They have a decent wine list, though I didn't order off of it. We took 1/2 the lasagna home for Daddy and he loved it, too. The lasagna is slightly sweet, and the layers of pasta, meat and sauce are terrific. I am picky and I was impressed with this place. We will be back soon. Thanks.
(4)Cc R.
This has to be the best pizza in mesa. This is my first time visiting IL FORNO and this is my new neighborhood pizza place. Everything tasted homemade and fresh. Service was prompt and very friendly.
(5)Sharon C.
We visited this restaurant a few times now. Our first time was with friends who told us about it as they live nearby (we live in Gilbert). We had a couple bottles of wine and all had entrees. They have several 'homemade' pastas daily in addition to the regular pasta meals. My husband had the homemade Fusilli which has red sauce, peppers, mushrooms and ground up Italian sausage. The noodles are smooth and not spiral like typical fusilli but man it was so good you don't care! It was delicious!! I had the pasta in a vodka sauce with shrimp. The shrimp were HUGE and perfectly cooked. The pasta was al dente and the sauce was rich and tasty. They serve a wonderfully soft italian bread with butter and parm w/seasonings over the top which is really good!! We really liked the place so returned to try the pizza. The wood fired oven really makes a great pie! It is definitely in the top pizzas here in the Valley which says a lot from an east coast gal! Their brushetta, which is like a pizza without sauce or cheese just the brushetta toppings, on a small pizza dough crust is really good as well. Lots of fresh garlic which we just LOVE! My husband continually gets the fusilli each time we go as he just loves it...that's his staple dish. I like to try new things. I tried the shrimp scampi the last time I was there and it was SO good..the sauce is different than I've had before...so good you wanted to just eat more bread dipped in the sauce until it was gone. Our friends had the seafood (mussels, shrimp etc) dish and said it was very good and also the pesto alfredo which I tried and have to say it was as amazing! They are supposed to be introducing a larger bar menu in October (other than beer and wine which they had previously) with some specialty drinks so I'll be looking forward to another visit soon to try one out!! Oh and we had the lemon dessert and my daughter had the spumoni...both were delish! The lemon cake was simply terrific!!
(4)George R.
Finally!!!!! Awesome Italian food in North East Mesa. I had the lasagna and cheese pizza. The sauce had so much flavor and the pizza was a perfect crust. You can taste the freshness in every bite. Highly recommend.
(5)Bob G.
I highly recommend this restaurant. The food is awesome. The lasagna is to die for. This is my new favorite place to eat. Great atmosphere and great staff A must do!
(5)Lynnette S.
My coworkers and I used to frequent this place all the time, but they have definitely gone downhill quickly (maybe new management?). The food is amazing and everything is homemade which makes all the difference! We attempted to stop in for lunch on Friday, June 5th around 11:30 am and found the door locked. A lady came out and explained the cook was running late and they wouldn't open till 12:30 or so. Ok, I can get over that- stuff happens. But then we tried to go again on Thursday, June 11th and was surprised to find yet another locked door! I called the business as we couldn't see anyone in the restaurant. A lady answered and explained the owner lives far away and had to check on his other restaurant so they'd be opening late again. In my opinion, they should just change their hours and quit making me waste my time! I will definitely not be trying again.
(2)Bruce W.
Nice ambiance, the constant loop of Frank Sinatra is a bit irritating after awhile though. Ordered the linguini mussels, chicken ravioli, kids penne pasta with meatball and the parpadelle. Everything tasted excellent but don't expect to pay less then $20 per person, not much on the below $15 except the appetizers. The take out menu has more options then the eat in menu which was disappointing
(3)Michael K.
First of all, i have got to say i was really impressed with the inside view of the IL Forno restaurant. I came out here a month ago and had dinner here with a friend and his cousins for dinner. It was a really small and quiet amount of people here on a Saturday night. I ordered the spaghetti and meatball dish which was a little bland. The italian bread was really good as the staff served us before our dinner was served. The restaurant is really small with a good outside view of Michaels and several other businesses outside the strip mall. Restaurants meets right by highway 60. Great place to come and dine or hang out with friends. Will be back again when i have the chance again.
(4)