Il Fornaio

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Permalink Reply by Erica Lynn Baumgartner on March 12, 2009 at 10:52pm

Delicious! One of my favorites. Sit outside when it is warm. The butternut squash ravioli is AMAZING!

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Permalink Reply by Michelle Rose Hammett on March 16, 2009 at 1:22am

I absolutely love this place when I want some amazing Penne Alla Vodka. That's pretty much the only dish that I get so I can only comment on that. Great wine, incredible view!! Don't be shy on the complementary bread at the beginning of the meal, its spectacular.

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Permalink Reply by lisa on March 18, 2009 at 8:16am

We have a love/hate relationship with this place. Sometimes, it is fabulous and my husband loves the butternut squash ravioli, but other times it is not great. The beautiful view is consistent, but the food and service is not. Hopefully, you get them on a good day!

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Permalink Reply by Holly on March 28, 2009 at 1:40pm

We just hosted a baby shower here and it was GREAT! Fantastic food, excellent service, and a unique, vacation-like experience. They were accommodating and very friendly. Highly recommend this place!

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Permalink Reply by Pamela on June 8, 2009 at 1:03am

Have only been here a couple times. Agreed: the butternut squash ravioli is AMAZING! I ordered this dish both times. The bread and oil/vinegar are a meal in themselves if you don't watch yourself! But it is a chain, although a very nice and high priced chain. We held a holiday dinner here and really enjoyed ourselves and the service was seamless.

I'd heard a rumor that they serve coffee and pastries in the morning, but the few times I tried to partake, I think I got there too early (hoping for a nice breakfast on an early morning while waiting for the commuter ferry).

(Note: has anyone noticed that nasty smell in the entry way on occasion--seems like a high-end chain could get the facilities fixed to eliminate that smell!)

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Permalink Reply by Mz Liz on November 20, 2009 at 6:36am

This is one of my favorite "special occasion" places.
How can you NOT be in a great mood when you're seated at one of those amazing window tables?
Having worked for a major airline I have traveled the world, and there are few dinning places with such an amazing view!
(On the mainland side though, try C-Level on Harbor Island....... it rivals this place for best view in San Diego)

I always order the same thing, half a rotisserie rosemary chicken, mash potatoes & veggies.
Because the meal always begins with a basket of bread, by the time my entree arrives I'm pretty full.
When I eat here I always end up taking a to-go bag with me and dine for another two days on the left-overs.
Yummy!

PS: Another entry commented on the awful smell when you walk through the front door. It's coming from the bathrooms which are just around the corner. OMG! It is the worst!!!! It's like visiting an Italian sewer. Worst of all it's been lingering there for all the years I've been dining here.... forEVER! It's as if the plumbing vent goes right back into the woman's restroom (guys too? I wouldn't know about that :)
Come on! If it's a problem with the building itself get the owner you're leasing from to fix it. Isn't a stench like that a code violation of some sort? Love the restaurant, go next door to Peioi's to use the bathroom (not really, but I've seriously considered it :p

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Permalink Reply by jimbolaya on February 3, 2010 at 8:34am

Pretty place, bread is good, view is good. Food, ehhh...

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Permalink Reply by William Bailey on April 10, 2010 at 1:10pm

Roger that. Food a little better than, say, Olive Garden.

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Permalink Reply by Denise E. Jones on July 7, 2010 at 1:29pm

The Festa Regionale Menu, featuring Toscana, is going on now from July 5-18. The Mezzelune Cacio e Pere - half moon ravioli filled with grilled pears, mozzarella and parmesan, topped with asparagus crescenza cream sauce and sprinkled with toasted almonds...and the Insalata di Farro e Fave...my favorites on the menu! The ravioli rivals the butternut squash ravioli!

Full blog post at There's a Newf in My Soup!

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Permalink Reply by Marcie Dwaileebe on August 25, 2011 at 11:44pm

Food is mediocre, location is what brings me back. I love sitting on the patio and people-watching with the view of San Diego in the background; it's a great place to relax and have a glass of wine. Good happy hour pricing!

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