Il Fornaio

Manny was great in his services while we were there, celebrating our 43rd anniversary! His recommended dishes were great, cause we didn't know how to order (our 1st time) without pictures in the menu.
The place is nice, great atmosphere and foods.

We came to celebrate our anniversary here and everything was amazing. The ambiance is perfect and feels luxurious. The pasta and pizza as always did not disappoint, and at such reasonable prices! Our waiter Angelo was very attentive and helpful. The restaurant runs like a well oiled machine which makes the dining experience extremely enjoyable. We'll be coming back for sure!

This restaurant makes me feel home. When I'm here in the Bay Area I treat myself with Il Fornaio. Nooria, Mely the team here is incredible. The food is so delicious. You don't need to fly to Rome to have an incredibly flavorful fresh pasta. I really enjoyed my special table outdoors tonight. Thank you so so much!! Grazie mille. You are the best and will be back!!

Manny was our server and he was fabulous. He was thorough in explaining everything and made my roommate's Birthday special!
The food was exceptional!
We had the Spamoni desert and it was so delicious!
I will definitely return!

Came here on a date. We wanted to try some place new and gave it a chance. This location is very easy to find and has plenty of parking.

Arrived around 6pm on a Saturday night and was seated right away. Got a few menus and looked at them. We decided to get an app, two entrees, and some dessert:

what we ordered and rating:

Italian margarita: 4/5, it was enjoyable, sweet, and a bit strong. tasted like an italian tropical soda.

bread with olive oil mix 3/5; was descent good mix. Bread was warm and freshly made.

Faviola Pizza (pretty sure I miss-spelled it) 3.5/5: lots of flavor, but didn't taste the meat much.

Americano 3/5: was good I just wished it would of been hotter.

Mochaccino 4/5: chocolate and coffee mixed yum

Tiramisu 5/5: really good, tasted like a tres leches cake.

Overall, had a great time here. Service was excellent! Would def come here again.

I had a wonderful dining experience at Il Fornaio in Santa Clara. The ambiance was warm and welcoming, with a charming vibes. Our server, Linda, was fantastic--her lovely accent and friendly demeanor made our meal even more enjoyable. She was attentive and offered excellent recommendations. The food was excellent AS ALWAYS. It's great for big groups, and if you're lucky enough to have Linda as your server, you're in for a special treat!

Also- nice cocktail menu and an extensive wine list.

The appetizers, pizza, pasta, and dessert here are super delicious. The restaurant itself has high ceilings and it's a pleasure to dine in here. I would certainly be back for a great meal. The service can be a bit slow during peak hours on the weekend.

Their sourdough bread with olive oil and balsamic vinegar was a great start to the meal.
The calamari was fried well and tasty. We asked for tartar sauce which is just as good with it as the marinara sauce it comes with.
The Cristina pizza was very enjoyable for those who love truffle, as it's topped with truffle oil.
Rigatoni allá vodka was just okay. The pasta and chicken were both overcooked.

We had the Casarecce al pesto e pollo with shrimp added, which was our favorite pasta dish of the night.
For scallop lovers, the seared scallop with risotto was lovely!

We came here on a Saturday night and was not too busy, we got a table right away. The staff was friendly and service was good. We ordered:

Calamaretti fritti: super good, must have appetizer! Its crispy and not too dry. The sauce is not too salty and compliments it.

Tagliatelle bolognese: solid pasta, I usually prefer more ragu taste and this was good

Fradiavola: the pizza was okay, there are a lot of toppings but they get overpowered by the sauce I think. Maybe try a different pizza

Overall, solid Italian food and would recommend trying at least once.

This was a 10/10 dining experience for my mom and me. I am typically not one to be blown away by a restaurant but the customer service was above and beyond here. Our server, Manny, was an amazing host for our table. He greeted my mom and I very welcomingly and explained the menu to us when we were seated. We ordered very quickly since we appreciated the choices he recommended for first time diners like us. We were really excited at this point! The drinks, bread, and calamari came before our entrees. The timing was appropriate for each dish that was placed on the table. The other servers, managers, and Manny treated us very kindly which doesn't happen often at any restaurant. You can tell that the staff are well trained.

The food was phenomenal. The seafood tasted fresh and I felt like I could taste every ingredient in my pasta. I would say it could be comparable to the ones I've had in New York which is the closest I'll get to authentic Italian pasta! We also loved the sourdough bread which was fresh from the oven! Again, we were very thankful that Manny had offered the bread on the house as another birthday surprise! What was even cuter was when the manager came out with a little ice cream treat with a birthday candle for my mom. What a special surprise :)


We definitely enjoyed our time dining here. The service was above and beyond our expectations. I would definitely come back to try the other menu items.

Service 5/5
Great service by Angelo and staff! He deserves a promotion and raise. Host promptly sat us on Tuesday night ~8pm in 10-15 minutes. Service cleaned up and refilled water timely.

Food 4/5
A little salty for my taste but good quality and average value. They are having a promotion in the month of August! Got the weekly special steak with a side of potatoes and broccolini for $75 and a side of Linguine Mare Chiaro for $32 with a decent amount of seafood! 6 pieces of shrimp, scallop. 3 clam, muscles.

Ambiance 5/5
if you want a more quiet and intimate time I would recommend going on less busy days or calling in for a reservation. Great date night spot.