Il Forno Reviews

Decided to give this place a shot as it was between our hotel and a show we were going to see. The service was excellent and very quick so much so we had to kill a little time. The sauces with our food were excellent and the waiter very studious.

We visited this restaurant last night started out okay food was okay. I had a pizza the base was not good very dry. Service started out okay but then two staff went and sat and had there break leaving us 30 minutes while they finished to take out dessert order... plenty of better restaurants to visit

Cute & cozy Italian restaurant a few blocks away from Time Square. The venue feels authentic, the service was great. Pizza was good, the pasta was great. A couple of Italian beers to cap the experience.

Before a Wednesday afternoon 2:00 o'clock theater show we had lunch, the two of us splitting a salad and an entree. The simple Caesar salad was fresh and very good, the chicken parm was very good and came with a side of angel hair pasta, also very good. The decor was interesting, the service excellent, the prices reasonable for that part of town. A 4 minute walk to the theater. After the show we came back for desert and coffee. Il Forno is a excellent choice for good food near the theaters. Highly recommended. The back half looks like a club/bar area. That is where the restrooms are and they are nice and not cramped. .

Despite me screwing up and only booking table for 2, the senior guy stepped in and said “just give me a moment “. Soon after all 4 of us were seated in what was a very busy restaurant; food, drink and service were all good!

Such a cute interior great food great cocky and even better service! Perfect location for our pre show dinner at theatre! Price was so reasonable also!! We will be going back!

Save yourself the money and the time, don't go there. This restaurant, if you want to call it that, is really bad. When we were approached if we liked it, we couldn't handle the open feedback on site. Spaghetti with tomato sauce was really bad, pizzas were like cardboard with bad topping, they can't even really tap beer. The restaurant is only so well occupied because it has a good location. In the vicinity it has excellent, authentic Italian restaurants where the staff is also friendly and accommodating.

My husband found this restaurant for us and I was really impressed. The location is great to be near the theatres and Times Square, the interior decor was really pretty and romantic and our waiter was very friendly. He even suggested we order 1 pizza between us in case there was too much with having 2 - this approach goes a long way with me! Prices I’d say are slightly more affordable than most other restaurants in the centre of the city. Lost a star for me just because I have eaten better pizza and drank nicer wine - though both were nice, they didn’t wow me (the starters did though).

I learned something on this trip. Every time we eat near Midtown and the theater district, we are disappointed. There are so many tourists in this section of town that the restaurants do not need to try. The service at this place is very bad and the food is mediocre. The people that work there were very nice but the service was really, really slow.

Had lunch here before a Broadway matinee and were disappointed. Conveniently located and nice waitstaff, but the food was pretty bad. Stale croutons on the Caesar salad, what appeared to be once frozen meatballs and tiramisu and cheesecake that tasted like they cans from the grocery story freezer section. Mushroom risotto was decent, though.

2nd choice online,1st choice closed (closest to our theater). Small, cramped, typical noisy Italian restaurant. Small selection on wine list (many Italian, of course). Soup of the day Italian wedding fairly bland. Wife had chicken breast -too dry; her side of Brussels with bacon-couldn't taste bacon! I had lamb chops-cooked as I liked, over cold polenta. When I tried to cut into the lamb, table rocked until I put my foot on a support. Service good, but overall dining experience only fair.

So glad we found this place! The staff were lovely we found them very friendly and helpful. Service was excellent and the food was delicious and fresh. Price was reasonable. Definitely recommend!

Not the best Italian food in town, but nice little restaurant, you can eat good food quickly, waiters are nice and wine is good ;)

This was the crowning touch to our visit to NYC. Food excellent service not only the best but our server looked for ways to enhance our visit Thank you! Linda and Andy Roanoke. VA

We were seated around 7:10 p.m. with a 6:30 reservation. Though the ambiance is charming and the main dishes we ordered were good, it was hard to recover from the unexpected 40-minute wait to sit down. The wait staff seemed unconcerned with the delay and then not particularly interested in our dining experience. We were not offered a refill on a drink or so much as a roll while we waited for our entrees. We won't be back.

My daughter and I enjoyed dinner here during her 16th birthday trip to NYC! The staff was absolutely amazing and our waiter made her birthday so special!

This is another case that if tourists and other customers would be a little more honest these people would improve their product. This is below average pizza. It’s basically a big cracker. If you like big crackers, (pizza is actually small by comparison) as it’s about the size of the menu and this place is OK. They have good soup and salad, excellent service, Very well-positioned in Midtown on eighth Avenue. But don’t come here for the pizza. There is way too many good pizza places in New York and even in this neighborhood.

alked in on a Saturday evening without a reservation and the host happily seated us in a few minutes. Great meal and fun environment. My partner ordered the Veggie Pizza filled with vegetables and cheese, he enjoyed the pizza. Our sister ordered 2 sides, 1 of steamed Broccoli and the other being Mashed Potatoes, with a hint of garlic. Service is fantastic and the atmosphere is fun. Would recommend for a nice meal out.

Conveniently located in the theatre district for a nice meal. The food and pizza was great the portion sizes were huge. The drink menu was minimal but they have all the basics. We were seated right at our reservation time and service was fast enough to get us to the show on time.

Very nice food and excellent service. This was our second visit, and we were not dissapointed. Good choice on menu and decent portions.

We ate here before going to Kinky Boots at 8pm. I had made a reservation on Open Table earlier in the day for 6pm. When we arrived, on time, our table hadn’t been held. I looked at the screen at the hostess stand and saw our party listed with the correct number. It took about 20 minutes and a lot of persistence to get a table. While we were waiting, I witnessed a party of four experience the same problem: reservation made and not honored. This was a group of senior adults. They were very disappointed and it was hard to watch. I didn’t feel that the hostess really knew how to manage reservations. It was clear to me that the restaurant didn’t really take reservations, but hadn’t advertised as first come, first serve. Our waitress was fair and seemed distracted. The food was good and served in a timely fashion. 4 stars on the food, but hospitality wise this restaurant gets a 2 at best. We probably would not return.

Very busy, nice interior with low level lighting (could do with a bit more overhead light to be able to read the menu), good and very quick service, food choices on menu are good and the food was tasty, but they sneakily include the gratuity on the bill which in the low light could easily be missed and then you would tip them twice, what!

We visited to have a late dinner after the theatre and were seated promptly and ordered, the food came at different times and the table service was ordinary at best with us having to draw staff attention to get anything further. Pizza was not as good as I have had elsewhere. There is better.

After trooping around Hells Kitchen looking for somewhere to eat on a 'Cold Night' We chose Il Forno after viewing menu board on sidewalk. We where greeted at the door by a friendly greeter, The restaurant was warm with a nice ambiance, service was very quick and the food was very good with pleasant friendly staff, I chose the Parmisan and my wife chose the Roman tomato & garlic Pizza, we where both highly satisfied, A fair selection of ale helped cap a very nice experience, Only down side was on menu on sidewalk it stated Lamb Shank but on menu at table it stated Lamb Chops

We wish we could have eaten more to try more things. The food was absolutely amazing with very unique twists. We started with the roasted cauliflower salad because it sounded so different with braised pork, asiago cheese, arugula and the honey vinaigrette to soften the bitterness of arugula. It was so balanced in flavors, one of my favorite salads now of all time. We loved how it had an outdoor feel because the front of the restaurant was open and we had a seat right near the sidewalk. It had a woodfired pizza oven but we were having pizza the next day. So we ordered a gluten-free spaghetti which was also delightful, unique and yet a bit simple to some degree. We then could not resist the mango gelato. It was fabulous! This is one of the places I will record the name of so I can be sure to go back!

But what a great discovery by pure chance. Welcome and top-notch French-speaking staff so that can help some people and make them feel at ease. We opted for 3 different pasta dishes and it was a real treat. We all loved it. Very good dishes, very tasty, a real delight. Their tiramisu is just amazinggg. I would happily return there for my next trip to New York. I highly recommend, and don't hesitate.

The pizza’s were great and the free soda refill was a nice surprise for a restaurant close to Time Square. The employees looked a little bit tired and sometimes a little slow. Also they did not react to our compliments about the food. Overall it was an okay experience. The food was great.

Ate lunch in September. Decent menu choice, although prices, like elsewhere in NYC were expensive. Ordered linguini with seafood and was given a choice of red or white sauce. Ordered the red tomato sauce and was served a huge bowl of delicious seafood and pasta. Thoroughly enjoyed my food.

We were able to snag a last minute reservation for dinner to meet up with two former students who are making their way in NYC this year. The food is so well prepared, and the Alfredo, veal and chicken parm are above and beyond! Our waiter, Omar The Jokester, was an absolute HOOT, messing with kids and adults alike, and making our meal even better than it had a right to be. The restaurant is small and quaint and cozy and just so cool. And if you are a cheesecake fan...just go for it. Even if you’re full. Many thanks to all the staff at Il Forno for a fabulous experience!

We walked by here on our first night in NY, it looked amazing from the outside so it when straight on the go-to list. We booked online for Saturday night: But when walking by an hour before our booking I stuck my head in the door just to confirm. We were told (very politely) the kitchen was slammed and there was no way we could get in that night. I am delighted to see anywhere busy and doing business after the past couple of years we had. But I'm just disappointed we were let down when we thought we had our Saturday night sorted. I can tell you now, walking the street trying to organize a table for four with no booking on a Saturday night near Times Square is Zero-Craic.

We booked reservations through open table in advance before a show and when we showed up they said, sorry we aren’t doing reservations tonight. It is a busy week in NYC so I was stuck with no meal before a three hour show with three kids.

In the theater district so crowds are the norm. While they did not display the required City Health rating we checked online and they are an "A". The house wine was fine and we enjoyed small pizzas. The decor is fun.

Best pasta ever ! I recommend everyone to taste the food . Very affordable price . Beautiful authentic decoration. The service was great, friendly and quick.

I met up with my friend who was visiting NYC at Il Forno, and we really liked the cozy ambience. We each got the prix fixe menu, and everything that we had was quite good! I especially liked my spaghetti and meatballs and tiramisu. One thing to note is that my menu was completely empty, but that was more entertaining than anything else. This is a fun place that’s relatively casual and great for meeting up with friends.

Location is good. I had herb chicken. Very juicy, cook to perfection orzo was also included. $24. Also roasted cauliflower salad. Also very tasty $14. Plus tax

Went to see mj the musical and death of a salesman, in between plays we ate here. One of the best restaurants around. Atmosphere and selection was top notch. Service was great. Highly recommended.

We had a great meal here. The tables are close together and it is quite loud, but the food and service are excellent. Make a reservation ... it books quickly.

To be honest, many of the neighborhood restaurants were closing by 10, but this one was still open. so we gave it a try. Italian in NYC sounded good. Not the most comfortable seating, but service and food was real good. Had some chicken, spaghetti, roasted cauliflower, and soup. And, yes, I'd eat here again. They also, of course, serve pizza. And as i said, closes later than the others.

We set for a Sunday dinner- the restaurant was full. You cannot have mineral witer- they srve only tap water, not cold, with a taste of chloride. The glasses are actually jars, and are not very comfirtable for drinking. the classic Bruschetta was 5 small bagutte slices- good as an appetizer, not realy a starter. My Talgliolini Bolognes lacked the meat- it had only samples of it, but the sauce was very good. The polenta was good, although it could use some more Parmegiano. Service was slow.

Service was excellent. The food was good and it came out fast. Host and hostess were very friendly. Atmosphere was very charming and cozy.

Great little restaurant we found on our first night in New York. We had risotto and pizza. Amazing and very reasonably priced!

We went in for a light dinner and we were right. There is a Moroccan waiter who speaks 7 languages, including Spanish, and who serves wonderfully. Cumin, a very good toast and a pizza. All delicious and at a reasonable price, for New York. 100% recommended

Food was marginal. Menus were stained and tired. Hostess was rude and unfriendly. Dined there and Sat 12/21 at 5:45 after a Matinee close by. Pasta sauce was not very good nor was the meat. Music was reminiscent of an Indian restaurant. Just a bizarre idea experience. There are far better choices in the area.

It was pretty much as the other reviews said. Some things good, some things ok. Pizzas were not particularly authentic but they were edible. Pasta was good, service was good, location was great. If you want a meal that’s not a chain or a fast food joint, then give it a go.

This was our 2nd visit to Il Forno Restaurant. We love it. The food is delicious. We were in a party of 10 and everyone raved on their food choices. Our waiter was exceptional and very attentive. We chose the 3 course meal for $36 and we were very happy with our choices. We would highly recommend this restaurant when in NY.

I am not one to leave a negative review or do so to be spiteful. However, I feel the need to mention my experience at this restaurant. I ordered a Margherita pizza. Honestly, I've had better frozen pizzas. The crust was like cardboard, there was no fresh tomato, and it was just lousy all around. In addition, the service was extremely slow. The water in the water bottles wasn't cold. I usually will just eat my meal if it's acceptable and not complain. I used to be a server and I understand what happens in restaurants. When I did mention to my server I was unhappy, he took the pizza back to the kitchen. It was at this point where the ultimate failure in customer service occurred. There was no apology, no offer to see if I would like to have chosen another menu item, and not even an offer of a free dessert. I did eat some of the pizza because I was hungry and the waiter didn't return to my table for a very long time to see how everything was. In the end, the manager took off half the price of the pizza. I really feel the entire pizza should have been taken off the bill. There should have been some other type of offer and the manager should have come to the table to speak with me. If the customer service was better I would have felt they tried to compensate for my dissatisfaction and wouldn't feel the need to write this review.

We were pleasantly surprised to find this little spot. It is located a stone's throw from most Broadway theaters. So, if you need to catch a quick bite of very acceptable Italian food prior to a matinee or evening show, this is it. With NYC traffic mostly gridlocked in this area, frequently the time allotted to get to a show can evaporate and a quick bite is the only option.

Great location, atmosphere was cozy and inviting. Service was excellent and server was very attentive. Great pasta dishes. Good value for price.

After a 7 hour flight, a train and a subway with luggage, we needed something good to eat! Obviously being new here we didn’t know the area but ventured out to see what we could find. I love Italian, after a quick look at the menu outside we went in. Lovely intimate atmosphere, a few people already dining. Lovely waiting staff, welcoming and friendly. We had pizza, and a spaghetti dish, a Peroni and a glass of Sauvignon blanc and the total bill was $56 which isn’t bad. Portion size’s excellent and the food itself was ok. It excellent but perfectly adequate. Would I return? Yes!

It was one of our first couple of evenings in NYC so we haven't had a good plan yet where to eat. As we craved Italian we went there. It was TOO LOUD - the music was too much - we almost had to scream to talk to each other. And the food was nothing special at all - everyone of us was not really happy. and it was also expensive... so yeah it didn't remain as a nice memory.

We were in the city and feeling hungry. Spotted Il Forno rest on 8th ave. Walked in to be seated. Almost more than 6 minutes passed before a waiter decided to attend to us. The cutlery we had was disgusting and dirty. My wife asked the waiter to bring fresh clean sets. He came back with ones that were even worse than the ones on the table. Unbelievable and sad at having a rest completely screw up one of the most basic principles of cleanliness and hygiene. Meanwhile we asked for a bottle of winemaking however as when the waiter returned and presented the new dirty cutlery. We decided to leave this horribly managed rest. I am amazed at the level of unprofessionalism that has kept this place open in such a prime location. Definitely would not recommend it to anyone whatsoever.

I can overlook bad service if the food is good but I was very disappointed. Chicken Marcella was half breast of an old hen or maybe rooster. The sauce was uneventful but the mushrooms were fresh (only positive). My Aunt Sallie was turning over in her grave. There are too many good NYC restaurants but this is not one of them!

My husband and I dined here we received average service and I ordered the roast chicken which was dry and the pasta tasteless. The only reason it gets 2 stars is for the ambience.

Needed dinner before a show & was directly across from our hotel...what a gem! Not a big place but the food was great especially the burratta...yum! Waiter was awesome & got us out in time for the show.

We had been down the street to watch Sweeney Todd Musical! The show finished quite late so we was looking for somewhere to eat when we found this place! My pizza was lovely and tasty and my cheesecake was delightful! Staff were super friendly and attentive! Loved the decor! Made me feel like I was in Italy! Loved it! Thank you!

It was a random find and we had a great meal here. The service was superb by all servers and they all were very personable. Next time we visit we we will definitely return.

Reasonable price, restaurant was busy but host was very accommodating. We had pizza and pasta enjoyed the food and they offer gluten free pasta also which I enjoyed I would return, a little loud in the restaurant but tolerable. Service was excellent.

I enjoyed dinner and loved the Italian feel of the restaurant. One of the waiters named Omar was friendly and took care of everything. Gratuity is already included in the check.

A friend and I stopped in after a show, and were seated immediately. The service was leisurely but that was fine for us as we were in no hurry whatsoever. We shared a pizza and a burrata salad with tomatoes. Both were good and the portions generous enough to share. Prices were reasonable, especially for the heart of the theatre district, and service was good.

Ordered a cheese pizza thinking it was authentic. I thought that by the way they called pizza “pizzete” the pizza tasted like frozen pizza and was too bad to finish

It was a great evening at Il Forno. Great service with Bledar, our server, great pizza and caesar salad and the wine was perfect. Highly recommended for pre-theater dining

Bang average not very authentic Italian food. Very busy, close to Times Square. Food was ok, hot and served quickly, friendly staff. Average and over priced, but you’re paying for the location.

Cozy, original decoration. Amazing food. Excellent service!!! Everything is so perfectly spiced. Right portions and outstanding flavor.

I had the mushroom and truffle risotto. You can really taste the truffle, there’s no skimping here. It was crowded of course, but the Decor and atmosphere was very nice.

Had a wonderful night eating here - the food was well beyond my expectations, especially the Fusilli Bucati (a braised beef ragu on pasta) - the beef was absolutely cooked to perfection. The proprietor was Italian, friendly and energetic - a delight to talk with.

We had a lovely dinner here as a family. The service was a little slow but we weren’t in a hurry. If you wanted to see a Broadway show this is close to the theatres but you would want to tell them first. I’d suggest ordering pizza as they seemed to come out quickly. We all ate pasta as we had plenty of time and we devoured our dishes. The atmosphere is very cosy and authentic. Would definitely come back.

Great food & great service, very reasonable prices too! Got a table very quickly and didn’t wait long at all considering how nice and freshly cooked the food was!

We found this cosy Italian when wandering around, a good menu with a set menu option. I had Alfredo pasta with a side if Brocolli, my partner has the chicken in maderia with the side of sprouts - the sprouts were amazing!! As I said, cosy setting, food was good.

We visited here as a couple on a short stay in NY. Service was excellent, staff were friendly but more importantly the food was fantastic. Traditional Italian in the heart of the city. Would definitely recommend.

Very centrally located. Realy nice friendly attentive staff. Nice decor. Good choice on menu and lunch specials. Tasty food. Visited twice as so nice. Recommended.

Came in late Friday night looking for a quick pizza to go. To take across street to eat in our hotel room. They made us a quick pepperoni to go. Offered us a seat to wait and brought us water. Very kind. The pizza was very delish brick oven pizza. Highly recommend for service and food.

We were looking for somewhere to eat and my wife thought that the restaurant looked inviting. Staff were very welcoming and helpful throughout the meal. My spaghetti was cooked al denté as I like if and I was tempted by the New York cheesecake. An enjoyable meal and we would come here again.

We had two meals here during our trip in NY. Both times the quality was good with a friendly service at an acceptable price.

Could not eat this food, from pizza to salad to frozen meatballs. Served salad with rotten tomatoes on it, ingredients different than menu description. Pizza was foul, cold, coagulated cheese with grease & a foreign red/black "sauce". Most disgusting meatball in not Italian marinara, cold, & totally inedible. Service was horrific & glasses were filthy, old crusted food stuck to bread plate. Absolutely disgusting. AVOID.

A 3 minute walk away from the Marriott Marquis Time Square you can find this great place for good Italian food. Great menu and nice and efficient service. Will be back next time around!

If you are looking for a meal that delights the tastebuds... head on in. Artichoke four cheese Pizza, Spaghetti Meatballs- Bellissimo! Great service, friendly and super warm!

We visited Il Forno for dinner. The “pizza” was dry and inedible, even to our grandchild whose favorite food is pizza. The sauce on the pasta needed spices. It was very bland. The “rolls” we were served consisted of toasted bread ends. No oil was offered to dip them in.

Stopped here after seeing a show. Warmly greeted and seated promptly. Very friendly staff who seemed to love what they are doing. I would loved to have spoken Italian to understand their fun in the kitchen. Food was delicious. We had the set menu that was great value for NYC. I had the Caesar salad, chicken Alfredo, and tiramisu. All delicious. Alfredo was hot - freshly made. Appropriate serving sizes. Wonderful atmosphere. I would buy different wine to the house wine next time. Overall wonderful. I would definitely go again.

We made reservations here since we were going to a show right next door. While the hostess did not speak to us and was not particularly friendly, she got us to our table quickly. No complaints there. Our waiter was friendly, and our pizzas were good. I mean, it wasn’t as stellar as pizza I’ve had in Italy, but it certainly wasn’t bad as many reviewers here seem to suggest. I had one with chicken, jalapeños, and pesto, and my daughter had the margherita. The service was faster than expected. The tables are kind of crowded, but that’s the only negative I can think of. Don’t let other reviews scare you off.

The food was great and the service was amazing. They made us feel very welcome. We had the bruschetta, spaghetti with meatballs, and orecchiette. All three were delish. Comfortable restaurant with clean restrooms. Will be back!

Nice place for after the theatre. Menu has great selections. Prices are fair for the area. They make a great flat bread style pizza. Service was fast and friendly.

Quaint Italian place with great atmosphere and awesome food. The wait staff was superb. We were looking for a place to eat before going to a show. We went in and got the last open table. Lucky us! My husband had a seafood linguine which he loved.

The waiter got everything wrong, from my appetizer to entree to dessert. One of our desserts had freezer burn and was pretty inedible, The restaurant was super hot and all 4 of us were uncomfortable. There are many better places to eat in this area. I promise, this review is from a real person who lives in NYC and not someone who has a grudge. This was our first time in at Il Forno, and it will be our last.

The pasta was great and nice Italian atmosphere the wait staff there was very courteous and professional. Place on going there again. It was located in an area with alot of people so it was fortunate for me to get a table right away I will never forget that place.

Great experience and food with a scenic view! Staff was super friendly! Would recommend to any residents or travelers!

Managed to snag a table at the last minute for dinner - I think I landed between the early theatre crowd and the evening dining crowd. Everything perfectly fine - not fine dining, but felt I was eating something cooked rather than reheated. I had the chicken parm, which was very generous in size.Food was a little slow, as was the service, but they were very busy to be fair. Would happily eat here again, but not sure if it's quite good enough to go here rather than try somewhere else.

If your looking for a friendly place close to the theatres in Mid-Town, Il Forno does the trick. The food is good and reasonably priced and the portions are huge. The wine list is passable with a number of good Italian reds. Easy walk to most Broadway shows.

Visited here on a recent trip to New York. It was a hot day so nice surroundings to eat in with the front opening out into the street. We had pizzas and a salmon dish and we all agreed the food was delicious.

We visited this restaurant several times during our holiday and were very satisfied every time. The service was friendly, attentive and accommodating. The food fresh and very delicious (salad, pizza, pasta, fish dish)!!!

What a find! I walked along 8th Avenue, past all the usual tourist traps and chain restaurants, and stumbled on this cozy little Italian restaurant. Nice and quiet, pleasant staff, and the food was delicious. I chose the wild mushroom risotto, which was delectable.

Daughters pizza burnt husbands dinner not complete and plates were being cleared while I was still eating just rude! Waitress moody so no never again! A New York let down

I don't get the hate. We had the daily special, Branzino, which was delicious. The potato purée accompanying it, however, was exceptional. And fir dessert we had tiramisu; it was a revelation. I don't care if it's a chain restaurant, it deserves 5 stars.

Two stars for atmosphere and decor but other than that, nothing to recommend. Il Forno should be embarrassed to serve pizza like this in NYC. Advertised as “pizzetta” it’s more like a small Dr Oetker pizza straight from the freezer cabinet. Soggy in the middle with crunchy (NOT crispy) crust and no discernible tomato sauce. Tasteless. To make matters worse, the food and drinks were almost thrown on the table without a word from the wait staff and there was no check back at any point. Even when our plates were taken away with two barely half-eaten pizzas, no one asked if the food was ok. Maybe they already knew the answer? If you’re hungry for pizza, save yourself $10 and pick up a cheap slice down the street- it’ll be better than this.

First time in my life I left restaurant without tipping the waiter. Felt like unwanted visit. Food was not bad, but not great either.

Limited menu. Very disappointed with choices. The wine was not of good quality either. Was really looking forward to a great Italian meal and this let me down all around

Many real Italians choose this place. I had chicken parm. It was the best food I had on a 3 day trip.

Worst pizza ever eaten. No taste bland. $17 for like 3 cuts. We had seafood and marginally. Real real thin. Left still hungry

This is a great place for dinner if you are in or around Times Square. A good selection of beers and wine, approachable but still delicious food and one of the best Caesar salads you will have in your life. After dinner we just had an extra glass of wine with the doors open and the wind blowing in. Couldn't have been better!

Fabulous cute place! The food was good and service was great! They were very busy but we were able to grab a table! Wish we would have able to eat there twice

Stopped by last night with my husband, just looking for a a place to eat around town and picked Il Forno when the rain started. I’m so glad we did. What a wonderful restaurant!!! I had the mushroom risotto and was ABSOLUTELY delicious! My husband loved his pasta and the tiramisu was great as well. Honestly, the whole experience was a delight since the staff was so friendly and attentive. We really enjoyed the space and will definitely be back. There’s no money options in nyc and sometimes we end up paying so much for a mediocre experience. This was perfect. Affordable prices for NYC standards and great tasting food with amazing service.

Excellent food and very nice place, memorable chicken soup with noodle and alfredo pasta of the best I have ever tasted

Thank You Trip Advisor for showing this restaurant option. The ambiance was great as was the food and waiter. My only suggestion is to change the music. I love Led Zepplin, but it isn't dinner music at an Italian Restaurant.

Quick pre-theater dinner. Followed other reviewers advice and ordered the Risotto and it was delicious. I was able to order it without the goat cheese which made it perfect for me. My friend had a salad and enjoyed as well. They managed to get us out in time for curtain. Only advice I would say is they need to fix the wobbly tables. Aside from that, the interior of the restaurant looked like an Italian courtyard. It added an unexpected ambiance. Glad we stumbled upon this restaurant and gave it a try.

Nice Italian restaurant near Times Square. It was the first meal we had in NY and it was a lovely surprise. Fair menu prices and the staff was very kind. People complain about restaurants at/near Times Square so we thought it would be a tourist trap, but we had a lovely dinner there.

Food was ok. The salad was better than the pasta. Service was slow. The place was full and they had too few servers to go around. Definitely overpriced for what we received. Not in my list to go back to.

Great food. We arrived at 5:00 with no reservation for the two of us. We were waited on and served promptly. Good portions. Restaurant is small and a little loud. Exceptional Cappelini and Chicken Parm. Finished it off with Tiramisu.

We were on our way to another restaurant when we pass in front of Il Forno, it was love a first sight. Service was excellent, food was superb. Ask for the Branzino.

Arrived after Broadway show around 10pm. The place was hopping. It was freezing cold and every time the door opened - whoosh! Was pretty uncomfortable and many tables trying to get moved to the back of the restaurant. Our quirky waiter was nice but forgetful. The pizza was below average but okay. We were starving. The salad was good. Wine pour and price was average for city. I can see why this place stays in business with location. It needs help in the food and ambiance departments. ps. The bathroom was crazy.

Day 2 decided to try Il Forno Italian restaurant. Excellent food friendly staff and very speedy service. The price was less than I expected. Would recommend it to anybody.

Lovely atmosphere. Good authentic Italian food. Made to feel very welcome. A little bit of Italy in New York (just off time square).

We had matinee tickets at 1:00 on Broadway, one block away. Arrived at 11:30 and told the waiter we wanted to leave in an hour. He said not a problem. Had to chase him down (literally) to get a check. Had to chase him down (literally) again to pay. Made us late!

The decor of this restaurant was absolutely beautiful. I ordered the pre-fix menu which included Cesar salad, mushroom risotto, and a desert. The dressing on the salad was unique and really tasty. The mushroom risotto was some of the best that I have ever had. I will say the service left something to be desired. The place is very small. Maybe 15 tables. They had at least 4 waiters, but it took forever for the waiter to come to our table to get our drinks, and again to take our order. I originally ordered lava cake for my desert and was brought key lime pie. I let the waiter know it wasn't what I ordered, but that I didn't mind keeping it. As I was eating the key lime pie he brought over the lava cake and said it was on the house for the mix up. I still gave this place a 5 because the food is excellent, but they really could step up their service.

Late on a Saturday night after a show we were looking for a simple dinner. I wanted Asian, my husband wanted Deli...so Italian it was! We spotted Il Forno from across the street. There was no wait, which could have been a bad sign, but we gave it a try. My husband had the Seafood Linguine in a red sauce. There was a lot of seafood and he enjoyed it. I had the Wild Mushroom Risotto and it was delicious. So many flavors came together and there were plenty of mushrooms. The goat cheese was an unusual but perfect flavor addition. If one thing was lacking it was that there was no bread. Not before the meals came and not with either entree. Odd for an Italian restaurant. I loved the decor, as well. It looked like an adorable outdoor cafe in Italy.

Friendly staff, good menu choices. Enjoyable Italian food served quickly and not too pricey for the area, would return.

This restaurant is very close to the theaters in Times Square. They had a pri fix dinner of salad, pasta, a glass of wine and dessert for $28. The salad was chilled and fresh, the pasta was excellent and the choice of tiramisu, cheesecake or key lime pie was wonderful. They gave. Quick and efficient service. Great place to dine before the theater.

We were early for a Broadway show and enjoyed a leisurely pizza - Frutti di Mare and Fungi di tartufo and caffe latte. Prices were reasonable. There is an open pizza oven so that you can watch your food being cooked.

We ordered the Pepperoni Pizza and the Tagliatelle Bolognese to share between the 2 of us and the meal portions were perfect and the flavours delicious. A very busy restaurant and in typical NY style tables very close, so if you are after a romantic quiet table for 2 this is not the place for you. Quick service and no frills but can recommend if you are looking for delicious rustic style Italian food in the area.

Looking for somewhere to eat after being to the theatre and stumbled across this place, the four of us were seated quickly, food was lovely, staff friendly and polite. Most enjoyable

On the evening of 9/10, a somber time for some people in NYC, we wanted to stay "close to home" and dined around the corner from our Marriott Marquis hotel. It was an easy walk- about 3 minutes.... also just a couple minutes walk from Times Square. The pinot grigio was crisp and slightly fruity, the bruscetta appetizer was beautifully presented, and all our dinners were served piping hot and delicious. Very good food! The decor, the atmosphere, at IlForno is very good - reminiscent of an old world Italian eatery, with subdued lighting and comfortable seating. We felt like we were in an old city garden, with great food, efficient wait people, and good prices. We will return.

Nice place to eat after the theatre. I enjoyed the chicken marsala. Everyone in my party said that their dinner was delicious. The tables are close together and it can get a little loud but that didn't bother us. We would definitely recommend this restaurant for an after Broadway Show dinner.

I had a terrible dining experience at this restaurant. I sent an email to the restaurant, waited over a week but never got a response. So I'm now sharing what happened. Below is the email I sent... I dined with my mother at your establishment last night and I want to express my disappointment with our meal. Service was severely lacking. We were greeted by a gentleman who I assume was the manager and we took the last available 2 top by the door around 5:50pm. We were assured we would be able to eat and get to the theater in time for a 7pm curtain call. We placed our order from the prix fixe as soon as the server arrived. Sadly, things fell apart from there. The salads arrived; no problem except the food runner tried to serve them to the table next to us. That should have alerted me things would only get worse from there. My mother’s entree arrived at 6:21. I waited 5 minutes before I had to flag down staff (the manager?) to ask when my entree would arrive. It was finally delivered to our table at 6:31 - 10 minutes after the first entree arrived. I specifically requested the mahi mahi be cooked rare. When it finally arrived, it was well done. At this point, I was so irritated that I didn’t want to deal with waiting longer for my meal to be properly cooked. I took a few bites and requested a to go container in less than 5 minutes. We needed to allow enough time for dessert. Once our entree plates were removed, the server asked if we were ready for our bill. We still had not been served dessert! At 6:45 our desserts still had not arrived. I had to find our server, request our desserts be packed in a “to go” container and handed her a credit card to pay the bill. I hate being rushed to eat and that is exactly what happened. Was I supposed to swallow my dessert in one bite if it had been served to our table at 6:45? I have been working in the service industry as a server and bartender in NYC for 15 years. The lack of attention to detail and service at your establishment is severe. Our server clearly was embarrassed and gave a half hearted apology for what happened. That was not enough. The manager was avoiding our table after my entree arrived. He should have come to our table after my entree arrived at the very least. He never came to apologize or acknowledge the problems. And as we were leaving, the host did not even acknowledge us. No “good bye” or “thanks for dining here.” I look forward to your response.

Food, and service is better at a Burger King. They got EVERTHING wrong. The experience was extremely disappointing. For the money we spent, it doesn't worth it. Never going back.

Food was amazing! Service was lovely. Tagliatelle was very tasty just like my Italian grandma makes it :). It’s definitly worth it to grab a bite here!

This is a nice semi-casual restaurant on 8Th and 45th. Good service and a decent menu. Prices reasonable. Enjoyable and nice decor.

This restaurant was right on 8th Avenue and convenient for our pre theatre meal. Unlike a lot of the reviewed restaurants which were booked out, we walked in straight in on a late Friday afternoon. The atmosphere is warm and busy and the decor delightfully Italian. Food was served quickly and was delicious. We had crab cakes and then seafood pasta accompanied by the Brussel sprouts with bacon- just delicious! The red wine selection is a little pedestrian but acceptable. Staff efficient and the maître d’ charming and effusive! Highly recommend.

The staff were very pleasant and attentive. Great food. Loved the burrata mozzarella with tomatoes. Salmon was flavorful and perfectly cooked.

Nice food... but we selected the set menu which stated "choice of any dessert", and were then told it was a choice of a subset of the desserts. When we said that's not what the menu said the waiter got cross and said it wasn't him who made the rule, and said he could fetch a manager to explain it. Not worth the bother. The key lime pie was nice.

Came here for pre show dinner, loved it, great atmosphere, really friendly staff, very efficient, reasonably priced drinks and food, good quality red wine, excellent seafood pasta dish, lovely ambience.

This is located close to the theaters which adds to the appeal. We were on the hunt for pizza and a gluten-free option. They offered both and it was delicious! They service was good and while we were not in a rush, we were in and out pretty quickly and off to the show. The pepperoni pizza was good as was the mushroom risotto. We also ordered a side of broccoli and the portion size was perfect for two people. The prices were quite good - especially for the area.

I was so excited to try this restaurant. We were looking for a place near the theater, and this looked great...on paper. Cute place. There were empty tables so they did not look at their screen, just seated us. Food was just so-so. I was so disappointed. I am returning to the area next month with a large group and had thought this would be a great place...but will have to look for somewhere else.

I had the pleasure of being spoiled as a kid with a family friend who made tortellini from scratch in the basement kitchen in her home. She made the pasta and ground the meat and then served Tortellini en brodo. Dear Ann is long gone and I still long for what used to be a standard in every Italian restaurant but is almost impossible to find today. I researched to see if I could find it on the West Side of Manhattan and Il Forno wsa the only place that had meat filled tortellini. It was not served en brodo but was absolutely sublime. So tender and tasty. The entire meal was great. We had very good calamari to begin and my friend had the Chilean Sea Bass which was so tender and moist and grilled to perfection. The service was very good but my only complaint is when you walk in what seems like the bar area is empty and lifeless. Then we were escorted to a very cramped dining room with a very narrow walkway where every time the staff had to pass, I had to adjust my leg in order to not bump them. Aside from that, it was a perfect experience.

My husband and I came here on a whim trying to find a nice Italian restaurant. We ordered the fustalli butalli pasta which was very well cooked and flavoured. The margarita pizza was also well done and fire cooked. The kitchen is half open and clean and the decor resembles old Italy. My husband had the herb chicken another night which was a little dry. The customer service is also warm and friendly. The man I presume to be the main manager is friendly and does not push you to order more courses which is good. We have gone here twice on our trip due to the good food and service, highly reccomended.

We went to Il Forno after a show on Thursday evening and we are so glad that we did! My husband and I and our two daughters (ages 10 and 13) could not find a bad word to say if we tried. My husband had the spaghetti pomodoro, daughter had pizza, and I had ravioli - all were fabulous. We also had salads, bread, and for dessert the tiramisu and the key lime pie. My daughter loved it so much, she insisted on coming back a second night in a row for the spaghetti pomodoro. Not only was the food wonderful, the service was out of this world. Friendly, engaging, knowledgeable and truly one of the best dining experiences we've had in a long time. We will be back!

This was our first restaurant that we visited as we landed and checked into our hotel. It was just opposite our hotel so it was more out of convenience than anything else why we visited this place we had no recommendations we just took a chance. Looks very Italian inside, nice local IPA beer. Service was good staff friendly and polite we had two pepperoni pizzas which were not bad but in New York you can get better. The restaurant felt clean and the member of staff who met us at the door I can only assume she was new as other members of staff seem to know what they were doing a little bit better. But she has to learn so there’s no criticism on her part.

This restaurant was so lovely and the surrounding so cute. We went into have dinner before going to the Theatre and we had a great selection of the appertisers and main courses. Had never had Chicken Parm before but my daughter had and it was absolutely lovely. The staff were really friendly and the food came out quite quickly. Every plate we saw passing us looked totally amazing. Good size portions and great value for money.

If you like eating outside and you love the concept of hospitality and good food, well this place has nothing to do with that. There is nothing of Italian beside the name. When we the hostess took us to the only table that was dirty and had no set up ( despite there were many other options as it wasn’t busy) and dropped our menus in a puddle of water and didn’t even care to clean. The atmosphere was sterile and sad, our order was promptly taken but the food took ages to arrive. In the meantime I saw waiters drinking at the bar, manager chatting with ( I suppose) his friends throughout all our time there, unidentified people going in and out thr bar.. Me and my wife had a very sad time in there and wanted to leave few minutes after we seated.

Had lunch in here on Christmas Day. Really liked the ambience of the venue, very pleasant. The food was excellent, including the New York Cheesecake dessert. Good staff and service, an excellent Italian meal. Close to Broadway so ideal pre or post a show.

Very disappointed in the food and service. Cheesecake had a peanut topping which was strange and I think the crust may have had peanuts in it also. Very slow and poor service. Not worth the money at all!

Me and my Mum stumbled across this restaurant and were glad we did! I really fancied pasta and it was so lovely and flavoursome. My Mum had pizza which was also lovely. The waiter was really lovely and checked on us throughout our meal. Would definitely recommend.

Called for dinner and although really busy was given a table. Bruschetta starter which was lovely and pizzas gorgeous. Enjoyable experience and good service.

Location was great, seemed quieted and less stressed than other restaurants. Drinks were really expensive. My starter of pumpkin ravioli was nice, my main of mushroom risotto was possibly one of the most unpleasant things I've ever eaten. I managed about three fork fulls, before it was enough. Too rich, too much truffle, too much of it and really not nice.A real shame.

The South African version can not make the tasty pizza we ate here! The taste, the crust, the toppings we the best ever! A must do a sure must do!

We just ended up going here due to the fact that Carmines was overbooked and we couldn't get in then we tried Junior's Again long line ups .. so we wondered around until we found this wonderful looking window and menu (they had lamb) so in we went and got seated right away by the window with a lovely candle .. Omar was our waiter and he served us very well I think he liked our canadian accents he was extra attentive and quite gracious and he even provided us with an on the house dessert it was our anniversary .. everything thing we ordered was really good and I'm a Foodie and love to cook lots of ethnic foods so have a sophisticated palate .. 10 out of 10 for the service and the whole experience .. thanks to Omar so happy we stumbled in it turned out to be one of the things I'll think of about our lovely visit to NYC

Several stays in NYC, always finding new places to eat. What a surprise to eat at a restaurant right across from our hotel that we had previously overlooked. It’s not a very big place and so a reservation is good to have, we did and were seated immediately. Homemade pasta, great sauces, attentive staff, overall very good evening. Will return

Cozy restaurant, very friendly service and very good food! Pizza and pasta eaten, was very good. Service friendly, fast and non-intrusive. Great place to eat out!

Scene facing great location and query interior drew me to this place. Unfortunately I ordered the chicken roast which was a quarter cut of breast and a drumstick. It was dry and chewy and the skin was like plastic. Couldn’t eat it.... reminded me of the hotdog in Arpoo’s 7 eleven on the Simpsons.... you just shouldn’t go there. The accompanying pasta was over cooked as well. The salad entree was good and the cheesecake was from a frozen take away it seemed

We had looked at several restaurants in the area trying to balance the preferences of both adults and teenagers and picked this restaurant almost in desperation. But it ended being a good choice with the adults finding pasta dishes which went down well and the youngsters tucking into a pizza. Service was good, food went down well and for New York the prices were very fair.

The service was very good but food was average at best. The penne pasta with vodka/tomato sauce was below average when comparing to other Italian options in the area. The wild mushroom risotto was better. It is convenient if you are dining before or after a show.

A fun place with a classic Italian menu. Had a great salad and all three of us were pleased with the salads we had. i had the braised beef pasta which was extremely filling and a reasonable portion of meat. The girls had pizza and they were huge...made for a great lunch the next day. Only complaint would be a very limited wine menu. Found a reaonalbe Chianti however there were not a lot of choices. Still I would go again.

Ordered the chicken marsala on the prix fix menu, which is a good value. It was tasty, but could have used more mushrooms. Went with friends, all liked the restaurant. Service was good. I strongly suggest a reservation, this is not a big place. Would go back.

Stopped here after seeing a play for a later evening meal. Both wife and I had the individual pizzas, which were very good. Menu was not real extensive, but fine for my purposes. Draft beer and good wine selection. Reasonable price for NYC.

Very convenient location on 8th Ave near theater district. Open air front if you’d like to sit and watch all the action on 8th. I had the roasted cauliflower salad - absolutely delicious, fresh and different with a honey vinaigrette dressing and pieces of pork. Salad was large enough to share but wish I had ordered a double portion it was so good. My husband had the spaghetti pomodoro with meatballs. He is the pasta expert and he judges on 3 things: whether pasta is al dente, fresh flavor of sauce and taste of the meatballs- this hit the mark on all three. We also ordered a “pizzettee” which was more of a flat bread and a little undercooked but had good toppings. Overall this is a nice choice in this area. They do take reservations which is a good idea on a weekend.

Il Forno is a nice restaurant on 8th Ave, serving good food at a reasonable price (for being NYC!), but an important aspect which they are neglecting is mask wearing. Nor the host, waiters nor cooks wore one, except for one of the cooks who used it as a chin sling. Even if we were not going through this pandemic, we should expect cooks to wear a mask, as they are preparing the food we will be eating. I hope this note serves as a warning; we all have to take care of ourselves and each other.

I was looking for a nice restaurant to celebrate my daughter's 19th birthday before we saw Moulin Rouge, so wanted something close … but not too touristy nor expensive. Il Forno to the rescue! The meal was delicious, the service great, and it was right around the corner from the Hirschfeld Theater — couldn't have worked out better! Do make a reservation though. They are understandably busy pre-theatre.

The experience is wonderful, the cozy decoration and the very special attention from everyone who served us.

Reservations made a week ago and yet we were seated an hour after our scheduled time. Food was average.

Nice restaurant on Eight Ave. good decor and service is also good, food very enjoyable and nice selection of wines. Recommended

party of two...Saturday at 5 pm right after a show we had a Dinner reservation ...hostess could not find our name....had to spell my last name 3 times and then I finally showed her where I was in the system...we got a lovely table for two on the side ....restaurant full, but noise level low...waiter came...put a bottle of water on the table without saying anything...then we had to flag him down to order two mushroom risotto....he never offered us bread or asked if we would like a starter or a salad which we wanted, but since he was so unfriendly we decided to just eat a main dish so we could leave this restaurant where our money was apparently not wanted...we also skipped the wine...why pay 13 $ for a glass when nobody cares to ask... paying took forever....dinner was good...service lousy...I would not go back to this restaurant!

Place looked nice and menu was promising. No reservation, but it was early and most tables were empty. Hostess seemed surprised we did not call for a reservation. We were seated at a small table for two. No issues till waiter came to the table. I guess he was not ready to wait on anyone. He dropped off water at the table and went back to the bar and stood. There were three other waiters wandering around, but our waiter hides at the bar. We finally asked one of the other waiters for a glass of wine. He went and told our waiter to check on us. Wine was super cold, we learned why as it cooled. You can hide a lot of flaws by over chilling it. Food was oK to good. Herbed Chicken was over cooked and dry. Wife had Caesar Salad and Mushroom Risotto. Salad was good as was the Risotto. Once we finished eating, another waiter cleared our table and we were left waiting for our waiter and a check. He has another table across the room and still likes his hiding spot at the bar. After about 15 minutes, I flag down another waiter and asked for the check. He brought it to the table while our waiter stayed behind the bar ignoring us. There are far too many places to eat in NY. Keep walking past this place.

Filthy restaurant, napkins soiled with splashes of tomato sauce. “Pizzeta” was obviously frozen and cooked, the cheese and pepperoni slid off the soggy base and was inedible. Wine was dreadfully overpriced.Clearly this restaurant has been ripping off theatregoers for years. One to be avoided

We were hungry and in a hurry so when we saw this restaurant we decided to try it. I usually don’t walk into a restaurant before checking reviews; however I didn’t look at any website to check if people recommended this restaurant. We sat at the table for at least 10 minutes after they seated us before someone came to say hi. We ordered a Caesar Salad; which was just ok to us, and we ordered the fresh tomatoes pizza. We asked for no garlic on the pizza and it came with full garlic. Already we had waited for 15-20 minutes before our food came, and now we had to wait more time for a new pizza to arrive. The waiter didn’t even come to say sorry about our error until we paid the bill that I had to get up and ask for because it was taking so much time. Overall experience was just average. It wasn’t horrible however the experience from the beginning to the end was less than my expectations.

Very bad service; food was not tasty and the restaurant was not clean. very disappointing, will not return.

Beware... they overbook, especially pre-theater. Even having a reservation doesn't guarantee a table. When we arrived for our dinner reservation, we were informed that there were no tables available for maybe 30 minutes...doesn't work as we were trying to make a 7PM curtain. They did, however set up a table in the adjacent Iron Bar (same owner) , which allowed us to order and eat quickly. The food was average at best, but the bar atmosphere (loud music, etc. didn't add to the experience. I would not return.

We wanted to go in a fancy French restaurant, changed our mind and ended in this Italian little place. We did good! Excellent pastas and yummy desserts! Kind people, even a server form our own home town :) We recommend this place in NY, simple but good!

I made a reservation here as I knew it was close to theaters, and during a busy time. Staff were very friendly and the atmosphere was fun. Great music during dinner! The larger doors in the front of the restaurant were open so it was a good people watching experience during dinner. Great steak! Prix Fixe option was good and although our party of 4 ordered a number of options we were able to share some of the salad and dessert.