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Exterior - Il Fornaio - Carmel, Carmel, CA

Il Fornaio - Carmel

4.4 (2497)
$30 and under
Italian
Ocean Avenue & Monte Verde St, Carmel, CA 93921

Make a reservation

A photo of Il Fornaio - Carmel restaurant

Il Fornaio - Carmel

4.4
$30 and under
Italian
Carmel

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM
Booked 33 times today

About this restaurant

  • Charming
  • Neighborhood gem
  • Good for groups
Experience the charm of coastal Italy at Il Fornaio in Carmel-by-the-Sea. Nestled inside the historic Pine Inn, just blocks from the beach, enjoy housemade pastas, wood-fired pizzas, exceptional wines, and craft cocktails in a timeless, elegant dining room or on our inviting outdoor patio. Perfect for romantic dinners, coastal getaways, and special celebrations, with warm Italian hospitality in the heart of Carmel.

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Casual Dining
  • Price
    $30 and under
  • Cuisines
    Italian
  • Hours of operation
    Mon–Thu 11:30 am–9:00 pm Mon–Fri 7:30 am–10:00 am Fri 11:30 am–9:30 pm Sat 7:30 am–9:30 pm Sun 7:30 am–9:00 pm
  • Phone number
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Diners Club, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Dress code
    Casual Dress
  • Executive chef
    Roberto Gerbino
  • Catering
    Please visit "Online Ordering" at ilfornaio.com to browse our catering pickup and delivery offerings.
  • Private party facilities
    Il Fornaio Carmel offers elegant private and semi-private dining spaces, along with a wide range of specialized menus and services to match our authentic, award-winning Italian cuisine. Our experienced staff will work closely with you to create a memorable event for you and your guests.
  • Private party contact
    Paris Lohman - Event Coordinator: (831) 622-5108
  • Delivery & takeout
  • Neighborhood
    Carmel
  • Parking details
    Street Parking
  • Additional
    Banquet, Bar Dining, Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cafe, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Counter Seating, Delivery, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Happy Hour, Indoor Fireplace, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Takeout, View, Weekend Brunch, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Private dining

Concierge
AI Beta

Our AI assistant, Concierge, is here to answer your questions about this restaurant.

Reviews

OpenTable reviews from verified diners

Reviews from people who have dined at Il Fornaio - Carmel.

4.4

4.4
(2497)
  • 4.3Food
  • 4.3Service
  • 4.4Ambience
  • 4.2Value

Noise • Moderate

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews
Il Fornaio - Carmel offers a "great atmosphere" with "consistently good" Italian cuisine, including standout dishes like the "half roast chicken" and "lasagna." The service is often praised as "attentive and accommodating," and diners enjoy the "extensive wine and cocktail list." The terrace provides a "wonderful" dining experience with ocean views.
2,497 Reviews
  1. Debbie

    Central Coast1 review

    2.0

    Dined 5 days ago

    1. Overall 2
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 2
    4. Ambience 3
    I asked for a quiet table because our Dad has trouble hearing and we were placed at the front of the restaurant. Then I added a comment that it was his 90th birthday and we had to tell the waiter. Not sure why you have a message section when no one looks at them. I don’t think we will come back again.

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  2. Vic Gold

    Central Coast15 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 6 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Haven’t been here for awhile. We sat on the indoor patio. It was cozy and quiet. Meal and service were excellent. Try the vodka pasta it’s the best.

    Is this helpful?

  3. Paula

    San Francisco6 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on October 29, 2026

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    We went for early dinner and found they offer a happy hour with great prices 330-6pm. Service was excellent and very comfortable seating area. We love their Italian menu as it is large with many choices. I love their seafood dishes and they were willing to change a tomato based pasta for an Alfredo. We ordered Calamari appetizer and fresh Cesears salad and loved them both!

    Is this helpful?

  4. Dennis Gold

    San Francisco279 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on October 29, 2026

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    We were seated promptly. A nearby table was enjoying their evening enough so that we had trouble hearing each other speak, but that's not the restaurant's fault. The food was excellent and the service was attentive and friendly. Prices are pretty good for Carmel.

    Is this helpful?

  5. Sophie

    Los Angeles1 review

    1.0

    Dined on October 25, 2026

    1. Overall 1
    2. Food 1
    3. Service 1
    4. Ambience 1
    The server accidentally let one of the starter fall on my husband’s legs. We waited until after the main course was served to get a replacement one. And we paid for it - it could have been taken off our bill. My pasta was almost cold. The salt and pepper mills were empty. When the bill came, we noticed that one extra cocktail was added by mistake so we asked for the bill to be readjusted. We also noticed that a big tray of unclean plates was left for the entire time we had diner close to our table. So I let you judge. We are very accustomed to having diner at Il Fornaio (at other locations) but this experience was very bad.

    Is this helpful?

  6. Virginia Gold

    San Francisco18 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on October 24, 2026

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 3
    The dish I was served was terrible. I told the waitress that I didn’t like it. She asked if I wanted something else but I declined. She did not take this off my bill. My husband’s dish was not good either but he said it was ok. Service was slow which appeared to be the waitress spent excessive time talking to customers.

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  7. Joe Gold

    Monterrey44 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on October 22, 2026

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Dinner was fantastic, service outstanding great experience....

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  8. Terri Gold

    Sacramento16 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on October 22, 2026

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 5
    Nice evening out, as usual. Initially I felt the waiter was hovering a bit too much, but it was early and not many other tables occupied. He was friendly and efficient. Our meals were very good, and delivered in a timely manner. We will be back again on our next visit to the area.

    Is this helpful?

  9. Robert Gold

    San Francisco33 reviews

    4.0

    Dined on October 19, 2026

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 3
    We are regulars here. Good good, good service consistently good.

    Is this helpful?

  10. Gloria Gold

    Washington DC10 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on October 18, 2026

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    This is loan Ben Favorite. I’m sorry that they close the one in San Francisco.

    Is this helpful?

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Casual Dining
  • Price
    $30 and under
  • Cuisines
    Italian
  • Hours of operation
    Mon–Thu 11:30 am–9:00 pm Mon–Fri 7:30 am–10:00 am Fri 11:30 am–9:30 pm Sat 7:30 am–9:30 pm Sun 7:30 am–9:00 pm
  • Phone number
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Diners Club, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Dress code
    Casual Dress
  • Executive chef
    Roberto Gerbino
  • Catering
    Please visit "Online Ordering" at ilfornaio.com to browse our catering pickup and delivery offerings.
  • Private party facilities
    Il Fornaio Carmel offers elegant private and semi-private dining spaces, along with a wide range of specialized menus and services to match our authentic, award-winning Italian cuisine. Our experienced staff will work closely with you to create a memorable event for you and your guests.
  • Private party contact
    Paris Lohman - Event Coordinator: (831) 622-5108
  • Delivery & takeout
  • Neighborhood
    Carmel
  • Parking details
    Street Parking
  • Additional
    Banquet, Bar Dining, Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cafe, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Counter Seating, Delivery, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Happy Hour, Indoor Fireplace, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Takeout, View, Weekend Brunch, Wheelchair Access, Wine

FAQs

Yes, the outdoor patio welcomes diners with dogs, and staff have been observed happily setting up outdoor seating and even adding heaters to accommodate guests and their pets.

Il Fornaio - Carmel feels timeless and elegant inside, with a sunny sunroom and a flower‑lined terrace; guests praise the warm, welcoming service and the comfortable bar area.

Il Fornaio, Carmel serves guests in an elegant indoor dining room and sunroom/atrium, offers al fresco coastal patio/terrace seating, a full bar, and private-event spaces (the Rotunda is used for private parties).

Yes, Il Fornaio - Carmel offers al fresco dining on a coastal patio/terrace, a much‑mentioned spot with ocean views that guests enjoy for lunches and dinners.

Yes, Il Fornaio is family-friendly: they offer a kids’ menu with smaller portions and staff routinely attend to families, making it an easy choice for dining with children.

For a quieter visit, Il Fornaio is often calm on Sunday evenings with only a table or two occupied; for a relaxed, social outing the bar’s happy-hour scene is a great pick, while Valentine’s Day and busy local-event weekends (Pebble Beach/Car Week) bring a decidedly lively crowd.

Casual dress is the guide, comfortable, neat attire is appropriate, with many guests dressing up a touch for romantic dinners, business lunches or special celebrations.

For a quieter visit, Sunday evenings tend to be more relaxed, one guest reported only about two other tables on a Sunday evening, while holidays and Valentine’s Day evenings are notably busy.

Yes, Il Fornaio's timeless indoor dining and coastal patio with bay views make it well suited to a special evening, and multiple guests report anniversary and romantic visits with great service.

Yes, the restaurant's layout accommodates guests with mobility challenges, with seating that supports those needs without compromising ambiance.

How FAQ content is generated

  1. Home
  2. United States
  3. California Central Coast
  4. Monterey / Carmel
  5. Carmel

Make a reservation

A photo of Il Fornaio - Carmel restaurant

Il Fornaio - Carmel

4.4
$30 and under
Italian
Carmel

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM
Booked 33 times today
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