Il Forno - Liverpool in Liverpool

We booked the function room in il forno for a family celebration of 20 plus. From day one Rob provided fantastic planning support and advice. On the day the venue was immaculately laid out providing a warm and informal ambiance. The staff team provided a friendly and efficient service throughout. The food of course was all served to a very high standard and we were treated to some entertaining finishing of some dishes at the table! A huge ‘thank you’ to the whole team for delivering a memorable day out for our family!

9 of us went for Christmas Day dinner. Given how busy it was the food, service and atmosphere could not be faulted. Brilliant, thank you.

Service is great but the food is horrendous

A very disappointing Christmas Eve meal at Il Forno. Visited with my husband and sons, now we have never been disappointed in the past yesterday was the first time I left not enjoying the whole experience. We chose Il Forno as normally their customer service is excellent but this time from the moment we arrived it was left lacking somewhat. One of our servers appeared to not know what he was doing and uncomfortable Just as we were ordering our food the manager popped over to advise no scallop or lobster, change of choice for some of our party, the starters all good once arrived but after this it wasn’t so good. Firstly three of the party was given the main course whilst I was still waiting, my side of dauphinois potato arrived but not the fish, I had ordered the dish where they fillet the fish at the table but no this was done elsewhere then given to another table before realising their error and giving it to me. This was one of the most expensive dishes on the menu and what I hit was cold fish flakes on a cold plate, the dauphinois by this time cold too and lacked cream very dry. I didn’t say anything thought just eat it but on reflection should have sent it back to the kitchen . But really what made our evening so disappointing was the complete lack of customer service,no atmosphere it was Christmas Eve and they didn’t even put Christmas crackers on the table we all felt uncomfortable being there. Such a shame I could understand it a little if they were busy but they weren’t. Unfortunately it has put me off returning in the future.

A team of 20 booked for a Christmas Party. Il Forno were excellent hosts - brilliant food and service. Everything was perfect! Thank you!

Very elegant place and very helpful staff! It's worth coming to eat Italian quality!

Last minute booking but lovely food and great service. We will definitely be back.

Incredible food. We had the carbonara and the seafood linguine (linguine allo scoglio). Very fresh and served quick. Carbonara was prepared in a wheel of cheese next to our table which was a nice touch and made it taste amazing. Seafood linguine was also prepared next to the table. Service was great, all the staff were very kind and attentive. Would definitely return if we are back in Liverpool in the future.

Rob, what a host! He was the host with the most, professional, attentive and good hearted. Food was beautiful, incredible flavours and good portions. Absolutely one to visit whether you want a leisurely lunch or an evening meal. There is a lovely outside heated area with fire places. I was sat out for 5 minutes and Reece came out to light it and asked if there was anything else I wanted. Nothing is too much trouble for the staff here. Thank you for a lovely time

We were a large family party for our daughter’s 21st Birthday. We had the private room. The service from the start was exceptional. Anastasia greeted us initially, then Rob took care of proceedings for the rest of the night. Attentive but relaxed and confident delivery. Food was lovely and everything went superbly . We totally appreciate what it’s like dealing with a large party like this and everyone’s different needs. Nothing was too much. Thank you so much Il forno. We will definitely be visiting you again, next time we visit Liverpool.

We have been to il forno twice times now and each time it was excellent. The restaurant is beautiful, we particularly like the glass outdoor area with the fire pit tables. Having a carbonara is my ultimate favourite, made in front of you using a cheese wheel ! But all the food is wonderful. Service is great too, looking forward to dining again with you soon !

On entering the restaurant it has a very contemporary Italian feel. The staff are very welcoming and attentive. I had the trio of bruschetta and my husband had minestrone soup. Both dishes were first class in presentation, flavours and portion size. We ordered a bottle of Montepulciano which was lovely. For main I had Lobster ravioli in a bisque which took me straight to the sea, it was beautiful. My husband had the wild boar ravioli which he said was superb. We were mainly served by Reece who was so polite and attentive. Sharif was also very pleasant. We enjoyed our food more than any meal we had on our recent trip to Rome! Please open an il Forno in Glasgow! Totally recommended!

After a stressful day, the service from the gentlman at the bar was amazing and made me feel so much better! The food as always is DELICIOUS! I come here often and nothing but AMAZING! I can't wait to come again! I'm already planning to come on my next day off work! Thank you everyone!!

Delicious meals, wonderful staff, lovely atmosphere

Delicious typical Italian food. Many courses very well prepared and garnished.

Thank you for the wonderful meal. I always appreciate somewhere that makes my child feel welcome. Service was brilliant. Food was incredible- best pasta I’ve had since New York at Patsies! I even got a happy birthday 🥳 plate which really made my day. I’m so glad we choose this restaurant for my birthday! Highly recommend

Thank you so much to the Amazing staff for making our day extra special, especially Courtney who went above and beyond. The service and food was exceptional. We couldn't fault a thing. Thank you again! Highly recommend

Stunning restaurant friendly staff food was bellisimo!!

Roast potatoes tasted like been left from day before Lamb very well done Not the best roast dinner disappointed Service was not the best either Over charged

Delicious food and good service. However, the restaurant was holding a cigar launch event which we had not been advised of upon arrival. The smell of cigars in the restaurant was overwhelming and took the edge of what could have been a lovely evening. If you’re going to hold such an event in future - maybe close the restaurant or warn guests in advance?

Wonderful birthday celebration with friendly staff and fabulous food. Big thank-you to our server Martin, such a professional and lovely to meet you

Highest quality authentic Italian food always. wine selection excellent and welcoming staff Thanks Maria

Mi novia y yo estuvimos en Liverpool el fin de semana, a los dos nos encanta la comida italiana así que decidí reservar aquí para la cena. Estaba absolutamente delicioso. El personal era genial. Recomendaría a cualquiera que lo probara. Gracias Andy & Kirsty de Escocia.

In practice, you didn't get any service at all. The food was tasteless. Finally, I got food poisoning. Can't recommend to anyone.

El servicio y la comida eran excelentes y el vino estaba fuera de este mundo. nos conocimos como un grupo de viejos amigos y compañeros de trabajo y decidimos que cenaríamos aquí después de un par de copas. El personal simplemente nos dejó tomar nuestro tiempo y estábamos totalmente sin prisa. Una gran comida.

Yo, mi madre y mi hermana fuimos a Il Forno para una cena familiar y nos encantó. La comida era increíble y el servicio era excelente. Personal muy amable y muy atento. Era la primera vez que mi madre y mi hermana estaban aquí y quedaron muy impresionados! Definitivamente volveremos!

Perfect evening and really tasty food

Lovely restaurant, if I lived in Liverpool I'd definitely go back! Very busy so make sure you book!

Elegant and cozy restaurant. The service is very good and the food is excellent. A place to return to without a doubt to try their delicious Italian dishes.

We dine out quite a lot. This place is by far, right up there as AMAZING. Deserves more than 5 ⭐ Sensational food, wine & excellent service. Definitely will be coming back for more. We had some starters, wagyu rib eye & linguine all'Astice..all cooked to perfection drizzled with personalised top service.

Recommended by my daughter, this lovely restaurant was everything you would expect from a classic Italian eatery

Very nice restaurant with attention to detail, the service was impeccable. Friendly, competent and friendly staff. I came here today for lunch with colleagues. If you come to Liverpool I highly recommend you try it.

Would definitely recommend. Tasty Italian meal and the staff went above and beyond to make my friend’s hen do feel special. It would be great for the menu to highlight vegetarian options, as it isn’t obvious which cheeses are - there is a vegan menu but no veggie! Would definitely come back, thank you.

Service was really slow and sporadic, our starter came before our drinks, we ordered some bread it never came. The burrata was rock hard and tasted strange. Not convinced the pasta is homemade my daughter ordered penne which was exactly like pasta you get from a shop with passata on top. I ordered the ox tail risotto which was just bizarre. My wife had the langoustine risotto and she will probably see it again through the night. Avoid

Absolutely fantastic evening, the restaurant is beautiful, everyone was very attentive and friendly and the food was absolutely delicious. Thank you so much, will definitely return when next in Liverpool

Great food. Really busy Saturday night service

I'm Vincenzo I'm Italian and I would like to say that this place is better than other Italian restaurants ... they gave me a welcome like home ❤️ Eugenio is a good person I recommend everyone to go and try their Italian cuisine

This dessert is pure, unadulterated indulgence. The chocolate lava cake is a rich, decadent treat. Its warm, gooey center is simply irresistible. The contrast of the hot cake with the cold, creamy vanilla ice cream is a delightful experience. The crispy wafer adds a fun crunch, and the whipped cream and strawberry offer a refreshing sweetness. If you're a chocolate aficionado, this dessert is a must-try.

Service being limited to 5 stars is unfair: service here is a 10 star! Arrived here by a happy accident. Immediately saw that Bistecca alla Fiorentina menu option and went with it. Well-served Aperol Spritz and Negroni eased the wait… Important note: wine list is fully Italian (exception made for a couple Champaign if you think a top Franciacorta’s selection is not enough) and went for a nice Apulian Primitivo. The food was spectacular and again, the service was even better, an ideal Sunday Lunch. By the time decisions needed to be made about dessert, canoli and tiramisu stepped forward but here comes proof about how good this place is: this had been our best Italian lunch out of Italy, the only missing thing was a Vin Santo & cantucci dessert and it was not on the menu. To our surprise, the manager found us some GREAT Vin Santo & cantucci… this was simply priceless! Highly recommended restaurant, great food and brilliant service! Thank you!

Great food service was a bit slow took a while before anyone took our drinks order and for them to be brought out to us and then a while for food order to be taken but food was great luckily

Went with the family for a 30th birthday celebration. Had been there 30 minutes before we had a drinks order taken. Food order taken after an hour. When the food finally arrived one persons food was still not served over 10 minutes later. Food was good but service was terrible - will not be going back!!

Fantastisk mat og veldig god service :-) Ble anbefalt av lokale beboere, og det svarte til forventningene. Absolutt å anbefale.

I recently dined at your restaurant and had the most amazing steak experience. Attention to detail in the seasoning and preparation truly set it apart. Thank you for an exceptional meal and excellent service. Presentation and taste I have never experienced before. Our waiter Max was above and beyond! I can't wait to come back!

Food is delicious staff are friendly very helpful would highly recommend il ferno

I dropped in without a booking on a Wednesday evening. Although it was busy, they found me a table for 1, and I was quickly seated and looking at the menu. I had the milestone to start and the Paste Roma. Both were tasty and substantial! It was a shame because I had no room for what looked like tasty deserts! The service was not great, both I and my neighbours had to ask several times for our drinks order, and mine was delivered incorrectly. Having said that, they were busy, and I would definitely go again.

Had the privilege of doing one of Maria's cooking Masterclasses this last weekend. The grouo got to make their own individual handmade pasta and a delicious prawn and clam sauce... Maria expeetly guided us through the process in a fun and informative way. We all then got to sit and enjoy our meal together with some fabulous Vermentino and left feeling like family. A really fantastic experience. Highly recommend.

Lovely evening of superb food and great friendly service.

The host was really nice...my pizza was under cooked. The 'il grande fizz' cocktail had 0 fizz. Not like my previous visits.

I was a little skeptical reading the reviews but I immediately changed my mind. Elegant and welcoming place but in a truly friendly and familiar atmosphere, excellent food and truly Italian ingredients. I highly recommend

Very good food and lovely staff

A hidden gem in Duke street. Wow what an amazing restaurant! The food & drink was amazing and the best Italian we have had for a very long time. Our waiter was very attentive, would definitely recommend to anyone visiting Liverpool. We also thought it was great value for money with an exceptionally high quality of food & drink was averagely priced for the city centre.

Seen so many good reviews but felt let down when me and a friend visited. We both had roast dinner , one beef and one chicken… all of the veg was undercooked - the potatoes were hard inside when I was expecting fluffy golden roast potatoes. My friend had beef and it hadn’t been rested long enough so Her gravy was infused with massive amounts of blood - looked very unappealing and we left without eating our meals. Wasn’t asked if everything was ok or I may have raised the issue … would not return for the price and quality of the food. X

We had a lovely meal celebrating our daughter finishing high school. Service was a bit slow but food was amazing. Our waiter Maksm was great and very happy recommended some nice dishes.

I booked this place for a birthday meal for my partner, I looked it up on google firstly to see the reviews - which were excellent - Hence me going ahead and making the booking. We arrived by 19:30, greeted warmly to our seats. The Food, Drinks and Service was amazing - They even brought out a little dessert and candle and wished happy birthday - very thoughtful. Would highly recommended - This will be my new go to spot when I am back in Liverpool. Thanks again for a great time.

We had only starters at the bar as we were not very hungry. Food and wine was very good. Service too. Coming back for sure.

Some the best italien food we’ve eaten in ages. Super friendly staff, highly recommend arabiatta, the spaghetti with vongole and the cacio e Pepe dishes - as well as the ice cream with cherries dessert - yum ! The only thing that didn’t work for us were the cocktails - the espresso martinis just tasted like cold coffee and the margarita with espolón reposado tequila was only going to have a cheaper blanco tequila instead which Is not the same thing - but charging the cocktail at the same price is a bit cheeky Overall a great place

Superb Kichen, outstanding service, real Italian spirit, my favourite Italian place to enjoy food and atmosphere. Big thanks to service and Kichen staf

I have dined at il Forno on many occasions. It is my favourite Italian restaurant in Liverpool. The staff are very friendly and accommodating some of them are Italian so that adds to the authenticity. My parents are Italian so I appreciate good Italian food and il Forno certainly delivers that. I recommend if your in Liverpool to give them a visit you won’t be disappointed.

The food was well presented and delicious.Good size portions fairly priced. The staff very engaging and entertaining!

delicious food! i had a langoustine risotto and my husband has raviolis filled with lobster and bisque lobster sauce. for dessert we has lemon lime cheescake. the service was flawless. i fully reccomend visiting il forno.

Il Forno is a true beacon of authentic Italian cuisine in Liverpool city center and one of the oldest establishments in the area. The consistently excellent food keeps us coming back, but the exceptional staff are just as important to our dining experience. They are always friendly, warm, and patient with every customer. One minor improvement could be more transparency about the service charge, which is already included in the bill. While I don't mind this at all and often leave additional tips for the outstanding service, it would be helpful for customers to be aware of it upfront. I highly recommend Il Forno if you want to experience genuine Italian cuisine. Thank you, Il Forno – we'll see you again soon!

The risotto langoustine was the best risotto I have ever tasted, I could cry happy tears thinking about it. The whole experience was so nice, our waiters were wonderful and attentive, the food and cocktails were delicious, and the restaurant itself is gorgeous inside. I would highly, highly recommend a meal here. It must be mentioned again, get the risotto langoustine!

Fabulous food, very professional staff. Can't wait to return

This restaurant was where I took my wife for our first date over 15 year ago, and we return frequently, the food is always amazing, great atmosphere. Staff always happy to give their suggestions for food too

Absolutely amazing food. Couldn't ask for better

It wasn't very crowded inside. We went on a weekday without a reservation. Pizza and meat were successful. Rose wine was nice

The restaurant was extremely busy , based on our experience I can only assume it was because all the excellent places were full. We had tried several restaurants, without success, before booking Il Forno online - we were starving and as I had dined here several years ago , (foolishly) I assumed it would still be the great experience i enjoyed previously . We were greeted enthusiastically by a lovely Italian lady but unfortunately it went downhill after that . The waiter who brought us water was so miserable and grumpy, I'm really not sure why this is his chosen career. He plonked the glasses down without any pleasantries, then slopped the water into our glasses (& on the table) and when I asked if I could have some ice, he scowled, grunted something & then disappeared. He returned with ice and planted it on the table in a similarly charmless manner. I ordered ravioli and fillet steak and my partner had burrata and rib eye. My ravioli was very nice although a ridiculously tiny portion of three of the tiniest ravioli pieces I've seen - barely more than two forkfuls and not worth £11.50! My partner's burrata was horrible! It was supposed to be served with basil pesto - instead it came with dollops of red sauce (!!) looked like tomato ketchup and tasted like pear drops (!) and the greasiest what looked like fried bread rounds! The burrata was poor quality , texture and flavourless , nothing like how it should be . On to the mains - I ordered fillet (straccetti di manzo) but instead , was served sliced wagu steak (not fillet) - note to restaurant if your servers can't take orders correctly, please supply /ask that they use a notepad & pen! The flavour was just ok but had been cooked in so much oil that it was extremely greasy as was the bed of vegetables underneath. The potato dauphinois that ought to have accompanied my fillet steak (which I didn't get) was nothing like a good dauphinois. It must've been cooked an hour previously (at last) and kept warm until service . It was awful! My partners rib eye was extremely fatty /gristly and also very greasy. We were not asked once if we had enjoyed our meal - although it was probably obvious from what I left, that I did not. At least our side and two drinks were removed ( cocktail and non alcoholic cocktail which were grim!). However, the bill (including 14% service charge which really, we should have disputed ) still came to £160 (including a bottle of wine). Incredibly poor value , disappointing and an unenjoyable experience ! I think Il Forno are relying on their past reputation and desperate customers who can't get a table elsewhere. I wont be returning !

Italian restaurant It's a short walk away. Available to reserve through the website. Spaghetti Carbonala is very delicious, the noodles are chewy. Good service, always asking. There is free water in a pitcher. The tiramisu dessert was not too sweet and juicy.

If you want to feel and savor Italian flavors and relive the Italian spirit for a few hours, this is the exact place, a big hug to all of you.

Service was brilliant. Portion sizes are great for the money! Wish we would have seen the roast dinner option - other diners had this and looked incredible! We had a range of starters, mains and desserts and no complaints or issues from anyone. Food amazing as always and we were able to bix some up to take away! Highly recommend

Food is always lovely. Would always recommend the lasagna and the carbonara. My top 2 dishes, didn’t really like the spaghetti bolognese as much but still okay. Drinks are lovely and not too expensive.

Celebrating my granddaughter graduation the waiters were amazing made everyone feel at home Right away we had 17 guests ,we were allowed time to settle before ordering meals ,nothing to much trouble for staff ,everyone satisfied with meals ,although pizza could have been better , Would recommend Thank you for making it a lovely occasion

Fantastic atmosphere with very authentic Italian food and great service. On the pricier side but worth it. Highly recommend!

Love everything there! Good food and service 👍

We had a fantastic dinner for eight people. The dinner was amazing. If we could bottle up Enzo and take him home, he is that good.

Outstanding service, food and wine! Enzo was amazing, with a quick wit and a deep knowledge of wine and food. He cooked the pasta at our table with finesse.

Lovely visit to il Formo. Friendly staff and calm atmosphere. Food was fantastisk and straff was serviceminded. A good experience and well recommended

Best roast dinners we loved coming here always

The food was average to good, but overpriced. The service was terrible. The manager was rude, we went at a relatively quiet time but he seemed disgusted that we'd asked for a table without a reservation. The waitress was ok, but missed drinks off our order. We reminded her twice. It eventually came after the meal had finished. The table water never arrived. There are plenty of better options.

A little disappointed with our recent visit, first off the firepit room is awesome and really adds to the atmosphere. Service was ok a little slow at getting drinks and a few dishes slow to come out, but on a large party you expect that at times. The food was good but also not great, from my view the prawn starter was a let down, over cooked and rubbery. The sauce was delicious but the toasted croutons where more a small piece of bread soaked in the sauce so lacked any texture. For the main I had the spaghetti with clams in garlic and chilli sauce , it was a nice dish however it had no real taste of garlic and certainly no chilli at all. It was a nice the pasta itself was good but as a whole dish I hoped for more. On the whole I'd say most of the party enjoyed the meal, one did mention the seafood pasta had no prawns. It may have been the large party or the room being out of the way, we would have liked to order more drinks but waited so long for a someone to take the order, we decided to make a move. Would I return? Very 50/50 with so many other places to eat in Liverpool. Could have just been one of those nights 🤷

Food was great. Was served by a very kind man called giovani, he took care of us very well and we really enjoyed it.

One of the best restaurants in Liverpool. Food always top class. Staff attentive and polite and a lovely clean restaurant with lovely atmosphere. Highly recommended.

Fabulous table with open fire 🔥. The food was impressive and wonderfully presented.

We were walking around town and wanna some small mot to filling and found this place with deal of tree appetizers and vine was perfect for us! The food was amazing ! Will definitely come back for date night or something ! Marked on map as one of favorite places so far !

Outstanding service and food . From starters to desert excellent quality. You must visit this restaurant and taste the food ........... lovely thanks

The restaurant is beautiful, the food is amazing, special mention to the risotto and tiramisu which were outstanding, but the staff is lovely and very attentive, 100% recommended and the price is very good for the quality they offer, before leaving Liverpool I will come back.

All the quality of Italian cuisine at your fingertips. Dishes of infinite goodness presented impeccably. The owners are lovely people and make you feel like a guest and not a customer. Well done. A restaurant you absolutely must try.

A group of 11 of us booked for a family meal to celebrate Mum’s birthday. The food was excellent and the service was some of the best I’ve had. Enzo looked after us incredibly well and really made the occasion special, thank you! Great choice on the menu. The oysters were huge and everyone at the table thoroughly enjoyed their meal.

Enzo our server was fantastic. Professional, funny and courteous. Food was great. Came for a birthday meal and he made us feel very welcome.

Good Italian restaurant , but the prices is quite expensive.

Vi var 4 stykker som var på Il Forno for en venne middag. Fra vi kom var det rot. Noen av oss fikk forretter på ulike tidsrom og rettene vare av ulik kvalitet. Vi håpet dette var en engangstilfelle. Men akk, så kom hovedrettene . 2 av disse var igjen feil. En av rettene var kald og alle rettene ble servert på ulike tidspunkter. Et utrolig rot og dårlig service. Servitørene var overhodet ikke service orienterte, noe som gjorde total opplevelsene svært dårlig. Et godt tips: hold dere langt vekk fra denne restauranten.

Very good Italian restaurant. I was able to taste the pizzas and most of the starters and everything is excellent. The welcome is very friendly, as is the atmosphere. I recommend !

Average, not worth the money. A group of 6 people, some meals nice/average and others just not worth it. Waiters seemed disinterested and rude, slow service. A lot nicer places in city centre to eat

Always a. Great meal. Amazing service

Nice place and staff , it's just not my type of food

when I booked my table for 9 people they charged a £45 deposit, we realised we didn’t take it off the bill when paid. When I rang them they tried to deny that we paid the full amount and finally came to the agreement that we did pay the £45 however took so many calls and emails to be able to sort it!! Still haven’t received my deposit back from them and it’s been 2 months. Had to contact with my bank. Awful service!!!

Spectacular meal. Recommend wholeheartedly. Staff friendly and professional. Engaged with kids superbly.

On a trip to Liverpool we met up with lost family. The waiter was exceptional giving space and time when needed around all of our hugs, but equally pace when it was time to leave. He noticed that we were talking about an upcoming birthday and and we had a beautifully decorated desert surprise. The salads were fresh and the pizza made you realise, what real pizza tastes like!

We visited in April 2023 during a visit to the UK from Australia and really enjoyed the food and service. When we had the opportunity to visit this restaurant again during a family holiday visiting relatives for the Christmas and new year period we jumped at the chance to visit again. We were not disappointed. The waiters were attentive to our three year old granddaughter which made her feel welcome and settled. 6 adults also felt well attended to by the waitress staff who were engaging and provided great service. Everyone enjoyed their meals. The carbonara, veal, ravioli, were all winners. Fresh and perfectly prepared with a bit of table entertainment We would recommend this restaurant for family celebrations.

Beautiful food nicely presented. Service impeccable. Visited several times and never been disappointed