Really great pizza! I really hope they expand to other locations....that's how much I liked it here. If they there were in my home state I'd be a regular. I ordered a personal pan supreme with green peppers. My order came out within 10 minutes, had fresh and crisp toppings. The dough is listed as thin but more of a mid thickness. The crust was a light crunch with a well balance to cheese and sauce. Best of all it wasn't drowning with grease like most other supreme pizzas. The servers were genuine, fast and happy to be there. There are lots of indoor seating with a few booths and a few outside seats as well.
(5)
Maricel B.
I'm in love with this restaurant for so many years. Excellent food, service and prices! Thanks Il Forno's!
(5)
Deke K.
Soooo went in for supper. Ordered pomodoro marinara (spaghetti) which comes with a salad and breadstix. Ten minutes into waiting for arrival of a salad, the waiters are sent around to tell patrons that the charge card machine is down and they are now only taking cash customers. No checks either. I had to leave since I had no cash on me. My take on the situation is that if you are governed by technology in order to serve customers you either need to have quality technology, a back-up plan or insurance to cover issues. And at least have the manager or owner come out with the apology--don't hide behind the waiters. Their plan to save $10 on my order threw me into the arms of a competitor (it was delicious!) and tarnished their name as a 'class act' in my play book. You can read my earlier review to know I like their food--but the upscale Palace on So Florida, Carrabbas and Scarpa's are gonna get all my business here forward. Glad I could help you out, Il Forno! Thanks for the push out the door. I don't eat on cash and I don't want to risk the embarrassment again.
(1)
Billy W.
went to eat there today! got Mozzarella in Carrozza $6.99. very bad appetizer.(I call it a chz sandwich.) also, a chef salad. $7.99 not that great. was really salty. plus a personal pizza (IL Forno Supreme pizza) $9.99. it was not good. plus a drink $2.+ Total $ 30. plus tip. the wait staff was nice! the food was not good. bland and unadventurous!
(1)
Samme B.
We were in the area for some baseball and decided to try it out since the yelp reviews were great. We had the antipasto special app, it was ok not great. Our pepperoni pizza was average. Being from New England where there are plenty of authentic Italian pizza places makes us a bit more critical. The crust was ok, not really crispy and the ingredients are not the best quality, i.e. cheese & tomato sauce. They were completely out of beer that night except for mich ultra & bud lite and have a very limited wine list. Our server was quirky and forgetful but nice. The owner/manager was very friendly and he really helps to give the place a family feel. We grabbed a cannoli to go on the way out after speaking with the owner and finding out they make the filling daily. It did not disappoint, was very fresh and creamy.
(3)
Kimberly C.
Great food, great service, great time. My friends and I were looking for Italian as we were driving to Orlando from Tampa. A quick yelp search yielded this place so we decided to give it a shot. It's in a strip mall and looks unassuming, but it's worth it to stop by. The food is very well priced and delicious. I ordered penne alla vodka with proscuitto. It was rich, creamy, and flavorful. All the pasta dishes were served with a salad and breadsticks, which was a huge plus! Our server, and everyone else for that matter, was very well mannered and attentive, which made the experience even better. If I ever find myself in the area again, I'll be back!
(5)
Renee G.
Worst customer service EVER from the owner! Too many other pizza places to EVER go back again! #nomoreofmymoney
(1)
Ace D.
The pizza and the cannoli are delicious, the staff is helpful and courteous. The service is quick and before you know it you have your pizza. Excellent all around!! We will be back!
(5)
David R.
THE place for pizza in Lakeland. The crust is the perfect thickness, allowing you to fold and pick up your slice. The sauce is very tasty, not too sweet, not too bitter. The toppings are plentiful and fresh, no canned mushrooms here. I've tried their Italian dishes and sandwiches also and they were all delicious and sizable but with pizza this good, it's the way to go. Bonus: pick up a box of Italian cookies to take home; they're almost as good as the pizza. Have I mentioned how good the pizza is?
(5)
Glenn H.
Stopped here based on reviews and we were not disappointed. The food was fresh and tasty. Sauce was spectacular and the cannoli are to die for.
(5)
Stephanie C.
What a great spot for amazing Italian food. Our waiter was fast and efficient. I called a day prior to make arrangements for a party of 16. They has the tables ready and waiting for us. I highly recommend the gnocchi!
(5)
Tom L.
The best pizza I've had in a while. Wish there was one near where I live. The crust is to die for. Have to try it if you are in the area.
(5)
Michael J.
Love the IL Forno Supreme Pizza, and the bruschetta. Great food, nice staff. Very Nice Place
(5)
Don R.
Absolutely awesome. Eat here all the time. The shrimp fra diavolo is great and has their spicy marinara, which is probably my favorite marinara sauce anywhere. Garlic knots are amazing. Pizza is great. Always good service.
(5)
Micky C.
Great place for casual dining but authentic Italian food. I had the Stromboli. Prices were very reasonable and portion sizes were generous. The staff was very friendly and knowledgable. Our server took time to answer any questions we had. I will most definitely be back!
(5)
Danielle F.
Read the YELP reviews, decided to check them out. My husband has also provided a contractor service here and told me the kitchen is spotless. We started with the antipasto platter. It was huge and the brushetta was literally piled two inches high. The meat was fresh and the balsamic reduction was perfect. From there, we had the baked lasagna, shrimp Alfredo, fresh bread, and side salads. The portions were HUGE. Our server was absolutely incredible...friendly, attentive, and enthusiastic. He even sent us home with two mini cannolis made on site that were scrumptious. We had a ton of food for less than $40. Drove from Orlando to get there and we will definitely be going back!
(5)
Chrissanne L.
I am WAYYYY late to the party... but recently I have had the wonderful experience of dining at Il Forno. I am a long time lover of excellent Italian food, and in my 4 visits, I have been trying all of my favorites and have been so pleased with not just the food, but the service and attitude of the staff! Mick is a true gem and Lakeland is lucky to have a business owner so dedicated to the community! If you're looking for a warm, traditional Italian restaurant, visit Il Forno! You will not be disappointed!
(5)
Jonathan T.
I really like this place. Casual atmosphere, fair prices & good quality food & really great service.
(5)
Nina N.
I have to say we were somewhat surprised at the fact the food and the service was great, when you first walk Into this place, I guess the decor and the way things are set up don't give you the best impression, we ordered the antipasti trio which went great with the wine and we also ordered a couple of other items and the calzone was awesome
(5)
Corey E.
So so attempt at Italian food. I had the Chicken Marsala of which tasted like they had dropped the entire bag of sugar on it. Way too sweet. Try using dry Marsala. Don't ask for fresh grated Parmesan. You guessed it, they DON'T have any!!! The owners should be embarrassed to call this an Italian restaurant. Wife had the tortellini lunch special. I thought it was a cream soup. I have never seen so much sauce on a pasta dish in my entire life. It was somewhat tasty but my God people, lay off the sauce!! Can someone tell me what the bread is that they serve with the meal? It appeared to be an attempt at... well I have no idea. So please let me know. On par with Olive Garden. I have only been Lakeland 3 weeks so I will continue my hunt for real authentic Italian food. P.S. Our server was nice. Loud, but nice.
(2)
John D.
This place is the real deal! The pasta was fantastic! The wife had the Penne pasta with vodka sauce and it was phenomenal. Having spent almost a decade in Italy, this food was very close to what you would find in the motherland. The salad with the house dressing is highly recomended. It was a basaltic, sundries tomato, walnut, and olive oil...soooo good. I had a pizza that did not disappoint. If your looking for a taste of Italy...this is the place. I will be back!
(5)
Gen M.
Well. I suppose living in New York has spoiled me some (okay, a lot), so my view of this place is a little skewed. This place is located in the worst strip mall possible in Lakeland, and I remember a few years ago when this location was not the best place to be at night. Service was great--our server was a typical sweet southern kid who was attentive to drink refills and timely in checking up on us. I was put off with the food presentation--why are they using plastic ramekins to serve sauces in the dining room? I'm surprised they didn't give you paper plates too. Anyway, we ordered the fried zucchini and a margherita pizza. The fried zucchini tasted frozen-to-fried, and served with ranch (in a plastic ramekin). The margherita pizza is just ok. I am 99% sure they do not use fresh mozzarella, as one would absolutely use in a margherita pizza. The way the mozzarella had melted in a slightly yellowish color and rubbery texture convinced me that it was not fresh. The crust was really crunchy throughout the whole slice--which to me, serves better a pizza with many toppings, not a pizza with JUST sauce, mozzarella, and basil. For Lakeland and Polk County, I suppose this is probably as good as it'll get for an Italian restaurant.
(3)
Todd B.
Probably the best Italian in Lakeland and one of the better restaurants overall. There seem to be a few "family" Italian places in Lakeland. While the others are quite good (Palace Italian and Romeo's come to mind) this one is terrific - tucked away in a shopping area near the Polk Parkway and Florida Ave. I am a believer that the best pizza should come from a pizza parlor. For instance, the pizza at the downtown Palace Pizza is very good. However, my own opinion is that Lakeland's best pizza is at Il Forno. Freshly tossed dough, sauce and toppings are sooo good. Consistently great every time. Also, the BEST pizza deal in town is their "individual" sized pizza for $5.99 plus $0.75 per topping. It is so big for the price - somewhere around 10-12 inches (6 big slices). It's big enough for two if you're on a date and don't want to appear to be overeating; however, it's almost too much for one (I always leave with at least 2 extra slices and I am a pretty big eater). Also, their pastas are terrific. Notable is any dish that features their alfredo sauce. This is one of the best alfredos I've ever eaten - anywhere, not just Lakeland. It is velvety smooth and delicious and rich. Outstanding. While I do concur with a previous review that the exclusive presence of iceberg lettuce in their salads is perhaps a little disappointing, at least two of their salad dressings go a long way to make up for this. Their Italian vinaigrette and their house dressing, a sun-dried tomato vinaigrette (my favorite) are really delicious. Their lasagna and pasta arrabiatta (sp?, a spicy marinara sauce) are also worth the visit. My biggest complaint is a tad personal. I love spicy hot Italian dishes (both pizza and pasta) and I love it when Italian restaurants make available jalapeno peppers for their entrees. They really are a yummy hot accompaniment to Italian dishes. Unfortunately, Il Forno doesn't make jalapenos available at their restaurant. I've asked nicely a few times, but to no avail so far. Romeo's in north Lakeland does and they have the best arrabiatta pasta dish. Sorry for the length, but i do love this place. Enjoy!
(5)
Deric C.
Il forno is in a very convenient spot, it's right next to the freeway. The outside is good looking. When you walk inside you are greeted with strong, Italian smells and a view of the kitchen. The hostess/manager showed to our table and we got a young waiter, all wait staff were men. My greek salad didn't dazzle me but the house dressing was pretty good. The garlic bread was different and impressive. My Gnocchis were well cooked and smooth. The marinara was good. Prices for dinner were very reasonable and the food came out fast. What really came to my attention were the waiters. even though the restaurant was packed, my dad and I's empty dishes only sat in front of us for 30 seconds then were whizzed away. overall decor and ambiance said to me "Bring the kids, the grandkids, your friends" a very casual, good times, chillax place.
(3)
Rusty S.
Hands down the best family Italian food in town. Great service and low prices! Food quaility is 2nd to none.
(5)
L Z.
My husband and I LOVE this place - everything they serve is delicious! We have taken many of our friends here and Mic is always around to greet us!
(5)
Eugene S.
Excellent food, good value, you won't be disappointed
(4)
Jared P.
Well it's Saturday night again and the wife and I wanted to try someplace new that we have never been too. We ended up II Forno and it was a very good choice. We started off with Calamari it was good I thought the Marianna sauce was a little runny for my taste but that's just knit picking. Then we ordered a large NY style pizza supreme with extra cheese and it was fantastic, I was really surprised by how good it was they may not have been surprised but I was. Dessert my wife's favorite part of the meal she ordered the Cheesecake it was fabulous drenched in a Strawberry sauce, I ended up eating half of it. By the way thanks for sharing the cheesecake with me.
(5)
Terry H.
Went again last night. Great everything.... Food, Drinks Service. Being a "Snow Bird" finding great Italian for the winter months was a priority and we found it here in south Lakeland.
(5)
Frank R.
So far I have been twice. Both times the food was good. They atmosphere may not be much but I will go back for the food.
(4)
Carey P.
Been here twice now for lunch and left stuffed! Atmospere is great too! Staff attentive, food hot and all in all a great experience!
(4)
Yoop H.
Authentic Italian food! This, thankfully, is not a chain. The Pizza is thin and crisp...heaven. Owned by a friendly, young Italian; the food is authentic.
(5)
Erin W.
Love love love Il Forno's. Both their pizza and their entrees are second-to-none. HUGE portions. I order the fettucini alfredo and typically have enough for 1 or 2 more entire meals. My family's favorite is their sausage pizza. Garlic knots are a must. Service is always wonderful. Our favorite place for family gatherings.
(5)
Jerry G.
Delicious! I've been there three times since my wife and I moved down here in May, and all the food I have gotten is great. Salads, pasta, garlic knots, pizza, you name it! And the prices are reasonable as well. And this pizza is the closest I've found to the "New York style" that I'm used to, and I'm happy with it! 12/25/11 Update: I've been going back to Il Forno for the past six months to get their pizza. It's very reasonably priced and delicious! I usually get the personal size for myself which is just right. But I've gotten regular pies for parties and have gotten compliments on how good it is! Hopefully I have given Il Forno some new customers!
(5)
Allison R.
I ordered take out from Il Forno a few weeks ago and overall the food was good, but not great. I got the chicken parm and a side salad. The chicken parm was a good size portion and came with spaghetti and sauce that was better than I expected. In general, I agree with another review that it was typical Italian chain-type food, but would say it was slightly better. I'd recommend this place to anyone looking for reliable Italian cuisine that's reasonably priced and family friendly.
(3)
April O.
I'm always a bit leery of "homestyle Italian." Done well, it's incredible. Done poorly, it's the lasagna surprise that everyone avoids at the potluck. Il Forno's seems to straddle that line right up to the main courses before finally coming down on the "incredible" side. The appetizers and salads range from range from passable to outright bad--the fried cheese turned out to be a deep-fried cheese sandwich cut into strips, and the salads were iceberg lettuce, dressing, tomato, and red onion (in descending order of quantity). The antipasto platter was huge, with a large amount of rolled pancetta/cheese/ham, olives, roasted red peppers (straight from the jar) and individual caprese salads. My husband made it through about half of the appetizer before pushing it aside. I would recommend sharing that appetizer with a table of six--it's far too much for two. Our dinners came out very shortly after the appetizer--the guys went classic, ordering mancotti and lasagna. My friend and I went for pasta dishes: she had penne in vodka cream sauce, and I had noodles, fried pancetta, spices, whole eggs, cheese, cream. AKA pasta carbonara. How can such disparate ingredients create such an earthy, truly delicious meal? I don't know either, but it was so very, very good going down.** We lingered for some time afterwards, chatting about life and trying to catch up months of distance in a spare 45 minutes. The server was attentive, not intrusive, offering to box food when he could find a break in our conversation, and waiting until we had all fallen silent to offer dessert. Sadly, we were too stuffed to take him up on it, but next time for sure. 3 stars average for the food (appetizers - 2, main courses - 4) and a bonus star for the awesome waiter. **Sorry about the damage to the fork, but it shouldn't have kept getting in the way.
(4)
S M.
Great Service, Great food. The owner very friendly came by every table and checked in on everyone . Pizza and garlic knots were perfect.
(5)
Liane J.
Great food at a low price. This is not a fancy Italian restaurant, but the dishes you receive could be found in upscale Italian restaurant. Got a bottle of decent wine for only $16.99 and the portions were quite large, we had leftovers. I had linguine alla vodka with chicken Parmesan and they were both amazing. The pizzas looked wonderful & we'll definitely try that next time!
(4)
Patrick M.
Found Il Forno last Friday along with my son while spending our last night in Lakeland. It is by far one of the best Italian restaurants I've eaten at in a long time. It is hard to find a good italian restaurant where you don't spend your paycheck. Service is great and the food is wonderful. My son had alfredo and I had the veal parmagana. The only problem is we just moved my mom back to Atlanta with us and we're out of excuses to visit Lakeland again.
(5)
Dean W.
My wife & I really love this place! It's clean, priced right, service is excellent and the food is consistently delicious!! 4 yrs coming here & I have "never" been let down..
(5)
Steve J.
Ahhhh the power of Yelp. 4 days ago Kt B posted a negative review citing the lack of cleanliness. 4 days later and the staff are still talking about that review (as I overheard them while waiting for my salad) and their embarrassment. They took the review to heart as I found Il Forno very clean and very delicious. It's refreshing that the house Chianti is not measured to the (what's less than an ounce?) and the glasses are full to the brim. A validation that big corporate is not running this establishment. I chose the Caesar salad and am glad I did. The dressing (told it was homemade) was fantastic. For my main course I chose the Penne Arriabata and added sausage. The red sauce had a wonderful bite or kick to it. The penne was precisely cooked. The sausage..ahh the sausage. 2 large links with superb spice and a last minute pan fry to produce a crackle of the casing. Excellent. 2 thumbs up...5 stars! PS ~ Don't...don't...don't be thrown off by the exterior.
(5)
Celtic R.
I am very picky about my Italian food. It is very rare that I love an Italian restaurant outside of New York. II Forno is fabulous. My husband & I have been here a couple of times to eat & have not been disappointed. Our most recent trip to II Forno was to celebrate our friends Anniversary. In celebration my friend & I ordered a bottle of Riesling to share. I found the prices on the wine menu to be very reasonable. The wine was just lovely. While we were waiting to order we sipped wine & talked. The place was packed & we were still able to carry on a conversation without having to yell or repeat ourselves. The ambiance was the cherry on top of the wonderful food that was to come. My husband ordered the Frutti di Mare. He was served a nice big bowl of seafood in marinara over linguine. He was really pleased. This nice serving of delicious Frutti di Mare was accompanied by a house salad & Italian bread. I ordered the Chicken Piccata. Oh, how I love thee Chicken Piccata! My chicken was moist & tender. The sauce was perfectly balanced with just the right amount of bite from the lemon to it & just the right amount of mushrooms. I had enough food to have leftovers to take home with me. I have been thinking about this Chicken Piccata every since I ate it. It is the stuff dreams are made of. My friends had the Chicken Alfredo & the Chicken Parmesan. They were both quite pleased with their choices. They also had enough to take home with them for the next day. I got a a lot of complements for picking out a great restaurant! Our bill including the bottle of wine came to less than $100! I can not even remember the last time we went to a restaurant & had such a good meal for under $100. II Forno is now our family go to restaurant when we want fabulous Italian food!
(5)
Jim G.
We ate here for our anniversary. I was expecting someplace a little fancier but the food was pretty decent and the price was right. I don't think there was anything that was more than 13$. We had leftovers to take home, so all in all we enjoyed it. Oh, the service was excellent!
(4)
Jenn G.
Moving to NY from FL we found it very difficult to find fresh made to order Italian. IL Forno fixed that. The food is always delicious!! Love the Veal Picatta, Chicken Picatta and the Clam pie. The portions are a wonderful size and reasonably priced. The servers are always friendly and make excellent small talk. Would highly recommend giving them a try.
(5)
Robert M.
Food here is always great and you get plenty! Garlic knots and Alfredo sauce are a must!
(5)
Michael V.
Service was excellent as the other reviews stated. The garlic bread was great, but overall, I found the food to be just average, chain-type Italian. Maybe I should have gotten the pizza. That appeared to be what everyone else in there was eating the night I was there.
(3)
Jerry D.
Incredible! We arrived at 1pm for lunch and were greeted quickly and shown to a booth by the window. The smell or garlic was wafting about and Dean Martin was crooning over the sound system - so far , so good! The antipasti was put together by someone who has been taught that you eat with your eyes first! Peppers, greens, olives, cold cuts, cheese; all topped with delicious balsamic. It was huge! Then came the white clam pie! I am a pizza snob from NY and this pie was perfect! The toppings were great - the crust was great and the dough was great! We each had a cannoli for dessert - crisp shell, rich filling! All this PLUS friendly and attentive service. We WILL become regulars! Can't wait to go back!
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Beer & Wine Only Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : No Has TV : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
The immense popularity of Italian cuisine globally isn't unknown. You can find an Italian Pizzeria around every corner of almost every city in the United States. Not to forget that in every house, people enjoy mac and cheese as comfort food. But it would be wrong to believe that Italian food starts with pizza and ends with good pasta as this Mediterranean country has much more to offer other than these two dishes. In Italian Cuisine, there is a high use of fresh tomatoes, all kinds of herbs, great quality of cheese, all types of meat, seafood and fresh handmade pasta. Many find it hard to believe that Italians have been making noodles long back.
Italian and Greek cuisines are always mistaken to be same, but they are poles apart. The primary difference between the two cuisines is the use of cheese in most of the Italian dishes. Italians love to cultivate their own cheese and process them as per their food requirement. It is believed that some cheese is so expensive that cheese producers secure them in lockers.
If you are bored eating the same old pasta or pizza, you can try some of the authentic Italian dishes like Risotto, Polenta, Ribollita, Lasagna, Fiorentina Steak, Bottarga, Ossobuco, Carbonara, Focaccia, Arancini and Supplì. Another item which Italians love to relish every morning is a good cup of Italian Coffee. Once you taste a freshly brewed cup of Italian Coffee, you might not visit Starbucks ever again. Authentic Italian food is made with heart and soul, so go find a restaurant where you can relish Italian cuisine in your city.
Angela H.
Really great pizza! I really hope they expand to other locations....that's how much I liked it here. If they there were in my home state I'd be a regular. I ordered a personal pan supreme with green peppers. My order came out within 10 minutes, had fresh and crisp toppings. The dough is listed as thin but more of a mid thickness. The crust was a light crunch with a well balance to cheese and sauce. Best of all it wasn't drowning with grease like most other supreme pizzas. The servers were genuine, fast and happy to be there. There are lots of indoor seating with a few booths and a few outside seats as well.
(5)Maricel B.
I'm in love with this restaurant for so many years. Excellent food, service and prices! Thanks Il Forno's!
(5)Deke K.
Soooo went in for supper. Ordered pomodoro marinara (spaghetti) which comes with a salad and breadstix. Ten minutes into waiting for arrival of a salad, the waiters are sent around to tell patrons that the charge card machine is down and they are now only taking cash customers. No checks either. I had to leave since I had no cash on me. My take on the situation is that if you are governed by technology in order to serve customers you either need to have quality technology, a back-up plan or insurance to cover issues. And at least have the manager or owner come out with the apology--don't hide behind the waiters. Their plan to save $10 on my order threw me into the arms of a competitor (it was delicious!) and tarnished their name as a 'class act' in my play book. You can read my earlier review to know I like their food--but the upscale Palace on So Florida, Carrabbas and Scarpa's are gonna get all my business here forward. Glad I could help you out, Il Forno! Thanks for the push out the door. I don't eat on cash and I don't want to risk the embarrassment again.
(1)Billy W.
went to eat there today! got Mozzarella in Carrozza $6.99. very bad appetizer.(I call it a chz sandwich.) also, a chef salad. $7.99 not that great. was really salty. plus a personal pizza (IL Forno Supreme pizza) $9.99. it was not good. plus a drink $2.+ Total $ 30. plus tip. the wait staff was nice! the food was not good. bland and unadventurous!
(1)Samme B.
We were in the area for some baseball and decided to try it out since the yelp reviews were great. We had the antipasto special app, it was ok not great. Our pepperoni pizza was average. Being from New England where there are plenty of authentic Italian pizza places makes us a bit more critical. The crust was ok, not really crispy and the ingredients are not the best quality, i.e. cheese & tomato sauce. They were completely out of beer that night except for mich ultra & bud lite and have a very limited wine list. Our server was quirky and forgetful but nice. The owner/manager was very friendly and he really helps to give the place a family feel. We grabbed a cannoli to go on the way out after speaking with the owner and finding out they make the filling daily. It did not disappoint, was very fresh and creamy.
(3)Kimberly C.
Great food, great service, great time. My friends and I were looking for Italian as we were driving to Orlando from Tampa. A quick yelp search yielded this place so we decided to give it a shot. It's in a strip mall and looks unassuming, but it's worth it to stop by. The food is very well priced and delicious. I ordered penne alla vodka with proscuitto. It was rich, creamy, and flavorful. All the pasta dishes were served with a salad and breadsticks, which was a huge plus! Our server, and everyone else for that matter, was very well mannered and attentive, which made the experience even better. If I ever find myself in the area again, I'll be back!
(5)Renee G.
Worst customer service EVER from the owner! Too many other pizza places to EVER go back again! #nomoreofmymoney
(1)Ace D.
The pizza and the cannoli are delicious, the staff is helpful and courteous. The service is quick and before you know it you have your pizza. Excellent all around!! We will be back!
(5)David R.
THE place for pizza in Lakeland. The crust is the perfect thickness, allowing you to fold and pick up your slice. The sauce is very tasty, not too sweet, not too bitter. The toppings are plentiful and fresh, no canned mushrooms here. I've tried their Italian dishes and sandwiches also and they were all delicious and sizable but with pizza this good, it's the way to go. Bonus: pick up a box of Italian cookies to take home; they're almost as good as the pizza. Have I mentioned how good the pizza is?
(5)Glenn H.
Stopped here based on reviews and we were not disappointed. The food was fresh and tasty. Sauce was spectacular and the cannoli are to die for.
(5)Stephanie C.
What a great spot for amazing Italian food. Our waiter was fast and efficient. I called a day prior to make arrangements for a party of 16. They has the tables ready and waiting for us. I highly recommend the gnocchi!
(5)Tom L.
The best pizza I've had in a while. Wish there was one near where I live. The crust is to die for. Have to try it if you are in the area.
(5)Michael J.
Love the IL Forno Supreme Pizza, and the bruschetta. Great food, nice staff. Very Nice Place
(5)Don R.
Absolutely awesome. Eat here all the time. The shrimp fra diavolo is great and has their spicy marinara, which is probably my favorite marinara sauce anywhere. Garlic knots are amazing. Pizza is great. Always good service.
(5)Micky C.
Great place for casual dining but authentic Italian food. I had the Stromboli. Prices were very reasonable and portion sizes were generous. The staff was very friendly and knowledgable. Our server took time to answer any questions we had. I will most definitely be back!
(5)Danielle F.
Read the YELP reviews, decided to check them out. My husband has also provided a contractor service here and told me the kitchen is spotless. We started with the antipasto platter. It was huge and the brushetta was literally piled two inches high. The meat was fresh and the balsamic reduction was perfect. From there, we had the baked lasagna, shrimp Alfredo, fresh bread, and side salads. The portions were HUGE. Our server was absolutely incredible...friendly, attentive, and enthusiastic. He even sent us home with two mini cannolis made on site that were scrumptious. We had a ton of food for less than $40. Drove from Orlando to get there and we will definitely be going back!
(5)Chrissanne L.
I am WAYYYY late to the party... but recently I have had the wonderful experience of dining at Il Forno. I am a long time lover of excellent Italian food, and in my 4 visits, I have been trying all of my favorites and have been so pleased with not just the food, but the service and attitude of the staff! Mick is a true gem and Lakeland is lucky to have a business owner so dedicated to the community! If you're looking for a warm, traditional Italian restaurant, visit Il Forno! You will not be disappointed!
(5)Jonathan T.
I really like this place. Casual atmosphere, fair prices & good quality food & really great service.
(5)Nina N.
I have to say we were somewhat surprised at the fact the food and the service was great, when you first walk Into this place, I guess the decor and the way things are set up don't give you the best impression, we ordered the antipasti trio which went great with the wine and we also ordered a couple of other items and the calzone was awesome
(5)Corey E.
So so attempt at Italian food. I had the Chicken Marsala of which tasted like they had dropped the entire bag of sugar on it. Way too sweet. Try using dry Marsala. Don't ask for fresh grated Parmesan. You guessed it, they DON'T have any!!! The owners should be embarrassed to call this an Italian restaurant. Wife had the tortellini lunch special. I thought it was a cream soup. I have never seen so much sauce on a pasta dish in my entire life. It was somewhat tasty but my God people, lay off the sauce!! Can someone tell me what the bread is that they serve with the meal? It appeared to be an attempt at... well I have no idea. So please let me know. On par with Olive Garden. I have only been Lakeland 3 weeks so I will continue my hunt for real authentic Italian food. P.S. Our server was nice. Loud, but nice.
(2)John D.
This place is the real deal! The pasta was fantastic! The wife had the Penne pasta with vodka sauce and it was phenomenal. Having spent almost a decade in Italy, this food was very close to what you would find in the motherland. The salad with the house dressing is highly recomended. It was a basaltic, sundries tomato, walnut, and olive oil...soooo good. I had a pizza that did not disappoint. If your looking for a taste of Italy...this is the place. I will be back!
(5)Gen M.
Well. I suppose living in New York has spoiled me some (okay, a lot), so my view of this place is a little skewed. This place is located in the worst strip mall possible in Lakeland, and I remember a few years ago when this location was not the best place to be at night. Service was great--our server was a typical sweet southern kid who was attentive to drink refills and timely in checking up on us. I was put off with the food presentation--why are they using plastic ramekins to serve sauces in the dining room? I'm surprised they didn't give you paper plates too. Anyway, we ordered the fried zucchini and a margherita pizza. The fried zucchini tasted frozen-to-fried, and served with ranch (in a plastic ramekin). The margherita pizza is just ok. I am 99% sure they do not use fresh mozzarella, as one would absolutely use in a margherita pizza. The way the mozzarella had melted in a slightly yellowish color and rubbery texture convinced me that it was not fresh. The crust was really crunchy throughout the whole slice--which to me, serves better a pizza with many toppings, not a pizza with JUST sauce, mozzarella, and basil. For Lakeland and Polk County, I suppose this is probably as good as it'll get for an Italian restaurant.
(3)Todd B.
Probably the best Italian in Lakeland and one of the better restaurants overall. There seem to be a few "family" Italian places in Lakeland. While the others are quite good (Palace Italian and Romeo's come to mind) this one is terrific - tucked away in a shopping area near the Polk Parkway and Florida Ave. I am a believer that the best pizza should come from a pizza parlor. For instance, the pizza at the downtown Palace Pizza is very good. However, my own opinion is that Lakeland's best pizza is at Il Forno. Freshly tossed dough, sauce and toppings are sooo good. Consistently great every time. Also, the BEST pizza deal in town is their "individual" sized pizza for $5.99 plus $0.75 per topping. It is so big for the price - somewhere around 10-12 inches (6 big slices). It's big enough for two if you're on a date and don't want to appear to be overeating; however, it's almost too much for one (I always leave with at least 2 extra slices and I am a pretty big eater). Also, their pastas are terrific. Notable is any dish that features their alfredo sauce. This is one of the best alfredos I've ever eaten - anywhere, not just Lakeland. It is velvety smooth and delicious and rich. Outstanding. While I do concur with a previous review that the exclusive presence of iceberg lettuce in their salads is perhaps a little disappointing, at least two of their salad dressings go a long way to make up for this. Their Italian vinaigrette and their house dressing, a sun-dried tomato vinaigrette (my favorite) are really delicious. Their lasagna and pasta arrabiatta (sp?, a spicy marinara sauce) are also worth the visit. My biggest complaint is a tad personal. I love spicy hot Italian dishes (both pizza and pasta) and I love it when Italian restaurants make available jalapeno peppers for their entrees. They really are a yummy hot accompaniment to Italian dishes. Unfortunately, Il Forno doesn't make jalapenos available at their restaurant. I've asked nicely a few times, but to no avail so far. Romeo's in north Lakeland does and they have the best arrabiatta pasta dish. Sorry for the length, but i do love this place. Enjoy!
(5)Deric C.
Il forno is in a very convenient spot, it's right next to the freeway. The outside is good looking. When you walk inside you are greeted with strong, Italian smells and a view of the kitchen. The hostess/manager showed to our table and we got a young waiter, all wait staff were men. My greek salad didn't dazzle me but the house dressing was pretty good. The garlic bread was different and impressive. My Gnocchis were well cooked and smooth. The marinara was good. Prices for dinner were very reasonable and the food came out fast. What really came to my attention were the waiters. even though the restaurant was packed, my dad and I's empty dishes only sat in front of us for 30 seconds then were whizzed away. overall decor and ambiance said to me "Bring the kids, the grandkids, your friends" a very casual, good times, chillax place.
(3)Rusty S.
Hands down the best family Italian food in town. Great service and low prices! Food quaility is 2nd to none.
(5)L Z.
My husband and I LOVE this place - everything they serve is delicious! We have taken many of our friends here and Mic is always around to greet us!
(5)Eugene S.
Excellent food, good value, you won't be disappointed
(4)Jared P.
Well it's Saturday night again and the wife and I wanted to try someplace new that we have never been too. We ended up II Forno and it was a very good choice. We started off with Calamari it was good I thought the Marianna sauce was a little runny for my taste but that's just knit picking. Then we ordered a large NY style pizza supreme with extra cheese and it was fantastic, I was really surprised by how good it was they may not have been surprised but I was. Dessert my wife's favorite part of the meal she ordered the Cheesecake it was fabulous drenched in a Strawberry sauce, I ended up eating half of it. By the way thanks for sharing the cheesecake with me.
(5)Terry H.
Went again last night. Great everything.... Food, Drinks Service. Being a "Snow Bird" finding great Italian for the winter months was a priority and we found it here in south Lakeland.
(5)Frank R.
So far I have been twice. Both times the food was good. They atmosphere may not be much but I will go back for the food.
(4)Carey P.
Been here twice now for lunch and left stuffed! Atmospere is great too! Staff attentive, food hot and all in all a great experience!
(4)Yoop H.
Authentic Italian food! This, thankfully, is not a chain. The Pizza is thin and crisp...heaven. Owned by a friendly, young Italian; the food is authentic.
(5)Erin W.
Love love love Il Forno's. Both their pizza and their entrees are second-to-none. HUGE portions. I order the fettucini alfredo and typically have enough for 1 or 2 more entire meals. My family's favorite is their sausage pizza. Garlic knots are a must. Service is always wonderful. Our favorite place for family gatherings.
(5)Jerry G.
Delicious! I've been there three times since my wife and I moved down here in May, and all the food I have gotten is great. Salads, pasta, garlic knots, pizza, you name it! And the prices are reasonable as well. And this pizza is the closest I've found to the "New York style" that I'm used to, and I'm happy with it! 12/25/11 Update: I've been going back to Il Forno for the past six months to get their pizza. It's very reasonably priced and delicious! I usually get the personal size for myself which is just right. But I've gotten regular pies for parties and have gotten compliments on how good it is! Hopefully I have given Il Forno some new customers!
(5)Allison R.
I ordered take out from Il Forno a few weeks ago and overall the food was good, but not great. I got the chicken parm and a side salad. The chicken parm was a good size portion and came with spaghetti and sauce that was better than I expected. In general, I agree with another review that it was typical Italian chain-type food, but would say it was slightly better. I'd recommend this place to anyone looking for reliable Italian cuisine that's reasonably priced and family friendly.
(3)April O.
I'm always a bit leery of "homestyle Italian." Done well, it's incredible. Done poorly, it's the lasagna surprise that everyone avoids at the potluck. Il Forno's seems to straddle that line right up to the main courses before finally coming down on the "incredible" side. The appetizers and salads range from range from passable to outright bad--the fried cheese turned out to be a deep-fried cheese sandwich cut into strips, and the salads were iceberg lettuce, dressing, tomato, and red onion (in descending order of quantity). The antipasto platter was huge, with a large amount of rolled pancetta/cheese/ham, olives, roasted red peppers (straight from the jar) and individual caprese salads. My husband made it through about half of the appetizer before pushing it aside. I would recommend sharing that appetizer with a table of six--it's far too much for two. Our dinners came out very shortly after the appetizer--the guys went classic, ordering mancotti and lasagna. My friend and I went for pasta dishes: she had penne in vodka cream sauce, and I had noodles, fried pancetta, spices, whole eggs, cheese, cream. AKA pasta carbonara. How can such disparate ingredients create such an earthy, truly delicious meal? I don't know either, but it was so very, very good going down.** We lingered for some time afterwards, chatting about life and trying to catch up months of distance in a spare 45 minutes. The server was attentive, not intrusive, offering to box food when he could find a break in our conversation, and waiting until we had all fallen silent to offer dessert. Sadly, we were too stuffed to take him up on it, but next time for sure. 3 stars average for the food (appetizers - 2, main courses - 4) and a bonus star for the awesome waiter. **Sorry about the damage to the fork, but it shouldn't have kept getting in the way.
(4)S M.
Great Service, Great food. The owner very friendly came by every table and checked in on everyone . Pizza and garlic knots were perfect.
(5)Liane J.
Great food at a low price. This is not a fancy Italian restaurant, but the dishes you receive could be found in upscale Italian restaurant. Got a bottle of decent wine for only $16.99 and the portions were quite large, we had leftovers. I had linguine alla vodka with chicken Parmesan and they were both amazing. The pizzas looked wonderful & we'll definitely try that next time!
(4)Patrick M.
Found Il Forno last Friday along with my son while spending our last night in Lakeland. It is by far one of the best Italian restaurants I've eaten at in a long time. It is hard to find a good italian restaurant where you don't spend your paycheck. Service is great and the food is wonderful. My son had alfredo and I had the veal parmagana. The only problem is we just moved my mom back to Atlanta with us and we're out of excuses to visit Lakeland again.
(5)Dean W.
My wife & I really love this place! It's clean, priced right, service is excellent and the food is consistently delicious!! 4 yrs coming here & I have "never" been let down..
(5)Steve J.
Ahhhh the power of Yelp. 4 days ago Kt B posted a negative review citing the lack of cleanliness. 4 days later and the staff are still talking about that review (as I overheard them while waiting for my salad) and their embarrassment. They took the review to heart as I found Il Forno very clean and very delicious. It's refreshing that the house Chianti is not measured to the (what's less than an ounce?) and the glasses are full to the brim. A validation that big corporate is not running this establishment. I chose the Caesar salad and am glad I did. The dressing (told it was homemade) was fantastic. For my main course I chose the Penne Arriabata and added sausage. The red sauce had a wonderful bite or kick to it. The penne was precisely cooked. The sausage..ahh the sausage. 2 large links with superb spice and a last minute pan fry to produce a crackle of the casing. Excellent. 2 thumbs up...5 stars! PS ~ Don't...don't...don't be thrown off by the exterior.
(5)Celtic R.
I am very picky about my Italian food. It is very rare that I love an Italian restaurant outside of New York. II Forno is fabulous. My husband & I have been here a couple of times to eat & have not been disappointed. Our most recent trip to II Forno was to celebrate our friends Anniversary. In celebration my friend & I ordered a bottle of Riesling to share. I found the prices on the wine menu to be very reasonable. The wine was just lovely. While we were waiting to order we sipped wine & talked. The place was packed & we were still able to carry on a conversation without having to yell or repeat ourselves. The ambiance was the cherry on top of the wonderful food that was to come. My husband ordered the Frutti di Mare. He was served a nice big bowl of seafood in marinara over linguine. He was really pleased. This nice serving of delicious Frutti di Mare was accompanied by a house salad & Italian bread. I ordered the Chicken Piccata. Oh, how I love thee Chicken Piccata! My chicken was moist & tender. The sauce was perfectly balanced with just the right amount of bite from the lemon to it & just the right amount of mushrooms. I had enough food to have leftovers to take home with me. I have been thinking about this Chicken Piccata every since I ate it. It is the stuff dreams are made of. My friends had the Chicken Alfredo & the Chicken Parmesan. They were both quite pleased with their choices. They also had enough to take home with them for the next day. I got a a lot of complements for picking out a great restaurant! Our bill including the bottle of wine came to less than $100! I can not even remember the last time we went to a restaurant & had such a good meal for under $100. II Forno is now our family go to restaurant when we want fabulous Italian food!
(5)Jim G.
We ate here for our anniversary. I was expecting someplace a little fancier but the food was pretty decent and the price was right. I don't think there was anything that was more than 13$. We had leftovers to take home, so all in all we enjoyed it. Oh, the service was excellent!
(4)Jenn G.
Moving to NY from FL we found it very difficult to find fresh made to order Italian. IL Forno fixed that. The food is always delicious!! Love the Veal Picatta, Chicken Picatta and the Clam pie. The portions are a wonderful size and reasonably priced. The servers are always friendly and make excellent small talk. Would highly recommend giving them a try.
(5)Robert M.
Food here is always great and you get plenty! Garlic knots and Alfredo sauce are a must!
(5)Michael V.
Service was excellent as the other reviews stated. The garlic bread was great, but overall, I found the food to be just average, chain-type Italian. Maybe I should have gotten the pizza. That appeared to be what everyone else in there was eating the night I was there.
(3)Jerry D.
Incredible! We arrived at 1pm for lunch and were greeted quickly and shown to a booth by the window. The smell or garlic was wafting about and Dean Martin was crooning over the sound system - so far , so good! The antipasti was put together by someone who has been taught that you eat with your eyes first! Peppers, greens, olives, cold cuts, cheese; all topped with delicious balsamic. It was huge! Then came the white clam pie! I am a pizza snob from NY and this pie was perfect! The toppings were great - the crust was great and the dough was great! We each had a cannoli for dessert - crisp shell, rich filling! All this PLUS friendly and attentive service. We WILL become regulars! Can't wait to go back!
(5)K H.
Best in Lakeland
(5)