4. Restaurants

Forno Kitchen - Bar

721 N High St, Columbus, OH, 43215
  • (614) 721-0503
  • Store is closed

Forno Kitchen - Bar Menu

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Visit below restaurant in Columbus for healthy meals suggestion.

A&W Restaurant ( 3561 Cleveland Ave )
Wendy’s ( 450 W 10th Ave )
Wendy’s ( 666 E 5th Ave )

Visit below restaurant in Columbus for healthy meals suggestion.

A&W Restaurant ( 3561 Cleveland Ave )
Wendy’s ( 450 W 10th Ave )
Wendy’s ( 666 E 5th Ave )

  • Wendy S.

    O.M.G. This place is amaze-balls. Garlic shrimp appetizer is the best shrimp I've ever had, calamari was sweet!! I got the salmon dinner and it was a+!! I even say at the bar to eat and the staff was super attentive. Definitely give this place a go, you won't regret it!

    (5)

  • Doug H.

    Service was horrible. We ordered the Mediterranean pizza. It was inconsistent pizza. Barely any toppings. Some pieces of the pizza didn't have any of the toppings on it. Some of the pieces had little to no sauce. I hope they work out the kinks or this "oven" is going broke.

    (1)

  • John M.

    The food was fast and excellent. Had the petite filet with Brussel sprouts and roasted potatoes. I was in a hurry but the staff was great. One of the few places open late on a Sunday night. The Ohio Blue Jackets NHL team was having a private party in the back and having a great time.

    (4)

  • Blake R.

    Walked in and five hostess stared me down. After a 50 minute wait (promised 25) found our name wasn't actually on the list. Sorry for the negative and no talk about the food but that's not ok. They responded with "oh sorry it'll be a few minutes" - we left some minutes later.

    (1)

  • Andrea W.

    It's a beautiful place -- but the food was not good and the service could be improved. The person who worked our table smelled like cigarettes, didnt really know the menu and got the bills mixed up. I'm sure the person will improve over time.

    (2)

  • David S.

    Found by accident last night while walking up High Street. Nice open air restaurant. Sat at the bar and had great service by the two young lady bartenders. Had the AHI Tuna tacos because of other yelp reviews and they were awesome. Looking forward to repeat visits here so I can sample other entries.

    (4)

  • Emily F.

    Good experience- the pizza was great & olive bowl was good. Must try the kiwi mule- soo good!! Definitely will be going back for the happy hour and to try the strawberry shots!

    (4)

  • Rob H.

    I was very excited to try this restaurant after hearing so many good reviews. The menu options were interesting, specifically warm ricotta with olive oil and peaches. My server was present and pleasant. I thought the calamari was a bit heavily breaded. The kiwi mule and blackberry crush cocktails were ok. Notably, my mule was not served in a copper mug and thus did not taste quite right. Also, the cups were plastic, not cool. I paid $27 for my entree. Plastic is not okay at an upscale venue. I ordered the petit filet medium rare and it was brought out medium to medium well. my asparagus was over salted/seasoned. Roasted potatoes come with this meal as well and in the quantity of about half a potato, very small for such a cheap veggie. My fiancee's roasted chicken meal, aside from the brussel sprouts were under cooked and seasoned, was serviceable. This was not a terrible meal but it also was not of a quality expected for a $100 meal.

    (3)

  • Michael M.

    After trying to get a table at a diff place across the street, we opted to come here. Couldn't have been any happier with our choice. My salad was amazing! (Arugula and NOT DRENCHED IN DRESSING) , asparagus grilled to perfection (though I got 6 PENCIL THIN STEMS), tasty cocktail but definitely not much alcohol in it. Vibe was totally scene. Very South Beach!

    (4)

  • Rachel S.

    I was not going to write this review because I honestly love forno, and it is a new restaurant and does not need bad press but after the horrible service, and ignorance of my message when I attempted to reach out this is what I have to do. I recently went to Forno. I was with a group of six. I ordered the shrimp alfredo pizza - with no onions. I hate onions, and they change the entire taste of the pizza. My waiter did not write down any of our orders, and when mine came out there were onions on it. I politely informed the man in a suit, who I can only assume is a type of manager that this was incorrect and I had ordered no onions. I would have happily waited for an entire new pizza but instead someone thought that it was more efficient to peel off the onions on the pizza, throw some more cheese on top and stick it back in the oven for five minutes. When the pizza came back out the waiter tossed it down and ran away. I know that this is what happened because I continued to pick out onions from the pizza for another couple minutes myself, and it was clear where some had been picked off from the cheese. Honestly the pizza tasted bad at that point, there was too much cheese and it had a gross onion aftertaste, which is what I wanted to avoid. I had three choices, make a fuss and embarrass my friends, and make them wait even longer, I could just say never mind for the pizza that was not fixed and not eat or I could suck it up and eat a few pieces because I knew I would be drinking later that night. I went with option three and planned on contacting management later to let them know this is how incorrect orders are fixed. I only finished half of my pizza and left the rest because I could not stomach one more bite, so that was half of a pizza wasted as well as my money. I wrote an e-mail to the pint house, the owners also own that bar apparently. There is no contact space on the Forno website so I assumed that someone would contact me, but five days later (not the promised 48 hours) still no word. I have worked int eh food industry I was not rude to my waiter, nor the person who brought out my food. I understand that accidents happen, but it is unacceptable to fix a food order in this way. If I had an allergy to onions that would have been a huge liability to the company and the person who bought the food. Therefore if you do have any food allergies and choose to try Forno (because it really is great) make sure that your server 1. gets your order correct or 2. if it is incorrect that it is taken care of properly. odds are that I am not the only person who they have done this to and I do not plan on going back myself because of this.

    (1)

  • Anna K.

    Yum! Came here for a happy hour, so I can't comment on their entrees but their Arrancini and pizzas were great. Good cocktails at a good price as well. Will be back soon for dinner, maybe even this weekend :)

    (5)

  • Michael B.

    WOW! This is going to be the place to go for awesome food and great drinks for happy hour. The ambiance, the drinks and the food were all amazing. The Kiwi mojito is refreshing and tasty. The white pizza was flavorful. The service was fast and friendly. The waiter was able to help with recommendations for everyone in the party including vegetarian options.

    (5)

  • Tim A.

    Great food...excellent decor....very fresh and modern. Limited menu, but didn't find anything that wasn't fabulous!

    (4)

  • Morgan L.

    This place is perfect for a girls night out or a romantic date with that special someone. It's in the heart of Short North and it almost feels like you're in a different city when you step in. The food and the drinks were great! I ordered multiple Moscow mules and the Alfredo Chicken pizza which was amazing. I didn't have any to take home because it was so good and my friend had fried risotto cheese balls which were excellent. I'll be ordering that next time because they were delicious. The service was great and he was very attentive for a Friday night and the decor was chic and beautiful. The booth tables have stylish furniture instead of the hard seating you would typically find and the bar was very eclectic. If you love wood fired pizza this is the perfect place for you. I also enjoyed Strawberry Jello-O shots made with actual strawberries which was a nice touch for dessert. Overall, two thumbs up for this new restaurant in Short North.

    (5)

  • Aimee K.

    Went to the opening last night- they served a variety of foods so that everyone could sample. Had the salmon balls, ahi tuna tacos & veg. pizza. My fav was the ahi tacos- great flavor! At the end they served strawberry shooters with vodka- thought this was very cool & a perfect dessert. Lighting & decor was cool- definitely be back

    (4)

  • Nicole P.

    Such a unique, awesome environment. Definitely a stand-out in the Columbus restaurant/bar scene. I haven't stopped raving about this place- the food is amazing and the 2 different bars bring 2 totally different feels that combine to make it such a unique experience. A+ for Forno!!

    (5)

  • Jenn W.

    Very good food. We ate here based on yelp reviews. We were in Columbus for a concert and this was a few blocks from hotel. We happened to hit happy hour and all of our drinks,appetizers, and pizzas were half price. The food was fantastic. Our drinks were excellent. The service was prompt although our waiter was a bit rude. Overall great experience!

    (5)

  • Chris F.

    I visited Forno's on 2/25. This was my 3rd visit and the fir time that I found that the kitchen was still open. The first two times, I had visited two hours before closing, but unfortunately found that the kitchen was already close. Their website does not specify a time that they close the kitchen that early. On 2/25, i arrive 2.5 hours before close. I sit at the bar and I'm told that that side is closed. I moved to the other side and I meet a bartender much more focused on doing closing. I am also told that the only items available on their menu is a pizza. I ordered a pizza, but also wanted a salad, but this was not possible. I ordered the pepperoni pizza which was good. I also ordered a drink. A double shot of Jack and find that it is $16. Def overpriced. overall, this was a mediocre experience, the wait / bartender staff were much more interested in closing, even though according to their website that was two hours away. The atmosphere was good. Music was playing, but I never listened to a full song because they keep forwarding to the next song. Overall, I don't anticipate returning anytime soon

    (2)

  • Steve F.

    Read some great reviews so we went there for our anniversary. What a mistake. Even with a reservation we had to wait 30 min to be seated and then it got worse. It took over an hour for our food to arrive. The pork belly was dry and tasteless, tough, got the Ahi Tuna tacos...worse fish tacos I've ever had anywhere. There was no flavor. We did have an OK pizza, but by the time it showed up it would have had to been awesome to make up...which it was not. Very cool atmosphere but the chef needs to get it together. The couple seated next to us, who we did not know, even caught up to us outside the restaurant and commented on how bad the food and service was. Won't be going back here anytime soon.

    (2)

  • Diane M.

    I have been twice, both on a Monday and would recommend that day of the week. Crowded enough that it's a good atmosphere but I have walked in without a reservation with a party of 6 and 2 and been seated immediately. Food was amazing and was brought out in a very timely manner. The bar area looked very nice and like it would be a good place for a first date - not too crowded or loud so that you wouldn't have to shout. Would recommend this restaurant to anyone and everyone!

    (4)

  • Erin B.

    So excited for this new addition to the Short North dining scene. Went to the cocktail opening and tried a variety of menu items, all which were fantastic. The stone-fire oven in the middle of the restaurant was the center of excitement and the servers were so friendly. Perfect for a night out with friends. Can't wait to go back!

    (5)

  • Royce d.

    I don't know what the word "Forno" means, but it gets me sexually excited. So, I decided to go with my friends Pat, Maurice, Yabo, Hillary, and Cartwright. The reservation was under "Cartwright", like that Seinfeld episode. None of the hostesses were as excited about this reference as I was. Anyways, once we were seated, the server recommended a cocktail that was a combination of kiwi and a Moscow mule, brilliantly named a "kiwi mule" (also a good name for a guy who illegally smuggles kiwis across the border in his rectum). I'm just happy kiwis are legal here, which doesn't necessarily mean some people don't shove them in their butts. The kiwi mules tasted great (the drinks). Everyone ordered pizza, except I ordered a chicken sandwich because I can't conform. The food was very good and the server put up with my juvenile behavior. She didn't even care or notice that I kept calling her "m'lady". I wouldn't keep this place a secret forno reason.

    (5)

  • Candice B.

    Oh wow! I loved this place. Great happy hour portions and pricing. Great tasty good and the service was awesome. I'm sure this will be in my rotation.

    (4)

  • Michelle H.

    What a great experience! Had the ricotta toast, pork belly, pizza and wine with my husband during the amazing happy hour. Half price on all of the above items, now that is a deal, half price on a $13.00 glass of wine, yes please! Nice atmosphere as well try it for the happy hour. Wish Cleveland had one of these we would be there nightly. Best of luck to you Forno we enjoyed everything!

    (5)

  • T S.

    This place was unexpectedly amazing! I loved the happy hour specials. Order the Ahi Tuna Tacos! The pizza is amazing, I would definitely go back!

    (5)

  • Srebs T.

    All Forno/Porno jokes aside this place is decent. I've tried three of their cocktails and not been a fan of any so far, you can barely taste the alcohol. I'm not 18 anymore, I don't need to add 50 types of concoctions to mask the taste of the liquor.. I actually enjoy the taste and would like a cocktail that balances it out. The highlight every time I've gone has been the strawberry jello shots. It sounds dumb, it sounds immature, it sounds trashy/fratty.. it's totally not! The jello shots are the epitome of what adult jello shots should be and look like they are something out of etsy (cliche blah blah I know it's true though).. they are hollowed out strawberries with jello liquor inside and whipped cream on top. Will you get drunk off of them? Unless you have the alcohol tolerance of a 2 day old infant, not a chance in hell. They are still totally worth it though! Decor and bar are definitely dope. The food is decent.. I mean it's pizza.. it's good pizza but dafuq do you expect, it's pizza. Overall, good spot to check out and kick it with some friends, my advise: go for basic liquor mixed drinks, wine, or beer.

    (3)

  • Michele H.

    Reservation time for 7:30 pm Friday night, was told at 7:20 we would be sat closer to 7:30. At 7:45 asked how much longer for my 7:30 reso and I was told we would be next. Waited 10 more minutes to be seated. What's the point of a reservation? While at the bar, I ordered a $9 Moscow mule and it was served with 80% ice, no joke, 4 sips and it was gone. Upon being seated I felt like I was walking through a night club, loud club music and hostess dressed for a night out. The only reason forno is getting 2 stars was for the ahi wonton tacos appetizers. They were exceptional with high flavor. The oven fired pizza was just mediocre and certainly nothing to ever have a wait for again. Disappointed and definitely would not recommend to a friend.

    (2)

  • Mickey D.

    Their hostesses always seem to grossly underestimate the wait time to incoming customers, which is especially problematic, particularly as they are the first and last people customers see. When you can get in, the food is good but the mixture of large television screens and chandeliers is off-putting. The managers seem to be pretty nice however and the bar staff provides excellent service. Still, there is a lot of work to be done and it all begins with addressing the poor customer service provided by the hostesses if they hope to succeed in this location.

    (2)

  • Taylor S.

    We were seated in the bar area of Forno by an employee. A few minutes later, as we were about to order, we were asked to vacate the table because of an error on their end. They didn't apologize or offer to move us. Ridiculous and very awkward. We will not be back. Hopefully their service improves.

    (1)

  • Ellen P.

    We chose Columbus as the midpoint of a big road trip and had only heard of the ShortNorth neighborhood. Forno holds a commanding spot in the epicenter and doesn't disappoint. The pizzas are just right - crust is crispy and the sauce is seasoned nicely. Service is friendly and attentive. Ambiance is hip and smart but not pretentious. Big bar and although noise level is fairly high it's actually possible to have a conversation. Highly recommend!

    (5)

  • Bren C.

    FABULOUS! Oh my goodness, yummy!!! Everyone thoroughly enjoyed all the food! The Trio of dips appetizer, Arancini & Ricotta & Toast started the meal off in a most tasteful way. I had the salmon & the mushroom risotto which were amazing with both taste and presentation. Our server, Ashley, was incredibly pleasant & professional, which I love when I go for a nice dinner out! Hoping to make it back for a happy hour very soon.

    (5)

  • Vicki B.

    I liked how the place was decorated. I liked the chairs and booths. There are a lot of bar areas to sit at. I had the salmon and it was one of the best salmon dishes I have had. It comes with a roasted red pepper puree. I had them give me the brussel sprouts instead of the lentils and they did. I do not eat grains so when a restaurant has a few choices of vegetables I am happy. Roasted vegetables come with the salmon also. The salmon came out in a skillet. It was a nice presentation. My only negatives is why do they make the vegetables such a small portion. Vegetables are cheap be a little more generous. There could of been more of the puree also. I did not order a salad because they were too expensive. What is with these restaurants and their high priced salads?

    (4)

  • Patrick L.

    Food was fantastic but service was lackluster. My friend ordered a second beer but I didn't and she brought back one for both of us. Seems like a great place when not busy but when its crowded staff is easily overwhelmed

    (3)

  • Elaine J.

    My husband and I dined here early on Sunday night. The atmosphere was a little lively and seems more like a place I would go with friends rather than on a date. I got the salmon cakes as my app, the margherita pizza and a ny cheesecake for dessert. The apps and the dessert were really good, but the pizza was a little strange. The sauce was more like a marinara pasta sauce and was extremely runny to the point that a bunch of it ended up on my lap. I'd visit again but maybe try a different main dish.

    (4)

  • Steven N.

    The food was great. Really rustic flavors. Service was excellent. Decor is great. Definitely one of the best new spots in the Short North

    (5)

  • Ryan K.

    Food: everything we had was delicious. Started with arancini (rice balls) and the olive plate. Main courses were the the forno specialty pizza which I would recommend and the margherita pizza which I did not try, but my colleague really enjoyed it. Finished the meal with peanut butter and chocolate cheesecake and the lemon bar. The cheesecake is terrific. It's thick. I doubt they use any ricotta, but very good. Service: on point. Helpful, knowledgable, attentive, clean. They seemed to care. Atmosphere: new, busy, clean, open, maybe a bit trendy, fun Misc: everything was great, but if you're a big dessert person, it may not be for you. While delicious, they only had 4 options and 3 of them were cheesecakes. The food above plus 2 beers and 2 glasses of wine - $122 after tip

    (4)

  • Marie H.

    Awesome happy hour and great alternative to Marcella's! (since I've pretty much tried everything there lol). So glad they took over the Two Fish location - the venue is spacious and nicely decorated and seems to be bustling during happy hour. The happy hour menu is not quite as extensive as Marcella's but does include 1/2 off bar snacks, shared items, pizzas, draft beer, wines, and house cocktails. We tried the following: - Calamari: not extraordinary or anything but still crispy and yummy, plus I liked the lemon aioli alternative to marinara sauce - House-cured pork belly: 4 large pieces of pork belly which complimented really well with the butternut squash purée and tart red cabbage. Slightly salty - Ahi tuna tacos: tuna tasted fresh and loved the avocado cream but could have been seasoned slightly more - Chicken Alfredo pizza: super warm and comforting, with lots of cheese. Chicken itself could use more seasoning - Breakfast pizza: the pancetta made it super salty but it's not too bad if you spread out the pancetta. Loved the brussel sprouts and eggs! The bill was very reasonable for how much food we got (esp the pizzas which are quite large), but I'm not sure I would be willing to pay regular price when it's not happy hour. Would definitely come back for happy hour though!

    (4)

  • Josh D.

    Solid happyhour. Highly recommend it. The food was good. Scallops weren't perfect but were good for the happyhour pricing. Veggie pizza [forget the name of it now] was well seasoned and garnished. I consider myself to be something of a cocktail connoisseur, and I was just a bit disappointed in their cocktail menu. The Apple Manhattan was amazing, would highly recommend to anyone wanting a wonderfully fall drink. The Gin Collins was okay, could use something to zazz it up. I was surprised to see so much vodka on the menu though. Another gin or rum option would be welcomed.

    (4)

  • Chris R.

    Very good service with nice wine list and plenty of choices. Pizza was a bit over cooked. Prices were reasonable. Very nice interior.

    (4)

  • Robert C.

    They flat bread pizza was great and the prices were reasonable given the location. They have a nice patio, and the atmosphere feels upscale. I've only eaten here once, but we were very pleased with the food quality.

    (4)

  • Arvid Y.

    I was finally able to check out Forno this past weekend. I had brunch with my mom and we both enjoyed it. First of all, the restaurant's aesthetic is top notch. Even with the bright orange colored theme, Forno still maintains a classic and luxurious ambiance, with high ceilings and large chandelier lamp shades. Another standout feature is Forno's patio. It's directly adjacent to Bakersfield's. It's small, but perfect for people-watching on a warm summer day. The brunch menu was solid. There were 9 items to choose from and you can still order from their regular menu. If you order a brunch item, you can add a mimosa/bloody Mary for an extra $4/5. We ended up ordering a bunch of things (we were hungry). Based on the Yelp reviews, I had ordered the Ahi Tuna Tacos. We also ordered the pork belly to share. For our mains, we shared the brunch brasato and the wild mushroom pizza. The food was excellent overall and portions were generous. We ordered way too much food. The tuna tacos were fresh just like everyone said, however I think my expectations were a bit too high, as I thought they were good but not great. I'm also not the biggest fan of hard shelled-tacos, so that could also be a factor. The pork belly was fried, which caught me off guard, but they were still tasty, I particularly liked the accompanying butternut squash puree and red cabbage slaw that it was served on, as its acid helped balance the fatty pork. The brunch brasato was quite a hearty dish. It consisted of braised beef with a cooked egg on-top, served with slices of bread. The combination of the pork belly dish with this brasato was just too rich. In retrospect we should have just ordered one or the other. With that said, the beef was flavorful and it's a dish I would order again to share. However, I don't think it's a good brunch entree for one person. As far as the pizza goes, it's good. But not Harvest good, in my opinion. I believe they use cornmeal in their dough, so it's a tad bit chewier and has a little more texture than the typical Neapolitan-style pizza. It's quite a good value at $12-14 for a 12 inch serving. The mushrooms were aromatic and I did not miss meat at all. Overall, Forno is a solid Short North dining option. Their prime location, classy atmosphere and good food are bound to keep bringing customers in. I'll be back soon to check out their Happy Hour.

    (4)

  • Lindsay T.

    We came here for dinner the other night and I was impressed. We started with arancini and it was great. They have a fun drink selection and if you like fruity/sweeter drinks, I'd recommend the kiwi mule! The chicken Alfredo pizza was delicious. The crust is perfect, thick and chewy. The service was great and friendly. My only complaint was that this place is SO loud! I couldn't hear my boyfriend talking to me, and he was sitting a foot away from me. We were even seated in the room in the back, and it was still pretty loud. I know it's a popular place, but it was crazy loud. Would definitely recommend getting pizza here though! Last time we came, we tried the fresh strawberry shots. OMG they were delicious! Strawberries infused with alcohol and topped with whipped cream, can't go wrong with that!

    (4)

  • Maurice H.

    I'm glad it replace "Two Fish" I believe. Nice prime spot in the heart of short north. Very good drinks and bartenders know how to make them and make whatever you want. I have tried the pizza couple of time and was not disappointed. Standard brick oven pizza like. Similar to Natalie's and Figlio's in the making I believe. First time I tried the pizza it was little on the dry side with burned crispy edges but that was during the first week of opening. The 2nd time around it was perfect. It is obvious they have improved and I'm looking forward to trying food there again. Perfect atmosphere for nightlife or happy hour group outing. The bar area is very nice and trendy with an upscale feel.

    (4)

  • Matt G.

    Great Brunch! We went here for their grand opening of Brunch and it was better than expected (And that's not the mimosas talking)! The service was quick even when it got busier. The menu had a wide array of Brunch specialties. I went with the simple, yet classic, biscuits and gravy. They put a delectable, gourmet spin on it! Everything was alil on the higher price side, BUT totally worth it. I'd say you'd leave this place spending $18-$20/person for Brunch. For all you Brunch connoisseurs, this is definitely worth a stop!

    (4)

  • Jen R.

    Nice!!!!! Went there yesterday during happy hour and was super impressed. 1/2 off all draft beers, wine, and cocktails and 1/2 off their appetizers and pizzas. That makes for a very extensive selection at really great prices. My husband and I each had a Seventh Son draft and a Four String Draft, split the Wild Mushroom pizza and the calamari. Excellent draft selection and the pizza was really really fantastic. A thicker crust but still crunchy and just the right amount of cheese and sauce. Our bill was like $24. Wowza. On top of that, our bartender/server was really attentive and I enjoyed watching her mix up what looked like some pretty tasty cocktails. Also, loved the decor. Trendy but also elegant. Felt like I was in NY or LA and not Cbus. I think this might be the best happy hour in Cbus...

    (5)

  • Amanda G.

    Forno's saving grace was the pizza. It was pretty good. I like the brick oven pies, they've got great texture that you just don't get with other pizzas. I'm giving them two stars because the whole experience was just kind of sloppy. I don't know if it was our waitress's first day or what, but she spilled water on our table, forgot our drink order and then our salads came out before our drinks. It also bugged me that we had a reservation for the patio and then told we'd have to wait for a seat out there even though there was a cleared table available - we could see it through the window. The salad we ordered a Ceasar salad that barely hard any flavor - I don't think they make their dressing in-house and the campari tomatoes were pretty useless. Like I said, the pizza was good, lot's of fresh basil on the Margherita which was nice. I don't think I'll be back nor would I recommend this place.

    (2)

  • Vin R.

    My wife snagged our kids' favorite baby sitter on late notice for a date night this evening. I remembered bookmarking Forno on Yelp awhile ago as I was intrigued by the concept of a wood fired oven in the dining space. The reviews on Yelp were really positive, so I made a reservation on Open Table. The initial impression was very positive--greatly helped by finding a random open parking metered spot about 50 feet from the restaurant (on a Saturday night!). I had an Apple Manhattan and my wife had the Pink Rose. Both drinks were great. I don't usually care for fancy versions of the basic Manhattan, but this one was alright. For appetizers my wife had the Arancini balls and I had the Ricotta and bread. The Arancini balls were ok. Honestly, Gallo's version is better, but it's hard to mess up fried rice/cheese balls. The Ricotta was very unique. I'd never had anything quite like it before. Sort of sweet, salty and umami tastes all over the place. Definitely get this as your appetizer if you go. Unfortunately, the evening started to go off the rails after our apps and drinks were delivered. We ate most of our appetizers and I finished my cocktail. And waited for our dinner entrees. And waited. And then waited some more. Our neighbor tables got their food (more on that two paragraphs down). A server brought us a second round of Arancini balls, which was weird. But then he realized he was at the wrong table. So about 40 minutes into our wait we hailed our wait staff and asked about the rest of our dinner. She went to inquire about it. More waiting. She returned and said our dinner was "one minute away". At that point, we'd lost our patience with the process of getting my Ahi Tuna tacos and my wife's pasta out of the kitchen and onto our table. We asked for our dinner, some carry out boxes and our check. The most annoying part of our evening was the obsequious bar manager guy (business owner?) who kept checking on a table of ladies next to us. It was pretty obvious that he knew his customers socially and was maybe even very good friends with them. He made sure they had champaign at their table and even personally got them coffee when they first arrived (after us). That's all fine and good, making sure your friends are taken care of at your restaurant. But eating the food off their plates with your hands while standing at the table in front of other paying customers is a little much, don't you think? Yuck. So for our dining dollar, Forno is a For Nope. We've got better places to spend our money and time on a date night.

    (2)

  • Dawn B.

    Here for a biz trip back in May. Food was super good & we've been asking other bartenders to recreate the Basil Collins ever since. (*Bonus* Great happy hour steals)

    (4)

  • Maggie M.

    Awesome happy hour!!! I went with my girlfriends a couple of times and I got the Moscow mule and the calamari. The flatbreads are great too. I ordered the mushroom one. Also they have a delicious salmon cakes and ahi tuna tacos! The happy hour offers 1/2 off apps and shareables also half off beer, wine by the glass and some house cocktails. Definitely worth the stop. Also offer adorable strawberry Jell-O shots with whipped cream. Perfect for a girls night out or date night dessert!

    (4)

  • Fred B.

    Great food, great drinks, great location, nice dining room, nice outdoor dining. What's not to like... ?!? The wood-fired pizzas are very good. The Forno Burger was fantastic - utterly crave-able. Drinks were excellent. The Cucumber Jalapeño Margarita was phenomenal. Bread was good. We'll be going back.... soon...

    (4)

  • Donna O.

    Sheer insanity to attempt dinner in the Short North during the Arnold, but Forno made it worth the effort. It is a lovely space decorated a la Short North - large, diffuse lighting, comfy seating, large backlit bar. We were seated near the front windows, perfect for people-watching. Forno has an excellent happy hour - half-price drinks, appetizers and pizzas. That's really the best reason you need to come here. The second-best reason is that the food is awesome. We ordered various appetizers to share - ahi tuna tacos, served in fried wonton shells; creamy arancini in a clean-tasting tomato sauce; and a pork belly sharable - all executed to fit the dish. Bonus points for the tacos. Our group ordered a selection of pizzas and a pasta dish (tip: the pizzas are reasonably priced. The entrees are at a much higher price point). Plenty of pizza variety and substitutions are permitted. The pizza crust was thin but chewy, able to take both the wood-firing and the heavy saucing without being either burnt or rubbery. Forno nailed it. My mushroom pizza was excellent overall. The spouse ordered the rigatoni pasta with a creamy tomato sauce, and we both thought it was as good as the pizzas. The highlight of the meal, though, was the toasted Brussels sprouts. I like to get sprouts when they're offered and - these things were magical. Like, braised in unicorn tears. We all sampled, and we all put our hands to our mouths at the first taste. MAGIC. So, unicorn tears are made of browned butter, shallots, garlic and chicken stock, according to the kitchen staff at Forno. Just so you know. Although it was a super-busy weekend, Forno has managed to corral their spaces with artfully-hung sheer drapes to keep the bar noise and crowd in the main bar area, so the larger dining room was much quieter, a dull roar. Our server was attentive and we got all of our food and drinks in a reasonable amount of time. Staff were visible and we were greeted on the way in and the way out. Great job, Forno, for bringing this to the Short North.

    (4)

  • Paige H.

    Found this place via yelp while traveling through Ohio back to Michigan...WONDERFUL service, WONDERFUL food. The pizzas are awesome and they have such a unique menu. I am an extremely picky eater, working at a holistic doctor's office and in general, being a health nut, but this place...no guilt coming here. Tasty, unique, quality food :) Also, I was sitting at a high top table and was extremely clumsy and knocked over my glass bloody mary all over the floor, like everywhere within a six foot radius.... I swear to you, four employees came running over with towels, reassuring me to not feel stupid, making jokes about it, cleaning everything up. Next thing you know another employee came rushing over with a replacement bloody mary within probably 20 seconds. Wonderful! Now I just wish this place was closer to Ann Arbor. I will definitely be returning when traveling through Columbus again.

    (5)

  • Hannah B.

    I was very underwhelmed by this restaurant. I came in with high expectations and left disappointed. The look was 80's meet modern. A mix of random patterns and colors. Also the patio is a joke! The tables are so tiny and pushed together. There's not way a party of 4 would be comfortable out there. The drinks were the best part. I had a kiwi mule. It was light and refreshing. We had the chicken pizza, risotto balls and the ricotta cheese dip. It wasn't seasoned to my liking. It was just plain. Overall i would not rush back.

    (3)

  • Sab S.

    I swear this corner is jinxed so I'm really hoping Forno is a winner/in for the long haul but I've gone there twice this week and it's a complete toss up of how it will survive in the Short North.. I went Wednesday and Friday nights (with different groups of people). This review is a solid 3.5 PROS: dining room and bar offer completely different vibes. Pretty cool decor, love the pizza oven and open kitchen concept. The drinks are on point and the wine flights are an amazing value! Really loved the music too!! Lots of throwback jams that make you want to dance! Pizza, SALMON omg, ahi tuna tacos, calamari, Forno burger were all delish!!! Food came out quickly and all meals were served together even though they said the pizza oven was backed up. We made substitutions to a few things but everything was good. I do like the food. CONS: on both visits the hostess stand was a complete nightmare!!!! Poorly greeted both times. The girl (who likes flashing everyone while bussing tables / bending over in a barely there skirt) is sooo rude. Sorry this is Cbus not NYC. We waited 20 minutes *after* our reservation time only to be offered a BAR Table for dinner which really should only be used for those without reservations. When we said we wanted dining room, it took an additional 25 minutes with NO APOLOGY. So we waited a total of 45 minutes post reservation/arrival. That crap can't last - it's a huge dissatisfier!!! The same hostess had bedroom slippers on with her dress by 9:30 PM - oh come on! This isn't your kitchen at home, it's a restaurant. The service is also lacking. On Wednesday night our server stalked our table so hard that I felt uncomfortable. He literally kept coming by and taking stuff away each time, looking over at us, taking our checks before we got up (that happened Friday too). Just very rushed and annoying. Even though the flights were a great value, I think we got bad bottles of wine. I've never seen so much sediment in an empty glass before!! The italian red flight was delish but again I wish I didn't get all the sediment :-( Overall I would recommend giving it at least two chances because not sure they will get it right on your first visit.

    (4)

  • Dan P.

    From out of town. I was told FORNO was the place to go. Ordered Two pizzas one was completely burnt I mean scorched. The crust all the way around was BLACK. The rest of the pizza was definitely orange from over cooking. 1 Pizza was a goat cheese, chicken, and asparagus. 5 small pieces of chicken. not even a piece per slice. 2.Pizza was a chicken Alfredo. Not Burnt but there was ZERO flavor. Service was great, except for delivering a burnt pizza Atmosphere was really cool really great design. Great Bar

    (1)

  • Jeff A.

    To begin with, Forno has a great atmosphere which allows for either a single person at the bar or a large group to feel welcome and comfy. Servers are attentive and knowledgeable. Overall the restaurant is great. I stuck with a pizza, the Carne Pizza to be exact. The crust acts only as a vessel for the toppings; it has a good taste to it, but nothing which stands out. The outside crust has a nice fluffy crispness which cleanses the palate for the next slice. The capicola and pepperoni stand out the most to me. They really give this pizza it's distinct taste. The sausage was the weak spot. Herb and cheese mix is great. Any toppings which are added are only a bonus. Honestly, just some really good pizza. Good beer selection. I'm in Columbus only for a small amount of time but I'll be back.

    (5)

  • Nathaniel K.

    Slow and overrated. I was really looking forward to my first time to Forno since Two Fish closed. I hadn't been to Two Fish much because they didn't have a lot of vegetarian-friendly fare, so I was excited to jump on the fast-baked pizza craze that has struck Columbus. We made reservations on Open Table beforehand since it was a weekend night, and we arrived just in time for our reservation. Upon arriving, we went up to the hostess, who told us she would come find us when our table was ready, and that it might be fifteen minutes since they were packed. A little miffed that we had to wait, we decided to try and find a spot near the door to hang out in the meantime. There really isn't a great spot to wait around in view of the host stand, so we were kind of worried that she might think that we left. This worrying only amplified as our wait time hit twenty and then thirty minutes. At this point I went over to find a host and figure out what was going on. Nope, they still had our reservation, but were finishing getting a table ready. By this time, we had seen a fair number of parties being seated ahead of us that seemed to come in after us, and there were only two of us, so I was a bit perturbed. A few minutes after that, we were finally seated, and it took a bit of time before our waitress was ready for our drink orders. The beer and wine selections weren't too bad, thankfully. Our waitress wasn't very attentive, and we had to get her attention to put in food orders after it had been a while without our drinks being delivered. When our pizza did come out, it wasn't bad, but definitely not worth the upwards of $13 compared to other better Columbus pizza. The staff seemed more focused on people sitting at the bar who appeared to be regulars, and some of the clientele seemed pretty drunk for it being only 9:00. Overall I can't imagine I'll be back.

    (2)

  • Jessica P.

    Finally came in here for a birthday party with 15 people on a Wednesday evening with a few minutes to spare before happy hour prices ended. We were seated promptly (with a reservation) and the waitress stood and waited for us all to hurry in our half price orders. I love the water bottles on the tables so I don't have to be a nag. I ordered the ahi tuna appetizer. Which was good, but a bit blander than I expected. But honestly it's big enough to be a dinner. I sampled my friends aracini, which normally I don't like but these were the perfect size allowing for a perfect crust to risotto ratio. I tried the shrimp pizza, phenomenal! Get this! Best idea ever! Tried to hummus, olive, and mushroom platter. Much bigger than we expected and very good. The same goes for the calamari, bigger portion and very good. Drinks came out promptly, lots of good looking drinks, I had the strawberry rose. I asked for a wimpy girly drink and it was tasty and girly. But myself and my other friend who ordered it both felt buzzed half way through. So beware! It's stronger than it tastes! Checks were split up without us asking and promptly taken care of. Over all, I think the dinner was no more than an hour and a half, very impressive! I'll definitely be back and Id recommend it to others!

    (5)

  • Aklilu A.

    I kept hearing mixed reviews about this place so I decided to find out for myself. Nestled in the short north, across from bakersfield we decided while we were out at Gallery Hop, we'd finally check it out. We got a table outside, it was a lively afternoon, couples catching up behind us, people playing Jenga on the street in front of us. Just the atmosphere alone was laid back and fun. The interior design is very upscale, you almost forget you're in Columbus. The waitress we had seemed a bit overwhelmed, we had to repeat our orders a couple times but luckily her teammates were able to help her out. I ordered the Hawaiian pizza, I'm a fan of spicy and pineapples so it seemed like the obvious choice for me. Ordered some beers to pass the time until the food arrived which wasn't long. When the pizza came out, it was still sizzling. I'm a fan of whenever the pizza comes out and the cheese is just melting off. The ingredients were fresh, the jalapenos and tomatoes tasted amazing. The pineapples were delicious, you could still taste it without it taking away from the spiciness of the pizza. The size of the pizza was enough to satisfy my appetite. Great meal, I'll high recommend it to any pizza lovers just be patient with the waiters/waitresses.

    (4)

  • Ashley J.

    Came for happy hour and cocktails. Staff was amazing and happy is great! Got in at 4 and the place was empty. Spiked strawberries are so amazing and such a good idea. Just wish there were more. Also, the cucumber margarita was great and refreshing. Thank you staff for being amazing!

    (5)

  • Leslie W.

    Out for a late nite ride and grabbing a cold one. Nice atmosphere and a very friendly staff.

    (4)

  • Matthew S.

    Drinks were pretty good, but buyer beware. None of the cooks wear gloves. Even the chef licked his fingers and went to grab a piece of ciabatta, all ready to eat to foods need to be handled with protective hand wear. We noticed after we ate most of our pizza and that was it. The manager was very prompt to refund the meal but left it to the bartender to apologize which I thought was unprofessional. Maybe an off day?

    (2)

  • Coop C.

    We had a wonderful dinner at Forno! We started with the warm ricotta and peaches served with fresh bread. Moved on to a breakfast pizza and wild mushroom pizza, both of which were amazingly great. We then finished with the homemade cheesecake with strawberries. If you go you must share a cheesecake! The service was perfect, the drinks were on point (Moscow mule and few different local beers), we are already talking about going back this weekend. The price is a great value when you consider the high food quality.

    (5)

  • Brad S.

    Truly enjoyed the happy hour experience here. The bartenders were attentive but not pushy, the wine was cheap and of good quality, and the pizza was tremendous. For the price, I'm not sure it can be beat. I've heard that it's difficult to get in here for a normal dinner hour, so when we had a spare moment in the Short North late one afternoon, we popped in. Two seats were open at the bar. For $20, we had two glasses of pinor noir and a ~12" pepperoni pizza. The pizza was great, with a crisp crust, balanced sauce, and a rosemary flavor that was unique without being overt. The bar area is sunny and spacious, with nice music, small TVs, and plenty of seating.

    (5)

  • Doug O.

    We had a great experience at Forno. The pizzas (we had the Forno Chicken and the Hawaiian) were excellent. Very good crust. The drinks were also great--nice cocktail list and a good selection of local craft beers. What really put the place over the top was the service. When our pizzas hadn't come out in 10 to 15 minutes after we ordered, our server apologized profusely and brought us free salads. We hadn't even noticed and certainly weren't concerned with the not-bad-at-all wait time (it was our first night out with a babysitter since our child was born and we were happy just to be out without a kid), but it was a classy touch. Then, when our server overheard that it was our first time out without the kid, she brought us free dessert. Really nice touch. Definitely check out Forno.

    (5)

  • Cynthia N.

    We had several different pizzas they were all good chicken Alfredo was awesome and the one with goat cheese was delicious to . Great appetizers and great lemon bar and New York cheese cake our waiter was great also .

    (5)

  • Ben P.

    I've now been to Forno both for happy hour and dinner. Their happy hour specials (weekdays 4-6) are fantastic- with half off their expansive draft, wine, and cocktail lists- as well as half off pizzas. Their cocktails are interesting twists on classics, such as the True Grit (old fashioned-esque) and the Basil Collins. And their pizzas are the bomb. Try the breakfast pizza, no matter what time you go. The best part about Forno is that it's rarely busy... we quickly found a seat outside on a Wednesday night. Highly recommended before the rest of Columbus finds out about this place.

    (5)

  • Jillian M.

    I'm going to echo the sentiments of several other Yelpers: HAPPY HOUR HERE IS AMAZING! For my first visit, we had a group of 12+ people for a happy hour get together. We arrived a little after 4pm, and the place was fairly empty. By around 5pm, it was starting to fill up, so get here early if you can. The decor here is really nice, with a minimalist flair and lots of light. Bonus points that they have a little patio! I totally agree with Lisa P. that the big fabric lampshade thingies were not a good match with their decor. Our server, Neil, was THE BEST! As previously stated, we had a really big group, and he was there every 5-10 minutes to get our drink, apps, and pizza orders. He also gave us some recommendations about which drinks and appetizers were good/popular. And, everyone's checks were accurate at the end of the night. I had the arancini and also the ahi tuna tacos -- both were fantastic, especially at the half off price point. The ahi tuna tacos come in a wonton wrapper shell, so they are very light and crispy. In contrast, the arancini are little fried balls of risotto and cheese, so they were much more decadent. I also had the margarita pizza (half off), which surprisingly, didn't quite live up to my expectations. I really enjoyed the crust, but it seemed that the edges of my pizza were piping hot but the middle was only lukewarm. This may have just been a fluke though, so I'm willing to come back and try again. I do also think having a giant leaf of basil on each piece of pizza made it difficult to eat. It looked pretty, but wasn't very functional. Perhaps a basil chiffonade would have the same aesthetic, but make it easier to get a piece of basil in each bite. Also, it would be nice if there were an option on the menu to build your own pizza. Everyone seemed to enjoy their food and drinks, and I'm looking forward to coming back to try more pizzas!

    (4)

  • Angela J.

    Ok I'm just gonna get right to the heart of it.... GO FOR HAPPY HOUR!! I don't know if it's because they are a new business that their h.h. is so amazing or it is going to remain this way all the time, which I really hope it does, but go for the HH!! 1/2 price apps, bar snacks, all beer draughts, wines by the glass and pizza. Seriously?!?! My dining partner in crime and I had 4 beers, 2 apps, and a pizza and it came to a whopping $32. This was Friday. I don't mind eating dinner at senior citizen time if I'm going to get this kind of deal! Beer was great. Our on point server recommended I try Great Lakes High Striker and it was a wonderful beer. I enjoyed that. Then the trio of dips was great and a very generous serving. Only wish they'd serve veggies with the dips but whatevs not gonna complain. We also ordered calamari which I normally don't like but I actually liked theirs very much because it wasn't chewy. Now for the pizza...Margherita Pizza was the star of the show. Loved the crispy thin crust and the big circles of mozz and fresh leaves of basil. It was really great. Also it was a perfect size for two people to share. For my taste it was a little too trendy and classy because people tried really hard to look like they were working the runway but if that's your thing then this place is perfect for you! The end.

    (4)

  • Lisa P.

    Went last night with our Happy Hour group. Love the ambiance, love the small plates, love the Happy Hour prices, love the service. Only thing that was disappointing was the pizza. It was tasty but did not meet the hype. Anyway, when I walked in I fell in love. My kind of place. The lighting was perfect, lots of natural light from their big windows. HUGE patio doors were open. Their bar was really cool. It was the center piece of the restaurant. Like a big island. Kitchen and pizza oven were open concept so you could see everything. LOVED IT. Comfy chairs, relaxing atmosphere. Can't say enough good things. Well, I can say one thing about their big, weird lampshade lights. They reminded me of grandma sheets that doubled as lampshades. Weird. Our server was great. We had a pretty big group and he kept everything together well and was very attentive. No errors on the checks! Now to food...if you come here, you MUST come for Happy Hour. Half off small plates! Pizzas! Drinks! WOW! It's only from 4-6pm though. So get here after work. I had a warm ricotta small plate before getting pizza. SO SO GOOD. It had peaches in the ricotta. They also served it with rosemary and garlic bread. Heavenly. My friend and I split a Hawaiian pizza. It was good just not anything to shake a stick at. Not a ton of flavor sauce-wise but their crust is superb. Thin and flavorful. Anyway, my friend paid for the pizza and I had two of their cocktails and paid $15 for my drinks and the app. Such a great deal. I had a moscow mule which was made with Belvedere. I felt classy. I also had a Basil Collins made with gin and basil, obviously. Their drinks weren't too strong but very tasty. Anyway, come for the food, the fun, the HAPPY HOUR. You won't be disappointed.

    (4)

  • Lori S.

    Some friends and I were eager to try out this new Short North hangout tonight, and we were really pleased. First of all, there's a fantastic happy hour. From 4-6 pm all drafts, house cocktails and wine are half off and so are appetizers, shareables and pizzas. Fantastic deals. The interior of the restaurant is beautiful and spacious with emphasis on bar space and hangout space. The open kitchen is dominated by the stone pizza oven, and as my friend and I had a cocktail and waited for our table, the pizzas coming out looked and smelled delicious. We tried some of the shareable, the risotto balls, the pork belly and the ahi tuna tartare tacos. All of them were delicious. The service was friendly, prompt and attentive. We were also impressed that the entirety of Forno's draft selections were local Ohio brews, five of them from Columbus! Most of us got pizza, and it was uniformly delicious - tasty, flavorful toppings on a nice chewy crisp crust with that touch of stone-fired char. I'd be remiss if I didn't mention the side order of Brussels sprouts that one friend got. They were so delicious that we sat there tasting them and tried to determine what they put in them to make them so delectable. We ended up asking our server (the answer: sauteed in butter, then housemade chicken stock with shallots and garlic). I had a fantastic dinner, it was reasonably priced (pizzas at around $13) and those happy hour specials are beckoning.

    (5)

  • Minna C.

    The margherita pizza was good but why was it so runny in the middle? My friend and i assumed it was the tomatoes and tried to enjoy the pizza... The restaurant gets the four star for its ahi tuna tacos.. It may be an appetizer but its filling and delicious!!! Fresh plump tuna bites with great seasoning!!!

    (4)

  • Ashley C.

    LOVE this place! Service is great, food is great! Brittany is awesome! Gabriel rocks!Nice to come to a place and be treated so well! Will be back often and have told many to come try it!

    (5)

  • Shruti S.

    Made a beeline for the Ahi Tuna tacos, and the Kiwi Mule. Both were great! More so, because I did the Happy Hour specials, meaning, everything was half off. It's the decor and service for which I've given the high rating, since I sampled only two items on the menu! This place is gorgeously decorated. Lovely blue, white, brown, orange colour palette; comfy and trendy seating; just the right weight on that cutlery. Bottles left on the table for you. My server, Bethany, was really attentive.

    (4)

  • Jamie S.

    New corner hot spot in short north that is finally here to stay! The ambiance is great with upbeat music, mood lighting, and trendy decor. It will have you feeling like you are somewhere not in Ohio! Their spicy marg hits the spot with a good balance of tangy, sweet, and spicy. We ordered the Italian salad, Brussels, ahi tuna tacos (the taco shells were amazing), and the carne pizza which was wood fired to perfection. Service was very friendly and messed up our salad and appetizer order and gave it to us on the house. Overall, check it out!! Great for a hot spot just to grab drinks too!!

    (5)

  • Francine V.

    My time here was beyond enjoyable- and I'll explain why. First off, I came here on an extremely busy Saturday evening. The placed was packed and I managed to get a seat within an hour- which went by notably fast when you head to the bar for their delicious cocktails. The atmosphere was welcoming and the employees made sure I was OK- which is quite appreciative, considering how many people there were. The food exceeded my expectations. I had the pork belly tacos- YUMMY! As well as the cured pork belly which was even better, and the tomahawk ribeye. I like my meat, and they do not skimp on that! The pork belly was delicious- coming from someone not from Ohio- it's best to keep an open mind on these new foods. As for the ribeye- the best I've ever had in Columbus. And I'm not just trying to be nice. I've had ribeye at Hyde park, black point, etc. and this was by far my favorite. It was extremely tender and juicy- my butter knife could cut through it with ease. Rich in flavor, every succulent bite made my experience even better! Overall I gotta give this a 5/5. I will definitely be back and will bring a few more friends with me!

    (5)

  • Andrea B.

    Great food, seriously one of the best vegetarian pizza's I've had in a long time, I loved the bubbly crust hot out of the pizza oven! Came in for happy hour which unfortunately it ends at 6pm so I really rushed over to meet friends. I'll come back and edit this post giving 5 stars *IF* management extends happy hour. 4-6pm is just so difficult to get to. I want my half off pizza at 6:30pm!

    (4)

  • Mironda R.

    4.5 Stars is what I'd give this place! Great (not perfect) experience! The ambiance was sexy, crazy, cool without being pretentious. Everyone raved about the food from the starters to main courses to the pizza. So the specifics: To start, the table ordered the olive sampler, ahi tacos, calamari, pork belly tacos, ricotta and toast, and the roasted garlic shrimp. Of the fan favorites, I'd say the ahi tacos and the garlic shrimp OUTDID themselves. I mean the tacos were amazeballs. The shrimp was rich, so I only needed one, but that one was heavenly. I think the least fave was the ricotta and toast, seemed to be a lot of that left over after all was said and done. So let's talk about this MAINS -- I opted for the arugula salad (with fennel and a lime mint vinaigrette) sooo tasty and the Salmon. This baby was a beauty, cooked to perfection (medium that is) and served in a cast iron skilled on a red pepper puree. It was better than the presentation (who does that)?! And the vegetables were roasted to the right about of cook (re: just a smidget after al dente). From a side perspective, the table ordered the brussel sprouts and the root vegetables. I loved them both, but a few people commented that unless you LOVED brussel sprouts, these may not be the ones. I wonder what that says about me?! Anywho - what I can say is the table ordered 3 pizzas (they are small - medium, but 3 can easily feed about 5 people with extras) and they loved them especially the white pizza. Surprisingly it was the carnivores favorite as well. It had roasted garlic olive oil, mushrooms, mozzarella, artichoke, onions, and parmesan. So why the less that 5 star experience: service was extremely slow (and yes, I've been out to great places with larger groups and it doesn't take hours to get food) and it took quite a while to get seated even after we had over 70% of our group there which was somewhat of a bummer. All in all. .totally go back!

    (4)

  • Megan V.

    A refreshing, swanky vibe with fabulous food and cocktails to boot! I was fortunate to be one of the lucky people that dined at Forno opening weekend. My experience was all around quite pleasant for a number of reasons. Here it goes... 1) We got a table without a reservation. I can't imagine this being the case for long once word gets out... Shhhsh! 2) The atmosphere is super trendy with large light fixtures, neon lights, unique tables, huge bar, formal hostess, etc. It reminds me of a hip NYC restaurant. Welcome to Columbus! 3) The cocktails are on point. They specialize in mules - the drink, not the animal. The classic Moscow mule is great - everything I would expect. If you are looking for something a little different, the kiwi mule is absolute perfection - ginger beer, vodka, kiwi. Not too sweet, but quite delicious...so delicious that you may drink them fairly quickly. Whoops! 4) Their food puts a unique flare on traditional dishes. To start, we ordered the ricotta and toast appetizer. It had chunks of peaches and was sprinkled with cinnamon - a nice balance of sweet and salty. For our main course, we shared their specialty, a stone-fired pizza. We went with the Hawaiian pizza - jalapeño peppers, pineapple, etc. It really packed a kick! Amazing (if you like spicy food)! 5) Good people all around! The service was superior even though they were quite busy. Our waitress was super friendly and pleasant - a real pro handling the crowd. Not only was the service appealing, but also the general clientele. There were many beautiful people dining/drinking there. It says the restaurant is casual, but people seemed to be turning it up a lot on the weekend. Good for them! I like to see nice things - seating, atmosphere, food, drink, and people. A very well-rounded new location in the Short North. I do say.

    (5)

  • Serena H.

    6 of us showed up Saturday night ready for a good time. We were told there would be an hour wait, which was OK for opening weekend, but as we walked around to the bar, there was so many open tables that we just didnt understand why they didn't seat us. We supposed it was for reservations, but was told that there would be no reservations for the night. IN all, we were just confused, but decided to just order a drink and hold it out. Eventually we were seated, in one of the tables that was empty for the whole 30minutes or so that we waited. So let's do the breakdown: Drinks: pricey at 9 bucks a cocktail and overall not too impressive. Of all the drinks we ordered, the jalepeno margarita was the best. Decor: confusing. We all dressed kinda casual, as it appeared so on the website/menu, but when it got there it seemed kinda bar/clubby with the soft red lights and well dressed waitresses/hostess. Didn't really match up. Pizza: mediocre, especially at a price of 12/pie. It just wasn't special. We had the mediterranean and the wild mushroom and they tasted the same, except for a couple different toppings. It didn't feel like there was much thought put into it, and there are many other places around town with cheaper and better pizza. Pork Belly Taco: again, just mediocre Arancino: wait, mediocre, too? Overall, there is definitely a lot of room for improvement. I have to give them credit for the service, aside from the whole not being seated despite so many open tables that never even filled up until we were wayyy into our dinner. At the bar we were addressed in a reasonable time, and our waitress was fairly pleasant.

    (3)

  • Carianne M.

    I had dinner at Forno for a birthday shortly after their opening. Overall, it was fine! The open-kitchen layout was fun to see. Huge ovens with all kinds of great things going in and coming out bubbly and delicious. The place was pretty packed even though the weather was awful, but we made it in time for happy hour and my Moscow Mule was top-knotch. The meal was good, appetizers good. It was simply loud inside and it made it a bit distracting. Our table was in an awkward corner and the waitress was stuck squeezing in awkwardly each time she checked on us. I think, post-opening frenzy, this place would be worth checking out again. Their branding makes them stand out enough that they will likely always be busy, though much more so for the sit-down-stay-a-while crowd.

    (4)

  • Mirabelle L.

    We had ahi tuna taco, calamari, margarita pizza, and peanut butter cheesecake. Food was delicious overall. Ahi tuna and calamari were fresh, margarita pizza was a bit dry but decent, and peanut butter cheesecake was slightly too sweet for me. Ambience was great here and we had a wonderful time. Service was above average. Price is also very fair. Would totally recommend this place.

    (4)

  • Tamara O.

    As the solo artist I made my trip here during happy hour. Half off apps,shared plates,house cocktails and pizza. I enjoyed a forno pizza and Apple Manhattan. My goal here wasn't to eat a pizza since I read mixed reviews about it and a reviewer wrote that had to eat Late Night Slice to make it better. LNS is not ny fave so It's my greatest hope this so much better. The server recommend pizza over a burger. My pizza arrived steaming hot topped with goat cheese,mozz,red pepper puree,asparagus and chicken. Crust was a bit darker then I prefer but everything else blended well. I was surprised by the tastey bits of melty goat chesse like little melts of deliciousness. My glass for the drink was a bit spotty and not polished well but that can pass. I still polish glasses I know it's a pain. Good place for a date or traveling solo. Even for that internet date your not sure if. Big Sister is watching. Server was attentive but not hovering. Love the napkins. Take a stack if you wear more food then you eat. Forno just maybe my new go to place for eats and I cant wait to try strawberry jello shots. Some adjustments could be; TVs could use some captions. The space is a bit tiny. Guests and the staff seemed to be squeezing by people sitting at the bar. Not sure if tray service is used but it seems like it will be a tight squeeze. A positive interaction was that the Chef and the GM came out and asked about my food and services. Very nice of both. Not sure if that always happens or it was because Im a solo artist. Either way it was a nice touch. Hopefully I will be there with a date on my next visit. #yolomeal

    (5)

  • Peggy T.

    We went there last night as part of the Yelp CBUS tour and had the delicious Fresh Strawberry Shot. The atmosphere was very nice and the food smelled amazing. The manager (or a very nice employee) walked by and even asked if we wanted our picture taken with the Strawberry shots. We will definitely go back and try it for dinner

    (5)

  • Ms. B.

    Stopped into Forno after completing some running shoe shopping to grab a bite. Upon entry, we were immediately seated in the bar area. It was happy hour, so I was pleasantly surprised with the happy hour menu and prices. For the place to be a little over half full (not including the bar area), I was expecting prompter service. My friend and I both had time to walk two blocks to our respective meters before we were even asked about drinks. The food: We decided to share a Four Cheese Pizza, which arrived very timely. I do not understand the small, oval shaped plates they have at the tables. They are not conducive for eating pizza. The actual pizza was VERY DELICIOUS and I would definitely return. Besides the wait, in future visits I would hope they would give the option to sit outside or indoors, and if they are going to show sports talk shows on the television, at least turn on the closed captioning so we can actually know what's going on. Kinda seemed like a waste of electricity. Overall, good pizza and drinks, decent service. I'll likely return in the future.

    (3)

  • Gus W.

    I didn't know what to think before heading to Forno. The pictures of food looked pretty great on the website and on here, but since it's same people that run Pint House, I was expecting it to be obnoxiously crowded. To my surprise, it wasn't that bad for a restaurant that had just opened, and we waited about 35-45 minutes for a table. That was fine by me, because we were able to grab a spot at the bar, no problem. Personally, I wanted to eat there, but the girlfriend wanted a table, so we waited. The place is separated into basically two separate areas when you walk in: A dimly blue lit bar area on the left, and a more vibrant and normally lit area on the right. Both sides had seating, but the right side was much bigger and a bit more welcoming. Of course, we were not sat on that side. The table they sat us at seemed a bit tight at first, but we made do, and the only real complaint was the draft coming from the front door. As far as service goes, our waitress was super friendly and helpful, and she was quick to check up on us when we needed drinks. She also had some decent insight into the menu which helped (Apparently the pork belly tacos are much better than the pork belly appetizer by itself. There was no way I was eating tacos and a pizza though). We were pretty hungry at this point, so we ordered two different pizzas: the Carne, which had a good deal of meat on it, and I can't remember the name of the other, but it was their white pizza. Both were awesome! I was actually surprised with how good the pizza was here. I ate my entire pizza and some of the girlfriend's .The pizzas are 12", and I was really full, so you may have issues eating one to yourself, but it can be done. The pizza itself wasn't too pricey. I think in the $12-$14 range, which is about what I expected, but the drinks weren't cheap. Overall, I liked this place a lot, and the girlfriend loved it, so we'll definitely be back again, especially since the wait is not all that bad.

    (4)

  • August B.

    This place is ok. If it were in a shopping mall in the suburbs, I would consider recommending it. But you're in the Short North. Want a fancy pizza? Go to Rossi. Want deep dish? Go to Fabian's. Want less fancy pizza? Go to Late Night Slice. Or Zpizza. Or Donatos.

    (2)

  • Maddie O.

    The food was good, atmosphere was okay and service was ehh. The beer and wine selection was pretty good. They had some interesting cocktails that were reasonably priced. They have Jell-O shots and punch bowls which is a cool touch. I ordered the olive sampler. Don't do that. It was $1's worth of olives and some cheese. A waste of money for some olives. The pizza was good. I had the chicken Alfredo and I would definitely get it again. I prefer thicker crust but the toppings and sauce were delicious. Star of the show for sure. The cheesecake. Oh the cheesecake. I will be returning solely for the cheesecake. It was real ricotta and mascarpone and a great balance of citrus. What really underwhelmed me was the service and atmosphere. There's something about the dining room. I think it's the coloring or the weird diaper looking lamps. It was also pretty dark which I don't love. And it smelled like burnt pizza from their signature oven. Our service was okay. They gave us a free dessert because we were celebrating a friend's bday. But they didn't have enough chairs for us. We had reservations and wouldn't seat us until the entire party arrived. It was a Wednesday night and they had plenty of room to seat us. Then they told us we had to wait at the bar until another table left because they didn't have enough chairs for our party. We had reservations. They knew exactly how many chairs we needed but couldn't accommodate. But I guess that's what happens when bar guys open a restaurant. Overall: self-proclaimed pizza queen definitely approves.

    (3)

  • Mike K.

    Food was above average. Service was too quick. Not ideal for a romantic dinner. Good eat and run spot. Risotto balls app was very good. Pasta Forno with meatballs was good. Pasta cooked correctly. Pizza, from afar looked good. Seemed to be the choice for most patrons. Bottom line - hipster pizza joint.

    (3)

  • Kim D.

    The seafood appetizers was phenomenal. The shrimp was cooled perfectly and the tuna sashimi tacos was delightfully fun. The pizza had some rough edges, but I think it can improve over time. I especially loved the strawberry shooters as desserts. The flavor was actually a a perfectly ripe strawberry! As for the service, I really liked our waitress she was informative and patient. I didn't get one snotty vibe from her. A+

    (4)

  • Jessica B.

    So Forno is fun, but you can tell that the previous two restaurants that were there....were, well, there. Its like bits and pieces of the decor stayed around... Thats not why I'm here though. Forno has a great happy hour, half priced cocktails are awesome. The apple Manhattan is strong enough for a man but juuust girlie enough for the ladies. They specialize in pizza. We had a Hawaiian and added sausage per the bartender recommendation, and it was goooood. Will definitely go back and try it again.

    (4)

  • Lauren A.

    I was excited to try Forno and stopped by during gallery hop for dinner. The atmosphere was nice, with huge windows great for people watching. The food however was mediocre, to start my friend and I both ordered adult beverages, I had the peach palmer and my friend the Moscow mule, both were ok, but I'm not even 100% sure there was even alcohol in mine. Next I ordered a ceasar salad, which came out before we even got our drinks, the salad had little taste and I was unimpressed. The saving grace was the Margarita pizza, a nice combo of soft and crispy crust. So overall it was not a total loss however, I would not recommend it to a friend, and I will most likely not be back.

    (2)

  • Roberta L.

    We had multiple recommendations to give Forno a try. We had reservations at 8:30 and waited quite some time to get seated even though there were two hosts. Upon sitting we were pretty much given the worst table in the place.. I guess reservations weeks in advance are taken lightly. The decor didn't quite make sense, mixing wood accent walls to a color changing spot light. Our server was a sweet girl and very helpful when it came to ordered both cocktails (kiwi mule is a must) and dinner (shrimp apps), but all in all it was a very slow service and almost seemed inattentive at times. The shrimp and beet salad far exceeded our expeditions while the Calabrese pizza fell short. It's not worth the drive back or being perched on a high stool for dinner.

    (2)

  • Steven P.

    I thought we had already done this review, but it seems to have disappeared.... This place is highly recommended, the food, waitstaff and service were absolutely superb. We ordered one of their pizzas, which was the best pizza we have had to date in Columbus in almost 30 years...

    (5)

  • Valerie K.

    This place has a great happy hour and patio! I love the ambiance here, I think we might finally have a winner in this doomed spot in the middle of the Short North. Tuna was excellent. I recommend this!

    (4)

  • Anne D.

    Mule, calamari, AND mahi tacos, how do you compare?! Best happy hour I've been to in awhiiiile- and a really good one is harrd to come by. Definitely a pleasantly returning customer. A must see, for great deals

    (5)

  • Marc H.

    I loved this place on my visit. Very nice inside but we sat outside on small enclosed side walk patio. Good choice too. Cucumber jalapeño drink was really great! Pizzas are fantastic. Tuna tacos app was good. Also had the pasta with clams which was really tasty and light. I will be back for sure.

    (5)

  • Nicholas N.

    Forno is on my block so maybe I'm biased, but I don't think so. If you're looking for a spot that can be both a great dinner hangout to enjoy awesome food and drinks or a later night stop with a fun bar scene (and awesome drinks), Forno is it. I enjoy the distinct different styles on each side of the restaurant. I think you will to.

    (4)

  • Emily L.

    I have been craving to check out this spot for a while now and was finally able to go for dinner. Firstly, I must comment on the atmosphere of the place, it is a really cool new feel for the Columbus area and has a large wrap around bar area with huge bay windows, this place will be ideal for the summer time! If anything this spot would be ideal for grabbing some cocktails. As for the food, I ordered the Caprese sandwich with the glazed vegetables on the side. The sandwich was good, nothing amazing, but also not disappointing. I was expecting more of a panini type of sandwich but it turned out to be a cold version, but still tastey. As for thee side vegetables, they were AMAZING!! delicious. I probably would not go and order the sandwich again, and try the pizza next time, but as for the sides I am impressed!

    (3)

  • Alexandra P.

    Forno has good pizza. I will say that. However, I have never gone to forno and actually been seated within 15 minutes of my reservation time. I live in Chicago and was in town this weekend. I made reservations at forno three weeks ago for me and my parents. We get there five minutes early last night and the hostess tells me it will be closer to the time of my reservation so to wait at the bar. Five minutes go by, ten minutes go by, twenty minutes go by. I ask her how much longer and she goes, "Oh I was just about to page your name." And then I made sure we were going to be sitting in the dining area because the area by the bar in the back side of the restaurant is really loud and those random tables should really be part of the bar area. As soon as I said that she was like oh you have to request to sit in the dining room. It will be a longer wait. I freaked. We had already been waiting for twenty five minutes. My parents usually go for the rigsby's, martini, m type of restaurant and they were very angry. The hostess told me that I would get the next table and that I was next on the list. My mom said something and the hostess goes, "well what's your name?" so were we really next? She didn't even know the name of our party and had been telling me we were next. She was lying. We continued to watch other parties get seated in the dining room and two four top tables were cleared and clean and we weren't being seated. At the forty five minute mark - forty five minutes after our reservation time, that is, we decided to leave. My dad and I walked out so angry and my mom told the hostess she wanted to speak with a manager. The hostess tried to argue with my mom ?? Finally a manager walks over and told my mom she was so sorry, they had a table for us and it was ready. Of course it was ready, it had been ready the hostess just wasn't doing anything. And there were three people at the hostess stand, so it's not like it was just her. My dad refused to eat there, can you blame him? It was insulting. I have been to forno probably five times and like I said, the Mediterranean pizza and kiwi mule are very good. Unfortunately I will never go back and it is entirely the fault of the hostess.

    (1)

  • Grant J.

    The best! First time eating here was last night. Came back the next night and it got better! Ordered what I thought was mushroom risotto and I ordered the pizza on accident. They then brought the risotto out as well to be nice. I will be back!!!!

    (5)

  • N S.

    I wanted to really like this. I like it but am not over the top about it. Staff is friendly Menu is interesting. Food is good but not great (even the tuna tacos, which our friend raved about, were....meh). Noise level worthy of a Cameron Mitchell piped-in cacophony. I thought the pizza was OK, but nothing more. Not at a Harvest Pizza level. I think the hype may have gotten to them. They are going to have to deliver more flavor and more interest to keep packing them in like they do. Give it a try, certainly.

    (3)

  • Rami M.

    Because I've heard so many great things about Forno, I braced myself for disappointment when I recently visited- surely it must be overhyped, I thought. Well, I was wrong. Forno really blew me away from the moment I walked in. It has a very cool vibe and layout- it seemed like a NYC place. We had the Ahi Tuna Tacos for a starter, and the tuna was out of this world fresh and tasty. I definitely recommend it! After much deliberation, I ended up ordering the classic Margherita pizza. It was the best I've had in Columbus. The sauce was the boss, the basil added depth and freshness, but the cheese was what really took it to another dimension: generous portions of fresh, TASTY, mozzarella balls strategically placed on each slice. The menu seemed fairly priced and the service was great, despite how busy they were on a Saturday night. Definitely give Forno a try or two (or three...)!

    (5)

  • Michelle S.

    Awesome pizza and a great happy hour- half off drinks, pizzas and apps? Ideal! They have a yummy brunch menu, too. My husband and I frequent it, often! The atmosphere is also fantastic- modern, inviting, spacious, etc. Great addition to the short north!

    (4)

  • Sarah H.

    We stopped here after shopping in the short north. We loved the decor and it seemed very modern. We were immediately seated and our server was very prompt. We were there at happy hour so we were able to try a few items at half off which is always a plus. I started with the Kiwi Mule, the drink was amazing. I wanted more but I was driving so sadly I couldn't. We tried the fried Aranchini which were very delicious. We also had the Carne pizza. The pizza was crispy and tasted of the wood fired oven. I will be coming back very soon. I loved the food and service.

    (5)

  • Kyle F.

    I got the Forno Pasta ( can't remember if that's the exact name or not) and a chicken Alfredo pizza. Both were delicious. Perfect amount of food for myself and my date. Also their Moscow mules are one of the best I've ever had! I will definitely be going back here when I am Columbus again.

    (5)

  • Whitney S.

    Came here for a friend's birthday at happy hour.. They get a 3 for having a good happy hour- 1/2 off drinks, shareables, and pizza from 4-6.. Their wine selection is nice But the pizza I ordered was the Chicken Forno.. I figured with their name on it, it would be the best.. But it was a few slices of chicken with barely any sauce. Not a great experience for me, but others enjoyed their pizza.

    (3)

  • Allison M.

    Fabulous food, drinks and service! The happy hour is also amazing! I have been many times and have been so pleased with the experience. I highly recommend Forno as a great place to have a wonderful experience.

    (5)

  • Heath H.

    I was so excited to see a new entity take over the heart of the SN, especially on this corner that seems to be cursed for businesses. With an open mind, and post-happy hour hunger, it was nice to be seated immediately on a Friday night. The atmosphere (aside from those light fixtures that look like they are oversized granny lamps from IKEA) was nice, and they have a bar area with a different vibe than the main eating area. This is a place that balances a nice aesthetic with welcoming environment. And of course the corner view is perfect for people-watching. My server was friendly and helpful. She was honest about portion sizes and didn't try to oversell, which is always appreciated. My cocktail was really good, holding its own with ones I frequently get at Lindey's, Mouton, Curio, etc. Now to the salad: the Italian salad was bland, toppings were sparse, and at $9, it was overpriced. Marcella's is by no means the standard-bearer for Italian food, but I always get the same side salad there (antipasto) and it is much better and $1.50 cheaper. This was a total fail. Finally, the pizza arrived. It looked delicious. My friend took a couple of bites before I did, and he managed to ruin the experience with one comment: "Tell me that doesn't taste like Chef Boyardee pizza from our childhood!" Dinner. Ruined. Why? Because although it's been 30 years since I last had it, I instantly tasted exactly what he meant. Although I would not be so obnoxious as to say it was as bad as Chef Boyardee, it reminded me of it A LOT, and it was simply mediocre. At some point, I didn't even mind that about 1/3 to 1/4 of it barely had sauce. They want to be crust-heavy, fine. What really boggles my mind is that this is a place that specializes in pizza. And I love pizza. But one can go down the street, to Rossi, a place that has a diverse menu (i.e. not explicitly Italian or with a massive pizza oven as a focal point), and get pizza that is notably better than this. Later in the evening, when walking past the Mikey's pizza truck, my friend said he was tempted to get a slice just to offset his pizza disappointment. I definitely have plans to check out this place at at happy hour, and I'll try dinner again. But if someone is looking for "gourmet" pizza (the price point is reasonable, so no complaints there), this is not the place to go in Columbus. Columbus has stiff competition for pizza, and this sadly is not competitive.

    (2)

  • Thomas S.

    Food - Tastes great, but portions are not worth the price. Service - Absolutely terrible.

    (2)

  • Dan R.

    Excellent experience! Came in for brunch this past Sunday and had a great meal! They were extremely busy and the manager still made us feel very welcomed! We ordered the Chicken and waffles and they were everything we imagined and more! The Brasato was off the charts!! We had been there for dinner in the past and the pizza was the best in town! Carne pizza add olives is the winner! My server told us about the bloody mary and mimosa deal and definitely loved it! The homemade bloody mary was great and really took the edge off of my hangover. I will definitely be back and will be telling all my friends about the best brunch in town. This place is slowly becoming my favorite restaurant and kudos to the Chef for coming up with some great food!!!

    (5)

  • Neil P.

    Great new addition to the Short North. The food is terrific...The atmosphere is reminiscent of a NYC eatery...The staff is warm and welcoming. Happy Hour is the best in the area...Half off signature cocktails, wine glasses, draft beer, appetizers and pizza!!! I can't wait to bring my friends in so we can get a Punch Bowl for the table.

    (5)

  • Xiao M.

    Been there three times now. Good food, great service, nice ambiance, and location. Love their happy hour!

    (5)

  • Christine L.

    Loved it! Had Aranici (rice balls) as an app which were great, and then shared a pepperoni pizza. Both delicious! Great atmosphere and service. Will definitely be back!

    (5)

  • Danny R.

    Was in for the second time since they opened for drinks. Place had a great energy. The staff was very friendly and attentive. The pizza I've had so far are great! This was my second time in. It's such a great improvement over what was formally in that space!

    (4)

  • Aireal M.

    Food is overpriced and not that great. We had the shrimp apetizer which was good. Parm french fries tasted processed and it had huge Parm flakes on top that fell off when you ate it. The half chicken dish was bland. The medeteranian pizza tasted just ok but I'm convinced it later soured my stomach. Staff and service was great but overall, it really wasn't worth it.

    (2)

  • Stacy R.

    I went against my golden rule of not trying a new restaurant until it had time to work out its kinks... But last night we wanted to try the brand-new Forno that opened up in the short north. Again, take my review with a grain of salt since it's only been open two weeks. Restaurant style: it's having a slight identity crisis. Its decor and feel is a mix between trendy, club-ish with a splash of a casual. They describe themselves as a cozy, local hangout, but it felt more modern and sterile. Service: they nailed it with the service! Our server was attentive, informative, very nice, and did an overall great job. Food came out in a timely manner as did our drinks. Menu/food: The menu is much like its atmosphere... Slightly confusing, but a good mix of options. They specialize in their wood fire pizzas, but I felt like they fell a bit short for being their key item. The flavors weren't all there. We tried the Margherita pizza and the white pizza and there wasn't much difference between the two. We also tried the mushroom risotto as a side, which was very good. And we had the ricotta and oil on toast as an appetizer, and it was okay. The only dessert option they had was a cheesecake. I was a little disappointed there. Again, I think it's a new restaurant that still needs to find its way. The food wasn't by any means repulsive, but I've definitely had a lot better. I don't see myself going back here for a while. But it's at least a new spot to try and form your own opinion.

    (3)

  • Allyson H.

    Service was very good at the bar. Bar tender was attentive and we always had a fresh drink. Food was good, but nothing special. We ordered the pepperoni pizza. The toppings didn't go to the crust, so that was a negative. We also ordered the risotto balls, that again, were good, but nothing special. I think we will come back for the service and give it another try on the pizza or something else.

    (3)

  • Joshua L.

    Good, not great, but better than anything that had been in that spot for many years. My wife and I took her mom there for lunch the other week, and we ordered a couple pizzas and a couple appetizers. The best of what we ordered was the calamari appetizer, but still nothing that I can't get somewhere else. The pizza, which is what they're supposed to be all about, was extremely oily to the point that it drowned the pizza and make it slightly soggy. Favors were good, and because it had just opened a week earlier, they've got to be still be working out the kinks. I'd return after everything gets worked out and the food execution is refined. I think it will get better with time.

    (3)

  • Beth O.

    Food is delicious! 2 of us came for lunch- split ahi tacos & beet salad. Enough to fill up and so so good. Great staff. Fast service.

    (5)

  • James G.

    Relatively new in the neighborhood, we tried it last night. Had the pizza, which is the signature dish. It was good, certainly above average. The prices are reasonable. The brussel sprouts were very salty, though. One thing, which is a pet peeve of mine, I don't like being interrupted every two or three minutes to see if we need anything or if everything is OK. It's an American thing to be bombarded with questions any hurried out, but it's annoying. Why can't we just order then enjoy our meal. When we're ready then we can call someone over for something else or the check. It would make the dining experience so much more pleasant.

    (4)

  • Morgan P.

    Visited a month ago for just drinks and appetizers. Very clean, comfortable atmosphere. Great service by the waitress. Food was great portions for the size. Drinks were unique and delicious!! I will definitely be back!!

    (5)

  • Shyan Y.

    Last night was our 7th year anniversary and we're very happy to have had dinner here for it. We will definitely be back to try the pizzas. We started off with the Ahi Tuna tacos that were yummy however very salty. I only ate one of them and let my fiance have my other because I couldn't handle the saltiness. But the tuna tasted very fresh and everything else about it was fantastic! I had the Forno Burger and my fiance had the Petit Filet 27. Both were cooked perfectly and absolutely delicious. The buckeye cheesecake is very rich and yummy. Little bits of dried raspberry on the plate was a sweet touch. Great beer and nice wine selection. The ambiance of the place is nice, and while it's obviously more upscale, the service and the low lights allow for a certain level of comfort that doesn't seem pretentious. Ashley was our server and she was phenomenal. Loved her and will definitely be back again!

    (4)

  • Shoreh E.

    We went with 2 other couples and each couple ordered a pizza. All 3 pizzas which were different were extremely salty. Will not go back or recommend it!

    (1)

  • Dustin D.

    This place was fantastic. Went there with a big group for dinner on a Thursday night. Food was amazing. I got a burger. Maybe in the top 5 burgers if my life! I baby imagine this place on Friday or Saturday night... It was crazy busy when I was there on a Thursday. I guess all the locals knows it's great. Fast service, friendly, amazing food!

    (5)

  • Mike S.

    Pizza is amazing! Great place and awesome service! I enjoyed the bar with great company b

    (5)

  • R J.

    Ya know, you can't polish a turd and call it pizza. Look, I absolutely hated the crust that came with my half-off happy hour Carne pizza here last week. The crust reminds me of an article I read about cheap bromated pizza flour that any 7/11 clerk can stir up and call it a slice. Not saying Forno is this, but the crust does have similarity. Tough, hard to chew...I hate this kind of crust that's all work to eat and no love or joy to eat (like Harvest's crust is). I enjoyed the fresh high quality toppings and the price...wait, no I didn't, I didn't enjoy the pizza at all due to the sub-par crust. And I'm sorry I came here. That is all.

    (2)

  • Natalie F.

    2/5 stars. The decor is stunning. A mix of wallpapers, unique accents, funky blue mood lighting throughout the dining room, and large, elegant lamp shades floating from the ceiling create a very cool and modern vibe. Our waitress was not friendly. She rambled through menu specials and seemed generally uninterested in us and her job. Water was spilled on my menu and my friend's drink was delivered to me, but she did not notice either of these slip-ups. Later in the meal, she seemed to have forgotten about us and it was very difficult to get her attention for the check. I was excited to try Forno, so it was disappointing that service was so poor. As for the food, I was underwhelmed. On a positive note I was happy with the bread and dips app. The Italian bread slices, hummus, mushroom pate, and tapenade dips were excellent. The caprese sandwich was worth $6, not the $12 they charge on the menu. It's not very large, ingredients are inexpensive, and it is served with a pile of very basic french fries. I felt deceived by the menu which describes a caprese made with basil, but mine was made with arugula leaves (??). The two pizzas my friends ordered were slightly burnt but were edible. I hope Forno can step it up and improve their service and food. If I return, it will be for the great location and fabulous indoor ambiance.

    (3)

  • Christina Y.

    Went during Happy Hour. Had a pizza, four drinks amongst two of us, and an appetizer. About $35. Oh, and did I mention it was amazing? Go...now!

    (4)

  • Lisa R.

    I love what Forno has done with the decor. Very modern and pretty. They get a 4 from me because they have an excellent happy hour! Great drinks with hand crafted mixers, wine, appetizers and pizzas half priced! My friend and I shared 2 apps, garlic shrimp and the calamari. The shrimp was cooked perfectly, and the calamari was fresh, and served over arugula. With two excellent dipping sauces. Deeelish! We were starving and the two appetizers were more than enough for dinner. I'm looking forward to trying more dishes in the future.

    (4)

  • Angie J.

    Beautiful interior and very cool and hip on a weekend night! My friend and I split a Hawaiian pizza-it was good and a decent price point. Could have used a little more toppings-I understand it's not supposed to be loaded with heavy toppings but it was still a bit light on the pineapple. Our drinks were very delicious. I got the kiwi mule and my friend got a peach drink-I think it was peach Arnold Palmer? Both were refreshing just a bit light on the alcohol content-especially if you intend on just having one like we did.

    (4)

  • Briana B.

    The food here is AMAZING! The service is wonderful and the drink menu has a large variety. Must try's: the Warm Ricotta, Spiked Strawberries, Margherita Pizza and Lemon Bar with blueberry sauce!

    (5)

  • Keida M.

    Easter at Forno! This seems like the seventh restaurant I have seen in this location, and the hopes are that it lasts! If I could, I would give this a 2 1/2 Stars, and thinking of its potential, I will push it to a 3. So the review on this is mixed: The decor is amazing! Love the open kitchen design with the bar, and the curvy rounded countertop is splendid. Even the silverware is nice. Kudos to whoever designed this place, I would give it a 5+ Stars! The service was friendly, but a little distant. Our waiter didn't sell us the menu at all. We weren't asked if we had ever been in, no mention of items on the menu, just a polite inquiry if we were ready to order. The only recommendations were the preferred cocktails which felt more like an up-sell than an actual preference. The pizza came out in the middle of us eating the salad, and while I was eating the waiter cleared a plate I was using. I found that irritating. That being said, our waiter was really nice, and very hip and attractive! 2.5 out of 5. The food and drinks were pretty much good, solid even, but totally unremarkable. And annoyingly overpriced. We got the beet salad which was all that you expect, and not much more. The orange infused marinated shallots were delicious! The beets were not from a can which is awesome. The problem is that it was a TINY salad. And there was no real signature. Z Pizza down the street has a better arugula salad for a few bucks less and double the size. With so many awesome beet salad on the same street (North Star, The Rossi, Philco...), you just can't have a boring beet salad, not allowed. Wild Mushroom Pizza - Again, same problem as above. First, they call it a large (6 small pieces). My 105 lb girlfriend Charlie didn't even THINK of asking me if I wanted a 4th slice. If she can eat half a pie, it's a push to call it even a medium size. Also, no real signature, and I could name 5 places in town who have it better and cheaper (Bono Pizza, Harvest, The Rossi, Gioseppis, and Matt the Fucking Millers [whatever the fuck that name means]). Folks, you are losing if a place named "Matt The Millers" has a better ANYTHING than you do. Now, to be fair, Forno is close. The crust was perfect! The sauce had a whisper of a wine reduction to it that was so good I was looking for it with my tongue each bite. The cheese and mushrooms were also of high quality. Huge problem, no finishing truffle oil note! Today, you just can't get away with a wild mushroom anything and not taste a pungent mushroom note, not acceptable! But this is an easy fix, that's the good news. The cocktail was a $9 juice. No punch at all. It tasted like a loss leader, except in reverse, our loss... Verdict: at $42 with tip for a tiny salad, medium (at best) pizza, and a dopey drink, we won't be back for dinner. I would come back for a few (non-cocktail) drinks with a friend, maybe split another pie, but no date. They could fix these things easily and bump up to a 4/5. We'll see what they do! Forno sounds like Porno. This is a Russ Meyers flick that needs to take the clothes off, and soon! ~ Keida Mascaro

    (3)

  • Tammy P.

    Been here for a GNO, Bachelorette party and just a nightly hangout spot and love it! Atmosphere is chic and relaxing. Service is great n food was yummy! Steak was delicious!!! Appetizers are great! Drinks are plentiful. Heard pizza is good but haven't had a chance to try it out yet.

    (5)

  • Morgan F.

    Delicious garlic parm fries. And the pizza is amazing. Great service, beautiful space.

    (5)

  • Ryan K.

    Food: everything we had was delicious. Started with arancini (rice balls) and the olive plate. Main courses were the the forno specialty pizza which I would recommend and the margherita pizza which I did not try, but my colleague really enjoyed it. Finished the meal with peanut butter and chocolate cheesecake and the lemon bar. The cheesecake is terrific. It's thick. I doubt they use any ricotta, but very good. Service: on point. Helpful, knowledgable, attentive, clean. They seemed to care. Atmosphere: new, busy, clean, open, maybe a bit trendy, fun Misc: everything was great, but if you're a big dessert person, it may not be for you. While delicious, they only had 4 options and 3 of them were cheesecakes. The food above plus 2 beers and 2 glasses of wine - $122 after tip

    (4)

  • Marie H.

    Awesome happy hour and great alternative to Marcella's! (since I've pretty much tried everything there lol). So glad they took over the Two Fish location - the venue is spacious and nicely decorated and seems to be bustling during happy hour. The happy hour menu is not quite as extensive as Marcella's but does include 1/2 off bar snacks, shared items, pizzas, draft beer, wines, and house cocktails. We tried the following: - Calamari: not extraordinary or anything but still crispy and yummy, plus I liked the lemon aioli alternative to marinara sauce - House-cured pork belly: 4 large pieces of pork belly which complimented really well with the butternut squash purée and tart red cabbage. Slightly salty - Ahi tuna tacos: tuna tasted fresh and loved the avocado cream but could have been seasoned slightly more - Chicken Alfredo pizza: super warm and comforting, with lots of cheese. Chicken itself could use more seasoning - Breakfast pizza: the pancetta made it super salty but it's not too bad if you spread out the pancetta. Loved the brussel sprouts and eggs! The bill was very reasonable for how much food we got (esp the pizzas which are quite large), but I'm not sure I would be willing to pay regular price when it's not happy hour. Would definitely come back for happy hour though!

    (4)

  • Josh D.

    Solid happyhour. Highly recommend it. The food was good. Scallops weren't perfect but were good for the happyhour pricing. Veggie pizza [forget the name of it now] was well seasoned and garnished. I consider myself to be something of a cocktail connoisseur, and I was just a bit disappointed in their cocktail menu. The Apple Manhattan was amazing, would highly recommend to anyone wanting a wonderfully fall drink. The Gin Collins was okay, could use something to zazz it up. I was surprised to see so much vodka on the menu though. Another gin or rum option would be welcomed.

    (4)

  • Neil P.

    Great new addition to the Short North. The food is terrific...The atmosphere is reminiscent of a NYC eatery...The staff is warm and welcoming. Happy Hour is the best in the area...Half off signature cocktails, wine glasses, draft beer, appetizers and pizza!!! I can't wait to bring my friends in so we can get a Punch Bowl for the table.

    (5)

  • Allison M.

    Fabulous food, drinks and service! The happy hour is also amazing! I have been many times and have been so pleased with the experience. I highly recommend Forno as a great place to have a wonderful experience.

    (5)

  • Christine L.

    Loved it! Had Aranici (rice balls) as an app which were great, and then shared a pepperoni pizza. Both delicious! Great atmosphere and service. Will definitely be back!

    (5)

  • Xiao M.

    Been there three times now. Good food, great service, nice ambiance, and location. Love their happy hour!

    (5)

  • Danny R.

    Was in for the second time since they opened for drinks. Place had a great energy. The staff was very friendly and attentive. The pizza I've had so far are great! This was my second time in. It's such a great improvement over what was formally in that space!

    (4)

  • Arvid Y.

    I was finally able to check out Forno this past weekend. I had brunch with my mom and we both enjoyed it. First of all, the restaurant's aesthetic is top notch. Even with the bright orange colored theme, Forno still maintains a classic and luxurious ambiance, with high ceilings and large chandelier lamp shades. Another standout feature is Forno's patio. It's directly adjacent to Bakersfield's. It's small, but perfect for people-watching on a warm summer day. The brunch menu was solid. There were 9 items to choose from and you can still order from their regular menu. If you order a brunch item, you can add a mimosa/bloody Mary for an extra $4/5. We ended up ordering a bunch of things (we were hungry). Based on the Yelp reviews, I had ordered the Ahi Tuna Tacos. We also ordered the pork belly to share. For our mains, we shared the brunch brasato and the wild mushroom pizza. The food was excellent overall and portions were generous. We ordered way too much food. The tuna tacos were fresh just like everyone said, however I think my expectations were a bit too high, as I thought they were good but not great. I'm also not the biggest fan of hard shelled-tacos, so that could also be a factor. The pork belly was fried, which caught me off guard, but they were still tasty, I particularly liked the accompanying butternut squash puree and red cabbage slaw that it was served on, as its acid helped balance the fatty pork. The brunch brasato was quite a hearty dish. It consisted of braised beef with a cooked egg on-top, served with slices of bread. The combination of the pork belly dish with this brasato was just too rich. In retrospect we should have just ordered one or the other. With that said, the beef was flavorful and it's a dish I would order again to share. However, I don't think it's a good brunch entree for one person. As far as the pizza goes, it's good. But not Harvest good, in my opinion. I believe they use cornmeal in their dough, so it's a tad bit chewier and has a little more texture than the typical Neapolitan-style pizza. It's quite a good value at $12-14 for a 12 inch serving. The mushrooms were aromatic and I did not miss meat at all. Overall, Forno is a solid Short North dining option. Their prime location, classy atmosphere and good food are bound to keep bringing customers in. I'll be back soon to check out their Happy Hour.

    (4)

  • Rami M.

    Because I've heard so many great things about Forno, I braced myself for disappointment when I recently visited- surely it must be overhyped, I thought. Well, I was wrong. Forno really blew me away from the moment I walked in. It has a very cool vibe and layout- it seemed like a NYC place. We had the Ahi Tuna Tacos for a starter, and the tuna was out of this world fresh and tasty. I definitely recommend it! After much deliberation, I ended up ordering the classic Margherita pizza. It was the best I've had in Columbus. The sauce was the boss, the basil added depth and freshness, but the cheese was what really took it to another dimension: generous portions of fresh, TASTY, mozzarella balls strategically placed on each slice. The menu seemed fairly priced and the service was great, despite how busy they were on a Saturday night. Definitely give Forno a try or two (or three...)!

    (5)

  • Alexandra P.

    Forno has good pizza. I will say that. However, I have never gone to forno and actually been seated within 15 minutes of my reservation time. I live in Chicago and was in town this weekend. I made reservations at forno three weeks ago for me and my parents. We get there five minutes early last night and the hostess tells me it will be closer to the time of my reservation so to wait at the bar. Five minutes go by, ten minutes go by, twenty minutes go by. I ask her how much longer and she goes, "Oh I was just about to page your name." And then I made sure we were going to be sitting in the dining area because the area by the bar in the back side of the restaurant is really loud and those random tables should really be part of the bar area. As soon as I said that she was like oh you have to request to sit in the dining room. It will be a longer wait. I freaked. We had already been waiting for twenty five minutes. My parents usually go for the rigsby's, martini, m type of restaurant and they were very angry. The hostess told me that I would get the next table and that I was next on the list. My mom said something and the hostess goes, "well what's your name?" so were we really next? She didn't even know the name of our party and had been telling me we were next. She was lying. We continued to watch other parties get seated in the dining room and two four top tables were cleared and clean and we weren't being seated. At the forty five minute mark - forty five minutes after our reservation time, that is, we decided to leave. My dad and I walked out so angry and my mom told the hostess she wanted to speak with a manager. The hostess tried to argue with my mom ?? Finally a manager walks over and told my mom she was so sorry, they had a table for us and it was ready. Of course it was ready, it had been ready the hostess just wasn't doing anything. And there were three people at the hostess stand, so it's not like it was just her. My dad refused to eat there, can you blame him? It was insulting. I have been to forno probably five times and like I said, the Mediterranean pizza and kiwi mule are very good. Unfortunately I will never go back and it is entirely the fault of the hostess.

    (1)

  • Sarah H.

    We stopped here after shopping in the short north. We loved the decor and it seemed very modern. We were immediately seated and our server was very prompt. We were there at happy hour so we were able to try a few items at half off which is always a plus. I started with the Kiwi Mule, the drink was amazing. I wanted more but I was driving so sadly I couldn't. We tried the fried Aranchini which were very delicious. We also had the Carne pizza. The pizza was crispy and tasted of the wood fired oven. I will be coming back very soon. I loved the food and service.

    (5)

  • Whitney S.

    Came here for a friend's birthday at happy hour.. They get a 3 for having a good happy hour- 1/2 off drinks, shareables, and pizza from 4-6.. Their wine selection is nice But the pizza I ordered was the Chicken Forno.. I figured with their name on it, it would be the best.. But it was a few slices of chicken with barely any sauce. Not a great experience for me, but others enjoyed their pizza.

    (3)

  • Kyle F.

    I got the Forno Pasta ( can't remember if that's the exact name or not) and a chicken Alfredo pizza. Both were delicious. Perfect amount of food for myself and my date. Also their Moscow mules are one of the best I've ever had! I will definitely be going back here when I am Columbus again.

    (5)

  • Heath H.

    I was so excited to see a new entity take over the heart of the SN, especially on this corner that seems to be cursed for businesses. With an open mind, and post-happy hour hunger, it was nice to be seated immediately on a Friday night. The atmosphere (aside from those light fixtures that look like they are oversized granny lamps from IKEA) was nice, and they have a bar area with a different vibe than the main eating area. This is a place that balances a nice aesthetic with welcoming environment. And of course the corner view is perfect for people-watching. My server was friendly and helpful. She was honest about portion sizes and didn't try to oversell, which is always appreciated. My cocktail was really good, holding its own with ones I frequently get at Lindey's, Mouton, Curio, etc. Now to the salad: the Italian salad was bland, toppings were sparse, and at $9, it was overpriced. Marcella's is by no means the standard-bearer for Italian food, but I always get the same side salad there (antipasto) and it is much better and $1.50 cheaper. This was a total fail. Finally, the pizza arrived. It looked delicious. My friend took a couple of bites before I did, and he managed to ruin the experience with one comment: "Tell me that doesn't taste like Chef Boyardee pizza from our childhood!" Dinner. Ruined. Why? Because although it's been 30 years since I last had it, I instantly tasted exactly what he meant. Although I would not be so obnoxious as to say it was as bad as Chef Boyardee, it reminded me of it A LOT, and it was simply mediocre. At some point, I didn't even mind that about 1/3 to 1/4 of it barely had sauce. They want to be crust-heavy, fine. What really boggles my mind is that this is a place that specializes in pizza. And I love pizza. But one can go down the street, to Rossi, a place that has a diverse menu (i.e. not explicitly Italian or with a massive pizza oven as a focal point), and get pizza that is notably better than this. Later in the evening, when walking past the Mikey's pizza truck, my friend said he was tempted to get a slice just to offset his pizza disappointment. I definitely have plans to check out this place at at happy hour, and I'll try dinner again. But if someone is looking for "gourmet" pizza (the price point is reasonable, so no complaints there), this is not the place to go in Columbus. Columbus has stiff competition for pizza, and this sadly is not competitive.

    (2)

  • Michelle S.

    Awesome pizza and a great happy hour- half off drinks, pizzas and apps? Ideal! They have a yummy brunch menu, too. My husband and I frequent it, often! The atmosphere is also fantastic- modern, inviting, spacious, etc. Great addition to the short north!

    (4)

  • Thomas S.

    Food - Tastes great, but portions are not worth the price. Service - Absolutely terrible.

    (2)

  • Dan R.

    Excellent experience! Came in for brunch this past Sunday and had a great meal! They were extremely busy and the manager still made us feel very welcomed! We ordered the Chicken and waffles and they were everything we imagined and more! The Brasato was off the charts!! We had been there for dinner in the past and the pizza was the best in town! Carne pizza add olives is the winner! My server told us about the bloody mary and mimosa deal and definitely loved it! The homemade bloody mary was great and really took the edge off of my hangover. I will definitely be back and will be telling all my friends about the best brunch in town. This place is slowly becoming my favorite restaurant and kudos to the Chef for coming up with some great food!!!

    (5)

  • Stacy R.

    I went against my golden rule of not trying a new restaurant until it had time to work out its kinks... But last night we wanted to try the brand-new Forno that opened up in the short north. Again, take my review with a grain of salt since it's only been open two weeks. Restaurant style: it's having a slight identity crisis. Its decor and feel is a mix between trendy, club-ish with a splash of a casual. They describe themselves as a cozy, local hangout, but it felt more modern and sterile. Service: they nailed it with the service! Our server was attentive, informative, very nice, and did an overall great job. Food came out in a timely manner as did our drinks. Menu/food: The menu is much like its atmosphere... Slightly confusing, but a good mix of options. They specialize in their wood fire pizzas, but I felt like they fell a bit short for being their key item. The flavors weren't all there. We tried the Margherita pizza and the white pizza and there wasn't much difference between the two. We also tried the mushroom risotto as a side, which was very good. And we had the ricotta and oil on toast as an appetizer, and it was okay. The only dessert option they had was a cheesecake. I was a little disappointed there. Again, I think it's a new restaurant that still needs to find its way. The food wasn't by any means repulsive, but I've definitely had a lot better. I don't see myself going back here for a while. But it's at least a new spot to try and form your own opinion.

    (3)

  • Aireal M.

    Food is overpriced and not that great. We had the shrimp apetizer which was good. Parm french fries tasted processed and it had huge Parm flakes on top that fell off when you ate it. The half chicken dish was bland. The medeteranian pizza tasted just ok but I'm convinced it later soured my stomach. Staff and service was great but overall, it really wasn't worth it.

    (2)

  • Allyson H.

    Service was very good at the bar. Bar tender was attentive and we always had a fresh drink. Food was good, but nothing special. We ordered the pepperoni pizza. The toppings didn't go to the crust, so that was a negative. We also ordered the risotto balls, that again, were good, but nothing special. I think we will come back for the service and give it another try on the pizza or something else.

    (3)

  • Joshua L.

    Good, not great, but better than anything that had been in that spot for many years. My wife and I took her mom there for lunch the other week, and we ordered a couple pizzas and a couple appetizers. The best of what we ordered was the calamari appetizer, but still nothing that I can't get somewhere else. The pizza, which is what they're supposed to be all about, was extremely oily to the point that it drowned the pizza and make it slightly soggy. Favors were good, and because it had just opened a week earlier, they've got to be still be working out the kinks. I'd return after everything gets worked out and the food execution is refined. I think it will get better with time.

    (3)

  • Beth O.

    Food is delicious! 2 of us came for lunch- split ahi tacos & beet salad. Enough to fill up and so so good. Great staff. Fast service.

    (5)

  • James G.

    Relatively new in the neighborhood, we tried it last night. Had the pizza, which is the signature dish. It was good, certainly above average. The prices are reasonable. The brussel sprouts were very salty, though. One thing, which is a pet peeve of mine, I don't like being interrupted every two or three minutes to see if we need anything or if everything is OK. It's an American thing to be bombarded with questions any hurried out, but it's annoying. Why can't we just order then enjoy our meal. When we're ready then we can call someone over for something else or the check. It would make the dining experience so much more pleasant.

    (4)

  • Morgan P.

    Visited a month ago for just drinks and appetizers. Very clean, comfortable atmosphere. Great service by the waitress. Food was great portions for the size. Drinks were unique and delicious!! I will definitely be back!!

    (5)

  • Shyan Y.

    Last night was our 7th year anniversary and we're very happy to have had dinner here for it. We will definitely be back to try the pizzas. We started off with the Ahi Tuna tacos that were yummy however very salty. I only ate one of them and let my fiance have my other because I couldn't handle the saltiness. But the tuna tasted very fresh and everything else about it was fantastic! I had the Forno Burger and my fiance had the Petit Filet 27. Both were cooked perfectly and absolutely delicious. The buckeye cheesecake is very rich and yummy. Little bits of dried raspberry on the plate was a sweet touch. Great beer and nice wine selection. The ambiance of the place is nice, and while it's obviously more upscale, the service and the low lights allow for a certain level of comfort that doesn't seem pretentious. Ashley was our server and she was phenomenal. Loved her and will definitely be back again!

    (4)

  • Dustin D.

    This place was fantastic. Went there with a big group for dinner on a Thursday night. Food was amazing. I got a burger. Maybe in the top 5 burgers if my life! I baby imagine this place on Friday or Saturday night... It was crazy busy when I was there on a Thursday. I guess all the locals knows it's great. Fast service, friendly, amazing food!

    (5)

  • Shoreh E.

    We went with 2 other couples and each couple ordered a pizza. All 3 pizzas which were different were extremely salty. Will not go back or recommend it!

    (1)

  • Mike S.

    Pizza is amazing! Great place and awesome service! I enjoyed the bar with great company b

    (5)

  • R J.

    Ya know, you can't polish a turd and call it pizza. Look, I absolutely hated the crust that came with my half-off happy hour Carne pizza here last week. The crust reminds me of an article I read about cheap bromated pizza flour that any 7/11 clerk can stir up and call it a slice. Not saying Forno is this, but the crust does have similarity. Tough, hard to chew...I hate this kind of crust that's all work to eat and no love or joy to eat (like Harvest's crust is). I enjoyed the fresh high quality toppings and the price...wait, no I didn't, I didn't enjoy the pizza at all due to the sub-par crust. And I'm sorry I came here. That is all.

    (2)

  • Natalie F.

    2/5 stars. The decor is stunning. A mix of wallpapers, unique accents, funky blue mood lighting throughout the dining room, and large, elegant lamp shades floating from the ceiling create a very cool and modern vibe. Our waitress was not friendly. She rambled through menu specials and seemed generally uninterested in us and her job. Water was spilled on my menu and my friend's drink was delivered to me, but she did not notice either of these slip-ups. Later in the meal, she seemed to have forgotten about us and it was very difficult to get her attention for the check. I was excited to try Forno, so it was disappointing that service was so poor. As for the food, I was underwhelmed. On a positive note I was happy with the bread and dips app. The Italian bread slices, hummus, mushroom pate, and tapenade dips were excellent. The caprese sandwich was worth $6, not the $12 they charge on the menu. It's not very large, ingredients are inexpensive, and it is served with a pile of very basic french fries. I felt deceived by the menu which describes a caprese made with basil, but mine was made with arugula leaves (??). The two pizzas my friends ordered were slightly burnt but were edible. I hope Forno can step it up and improve their service and food. If I return, it will be for the great location and fabulous indoor ambiance.

    (3)

  • Christina Y.

    Went during Happy Hour. Had a pizza, four drinks amongst two of us, and an appetizer. About $35. Oh, and did I mention it was amazing? Go...now!

    (4)

  • Lisa R.

    I love what Forno has done with the decor. Very modern and pretty. They get a 4 from me because they have an excellent happy hour! Great drinks with hand crafted mixers, wine, appetizers and pizzas half priced! My friend and I shared 2 apps, garlic shrimp and the calamari. The shrimp was cooked perfectly, and the calamari was fresh, and served over arugula. With two excellent dipping sauces. Deeelish! We were starving and the two appetizers were more than enough for dinner. I'm looking forward to trying more dishes in the future.

    (4)

  • Angie J.

    Beautiful interior and very cool and hip on a weekend night! My friend and I split a Hawaiian pizza-it was good and a decent price point. Could have used a little more toppings-I understand it's not supposed to be loaded with heavy toppings but it was still a bit light on the pineapple. Our drinks were very delicious. I got the kiwi mule and my friend got a peach drink-I think it was peach Arnold Palmer? Both were refreshing just a bit light on the alcohol content-especially if you intend on just having one like we did.

    (4)

  • Briana B.

    The food here is AMAZING! The service is wonderful and the drink menu has a large variety. Must try's: the Warm Ricotta, Spiked Strawberries, Margherita Pizza and Lemon Bar with blueberry sauce!

    (5)

  • Keida M.

    Easter at Forno! This seems like the seventh restaurant I have seen in this location, and the hopes are that it lasts! If I could, I would give this a 2 1/2 Stars, and thinking of its potential, I will push it to a 3. So the review on this is mixed: The decor is amazing! Love the open kitchen design with the bar, and the curvy rounded countertop is splendid. Even the silverware is nice. Kudos to whoever designed this place, I would give it a 5+ Stars! The service was friendly, but a little distant. Our waiter didn't sell us the menu at all. We weren't asked if we had ever been in, no mention of items on the menu, just a polite inquiry if we were ready to order. The only recommendations were the preferred cocktails which felt more like an up-sell than an actual preference. The pizza came out in the middle of us eating the salad, and while I was eating the waiter cleared a plate I was using. I found that irritating. That being said, our waiter was really nice, and very hip and attractive! 2.5 out of 5. The food and drinks were pretty much good, solid even, but totally unremarkable. And annoyingly overpriced. We got the beet salad which was all that you expect, and not much more. The orange infused marinated shallots were delicious! The beets were not from a can which is awesome. The problem is that it was a TINY salad. And there was no real signature. Z Pizza down the street has a better arugula salad for a few bucks less and double the size. With so many awesome beet salad on the same street (North Star, The Rossi, Philco...), you just can't have a boring beet salad, not allowed. Wild Mushroom Pizza - Again, same problem as above. First, they call it a large (6 small pieces). My 105 lb girlfriend Charlie didn't even THINK of asking me if I wanted a 4th slice. If she can eat half a pie, it's a push to call it even a medium size. Also, no real signature, and I could name 5 places in town who have it better and cheaper (Bono Pizza, Harvest, The Rossi, Gioseppis, and Matt the Fucking Millers [whatever the fuck that name means]). Folks, you are losing if a place named "Matt The Millers" has a better ANYTHING than you do. Now, to be fair, Forno is close. The crust was perfect! The sauce had a whisper of a wine reduction to it that was so good I was looking for it with my tongue each bite. The cheese and mushrooms were also of high quality. Huge problem, no finishing truffle oil note! Today, you just can't get away with a wild mushroom anything and not taste a pungent mushroom note, not acceptable! But this is an easy fix, that's the good news. The cocktail was a $9 juice. No punch at all. It tasted like a loss leader, except in reverse, our loss... Verdict: at $42 with tip for a tiny salad, medium (at best) pizza, and a dopey drink, we won't be back for dinner. I would come back for a few (non-cocktail) drinks with a friend, maybe split another pie, but no date. They could fix these things easily and bump up to a 4/5. We'll see what they do! Forno sounds like Porno. This is a Russ Meyers flick that needs to take the clothes off, and soon! ~ Keida Mascaro

    (3)

  • Tammy P.

    Been here for a GNO, Bachelorette party and just a nightly hangout spot and love it! Atmosphere is chic and relaxing. Service is great n food was yummy! Steak was delicious!!! Appetizers are great! Drinks are plentiful. Heard pizza is good but haven't had a chance to try it out yet.

    (5)

  • Wendy S.

    O.M.G. This place is amaze-balls. Garlic shrimp appetizer is the best shrimp I've ever had, calamari was sweet!! I got the salmon dinner and it was a+!! I even say at the bar to eat and the staff was super attentive. Definitely give this place a go, you won't regret it!

    (5)

  • Doug H.

    Service was horrible. We ordered the Mediterranean pizza. It was inconsistent pizza. Barely any toppings. Some pieces of the pizza didn't have any of the toppings on it. Some of the pieces had little to no sauce. I hope they work out the kinks or this "oven" is going broke.

    (1)

  • Morgan F.

    Delicious garlic parm fries. And the pizza is amazing. Great service, beautiful space.

    (5)

  • John M.

    The food was fast and excellent. Had the petite filet with Brussel sprouts and roasted potatoes. I was in a hurry but the staff was great. One of the few places open late on a Sunday night. The Ohio Blue Jackets NHL team was having a private party in the back and having a great time.

    (4)

  • David S.

    Found by accident last night while walking up High Street. Nice open air restaurant. Sat at the bar and had great service by the two young lady bartenders. Had the AHI Tuna tacos because of other yelp reviews and they were awesome. Looking forward to repeat visits here so I can sample other entries.

    (4)

  • Andrea W.

    It's a beautiful place -- but the food was not good and the service could be improved. The person who worked our table smelled like cigarettes, didnt really know the menu and got the bills mixed up. I'm sure the person will improve over time.

    (2)

  • Anna K.

    Yum! Came here for a happy hour, so I can't comment on their entrees but their Arrancini and pizzas were great. Good cocktails at a good price as well. Will be back soon for dinner, maybe even this weekend :)

    (5)

  • Nicole P.

    Such a unique, awesome environment. Definitely a stand-out in the Columbus restaurant/bar scene. I haven't stopped raving about this place- the food is amazing and the 2 different bars bring 2 totally different feels that combine to make it such a unique experience. A+ for Forno!!

    (5)

  • Jenn W.

    Very good food. We ate here based on yelp reviews. We were in Columbus for a concert and this was a few blocks from hotel. We happened to hit happy hour and all of our drinks,appetizers, and pizzas were half price. The food was fantastic. Our drinks were excellent. The service was prompt although our waiter was a bit rude. Overall great experience!

    (5)

  • Taylor S.

    We were seated in the bar area of Forno by an employee. A few minutes later, as we were about to order, we were asked to vacate the table because of an error on their end. They didn't apologize or offer to move us. Ridiculous and very awkward. We will not be back. Hopefully their service improves.

    (1)

  • Rachel S.

    I was not going to write this review because I honestly love forno, and it is a new restaurant and does not need bad press but after the horrible service, and ignorance of my message when I attempted to reach out this is what I have to do. I recently went to Forno. I was with a group of six. I ordered the shrimp alfredo pizza - with no onions. I hate onions, and they change the entire taste of the pizza. My waiter did not write down any of our orders, and when mine came out there were onions on it. I politely informed the man in a suit, who I can only assume is a type of manager that this was incorrect and I had ordered no onions. I would have happily waited for an entire new pizza but instead someone thought that it was more efficient to peel off the onions on the pizza, throw some more cheese on top and stick it back in the oven for five minutes. When the pizza came back out the waiter tossed it down and ran away. I know that this is what happened because I continued to pick out onions from the pizza for another couple minutes myself, and it was clear where some had been picked off from the cheese. Honestly the pizza tasted bad at that point, there was too much cheese and it had a gross onion aftertaste, which is what I wanted to avoid. I had three choices, make a fuss and embarrass my friends, and make them wait even longer, I could just say never mind for the pizza that was not fixed and not eat or I could suck it up and eat a few pieces because I knew I would be drinking later that night. I went with option three and planned on contacting management later to let them know this is how incorrect orders are fixed. I only finished half of my pizza and left the rest because I could not stomach one more bite, so that was half of a pizza wasted as well as my money. I wrote an e-mail to the pint house, the owners also own that bar apparently. There is no contact space on the Forno website so I assumed that someone would contact me, but five days later (not the promised 48 hours) still no word. I have worked int eh food industry I was not rude to my waiter, nor the person who brought out my food. I understand that accidents happen, but it is unacceptable to fix a food order in this way. If I had an allergy to onions that would have been a huge liability to the company and the person who bought the food. Therefore if you do have any food allergies and choose to try Forno (because it really is great) make sure that your server 1. gets your order correct or 2. if it is incorrect that it is taken care of properly. odds are that I am not the only person who they have done this to and I do not plan on going back myself because of this.

    (1)

  • Michael B.

    WOW! This is going to be the place to go for awesome food and great drinks for happy hour. The ambiance, the drinks and the food were all amazing. The Kiwi mojito is refreshing and tasty. The white pizza was flavorful. The service was fast and friendly. The waiter was able to help with recommendations for everyone in the party including vegetarian options.

    (5)

  • Rob H.

    I was very excited to try this restaurant after hearing so many good reviews. The menu options were interesting, specifically warm ricotta with olive oil and peaches. My server was present and pleasant. I thought the calamari was a bit heavily breaded. The kiwi mule and blackberry crush cocktails were ok. Notably, my mule was not served in a copper mug and thus did not taste quite right. Also, the cups were plastic, not cool. I paid $27 for my entree. Plastic is not okay at an upscale venue. I ordered the petit filet medium rare and it was brought out medium to medium well. my asparagus was over salted/seasoned. Roasted potatoes come with this meal as well and in the quantity of about half a potato, very small for such a cheap veggie. My fiancee's roasted chicken meal, aside from the brussel sprouts were under cooked and seasoned, was serviceable. This was not a terrible meal but it also was not of a quality expected for a $100 meal.

    (3)

  • Tim A.

    Great food...excellent decor....very fresh and modern. Limited menu, but didn't find anything that wasn't fabulous!

    (4)

  • Emily F.

    Good experience- the pizza was great & olive bowl was good. Must try the kiwi mule- soo good!! Definitely will be going back for the happy hour and to try the strawberry shots!

    (4)

  • Michael M.

    After trying to get a table at a diff place across the street, we opted to come here. Couldn't have been any happier with our choice. My salad was amazing! (Arugula and NOT DRENCHED IN DRESSING) , asparagus grilled to perfection (though I got 6 PENCIL THIN STEMS), tasty cocktail but definitely not much alcohol in it. Vibe was totally scene. Very South Beach!

    (4)

  • Morgan L.

    This place is perfect for a girls night out or a romantic date with that special someone. It's in the heart of Short North and it almost feels like you're in a different city when you step in. The food and the drinks were great! I ordered multiple Moscow mules and the Alfredo Chicken pizza which was amazing. I didn't have any to take home because it was so good and my friend had fried risotto cheese balls which were excellent. I'll be ordering that next time because they were delicious. The service was great and he was very attentive for a Friday night and the decor was chic and beautiful. The booth tables have stylish furniture instead of the hard seating you would typically find and the bar was very eclectic. If you love wood fired pizza this is the perfect place for you. I also enjoyed Strawberry Jello-O shots made with actual strawberries which was a nice touch for dessert. Overall, two thumbs up for this new restaurant in Short North.

    (5)

  • Aimee K.

    Went to the opening last night- they served a variety of foods so that everyone could sample. Had the salmon balls, ahi tuna tacos & veg. pizza. My fav was the ahi tacos- great flavor! At the end they served strawberry shooters with vodka- thought this was very cool & a perfect dessert. Lighting & decor was cool- definitely be back

    (4)

  • Chris F.

    I visited Forno's on 2/25. This was my 3rd visit and the fir time that I found that the kitchen was still open. The first two times, I had visited two hours before closing, but unfortunately found that the kitchen was already close. Their website does not specify a time that they close the kitchen that early. On 2/25, i arrive 2.5 hours before close. I sit at the bar and I'm told that that side is closed. I moved to the other side and I meet a bartender much more focused on doing closing. I am also told that the only items available on their menu is a pizza. I ordered a pizza, but also wanted a salad, but this was not possible. I ordered the pepperoni pizza which was good. I also ordered a drink. A double shot of Jack and find that it is $16. Def overpriced. overall, this was a mediocre experience, the wait / bartender staff were much more interested in closing, even though according to their website that was two hours away. The atmosphere was good. Music was playing, but I never listened to a full song because they keep forwarding to the next song. Overall, I don't anticipate returning anytime soon

    (2)

  • Erin B.

    So excited for this new addition to the Short North dining scene. Went to the cocktail opening and tried a variety of menu items, all which were fantastic. The stone-fire oven in the middle of the restaurant was the center of excitement and the servers were so friendly. Perfect for a night out with friends. Can't wait to go back!

    (5)

  • Steve F.

    Read some great reviews so we went there for our anniversary. What a mistake. Even with a reservation we had to wait 30 min to be seated and then it got worse. It took over an hour for our food to arrive. The pork belly was dry and tasteless, tough, got the Ahi Tuna tacos...worse fish tacos I've ever had anywhere. There was no flavor. We did have an OK pizza, but by the time it showed up it would have had to been awesome to make up...which it was not. Very cool atmosphere but the chef needs to get it together. The couple seated next to us, who we did not know, even caught up to us outside the restaurant and commented on how bad the food and service was. Won't be going back here anytime soon.

    (2)

  • Diane M.

    I have been twice, both on a Monday and would recommend that day of the week. Crowded enough that it's a good atmosphere but I have walked in without a reservation with a party of 6 and 2 and been seated immediately. Food was amazing and was brought out in a very timely manner. The bar area looked very nice and like it would be a good place for a first date - not too crowded or loud so that you wouldn't have to shout. Would recommend this restaurant to anyone and everyone!

    (4)

  • Candice B.

    Oh wow! I loved this place. Great happy hour portions and pricing. Great tasty good and the service was awesome. I'm sure this will be in my rotation.

    (4)

  • Royce d.

    I don't know what the word "Forno" means, but it gets me sexually excited. So, I decided to go with my friends Pat, Maurice, Yabo, Hillary, and Cartwright. The reservation was under "Cartwright", like that Seinfeld episode. None of the hostesses were as excited about this reference as I was. Anyways, once we were seated, the server recommended a cocktail that was a combination of kiwi and a Moscow mule, brilliantly named a "kiwi mule" (also a good name for a guy who illegally smuggles kiwis across the border in his rectum). I'm just happy kiwis are legal here, which doesn't necessarily mean some people don't shove them in their butts. The kiwi mules tasted great (the drinks). Everyone ordered pizza, except I ordered a chicken sandwich because I can't conform. The food was very good and the server put up with my juvenile behavior. She didn't even care or notice that I kept calling her "m'lady". I wouldn't keep this place a secret forno reason.

    (5)

  • Michelle H.

    What a great experience! Had the ricotta toast, pork belly, pizza and wine with my husband during the amazing happy hour. Half price on all of the above items, now that is a deal, half price on a $13.00 glass of wine, yes please! Nice atmosphere as well try it for the happy hour. Wish Cleveland had one of these we would be there nightly. Best of luck to you Forno we enjoyed everything!

    (5)

  • T S.

    This place was unexpectedly amazing! I loved the happy hour specials. Order the Ahi Tuna Tacos! The pizza is amazing, I would definitely go back!

    (5)

  • Srebs T.

    All Forno/Porno jokes aside this place is decent. I've tried three of their cocktails and not been a fan of any so far, you can barely taste the alcohol. I'm not 18 anymore, I don't need to add 50 types of concoctions to mask the taste of the liquor.. I actually enjoy the taste and would like a cocktail that balances it out. The highlight every time I've gone has been the strawberry jello shots. It sounds dumb, it sounds immature, it sounds trashy/fratty.. it's totally not! The jello shots are the epitome of what adult jello shots should be and look like they are something out of etsy (cliche blah blah I know it's true though).. they are hollowed out strawberries with jello liquor inside and whipped cream on top. Will you get drunk off of them? Unless you have the alcohol tolerance of a 2 day old infant, not a chance in hell. They are still totally worth it though! Decor and bar are definitely dope. The food is decent.. I mean it's pizza.. it's good pizza but dafuq do you expect, it's pizza. Overall, good spot to check out and kick it with some friends, my advise: go for basic liquor mixed drinks, wine, or beer.

    (3)

  • Michele H.

    Reservation time for 7:30 pm Friday night, was told at 7:20 we would be sat closer to 7:30. At 7:45 asked how much longer for my 7:30 reso and I was told we would be next. Waited 10 more minutes to be seated. What's the point of a reservation? While at the bar, I ordered a $9 Moscow mule and it was served with 80% ice, no joke, 4 sips and it was gone. Upon being seated I felt like I was walking through a night club, loud club music and hostess dressed for a night out. The only reason forno is getting 2 stars was for the ahi wonton tacos appetizers. They were exceptional with high flavor. The oven fired pizza was just mediocre and certainly nothing to ever have a wait for again. Disappointed and definitely would not recommend to a friend.

    (2)

  • Mickey D.

    Their hostesses always seem to grossly underestimate the wait time to incoming customers, which is especially problematic, particularly as they are the first and last people customers see. When you can get in, the food is good but the mixture of large television screens and chandeliers is off-putting. The managers seem to be pretty nice however and the bar staff provides excellent service. Still, there is a lot of work to be done and it all begins with addressing the poor customer service provided by the hostesses if they hope to succeed in this location.

    (2)

  • Ellen P.

    We chose Columbus as the midpoint of a big road trip and had only heard of the ShortNorth neighborhood. Forno holds a commanding spot in the epicenter and doesn't disappoint. The pizzas are just right - crust is crispy and the sauce is seasoned nicely. Service is friendly and attentive. Ambiance is hip and smart but not pretentious. Big bar and although noise level is fairly high it's actually possible to have a conversation. Highly recommend!

    (5)

  • Bren C.

    FABULOUS! Oh my goodness, yummy!!! Everyone thoroughly enjoyed all the food! The Trio of dips appetizer, Arancini & Ricotta & Toast started the meal off in a most tasteful way. I had the salmon & the mushroom risotto which were amazing with both taste and presentation. Our server, Ashley, was incredibly pleasant & professional, which I love when I go for a nice dinner out! Hoping to make it back for a happy hour very soon.

    (5)

  • Vicki B.

    I liked how the place was decorated. I liked the chairs and booths. There are a lot of bar areas to sit at. I had the salmon and it was one of the best salmon dishes I have had. It comes with a roasted red pepper puree. I had them give me the brussel sprouts instead of the lentils and they did. I do not eat grains so when a restaurant has a few choices of vegetables I am happy. Roasted vegetables come with the salmon also. The salmon came out in a skillet. It was a nice presentation. My only negatives is why do they make the vegetables such a small portion. Vegetables are cheap be a little more generous. There could of been more of the puree also. I did not order a salad because they were too expensive. What is with these restaurants and their high priced salads?

    (4)

  • Patrick L.

    Food was fantastic but service was lackluster. My friend ordered a second beer but I didn't and she brought back one for both of us. Seems like a great place when not busy but when its crowded staff is easily overwhelmed

    (3)

  • Elaine J.

    My husband and I dined here early on Sunday night. The atmosphere was a little lively and seems more like a place I would go with friends rather than on a date. I got the salmon cakes as my app, the margherita pizza and a ny cheesecake for dessert. The apps and the dessert were really good, but the pizza was a little strange. The sauce was more like a marinara pasta sauce and was extremely runny to the point that a bunch of it ended up on my lap. I'd visit again but maybe try a different main dish.

    (4)

  • Steven N.

    The food was great. Really rustic flavors. Service was excellent. Decor is great. Definitely one of the best new spots in the Short North

    (5)

  • Lindsay T.

    We came here for dinner the other night and I was impressed. We started with arancini and it was great. They have a fun drink selection and if you like fruity/sweeter drinks, I'd recommend the kiwi mule! The chicken Alfredo pizza was delicious. The crust is perfect, thick and chewy. The service was great and friendly. My only complaint was that this place is SO loud! I couldn't hear my boyfriend talking to me, and he was sitting a foot away from me. We were even seated in the room in the back, and it was still pretty loud. I know it's a popular place, but it was crazy loud. Would definitely recommend getting pizza here though! Last time we came, we tried the fresh strawberry shots. OMG they were delicious! Strawberries infused with alcohol and topped with whipped cream, can't go wrong with that!

    (4)

  • Maurice H.

    I'm glad it replace "Two Fish" I believe. Nice prime spot in the heart of short north. Very good drinks and bartenders know how to make them and make whatever you want. I have tried the pizza couple of time and was not disappointed. Standard brick oven pizza like. Similar to Natalie's and Figlio's in the making I believe. First time I tried the pizza it was little on the dry side with burned crispy edges but that was during the first week of opening. The 2nd time around it was perfect. It is obvious they have improved and I'm looking forward to trying food there again. Perfect atmosphere for nightlife or happy hour group outing. The bar area is very nice and trendy with an upscale feel.

    (4)

  • Alice J.

    Great place for a nice little happy hour. My 5 stars is mainly for the cocktails here, which are absolutely delicious (that is, if you're into super yummy girly drinks with St. Germain like I am). Would definitely recommend the strawberry shots (shots in slushy form stuffed in actual strawberries). The food is also quite yummy, I love their different selection of appetizers and their pizzas. If you're into pizzas at all, try the chicken alfredo, it's incredibly good.

    (5)

  • Jen R.

    Nice!!!!! Went there yesterday during happy hour and was super impressed. 1/2 off all draft beers, wine, and cocktails and 1/2 off their appetizers and pizzas. That makes for a very extensive selection at really great prices. My husband and I each had a Seventh Son draft and a Four String Draft, split the Wild Mushroom pizza and the calamari. Excellent draft selection and the pizza was really really fantastic. A thicker crust but still crunchy and just the right amount of cheese and sauce. Our bill was like $24. Wowza. On top of that, our bartender/server was really attentive and I enjoyed watching her mix up what looked like some pretty tasty cocktails. Also, loved the decor. Trendy but also elegant. Felt like I was in NY or LA and not Cbus. I think this might be the best happy hour in Cbus...

    (5)

  • Matt G.

    Great Brunch! We went here for their grand opening of Brunch and it was better than expected (And that's not the mimosas talking)! The service was quick even when it got busier. The menu had a wide array of Brunch specialties. I went with the simple, yet classic, biscuits and gravy. They put a delectable, gourmet spin on it! Everything was alil on the higher price side, BUT totally worth it. I'd say you'd leave this place spending $18-$20/person for Brunch. For all you Brunch connoisseurs, this is definitely worth a stop!

    (4)

  • Amanda G.

    Forno's saving grace was the pizza. It was pretty good. I like the brick oven pies, they've got great texture that you just don't get with other pizzas. I'm giving them two stars because the whole experience was just kind of sloppy. I don't know if it was our waitress's first day or what, but she spilled water on our table, forgot our drink order and then our salads came out before our drinks. It also bugged me that we had a reservation for the patio and then told we'd have to wait for a seat out there even though there was a cleared table available - we could see it through the window. The salad we ordered a Ceasar salad that barely hard any flavor - I don't think they make their dressing in-house and the campari tomatoes were pretty useless. Like I said, the pizza was good, lot's of fresh basil on the Margherita which was nice. I don't think I'll be back nor would I recommend this place.

    (2)

  • Vin R.

    My wife snagged our kids' favorite baby sitter on late notice for a date night this evening. I remembered bookmarking Forno on Yelp awhile ago as I was intrigued by the concept of a wood fired oven in the dining space. The reviews on Yelp were really positive, so I made a reservation on Open Table. The initial impression was very positive--greatly helped by finding a random open parking metered spot about 50 feet from the restaurant (on a Saturday night!). I had an Apple Manhattan and my wife had the Pink Rose. Both drinks were great. I don't usually care for fancy versions of the basic Manhattan, but this one was alright. For appetizers my wife had the Arancini balls and I had the Ricotta and bread. The Arancini balls were ok. Honestly, Gallo's version is better, but it's hard to mess up fried rice/cheese balls. The Ricotta was very unique. I'd never had anything quite like it before. Sort of sweet, salty and umami tastes all over the place. Definitely get this as your appetizer if you go. Unfortunately, the evening started to go off the rails after our apps and drinks were delivered. We ate most of our appetizers and I finished my cocktail. And waited for our dinner entrees. And waited. And then waited some more. Our neighbor tables got their food (more on that two paragraphs down). A server brought us a second round of Arancini balls, which was weird. But then he realized he was at the wrong table. So about 40 minutes into our wait we hailed our wait staff and asked about the rest of our dinner. She went to inquire about it. More waiting. She returned and said our dinner was "one minute away". At that point, we'd lost our patience with the process of getting my Ahi Tuna tacos and my wife's pasta out of the kitchen and onto our table. We asked for our dinner, some carry out boxes and our check. The most annoying part of our evening was the obsequious bar manager guy (business owner?) who kept checking on a table of ladies next to us. It was pretty obvious that he knew his customers socially and was maybe even very good friends with them. He made sure they had champaign at their table and even personally got them coffee when they first arrived (after us). That's all fine and good, making sure your friends are taken care of at your restaurant. But eating the food off their plates with your hands while standing at the table in front of other paying customers is a little much, don't you think? Yuck. So for our dining dollar, Forno is a For Nope. We've got better places to spend our money and time on a date night.

    (2)

  • Dawn B.

    Here for a biz trip back in May. Food was super good & we've been asking other bartenders to recreate the Basil Collins ever since. (*Bonus* Great happy hour steals)

    (4)

  • Maggie M.

    Awesome happy hour!!! I went with my girlfriends a couple of times and I got the Moscow mule and the calamari. The flatbreads are great too. I ordered the mushroom one. Also they have a delicious salmon cakes and ahi tuna tacos! The happy hour offers 1/2 off apps and shareables also half off beer, wine by the glass and some house cocktails. Definitely worth the stop. Also offer adorable strawberry Jell-O shots with whipped cream. Perfect for a girls night out or date night dessert!

    (4)

  • Fred B.

    Great food, great drinks, great location, nice dining room, nice outdoor dining. What's not to like... ?!? The wood-fired pizzas are very good. The Forno Burger was fantastic - utterly crave-able. Drinks were excellent. The Cucumber Jalapeño Margarita was phenomenal. Bread was good. We'll be going back.... soon...

    (4)

  • Rachael J.

    Such a cool space with amazing food and service! We loved our bartender, Gabriel! He was nice, entertaining and very attentive. I would highly recommend this place and look forward to going back.

    (5)

  • Donna O.

    Sheer insanity to attempt dinner in the Short North during the Arnold, but Forno made it worth the effort. It is a lovely space decorated a la Short North - large, diffuse lighting, comfy seating, large backlit bar. We were seated near the front windows, perfect for people-watching. Forno has an excellent happy hour - half-price drinks, appetizers and pizzas. That's really the best reason you need to come here. The second-best reason is that the food is awesome. We ordered various appetizers to share - ahi tuna tacos, served in fried wonton shells; creamy arancini in a clean-tasting tomato sauce; and a pork belly sharable - all executed to fit the dish. Bonus points for the tacos. Our group ordered a selection of pizzas and a pasta dish (tip: the pizzas are reasonably priced. The entrees are at a much higher price point). Plenty of pizza variety and substitutions are permitted. The pizza crust was thin but chewy, able to take both the wood-firing and the heavy saucing without being either burnt or rubbery. Forno nailed it. My mushroom pizza was excellent overall. The spouse ordered the rigatoni pasta with a creamy tomato sauce, and we both thought it was as good as the pizzas. The highlight of the meal, though, was the toasted Brussels sprouts. I like to get sprouts when they're offered and - these things were magical. Like, braised in unicorn tears. We all sampled, and we all put our hands to our mouths at the first taste. MAGIC. So, unicorn tears are made of browned butter, shallots, garlic and chicken stock, according to the kitchen staff at Forno. Just so you know. Although it was a super-busy weekend, Forno has managed to corral their spaces with artfully-hung sheer drapes to keep the bar noise and crowd in the main bar area, so the larger dining room was much quieter, a dull roar. Our server was attentive and we got all of our food and drinks in a reasonable amount of time. Staff were visible and we were greeted on the way in and the way out. Great job, Forno, for bringing this to the Short North.

    (4)

  • Adam F.

    I went back to Forno for the second time last night solely based off my bartender from the first time. Gabriel is the best bartender I've ever had. He's extremely knowledgeable making all kinds of different drinks as well as very personable. The food is great too, I highly recommend trying one of their pizzas.

    (5)

  • Sab S.

    I swear this corner is jinxed so I'm really hoping Forno is a winner/in for the long haul but I've gone there twice this week and it's a complete toss up of how it will survive in the Short North.. I went Wednesday and Friday nights (with different groups of people). This review is a solid 3.5 PROS: dining room and bar offer completely different vibes. Pretty cool decor, love the pizza oven and open kitchen concept. The drinks are on point and the wine flights are an amazing value! Really loved the music too!! Lots of throwback jams that make you want to dance! Pizza, SALMON omg, ahi tuna tacos, calamari, Forno burger were all delish!!! Food came out quickly and all meals were served together even though they said the pizza oven was backed up. We made substitutions to a few things but everything was good. I do like the food. CONS: on both visits the hostess stand was a complete nightmare!!!! Poorly greeted both times. The girl (who likes flashing everyone while bussing tables / bending over in a barely there skirt) is sooo rude. Sorry this is Cbus not NYC. We waited 20 minutes *after* our reservation time only to be offered a BAR Table for dinner which really should only be used for those without reservations. When we said we wanted dining room, it took an additional 25 minutes with NO APOLOGY. So we waited a total of 45 minutes post reservation/arrival. That crap can't last - it's a huge dissatisfier!!! The same hostess had bedroom slippers on with her dress by 9:30 PM - oh come on! This isn't your kitchen at home, it's a restaurant. The service is also lacking. On Wednesday night our server stalked our table so hard that I felt uncomfortable. He literally kept coming by and taking stuff away each time, looking over at us, taking our checks before we got up (that happened Friday too). Just very rushed and annoying. Even though the flights were a great value, I think we got bad bottles of wine. I've never seen so much sediment in an empty glass before!! The italian red flight was delish but again I wish I didn't get all the sediment :-( Overall I would recommend giving it at least two chances because not sure they will get it right on your first visit.

    (4)

  • Paige H.

    Found this place via yelp while traveling through Ohio back to Michigan...WONDERFUL service, WONDERFUL food. The pizzas are awesome and they have such a unique menu. I am an extremely picky eater, working at a holistic doctor's office and in general, being a health nut, but this place...no guilt coming here. Tasty, unique, quality food :) Also, I was sitting at a high top table and was extremely clumsy and knocked over my glass bloody mary all over the floor, like everywhere within a six foot radius.... I swear to you, four employees came running over with towels, reassuring me to not feel stupid, making jokes about it, cleaning everything up. Next thing you know another employee came rushing over with a replacement bloody mary within probably 20 seconds. Wonderful! Now I just wish this place was closer to Ann Arbor. I will definitely be returning when traveling through Columbus again.

    (5)

  • Nathaniel K.

    Slow and overrated. I was really looking forward to my first time to Forno since Two Fish closed. I hadn't been to Two Fish much because they didn't have a lot of vegetarian-friendly fare, so I was excited to jump on the fast-baked pizza craze that has struck Columbus. We made reservations on Open Table beforehand since it was a weekend night, and we arrived just in time for our reservation. Upon arriving, we went up to the hostess, who told us she would come find us when our table was ready, and that it might be fifteen minutes since they were packed. A little miffed that we had to wait, we decided to try and find a spot near the door to hang out in the meantime. There really isn't a great spot to wait around in view of the host stand, so we were kind of worried that she might think that we left. This worrying only amplified as our wait time hit twenty and then thirty minutes. At this point I went over to find a host and figure out what was going on. Nope, they still had our reservation, but were finishing getting a table ready. By this time, we had seen a fair number of parties being seated ahead of us that seemed to come in after us, and there were only two of us, so I was a bit perturbed. A few minutes after that, we were finally seated, and it took a bit of time before our waitress was ready for our drink orders. The beer and wine selections weren't too bad, thankfully. Our waitress wasn't very attentive, and we had to get her attention to put in food orders after it had been a while without our drinks being delivered. When our pizza did come out, it wasn't bad, but definitely not worth the upwards of $13 compared to other better Columbus pizza. The staff seemed more focused on people sitting at the bar who appeared to be regulars, and some of the clientele seemed pretty drunk for it being only 9:00. Overall I can't imagine I'll be back.

    (2)

  • Jessica P.

    Finally came in here for a birthday party with 15 people on a Wednesday evening with a few minutes to spare before happy hour prices ended. We were seated promptly (with a reservation) and the waitress stood and waited for us all to hurry in our half price orders. I love the water bottles on the tables so I don't have to be a nag. I ordered the ahi tuna appetizer. Which was good, but a bit blander than I expected. But honestly it's big enough to be a dinner. I sampled my friends aracini, which normally I don't like but these were the perfect size allowing for a perfect crust to risotto ratio. I tried the shrimp pizza, phenomenal! Get this! Best idea ever! Tried to hummus, olive, and mushroom platter. Much bigger than we expected and very good. The same goes for the calamari, bigger portion and very good. Drinks came out promptly, lots of good looking drinks, I had the strawberry rose. I asked for a wimpy girly drink and it was tasty and girly. But myself and my other friend who ordered it both felt buzzed half way through. So beware! It's stronger than it tastes! Checks were split up without us asking and promptly taken care of. Over all, I think the dinner was no more than an hour and a half, very impressive! I'll definitely be back and Id recommend it to others!

    (5)

  • Aklilu A.

    I kept hearing mixed reviews about this place so I decided to find out for myself. Nestled in the short north, across from bakersfield we decided while we were out at Gallery Hop, we'd finally check it out. We got a table outside, it was a lively afternoon, couples catching up behind us, people playing Jenga on the street in front of us. Just the atmosphere alone was laid back and fun. The interior design is very upscale, you almost forget you're in Columbus. The waitress we had seemed a bit overwhelmed, we had to repeat our orders a couple times but luckily her teammates were able to help her out. I ordered the Hawaiian pizza, I'm a fan of spicy and pineapples so it seemed like the obvious choice for me. Ordered some beers to pass the time until the food arrived which wasn't long. When the pizza came out, it was still sizzling. I'm a fan of whenever the pizza comes out and the cheese is just melting off. The ingredients were fresh, the jalapenos and tomatoes tasted amazing. The pineapples were delicious, you could still taste it without it taking away from the spiciness of the pizza. The size of the pizza was enough to satisfy my appetite. Great meal, I'll high recommend it to any pizza lovers just be patient with the waiters/waitresses.

    (4)

  • Ashley J.

    Came for happy hour and cocktails. Staff was amazing and happy is great! Got in at 4 and the place was empty. Spiked strawberries are so amazing and such a good idea. Just wish there were more. Also, the cucumber margarita was great and refreshing. Thank you staff for being amazing!

    (5)

  • Coop C.

    We had a wonderful dinner at Forno! We started with the warm ricotta and peaches served with fresh bread. Moved on to a breakfast pizza and wild mushroom pizza, both of which were amazingly great. We then finished with the homemade cheesecake with strawberries. If you go you must share a cheesecake! The service was perfect, the drinks were on point (Moscow mule and few different local beers), we are already talking about going back this weekend. The price is a great value when you consider the high food quality.

    (5)

  • Doug O.

    We had a great experience at Forno. The pizzas (we had the Forno Chicken and the Hawaiian) were excellent. Very good crust. The drinks were also great--nice cocktail list and a good selection of local craft beers. What really put the place over the top was the service. When our pizzas hadn't come out in 10 to 15 minutes after we ordered, our server apologized profusely and brought us free salads. We hadn't even noticed and certainly weren't concerned with the not-bad-at-all wait time (it was our first night out with a babysitter since our child was born and we were happy just to be out without a kid), but it was a classy touch. Then, when our server overheard that it was our first time out without the kid, she brought us free dessert. Really nice touch. Definitely check out Forno.

    (5)

  • Matthew S.

    Drinks were pretty good, but buyer beware. None of the cooks wear gloves. Even the chef licked his fingers and went to grab a piece of ciabatta, all ready to eat to foods need to be handled with protective hand wear. We noticed after we ate most of our pizza and that was it. The manager was very prompt to refund the meal but left it to the bartender to apologize which I thought was unprofessional. Maybe an off day?

    (2)

  • Ben P.

    I've now been to Forno both for happy hour and dinner. Their happy hour specials (weekdays 4-6) are fantastic- with half off their expansive draft, wine, and cocktail lists- as well as half off pizzas. Their cocktails are interesting twists on classics, such as the True Grit (old fashioned-esque) and the Basil Collins. And their pizzas are the bomb. Try the breakfast pizza, no matter what time you go. The best part about Forno is that it's rarely busy... we quickly found a seat outside on a Wednesday night. Highly recommended before the rest of Columbus finds out about this place.

    (5)

  • Jillian M.

    I'm going to echo the sentiments of several other Yelpers: HAPPY HOUR HERE IS AMAZING! For my first visit, we had a group of 12+ people for a happy hour get together. We arrived a little after 4pm, and the place was fairly empty. By around 5pm, it was starting to fill up, so get here early if you can. The decor here is really nice, with a minimalist flair and lots of light. Bonus points that they have a little patio! I totally agree with Lisa P. that the big fabric lampshade thingies were not a good match with their decor. Our server, Neil, was THE BEST! As previously stated, we had a really big group, and he was there every 5-10 minutes to get our drink, apps, and pizza orders. He also gave us some recommendations about which drinks and appetizers were good/popular. And, everyone's checks were accurate at the end of the night. I had the arancini and also the ahi tuna tacos -- both were fantastic, especially at the half off price point. The ahi tuna tacos come in a wonton wrapper shell, so they are very light and crispy. In contrast, the arancini are little fried balls of risotto and cheese, so they were much more decadent. I also had the margarita pizza (half off), which surprisingly, didn't quite live up to my expectations. I really enjoyed the crust, but it seemed that the edges of my pizza were piping hot but the middle was only lukewarm. This may have just been a fluke though, so I'm willing to come back and try again. I do also think having a giant leaf of basil on each piece of pizza made it difficult to eat. It looked pretty, but wasn't very functional. Perhaps a basil chiffonade would have the same aesthetic, but make it easier to get a piece of basil in each bite. Also, it would be nice if there were an option on the menu to build your own pizza. Everyone seemed to enjoy their food and drinks, and I'm looking forward to coming back to try more pizzas!

    (4)

  • Leslie W.

    Out for a late nite ride and grabbing a cold one. Nice atmosphere and a very friendly staff.

    (4)

  • Cynthia N.

    We had several different pizzas they were all good chicken Alfredo was awesome and the one with goat cheese was delicious to . Great appetizers and great lemon bar and New York cheese cake our waiter was great also .

    (5)

  • Angela J.

    Ok I'm just gonna get right to the heart of it.... GO FOR HAPPY HOUR!! I don't know if it's because they are a new business that their h.h. is so amazing or it is going to remain this way all the time, which I really hope it does, but go for the HH!! 1/2 price apps, bar snacks, all beer draughts, wines by the glass and pizza. Seriously?!?! My dining partner in crime and I had 4 beers, 2 apps, and a pizza and it came to a whopping $32. This was Friday. I don't mind eating dinner at senior citizen time if I'm going to get this kind of deal! Beer was great. Our on point server recommended I try Great Lakes High Striker and it was a wonderful beer. I enjoyed that. Then the trio of dips was great and a very generous serving. Only wish they'd serve veggies with the dips but whatevs not gonna complain. We also ordered calamari which I normally don't like but I actually liked theirs very much because it wasn't chewy. Now for the pizza...Margherita Pizza was the star of the show. Loved the crispy thin crust and the big circles of mozz and fresh leaves of basil. It was really great. Also it was a perfect size for two people to share. For my taste it was a little too trendy and classy because people tried really hard to look like they were working the runway but if that's your thing then this place is perfect for you! The end.

    (4)

  • Lisa P.

    Went last night with our Happy Hour group. Love the ambiance, love the small plates, love the Happy Hour prices, love the service. Only thing that was disappointing was the pizza. It was tasty but did not meet the hype. Anyway, when I walked in I fell in love. My kind of place. The lighting was perfect, lots of natural light from their big windows. HUGE patio doors were open. Their bar was really cool. It was the center piece of the restaurant. Like a big island. Kitchen and pizza oven were open concept so you could see everything. LOVED IT. Comfy chairs, relaxing atmosphere. Can't say enough good things. Well, I can say one thing about their big, weird lampshade lights. They reminded me of grandma sheets that doubled as lampshades. Weird. Our server was great. We had a pretty big group and he kept everything together well and was very attentive. No errors on the checks! Now to food...if you come here, you MUST come for Happy Hour. Half off small plates! Pizzas! Drinks! WOW! It's only from 4-6pm though. So get here after work. I had a warm ricotta small plate before getting pizza. SO SO GOOD. It had peaches in the ricotta. They also served it with rosemary and garlic bread. Heavenly. My friend and I split a Hawaiian pizza. It was good just not anything to shake a stick at. Not a ton of flavor sauce-wise but their crust is superb. Thin and flavorful. Anyway, my friend paid for the pizza and I had two of their cocktails and paid $15 for my drinks and the app. Such a great deal. I had a moscow mule which was made with Belvedere. I felt classy. I also had a Basil Collins made with gin and basil, obviously. Their drinks weren't too strong but very tasty. Anyway, come for the food, the fun, the HAPPY HOUR. You won't be disappointed.

    (4)

  • Brad S.

    Truly enjoyed the happy hour experience here. The bartenders were attentive but not pushy, the wine was cheap and of good quality, and the pizza was tremendous. For the price, I'm not sure it can be beat. I've heard that it's difficult to get in here for a normal dinner hour, so when we had a spare moment in the Short North late one afternoon, we popped in. Two seats were open at the bar. For $20, we had two glasses of pinor noir and a ~12" pepperoni pizza. The pizza was great, with a crisp crust, balanced sauce, and a rosemary flavor that was unique without being overt. The bar area is sunny and spacious, with nice music, small TVs, and plenty of seating.

    (5)

  • Dan P.

    From out of town. I was told FORNO was the place to go. Ordered Two pizzas one was completely burnt I mean scorched. The crust all the way around was BLACK. The rest of the pizza was definitely orange from over cooking. 1 Pizza was a goat cheese, chicken, and asparagus. 5 small pieces of chicken. not even a piece per slice. 2.Pizza was a chicken Alfredo. Not Burnt but there was ZERO flavor. Service was great, except for delivering a burnt pizza Atmosphere was really cool really great design. Great Bar

    (1)

  • Shruti S.

    Made a beeline for the Ahi Tuna tacos, and the Kiwi Mule. Both were great! More so, because I did the Happy Hour specials, meaning, everything was half off. It's the decor and service for which I've given the high rating, since I sampled only two items on the menu! This place is gorgeously decorated. Lovely blue, white, brown, orange colour palette; comfy and trendy seating; just the right weight on that cutlery. Bottles left on the table for you. My server, Bethany, was really attentive.

    (4)

  • Lori S.

    Some friends and I were eager to try out this new Short North hangout tonight, and we were really pleased. First of all, there's a fantastic happy hour. From 4-6 pm all drafts, house cocktails and wine are half off and so are appetizers, shareables and pizzas. Fantastic deals. The interior of the restaurant is beautiful and spacious with emphasis on bar space and hangout space. The open kitchen is dominated by the stone pizza oven, and as my friend and I had a cocktail and waited for our table, the pizzas coming out looked and smelled delicious. We tried some of the shareable, the risotto balls, the pork belly and the ahi tuna tartare tacos. All of them were delicious. The service was friendly, prompt and attentive. We were also impressed that the entirety of Forno's draft selections were local Ohio brews, five of them from Columbus! Most of us got pizza, and it was uniformly delicious - tasty, flavorful toppings on a nice chewy crisp crust with that touch of stone-fired char. I'd be remiss if I didn't mention the side order of Brussels sprouts that one friend got. They were so delicious that we sat there tasting them and tried to determine what they put in them to make them so delectable. We ended up asking our server (the answer: sauteed in butter, then housemade chicken stock with shallots and garlic). I had a fantastic dinner, it was reasonably priced (pizzas at around $13) and those happy hour specials are beckoning.

    (5)

  • Minna C.

    The margherita pizza was good but why was it so runny in the middle? My friend and i assumed it was the tomatoes and tried to enjoy the pizza... The restaurant gets the four star for its ahi tuna tacos.. It may be an appetizer but its filling and delicious!!! Fresh plump tuna bites with great seasoning!!!

    (4)

  • Jeff A.

    To begin with, Forno has a great atmosphere which allows for either a single person at the bar or a large group to feel welcome and comfy. Servers are attentive and knowledgeable. Overall the restaurant is great. I stuck with a pizza, the Carne Pizza to be exact. The crust acts only as a vessel for the toppings; it has a good taste to it, but nothing which stands out. The outside crust has a nice fluffy crispness which cleanses the palate for the next slice. The capicola and pepperoni stand out the most to me. They really give this pizza it's distinct taste. The sausage was the weak spot. Herb and cheese mix is great. Any toppings which are added are only a bonus. Honestly, just some really good pizza. Good beer selection. I'm in Columbus only for a small amount of time but I'll be back.

    (5)

  • Ashley C.

    LOVE this place! Service is great, food is great! Brittany is awesome! Gabriel rocks!Nice to come to a place and be treated so well! Will be back often and have told many to come try it!

    (5)

  • Francine V.

    My time here was beyond enjoyable- and I'll explain why. First off, I came here on an extremely busy Saturday evening. The placed was packed and I managed to get a seat within an hour- which went by notably fast when you head to the bar for their delicious cocktails. The atmosphere was welcoming and the employees made sure I was OK- which is quite appreciative, considering how many people there were. The food exceeded my expectations. I had the pork belly tacos- YUMMY! As well as the cured pork belly which was even better, and the tomahawk ribeye. I like my meat, and they do not skimp on that! The pork belly was delicious- coming from someone not from Ohio- it's best to keep an open mind on these new foods. As for the ribeye- the best I've ever had in Columbus. And I'm not just trying to be nice. I've had ribeye at Hyde park, black point, etc. and this was by far my favorite. It was extremely tender and juicy- my butter knife could cut through it with ease. Rich in flavor, every succulent bite made my experience even better! Overall I gotta give this a 5/5. I will definitely be back and will bring a few more friends with me!

    (5)

  • Chris R.

    Very good service with nice wine list and plenty of choices. Pizza was a bit over cooked. Prices were reasonable. Very nice interior.

    (4)

  • Robert C.

    They flat bread pizza was great and the prices were reasonable given the location. They have a nice patio, and the atmosphere feels upscale. I've only eaten here once, but we were very pleased with the food quality.

    (4)

  • Mironda R.

    4.5 Stars is what I'd give this place! Great (not perfect) experience! The ambiance was sexy, crazy, cool without being pretentious. Everyone raved about the food from the starters to main courses to the pizza. So the specifics: To start, the table ordered the olive sampler, ahi tacos, calamari, pork belly tacos, ricotta and toast, and the roasted garlic shrimp. Of the fan favorites, I'd say the ahi tacos and the garlic shrimp OUTDID themselves. I mean the tacos were amazeballs. The shrimp was rich, so I only needed one, but that one was heavenly. I think the least fave was the ricotta and toast, seemed to be a lot of that left over after all was said and done. So let's talk about this MAINS -- I opted for the arugula salad (with fennel and a lime mint vinaigrette) sooo tasty and the Salmon. This baby was a beauty, cooked to perfection (medium that is) and served in a cast iron skilled on a red pepper puree. It was better than the presentation (who does that)?! And the vegetables were roasted to the right about of cook (re: just a smidget after al dente). From a side perspective, the table ordered the brussel sprouts and the root vegetables. I loved them both, but a few people commented that unless you LOVED brussel sprouts, these may not be the ones. I wonder what that says about me?! Anywho - what I can say is the table ordered 3 pizzas (they are small - medium, but 3 can easily feed about 5 people with extras) and they loved them especially the white pizza. Surprisingly it was the carnivores favorite as well. It had roasted garlic olive oil, mushrooms, mozzarella, artichoke, onions, and parmesan. So why the less that 5 star experience: service was extremely slow (and yes, I've been out to great places with larger groups and it doesn't take hours to get food) and it took quite a while to get seated even after we had over 70% of our group there which was somewhat of a bummer. All in all. .totally go back!

    (4)

  • Andrea B.

    Great food, seriously one of the best vegetarian pizza's I've had in a long time, I loved the bubbly crust hot out of the pizza oven! Came in for happy hour which unfortunately it ends at 6pm so I really rushed over to meet friends. I'll come back and edit this post giving 5 stars *IF* management extends happy hour. 4-6pm is just so difficult to get to. I want my half off pizza at 6:30pm!

    (4)

  • August B.

    This place is ok. If it were in a shopping mall in the suburbs, I would consider recommending it. But you're in the Short North. Want a fancy pizza? Go to Rossi. Want deep dish? Go to Fabian's. Want less fancy pizza? Go to Late Night Slice. Or Zpizza. Or Donatos.

    (2)

  • Jamie S.

    New corner hot spot in short north that is finally here to stay! The ambiance is great with upbeat music, mood lighting, and trendy decor. It will have you feeling like you are somewhere not in Ohio! Their spicy marg hits the spot with a good balance of tangy, sweet, and spicy. We ordered the Italian salad, Brussels, ahi tuna tacos (the taco shells were amazing), and the carne pizza which was wood fired to perfection. Service was very friendly and messed up our salad and appetizer order and gave it to us on the house. Overall, check it out!! Great for a hot spot just to grab drinks too!!

    (5)

  • Megan V.

    A refreshing, swanky vibe with fabulous food and cocktails to boot! I was fortunate to be one of the lucky people that dined at Forno opening weekend. My experience was all around quite pleasant for a number of reasons. Here it goes... 1) We got a table without a reservation. I can't imagine this being the case for long once word gets out... Shhhsh! 2) The atmosphere is super trendy with large light fixtures, neon lights, unique tables, huge bar, formal hostess, etc. It reminds me of a hip NYC restaurant. Welcome to Columbus! 3) The cocktails are on point. They specialize in mules - the drink, not the animal. The classic Moscow mule is great - everything I would expect. If you are looking for something a little different, the kiwi mule is absolute perfection - ginger beer, vodka, kiwi. Not too sweet, but quite delicious...so delicious that you may drink them fairly quickly. Whoops! 4) Their food puts a unique flare on traditional dishes. To start, we ordered the ricotta and toast appetizer. It had chunks of peaches and was sprinkled with cinnamon - a nice balance of sweet and salty. For our main course, we shared their specialty, a stone-fired pizza. We went with the Hawaiian pizza - jalapeño peppers, pineapple, etc. It really packed a kick! Amazing (if you like spicy food)! 5) Good people all around! The service was superior even though they were quite busy. Our waitress was super friendly and pleasant - a real pro handling the crowd. Not only was the service appealing, but also the general clientele. There were many beautiful people dining/drinking there. It says the restaurant is casual, but people seemed to be turning it up a lot on the weekend. Good for them! I like to see nice things - seating, atmosphere, food, drink, and people. A very well-rounded new location in the Short North. I do say.

    (5)

  • Serena H.

    6 of us showed up Saturday night ready for a good time. We were told there would be an hour wait, which was OK for opening weekend, but as we walked around to the bar, there was so many open tables that we just didnt understand why they didn't seat us. We supposed it was for reservations, but was told that there would be no reservations for the night. IN all, we were just confused, but decided to just order a drink and hold it out. Eventually we were seated, in one of the tables that was empty for the whole 30minutes or so that we waited. So let's do the breakdown: Drinks: pricey at 9 bucks a cocktail and overall not too impressive. Of all the drinks we ordered, the jalepeno margarita was the best. Decor: confusing. We all dressed kinda casual, as it appeared so on the website/menu, but when it got there it seemed kinda bar/clubby with the soft red lights and well dressed waitresses/hostess. Didn't really match up. Pizza: mediocre, especially at a price of 12/pie. It just wasn't special. We had the mediterranean and the wild mushroom and they tasted the same, except for a couple different toppings. It didn't feel like there was much thought put into it, and there are many other places around town with cheaper and better pizza. Pork Belly Taco: again, just mediocre Arancino: wait, mediocre, too? Overall, there is definitely a lot of room for improvement. I have to give them credit for the service, aside from the whole not being seated despite so many open tables that never even filled up until we were wayyy into our dinner. At the bar we were addressed in a reasonable time, and our waitress was fairly pleasant.

    (3)

  • Tamara O.

    As the solo artist I made my trip here during happy hour. Half off apps,shared plates,house cocktails and pizza. I enjoyed a forno pizza and Apple Manhattan. My goal here wasn't to eat a pizza since I read mixed reviews about it and a reviewer wrote that had to eat Late Night Slice to make it better. LNS is not ny fave so It's my greatest hope this so much better. The server recommend pizza over a burger. My pizza arrived steaming hot topped with goat cheese,mozz,red pepper puree,asparagus and chicken. Crust was a bit darker then I prefer but everything else blended well. I was surprised by the tastey bits of melty goat chesse like little melts of deliciousness. My glass for the drink was a bit spotty and not polished well but that can pass. I still polish glasses I know it's a pain. Good place for a date or traveling solo. Even for that internet date your not sure if. Big Sister is watching. Server was attentive but not hovering. Love the napkins. Take a stack if you wear more food then you eat. Forno just maybe my new go to place for eats and I cant wait to try strawberry jello shots. Some adjustments could be; TVs could use some captions. The space is a bit tiny. Guests and the staff seemed to be squeezing by people sitting at the bar. Not sure if tray service is used but it seems like it will be a tight squeeze. A positive interaction was that the Chef and the GM came out and asked about my food and services. Very nice of both. Not sure if that always happens or it was because Im a solo artist. Either way it was a nice touch. Hopefully I will be there with a date on my next visit. #yolomeal

    (5)

  • Carianne M.

    I had dinner at Forno for a birthday shortly after their opening. Overall, it was fine! The open-kitchen layout was fun to see. Huge ovens with all kinds of great things going in and coming out bubbly and delicious. The place was pretty packed even though the weather was awful, but we made it in time for happy hour and my Moscow Mule was top-knotch. The meal was good, appetizers good. It was simply loud inside and it made it a bit distracting. Our table was in an awkward corner and the waitress was stuck squeezing in awkwardly each time she checked on us. I think, post-opening frenzy, this place would be worth checking out again. Their branding makes them stand out enough that they will likely always be busy, though much more so for the sit-down-stay-a-while crowd.

    (4)

  • Mirabelle L.

    We had ahi tuna taco, calamari, margarita pizza, and peanut butter cheesecake. Food was delicious overall. Ahi tuna and calamari were fresh, margarita pizza was a bit dry but decent, and peanut butter cheesecake was slightly too sweet for me. Ambience was great here and we had a wonderful time. Service was above average. Price is also very fair. Would totally recommend this place.

    (4)

  • Ms. B.

    Stopped into Forno after completing some running shoe shopping to grab a bite. Upon entry, we were immediately seated in the bar area. It was happy hour, so I was pleasantly surprised with the happy hour menu and prices. For the place to be a little over half full (not including the bar area), I was expecting prompter service. My friend and I both had time to walk two blocks to our respective meters before we were even asked about drinks. The food: We decided to share a Four Cheese Pizza, which arrived very timely. I do not understand the small, oval shaped plates they have at the tables. They are not conducive for eating pizza. The actual pizza was VERY DELICIOUS and I would definitely return. Besides the wait, in future visits I would hope they would give the option to sit outside or indoors, and if they are going to show sports talk shows on the television, at least turn on the closed captioning so we can actually know what's going on. Kinda seemed like a waste of electricity. Overall, good pizza and drinks, decent service. I'll likely return in the future.

    (3)

  • Gus W.

    I didn't know what to think before heading to Forno. The pictures of food looked pretty great on the website and on here, but since it's same people that run Pint House, I was expecting it to be obnoxiously crowded. To my surprise, it wasn't that bad for a restaurant that had just opened, and we waited about 35-45 minutes for a table. That was fine by me, because we were able to grab a spot at the bar, no problem. Personally, I wanted to eat there, but the girlfriend wanted a table, so we waited. The place is separated into basically two separate areas when you walk in: A dimly blue lit bar area on the left, and a more vibrant and normally lit area on the right. Both sides had seating, but the right side was much bigger and a bit more welcoming. Of course, we were not sat on that side. The table they sat us at seemed a bit tight at first, but we made do, and the only real complaint was the draft coming from the front door. As far as service goes, our waitress was super friendly and helpful, and she was quick to check up on us when we needed drinks. She also had some decent insight into the menu which helped (Apparently the pork belly tacos are much better than the pork belly appetizer by itself. There was no way I was eating tacos and a pizza though). We were pretty hungry at this point, so we ordered two different pizzas: the Carne, which had a good deal of meat on it, and I can't remember the name of the other, but it was their white pizza. Both were awesome! I was actually surprised with how good the pizza was here. I ate my entire pizza and some of the girlfriend's .The pizzas are 12", and I was really full, so you may have issues eating one to yourself, but it can be done. The pizza itself wasn't too pricey. I think in the $12-$14 range, which is about what I expected, but the drinks weren't cheap. Overall, I liked this place a lot, and the girlfriend loved it, so we'll definitely be back again, especially since the wait is not all that bad.

    (4)

  • Peggy T.

    We went there last night as part of the Yelp CBUS tour and had the delicious Fresh Strawberry Shot. The atmosphere was very nice and the food smelled amazing. The manager (or a very nice employee) walked by and even asked if we wanted our picture taken with the Strawberry shots. We will definitely go back and try it for dinner

    (5)

  • Maddie O.

    The food was good, atmosphere was okay and service was ehh. The beer and wine selection was pretty good. They had some interesting cocktails that were reasonably priced. They have Jell-O shots and punch bowls which is a cool touch. I ordered the olive sampler. Don't do that. It was $1's worth of olives and some cheese. A waste of money for some olives. The pizza was good. I had the chicken Alfredo and I would definitely get it again. I prefer thicker crust but the toppings and sauce were delicious. Star of the show for sure. The cheesecake. Oh the cheesecake. I will be returning solely for the cheesecake. It was real ricotta and mascarpone and a great balance of citrus. What really underwhelmed me was the service and atmosphere. There's something about the dining room. I think it's the coloring or the weird diaper looking lamps. It was also pretty dark which I don't love. And it smelled like burnt pizza from their signature oven. Our service was okay. They gave us a free dessert because we were celebrating a friend's bday. But they didn't have enough chairs for us. We had reservations and wouldn't seat us until the entire party arrived. It was a Wednesday night and they had plenty of room to seat us. Then they told us we had to wait at the bar until another table left because they didn't have enough chairs for our party. We had reservations. They knew exactly how many chairs we needed but couldn't accommodate. But I guess that's what happens when bar guys open a restaurant. Overall: self-proclaimed pizza queen definitely approves.

    (3)

  • Kim D.

    The seafood appetizers was phenomenal. The shrimp was cooled perfectly and the tuna sashimi tacos was delightfully fun. The pizza had some rough edges, but I think it can improve over time. I especially loved the strawberry shooters as desserts. The flavor was actually a a perfectly ripe strawberry! As for the service, I really liked our waitress she was informative and patient. I didn't get one snotty vibe from her. A+

    (4)

  • Jessica B.

    So Forno is fun, but you can tell that the previous two restaurants that were there....were, well, there. Its like bits and pieces of the decor stayed around... Thats not why I'm here though. Forno has a great happy hour, half priced cocktails are awesome. The apple Manhattan is strong enough for a man but juuust girlie enough for the ladies. They specialize in pizza. We had a Hawaiian and added sausage per the bartender recommendation, and it was goooood. Will definitely go back and try it again.

    (4)

  • Lauren A.

    I was excited to try Forno and stopped by during gallery hop for dinner. The atmosphere was nice, with huge windows great for people watching. The food however was mediocre, to start my friend and I both ordered adult beverages, I had the peach palmer and my friend the Moscow mule, both were ok, but I'm not even 100% sure there was even alcohol in mine. Next I ordered a ceasar salad, which came out before we even got our drinks, the salad had little taste and I was unimpressed. The saving grace was the Margarita pizza, a nice combo of soft and crispy crust. So overall it was not a total loss however, I would not recommend it to a friend, and I will most likely not be back.

    (2)

  • Roberta L.

    We had multiple recommendations to give Forno a try. We had reservations at 8:30 and waited quite some time to get seated even though there were two hosts. Upon sitting we were pretty much given the worst table in the place.. I guess reservations weeks in advance are taken lightly. The decor didn't quite make sense, mixing wood accent walls to a color changing spot light. Our server was a sweet girl and very helpful when it came to ordered both cocktails (kiwi mule is a must) and dinner (shrimp apps), but all in all it was a very slow service and almost seemed inattentive at times. The shrimp and beet salad far exceeded our expeditions while the Calabrese pizza fell short. It's not worth the drive back or being perched on a high stool for dinner.

    (2)

  • Steven P.

    I thought we had already done this review, but it seems to have disappeared.... This place is highly recommended, the food, waitstaff and service were absolutely superb. We ordered one of their pizzas, which was the best pizza we have had to date in Columbus in almost 30 years...

    (5)

  • Anne D.

    Mule, calamari, AND mahi tacos, how do you compare?! Best happy hour I've been to in awhiiiile- and a really good one is harrd to come by. Definitely a pleasantly returning customer. A must see, for great deals

    (5)

  • Valerie K.

    This place has a great happy hour and patio! I love the ambiance here, I think we might finally have a winner in this doomed spot in the middle of the Short North. Tuna was excellent. I recommend this!

    (4)

  • Nicholas N.

    Forno is on my block so maybe I'm biased, but I don't think so. If you're looking for a spot that can be both a great dinner hangout to enjoy awesome food and drinks or a later night stop with a fun bar scene (and awesome drinks), Forno is it. I enjoy the distinct different styles on each side of the restaurant. I think you will to.

    (4)

  • Mike K.

    Food was above average. Service was too quick. Not ideal for a romantic dinner. Good eat and run spot. Risotto balls app was very good. Pasta Forno with meatballs was good. Pasta cooked correctly. Pizza, from afar looked good. Seemed to be the choice for most patrons. Bottom line - hipster pizza joint.

    (3)

  • Marc H.

    I loved this place on my visit. Very nice inside but we sat outside on small enclosed side walk patio. Good choice too. Cucumber jalapeño drink was really great! Pizzas are fantastic. Tuna tacos app was good. Also had the pasta with clams which was really tasty and light. I will be back for sure.

    (5)

  • Hannah B.

    I was very underwhelmed by this restaurant. I came in with high expectations and left disappointed. The look was 80's meet modern. A mix of random patterns and colors. Also the patio is a joke! The tables are so tiny and pushed together. There's not way a party of 4 would be comfortable out there. The drinks were the best part. I had a kiwi mule. It was light and refreshing. We had the chicken pizza, risotto balls and the ricotta cheese dip. It wasn't seasoned to my liking. It was just plain. Overall i would not rush back.

    (3)

  • Emily L.

    I have been craving to check out this spot for a while now and was finally able to go for dinner. Firstly, I must comment on the atmosphere of the place, it is a really cool new feel for the Columbus area and has a large wrap around bar area with huge bay windows, this place will be ideal for the summer time! If anything this spot would be ideal for grabbing some cocktails. As for the food, I ordered the Caprese sandwich with the glazed vegetables on the side. The sandwich was good, nothing amazing, but also not disappointing. I was expecting more of a panini type of sandwich but it turned out to be a cold version, but still tastey. As for thee side vegetables, they were AMAZING!! delicious. I probably would not go and order the sandwich again, and try the pizza next time, but as for the sides I am impressed!

    (3)

  • Grant J.

    The best! First time eating here was last night. Came back the next night and it got better! Ordered what I thought was mushroom risotto and I ordered the pizza on accident. They then brought the risotto out as well to be nice. I will be back!!!!

    (5)

  • N S.

    I wanted to really like this. I like it but am not over the top about it. Staff is friendly Menu is interesting. Food is good but not great (even the tuna tacos, which our friend raved about, were....meh). Noise level worthy of a Cameron Mitchell piped-in cacophony. I thought the pizza was OK, but nothing more. Not at a Harvest Pizza level. I think the hype may have gotten to them. They are going to have to deliver more flavor and more interest to keep packing them in like they do. Give it a try, certainly.

    (3)

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Map

Opening Hours

  • Mon :4:00 pm - 12:00pm

Specialities

  • Takes Reservations : Yes
    Delivery : No
    Take-out : Yes
    Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
    Accepts Bitcoin : No
    Good For : Dinner
    Parking : Street
    Bike Parking : Yes
    Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
    Good for Kids : No
    Good for Groups : Yes
    Attire : Casual
    Ambience : Trendy
    Noise Level : Average
    Good For Dancing : No
    Alcohol : Full Bar
    Happy Hour : Yes
    Best Nights : Thu, Fri, Sat
    Coat Check : No
    Smoking : No
    Outdoor Seating : No
    Wi-Fi : Free
    Has TV : Yes
    Dogs Allowed : No
    Waiter Service : Yes
    Caters : No

Forno Kitchen - Bar

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