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Categories: Bakeries, Italian, Breakfast & Brunch
Neighborhood: CoronadoMon-Thu. 11:30 a.m. - 10:00 p.m.
Fri-Sat. 11:30 a.m. - 11:00 p.m.
Sun. 10:30 a.m. - 10:00 p.m.
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The views are spectacular.
The service is friendly and well-paced.
The prices are very affordable.
The food is ok....their dinner choices are great but their brunch is so-so.
However, I take people here for the sweeping views of the San Diego skyline not the food so it's still a fantastic restaurant.
A friend gave us a gift card for this place and I'm glad we didn't spend our own money. Ditto what everyone else says about the view; we sat right on the corner of the patio and the skyline and bridge were lovely. And for some reason, there was a fireworks display that night. Very cool. The fun ended there.
No one came by to take our drink or food order after we were seated, and we had to go and ask the hostess if our waitress was aware that we were there. That shouldn't be.
It was so dark and there was so little light on the table that we had to use the flashlight app on our phones to read the menus. Ditto what many said, the food was just okay. Not what I expected for the reputation and the price range. There are better places to eat.
I don't know what is going on with this place but they need to get their plumbing fixed!
It smells to high heaven in here lately!
We went in for a nice lunch on the water and there was this awful smell. I asked what it was and they said that they are having issues with the water from the bay going under the restaurant and messing with the bathroom plumbing!
I feel bad for them but seriously no one wants to eat when it smells like crap.... and I mean that literally!
I've been here a few times and never had a bad one. I love the food, fresh and lots to choose from.… Read more »
What a horrendous disappointment given the beauty of the place I was visiting!! I could not believe this was the best grand old Coronado could do. I mean I KNOW times are tough but shut the doors then for goodness sakes if you can't find decent cooks, etc!
The view was breathtaking- we've already established that. And the bread was fantastic, with very tasty olive oil- I'll give them that.
All the rest was disappointing in both presentation and taste. All for not an inexpensive price. Salads looked thrown together- my kids could've made them look more appetizing! Dressings were just plain nasty!
Omelet was tough and overcooked. Potatoes were small and shriveled and dried out. Onions were ok.
This was on a summertime Saturday, around noon.
Maybe happy hour after work- go for the bread and a cocktail!!
I intend to write corporate on this one. This is Coronado, the Crown!!! This place was a disgrace to the island.
I thought this was going to be one of those places that charges people for the location and the view, however, I was pleasantly surprised. The place has one of the greatest views in San Diego and actually manages to have good food and wine.
The service was a bit slow but we didn't really mind it, we got a chance to enjoy the dinner in a European manner. Take your time, have a glass of wine with delicious bread and olive oil, relax and enjoy the life.
The food is wonderful. I ordered Cappellacci di Zucca, ravioli filled with a combination of butternut squash and walnuts, topped with not too much of marinara sauce. It was scrumptious.
Desserts were also very appetizing. I had a sampler which had three different desserts; tiramisu, chocolate mouse cake and crape filled with apples served with vanilla ice cream. Tiramisu was my favorite.
Overall we both had wonderful time. Great place for a romantic outing. Mame sure you ask for a table outside, although, if you go with more than one person, be considerate and find a table inside. Outside is very secluded, therefore you don't want to disturb anyone by being noisy.(My boyfriend and I were sitting next to the loudest company of people. We got a bit annoyed, but after they left it was heaven).
Pretty good. Standard fancy Italian-esque food. Nothing exciting, but nothing bad...yum?
GREAT view though...
This place is actually pretty good. I'm not really a fan of Italian food most of time, mostly because it's bland and over priced. Not this place, the food is great, full of flavor and they actually have an Italian chef in the kitchen (which is open to the dining room). Like others have said, the bread and olive oil is amazing. It's somewhat reasonably priced also, upper teens for most entrees with a few specials like the roasted duck in the low $20. Considering the view and location I would have considered it to be much more expensive. I will definitely be coming back.
Located on Coronado Island the outside deck is the place to sit. The restaurant overlooks the bay so you can watch the ships go by. It's a 4 star view.
We started with drinks at the bar. All the drinks were good but a Cucumber Gimlet won the day with a hint of sweet vodka and very refreshing taste.
Next we moved out onto the patio where we ordered several appetizers including Carpaccio which was very good, but the highlight was a special of thick sliced tomato, fresh basil and fresh mozzarella with a little olive oil over top.
For entrees the brick oven cheese pizza we ordered for my niece won hands down. In fact I think it might have been the best pizza I have ever had. It's a good thing she doesn't eat a lot since she is three, because all the adults gobbled it up quickly. My mother had the Cappellacci di Zucca which is fresh made on site ravioli filled with butternut squash and walnuts it comes with a tomato sauce, brown butter, parmesan and crispy sage it was really really good. I had a grilled sea bass that was good but the olive infused tomato sauce was just to overpowering for the perfectly cooked fish. We also had fresh pasta with pesto and scallops which was not that good. The pasta was tasty buy why ruin something as delicate as a scallop with pesto?? It just didn't make any sense.
For dessert I had crepes with apples and homemade vanilla bean gelato and yes for the first time in a long time I didn't share. We also ordered a brownie with vanilla bean gelato and a tiramisu which was really fantastic.
Overall if you want fresh pasta or a great pizza I would try this place. I would just try to stick with simple dishes because it seems that is what they do best.
not even the great san diego bay views or ambiance in the restaurant can get me to go back again. the first time i went, i had the gnocchi, which was really gummy, flavorless and drenched in bad sauce. like i was famished and ate two bites and filled up on bread awful. second time i went for brunch, i ordered an italian omelett which came with undistinguishable vegetable bits and a few pieces of potato thrown inside. seriously?? i would rather go to the little greek place around the corner and grab a gyros. i wish i knew what people were talking about when they speak so highly of this place.
Food was great, atmosphere was great, service was great view was great, the water was like 15 feet from where we were getting served! Love this place,
Food is well priced.
Gorgeous night out (after a gorgeous, warm day) - figured a little Italian on the water would be perfect.
Service was a little rough, good in some respects, slow in other respects. Restaurant didn't seem TOO busy.
Caesar salad was ok - not spectacular.. I wish I would have had the house salad with vinaigrette instead. (sigh)
My date had the seafood risotto - decent (IMO), but she really enjoyed it.
I had the conchiglie al pollo - good.. showed up with the top shells cold (though it was warm in the middle). Good flavor..
I'm thinking the spinach ravioli would have been the better choice (I saw that pass by me on the way to someone else).
We had a very nice barolo that was green upon opening, but they decanted for us and it opened up nicely.
I'm no expert on tiramisu because I don't have dessert often but I thought it was damn good - very light and creamy, rich but not too rich.
I dunno - only three stars because you just have higher expectations for this place I guess. Not upset, just disappointed.
Mediocre Italian food in a very nice setting.
Ick. Abrupt, indifferent service. Blah gummy pasta, icky chicken with some pathetic looking veggies. Mediocre wine selection priced higher than the expected restaurant mark up. It's a shame, since other Il Fornaio outlets have fairly good food by chain standards. It's pretty clear that the management is cutting every single corner they possibly can and is relying on the fact that most of their customers are tourists who will only eat there once. The only good things about this place? Tasty bread, beautiful dining room, beautiful view. Too bad that's not enough to go through the hell of another meal there.
My date planned our day on Coronado Island. We were super excited to be spending the day together. With the recommendation of Il Fornaio through her friend, we made reservations beforehand to avoid waiting for a table. Upon our arrival, I informed the host of my reservation who said he would seat us promptly. After waiting 20 minutes and seeing groups of all sizes without reservations being seated, a hostess finally approached me apologizing for the delay. I was a little annoyed at that point but whatevers... we were finally seated.
We were seated at our table and the waitress handed us our menus... 10 minutes later, the waitress finally returned asking what we wanted to drink and eat. We both ordered a glass of wine and an appetizer to start. 10 minutes later, we get our glass of wine to quench our parched throats. This was pretty much the theme of the night. Bad and slow service.
The food: the appetizer was decent albeit small portions for the price... the entrees, I thought mine was ok but my date couldn't even finish hers. Not even half... disappointing to say the least.
My date and I were out celebrating our 1 month and had high hopes and expectations of this restaurant and hoped it would make a wonderful memory. All in all, I don't think we'll be returning to this place. Lovely views of the harbor and skyline of downtown San Diego just isn't worth the money and mediocre food.
It shares the same view as Peohe's next door but it doesn't share the same menu or decor.
Beautiful with a slight Tuscan flavor.
The service was professional, brisk, friendly and efficient.
We arrived too late for dinner but they still welcomed us for coffee and dessert.
We'll be back to try the dinner menu.
It's like we're going backwards here.
On our third visit we'll try the salad and appetizers.
:)
Something is wrong with the way it smells when you first walk in because it smells like a dank cave..... not kidding. Decided to eat here anyways since I had heard so much great things about it.
Well, first off, our seafood sampler tasted pretty good, big scallops, shrimp, and calamari in some green sauce topped off with lemon juice, yum.
Our entrees, sadly, were mediocre. I got the lobster ravioli because I am obsessed with it, and I would say it would fall in the low to middle end of the lobster ravioli spectrum. The price did not help either. $24 for mediocre lobster ravioli. The $40 porter steak, you would think must be something good for that price, but no, was mediocre too. We specified it to be rare, and rare it was, but when steaks are rare, there should be juices flowing out of it when you cut it. No, this steak just looked bloody and not as hot as it should have been because it was just a slab of bloody meat with no tender juices flowing out it! Service was standard, nothing impressive. The only thing saving this place is the view of the ocean and downtown San Diego. I would much rather be eating at Peohe's next door!
I finally came here for dinner, and it met the same standard as I enjoyed for brunch. The antipasti appetizer is delicious, with a huge variety of roasted vegetables. The portobella mushroom on the plate is crazy fancy good. Well roasted and tasty!
I ordered the Pennoni alla Vodka with bacon. As Rocco Dispirito said on Top Chef, "You can't go wrong with bacon." And Il Fornaio didn't. It was yummy in my belly! My sister ordered the penne ragu, which was simple, well seasoned and delish. My brother ordered the cannelloni al forna, which seemed a bit bland for him.
Service however was spotty that night. Not too sure why, but there was a definitely delay in our server, and basically forgot to give us change, until we were walking out the door and into the host stand, where she then chased after us. What's funny is the restaurant didn't even seem that busy.
All in all... still a great place to bring out of towners, based on the view.
It's pretty tasty. Been here only for brunch on the weekends. The pizza margarita is a good option… Read more »
I've come here for dinner twice in the last few months. The first time we had reservations, the second time we didn't. The hostess said it would be a twenty minute wait, so we had a drink at the bar and got seated right away, with a great view of downtown. I had a martini, which was very good. My boyfriend and I had a caprese salad, mussels, and a seafood pasta entree. I'm not usually a big fan of italian food and rarely eat at italian restaurants.......but everything was good especially considering it's a chain.
I like Il Fornaio's fettuccine bolognese. Mmmm... Great location looking across the harbor at downtown San Diego. Desserts are OK, but not great. Service is very good. Enjoy.
Not usually a "chain" fan, but we get a lot of visitors and this place has the best night view in San Diego. Food is good and they do have a good wine selection. Service can be slow depending on crowds.
I sometimes just go to the bar for a glass of wine and an app.
Il Fornaio is one of my favorite chain restaurants. You always know what your going to get!
A fantabulous view!
Scrumptious appetizers! (Calamari is my favorite!)
Entree's that are so delicious you can just point at whatever and know it'll be great!
Tremendous service!
Casual, comfortable atmosphere.
Charming outdoor seating!
Affordable prices!
Love, love, love it!
The food here is good, not great - although the Antipasto della Casa (goat cheese rolled in smoked salmon, mozzarella wrapped in prosciutto, grilled scallops wrapped in pancetta, eggplant salad, bruschetta, grilled portobello mushroom, grilled baby artichoke and olives) is a special treat.
The real reason to come is the service, the patio, and the VIEW! Dining al fresco while seated across the bay from the downtown SD skyline at Il Fornaio is sure to please!
IF you sit outside on the patio along the beautiful San Diego bayside directly across from Downtown, the view of the city, sailboats in the bay, Coronado bridge and people walking along the boardwalk are quite relaxing. Nice fresh breeze as well. I'm not such a fan of the interior of this restaurant, but the food is great. I recommend the carpaccio, which is always wonderful served with arugula and quality parmesan and capers. Half a lemon is provided, which you may drizzle over all. My favorite entree is the butternut squash ravioli served with crispy sage. The canneloni is also excellent.
Recently I had the pleasure of dining here with a friend.
The food was fantastic, as was the company. The fellow Yelper decided on a pizza, and I decided I'd have the chicken with shell pasta. A little on the pricey side, but a small price to pay to sit on the patio on a gorgeous August day. The breeze was brisk and swift. The water semi clear.
The server seemed to be a bit slow getting us drinks, but she was very courteous--all the staff are.
Food was excellent. Atmosphere is phenomenal. A perfect date place, and I'd say the price is right for such occasions.
For having such good italian food, this place is never busy. Sit in a booth near the window as the view is spectacular, it's so different from the view from the harbor.
The house bread is really good, but be sure to ask for oil and vinegar because they usually forget.
They always have really good specials, so I tend to order off of that list. The last time I went, I had salmon along with vegetables and potatoes. The salmon was perfect, the flavor and seasonings were just right. My date had Scaloppine con Marsala e Funghi. The veal was very savory, however, the polenta was really dry and lacked flavor; this has been the only time they have let me down.
Overall, super cute place, and not expensive either.
wooo hooo
Food here is pretty fantastic. The view is even more so. My favorite part was the desert, i love how they have a cart full of "examples" so you know exactly what your getting and the portion.
One of my favorite places to eat in San Diego.
The food is delish, the staff (esp. the bartenders) are awesome. The ambiance is great, its perfect on a weeknight so you can basically have the place to yourself after normal dinner time.
I have closed this place down a couple times, and they're so sweet, they just stay open until you realize you're the last people there and they're waiting on you.
Sit outside on a Tuesday summer night and tell me you're not in love.
A chain that doesn't act like a chain. The best view in the area for dining, with two big outdoor patios. The interior seating also looks over the bay and skyline.
I actually come here most of the time for tea or coffee with a friend or hubby in the morning. Jose is always working behind the counter, and is always friendly and accommodating. Occasionally the coffee line can get long in the morning if someone's getting a toasted pastry and espresso drink, but it's nothing to fret about.
Fantastic breads. Cereale and panmarino are excellent, and they offer a bread card--by 12 loaves and get the next one free.
Food is good, pastas are great, nice wine list. They also offer various Italian regional menus on a seasonal basis along with the regular menu, so the choices are varied and never dull.
You can dress up or go casual, and after you eat you can go for a long walk on the sidewalk just outside the door, which runs along Ferry Landing, the bay, and Tidelands park.
I have heard from others that the pizza is divine, but I haven't tried it yet. I have to say it LOOKS great!
While you could take an older kid (7 & up) for dinner, I wouldn't take a younger child. There are plenty of moms w/strollers in the morning for coffee and pastries, though.
Amazing view, delicious food, great service, try their specials of the day! The duck was delicious and the vine selection top class. Our waiter was always there with more bread, oil and balsamic vinegar. If you have space to spare after this tremendous dinner, try their tiramisu, it's fabulous!
Granted, I grew up in RI and Federal Hill has some of the best Italian food this side of the Atlantic, but I was seriously disappointed with the food here.
Yes, the location is awesome, and my table had one of the best views in SD (plus there were fireworks RIGHT across the water) but il fornaio can't rely on that to get them by... the food was bland.
If they made some changes in the kitchen, this place could be great.
Had Duck here for the first time. Very good! Dessert was fab! Creme Brulee. This is a really good spot to eat and enjoy some wine as well.
The customer service was good. Very helpful and accommodating. Which they should be.
Yes it is pricey but well worth it. Great ambiance and great food. It's a winner folks.
Located on the bay with a great view of the downtown skyline. In my opinion, the dishes are hit and miss but the lasagna is really good. The atmosphere is upscale but not too fancy.
Excellent location! Food was good, service was great. The restaurant was not crowded, but busy. We came with a group... we will come back with a group... it was a great experience.
I LOVE THIS PLACE! But go to the one in Del Mar if you have a date you want to impress or family coming in from out of town. (I hear the one in Santa Monica is 10x beautiful than Del Mar though). Best time to go here is around sunset, or brunch on the weekends, hell for Del Mar even afternoons. Coronado is okay....but you only get that limited view of downtown.
Anyhow the food is SO delicious!!!! I LOVE IT HERE!!!! Cappellacci di Zucca is my favorite, its like Christmas in your mouth! Turtei con Aragosta is amazing, I get this a lot as well! Basically I have tried everything on this menu, and I love it! If you want something made a certain way like your gnocchi's or you would like a different sauce than what is listed they will happily have the chef alter for you.
My son loves eating here, he loves the whole children's menu. Everything from the dessert cart is phenomenal. It is very hard to choose one thing.
If you want great Italian food dine here, there is no dress code, but if you do go to the Del Mar location keep in mind that it is ALWAYS packed there, and Fridays are the hardest aside mother & Father's Days to get in. You can make reservations at these locations!
This restaurant is one of our favorites. Gorgeous location on the bay, great servers, really good pasta and the best chocolate mousse creme brulee ever! I would just suggest not going on a special menu night b/c you won't be able to get any of their really good entrees and they have everything pre-made on those nights. They send you a menu every month in the mail with their specials on it too if you want! You should definitely try it at least once.
THIS PLACE WAS A WASTE OF TIME, MONEY AND GAS.
I am SO disappointed with this restaurant.
SERVICE:
Awful. Our waiter was rude. He was the Order Nazi. If you didn't respond immediately when he asks for your order he left. He argued with one of our guests about what drink she ordered even though I heard her clearly specify her drink twice to the waiter. He left you waiting. When you would say "excuse me..." he'd say "hold on" and keep doing whatever he wanted including leave your table, help other customers, and eventually get back.
I give the service a negative 10. They sucked.
FOOD:
I enjoyed the food until my entree came. I started with the Rustichella-- it was adequate. The tomatoes (as all sliced tomatoes would be) were mushy and bland because they baked them on the flatbread. At least salt and pepper them first, will ya?
I also had the mozzarella caprese-- it was fine. Standard. Ask for some balsamic and you'll enjoy it more. It's bland without.
The entree I ordered was GARBAGE. I don't know WHAT is wrong with the chef to think that you can serve mac and cheese with undercooked bacon and call it Pennoni alla Vodka-- but it was gross. Vodka sauce is SUPPOSED to be a delicious, creamy, tangy, tomato cream sauce. It has an easily identifiable bite and zest to it... Il Fornaio served be cheese sauce. It was orange and straight cheese with a splash of tomato. It was great for a five year old's TV dinner. Then the bacon. I'm all for bacon-- who isn't? It's delicious. When you think of bacon what is it like? Crispy? Savory? Flavorful? Delicious? A slice of pure Heaven? Ya... well they're bacon tasted like fatty undercooked ham. It was VERY soft and texture less (aside from the chewy fat taste). It lacked any of the identifiable features of bacon-- there was no crunch or texture, no color, no flavor and virtually no meat. Thanks for the extra side of fat, Il Forniao. Why don't you pantry some bacon like grandma used to and sprinkle it on top of penne with VODKA sauce (read: NOT ORANGE CHEESE SAUCE) and give your customers what they want... GOOD FOOD!
AMBIANCE:
If you don't mind it smelling like you walked into a sewer-- then this is right up your alley. MAYBE they were having an off-night, but I really doubt it. It smelled like a sewer drain had burst somewhere. It was disgusting. I was going to leave on that alone-- and I should've! It would've saved me from writing this review!!!
The location is of course beautiful, as is the view-- but you can't make up for the terrible service, pathetic food and disgusting smell. Go to Peohe's and enjoy a delicious Polynesian meal for the same price, and with the same view. You'll thank me! :)
UPDATE: Kel thought I was too harsh, so I've made some edits - but the rating's the same.
If you want safe, middle-of-the road food with an awesome view, you've found your spot. This is the place to take the out-of-town relatives you want to impress but who don't know much about food (or San Diego). It's also a good place for work functions, since the food is so unadventurous it won't offend anyone (and again, the cost makes everyone feel like it's a "special event").
Show up a half-hour before sunset, sit near the windows (or outside), and watch the San Diego skyline glow in the setting sun; after a couple cocktails, you might forget the disconnect between the prices and what you're getting for your money. (And by the way, it seems like Coronado's three big Ferry Landing restaurants - Il Fornaio, Peohe's, and now Candela's by the Bay - all use this strategy.)
Here, you get chain Italian, closer to Macaroni Grill than the Old Country - except I'd expect, with wine, tax & tip, that you could pop $60 or more for a meal here. But another way to distract you from average quality and high prices is the old "Stuff 'em and they won't complain" strategy - make the portions SO GIGANTIC that you think you're getting a good deal. Makes sense when you're buying by the pound, but not in a restaurant. So order carefully - order a lot less than you think you'll be able to eat - you'll probably still leave with a rotweiler-sized doggie bag.
Starters are meant to share; one, the "Rustichella", is a clipboard-sized slab of flatbread under a gooey mass of cheese, tomatoes, onions and olives. Calamari is house-made, but is always greasy - for cryin out loud, you can do better at the Coronado Brewing Company!
Salads are also huge, with lots of ingredients (and lots of dressing). Like the house salad: a giant chopped mess of romaine, radicchio, beans, avocado, tomatoes, cucmbers, cheese, croutons, with enough dressing to float a gondola. There's a Caesar (since it's so Italian??), but it's almost a head of romaine covered in what I SWEAR is bottled dressing.
Main courses include pizzas, pastas, grilled items. I think Il Fornaio's best dishes involve seafood - I'm not a fan of this place, but their cooks know how to do a fish filet under the broiler. Even if it does show up with a half-pound of flavorless polenta and a cream sauce straight outta Grandma's "Campbell's Soup Recipe Book".
I can't comment on desserts - by that point, to eat one I'd need one of those sticks they use to force-feed the foie gras geese. Coffee is okay; but stick with espresso, the regular coffee usually tastes stale to me.
Service is spotty. Sometimes you get a professional; sometimes you get the poor gal who can't seem to write anything down, or remember you're there.
Finally, a note on the bread. (This IS a "bakery", after all). NONE of it's made in house - there's a plant up in Fontana that serves all the SoCal restaurants by truck. Kel & I buy their bread to eat at home - it's actually pretty good, though I don't have any idea how fresh it is. But the kitchen, as big as it is, can't make bread onsite? With a wood-burning oven for the pizzas, even??
If you HAVE to go to Il Fornaio, I recommend you go for a cup of coffee or tea in the morning - they have some pastries, the coffee's fresh then, and you get to sit outside for a lot less dough. Plus Jose, the morning guy, is a consummate professional, whether you're ordering a cup of joe or the most elaborate mocha.
Nice Italian place. Breathtaking view overlooking the bay.
You can't go wrong coming here. The wait staff is friendly and attentive.
Try the bruschetta...they actually add eggplant...different than I've ever had it, but quite scrumptuous.
Their spinach lasagna is quite tasty.
The Creme Brulee is exquisite.
I expected a lot more out of Il Fornaio.
I was definitely not impressed by their food (entrees), it was very average and didn't have anything special to it.
The calamari was also very average and didn't really have it's own uniqueness to it, felt like something you can order at any other franchise.
However, their dessert and bread was delicious. I also enjoyed the way they presented the dessert to us, on a tray and introducing it one by one.
I personally loved their bread pudding it was super hot and not just lukewarm and definitely the view was breathtaking.
I've eaten at the Il Fornaio location in Walnut Creek, CA for years since I live/work in Northern CA, but was down in San Diego for a wedding and we came here for a group dinner. They were incredibly accomadating for our group of 12 and prompt w/ the bread and oil/vinegar (we were starving). The food was as delicious as it always is and the wine was flowing freely.
Minus one star for refilling the water only once, even though we asked multiple times. I'm a stickler for water at all times.
The ambience is hard to beat...you can't have a bad meal while you're sitting with good company overlooking the Pacific Ocean.
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