Author: Tyler_Ashan

Il Fornello has so much going for it, but it has one fatal Achilles heel. The service. I’ve been to Il Fornello dozens of times over the years and I’d say that the service was poor to terrible about four times out of five. At...least they’re varied in terms of the bad service. Problems range from being understaffed (which happens all the time) to just being lazy and inattentive (like the time the waitress lead us to our table, slammed down the menus without saying a word and then went and talked to the hostess and ignored us). If there’s some sort of event going on, then terrible service is guaranteed. I remember there was a children’s birthday party and the entire staff stayed in the back of the restaurant for probably 20-25 minutes. Not once did a single server come and check on the other half of the restaurant. How about the ”bread waitress”? She asks if we want bread. “Yes please.” Bread never comes. The next time we go it’s her again. “Would you like bread?” “Yes please.” Nearly 30 minutes pass and she comes by the table and asks again “Would you like bread?” YES. We also wanted it half an hour ago when you asked the first time. Maybe there’s some sort of short term memory loss issue. How about the time we went on our anniversary, enjoyed a great meal and then asked for the bill. We waited, waited, waited. After 20 minutes I said to the older surly waitress that we’d asked for the bill 20 minutes earlier and she said “Oh, you haven’t been waiting that long!” Yesterday a waiter was run off his feet because Il Fornello was, yet again, understaffed. He was friendly, but we still hadn’t ordered after at least 15 minutes (and after being told twice that he’d be with us “in just a second”). This was the last straw after years of undependable service. I like Il Fornello. I really do. The atmosphere is wonderful and the food is great. Reasonable prices as well. But enough is enough. Yesterday we walked out and went to a Persian restaurant, Herby, and the service was out of the world (see my five star review). I won’t be returning to Il Fornello because a 20% success rate in terms of service just doesn’t cut it. And before anyone reads this post and thinks “Oh, this guy is just a big complainer” I’d point out that the majority of my restaurant reviews are very positive. In all modesty, my husband and I are great customers. We always like the food (I think I’ve sent back a meal once is the last 30 years), we’re friendly and we’re great tippers. But Il Fornello? The bad service has finally worn me out.