Il Fornaio

Il Fornaio is an upscale Italian chain with more than a dozen locations (most of which are in California), including one inside the New York, New York hotel on the Vegas Strip. With delicious food, excellent service, and a lively indoor patio overlooking all the action inside the casino, Il Fornaio earns its' place amongst the list of better Italian dining choices on The Strip.

At Il Fornaio, fresh pasta is made in-house daily, and dry artisan pasta comes from Italy. In addition, all soups, breads, dressings, and sauces are made in-house. Although quite small, the menu at Il Fornaio includes a number of really tempting choices including a delicious house made Butternut Squash Ravioli (Cappellacci di zucca) and Cannelloni Al Forno (Large fresh pasta tubes stuffed with free-range rotisserie chicken, sun-dried tomatoes, ricotta, pecorino, smoked mozzarella and organic spinach, and then topped with béchamel, marinara and mushrooms). Both these dishes were extraordinary, and we would without a doubt order them again! In terms of appetizers, a bowl of homemade minestrone soup and calamari are the must trys here. Also, before your meal you will be brought out a basket of freshly made breads, as well as a tasty mixture of olive oil and balsamic vinegar. The amazingly fresh breads are the most addictive part of the meal, for sure. We ate so much bread, we could barely finish our meals! If you prefer something more casual, be sure to test out one of their thin crust pizzas - the dough is made in-house. If you have any room left over for dessert (most likely not with the huge portion sizes and unlimited bread), you will want to test out one of the fabulous desserts. The Dolce Trio contains sampler sized portions of Tiramisù, Cannoli Siciliani, Zabaione alla Gritti, served alongside a scoop of Bellini Sorbet. Pricey at $19 bucks, but so worth it! The menu is pricey, although what nice restaurant in Las Vegas isn't? You get what you pay for here, and that is, fresh quality ingredients, a wonderful ambiance, and delicious Italian food made on-site.

Service is terrific at Il Fornaio. We never felt rushed. The entire experience was just fantastic.

The setting at Il Fornaio is sleek, clean, and contemporary. It has an upscale casual feel without feeling stuffy. The indoor patio is a wonderful place to take a lunch or dinner break without ever feeling like you are leaving the Vegas action. The simulated outdoor dining environment, complete with umbrellas, is great in a place like Vegas where outdoor dining is often impossible. Here you get the feel of a true outdoor dining experience, only minus the brutal desert heat!

Il Fornaio is an excellent choice for anyone looking for a great Italian restaurant conveniently located on The Strip. The upscale ambiance, combined with fresh, authentic Italian food, and great people watching opportunities, along with feeling like you are still in the middle of all the casino action, make Il Fornaio a great Vegas style Italian restaurant. For those of you who would prefer not to waste any unnecessary time at sit down restaurants, Il Fornaio comes in as the perfect choice as you will never feel as if you have left the casino!