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Al Forno Restaurant Providence Reviews
Once great. Now, not so much.
We came here five years ago and was wowed by the food and service. This time…not so much. The chief seems to be trying too hard to make his dishes interesting, but they’re often clashing in both taste and texture. Wait staff is friendly and professional, but i feel this restaurant has lost the plot. Won’t be returning. Go to Ferderal Hill instead.
We had a reservation but still had to wait almost 20 min
We had a reservation but still had to wait almost 20 min for a table, we stood off to the side but still felt like we were in the way! The bar has no drink menu and there were so many people waiting I felt silly trying to decide what to drink! Our waitress has NO personality whatsoever! I had to ask what the specials were. I asked if something was spicy, she just looked at me and said "it's ok"?!?! The meal itself was nice, especially the corn pizza. Felt pressure to order dessert with dinner which is ok but we were full and asked for it to be packed up.
Lucky enough to get a seat at the bar early on a Friday
Lucky enough to get a seat at the bar early on a Friday night... place was packed but service was great as always! Enjoyed the grilled corn pizza, clams Al Forno and the dirty steak. Too stuffed for dessert!
This Italian fine dining restaurant has been in Providence
This Italian fine dining restaurant has been in Providence since January 2, 1980. And yet, it's still impossible to get a last minute reservation. Recommend booking at least 1-2 months ahead to get your reservation OR they take walk-ins when they open. Our shuttle driver (long time R.I. resident) wondered how the heck I got into reservations, as it's not really a tourist spot. SUN/MON closed Open 5p-10pm other nights except SAT 4-10pm We went because a long time resident of Rhode Island said it was the best restaurant in Providence. While that might have been true at one time, Providence is a foodie town with all the culinary students coming out of Johnson/Wales every year. There are MANY other great restaurants in the area, offering every cuisine you can think of. Our food was great, there were 3 of us and we shared family style. If you are a food allergy person, there's not a lot they can do but there are certain dishes free of gluten and/or dairy. You must order dessert when you order dinner. Even if you don't think you'll be hungry, just do it. Take your entree home and save room for dessert.
My husband and I celebrated our anniversary at Al Forno
My husband and I celebrated our anniversary at Al Forno Restaurant. I heard that reservations fill up months in advance so I made an indoor reservation 2 months in advance. On the day of our reservation, we were greeted by the hostess and was brought upstairs. Emma was our server. She asked if we would like any drinks and we said yes and asked if there was a menu. She said there is no menu and we can order any classical cocktail. I ordered a Limoncello Spritz and my husband ordered a Black Russian. A warm basket of complimentary bread was brought to the table. We ordered the spinach salad with fried brie and strawberries that was a special of the day to share. This was delicious-the dressing, the brie, the sliced strawberries. For entrees, I had the fettuccini with mushroom ragù and my husband had the sausage and grapes (hot Italian sausages and mashed potatoes). His dish was tastier than mine, but both were very good. For dessert, I had the cobbler and he had the chocolate bread pudding. Dessert was phenomenal. The quality of food is unquestionably of higher level. Both the food and service were excellent. Dinner is a bit on the pricier side, but definitely a dining experience for a nice night out.
Pizza had good flavor! Super yummy! They are also a very
Pizza had good flavor! Super yummy! They are also a very large size. Even though they are on the expensive size for pizza, it makes sense when you see how large the pizzas are. We also enjoyed being able to sit outside on the patio. But the grounds felt a little unkept and the service was a little slow. Overall, would recommend!
They need to figure out their gift card situation.
Purchased online as a gift and friend was not able to use. I read that this happened to another customer. Totally unacceptable for a restaurant like this to not be able to figure out THEIR system or even accommodate THEIR MISTAKE. Poorly managed.
Had the worst experience at the inside bar with the
Had the worst experience at the inside bar with the bartender that's super rude ... the bigger guy. Ordered a salad and pizza and they brought out the salad for us to share and as we were eating it. Bartender decided to yell and scold us by stating that we were eating our neighbors salad when the staff had served us the salad. Literally telling us we stole it. No apology from his or his manager. She was just as rude when approached. The Patrons all at the bar including whose salad was also given to us as they had ordered the same salad were all blown away with his uncalled for embarrassing behavior. I've watched him degrade another guest in the past too. Always had great food and experience in the dining room. Just this inside bar the guy is abrasive and classless.
Wow! We found this place by chance through a very friendly
Wow! We found this place by chance through a very friendly Trader Joe's employee, and we are grateful for his recommendation. The food was delicious! I wanted something light and had the fennel salad, which left me plenty of room for the fresh baked cobbler.
Awesome food, but this has become an ongoing issue.
I have purchased a gift card for a family member to check out the restaurant for Christmas. She went a few months later and the waitress couldn't figure out the printed gift card my family member had. In the end it was not applied to her dinner. I called and left a message and one of the managers called back and was great! They apologized and explained it was possible the waitress was not properly informed on how to apply it. The manager entered the gift card info over the phone to confirm the balance and assured me it was a one time issue. I just got a call from the same family member who just went to dinner tonight and the bartender explained she would have to contact the manager, the gift card came up as no balance. This now marks 2 times my family member has driven the 1 hour drive to Providence and expected a "free" dinner on me and has had to pay out of pocket. Except now it comes up as zero balance. This is unacceptable. I do not recommend purchasing e-gift cards. We love the restaurant, the food and staff are always great but this is very poor in customer service and experience.
Amazing food.
Great service and attentive staff. My wife and i sat at their ourside bar and had a wonderful experience from start to finish.
Worth the Wait and Bustle
Al Forno is often a special event place for us but we have also just popped in at the bar for drinks, salads, and pizza. I see many people here feel the pizza doesn’t live up to the ‘hype’ but perhaps this will help: Al Forno’s pizza is unique to them and hard to compare to other places. Yes, it’s thin and crunchy because that’s how they make it and it must always, always be consumed HOT! We would never order it for take out unless we were going to eat it on a park bench somewhere nearby-it’s true that it won’t hold up in the car for a half hour or more ride. The staff has been consistent and attentive with only a couple of servers falling a tad short of our expectations. Turnover is a thing when you’re hiring college students from nearby schools and ‘pros’ jumping ship every two to six months so accept that you won’t always get ‘Server of the year’ for your table. The bigger picture is the food which rarely disappoints and keeps us coming back for more, including the eggplant, the pear salad, and the wonderful ‘Castagnaccio’ dessert. One time my wife asked if they still had the cake available even though it was late in the season and it wasn’t on the menu to which the server replied, ‘Let me check with the kitchen.’ He returned saying they had ‘Just enough’-talk about above and beyond service! I will say it’s a bit cramped and noisy at times but you have to accept the old school Italian vibe when you visit and if it’s too much, pop your earbuds in, lol.
Excellent Italian food in Providence
This is an excellent restaurant. The fare is healthy, the ambience is good, the waiters are friendly and go “above and beyond” to ensure that customers have a good experience.
Very poor communicators / reservation policy
I have never seen a restaurant so incapable of explaining their reservations policy. No one can articulate it clearly.
so LOUD!!!!!
I've been here half a dozen times and I don't get it The pizza is OK -- a little weird, with its matzoh crust, but if you like that kind of thing, I guess you like it. Some good entrees over the years but mostly only adequate. What drives me crazy is how terrible loud it is, with shrieking people effectively seated on each other's lap in an uncommonly resonant room. If you are at all sensitive to high decibels, you will be uncomfortable here.
Hidden Gem!
Absolutely spectacular!!! Great atmosphere, service and the food was incredible!!! Very cool design features throughout the restaurant. Food was incredibly fresh and the desserts are amazing!
Incredible Food, Outstanding Service – A Must-Visit in Providence!
I finally got to try Al Forno, and now I see why it’s always fully booked! Since we didn’t have reservations, we opted for bar seating, and luckily, there was no wait. The ambiance was cozy and inviting, but what truly made the experience stand out was the exceptional service. Our waitress was incredibly kind, attentive, and knowledgeable. She provided great recommendations and carefully noted our dietary restrictions—customer service here is an easy 5/5! To start, we ordered the Grilled Pizza Margarita, and it was absolutely delicious! The thin, crisp, and slightly charred crust resembled a delicate pita bread, adding to its unique texture. The combination of fresh tomato, basil, and cheese was simple yet packed with flavor—easily one of the best thin-crust pizzas I’ve ever had! For our main courses, we went with: • Baked Pasta with Five Cheeses – Comforting, rich, and incredibly creamy. The simplicity of the dish allowed the cheese to shine in the best way. • Dirty Steak (off-menu item) – This hidden gem was cooked to perfection. The dark sauce added a deep, rich flavor that paired beautifully with the steak, while the mashed potatoes provided a delicious sweet and salty balance. • Grilled & Spice-Rubbed Half Chicken – Hands down, the best chicken I’ve ever had! It was unbelievably tender, juicy, and bursting with flavor. What made it even better was the Harissa sauce—creamy, zesty, and slightly sweet, with a hint of citrus that made every bite unforgettable. This is my new favorite dish at Al Forno! To wrap up our meal, we indulged in the Grand Cookie Finale, an assortment of cookies and chocolate truffles that were absolutely divine—the perfect sweet ending to an already fantastic meal. Overall, Al Forno exceeded my expectations in every way. I can’t wait to return and explore more of the menu. If you’re in Providence, this is a must-visit spot!
It never disappoints
One of our go to restaurants in culinary scene filled with excellent places to eat. The portions are large so we typically share one appetizer, one entree and a dessert (ordered in advance).
Takeout pizza from Al Forno are a disaster
Because the restaurant was full on the night we wanted to go and takeout was an option, we ordered a margarita pizza for takeout. By the time we got it back to Falmouth and reheated it it was soggy and tasteless. I was also quite small for a large pizza. We do not recommend purchasing the pizzas unless you can eat them immediately
Save room for dessert
I had read about this place in an Ina Garten book years ago, and finally got a chance to try it. Two days before I got one of the last reservation spots, 4:15pm, and the place was already packed. Parking with an attendant directing you in their private lot was convenient and easy. The outdoor space looks like it would be nice in season with a beautiful leafy canopy, although you can hear the highway noise a bit. We were seated downstairs overlooking the industrial area across the river with a beautiful golden hour glow from the setting sun coming through the window. There were bar areas upstairs and down, and a long and narrow dining room up and down. Nice service with a professional waitress and white linens. The sourdough and focaccia with olive oil was good. Being so early, we skipped the first course. We had the rigatoni bolognese; bread gnocchi - made with their own bread crumbs instead of potato, served with a wild boar sausage ragu which was good but only had 3 pea-sized morsels of meat, I expected more due to the description; and the secret menu dirty steak - a sliced rib eye served with a sweet and spicy sauce and mashed potatoes. I was intrigued by their dessert menu, which they seem to take very seriously, most of which have to be ordered with your meal because they make them in-house to order (and a whopping $22 each). There were several dessert specials that sounded so interesting that I had trouble choosing (one had an Italian name that I wish I could remember because I wanted to learn more about it). We ended up going with the Sicilian fig tart with creme anglaise - the ricotta gave it a lightness, a generous size for 3 to share. This place invented the grilled pizza and they looked good, we will return to try them and another dessert. A bit pricey but typical these days and at least it is done well.
This is one of the best, if not the best, restaurant in
This is one of the best, if not the best, restaurant in Providence! Tried to make a reservation 2 weeks in advance, and everything was booked out. Came on a Saturday right when the restaurant opens at 4pm, and managed to get a walk-in table. The ambiance is classy and elegant. The service is friendly. And the food is out of this world! We got: - mushroom pizza: delicious thin crust pizza and is flavored with a white sauce, mushroom, scallion, and olive oil. Absolutely delicious and one of the two best dishes tonight! - confit duck legs: the duck is cooked perfectly: the meat is juicy and the skin is crispy. The flavor is on pointe. The portion is also very generous. This is the other best dish tonight. - dirty steak: this is an off-menu item that can be requested. I thought it was cooked well with a flavorful sauce, but otherwise nothing too special but others love it. - grilled lamb chops: also cooked well and delicious - baked asparagus pasta: it's a daily special - rhubarb tart: the tartness of the rhubarb lakes well with the cream. Fyi the tarts need to be ordered with the entrees because they are made fresh per order. Will definitely come back!
Service is impeccable.
Each course delivered with clean plates and flatware, discrete and timely water refills, attention to every detail. Some dishes are delicious and memorable but not all. The spicy clam appetizers were outstanding, margarita pizza memorable, endive and pear salad really good. The pasta was so so. Highly recommended baked pasta was not cheesy or special in any way ~ the sauce was thin and not special. My companion thought the same about their pasta dish. All in all, not sure why this restaurant is so legendary. Maybe next time we will find a game changer dish.
Everything was to die for, most unexpected delicious item
Everything was to die for, most unexpected delicious item were the ribeye meatballs. The steak was perfect as well. Service was great
After hearing how great this place was for so long I was
After hearing how great this place was for so long I was finally able to try it out for my self. The pizza was delicious & unlike any pizza I've had before. It was light & refreshing & the opposite of doughy & greasy. That paired with a Caesar salad was a great start to the meal. The gnocchi was also well made but a little harder to eat than the regular fluffier style shapes. The wild boar sauce was perfect on it. The atmosphere was lively but also intimate & much busier than expected for a Tuesday. I'd highly recommend a reservation. The service was handled by a couple people but I found them all to be attentive & proactive with my needs & I appreciated the servers wine pairing suggestions.
Wife and I went for our anniversary and had an amazing
Wife and I went for our anniversary and had an amazing experience. The restaurant is beautiful and clean. The food was amazing. I had the pizza and it was unique (different than most places around the area but very good). The desserts were the best part. Made fresh to order and every bite was better than the last. 5/5
Destination dinner
I have wanted to go here for dinner for many years. It was everything that I had imagined. From appetizers to dessert everything we ate was fantastic. You must try there grilled pizza
We had the best lunch at Al Forno.
We were lucky to get in before it got too busy. The service was excellent. Our server gave us many options and ideas.I ordered the apple cider special drink. It was so incredibly good, not too sweet with a delectable cinnamon rim. Our pizza was equally delicious. My daughter ordered the specialty dessert. I can't even remember the name of it, but man it was awesome! I love that Al Forno had a lot of seasonal items. It makes me want to return to try their winter and spring menus.
I died and went to restaurant heaven! This is without a
I died and went to restaurant heaven! This is without a doubt one of the best places to eat in the US. I started with their fresh bread with olive oil and espresso martini, then the baked tomato pasta which has been on their menu for 40 years... for a reason... and finished with their special Limoncello cake. The bar tender Greg picked a perfect Chianti to pair with dinner. I sat at the bar and visited with the other guests while the bar tender took care of us. Special and memorable foodies dream meal. Come to Providence, just for this.
Very good food Extremely nice staff and service Good on
Very good food Extremely nice staff and service Good on take out High demand so book your reservation early Very nice ambiance Top 3 places to eat in RI
Always reliably wonderful
One of our favorite restaurants in Providence because it never disappoints. Been around for years for a reason. The current reservation policy is that they accept them up to 90 days in advance (a change from the old days). Also have tables foe walk in or eat at the bar. In any case you won’t be disappointed by the classic, high end Italian food.
Food was solid but not great.
Waiter tried hard but didn't right down the orders which is fine if you have a great memory, but not great if you forget multiple things which our server did. Overall a very mixed experience.
Fantastic Restaurant
Had an outstanding dinner here for a birthday celebration. The food service, drinks and service were excellent. The margaritas were outstanding, best I have had!!!!! Steak and it was very good.
The food is amazing.
we had the gnocchi with boar, chicken cutlets with white beans and pasta and all great.The dessert was outstanding.the wait was long but we did not know you needed a reservation. My only complaint and I would tell you to make a note of this.Our clothes and coats we wore there stunk of oil? Grease? I guess that is what you get when the kitchen is open to the restaurant. I would definitely return but would leave my coat in the car and make sure I wore something that did not have to be dry cleaned.MY daughters cashmere sweater and coat both will have to be cleaned. But other that that one small issue, I would say the food is excellent
Elegant.
Recommend reservations. Downstairs bar small. Drinks ok. Desert was phenomenal. Did not eat dinner. Next visit I will make reservations. Parking lot available.
A consistent quality experience over many years. Considered by some the best restaurant in Providence
Providence has many excellent restaurants and this might be the best of the bunch. The menu features some of their signature pastas but also other outstanding options. Sharing is OK and we typically do an appetizer, one entree and one of their superior desserts (which need to be pre ordered). Reservations are now accepted (previously they were not) but eating at one of their bars on a walk in basis is another option. Parking in their lot in this busy part of the city is a plus.
Not the greatest
Went for dinner this evening and wasn’t impressed. The server was attentive, but we felt rushed throughout dinner. The food has very little to no flavor. We weren’t impressed, and unfortunately don’t think I would go back.
Very good food, mixed atmosphere, quirky ordering
They don't accept reservations but we go lucky on a weekend night as we were only two people. They seated us in a nice alcove bordering the parking lot. They've done a lot to improve the ambience from just brick. During the cold snap, this room was chilly, which I really don't like for an expensive meal. The service was good initially but trailed off as it got busy. Several things were forgotten at least temporarily and we were only asked on one of the courses if we needed anything. It was passable. The food was excellent. Appetizers, main pasta courses, and dessert were all first rate, somewhat unique in taste, and above-average portion sizes. We would return again for that reason. You do have to order dessert when you order your main course. I'm not sure that makes sense other than to move people through the tables. This would incline us towards splitting a meal next time, as we had to take dessert home. Dessert was also excellent, I just say.
Thin crust spicy margarita pizza was quite delicious, great
Thin crust spicy margarita pizza was quite delicious, great flavor, excellent crust, slight scallion garnish, very delicious. Octopus in Fennel Salad was delicious, the 5 cheese pasta was delicious with a rich cheese flavor. The Duck was perfectly prepared, crisp skin, juicy inside, perfect. Service was quite good, and attentive. Comfortable evening, with unusual excellent chestnut based dessert and espresso.
One of our favorite restaurants in Providence to which we
One of our favorite restaurants in Providence to which we return to every few months. I seldom give a restaurant five stars but give this one four and a half stars on this visit. There were just two of us on this occasion. We were seated at a table by the fireplace which we like.We started with an Endive salad and a pizza - both excellent. Followed by the lamb and beef sugo. We had a couple of glasses of good white wine and later-a glass of red. (Somehow an egg nog was put on the bill which I only noticed when I started writing this review!)We ended with an excellent chocolate cake and an espresso.The service was attentive without being intrusive - something we appreciate.We couldn't finish all the food and took home some of the appetizers and dessert which made a good lunch the next day.We will return in the new year.
They clearly do not want or need my business
Stopped in for dinner on Wed night and there was a 1.5 hr - 2 hr wait. Hostess took my phone number and asked if I was staying in the building. I said no, we would take a short walk. She said to notify her when we got back as she will prioritize people in the building. I asked, won't you call me when my table is ready (not that we would be walking in that area for over an hour)? the answer was "no". There were no seats at the bar. We went to go for our walk and the parking attendant informed us that we could not leave our car in the lot while we walked (and waited for 1.5 hours for a table... on a Wed night. There was plenty of parking in lot at 7:00 pm). We left and found a new spot Bacaro, a short drive away and had an excellent dinner (turns out its a former chef from Al Forno). The food was always excellent at Al Forno, but the interaction and customer service is awful. We will not return.
We order takeout from here a couple times a month.
Delicious food, always solid. The wood grilled shrimp and mushroom salad is just to die for. We always order an extra loaf of bread which we munch on for several days. The pizzas are really beyond compare. We usually order 2-4 and freeze some to have later. We also like to order a container of grilled vegetables, the variety is fantastic, and we can usually make that into several meals in the coming days, including just cold vegetables, or put it in with some pasta. The eggplant al forno is just wonderful.
Amazing food and atmosphere
One word- Exceptional. The duck was tender and beyond delicious. Great staff were friendly, attentive, and accommodating. Highly recommend.
On a whim we came to enjoy a late dinner.
Found a few seats at the bar and everything we ordered was delicious! Fennel salad, pumpkin sweet potato ravioli, appetizer meatballs. I highly recommend!
Amazing! Excellent food, service and environment!
Amazing! Excellent food, service and environment! Appetizers and entrees were great. Can't wait to return!
This restaurant is overrated.
Food is just okay for an Italian Restaurant.If your going to Providence for the first time, try any restaurant in "Little Ita
When it comes to classic Italian food, Al Forno is one of
When it comes to classic Italian food, Al Forno is one of the bigger names in New England. As someone who grew up in the Boston area, I had heard about it years ago but never made it over. But as luck would have it, after moving to North Carolina, I had an excuse to visit Providence and of course Al Forno was on the To Dine list. And wow, it was impressive. Living in NC, yes I don't get too much good Italian food, but I know what it is! The decor at Al Forno is subdued, a lot of brick, white tablecloths, a bit upscale but comfortable. Our waitperson is super professional and reminds us that dessert needs to be ordered with the entrees. Wut the wut? I don't think I've ever had this policy in my many decades of dining out but let's roll with it. We've got a spicy corn pizza ordered for the app, I go with the fedelini (thin spaghetti) with meatballs and we do a fig upside-down cake for dessert. Starting with cocktails, we eventually move to wine and the corn pizza shows up, OMG. Super light, chewy, and loaded with taste, I'm not sure how the corn-tomato sauce combo worked but it did. The spaghetti and meatballs were awesome and a good portion size and the happy ending fig cake, killed it. Soft crumbed cake, seared with some caramelized brown sugar and soft roasted figs on top, so good. While I had some concerns about hitting up an Italian classic like Al Forno, it met all my expectations and blew some away. When you're eating dishes and wondering, "WTF? How did they do this?" you know it's an impressive meal. Al Forno might be the best I had in 2022 and that is saying something. It ain't easy to impress me when it comes to Italian food but Al Forno hit all the high notes and much more...
Simply one of the best restaurants in New England.
Love the service and the cocktails are perfect. Great specials. If you're lucky to get the stuffed artichoke flowers, you need to try them. Maybe the best thing I've ever eaten. The baked pastas, the steaks, everything is wonderful. Not to mention a wonderful and romantic ambiance. 5 stars all day!!!!
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