Il Fornaio in Beverly Hills

When shopping in Beverly Hills, my choice of lunch-spot is often Il Fornaio. In part this is because the restaurant is so centrally located smack in the middle of Beverly Hills, in part because I really like to food. It is an Italian restaurant chain, and the food that is served there is truly Italian. The restaurant is often packed for dinner and lunch, but you can usually find one or two empty seats at the bar. I actually think the bar is one of the best places to sit in the restaurant because it allows you to watch the chefs as they prepare the food.

I went there for Valentine’s Day for lunch and did get a seat at the bar. The wait for a table may have been an hour or so. I ordered my favorite pizza, Pizza Margarita, a thin-crusted pizza that is wood-fired with fresh tomato sauce, basil and cheese. It has a very simple flavor, and it is delicious. I was only able to eat about half of the pizza, so I packed the rest to go, and brought it with me to my hair-appointment at Vidal Sassoon which I had immediately following my lunch. Three hours later, the left-over pizza tasted almost as good as when it came right out of the oven.  

I’ve eaten at this restaurant numerous times. The food has always been great. The service is also good. The prices of the main-dishes range between $15 and $30. By the way, the pizza is an appetizer, and cost around $12. That is not reason for sitting at the bar. You don’t have to order much. It is totally fine to sit at the bar and just enjoy a drink, although most people order something to eat. At the Beverly Hills location, there is also a bakery in the restaurant where you can sit down (if you are lucky enough to get one of the two tables) and enjoy your choice of salads, sandwiches, pastries, and coffees. This is also a great place to stop by to purchase something to-go.

U. R. Rong