I like this place overall. It's not my favorite Italian spot in North County, probably top ten, but it's still got some pretty good food. It's on the more expensive side of my tastes, but some of their dishes are really good.

This is definitely meant to be a high-end date night spot in Del Mar, and if that's your thing, this place is definitely worth a look. Chicken Parmesan is amazing!

They also have a great wine selection, and they do an excellent job of pairing wines with your dish for you. Check it out if you're in town!

This restaurant has an amazing ambiance! It is perfect for almost any occasion! The pasta was amazing and the bread is freshly baked daily! The service was great and it is also in a wonderful nice area! I will definitely come back!

Traditional Italian (un-Americanized) food on the gourmet side. Enjoyable atmosphere. Service is good and waiters are knowledgable about the food -- some are personable and some are not. A European style in food and service. Desserts are wonderful. I have eaten there more than 20 times and I am still going back for more and I am very picky about the food I eat. I expect fresh and natural food and it is.

A little background on my tastes: Neither my girlfriend or I are heavy restaurant people. We rarely go to upscale restaurants. We prefer simpler, family style places or cooking at home. That being said we had a very nice time at Il Fornaio and would definitely return.

The wait for a table was about ordinary, especially for such a busy night ( there was a party or some such in the patio area). We arrived at 7:30, our reservation was for 8pm, and we were seated at about 8:10.

I can't remember the exact dishes we ordered, but I'll try to describe it as best I can. She had Ravioli Alla Lucana, a spinach stuffed Ravioli dish while I had Conchiglie al Pollo, a seashell pasta with chicken. Both were excellent, but we agreed that the Seashell pasta was the better of the two. For drinks she had a Cosmopolitan and I had a cup of white wine. She enjoyed the cosmo, and got another. I'm not a big wine drinker so I had our waiter recommend something. After dinner we shared Crema al Doppio Gusto,a chocolate and custard dessert. This was excellent as well.

Cons:

The service was pretty slow. We were there a total of 2 full hours, from seating to leaving. Almost 45 minutes of that was waiting for some part of the meal. I believe 30 minutes of that waiting should have been avoided. I understand that there was a big party that night, and that this may not have been normal for this restaurant.

All in all, I would recommend Il Fornaio for diners who prefer a relaxed atmosphere, and want a place they can take their time and enjoy their meal.

Don't go there: My family and I went there last night, and that was the worst food I've tasted. My mother steak was burnt. My wife seafood pasta was cold in the middle and the pasta was not cooked completely. My dish was also cold and my veal was bland and dry. If you want good food and services with a great atmosphere, go to Il Fornaio on Coronado. Our family always eat there. We thought we try this location because it was closer to home. Big mistake.