Reviews of Al Forno Restaurant (Restaurant)

Paul Dwyer

Long time restaurant in Providence, with views of the river. The food is excellent Italian cuisine starting with the appetizers of antipasto, pizza and oysters, entrees of pastas, fish and lamb to the great desserts. The wine selection is excellent. If you are in Providence I definitely recommend trying Al Forno

Kyle Soares

The food was amazing, and I really enjoyed the atmosphere of the whole place. You almost feel like you're not even in providence.

Peter Prip

All important family events are celebrated by my family at Al Forno. Although there are many really good dining options in Providence there are none as good as Al Forno. The food is always cooked to perfection. The smell when you first walk in creates anticipation of what's to come. Deserts are made to order and are sublime! I have tried for years to recreate their pizza. Can't quite get there. So good!! The Al forno Caesar salad is the one I judge all others by. Have I said I like the place?

Alexis Kelleher

My friends and I were here on Friday night 10/12. We were seated upstairs in the booth area. I wish I remembered our waiters name. He was phanominal and extremely attentive! All of the staff we had encountered were friendly. The food was amazing as well. We ordered Brussel sprouts as an app and it was the best brussel sprouts we’ve ever had! Our entrees were amazing, as well as the dessert. Our experience is definitely a 10/10. We will definitely be back soon!

Bobby Craig

I enjoyed my mushroom pasta. Thanks for the awesome food. Will definitely be back.

Robert Melino

Love this place and its food

Sara Macdonough

Excellent food, atmosphere and service

Simba

Staff would not allow me to join my all-white party of 12, upstairs for dinner. Because of my race, the hostess, and another staff member had me sit in a chair, downstairs, during dinner. Naturally, this ruined my first, and only experience at Al Forno. Their staff is in dire need of cultural sensitivity training. Disgraceful.

Edward Smith

The table bread was very much like pretzel bread... chewy and accompanied with olive oil and sea salt. We had the Brussels and pear salad and pumpkin ravioli. Very good!

Robert Humphreys

The food was as we expected, fantastic. A bit pricey, we got 2 pizzas, 2 salads and 3 glasses of wine and it was just over$100.00. But we will be coming back ...!!!

Caroline Walshon

The shirt rib ravioli is heavenly

David Baker

One of my favorite restaurants in the world. Must have pizza, mashed potatoes, pastas, desserts.

Barbara Kelly

Above and beyond !!! Zucchini flowers were amazing!!!

Michael Davis

Food was great, service left a lot to be desired. Aisle downstairs is super narrow between tables and it makes it difficult for the staff to work.

Katie Graffum

So good. Worth the wait. Outdoor area and bar are so much fun

David Stahl

Any place that asks you to order dessert first, so they can make it from scratch, will get a high rating from me. Pizza, pasta and everything else is executed wonderfully. No reservations so go early and stay late. Fun hustle and bustle make this a great celebration spot.

Grant Mosesian

A legendary place. Top notch food, service and ambiance. Desserts are amde to order and are always excellent.

Ravi Banerjee

Never a bad meal!

Bryce Caster

I would like to give Al Forno a 5 stars because the food is absolutely incredible, but the design of the restaurant is really a problem. First of all, they don't have an elevator despite being on the second floor. I had to lug my 89 year old grandmother up the stairs. Secondly, the afternoon light shines right into the tables, which is fine expect the restaurant does not have blinds, so you are stuck squinting at the table. Please Al Forno, do not change anything with the food, but upgrade the restaurant or move somewhere better.

Cyrus Guidry

Have been going there for almost 30 yrs. It is as great as everyone says it is.

Paul Dion

Excellent service ,great food,very attentive waitstaff,although you cant make reservations it's worth the wait

Alfred Speredelozzi

We a delicious experience. Friday night, and I guess we got lucky, as the wait was short. It could have been longer, they have 3 bars, and we had fun just sitting there. Still, the service and the meal were excellent. The bruschetta had such a nice char on the bottom, it was almost the best thing I ate. Still, the octopus special was something cool and unique. Very focused on making sure it was all prepared according to our allergy needs. You won't go wrong if you want a nice date here.

Ryan Schulze

A more expensive dinner but very worth it. Everyone who works there was incredibly nice and helpful. Food was impressive. We got the baked pasta with corn and Italian sausage with a side of wood fire grilled zucchini and squash. Pair that with a glass of wine for my wife and a beer for me and that was one fantastic dinner.

Quigley Janz

The food is delicious. Not inexpensive but worth it. If you find you're keen to learn more about it, take a cooking class at the restaurant. The staff is lovely and make every effort to answer questions. It's a relaxing and enjoyable way to experience the restaurant.

Stephen Bradley

Very good food, prices to match. The menu is small and focused, the food is fresh and delicious. The prices reflect both the popularity of Al Forno, and the level of food and service. This place is a local legend and is very, very busy. Like, "90-120 minute wait" busy. They do NOT take reservations except for parties of 6+, but you can call ahead and get on the seating queue. Contrary to some of the reviews I read online, the staff was very friendly and warm. So were the customers seated next us; the tables are pretty close together, making it easy to interact with strangers if you choose (but harder to have a completely private conversation, if that matters to you). Al Forno loses a single star for not taking reservations. With the total bill for two people coming to about $150 (with wine and dessert), and considering the potentially crazy wait times for the privilege of paying that bill, it's time to start accepting reservations.

April Crutcher

This restaurant is a gem! The margherita pizza is to die for and the 5 cheese pasta was the best I have had in a long time. Definitely going back the next time I am in Providence!

Ann-Marie Lefaivre

I have been to this restaurant a number of times and this was the first time in a few years. I decided to try it again because of the reviews I saw online. The food was good but the service was very robotic and lacking. Not one person seemed happy to be there. The 2nd staff were attentive to the table but no one had a personality. Our first waiter never gave us the specials. The tables are also too small and too close together and it's cold inside. I also don't understand how they don't use a reservations company in 2019.

Rick W

This is my wife and my favorite restaurant. We drive down from Boston a couple of times a year for dinner. Get there early though. They don't take reservations and it is a popular place. Pizza appetizer is awesome. Food, drinks and service is simply the best.

Art vandaley

Used to be very good years ago but now it feels like a tourist trap. Sometimes there are very long waits, they like to sell drinks, the staff kind of have that they are doing you a favor attitude. They are now kind of infamous for not taking dishes off the bill if you send them back, even if its totally their fault. Food is expensive, 25 bucks for a real little pizza (super thin but does not cover a dinner plate) and sometimes little choice of type too. You don't want a Pumpkin pizza? Too bad if that is what they got! Good meal if your business is paying for it.... Otherwise you can do better, certainly for the price you can do better. They did inspire to recreate their pizza on my grill though. Cost me about 3-4 bucks using fresh local mozzarella and sauce I bottle made with fresh local farm plum tomatoes.

David C Wacaster

Incredibly delicious and impeccable service.

Nick Loizzi, Jr.

Very nice restaurant. Make sure you get there early. A bit pricey but worth it. Within walking distance to Waterfire and other downtown places.

Fazal Vandal

We walked in and went to the upstairs bar which was full, bought a drink and sat down at a waiting bench nearby. A couple in front of us was also waiting when the bartender’s friend walks in, tender tells him “there are 4 people in front of you right now”. 25 minutes of patient waiting later a group of 4 gets up and bartender’s friend immediately sits down, bartender sees us walk up and said “sorry you had to explicitly tell us you wanted to dine at the bar” Left

John Vandegrift

Best food in Providence. From the pizza to dessert, nothing but the best. Not inexpensive but worth every penny.

Shalom Chausarira

I went here by myself and I must say I was very pleased. I sat at the bar upstairs and made friends with other travelers. The food was amazing. I also tried their grilled pizza and I was impressed with how thin the crust was. Highly recommend. And Kyle the bartender was very professional and prompt with serving.

susanne day

Our first time here and we can't wait to come back! Service was swift and sweet! We shared everything and thank goodness because portions were plentiful!

Jinkyun Ahn

The best restaurant in Providence.

Laura Graham

Amazing food, expensive and smaller portions but that’s how these places are. The ambiance is amazing but the seating can be very close together.

Gerrit van Schalkwyk

Really excellent. Good service. Wines by the glass much better than average. Pasta bake and desserts delicious. EDIT: I have been to Al Forno about 5 or 6 times now, and although I stand by my praise of their food, I must agree with some who have described the negative aspects of the service experience, in particular as it relates to how they handle reservations/waiting for tables. As others have described, on a recent visit with a friend we experienced the host as unwelcoming, almost appearing annoyed at us wanting to come for dinner when it was busy. They did not do a good job of helping us understand our options, letting us know where we could wait, etc. It was enough to make things uncomfortable and our guest asked if we could leave. I understand that this is a popular restaurant with great food but I wish they would do more to make everyone feel welcome.

Monica Schaberg

Hands down, the best restaurant in Providence (and probably the whole east coast). Fine casual dining, some menu items are staples, but new items always added seasonally. Consistent and delicious food; pleasant sensible dining room staff- excellent wines at reasonable prices- and good parking service staff. This has been our go to place for as long as Al Forno has been open - over 25 years.

archie archambault

My favorite restaurant in the world. I always get an off-menu delight: The crispy chicken with white beans and pappardelle. It is so so so good. Also get a pizza to start.

Khurram Hassan

Amazing Italian restaurant in downtown Providence. Excellent quality and very well priced for a place with such high-quality. Staff are very helpful and efficient. Our son really enjoyed the spaghetti and we had the mushroom ravioli. The chocolate cake was incredibly delicious. The inside is very tastefully and eclectically decorated. We got there right when the restaurant open and it got really busy after that so it's good to come there early.

Andrew Urban

Al Forno is amazing on any budget. The wait staff is fantastic and I've never had a bad meal. The drink selection is huge and always very delicious. I highly recommend the Wood Fired Pizza

Karen Messick

Fantastic on all fronts.

Matthew Gorgas

This is one of the best Italian restaurants I have ever been to.

Steven Gebhardt

Top notch food and service. Try the grilled pizza. It's amazing. This is a great place for a date night. Great atmosphere.

Joey Gutierrez

Delicious food with great service. Only issue was the fact they asked if we wanted iced or bottled water, because it wasn't on the menu as a price we got bottled. I assumed we would be charged for that, but I was still willing to pay for it. With two bottles we were charged $13. Nonetheless the food was amazing and the tarts were made to order while we were eating our pasta dishes. The pasta special I got (pappardelle pasta) was spectacular.

Thomas Makris

Food, service, wine...all amazing!

K L

Saw this place on tv. I came for nothing but the pizza. Wow. That pizza was delicious. Top 5. Traveling salesman approved!

Jonathan Seavey

I love this restaurant. Everyone we have guests visiting this is our go to spot. The pizza here is amazing. You have to try the pizza. They also have nice cocktails. When you order your meal they ask what you want for dessert. The dessert is made fresh and well worth it. Between the dessert and the pizza I am in heaven when I am here. Check it out and you will not regret it!

DNA Alias

Interesting place for a foodie. However, wine selection and staff's lack of knowledge of their spirits make blah. While the figs staffed rabbit was excellent the service was probably the worst I have experienced in years. Waiters reaching over your plate. I was surprised they did not knock me off with their elbows each time they brought drinks or food. Be aware ...

Michael Watts

Amazing food, excellent service, get there early because it's busy and only takes reservations for 6 or more

Abby De Molina

Great food including specials! Asparagus is the special ingredient this month and the pasta special was tasty. The buffalo mozzarella appetizer with prosciutto was also terrific. Tasty dessert though not awesome you need to order with mains...

Steven DiLorenzo

The Best

kris petersen

Great Food....but a bit loud upstairs

SotoD2010

Sooooo good.

K Holce

When our waiter, John, touted the place as "the birthplace of the grilled pizza," it sounded a little gimmicky, but we were intrigued by the house made pepperoni, so we ordered it. It was delicious - crispy, saucy, cheesy and covered with flavorful thinly sliced pepperoni! I followed it with the lamb lasagna special - a slightly deconstructed version with loads of ricotta and several moist, well-seasoned lamb meatballs. The hubby ordered the veal wrapped in prosciutto, which was tender, drizzled with a wine reduction, and served with layered potatoes. To finish we shared the apple crisp. The crispy, sugary exterior surrounded thinly sliced, tender apples with just the right blend of sweet and tart. We would drive the 90 minutes from home just to come here again!!

Ona Bernstein

Great food....excellent service

Mark Philipps

Great ribeye meat balls and the baked pasta was a hit.

Amanda Simas

The best in Providence by far. Start with a margarita pizza for the table, don't miss the baked pastas, ask for a dirty steak off menu, and never ever skip dessert.

John Wilk

Best restaurant I've ever been to. Price is also right.

Bozana Young

The food was good, but our server only brought litteraly less than 1/4 of an inch of olive oil for the bread. I asked for more, and he gave me a smirk, and brought the same amount again. Very disappointing service.

wendy waterman

Good food but service sketchy and atmosphere terrible. Could not hear people at the table, room sooo loud. Main course brought out two plates at a time; which meant that first people served had cold food by the time all were served.

Carmen Julia Marín Clark

Good food.

Ananya Gupta

Limited vegetarian options however, the food was excellent. Do try the potato chips/crisps at the bar. You cannot get them at the table and they are superbly thin and different. The pizza here is also excellent.

Paul Zorabedian

Great food pizza ranked top 5 in us check it out food to die for

Barbara Dickison

Best restaurant ever. Service is great but you cannot beat the food here. Do not miss their homemade desserts!!

Rudy Gabriele

Al Forno single-handedly is our favorite restaurant in the country, we live approximately 3 hours away from the restaurant and it doesn't stop us from going twice a year. It's our favorite restaurant for many reasons mostly for it's consistency, never once had a bad meal they are spot-on every time. We discovered this place about 6 years ago and we've been going ever since.

Roger Holmes

Amazing food!!! Great atmosphere!!!!

Kevin McGowan

Amazing food with very knowledgeable staff. Not to be missed

Manole

Food and atmosphere is amazing. Highly recommended

MrWJI52

Amazing place. It's a must!

Tom O

Great Italian food. Nothing else like it in New England. Phenomenal food and service. On the expensive side but not overly so. Try it, you'll love it.

Urias Moreno

Great food

Caitlyn Horbert

Amazing baked pasta. Always delicious!

Charles Pollard

The food is outstanding. Will be coming back.

Muammar El Khatib

The pizza was very interesting in the sense that is grilled. The mixed salad we had was fresh and in general the service was good.

Keyan Hansen

Good heavens, this place is wonderful. Solid Italian food, probably some of the best I've ever had, and I've traveled around quite a bit. The building is rad, the views are super unique, being situated right on the river. It seems a little isolated, relatively speaking, but with the development happening along the river this will be an amazing location in a matter of a couple years. I'd recommend getting a reservation first, we snuck in with just the two of us in the middle of winter, but it was lucky.

Eric Pizzuti

Consistent and authentically prepared Italian cuisine. Fresh ingredients. Baked pasta with 4 cheeses is out of this world. Lots of dishes from the village of Itri, Lazio region of Italy, origin of the owner's family. Beautiful bar, friendly and very attentive service. One of the neatest and cleanest restaurants you'll find. Have been going here for for over 30 years and have seen this restaurant evolve, but stay true to its legacy, cuisine and customers.

Mark De Binder

The food is always great when we bring the family in for special occasions.

Dan Peipert

Favorite Italian restaurant in Providence. The 5 cheese baked pasta is to die for.

Adam Sykes

Excellent!!

Darren Andrade - RI

Absolutely delicious! We got everything 'corn'. Corn chowder, corn pizza and pasta with corn. Unfortunately, we had no room for dessert. We sat at the bar and received exceptional service from Sasha the bartender.

Adam Hume

The seafood is really good here, but the pizza and the dessert here was amazing. Very nice ambience with attentive and prompt service. It's a little pricey, but worth it for special occasions. Or if you're just getting the pizza, which is surprisingly affordable.

Jim Higgins

Excellent and inventive food, very good service once we were seated, but the no reservations policy and tight facilities for waiting nick my rating by a star

Greg Stepina

Best Italian food in Providence. I'd recommend the corn pizza and baked 5 cheese pasta

Maria Lomax

Service and atmosphere beyond wonderful. Food was good but not spectacular. Which frankly it should have been. Vegetarian and vegan eaters beware of very limited choices.

Brian Hall

Had the steak and it was fine. But not for $34. I was expecting better.

Kristine Marcello

Had an amazing birthday dinner! It was our first time there and the hosts were amazingly considerate...specifically asking us about our preference about sitting next to a loud party when it was just the two of us. Dinner was fabulous, it dessert was even better!

Rick S

This restaurant is a must stop place. From the delicious cocktails to the creative and delicious food, combined with awesome service and you have a total success. It's not cheap, but worth every dollar!!

Andrew Taylor

Just amazing. Great and attentive staff. Food was the best Italian I have ever had. Wine was expensive but worth it. Their take on the Collins is worth a try as well. All in all of you want a top meal that is an event this is the place to come. Wonderful.

James Fitzpatrick

The food here is amazing. The pizza is probably some of the best you'll find in Providence. The pasta dishes are simple and fresh and the desserts are truly something else. I can't say the same exactly for the staff. The few times we've been here the hostess and wait staff have been less attentive. In addition, the upstairs acoustics have a super echo making it very loud and hard to hear the staff let alone your table mates. The food really is exceptional here and I think it does outweigh any issues with the atmosphere.

Orrie Vardar

Awesome calamari pizza. Best thing I ever ate!!!

Peter Carnevale

Used to be the spot for great food, wonderful service and a night ending with everyone smiling. Now it seems to be living on a soon to be ending reputation, like Twin oaks.

Jay Keyes

Since opening in 1980, Al Forno has regularly and consistently topped the Providence "best restaurant" lists of local critics and publications. Al Forno is popular for good reason: it innovated many dishes now common in Rhode Island's micro-regional Italian-American cuisine, and continues to provide the best version available of these dishes. Most people come here for the famous grilled pizzas, an accidental invention of Al Forno's late co-founder George Germon. Based on a confused employee's retelling of how pizza is made in Tuscany, Germon experimented with a process where pizza dough is placed on a grill, then flipped, then topped with toppings and finished on the grill. The resulting thin crust of the pizza has the consistency and slight crunch of good naan bread. I order mine topped with tender Calamari, lightly battered and fried, with patches of spicy arrabbiata sauce. This is a style of pizza replicated in various restaurants throughout Providence, but none seem to do as well of a job at it as Al Forno. My tip to all who order this is to eat it while hot, as the crust softens as it sits. Another signature dish of Al Forno is their "Clams Al Forno" appetizer, essentially clams in their shells cooked in a garlicky butter-wine sauce that is similar to the azafran-based Portuguese "Moçambique-style" sauces you'll find at restaurants in nearby East Providence, no doubt the inspiration behind this. This is another often-imitated dish around Providence, with "variations" offered at popular Federal Hill restaurants Siena and Massimo among others. Here, freshly-shredded scallions provide a nice touch of freshness to the bowl. The spicy broth is best mopped up with the house's spongy focaccia bread. Al Forno's "Baked Pasta with Tomato, Cream, and Five Cheeses" dish is also a Rhode Island classic -- a bowl of shell pasta in a mild creamy tomato sauce baked in an oven until the shell pasta becomes awesomely crispy on its edges, blanketed with melted cheese. The crispy baked (almost burnt, but not) pasta provides a unique texture and taste that is complemented by the rich but subdued sauce. Out of all of the dishes that Al Forno serves, this is the one that I am perhaps the most fond of, and keeps me coming back. If I have one complaint, it is the lack of a reservation system. This is a busy, popular place, and a long wait is inevitable if you choose to come here during peak dinner hours. As a result, I don't frequent Al Forno as much as I'd like. That said, if there is any restaurant in Providence worth the wait, it is this one...

Gary Lavin

Have the grilled pizza starter for sure, outstanding. Loved the spicy cauliflower and the squash pasta.

Ken K

I received a Gift Card for Xmas so I thought I would try Al Forno. My experience wasn't good. I tried to make a reservation but was told only 6 or more and not available all the time. I got there at 5:15pm and was told an hour and 45 min wait. My brother and friend were joining us and I was hoping the wait would not be that long. I was wrong. It was every bit and more. When we were finally seated and time to order my brother and I wanted to order the NY steak. It sounded very good in the menu. To my surprise I could not request it cooked medium well. I then requested medium. Could not order it medium. The server started to tell me about the "Vision" of the company founder for the way he wanted to prepare his food. I'm more interested in "my" vision/experience. I don't like to eat meat with blood still running over it. I ended up ordering Eggplant. The meals were OK, not the best Italian food I have every had but OK. To many other Italian restaurants in RI to return to this one.

Vincent Suh

It had great food and satisfied me greatly. It also had great service to add on.

R Douglas

Nice atmosphere, wait services and delicious food

Sunil Gopal

Lots to love at this place! A little pricey compared to other Providence places, but well worth it. Try the baked pasta and pizza and you won't regret it!

Ryan Kinkade

Great food, parking near the river, make a reservation ahead of time

Ray Craine

Always a great foodie experience! I can never say enough good things...

Making Your Mark, Inc.

Outstanding but extremely busy on Saturday nights as you might expect

Louis Hamaide

How about a realistic review? Yes, Al Forno has good food, although pricey (nothing under 20$) and yes the restaurant itself is beautiful, but does that mean they are allowed to treat people disposably? I didn’t appreciate their policy of having to wait for everyone in my party to show up before they seat us at a table which was ready, and treat us as an inconvenience while we waited. If only 9 had showed up, would they refuse to serve us? According to them, yes. And they did not try to be accomodating but made us stand in a small room and showed contempt towards our group. If you like places where the food is good but where the owners don’t care whether you eat there or not, this is the place for you.

Steve Kalmbach

Very good pasta and dessert.

Hank Medeiros

Food was great awsome

Daniel D

Came on a Tuesday night after hearing it was a staple restaurant of Providence. They don't have reservations so we waited in bar until seats were ready. The dress code is business casual and up but I didn't feel unwelcome in a T shirt and sneakers. Everyone from bartenders to wait staff were extremely friendly and helpful. We were seated upstairs and our waiter Peter was extremely helpful guiding us through the menu and drink options. The entrees and appetizers were great but the star of night was the hand churned ice cream desserts. A splurge but totally worth it. The whole dinner with drinks and dessert cost our table of three $60 each, and was worth every dollar. Lastly, I lost my receipt and needed a digital copy sent to me. The staff were extremely helpful in taking my vague details over the phone to find and send me the receipt. That's the kind of customer service and hospitality that makes me a fan of Al Forno for life.

Iryna Hniadzko

I celebrated my birthday in this restaurant 2 years ago and got wonderful memories. The atmosphere was nice, I liked the interior, the waitress was knowledgeable and tactful, the food was truly delicious! I loved their chocolate bread pudding as a desert! Price range is $$$, but to me the food and the whole experience was definitely worth every penny. I would certainly come again.

Mark Male

Service was excellent and the food matched the service. Started with a margharita pizza that set the tone for the game if the dinner.

adeline brent

so good.

Foodlover Girl

I heard about this place from one of my foodie friends. We were very excited to try out the food from here, especially their pizza offerings. The entrance is on the “back” side from the street side, where they have a huge parking lot (NOT free parking). Outdoor seating is covered with more green vines, so that you are not going to be under the direct sun. It was such cozy and warm atmosphere. And if you are not an outdoor dining type a person, they do have indoor dining as well! Fd beyond what I could see with a quick glance? Regardless, this place is super popular, so expect for a long wait… They do take your number and call you when the table is ready, so you can go across the street and get a pre-dinner drink or two from another spot while you wait for a table. We ordered two appetizers, the first item was what we came here for, their pizza! We got the pizza of the day, Margarita with Pesto Pizza. The second item was Squash Blossom. It was stuffed with ricotta cheese & fennel, and fried! They were both quite good, we all enjoyed it. For main, we each ordered Handmade Bread Gnocchi with Spicy Wild Boar Sausage Ragu, Eggplant Al Forno with Fresh Mozzarella, Handmade Ricotta Cavatelli with Prosciutto and Fresh English Peas, and I ordered Spaghettini with Roasted Clams. The pasta was cooked just right, and the sauce had a good kick to it, without being too spicy. As for clams, it didn’t have a lot of them on it, but they were good sized ones, plump and fresh. This dish was super tasty! After enjoying our main dishes, it was time for dessert! You MUST order your dessert with your Entrée if you want dessert from here. We got Peach and Local Blueberry Tart. It was served warm and with Créme Anglaise just melt in your mouth. It was a fun, relaxing, and delicious dinner. It seems that their menu changes seasonally or more often, I would like to go back again and try more of their delicious dishes!

Chris Wall

Very good... But not as good as I had heard or expected. Except for the pizza - that did completely live up to its reputation.

Christopher Fleser

Service was fantastic. Staff was friendly, helpful and professional. Food was cooked to order and fresh ingredients used.

Steven Mollo

Top of the line restaurant! Words cannot describe, go there!

Drew Taylor

I've eaten a lot of Italian. This by far is the best I've ever had. Worth every penny. Will be back.

steven sullivan

Excellent food, wait staff and attention to detail. A more upscale restaurant but not too pricey. Definitely worth a visit but be sure to make a reservation.

Makai Bodden

The oxtail was fantastic as well as the curry goat and curry toes. try them when you go there

Lena Miroshnichenko

I visited here for the first time with my family tonight after hearing rave reviews from friends over the years. I came with fairly high expectations for the service and food, and while they were decent, the entire experience was absolutely ruined by where they seated us. They seated our party of 4 in the dishwashing area of the kitchen where the waitstaff does their work, completely separate from the normal dining area. Not only were we barely able to hear each other over the racket of the kitchen and dishwashing, but we were constantly being jostled by waitstaff passing by us to bring other customers their food and drinks, and bringing back piles of dirty dishes. At one point, a larger waitress squeezed behind my chair to get to an area of the kitchen, hitting me with her entire lower body, and did not excuse herself or apologize. As if I were a coworker in her way instead of an extremely well-paying patron. I simply cannot believe they would think it acceptable to place a table in this place that was clearly not meant to be a dining area. It was humiliating to see other patrons pass by on the way to their tables in the normal dining area and to see us eating in what should be a staff only area. Is this restaurant really so greedy that they are squeezing tables into the kitchen in order to earn more money? They should be ashamed of themselves for putting customers in such a demeaning position. While I would have otherwise returned to this restaurant, I have been left with such a terrible impression that I don’t think I would like to spend my money here ever again.

Robin Whitson

Fabulous Meal. Takes you to Italy. Prepare for a wait as they only take reservations for large parties. Lively bar to wait in. Food was outstanding. We had 6 different entries and would eat any again. Preparation was spot on. Can share desserts.

Douglas McKee

Fabulous good, great venue

LUIS LACSON

OUTSTANDING in everything...food was so outstanding, everything fresh hand made including their ice cream..just newly churned....setting was wonderful...staff very friendly and very helpful...a must-go-to place when in Rhode Island...

Aliza Knox

Food is always good! Pasta special with mushrooms was yummy last week.

Chrissy Ann

Why haven't i been here sooner? Delicious

Tammy Robinson

Very nice restaurant! Food was delicious & waiter gave us great recommendations. Atmosphere was very nice as well. So if you're in Providence & like Italian this is a nice place to go.

benjamin izzo

Pizza was legendary (5/5) Bartenders were a dirty Bostonian flannel 2 olive disaster (2/5) who only excel at pouring wine. Service was perfect (5/5) Get a party of 6 to make a reservation. Wait is rough on the weekend, after 730.

A R

It was great! Alforno really lives up to the reputation! Be sure to visit Kyle at the bar and sit outside! You will not be disappointed!

Brian Ash

It's hard to overstate how great their pizza really is. I'm from NY, and I'm almost embarrassed to say this IS the BEST pizza I've eaten in my 51 years. Simply must have. Wow....

Ashley Scalise

AMAZING! Try their pizza!

Maik B

Great Food, but the Service was a little bit miserable and it was too loud, maybe we got an bad day, but you have to visit it, the Food is great.

Marguerite Sullivan

One of my all time favorites! Great food, atmosphere, Wine list and service. Love the barbeque pizza appetizer.

Bill McCurdy

Simply amazing. Showed up at 6pm on a Saturday thinking that would be early enough to get a table...we were wrong. We ended up sitting at the bar after a short wait which turned out to be a lot of fun. The bar also serves the full menu so you are not missing much other than elbow room. Al Forno opens at 4pm on Saturday, I'd advise you to get there not soon after. No reservation unless you have 6 or more in your party. The pizza was the best Ive ever had. The famous Dirty Steak (grilled directly on the coals) was simply amazing and outstanding bread pudding. We loved everything from the food to the staff. Couldnt have asked for a better night.

Sean McBride

I have never in my life reviewed a restaurant online, the only reason I am is because I think that any person looking for the best dining experiences in providence needs to enjoy a meal at Al Fornos. The food and my entire experience was so perfect and enjoyable. Working in high end restaurants for 4 years has led me to be disappointed with most service in restaurants. Every step of service was correct and elegant. Only thing that could be an issue for people is getting in, it is an extremely popular restaurant and you must be lined up when it opens if you hope to get in without a wait. Thanks for a great meal and evening.

Lori McIntyre

One of my all time favorites! Wonderful Italian food that is fresh and inventive. Order dessert. with your meal... trust me! Great ambiance and during warm weather, they have an outdoor annex for alfresco dining. No reservations are taken so be prepared to wait and plan for a few cocktails at the bar before being seated. Worth the wait though. They also have valet parking..

AJ da Cunha

My daughter did her state report on Rhode Island and she found Al Forno while doing her research. We flew in this morning and decided to check out the restaurant. We ordered the bruschetta special, margarita pizza, and tomato and corn salad. Everything was amazing, the service was sensational. Highly recommend eating here if you are in Providence.

Matt Muro

Loved the ambiance, sitting under a grape leave terrace adorned with small white lights. Super fun outdoor bar area (we didn't visit the inside so I can't comment on that). Our waitress was awesome as were the hostess and bartender. Food was really good but didn't live up to all the hype. My dish was overly buttery and my wife's on the bland side. The squash bloom app was terrific.

Tarek Choudhury

Very good food and great service. We had veal, ravioli, lamb chops and calamari. All were great and nice atmosphere.

Ina Jiang

It’s just great

Philip Lieberman

World class dinner at reasonable price.

Dana Demont

Varied and interesting menu , don't forget to order squash blodsems