Restaurant chain "Il Forno" (IL Forno): addresses, description, reviews

2024 Author: Isabella Gilson | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:14

Simple, but at the same time, exquisite Italian cuisine has always been close to the Russian soul, or rather, to the stomach (after all, this is obviously the shortest path to the heart). Both the traditional menu and just associations play a role, because Italy is the sun, wine, positive, fun. That is why Moscow is full of various establishments (restaurants, bars and cafes) that play with this theme in their own way.

Competition among similar holiday destinations is simply crazy, especially in the center of the capital. Some of them are literally next door, others are just on the opposite side of the street. By the way, this is convenient for visitors: if there are no empty seats or something did not suit you in one of the establishments, but you don’t want to give up your gastronomic plans, then you can simply cross the road.

Il Forno (Moscow): location

This is a chain of 4 restaurants, three of which are located in the Russian capital and one in Astana. In Moscow, these establishments are located in iconic places. The first of the restaurants"registered" in the historical center of the capital on Neglinnaya street, 8/10, the second took root on Ostozhenka, 3/14 - one of the most expensive streets in Moscow, and the third is located in front of the hotel "Ukraine" on Kutuzovsky prospect, 2/1.

Institution on Neglinnaya

The location is more than good, because this street is the center of the tourist route. Accordingly, there are many foreigners here.

The restaurant in the Meshchansky district is ready to serve customers from 8 am from Monday to Friday, and on Saturday and Sunday - from 11:00. Every day the work ends at midnight. Il Forno has two halls, which are located on the first and second floors: the lower one can accommodate 35 people, the upper one can take 60.

Greens in bright red pots in front of the entrance seem to invite you to come inside. The establishment looks very cozy, especially in the evening from the outside thanks to the glass door and the abundance of light inside.

As for the interior, in this case the form perfectly matches the content and emphasizes the charm of Italian haute cuisine. Large windows, comfortable furniture in light colors immediately set you in a major mood. From square colored pillows, cheerful pictures on gastronomic themes, it simply shines through with positive. Solid wooden tables are not burdened with tablecloths. Many spices in transparent containers decorate the bar counter. The wine theme is also wonderfully played up: there are dark glass bottles on racks along the walls. Paintings and photographs depicting pasta or pizza will whet your appetite. Creative yellow oval lamps fill the hall with warmth and hospitality. There is no superfluous pomposity, but there is an exquisite simplicity.

Restaurant "Il Forno" on Ostozhenka

The work schedule is the same as that of his "colleague" on Neglinnaya. Unlike other nearby restaurants, which usually open their doors only at 11:00, here you can have a delicious and hearty breakfast, thereby setting yourself up for a positive on the eve of a busy day, which is what many regular customers do.

True, this Italian restaurant in the center of Moscow is slightly more spacious than the other two: both halls are designed for 110 seats.

The interior here is almost the same as on Meshchanka. But since the halls are larger, many guests find it less comfortable, and they prefer to spend time on Neglinnaya.

Institution on Kutuzovsky

This pizza restaurant starts at 11:00 and closes at midnight. Its capacity is 95 people. During rush hour, guests can also be seated on the summer terrace.

The interior here is more restrained than on Ostozhenka or Neglinnaya. All the same pastel colors prevail here, but with the dominance of cappuccino color in the furniture upholstery and in imitations of brickwork on the wall. The tiled columns and stove are in the same range.

Concept

The establishment positions itself as a pizzeria restaurant, as the sign says. Of course, this place is fully consistent with the declared name. The creators of the institution wanted to combine chicrestaurant with the democracy of a pizzeria. And they succeeded. There is no extra pathos and glamor, but there is no hint of any cheapness. Therefore, the institution is equally suitable for business lunches and for evening gatherings with a noisy group of friends. And family celebrations with children at the weekend will be simply unforgettable.

There is absolutely everything that contributes to success and popularity in the gastronomic field: a delicious and hearty national menu in the author's processing, a cozy atmosphere created by modern design and relaxing Italian music of the sixties, virtuoso chefs who prepare their masterpieces in front of clients. Italian restaurants in Moscow, whose rating is quite high, cannot always boast of having a wood-burning stove, but here it is the highlight of the program. Here, for an hour or two, you can escape from the rainy Moscow weather and imagine yourself somewhere on the Mediterranean coast.

Restaurant chips

Because the competition among these establishments is simply off scale, everyone wants to attract visitors with something special that others do not have. What makes Il Forno stand out from other Italian restaurants? First of all, an unforgettable culinary and acrobatic show. It's impossible to take your eyes off the way the best chef (or, as he is called, pizzaiollo) twirls huge circles of dough, reaching one meter in diameter, like a feather.

A trip to a restaurant with children will be not only tasty, but also useful. Younger guests will be able to learn the basics of the art of working with dough at the little pizzaiollo school: stretching itwithout a rolling pin, combine different toppings, and serve guests.

Main menu: salads and appetizers

As befits an Italian restaurant, you can't do without pizza, pasta and risotto. Salads, side dishes, cold and hot meat appetizers, seafood, grilled meat and fish, soups, homemade desserts are also separate items in the main menu. All dishes of European cuisine are adapted to the gastronomic tastes of Muscovites and guests of the capital.

The list of salads opens with a signature dish called IL Forno (it includes a mix of lettuce, green peppers, red onions, tomatoes, royal olives, cucumbers and homemade sauce). There is also "Caesar" with chicken breast or shrimp to choose from, and "Caprese" with traditional ingredients.

Roman salad and arugula with tiger prawns are also often ordered. But for lovers of experiments, chefs have three suggestions. These are warm salads with veal or octopus, as well as crab and avocado tian. True, they cost almost twice as much as a Caesar or a Caprese, but they don't come here to save money.

The highlight of the cold appetizers are Italian antipasti (tomatoes, olives, artichokes, mozzarella, prosciutto), which will incomparably decorate the table. They can start not only any meal, but also acquaintance with Italian cuisine in general. Also, lovers of meat dishes will enjoy carpaccio with beef or veal to choose from.

In addition to oysters and Sakhalin shrimp, the sea bar will surprise you with salmon or tuna and dorado tartare in differentinterpretations.

Hot meat and fish snacks are one of the most successful menu items. Tuna fillet with baked peppers, chopped steak with potato cream and truffle, Moroccan chicken with couscous, salmon fillet with vegetables, octopus tentacles in tomato sauce - and this is not an exhaustive list.

You can order grilled fillet of halibut, dorado, sea bass, rack of lamb, Sakhalin scallops, king prawns. And all this will be prepared by the best chef of the institution.

Soups, pasta, side dishes

Among first courses, the most popular is tomato soup with mozzarella.

The varieties of pasta simply dizzy, and it is very difficult to make a choice: here are the usual spaghetti, and tagliatelle, and tagliolini, and linguini, and bucatini. Risotto is presented in several positions (with truffle cream, seafood or sun-dried tomatoes).

Side dishes are mostly standard (rice, boiled and baked potatoes, grilled vegetables, porcini mushrooms, stewed spinach, steamed broccoli).

Desserts

Sweet-toothed will be delighted to see such a variety of goodies on the menu: cheesecake, milfey, honey cake, tiramisu, marshmallows, meringues - and this is not the whole track record of this institution's confectioners. Also here you can order a fruit plate and assorted berries.

Specials

Breakfasts are closer to primordial Russian cuisine: there are egg scrambled eggs, potato pancakes, oatmeal, buckwheat with milk, and syrniki. Those who want to feel like in sunny Italy can order a toast with veal roast beef orsalmon, croissant with ham, cheese and tomatoes.

This restaurant chain in Moscow offers a children's menu that is not only he althy and varied, but also distinguished by creative presentation. Even the pickiest of customers won't be able to resist a baby beef patty burger, fish and chips appetizer, tempura shrimp with smiley potato, chicken skewers with cherry tomato fries, broccoli penne and grana padana.

Also, with a minimum order of 1500 rubles, food delivery around the city is free.

Pizza

She deserves special attention. The menu has about 20 items for every taste. Not all the best Italian restaurants in Moscow can boast such a variety. In addition to the traditional "Margherita" and "Neapolitano" in the restaurant you can order pizza with artichokes, truffles or seafood. "Italy" will appeal to those who love the dominant taste of tomatoes, "Diabolo" - those who are not afraid of the thrill that chili peppers will provide. Those who want something unusual can order "Calzone" - a closed pizza.

Also, for lovers of unusual food combinations, Il Forno will offer pizza with pear and Gorgonzola, tuna and artichokes, salmon and tomatoes.

The most popular positions are "Four Seasons" (tomatoes, mozzarella, ham, mushrooms, olives, peppers, artichokes) and "Gigante Mista". Ingredients for the second visitor chooses himself from the proposed options,for example, you can take either grano padano, or salami, etc. And this name is not given in vain: its diameter reaches half a meter, and the filling is distributed unevenly. Each portioned piece is beaten in a special way: salmon with champignons will be laid out on one, olives and ham on the other. So anyone who wants to try different combinations of flavors can safely order Gigante.

In "Il Forno" the famous Mediterranean dish is cooked exclusively in a wood-fired oven, and its taste is radically different from the similar one, but from the oven. An additional offer from the restaurant is pizza cooked on rye dough. Each visitor can choose either this option or the traditional one. True, rye pizza costs 100 rubles more.

Service Features

Cold snacks here are made from under the knife, so they will have to wait a bit. But Italy is Italy, it teaches you not to rush anywhere and enjoy a measured life. Although these are the peculiarities of cooking, and the staff itself is very efficient, and even when there is nowhere for an apple to fall in the hall, the waiters cope very quickly.

Although the restaurant "Il Forno" is designed for fairly we althy customers, it is good that the staff treats all visitors without too much snobbery.

Reviews

It is interesting that if guests talk about the shortcomings of the restaurant, then this in no way concerns the quality of the food itself. On the contrary, many enthusiastic guests, when describing their experience of the kitchen, use the adjectives "amazing", "tasty to the point of insanity","Just an overeating" and others. Pizza and pasta are especially praised, many boldly say that they cook here the most delicious food in the city.

This place has become a landmark for many foreigners and for those who visited Italy. It allows you to truly plunge into the magical world of the Mediterranean. Most grateful guests note that this place is one of the best Italian restaurants in Moscow. Of course, there is one "but": the pricing policy. The average check is 3000 rubles. Although almost all the guests say it's worth it.

But what they frankly complain about is the tightness: it seems to many that the tables are too tight. True, despite this, the restaurant is almost always crowded, and it is advisable to book a table in advance so that there are no inconvenient moments. It is necessary to take into account the complexity of parking: the center after all.

So, is it worth visiting "Il Forno"? The answer is unequivocal: definitely. Genuine love for Italy is born there.