Il Forno - Santa Monica

When I was a young man in Santa Monica, I was here regularly. Later, when the restaurant opened a joint venture in Japan, I often went to its Tokyo branch, which is already closed. Decades later I come here and am impressed by how good the food still tastes like before.

This is one of my favorite Italian restaurants. The menu is not huge and that has its compromises. For example, they do not have fried Calamari, but they have an amazing octopus appetizer. What they do is offer you amazing Italian cuisine. I highly recommend that you get the Bruschetta together with the bread. It's one of the best bruschetta I've ever had in my whole life. You can sit inside or outside. The staff is always helpful and welcoming. Reservations are not essential, but they can be helpful.

The bruchetta bread was soft and the tomatoes were sweet. Seafood salad was excellent. The squid and the octopus were soft and had no fish to taste. The Capellini was al dente and the Veggies were delicious. After all, Dessert was for to die. Recommend the lemon Merrenge, the mint purple cookie and the mango sorbet.

Broccoli Penne is so good. Best lunch special deal. $9 full meal when you order to pay money.

This place was really awesome! My date loved her lobster dish and I ate up that gnocchi! The owner (at least I think he was the owner) was really nice, and attentive to our needs.