Il Forno

Il Forno - A Hidden Gem Worth Every Bite - Food and Staff Deserve 10-StarsYou know you've stumbled upon something special when a restaurant can ditch the front-of-house staff and still make you feel like you've been hugged by a warm slice of perfection. Il Forno in Southtown is that place. No maître d'. No servers. Just a crew of insanely talented kitchen wizards who somehow manage to toss dough, pull mozzarella, bake pizzas, and deliver professional-level hospitality--all while juggling flaming-hot ovens. Seriously, are these people human, or did Southtown breed a secret superhero squad?And about those pizzas. Oh. My. Dough. Hands down the best in town. The crust is a miraculous feat of engineering: crisp enough to hold every topping like a champion, yet chewy enough to make your carb-loving soul weep tears of joy. The toppings? Nothing short of artisanal magic. We're talking house-pulled mozzarella that's so fresh it probably knows your first name, and local ingredients so good you'll want to stand up and slow clap for the farmers. Every bite feels like a passport stamp straight to Naples. If Il Forno doesn't already have a VPN certification, it should--because this is as authentic as it gets without hopping on a plane.Pro tip: if you're ordering pickup, go straight to their website. It's easy, up-to-date, and refreshingly clutter-free--unlike third-party apps, which are best saved for delivery emergencies. Il Forno's streamlined system keeps the ordering process as smooth as their marinara. Trust me, skip the middleman; your pizza will thank you.Bottom line? Il Forno is proof that good things don't need bells and whistles--they just need phenomenal food and people who care. Don't sleep on this place. Unless you hate pizza (in which case, I don't think we can be friends).

We're visiting SA for 2 days and we wanted pizza for dinner tonight. A local friend suggested Il Forno - so here we are!It wasn't very busy at 6:15 pm this Thursday night. We ordered at the counter and took seats at the long table with bench-type seating. Our server (April) came by with table service. She was super sweet and returned to check on us often.Staff let me take pics of the wood fired pizza oven and a pizza with an egg in the center, fresh out of the oven. Our salads came out quickly and were fresh and tasty. Pizzas took about 10 to 15 minutes to come out. They were hot and tasty. I got a chance to speak with co-owner Jacob for a few minutes after dinner. He and his partners are very proud of what they've created at Il Forno. From making their own sausage and pizza dough, the locally sourcing as much ingredients as they can, there's a lot of intentionality and what their doing here that make great pizza and more.There's a Neapolitan style pizza place we go to in Goshen, Indiana. It's very good as well - but I'm placing Il Forno above it. Read their Mission Statement on the wall before you enter, then decide for yourself if they're meeting their mission. I believe they are. Thank you Il Forno for a great tasting meal with great service!

My favorite pizza joint in town! I can't believe I hadn't written a review before but here it is. Il forno is unassuming and wonderful at their pizza craft. Ingredients are fresh and their food all homemade. I stopped by around 2 on Saturday. I got the verdura and margherita pizza. Both pizzas were delicious! Whilst I did not get their salad this time, I highly recommend. How I wish I had their vinegrette recipe. Parking is mostly street parking. Service is always friendly and fast. They've always got something playing on their projector inside. They don't have fountain drinks but do have bottled drinks, alcoholic and non. They do offer unsweet/sweet tea. They have a fantastic Happy hour menu and lunch specials. Do pay attention to the days they're open because they're limited. Come try fantastic pizza!

Love this place & need to come back! I met up with some friends here on a weekday and we had a fantastic time. The pizza is great- classic thin crust and made fresh. They have plenty of beer and wine to choose from as well as canned beverages that are mostly Texas brews. It can be a difficult area to park, and I'd imagine it would be especially bad on a weekend. The seating is great for large groups because there's a lot of bench style seating. The outdoor patio was also really nice and kept us comfortable.

Quality pizza and very quick service. They were able to complete my takeout order in 5-10 minutes. Particularly enjoyed the Entero and Fun Guy pizza - regular size. Got takeout, the cashier was friendly, and the place looked cozy and clean.

The inside of the restaurant is very rustic. They have large benches for seating. This is a small locally owned neoplitan pizza shop where they take pride in their ingredients and the community. We came for a pizza making class and it was such a great experience. 10/10 recommend. You order right at the front register and there is a small quality menu to choose from. The pizza is unbelievable, tasty and fresh. A must try!

Service: Needs improvement.We went in and saw there was not a lot of customers. Ordered two pizzas. Seated 7:50pm. No one checked on us but yet they looked over our table. They brought one pizza to our table 8:30pm. We were THEN notified that the other pizza was dropped & they'll bring another one out. They seemed nonchalant when it was mentioned and there was no sense of urgency. I just wished they cared to check our table and notified us of the wait. First pizza was warm but you can tell it has been sitting out for a little bit. The second pizza they brought out was fresh & hot. For pizza that are $17 to $20 each, you would expect great service and superior food. Food: It was good but not jaw dropping and not worth the wait. I do love that everything they put on the pizzas are house made/grown ingredients. Ambiance: Outdoor and indoor seating available. Nice ambiance.

I got the Carbonara and my husband got the Entero, I believe. We both enjoyed our pizzas, I really don't have anything to complain about.Service was great and every one was so friendly! One of the best pizzas I have had!

If you're a true pizza lover, this place is an absolute must-visit! Hands down, the best Neapolitan-style pizza I've ever had. From the moment my order arrived, I could tell this was something special--the perfect balance of simplicity and bold flavors that define authentic Neapolitan pizza.The crust was perfection: light, airy, and beautifully charred with just the right amount of chew. You can tell it's made with high-quality dough, fermented to perfection, and baked in a scorching-hot oven that gives it that signature leopard-spotting. The sauce? Pure magic--bright, tangy San Marzano tomatoes with just a touch of sweetness, letting the fresh ingredients shine. And the mozzarella? Creamy, melty, and perfectly balanced with the flavors of fresh basil and high-quality olive oil.Every bite transported me straight to Naples. It's rare to find a place that stays so true to tradition while delivering an unforgettable, melt-in-your-mouth experience. Whether you're a purist who loves a classic Margherita or you like to explore creative toppings, this is the place to indulge in truly exceptional pizza. I'll definitely be coming back for more!

This was my first time ordering from IL Forno. I was very excited after reading the reviews and seeing the pictures.I ordered the Parma, because I do love prosciutto. The topping were wonderful but unfortunately, the crust underneath and on the edges was so burnt that it overshadowed the lovely toppings. I do love wood-fired thin crust, but this was just a bit too charred for the toppings to stand out. I will try them again, because it has such possibilities to be the most delicious pizza ever!On the non-burned crust portions, it was the perfect balance of crunch and chew.