Al Forno Restaurant, Providence

This restaurant is a classic case of a business that got lots of well deserved attention and favorable press when it opened, and has been coasting on its reputation ever since. Running a restaurant is incredibly hard work, and I imagine it must be hard to keep the quality, innovation, and service at its original high caliber year after year. But it can be done. See: Mistral Boston. Unfortunately, owner Johanne Killeen is more intent on appearing on Barefoot Contessa than seeing to her restaurant. It won't be long before customers won't be coming back, even with the famous name. Here's hoping Al Forno's downward slide can be stemmed before it's too late.

I have never been more disappointed in a restaurant than I was in this one. Even though their menu asks you to mention any food allergies, they have no plans on even trying to help you with alternative food choices or changing or altering a meal to leave out an ingredient that you are allergic to. The waitress was rude and very unhelpful. Overall the food was overcooked and the baked pasta was watery. The value was also not there, $20 for an apple tart dessert that was a 5 out of 10. All in all, over-priced, lousy food with crappy service. I would never go back.

Let's be honest, 20 years ago this food was innovative, creative and very good. Not today though. First of all Al Forno is about 30-35% overpriced compared to what other restaurants are dishing out. They are not unique anymore and have plenty of competition. The pizza was soggy and uninteresting--just look around at what restaurants are pulling out of their ovens these days, at a much more reasonable price. Their signature "steak" dish which I ordered was good, but definitely nowhere near worth the $42 they charge. Come on, let's grow up here. My friend, who is a vegetarian ordered a vegetable platter, nicely grilled veggies, $25 dollars worth! No way...There was so much fennel in the sausage my other friend ordered, the dish was not appetizing in the least. Spend your $$'s elsewhere and get more value for delicious food. Many restaurants around for outstanding food. Overall a very disappointing experience since our last visit three years ago. Service was very good, though...

Best pizza in the entire world! Better than anything you can get in Italy although there was a close call in Rome. Anyone who says the food is not good here is an amateur or unsophisticated. As a big foodie, this is one of the best restaurants ever. Steak is unbelievable-great Grand cookie finale. It bothers me that anyone could say the food is not good here which is why I am writing this review (something I never do). It is a little expensive so reserve for special occasions!

This restaurant has great food, but it's very hard to get a table, especially on weekends. I recommend going at off hours. The deserts are absolutely incredible. They make them at the time you order your meal, so be prepared to order with your meal. The staff runs hot and cold-- sometimes you get a really kind wait person, and sometimes you get someone snotty. Unfortunately my overall experience with the host staff has not been good.

Even the (always) amazing food could not make up for the rude service we received on a recent visit. As a fan of Al Forno "from the beginning" I think they may have forgotten their roots. Providence doesn't need another snooty Italian restaurant. I hope the owners understand that the magic is (was?) in the delivery and the entire experience. Sorry to say I won't be back.

Grill-roasted pizza and au point desserts were truly fabulous and all food at least excellent, prepared with subtlety and sensitivity. Service staff was knowledgeable and courteous to non-regulars on a busy night. Decor is "comfy waterfront warehouse refurb." This has so far been our best restaurant meal in the South Coast area, one of the few worth a premium price (my first-ever $20 dessert, and worth every penny).

I was so excited to visit this restaurant last week after having read raving reviews but this ended up being the worst restaurant I have ever been to. I cannot comprehend how people are willing to spend $19.95 for a basic pizza that was extremely doughy and saturated in oil. Not only that, the calamari I ordered was overcooked and very chewy along with too many spices, and the pasta was really al dente because it almost made al dents in my teeth enamel because it was so undercooked. Al Forno's food is not only lousy but also extremely overpriced. One would think that a restaurant that charges so much for a dish would have superb, impeccable service, but that was not the case. Not once did the waiter inquire about the food nor did he refill our water glasses without having us have to ask for more. It is laughable that Al Forno's website asks for business casual in terms of required dress code, but the staff themselves dress like crap: sneakers, shirts untucked, pants hanging down to the waste, no kind of uniformity. I will definitely not be referring this restaurant to anybody!

My God, this has to be the most overrated restaurant I have ever been to. The worst service, a mish-mash of servers all wearing different variations of a standard "black"uniform. Sneakers on, bad attitudes, and the worst food I have had. The waitress did not ask us once how our food was, did we need more soda, dessert, anything. She left the food and that was it. I had a "pizza" which had doughy crust and puddles of oil, to which the waitress stated" thats a shame" and walked away. I cannot see how people are leaving these reviews. For the prices "19.95" for a personal pizza?, by far the worst we have had. I have 6 family members who own restaurants and not one has a staff like this, nor would they treat their customers as such. We tried to find a positive note to leave, but there was no such service, or food that we could find to tie it to. Please heed my warning, you will not be pleased. I am still waiting for my "call from the chef" that we were told would happen when we called immediately after we parted the restaurant. Oh, yes we tried to tell the gentleman who takes reservations and seats people, but with his snotty, greater than thou attitude, he stated he was too busy at that time to speak to us. So there you have it. Our first and last visit to this establishment.

Food is great. Service is average, the decor leaves a lot to be desired. The food makes it worth the trip, the pizza is great.