Al Forno — Restaurant in Devonport-Takapuna

I will begin this review, by reinforcing other reviews I have seen about this restaurant regarding the wait time. DO NOT disregard those reviews, because the food actually takes forever to come.

My partner and I visited Al Forno yesterday for dinner, our once a week cheat meal! We were craving a nice pasta dish and Lasagna, and due to other reviews about their "Amazing Lasagna and great service" we disregarded all the negatives and dined here anyway.

We ordered Bruschetta, Penne Pollo and also the Lasagna.

We were given our Bruschetta first, the starter dish. It was actually just covered in Garlic, way too much, and extremely overwhelming. We ate half and we waited for our mains. We were not visited by any of the staff at all, during our 50 MINUTE wait for our mains. We had noticed that customers next to us, who had also arrived after us, had eaten their meals and left too.

We then asked the waitress, how much longer for our meals - and she said oh, sorry for the misunderstanding, we just assumed that you were taking it slow with your starter.

If you see your customers stop eating their starters and just waiting, why would you not just approach and ask ? Instead of making an assumption.

The mains came 5 minutes right after us questioning.

The pasta for the Penne Pollo - was Undercooked, still hard and not soft as normal pasta should be. After expressing myself to the manager, he said that this was Authentic Italian style of cooking it, BUT "he would cater for us the next time we come in". Why would you not ask your customers when they first place the order ? How would you like it to be? Or at least inform them on how it will be served?

The Lasagna - Not worth it at all. Botched with tomato paste, it was like eating tomatoes with a bunch of mashed potatoes. Almost no mince whatsoever, and I know that every lasagna lover would be highly offended with this quality. It was literal trash. I told the manager, and he said he wasn't sure as to why this had occurred.

The only positive, our meal was 50% off as we used First Table. I am so grateful we did not pay full price for that, good god.

Stop making assumptions about your customers, and improve your customer service. Talk to your customers, express how authentic the food is, and damn well cook it the way it should be cooked.

This place is a disgrace towards Italian food.

I would highly recommend others to use First Table if coming to this place, as it is not worth paying full price for terrible quality "aUtHEnTic" Italian food.

Pictures below are the hardened pasta, bruschetta and the botched lasagna mashed potato style.

Will not be...

Came here as our favourite Dante’s Pizzeria was closed. Do not recommend!! While they were busy, there was adequate staff compared to the amount of customers. Our entree came out within 10 minutes and was lovely, our mains on the other hand. We ordered when our entree was bought out … we did not receive our mains until an hour and 10 minutes later. In the first 30 minutes not one server came out to even tend to us let alone tell us there would be a wait. When one finally came out and said it would be a further “10 to 15 minutes” it ended up being a further 40 minutes. About 20 minutes before it came out we asked a server if the food had even started being cooked as we had pretty much reached our waiting point to which he replied it had been, but I really did not seem that way. We were constantly left assuming that the food was right around the corner but it really was not. The food quality was then so exceptionally below an acceptable standard and we were so extremely underwhelmed. While we were offered a drink on the house (we turned down) and were given 20% off our bill. The only reason stayed was because the entree of the garlic pizza was very good! Paying $65 for this experience was absolutely ridiculous and not worth it at all, let alone if we had to pay the price before the 20% discount! Our pizza was just totally bland and not flavoursome at all and our pastas main sauce was literally water. While they were apologetic it was just all round not a great experience! If I can suggest one thing it is that, if you know you cannot handle the amount of customers - do not take new tables! (Will add pics when I figure out how too as this is my first review haha I have never felt the need to actually post...

I recently had the pleasure of dining at Al Forno with my family, and it was an experience that exceeded all expectations. From the moment we walked in, we were greeted with genuine warmth and professionalism. The atmosphere was inviting, with a charming ambience that set the stage for a fantastic evening.

The culinary journey began with the Risotto Pollo e Funghi, a dish that showcased the chef's expertise with its perfect balance of flavours and creamy texture. The kids thoroughly enjoyed their Marinara Linguini, which was fresh, flavorful, and cooked to perfection. My wife opted for the Crepe di Pesce, a delightful seafood creation that left her impressed.

To complement our meal, we indulged in the Funghi alla Panna, a dish that was a true delight for mushroom lovers. The creamy sauce paired perfectly with the earthy mushrooms, creating a harmony of flavours that was simply divine.

What truly made our experience exceptional was the impeccable service and attention to detail. The staff, led by the manager Antonio, was attentive, knowledgeable, and went above and beyond to ensure that every aspect of our dining experience was perfect.

Antonio's expertise in food pairings was evident as he recommended dishes that complemented each other flawlessly, creating a cohesive and memorable dining experience. His delightful sense ofhumourr added a special touch to the evening, making us feel not just like guests but like valued friends.

Al Forno is a gem of a restaurant, where exceptional food, impeccable service, and a welcoming atmosphere come together seamlessly.

I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a memorable...