Il Fornaio — Restaurant in Walnut Creek

So this is a review written for my mother and her horrible experience. My parents went out to dinner with another couple two weeks ago, both my parents and the other couple are senior citizens. The other couple had been to the restaurant before and spoke very highly of it. They sat outside and were one of the few tables filled on the patio. My mom doesn't drink but the other members had a bottle of champagne to drink throughout the dinner. During the main course a member of the other couple asked the server to lower the volume of the music as it was too loud and bothering his hearing aids. There wasn't a noticable difference so the man went inside to talk with the manager. We don't know what was said but there was no raised voices and he came back in a good mood. They finished their main course and waited for the dessert menu. While waiting my mother noticed the manager come out with her phone out and aimed at their table. The manager never approached their table but was very obviously photographing them since they were only table out there. Their server returned and they ordered dessert. A few minutes later a police cruiser arrived and two officers got out and entered the patio. They approached the table and stated that there will be no dessert and to vacate the premises after paying the bill. Now my mom has never had a issue with the law and was flabbergasted. The officers didn't offer any reasons why but were polite. So my mom went inside to pay the bill. The server didn't say anything and the manager wasn't around. As the group was escorted out one officer told the man who placed the complaint that he was banned from the restaurant. In all the whole group was very confused about what happened. It took my mom two weeks to tell me about the experience because she went from embarrassed to upset. She's not big on technology so I decided to write the review for her. I am personally outraged by how the manager handled this situation, especially since she never talked to the group to let them know that there was an issue. I've been out to dinner with my parents and this couple before and they aren't a rowdy or loud group so I'm very confused of why they police had to be called on a group of seniors. No clue how the food was because this experience left a bad taste in...

Went for my brothers wedding reception. Lazy and careless service. Waiting staff seemed completely checked out and disorganized. They can’t come back here and say the family was rude and disrespectful as a potential defense as everyone was just quiet and waiting. Not once did they take drink orders. Had to go to the bar to open a separate tab to get drinks. We had many elderly and disabled family members (including myself) struggle to get food and drinks and just seemed indifferent. Now whether it’s because my brother and his wife didn’t pay for the most expensive package, I really don’t know, but they could’ve made more money from us had they just done their job and taken drink orders (we drink well and tip even better).

I’ve been to this overpriced Olive Garden-esque of a place in other places. This is the worst service I’ve seen from so-called upscale places.

The only person worth giving kudos to was the bartender and the nice young lady sitting at the bar on her laptop. Everyone else needs to step their game up.

Needless to say, find better staff or I welcome your place going out of business.

PS- as you can see, most of my restaurant reviews are fair and I go out of my way to give positive feedback. If you’re getting a not so favorable review from me, you didn’t do a good job.

Step your it up guys. Your reputation should...

We made a reservation for dinner, after receiving a recommendation. Host: The restaurant is half empty and the host seats us right next to a noisy party table. Before seating down we asked for another table - she makes a face a says we will need to wait. We asked for the manager and get a nice quiet table right away.

Food: Went out for a dinner for two, shared a Caesar salad for an appetizer. It was tasteless - had to ask for more sauce to eat it. For main course we went for the daily special: NY Strip steaks (pasta was not an option because had some for lunch). The steaks were very disappointing...came with an ugly mushroom sauce all over it, some tater cubes and hideous tasting spinach. = Not coming back here for food.

Service: Steaks did not arrive at the table with steak knives. Had to ask for that, and got 2 straight-edged knives. Needless to say, it was not effective in slicing the steaks and I had to slice both steaks. See photo. Our waiter was OK, minus how she served the steaks without suitable cutlery, even after given the opportunity to rectify her error. Good luck hailing a waiter. A waiter not assigned to your table will not help you. Two I hailed looked me in the eye, turned their back and walked away.... = not returning for the...