{ about us }

A 'must do' dining destination

For over twenty years, IL FORNELLO has been serving up its brand of innovative Italian classics to Toronto diners. A perennial fixture on Toronto's 'Best of' lists, IL FORNELLO was named one of the 'Top Ten Toronto Restaurants' in the 2006 Zagat Guide and IL FORNELLO on Church Street was nominated for the prestigious James Beard Award for Best Restaurant Design (North America). With nine locations in the Greater Toronto Area, Richmond Hill and Oakville, plus stylish sister waterfront restaurant Lusso (www.lussorestaurant.com), IL FORNELLO is definitely a 'must do' dining destination.

Our history

The IL FORNELLO story began in 1985 when, while visiting New York City, IL FORNELLO President Ian Sorbie and Vice President Tony Rago were inspired when they tasted the thin crust 'gourmet' pizza that was causing a sensation in the Big Apple. Upon their return, they made plans to open a restaurant in Toronto’s Annex neighbourhood with partners Stacey Patterson and Sean Fleming, and named it IL FORNELLO, Italian for "the little oven."

So was it a success?

You bet. When it debuted in the spring of 1986, people lined up along Bloor Street to indulge in freshly prepared, thin crust 'gourmet' pizza, baked in traditional wood fired ovens. The pizza received rave reviews from critics and customers alike, ("So good was this pizza, it defied superlatives", gushed one critic) and IL FORNELLO quickly earned legions of devoted customers.

As an example of the foresight and dedication to customer service that has consistently set our restaurants ahead of the competition,
IL FORNELLO has been an industry leader in offering an Alternative Menu to customers with special dietary needs. Featuring wheat-free, yeast-free, dairy-free, and gluten-free menu options, the Alternative Menu offers dishes suitable for those with dietary sensitivities. Most recently, IL FORNELLO was the first restaurant group in Ontario to offer a wide array of menu items created specifically from local, Ontario ingredients, catering to those customers who wish to follow the popular 100 Mile Diet.