IL Forno

Felt like entering a haven of elegance; the clean and classy environment set the tone perfectly. The fried pizza was a revelation—crispy, with a unique mouthfeel that left my taste buds dancing. The mushroom risotto was a symphony of savory flavors. But the real star of the show was the lasagna—it surpassed any homemade version I've ever tasted, a true culinary masterpiece that made me nostalgic for an Italian grandma's touch.

While the food was exceptional, the service was decent, ensuring our dining experience remained enjoyable. The staff was attentive without being intrusive, allowing us to savor every moment of our meal. Overall, this restaurant is a gastronomic delight, a place where every bite is an adventure and where the charm of the ambiance complements the excellence of the cuisine. A must-visit for anyone seeking a memorable Italian dining experience!

iL Forno was a spot we had to check out while in Nashville. I love Italian food and I know Nashville isn’t by any chance known for this type of cuisine but the owners of this restaurant are. Chef Egi Franciosa was born in a sea side city just outside Naples. He brings his love of his home to their restaurant in Nashville. I mean how cool husband and wife business owners who went from sharing their love of Italian cuisine out of a food truck to a brick and mortar. I actually got to meet Chef Egi while we were dining for dinner. He was kind and thankful for us coming to spending our time in their restaurant.

The restaurant was aesthetically appealing to the eye. A nice clean, simple style. The food was true to Chef Egi’s roots.

We ordered:
Espresso Martini (7/10) - this was made with real espresso which I greatly appreciated. It wasn’t my favorite way to enjoy an espresso martini and although I’m quite the fan favorite of them I’m not a purist. I like mine creamy. This flavor profile wasn’t creamy it was very espresso forward. I am certain an espresso martini purist would very much so enjoy this version.

Margherita Pizza (10/10) - I want to start with other reviews that I read about the pizza and how wet it is/was. I’m not sure if people are aware that… it’s supposed to be that way. It’s googlelable. The first thing that comes up when googling it is “Unlike typical American pizza, a delicious pool of flavor forms in the middle of a Neapolitan pie during its short time in the oven making it what one might call wet or “soupy”.” So, I think it’s only fair to rate this pizza on the flavors and its traditional style. The flavors were robust. The cheese wasn’t overpowering, it blended well with the sauce. It wasn’t greasy and the crust was crispy. It was true to its roots. I can appreciate that.

Rigatoni in cream sauce (10/10) - this wasn’t on the menu I inquired about just having a noodle in a cream sauce. It’s my favorite way to evaluate the quality of noodles. This did not disappoint. The noodles were made in house and cooked perfectly al dente. The cream sauce was thick and striking.

Rigatoni (8.5/10) - the sauce was creamy with a pronounced truffle flavor. The noodles were made perfectly al dente.

AMAZING!!! Book this place for your next dinner now. The best, most authentic Italian food in Nashville!

We visited Il Forno on a Saturday after a friend recommended it. We made reservations the day before. My friend said it was his Italian friend’s favorite Italian restaurant in Nashville.

We were blown away. The food surpassed all expectations. Check out the drool worthy photos! We sat near the kitchen and met the owner, who is from Naples, Italy. We had an amazing experience!

We saw Il Forno featured on an IG page and had to check it out. We made a reservation (highly recommend) for a Friday night. We started with the special trio appetizer. It was decent, could've had a little more flavor but overall pretty good. For entrees, we ordered the Sophia and Diovola pizzas as well as the Rigatoni pasta. It was all delicious. For dessert, we tried the berry panna cotta (10/10)! I'd go back just for that 😉 oh, we also had the espresso and it was great.

The ingredients here are all sourced from Italy and it certainly makes a difference. Next time, we're going to try the meatballs and maybe a calzone!

We had a great meal at Il Forno. Chef Egi and the staff provide an authentic, Italian meal in a casual, inviting atmosphere. Everything we ordered was delicious and we ate every bite. Make sure you save room for panna cotta and tiramisu for dessert!

The place was great, the food better.
Should have captured my reaction when i took the first bit on the Pizza.

Egidio "Egi" Franciosa is humble and knows what he is doing. We followed the since their Food Truck times, so happy for them. We will be here often.

Amazing food! I’ve been here many times over the last year or so. Everything has been very consistent with every visit. Pizza is amazing. Pretty much anything that you order from the menu is amazing!

My wife and I recently moved to Nashville. My wife just moved here after living in Rome, Italy for 9 years. This place was just what she remembers from Italy. They were very busy, but the owner still found time to come chat with my wife. This is Naples, Italian food. Not Roman, Italian food. But nonetheless it was very good and very authentic. Highly recommend this place. Awesome food and experience. We will be back several times.

Best restaurant in Nashville!!! You will not find more authentic and delicious Italian food anywhere else. The menu has a really great and well rounded variety with super reasonable prices for the quality and portion size. Every thing we have ever tried there has been excellent. We met the owner who is from Napoli and he was so friendly and kind. He only serves super authentic dishes that you won’t find at most “Italian” restaurants in the us! On top of that the atmosphere is perfect, a little fancy while still being very casual and family friendly.

We enjoyed the focaccia appetizer and split the special of Chilean Sea Bass over shrimp and squid ink risotto. We brought the tiramisu home. Other reviews nailed the volume level. It’s loud. We got really lucky to have a table by the door and not in the thick of the tables. The parking is probably, usually really easy because there is an event space nearby that has lots of parking. However there was an event happening the night we went and all those spots were closed off for the event. Ended up circling the area three times before finding a place. The service was lovely and attentive without being pushy or overbearing. Overall we enjoyed the experience and it is a great addition to the Nashville food scene.

Enjoyed our dinner experience for their grand opening. It’s a beautiful space with a great mural inside. Also plenty of free parking outside. We didn’t know we needed a reservation, but luckily still got seated right away. Lovely Italian wine selection. Absolutely loved our appetizer. The pizzas were good, though I personally like mine to be crispier. My friend thought there was too much arugula on hers, but overall liked them. I wish we had room for dessert because they looked amazing!

Had a great time here for a dinner with 7 people. Staff was great, food came out very fast. The quality of the food was fantastic. Everyone enjoyed everything we got to eat. Will definitely recommend to friends and will go back.

We had the said ink risotto with halibut and the Amore pizza. Also we had a lovely salad too. I'd love to go back soon! It was even better when we got some spicy and balsamic Olive oils.

The restaurant is a little out of the way, BUT, plenty of parking and a simple, yet complete menu. Prices are very good, and the service was great. When back in Nashville, I will be back. PS- the Bucatini was divine.

It's a new Italian place in downtown Nashville. They use purely Italian ingredients with flavors that are not so familiar to some palates. The atmosphere is pleasant. The attention in my experience was excellent. They had live music. The prices are competitive with other restaurants. It depends on how much you order.

Ever since you step in they take care of you in every way. Service and atmosphere is one of a kind. Now let me tell you about the food… this is the closest if not the most authentic napoletana pizza you will get, starting with the amazing dough and the freshest ingredients. The owner makes sure to not only deliver a high quality product, but he makes sure you get to have an amazing experience by tasting his masterpiece. If you’re a new york style pizza lover, this is not your place. But if you’re willing to try the real deal, this will not disappoint at all. We will definitely be back, thank you!

Great place and even better food. I haven’t had Italian food this good since I left Europe. Fettuccine Verde was amazing!

Fantastic service and top quality food. The rigatoni was absolutely perfect and balanced and the arancini special was so tasty. Good service, great tiramisu - delicate and taste like home made lady fingers that were so delicate.

If I could give 100 stars, I would. The most amazing Italian food we had in a while. The pizza is outstanding, the chicken lasagna is also amazing, the sea food dish was yummy and the service was great! Cant wait to go back :)

Excellent Italian food and great cocktails!!! It got the approval of a friend who grew up in Italy. Our table had the octopus pasta, the risotto, the margarita pizza, and the tiramisu. Everything was excellent. Our waitress, Cindy, was awesome and the owners Egi and Jannah are super friendly and very welcoming! If you are going on a weekend, get a reservation!