Al Forno's has a 'rustic charm' and is perfect for a date...

WHERE IS IT?
Al Forno’s is very easy to find, right opposite The Mill and next to Pizza Express at Town End Parade on the High Street. Literally a 10 minute walk from Penrhyn Road.

ATMOSPHERE
The welcoming atmosphere at Al Forno’s hit me as soon as I walked in. There was a farmhouse, rustic charm, with the walls and ceilings clustered with authentic Italian cooking equipment such as sauce dishes and pots and pans. The lighting was low and romantic with every table glowing by candlelight. The music was a mix of chilled out familiar tunes and Italian rap and pop to add an interesting twist! From couples on dates to a lively group celebrating a birthday – the atmosphere was everything but boring.
Rating: 4/5

RESTAURANT STAFF/SERVICE
This was probably the best part of the night. The all-Italian male staff were attentive and friendly - we were served right away and the food arrived in next to no time. However maybe some would say a little too friendly and the chef came and sat on our knees to enjoy a drink with us later on! The waiters were extremely chatty and taught us some Italian. This is definitely the place to go if you are looking for an authentic Italian experience.
RATING: 5/5

FOOD & DRINK
The menu ranged from a variety of pizzas and pastas to meat and seafood dishes, Italian salads and some interesting appetizers. An unforgettable feature is the gigantic sizes of the pizza. We ordered two small ‘pizza pescante’ loaded with every kind of seafood you can imagine – and the plates only just fit the table! There is an extra large option which another customer had – I have never seen such a huge pizza in my life! Brilliant idea for a pizza eating competition.

Unfortunately our crabmeat croquette starter was a little cold on the inside and there wasn’t nearly enough mayo, but in return for our complaint we got two free shots each of Limoncella - a lemon flavoured Italian shot- so I think they redeemed themselves! Drinks wise, there was an extensive range of wines, spirits and beers – and I can say that the house red was pretty good as I had three glasses! And they do an exciting takeaway menu.
RATING: 3/5

PRICE
The menu was a bit pricey for a student budget but for a special night out it was definitely worth every penny. A standard extra large pizza costs £16.95 but it is huge and could probably serve three people! Regular pizzas start from £6.95 and are definitely a decent size – it took us an hour to eat our seafood pizzas! Pastas range from £6.45 to £10.45 so not bad at all. House wine is £3.00 a glass and beers and spirits are pretty reasonable too. You definitely get your money’s worth.
RATING: 4/5

OVERALL IMPRESSION
Excellent for an authentic Italian experience when you have the cash to treat yourself.
BEST FOR: A special date or celebration with friends
BAD FOR: A cheap student eat
Overall Rating: 4/5

Al Forno’s is the first restaurant to be reviewed. We hope to review as many restaurants as possible over the course of the year. Got a particular restaurant you want us to review? Contact us at: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it