IL FORNAIO RESTAURANT -CARMEL-BY-THE SEA

IL Fornaio Restaurant in Carmel -by -the Sea is a lively and popular dining spot for Pine Inn guests and Carmel locals alike.

When Bill and I first move to Carmel, I search for a great spot to have a cup of coffee and read the paper before Bill wakes up and we have breakfast together. 

Our neighbor tells us about this restaurant with a big round table, warm fire, newspapers , fresh coffee and delicious pastries . So I give it a try. What an inviting space.

The room he describes is under a glass gazebo in the Pine Inn. Much of the time,canvas awnings regulate the light. 

I love the fresh bouquet of flowers always in the center of the round table . I help myself to coffee,

sit in front of the fire and read and talk to others. It is a great place to pick up local gossip! The bakery offers sweet pastries baked in-house.

Il Fornaio starts as a baking school in Lombardia, Italy. It then opens its first retail bakery in Milan and is eventually imported into the US by William-Sonoma. Il Fornaio opens its location at the Pine Inn in October 1995. Although this is a “chain”,the ambiance is unique to Carmel.

I am here today to photograph and the manager gives his “ok” as long as I bring my photos back to him for his approval.

I leave the bakery and enter the main room of the restaurant.

It is late afternoon and the staff are preparing for the evening. 

This is the first time I get a seat at the bar without waiting!! It is a spot that locals love for HAPPY HOUR.

The bar is pretty with its central display of martinis.

It is “the place” to take a first date, meet a first date, go after a round of golf, or meet after work. After we grab a seat, I assign Bill to listen to the conversation on his side while my ears swivel to my side. Later we compare notes while we have dinner.

The bartenders are efficient and fun and love to share a new recipe or learn a new one from a customer.

This long table used to be loaded with complementary pizza slices and antipasta. 

This has given way to an inexpensive happy hour menu that is quite delicious.

One evening ,the restaurant is so full that we sit at the bar on the other side of the main room.

Here we watch the cooks working

and keep an eye on the wood fired oven baking the pizzas.

The action is non-stop.

Should you actually come through the front door of the restaurant,

you see a table displaying the dried pastas imported from Italy.

Fresh pastas are made in-house daily.

I am encouraged to save room for dessert by the display of desserts.

This is the only “food shot” the manager allows.

He comforts me by saying ,“ food is difficult to photograph, don’t you think”. I am forced to agree.

As you can see this is a large, cheerful space.

We enjoy a fabulous meal with a large group of friends during Concours Week. A friend and I make a meal of the Caprese Salad.

Several  people rave about the Insalata di Bietole- Organic red and gold beets with red wine vinegar, wild arugula, toasted walnuts and asiago cheese; extra-virgin lemon-olive oil dressing. Yum!

For more intimate dining, I prefer this enclosed sun porch with its booths , black and white photos and soft lighting.

We celebrate here one New Year’s Eve. The service and the food are impeccable.

There is also balcony seating overlooking Ocean Ave. and all its action It has a great sunset view.

Try the Rosemary bread. The Rosemary grows over the balcony and gives the bread a wonderful aroma.

Bill’s favorite entre is Pollo Toscano -Free-range rotisserie chicken seasoned with rosemary; served with roasted Yukon gold potatoes and Tuscan salad.

I love any of the Salmon dishes.

If your time is limited, come for happy hour. I will be the petite blond struggling to overhear everyone’s conversations and “trying her husband’s patience”.

Buon Appetito!

Il Fornaio Restaurants and Bakeries