Il Forno

We went to Il Forno in Ballard on Saturday with daisymayrobin, her hubby and another couple of friends. The restaurant has an open feeling with lots of tables but no booths. However, we did get to sit by the big, round fireplace, so that was warm and cozy.

The atmosphere was more like a family restaurant than a place you would go on a date. There was a smattering of kids there and most were well-behaved. However, one little boy decided it would be a good idea to lie on the marble surrounding the fireplace and scoot all the way around on his side. Now, there was a fireplace screen, but it was mesh, so I was afraid he was going to fall into the fire and toast himself to a crisp. He survived, however, and then wandered back to his parents, to have some gnocchi sprinkled with ritalin.

Once ADHD boy went back to his table, I was able to relax a little and enjoy my Chianti. Mmmm. (In addition to an extensive wine list, Il Forno also has a full bar, so you can you get your drink on in a variety of ways.) The menu has all the things you'd expect at an Italian restaurant: linguini, gnocchi, and spaghetti, to name a few. I had the linguini carbonara for $12, which was excellent. It was just the right amount of creamy and rich, but the pancetta gave it a nice smokey flavor. Aaron had the pesto linguini (which was also in the $12 range) and it looked tasty, as well. Everyone had only good things to say about their meals.

I would recommend Il Forno for a casual, affordable dinner. It doesn't have the hip vibe that a lot of restaurants in Ballard are sporting these days, but the food was top notch and would be enough of an enticement for me to return again.