Out To Dinner: A Delicious Italian At Fantastico Il Forno

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Il Forno Woodfired Pizza

Courthouse Lane

Il FornoTHE Ashe Street/Courthouse Lane area has become a real food quarter of late with many new eateries and delis opening in the past year.

Italianissimo opened just last month selling authentic Italian meats and breads, Lana Asian Street Food brings a taste of the east but Il Forno started it all really a year ago.

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Brogue Xmas Parties

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It’s been a huge success too with people enjoying Italian Wood Fired pizzas an Neapolitan recipes to satisfy all palates. It’s received a glowing review from a national newspaper too which is entirely justified judging by my visit a few weeks ago.

It was the night of the Ireland v New Zealand game and I joined my wife and daughter for a bite before I went off to watch history made.

It was quiet enough at about 6pm but within the next 20 minutes the place was packed. There’s a real nice atmosphere in there too and the decor which is predominantly red, cool posters and a log wall (for want of a better description) adds to the laid back feel.

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Charlies Bar Xmas Insert

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The menu, obviously, is predominantly Italian, dominated by pastas, risottos and pizzas, but there’s also steak, salmon and chicken dishes which looked delicious.

My wife and I went for the bruschetta to start, hers a tomato, mine a mushroom one. They were both excellent with plentiful toppings and beautifully seasoned.

For mains I ordered Risotto Umbra which was arborio rice with mushrooms and Italian sausage while my wife went for Pizza Olivia which was topped with chicken, mozzarella, basil pesto, onions and peppers.

My risotto was very good indeed, especially the sausage while I had a slice of pizza too which was gorgeous. The small girl in the family had nuggets and chips and scoffed the lot. We were too full for dessert.

Il Forno is a great place to go whether you’re looking for light bites, a flavoursome meal or a great night out (the upstairs doubles up as a live music and comedy venue).

The bill, including €24 bottle of wine, came to €67 and I went off, well-fed, to watch Ireland beat the All-Blacks. A good night by any standards. We’ll be back for more.

4/5

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