Italian Eatery Il Fornaio Opens In Los Angeles' Woodland Hills

Familiar and beloved Italian dishes with modern twists can now be enjoyed in the spacious 6,000-square-foot Woodland Hills location of Il Fornaio, the classic Italian restaurant offering al fresco and indoor dining.

The 22nd national location of the chain, this 150-seat restaurant has a rustic design with terra cotta tile floors, wooden tables made from reclaimed oak and brown leather covered booths. Gone are the white tablecloths and more formal style of other locations. The Woodland Hills location includes a steel and glass refrigerated wine wall, traditional Italian pizza oven and industrial light fixtures as well as a long 12-seat bar with an adjacent wood island made from a large tree trunk.

Chef Giuseppe DiMola, who came from the Il Fornaio in Beverly Hills, is leading the kitchen and offering a wide variety of premium-quality Italian food paired with a great bar program.

Standout dishes include fried baby squid with spicy marinara sauce; the antipasti della casa with salami, bruschetta, artichoke, eggplant, olives, and peppers; red and gold beet and arugula salad;  spinach ravioli with Italian sausage and ricotta; and a variety of pastas and pizzas. Other entrées also available are chicken in a spicy sauce with spinach and potatoes, beef tenderloin, grilled salmon, and veal scaloppini.

Desserts include zabaione with fresh berries, tiramisu, hazelnut and chocolate cake with caramel sea salt gelato, affogato, and spumoni.

In addition to a wide selection of beer and wine, the bar also offers signature cocktails, including a rye smash with Bulleit rye and maraschino, and the Italian renaissance with Maker's Mark, St. Germain Elderflower liqueur, and pomegranate juice.