I went last week with my parents to the new Al-Sahya restaurant in Avenues called Il Forno. We all enjoyed it. The windows looked out to the garden/fountain area. The food was good except the fish that was bad, but the staff apologized so we forgave them.
I’d go again.
18 replies on “Il Forno”
and what if they didn’t apologize? You wouldn’t forgive them with your majesty?
I do what I always do; stab them in the face.
The place was ok! I liked the atmosphere and music but there were alot of issues!
They stuck us in a place that was cramped and the waiter actually asked us to stick to the table while the other table next to us were sitting with about a foot between their bellies and the table! The waiter had issues with bringing bottles of water! The kitchen also forgot to make us our appetizers and brought one of them towards then end of the meal!
What was it called? Il Forno or Al-Sahya?
Its an Al-Shaya restaurant called Il Forno.
So far reviews online from different people of restaurants at the Avenues agree on :
1) Staff and management of several locations are below standards
2) Crowded places , not much space between each other
3) Food usually on the average side.
its very strange kuwait has a shitload of restaurants everywhere but most of them dont really have good food or food that would make a gourmand’s mouth water
everyone keeps going back to ‘the grill’ at the jw marriot or riccardo at the sheraton – and they aint that great either
The masses don’t appreciate good food, not here in Kuwait or anywhere else. People go to watch other people… then they order food that they don’t understand and complain that it’s bad and then the restaurant lowers its standards and ends up serving the usual crap
Well my experience was a bad one, i went with my wife, i asked for a non smoking table, and the waiter led us to a cramped cave! the whole restuarant area is smoking except the cave thing! my wife said i will bear it and stay in a smoking area but i will not be sitting in that cave. Well congratulations smokers, you always win and have the best seats anywhere…
Anyhow, the number of waiters were just tooooo much! we counted them, around 30, with nothing to do but stare at you while you eat. The moment you were almost done with your food, and i say ALMOST as in half the salad is remaining and half the ravioli is there you just put down your fork to have a piece of bread, the waiter swoops in and voila… no more plates… i had to hold on to my cup of juice in fear of it being snatched up! Juice very yummy a mixture of berries but tasteful.
As for the food, as a person who loves good food and wouldnt touch junk food and have had eaten italian in italy itself… i can tell you the food is BAD!
There were some rice balls stuffed with a hint of mushroom … too expensive, not tasty at all, inedible more like it, and blah! the ravioli had been supposedly cut by their ravioli cutting wheel but then it didnt work so they had brought in a knife and started yamming at it, so we had wheel marks on our horrific strangely cut ravioli which was either not stuffed with much or too over stuffed that was too salty to the taste! and the salad? we had a green salad, it was drenched in sauce the moment it arrived, looks bad, and when you eat it it shows it has been drenched in sauce forever because the lettuce leaves tasted like sponges!!!!
Give me one good reason to go back? im not finding any frankly.
I think the main reason behind the average standard of food/restaurants here in kuwait is that almost everyone treats it as a business.
If you were opening a restaurant, would you rather it made money or got critical acclaim?
Most in Kuwait would go for the latter as evidenced by the huge number of chain restaurants here, and the copy-cat rule that applies. First it was the the fast food chains, Hungry bunny was doing fine, but decided to change to Bk once McDonalds opened. Then came Fridays which was a hit, which led to appleby’s and chillies and all that other crap. Next came the coffee shop years when starbucks opened and was followed by costa and Caribou and other. Next came Sakura, Kei, and Maki, now we’re in the middle of the Burger craze. It just goes on and on and on. Most of the food is average at best, but since it sells people will keep opening more and more such places.
Unfortunantly we have to live with it. The only way to fight this is to not go, but since Friday’s is still packed every weekend, that just shows that you’d be fighting the impossible fight.
I have been to Il Forno twice in the last two weeks (yeah I know, we just dont eat at home) and the service staff was a bit frazzled yet very polite. Their pizzas were fabulous and atmosphere was definately Italian. Better than Ninos(gross!)
Almost evryone i talked to says the Kuwaitis “don’t know the taste of their mouth”, except a few who have studied in Paris >> even this is doubtful!
SO,, why should any local restaurant strive for Quality?
All you locals,, better stick to your Machboos
I wander what Holla has to say about local restaurants! I know he hates Shawermas!
Nibaq writes more as a guest writer than he ever did on his own blog, I suggest you keep him.
wow. such a detailed review 😛
I went to this place, they had a view, food was good, fish was bad, but they apologized so its ok.
You still go out with your parents? :>
its called Al -Forno not Il Forno.. there is another real Italian restuarant in the Courtyard Marriott Kuwait Hotel, called Il Forno ..
I have to say that i completely agrees with MeeeSh and totally amazed with his analysis .. it’s true 100% though i feel sorry to admit it.
any how i was searching for new restaurants in Kuwait to chose for varsities when this web site pops up, so i was carious to know your different opinions in this Italian restaurant, i’ve never been in it. sure do am not going to it after reviewing ur comments. 😉
9th of May, went to Al Forno, pizza O.K. Service bad, food quality up and down, reservation was mishandled. Will not go again.