Our

Story

Head chef Paolo Cillo brings a true taste of Italy to Liverpool, combining generations of Italian tradition with his own unique creative flair, to create seasonal menus that have seen Il Forno be named nationally, again and again, one of the nation's finest restaurants.

Together with his brother, general manager Donato Cillo, the pair masterfully combine skill and passion to serve up traditional flavours that ooze authenticity. Indeed, Il Forno epitomises the Italian kitchen - literally. Donato's wife is a pastry chef; his brother a pizza chef; as is his son. The Cillos personally source the finest products from their Italian roots, from award-winning olive oil to the traditional flour that creates Il Forno's famous wood-fire pizzas.

This is a family that lives and breathes Italian cuisine.

Receiving numerous national accolades over the past decade – from ‘Best Pizza’ at the 2015 English Italian Awards to being named one of the country’s top Italian restaurants by The Sunday Times food critic AA Gill – the Il Forno promise is simple. The best Italian ingredients, prepared by experienced Italian chefs, in a true Italian kitchen – with enough heart and soul to feed Italy.

Expect a buzz of Italian accents. Anticipate a bustle of native diners.

Experience Il Forno. The proper Italian kitchen.

Sourced from the finest local produce, we are dedicated to our food, as we are our customers. Explore the vast mountains of Italy, with our exclusive olive oil pressed the traditional way, in the remote village of Basilicata. In everything Il Forno does, there is a focus on heritage and quality that customers and critics find irresistible and it’s a focus that is all pervasive.

Some may call it demanding, but the results are superb and we've received numerous awards to prove it: from Italian chef Antonio Carluccio to "The Times", critics have lined-up to heap praise on Il Forno, calling it one of the best Italian restaurants in the UK. They do so not simply because of the food, but because of the service and warm welcome, too. With so much effort put into every detail, perhaps that isn’t surprising. We are passionate about great food and wine, served in a vibrant, warm and friendly atmosphere. From our Parma hams to our Salerno cheeses, we use only the finest produce, sourced from ethical small-scale providers. Outstanding flavours, textures and scents, are transformed by Italian head chef Paolo Cillo, hailing from Potenza in Southern Italy, to create outstanding, authentic dishes. Most of all, we invite you to share in our love of food.

Explore the vast regions of Italy, from the hills of Verona to the vineyards of Sicily. Our expertly selected wines offer the best of Italy, as well as across the rest of the world. Should you require advice, our trained staff can help you to select and match wines to compliment each menu item and synchronously adapt these choices to your individual taste preferences. Discover a new favourite - explore a new wine with each dish from our menu. Two of life’s greatest pleasures; food and wine and we can offer you the absolute best of both. Our wines are as superb as our food. We handpick them from the best varieties that Italy’s many regions offer. You can mix and match wines with each course, too - exploring a new wine with each dish. Because we can serve wine by the glass, it’s a wonderfully easy way to discover new favourites.

Donato Cillo - Restaurant General Manager

Having worked in Italian restaurants since age 13, and opening his first at just 21, Donato is passionate about sharing the magic of his country’s cuisine. Donato’s spirit, combined with his brother Paolo’s talent for creating delicious food, makes for a spirited, family-orientated dining experience.

Paolo Cillo - Executive Chef

Paolo’s signature dishes have been described as ‘revisited Italian cuisine’ - he takes the best traditional recipes, making them better. His creative, seasonal menus reflect his upbringing in the southern Italian region of Basilicata. Here he was initiated into family cooking at a young age and, working in family restaurants from just 13, learnt that simple ingredients, prepared with skill, could bring dishes to life.

Alfonso Ruocco - Manager

Alfonso hails from the Amalfi Coast, famous for its rich gastronomic heritage - just ask him about his love of spaghetti ca’pummaror! Alfonso had already carved out a career in Italy, working at the Agriturismo Villa Maria, before he made the leap to the UK.

Aldo Bove – Manager

From a young age, Aldo, of Apulia in Italy’s south,  knew he wanted to travel the globe and he has certainly done so - working in some the finest hotels and restaurants in Italy, Australia and the UK. Settled now in Liverpool, he brings a combination of worldly vision and Italian roots to Il Forno.

Antonio Di Natale (Nino) - Head Chef

Sicilian-born Nino moved to the UK in 2009, with ambition to take his hospitality career that one step further. He accepted a position as a commis chef at Il Forno and hasn't looked back. Now an integral part of the restaurant's kitchen, Nino's passion for Italian cuisine stems from his upbringing in Messina, an Italian foodie capital. His favourite dish to cook on the menu is Ossobuco Alla Milanese.

Carmine Cillo – Pizza Master

Carmine is Il Forno's pizza guru. The Cillo brother began his career as an apprentice baker in the south of Italy, later working in hotels across the Italian peninsula, before moving to Venice at age 17 to be a pizza chef. Carmine's passion for pizza has only blossomed since. The award-winning pizza chef has trained intensely to understand the exact science of combining flour and yeast, last year creating the pizza that would see Il Forno win the 'Best Pizza' category in the English Italian Awards. Carmine says: "The right knowledge and ingredients are what makes the difference between being a pizzaiolo as a job and the pizzaoilo as an artist."