Mate's Table
Subscribe
Create
Share with the community

What would you like to make?

Add a recommendationShare a place worth gathering around.Create a guideBuild a useful list for your city.
For business

Restaurant

Il Forno

273A Hampton St, Hampton VIC 3188, Australia

Recommended by 12 people

Updated

Find Il Forno

273A Hampton St, Hampton VIC 3188, Australia

Directions ↗
+61 3 9521 9104
HoursMonday: Closed Tuesday: 5:00 – 9:00 PM Wednesday: 5:00 – 9:00 PM Thursday: 5:00 – 9:00 PM Friday: 5:00 – 9:00 PM Saturday: 5:00 – 9:00 PM Sunday: 5:00 – 9:00 PM

*Opening hours may differ during holidays.

Book Now

About Il Forno

Il Forno delivers the warmth of Southern Italy to Hampton Street with blistering wood-fired pies and familiar welcomes. Step past the unassuming entrance into a humming room where owners Naz and Kristina greet regulars by name. Up front, the pizzaiolo turns out blistered Napoli-style crusts beneath molten cheese, while the kitchen dishes out tender calamari fritti, homemade pastas, and crisp-edged bistecca. Longtime patrons make sure to save room for the signature house tiramisu.

  • Owner-Led Hospitality: Owners Naz and Kristina run a warm dining room, greeting regulars by name and recalling specific family preferences.
  • Wood-Fired Pizza Counter: A front-of-house wood oven yields blistered margherita pizzas and rustic pies straight from the peel.
  • Family-Friendly Flow: Early evening seatings and tabletop crayons keep family dinners seamless across generations.
RestaurantItalianPizzaRestaurantTakeaway

What's On at Il Forno

Upcoming events, special menus and other reasons to plan a visit.

No events or specials listed right now.

Why Dine at Il Forno

Why local families and Italian food lovers choose Il Forno for their celebrations and dinners

  • Owner-Led Hospitality That Remembers You

    Proprietors Naz and Kristina welcome guests personally and recall specific dining details, from seating preferences to dietary nuances.

    Naz, Kristina and their team greet you like old friends and nothing is ever too much trouble!

    Tiffany Wardell

  • A Palpable Feeling of Family Warmth

    The dining room provides an immersive Southern Italian setting and lively atmosphere that transports guests straight to Italy.

    The family feel of the restaurant is palpable, and we felt like we were among old friends.

    Evan Kastrinakis

  • Interactive Wood-Fired Oven Craftsmanship

    Guests engage directly with the pizzaiolo while watching Napoli-style pizzas prepared and baked in the wood-fired oven.

    I love the crust Ben cotta “well done” plus the pizzaiolo is really friendly.

    Simone Zicchina

  • Authentic Southern Italian Trattoria Ambience

    The venue delivers an authentic trattoria atmosphere evoking classic Italian culinary tradition and memories.

    What an amazing Restaurant, a must visit for those who are looking for that Southern Italian experience just like your visit to Italy.

    Giuseppe Bartalotta

  • Thoughtful Accommodations for Young Families

    Families are accommodated smoothly with tailored provisions including early evening dinner seatings and coloring materials to occupy young children.

    staff always make it easier to bring the kids as they give them crayons and markers to keep them busy.

    Julie Tieu

  • Effortless Multi-Generational Milestone Gatherings

    Multi-generational groups and milestone birthdays are seamlessly handled with generous shared dining and attentive table pacing.

    Naz and his team delivered. From initial contact, through menu selections, to logistics on the night. Food was delicious and very generous.

    Robyn Grove

Authentic wood-fired pizzas and traditional handmade mains

  • Margherita Pizza

    From the first bite of their wood-fired margherita pizza, my wife froze, then burst into tears... it tasted exactly like her late brother Tony’s.

    Mike T. Wayfarer

  • Spaghetti ai Gamberi

    try the chilli mussels with crusty chargrilled bread and the spaghetti ai gamberi with their home made wholemeal pasta

    Arty G

  • Prosciutto Pizza

    we tried the prosciutto pizza which had a touch of mascarpone cream which made it even tastier !

    Tania La Fontaine

  • Saltimbocca

    For mains, my partner had the saltimbocca I the bistecca. Both well cooked, presented, tender and flavorful.

    Melanie Sagaria

Other favorites

Appetizers, sides, and classic Italian desserts to complement your meal

  • Tiramisu

    Hot tip: Do yourself a favour and save room for the tiramisu - it’s the best we’ve had!

    Tiffany Wardell

  • Calamari Fritti

    To begin with we had the cavolfiore and the calamari fritti, both scrumptious.

    Melanie Sagaria

  • Gelato Misto

    To end I can never go without Tiramisu with my partner opting for the Gelato Misto.

    Melanie Sagaria

  • Chilli Mussels

    try the chilli mussels with crusty chargrilled bread and the spaghetti ai gamberi with their home made wholemeal pasta

    Arty G

Beyond the menu

Thoughtful hospitality details and family touches that elevate a neighborhood Italian meal.

  • Granular Preference Hospitality

    Proprietors Naz and Kristina greet returning guests by name, personally managing tables and remembering detailed individual family quirks down to whether a child dislikes green herbs on their pasta.

  • Open Wood-Fired Oven Interaction

    The front-of-house pizzaiolo engages directly with waiting and dining patrons, chatting warmly from the open oven station while turning Napoli-style pizzas.

  • Children's Activity Materials

    Families dining with young children receive crayons and markers on arrival to keep kids entertained throughout the meal.

  • Family-Paced Early Seating

    The dining room accommodates families with early evening seating options like 5:35 PM to ensure a calm, stress-free dining window with kids and elders.

Before you head over

Essential advice on reservations, family dining, and dessert to ensure a smooth visit.

  • Book Ahead to Secure Seating

    The dining room fills up quickly, especially on busy evenings and weekends, so reserve in advance to secure seating without facing long delays.

  • Plan Early for Family Dinners

    For a relaxed meal with younger children, arrive for an early seating around 5:30 PM and ask staff for crayons and markers to keep kids entertained.

  • Save Room for Tiramisu

    Be sure to leave space at the end of your meal for dessert, particularly the highly recommended tiramisu.

Explore more places in Melbourne

Find familiar flavours, neighbourhood favourites and somewhere new in Melbourne.

Browse all Melbourne venues