Farewell Il Fornaio

In 2004, I finally went to Il Fornaio. I had seen it scores of times when I went to Palo Alto, but it never seemed for me. I guess the proximity of valet parking sports cars made me think it was a someday-maybe thing for me.

But by 2005/6, I had a girl that I wanted to share a great Valentine’s day with and we had a wonderful dinner there. It was her first cappuccino as I recall. Over the next few months, we went back quite a few times for celebrations and Friday night evenings out until we moved back to Texas.

During our years in SF, I don’t recall that we ever went back, although that’s a bit of a pity. I hadn’t thought of it in years, so when I saw that it was closing permanently I felt a little sad. It was one of those fabled restaurants where Big Deals of Silicon Valley were said to have been struck. I never saw such goings on, but you could definitely imagine it happening.

Judging from the comments, Palo Alto downtown isn’t what it was in the pre-smartphone era that I’m remembering and, it seems, the food didn’t keep up. But in my memory, the bread basket is hot, the butter melts, the glasses clink, and pasta is served with a side of youth.

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