Authentic pizza
Reviews praise the proper pizza oven and a genuine Italian-style crust.
Il Forno, Aykon Tower
Business Bay
Il Forno is an Italian restaurant in Business Bay where generous portions and warm service are recurring themes. Reviews point to the Penne Arrabbiata and pizzas from its proper pizza oven as especially worthwhile choices, whether you dine in or order online.
Reputation Score
4.9
★★★★★
146 ratings
Source: Google Maps
The Good Stuff
Large portions
Portions are repeatedly described as generous, including the medium pizza and calzone.
Standout pasta
The Penne Arrabbiata was praised for its rich, balanced sauce and perfectly cooked pasta.
Warm service
Guests describe the team as welcoming, attentive and professional from arrival through the meal.
Family friendly
A family review says the team treated children especially well, making the restaurant a comfortable choice with kids.
Clean setting
Reviews mention a clean, cozy restaurant and a visibly clean food preparation area.
What to Eat at Il Forno, Aykon Tower How we choose these items We use AI to find praise and criticism of specific foods and drinks in a selection of Google reviews. For Il Forno, Aykon Tower, this list is based on 50 reviews, not every review of the restaurant. The score is positive reviews minus negative reviews. For example, two positive reviews and one negative review give +1. Each review counts once per item; neutral comments do not change the score. A zero score is not a positive recommendation. “Only neutral feedback” means there are no positive or negative votes. “Mixed feedback” means equal numbers of positive and negative votes. The quotes are examples of what people said, not every comment we counted. We use different reviews where we can. We normally show up to 10 foods and 5 drinks with non-negative scores. Items with the same score stay together. If a tied group would go past the limit, that group and the lower non-negative scores go into Honorable mentions. If an overflowing positive top tie would leave the list empty, we show up to 10 items from that tie and keep the rest in Honorable mentions. Foods and drinks with a negative score are under What to Avoid. Use this as a guide to what reviewers liked, not a guarantee that you will like it too.
Foods and drinks mentioned in reviews of Il Forno, Aykon Tower, ranked by positive reviews minus negative reviews. Zero-score items have no net positive feedback; their labels distinguish neutral-only from mixed feedback.
Food 1
-
Cheesecake Net +2
“The ravioli was absolutely delicious, and the cheesecake was the perfect way to end the meal. Definitely recommend both!”
Positive 2Negative 0
Review excerpts
“The ravioli was absolutely delicious, and the cheesecake was the perfect way to end the meal. Definitely recommend both!”July 2026
“I tried pasta, risotto, desserts, cannoli, cheesecake, and, of course, pizza. I especially want to note that all the food is just like in Italy, very authentic.”February 2026
Honorable mentions (26)
-
Aglio e olio Net +1
“I ate Aglio e Olio and Pizza Margarita, with watermelon juice. Everything was delicious, and and Omar the cashier gave me a passion fruit gelato…of course you can’t go wrong with Passion Fruit.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“I ate Aglio e Olio and Pizza Margarita, with watermelon juice. Everything was delicious, and and Omar the cashier gave me a passion fruit gelato…of course you can’t go wrong with Passion Fruit.”October 2025
-
Bbq chicken pizza Net +1
“The bbq chicken pizza was literally the best I’ve ever had. So so yummy. I was pleasantly surprised.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“The bbq chicken pizza was literally the best I’ve ever had. So so yummy. I was pleasantly surprised.”May 2026
-
Beef lasagne (lasagna il forno) Net +1
“Came here, tried the beef lasagne (lasagna il forno) and it did NOT disappoint!”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Came here, tried the beef lasagne (lasagna il forno) and it did NOT disappoint!”June 2026
-
Black truffle mushroom fettuccine Net +1
“I love the black truffle mushroom fettuccine, the fried calamari, and the linguine and also the service and store manager is amazing. 100% will come back”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“I love the black truffle mushroom fettuccine, the fried calamari, and the linguine and also the service and store manager is amazing. 100% will come back”July 2026
-
Calzone Net +1
“I ordered il forno medium pizza and calzone, both portions were big enough and appropriate compared to price.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“I ordered il forno medium pizza and calzone, both portions were big enough and appropriate compared to price.”April 2026
-
Cannoli Net +1
“I tried pasta, risotto, desserts, cannoli, cheesecake, and, of course, pizza. I especially want to note that all the food is just like in Italy, very authentic.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“I tried pasta, risotto, desserts, cannoli, cheesecake, and, of course, pizza. I especially want to note that all the food is just like in Italy, very authentic.”February 2026
-
Carbonara Net +1
“I ordered online A carbonara for the first time and I’m speechless with the packaging with the quality and the quantity i paid for one item and i got 5 such as cheese and dessert, bread.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“I ordered online A carbonara for the first time and I’m speechless with the packaging with the quality and the quantity i paid for one item and i got 5 such as cheese and dessert, bread.”July 2026
-
Chicken soup Net +1
“The chicken soup was another standout, creamy and savory, offering real comfort in every spoonful.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“The chicken soup was another standout, creamy and savory, offering real comfort in every spoonful.”December 2025
-
Chocolate ice cream Net +1
“To top it off, a special thank you for their attentive service and the delightful chocolate ice cream, which made the meal end on a sweet note.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“To top it off, a special thank you for their attentive service and the delightful chocolate ice cream, which made the meal end on a sweet note.”December 2025
-
Deep-fried calamari Net +1
“The deep-fried calamari was crispy, though personally I found the outer coating a bit too thick for my taste.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“The deep-fried calamari was crispy, though personally I found the outer coating a bit too thick for my taste.”December 2025
-
Fried calamari Net +1
“I love the black truffle mushroom fettuccine, the fried calamari, and the linguine and also the service and store manager is amazing. 100% will come back”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“I love the black truffle mushroom fettuccine, the fried calamari, and the linguine and also the service and store manager is amazing. 100% will come back”July 2026
-
Fungi soup Net +1
“Amazing food omg.. best fungi soup in the area. Great staff! Very friendly Julius”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Amazing food omg.. best fungi soup in the area. Great staff! Very friendly Julius”February 2026
-
Garlic bread Net +1
“Loved the food here. Garlic bread is the highlight. Zain was very helpful and friendly”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Loved the food here. Garlic bread is the highlight. Zain was very helpful and friendly”June 2026
-
Garlic bread with cheese Net +1
“The Food and service was great. We had the garlic bread with cheese, lasagna and Hola Paella. The waiter Julius and Gerald were very friendly and Attentive.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“The Food and service was great. We had the garlic bread with cheese, lasagna and Hola Paella. The waiter Julius and Gerald were very friendly and Attentive.”January 2026
-
Hola paella Net +1
“The Food and service was great. We had the garlic bread with cheese, lasagna and Hola Paella. The waiter Julius and Gerald were very friendly and Attentive.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“The Food and service was great. We had the garlic bread with cheese, lasagna and Hola Paella. The waiter Julius and Gerald were very friendly and Attentive.”January 2026
-
Il forno medium pizza Net +1
“I ordered il forno medium pizza and calzone, both portions were big enough and appropriate compared to price. At first we received welcome appetizer and then the meal and later a nice-smelling wet wipe to clean hands. Staff were so friendly and price is so reasonable, pizza’s crust was genuine italian , and the food preparation area was very clean.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“I ordered il forno medium pizza and calzone, both portions were big enough and appropriate compared to price. At first we received welcome appetizer and then the meal and later a nice-smelling wet wipe to clean hands. Staff were so friendly and price is so reasonable, pizza’s crust was genuine italian , and the food preparation area was very clean.”April 2026
-
Lasagna Net +1
“The Food and service was great. We had the garlic bread with cheese, lasagna and Hola Paella. The waiter Julius and Gerald were very friendly and Attentive.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“The Food and service was great. We had the garlic bread with cheese, lasagna and Hola Paella. The waiter Julius and Gerald were very friendly and Attentive.”January 2026
-
Paella Net +1
“The food is absolutely amazing, we had Spicy Honey Pepperoni pizza and Paella and we were totally surprised.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“The food is absolutely amazing, we had Spicy Honey Pepperoni pizza and Paella and we were totally surprised.”December 2025
-
Passion fruit gelato Net +1
“I ate Aglio e Olio and Pizza Margarita, with watermelon juice. Everything was delicious, and and Omar the cashier gave me a passion fruit gelato…of course you can’t go wrong with Passion Fruit.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“I ate Aglio e Olio and Pizza Margarita, with watermelon juice. Everything was delicious, and and Omar the cashier gave me a passion fruit gelato…of course you can’t go wrong with Passion Fruit.”October 2025
-
Pasta with clams Net +1
“Ordered one pasta with clams and one bufala pizza. The pasta was good, 8/10”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Ordered one pasta with clams and one bufala pizza. The pasta was good, 8/10”January 2026
-
Penne arrabbiata Net +1
“Honestly, one of the best pasta dishes we’ve ever had was the Penne Arrabbiata from your branch today. The sauce was simply outstanding—rich, perfectly balanced, and full of flavour. The spices were spot on, and the pasta was cooked to perfection. Everything blended together beautifully, creating a truly memorable dish.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Honestly, one of the best pasta dishes we’ve ever had was the Penne Arrabbiata from your branch today. The sauce was simply outstanding—rich, perfectly balanced, and full of flavour. The spices were spot on, and the pasta was cooked to perfection. Everything blended together beautifully, creating a truly memorable dish.”August 2026
-
Ravioli Net +1
“The ravioli was absolutely delicious, and the cheesecake was the perfect way to end the meal. Definitely recommend both!”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“The ravioli was absolutely delicious, and the cheesecake was the perfect way to end the meal. Definitely recommend both!”July 2026
-
Risotto Net +1
“I tried pasta, risotto, desserts, cannoli, cheesecake, and, of course, pizza. I especially want to note that all the food is just like in Italy, very authentic.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“I tried pasta, risotto, desserts, cannoli, cheesecake, and, of course, pizza. I especially want to note that all the food is just like in Italy, very authentic.”February 2026
-
Spicy honey pepperoni pizza Net +1
“The food is absolutely amazing, we had Spicy Honey Pepperoni pizza and Paella and we were totally surprised.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“The food is absolutely amazing, we had Spicy Honey Pepperoni pizza and Paella and we were totally surprised.”December 2025
-
Spicy pepperoni pizza Net +1
“The pizza here is a real highlight and an absolute must-try! I ordered the spicy pepperoni pizza, which was bursting with flavor - perfectly melted cheese balanced with just the right amount of spice.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“The pizza here is a real highlight and an absolute must-try! I ordered the spicy pepperoni pizza, which was bursting with flavor - perfectly melted cheese balanced with just the right amount of spice.”December 2025
-
Bufala pizza Net 0
Only neutral feedback
“Ordered one pasta with clams and one bufala pizza. The pasta was good, 8/10 The pizza is what I had an issue with, as a person that don’t tolerate garlic at all I asked before ordering if there was garlic ( since I saw in the menu they put it in some of the pizzas) and the waitress told me no. When they brought my bufala it was full of garlic and obviously I returned it for the manager to come and tell me it was an Italian restaurant, so is normal for a Margherita to have garlic… 1) I’m Italian, and no…. Real Napoli/italian pizza doesn’t have garlic!!! 2)whatever ingridients you put in your food it has to be put in the menu as well because of allergies etc. however, after all the manager offered to do a new pizza for me with fresh tomato sauce without garlic, and it was nice. Overall a nice dinner 8/10”
Positive 0Negative 0Neutral 1
Drinks 2
-
Pizza margarita Net +1
“I ate Aglio e Olio and Pizza Margarita, with watermelon juice. Everything was delicious, and and Omar the cashier gave me a passion fruit gelato…of course you can’t go wrong with Passion Fruit.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“I ate Aglio e Olio and Pizza Margarita, with watermelon juice. Everything was delicious, and and Omar the cashier gave me a passion fruit gelato…of course you can’t go wrong with Passion Fruit.”October 2025
-
Watermelon juice Net +1
“I ate Aglio e Olio and Pizza Margarita, with watermelon juice. Everything was delicious, and and Omar the cashier gave me a passion fruit gelato…of course you can’t go wrong with Passion Fruit.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“I ate Aglio e Olio and Pizza Margarita, with watermelon juice. Everything was delicious, and and Omar the cashier gave me a passion fruit gelato…of course you can’t go wrong with Passion Fruit.”October 2025
Tips for a Better Visit
Ask again. If garlic matters to you, confirm ingredients before ordering and explain any allergy clearly; one pizza order needed replacing.
Try delivery. Online ordering can include generous portions and extras such as cheese, dessert and bread, according to one carbonara order.
Share dishes. Consider sharing when ordering pizza or calzone, as one diner found both portions large enough for the price.
Save room. The ravioli followed by cheesecake was a successful combination for one meal, so dessert is worth allowing space for.
Bring children. Reviews suggest families are welcomed, with children treated particularly kindly during a visit.
Plan the visit
Practical details
57J3+95R
Business Bay, Dubai
| Mon | 10:00 AM – 12:00 AM |
| Tue | 10:00 AM – 12:00 AM |
| Wed | 10:00 AM – 12:00 AM |
| Thu | 10:00 AM – 12:00 AM |
| Fri | 10:00 AM – 12:00 AM |
| Sat | 10:00 AM – 12:00 AM |
| Sun | 10:00 AM – 12:00 AM |
Common Concerns
Garlic confusion
One diner asked about garlic but received a Bufala pizza containing it, raising an allergy and menu-disclosure concern.
Thick coating
The fried calamari was crispy, but one reviewer found its outer coating too thick.
No alcohol
One review notes that the restaurant does not serve alcohol.
DXB
LOCAL
LOCAL
The Bottom Line
Il Forno is an Italian restaurant in Business Bay that works for both a relaxed meal and online ordering. The menu highlights include Penne Arrabbiata, generously portioned pizza and calzone, ravioli, and desserts such as cheesecake. Reviews regularly describe the food as fresh, flavourful and authentically Italian, with one diner who had visited Italy comparing the dishes favourably to what they had eaten there.
Portions are a real draw. A medium pizza and calzone were both considered appropriately large for the price, while an online carbonara order arrived with cheese, dessert and bread alongside it. The proper pizza oven and genuine Italian-style crust also get specific praise.
The atmosphere is described as cozy, clean and friendly, and families appear to be well looked after. There are two practical cautions. The restaurant does not serve alcohol, and one diner who asked about garlic received a Bufala pizza containing it, then had to request a replacement.
If garlic or allergies matter to you, confirm ingredients clearly before ordering. For dessert, cheesecake is a well-reviewed finish; the fried calamari is crispy but may have a coating that feels too thick if you prefer a lighter crust.
People Also Search
No related places available yet.