Clients reviews about Forli Italian Restaurant

We were visiting my mother in law at Balmain Hospital so looked for a local Italian restaurant, we were very glad we found Forli! The service was impeccable, Abbie our waitress was very attentive and took our order with drinks for the 5 of us and committing the entire order to memory. The bruschetta was very tasty and fresh as were the meatballs. My wife had the Linguine Marina which was devine, it had so much seafood, very generous servings indeed. 3 of us had the Schnitzel platter which is a new addition to their menu. This was fantastic value for $40. It came with garlic bread, meatballs, 3 different Schnitzels, gelato and a choice of beer, wine or softdrink. The Schnitzels were really tasty and tender, will definitely go for this again. We all had a really enjoyable dinner and will be back again. ~ Mark T

The food was delicious, friendly and attentive service. My friend and I decided to try this restaurant on 2/4/26 and it didnt disappoint. We had the garlic prawns, burrata salad, veal funghi, seafood risotto, and coffee. Everything was delicious, and the service was very attentive and friendly. What was even more impressive was that the waiter at the bar remembered what was included in my friend’s second takeaway coffee order. Excellent service makes the food even more enjoyable. I will try out the pastas and pizzas next time. Most tables were eating these dishes and they are a descent portion and looking good 😋 Thank you ~ Cookie “

Very welcoming restaurant. My friend was vegetarian and she was surprised how accommodating they were. There was only two options on the menu for vegetarian...they actully offer quite a few dishes with a vegetarian option you just need to ask... She had the gnocchi which was delicious and I had the veal which was very yummy however, the serving was a little light but still very delicious. Service is great. Staff are friendly. Its one of those suburban restaurants that just let you enjoy your meal in peace. I would recommend this restaurant for its location....its food...and its atmosphere ~ Chris J

Had such a lovely experience at Forli Italian Restaurant! The food was full of flavour and beautifully presented, and the atmosphere felt warm and welcoming. The staff were really friendly and attentive, which made the visit even better. If you’re visiting, don’t miss out on their sizzling garlic prawns and gamberi pizza — both were absolutely delicious and definitely the highlights of the meal. The rest of the dishes were fresh and authentic too, and the staff were so friendly and welcoming. The cozy atmosphere made the whole experience even better. Definitely one of my favorite spots for Italian food 🍜🍲🍤 ~ Jharana T

WOW! WOW! WOW! We stumbled across Forli while searching for a spot to celebrate our anniversary, with our 8-month-old in tow, and we couldn’t be happier that we did! From the moment we arrived, the staff were warm, welcoming, and incredibly helpful. The atmosphere was relaxed and inviting, and the team not only made us feel right at home but also took the time to interact with our little one, which was such a lovely touch. The food absolutely exceeded our expectations-fresh, full of flavour, generously portioned, and just downright delicious. Thank you for a beautiful evening! We’ll definitely be back. 🌟 ~ Jess F

We went for dinner on a Wednesday night and had an amazing experience from the moment we walked in. The service was excellent — the waitstaff were incredibly friendly, attentive, and always had a smile on their faces, which made us feel very welcome. The food was absolutely delicious. The pasta boscaiola was creamy, full of flavour, and perfectly al dente. We also tried the burrata pizza — it was so good we were practically licking our fingers! You can tell they put a lot of love into their dishes. Highly recommend this place for anyone looking to enjoy authentic Italian food with top-notch service in a cozy atmosphere ~ Ana C

We booked Forli for a birthday party and could not have been happier with the food and the service. Everything on the day was spot on and the drinks were always full. As my nephew said on the day when he saw his spaghetti and meatballs ‘if this tastes as good as it looks it should get a million stars’ and he loved it :) Hana ensured it was so easy to organise the event with her and nothing was too much trouble. All the guests had a great time and said they will be back :) since the party last weekend I have already collected takeaway from here again. So impressed with the food. ~ Susanna C

If you're after classic Italian meals that are done well this is the place. Both our meals, lasagne and linguine marinara were delicious and flavoursome. I'm very particular about seafood being fresh and was not disappointed. The menu, both food and drinks, is varied and extensive so it would be difficult not to see something to your liking. We enjoyed our glasses of Sangiovese. Friendly and accommodating service. We had a nice chat with the manager/owner too. Would recommend booking as it looked to be popular. Look forward to coming back for another great meal! ~ Eva P

We were tired and grumpy, walking up and down Darling St battered with icy winds to find a place to eat, unable to make an unanimous decision, as you do. We randomly picked Forli oblivious to the great meal awaiting us! We had the Antipasto, Spaghetti marinara and Margherita pizza and that was divine! The serves were extremely generous. The service was excellent, attentive and friendly. The waiter took our order without taking notes. The atmosphere was relaxing. Highly recommended and too good to be missed. ~ Stéphane P

Absolutely amazing dining experience! The meatballs, mussels and burrata caprese salad are great choices to start off with. Squid ink spaghetti is highly recommended as well as the sweet potato gnocchi. Everything is so rich in flavour. But have to say the highlight of our dinner is the homemade cheesecake - best cheesecake I've ever had! Nice cozy ambience and great service too. Overall the place is definitely worth a visit. That is to say I would love to come back if I were in town next time :) ~ Tu H

Did you say Italian? We said Forli! When we visit our relatives in Balmain this is our choice of restaurant to eat. We have always enjoyed the food, ambience and special service and our recent visit merely enhanced the experience. For entrees we had garlic bread and bruschetta, mains were veal with prosciutto, lasagne, spaghetti con gamberi, ragu and deserts were panna cotta, tiramisu and affogato - all delicious. We enjoyed a superb meal! This restaurant comes highly recommended! ~ John S

We visited this Italian restaurant for Saturday lunch, and every dish we ordered truly hit the mark. It’s rare to find a place where each plate impresses, but this one delivered from start to finish. What We Ordered Entrée: Cozze (Mussels) A generous serving of plump, fresh mussels. Perfectly cooked and full of flavour. Burrata Pizza The dough was excellent—thin, light, and beautifully done. The burrata added the perfect creamy touch. Sweet Potato Gnocchi Outstanding texture. The gnocchi had that ideal al dente bite—not too soft—and the rosé sauce complemented it perfectly. Squid Ink Pasta Highly recommended. The prawns had a delicious char‑grilled flavour, and the whole dish was rich and well‑balanced. Veal Funghi Another standout. The veal was thin yet incredibly tender, and the mushroom sauce paired beautifully with it. Service The service was just as impressive as the food. Our server was attentive, friendly, and polite, making the experience even more enjoyable. Overall A fantastic Italian dining experience from start to finish. We will definitely be coming back. ~ Li L

Absolutely incredible food and flawless service. We hosted a group function for 22 people on a busy Saturday night, and the staff at Forli Italian didn’t miss a beat. Every dish came out perfectly timed, and the team was warm, attentive, and completely on top of things. The pasta was a standout, freshly made, cooked al dente, and coated in a rich, slow-cooked tomato sauce that paired beautifully with sweet, tender seafood. It was comforting, balanced, and bursting with flavor. We also tried the burrata and prosciutto pizza, and it was phenomenal. The creamy burrata melted into the hot crust, while the delicate, salty prosciutto added the perfect contrast. A drizzle of olive oil and a sprinkle of fresh basil tied it all together - absolutely worth ordering. The kids' pizza was not only a generous portion, but the chefs shaped it with adorable puppy ears 🐶 A thoughtful and fun touch brought laughs to table. Forli Italian hits the mark for both quality and experience. Highly recommended for groups, families, or anyone who loves Italian cuisine. ~ Alison L

Amazing food, fantastic service, and perfect location. It was strangely empty when I was there compared to other restaurants in the neighborhood. I wonder why. Being right across from the beautiful Balmain town hall, our al fresco table enjoyed perfect view of it. Initially we were on the fence about the food, since almost entirely of the kitchen and wait staff are non-Italian. But the food came out better than we expected. Everything was just right. ~ Scott N

We went for an impromptu lunch on a lazy Friday. Despite the somewhat empty space (giving doubt to whether or not we chose the right restaurant), we were looked after very well. Shout out to Sachina, the wonderful young lady who was very hospitable and attentive. Nothing to fault as well from what came from the kitchen. We ordered two pizzas, squid ink pasta, and mussels. Everything tasted wonderful. My elderly parents who were not enthused before demolished everything on the table. ~ V. T

Italian Bliss💋💋💋 Update April 2025 Just upgraded this to 5 stars. This is a fantastic food. Our second visit as good as first one. Italian Bliss - love this restaurant💕 Excellent food and service We went here on a luxury escape experience voucher. The restaurant has a special menu for this offer to choose from and includes wine, beer or soft drink. We share one of the freshest salads we have had for a while with the restaurant’s home made focaccia ( OMG) it was unbelievable. Then we both had chicken with a mushroom cream sauce with was served with roasted veg, very generous meals. We finished with a generous slice of tiramisu cake. There are tables for two along a window and larger tables scattered around the restaurant. This is suitable for couples, friends and family. Bathrooms cute. There are a lot of restaurant in Balmain with shiny fairly lights and claims of good food. Walk up to this restaurant from the car park behind Woolworths and you won’t be disappointed. Seriously this is good. Love your local guide-M❤️ Like or follow me please ~ Inspired4me2You

Not from the area and tried Forli Italian Restaurant, glad we did. Absolutely delicious and wonderful service. We had bruschetta for entree, with a gnocchi gorgonzola and a burrata, n'duja prosciutto pizza for main. Fantastic. Beautiful fresh bruschetta. The gnocchi was freshly made and the gorgonzola sauce was the right balance of flavours, very nice. Couldn't stop eating it. Pizza was great, delicious base cooked perfectly and yum toppings. Can't wait to go back and try other dishes. ~ Hyfee D

My partner and I had such an amazing experience at Forli. I have to say that everything we had was absolutely beautiful italian food (my partner is italian so he has high expectations, and he was gladly surprised). We ordered the calamari, the cozze (mussels), the porchetta pizza and the tiramisu. The waiters were very attentive and they made the experience even nicer. This has turned into one of our favorite italians in Sydney and we will be coming back and recommending to friends and family. ~ Angela J

Atmosphere was lovely and cosy, the decor is fitting for not only the restaurant, but the location. Friendly helpful staff, knowledgeable with their food and drinks menu. Food came out fast, tasted delicious. I got The buffalo mozzarella margarita and the pappardelle, both dishes were absolutely delicious, the dough of the pizza was light with a crunch, and the home made pasta was delicious. All in all a great experience, would highly recommend this restaurant! ~ Corey w

Wow wow wow!!! This place is a must try, everything was amazing, the mussels were cooked perfectly in a very flavorsome sauce, the pork and fennel homemade pasta was rich in flavor, the squid ink prawn and calamari pasta was amazing and our deserts completed the evening. The customer service is a 10/10 all the staff were perfectionists and attentive and the food was exceptional. I will defiantly be back again, so happy we stumbled across this hidden gem. ~ Christine M

Excellent service in a lovely space. Food was great. If you like experimental schmancy Italian, this place may not be for you. But if you like old school fare (like I do), you won't be disappointed. Really enjoyed my pizza. And the house wine (sold by the half litre and litre) was really good too. I'm now looking to book a birthday party here I liked it so much. And the wait staff were just lovely. ~ Andrew M

First time here and loved the whole experience from start to finish. Happy friendly service, sharp and clean, atmosphere and decor authentic, and flavoursome fresh dishes in generous portions. Not in our local area but we'll be back as the best we've experienced in a long time. And thank you for continuing to accept cash and keeping our basic and essential Freedoms of Choice alive. Keep Cash Alive 👍😁. ~ Salvatore C

Absolutely loved my experience at Forli ! The atmosphere was warm and inviting, perfect for a cozy dinner. The food was exceptional; the pasta was fresh and cooked to perfection, and the marinara sauce was rich and flavorful. The staff was attentive and friendly, making sure we had everything we needed. Don’t miss the tiramisu—it’s the best I’ve ever had! Highly recommend for anyone craving authentic Italian cuisine. Will definitely be back! ~ Abinash P

An absolute gem! Don’t be fooled by the modest prices, the food here is phenomenal. Every dish was packed with authentic flavor, fresh ingredients and cooked to perfection. The service was warm and attentive and the atmosphere made it feel like dining in a family kitchen in Italy. Easily one of the best Italian meals I’ve had in Sydney, incredible value for money. I’ll be back again and again. ~ Ned

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