About Us

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 Al Forno Caffe is homey, unpretentious, and honest. This is also reflected in their cuisine: robust food served without frills or fuss. The wine list offers over seventy Italian wines from  all major Italian wine regions.
Al Forno Caffe's 2,400 square foot space is located in the heart of Costa Mesa, within the Mesa Verde Plaza, minutes away from Costa Mesa Golf Course. The open kitchen looks onto a 60-seat dining room, 20-seat cafe and 5-seat bar.   The space is outfitted with reclaimed wood tables, custom banquettes, and a wood-paneled bar;  the dining area is accented with custom wall art, a brick mural, and vintage Italian posters.
General manager/chef, Ali Kihanmahd, has 30 years of restaurant experience, and has worked for 15 years in the top Italian restaurants in New York City including Fiorello's Roman Cafe, Cesca, Trattoria di Vino and Pappardella. He owned and managed Apropos Cafe in Brooklyn - an Italian wine bar. He hopes to bring a little bit of NYC to the OC through Al Forno Caffe, his first West Coast venture.  "Al Forno Caffe was born out of my desire to offer an alternative to the mass-market  chain restaurants dominating the OC food scene," says Ali. "My vision is to serve good food and excellent Italian wines in a convivial atmosphere."