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

Forli Italian Restaurant

379 Darling St, Balmain NSW 2041, Australia

Recommended by 7 people

Updated

Find Forli Italian Restaurant

379 Darling St, Balmain NSW 2041, Australia

Directions ↗
+61 2 9799 9678
HoursMonday: 5:00 – 8:30 PM Tuesday: 5:00 – 8:30 PM Wednesday: 5:00 – 8:30 PM Thursday: 5:00 – 8:30 PM Friday: 11:30 AM – 3:00 PM, 5:00 – 9:00 PM Saturday: 11:30 AM – 3:00 PM, 5:00 – 9:00 PM Sunday: 11:30 AM – 3:00 PM, 5:00 – 8:30 PM

*Opening hours may differ during holidays.

Book Now

About Forli Italian Restaurant

Score an al fresco table on Darling Street directly opposite Balmain Town Hall for easy neighborhood Italian dining. Walk-ins find an uncomplicated roster of trattoria staples—from pots of plump cozze to thin, blistered burrata pizzas and squid ink spaghetti tossed with charred prawns. Families settle in over custom puppy-eared pizzas for children, while carafe pours of Montepulciano keep long group dinners rolling toward espresso-soaked house tiramisu.

  • Town Hall Alfresco Views: Outdoor sidewalk seating looks straight across Darling Street to the historic Balmain Town Hall.
  • Family-Friendly Dining: The kitchen shapes children's pizzas with puppy ears, keeping younger diners entertained during relaxed family dinners.
  • Classic Italian Staples: The menu centres on thin-crust burrata pizzas, squid ink seafood pasta, and fresh bowls of cozze with crusty bread.
RestaurantItalianPizzaRestaurantFine DiningTakeaway

What's On at Forli Italian Restaurant

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

No events or specials listed right now.

Why Diners Choose Forli Italian Restaurant

Discover why Balmain locals choose Forli for everything from casual walk-in pasta dinners to celebratory family gatherings.

  • Handmade Pastas & Classic Thin-Crust Pizzas

    Kitchen favorites like thin, light-crust burrata pizza, freshly cooked mussels, and homemade lasagna deliver reliable Italian comfort on Darling Street.

    The dough was excellent—thin, light, and beautifully done. The burrata added the perfect creamy touch.

    Li Lim

  • Spontaneous Walk-In Neighborhood Dining

    Guests can easily drop in without complicated reservations for a satisfying dinner with generous portions and fair neighborhood pricing.

    popped in with no reservation on a Thursday evening after work. With friendly staff, and such an easy menu with all your favourites.

    Alexander Black

  • Playful Touches for Kids & Families

    Large bookings and family gatherings run seamlessly, with well-paced dishes and custom puppy-ear shaped pizzas that delight young children.

    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.

    Alison L

  • Effortless Large-Party Hosting

    Large groups receive coordinated, attentive banquet pacing across multi-course meals paired with approachable Italian wines.

    Everyone in our group of seven thoroughly enjoyed our dinner. The food was exceptional, the service friendly and professional, and the wine list great too.

    Peter Donoughue

  • Al Fresco Dining Facing Balmain Town Hall

    Street-side al fresco tables offer front-row views of the historic Balmain Town Hall, creating a relaxed open-air village atmosphere.

    Being right across from the beautiful Balmain town hall, our al fresco table enjoyed perfect view of it.

    Scott Nguyễn

  • Peaceful & Welcoming Suburban Ambience

    A warm, tranquil dining room lets guests unwind over house-made tiramisu and attentive table care without feeling rushed.

    Its one of those suburban restaurants that just let you enjoy your meal in peace.

    Chris James

Signature pizzas, handmade pasta, and classic seafood starters

  • Burrata pizza

    The dough was excellent—thin, light, and beautifully done. The burrata added the perfect creamy touch.

    Li Lim

  • Lasagna

    Also get the lasagne….. it was good, made fresh ! Which I feel is rare!

    Amanda Katz

  • Mussels

    We particularly enjoyed the mussels served with crusty bread, which were perfectly cooked.

    Lina Meier

  • Sweet Potato Gnocchi

    The gnocchi had that ideal al dente bite—not too soft—and the rosé sauce complemented it perfectly.

    Li Lim

Other favorites

House sides, sweets, and family-friendly specialties

  • Tiramisu

    The tiramisu is my favorite. It is super fresh and light creamy, not overly sweet with a decent espresso flavour.

    NN

  • Home made focaccia

    We share one of the freshest salads we have had for a while with the restaurant’s home made focaccia ( OMG) it was unbelievable.

    Inspired4me2You

  • House wine

    You must try the house wine, it's from Montepulciano and it's very good.

    Danielle J

  • Kids' pizza

    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.

    Alison L

Beyond the menu

Thoughtful hospitality, playful details, and personal touches that elevate a neighborhood Italian meal.

  • Custom Puppy-Ear Pizza for Kids

    For children at the table, chefs take the care to shape their pizza crust with playful puppy ears, turning a standard kids' meal into a delightful highlight.

  • Balmain Town Hall Street Views

    When dining al fresco along Darling Street, outdoor tables offer front-row views directly looking at the historic Balmain Town Hall building.

  • Off-Menu Vegetarian Adaptations

    The kitchen readily adapts regular menu recipes upon request, preparing multiple off-menu vegetarian variations so non-meat eaters have generous dining options.

  • Chef and Owner Tableside Connections

    Guests have the opportunity to meet the chef and owner tableside, sharing personal moments over house specialties like their celebrated homemade tiramisù.

Before you head over

Practical dining advice for planning your visit to Forli Italian Restaurant

  • Walk In Freely Without Reservations

    Drop by spontaneously after work or on weeknights; walk-ins are easily accommodated without needing advance bookings.

  • Ask Staff for Vegetarian Options

    Ask staff about vegetarian modifications beyond the menu listings, as the kitchen readily adapts dishes upon request.

  • Request Outdoor Seating for Town Hall Views

    Secure an al fresco outdoor table along Darling Street for open-air seating directly facing the historic Balmain Town Hall.

Explore more places in Sydney

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

Similar places

More places for the flavours and food you enjoy.

Browse all Sydney venues