Look, I’ve eaten at a lot of restaurants in Newcastle. Seriously, way more than I should probably admit. And if I’m being honest, most of them are just… okay. They’re fine. You go in, you eat, you leave. But In Forno? That’s different.
When you walk in there, you can actually tell these people care. Not in that fake corporate way where it’s all marketing talk. Real care. Harry, the owner, he actually wants to make good pizza and good pasta. That’s literally it. He’s not trying to get rich or build some empire. He just wants people to eat good food.
That’s rare these days.
Why In Forno Actually Stands Out
First thing you notice is they’re not trying to be something they’re not. No ridiculous overpriced decoration. No waiters acting like you’re interrupting them. Just a proper clean space, a working wood- fired oven that you can actually see, and staff who seem genuinely happy to be there.
They’ve got two locations. One’s in Hamilton on Beaumont Street – which is where all the good restaurants are anyway. Other one’s near Charlestown Square which is honestly super convenient if you’re coming from that side. Both places are casual Italian spots. Proper casual. No pretense. Just good food in a normal environment.
And to be fair, that’s actually pretty rare because most restaurants have taken it way too far if you ask me. Sometimes, you just want to sit down, eat something nice, and not feel like you’re breaking a dress code or something.
In Forno’s story began in 2020, when the owner, a trained pizzaiolo, decided to open his own place in Newcastle. While other places might only imitate Italian cuisine, this guy really knows what he’s doing. Every dish is made from the right recipes that have been handed down for generations.The kind of care you’d find in a family-run place in Rome or Naples.
What makes them different from other Italian restaurants in Newcastle is they genuinely care about authenticity. Ingredients come straight from Italy. Techniques are traditional. Everything honors actual Italian food while still being welcoming to Newcastle people.
The Pizza – This is Where It Gets Good
Here’s the thing about pizza – you either get it right or you don’t. There’s no middle ground really. Either a restaurant respects pizza or they don’t.
In Forno respects pizza.
How do I know? Because they import Caputo flour directly from Naples. Like actually import it. Not some knockoff from a distributor. The actual real flour that proper pizza makers in Italy use. And most
people don’t realize how much this matters but it genuinely changes everything – how the dough behaves, how it rises, what it tastes like.
But they don’t just get good flour and rush it. They let the dough ferment for 72 hours. Which sounds like marketing but it’s not. When you bite into it you can taste the difference. There’s complexity to it. Depth. It’s like comparing mass-produced beer to actual craft beer – technically both are beer but one has way more going on.
The Margherita is basically what it should be. San Marzano tomatoes, fresh mozzarella, basil, olive oil. That’s literally it. Four ingredients. And when you’re only using four ingredients you can’t hide anything. If the tomato isn’t fresh or the mozzarella isn’t good, everyone knows. So the fact that it’s actually great means they’re genuinely sourcing properly.
Then there’s the Buffalo pizza – mozzarella, cherry tomatoes, rocket, lemon oil. Sounds simple right? But it actually works really well. The rocket’s got this peppery bite, the lemon cuts through all the richness of the cheese, brings everything back down to earth. You can tell they actually thought about what they were doing instead of just throwing stuff on a base.
The Quattro Formaggi – they call it Cheezze on the menu – is four different cheeses. Smoked fior di latte, gorgonzola, smoked scamorza, parmesan. If you like cheese you’ll honestly lose your mind. It’s heavy, it’s indulgent, probably not amazing for your heart but honestly who cares sometimes.
Then there’s the BBQ Beef pizza which sounds absolutely ridiculous. Barbecue and Italian pizza are two things that typically don’t go together but they have in fact done something clever with it. It is a smoked base, mozzarella, red onions, pickles, garlic-parsley grilled beef. The pickles are brilliant because they can cut through all the heaviness. It really does work. This is the kind of thing that shows they are not just following a recipe, they are actually thinking.
Every pizza uses that recognizable Caputo flour base and the unique char and texture which can only be wood-fired come.
The Pasta – You Can Tell Someone Actually Cares
Beyond pizza, they do pasta. And this is where you can tell if a restaurant actually understands Italian food or if they’re just copying from a recipe book.
The Carbonara is textbook. No cream – and this is important because so many places get it wrong and just add cream which is honestly just wrong. Just pancetta, pecorino, egg, black pepper. That’s it. And the way it actually works is the heat from the pasta cooks the egg and creates this sauce that’s creamy but technically has no cream in it. Most people don’t realize how precise this dish actually is
until they try making it at home. In Forno gets it right.
Bolognese is slow-cooked properly. You can actually taste it. Most places make it in like an hour and it’s fine I guess but you forget about it. This one you remember because you can tell someone spent time on it. There’s depth to it.
Seafood pasta is good too. Fresh prawns, mussels, calamari. They’re not cheap with it either – actually puts proper seafood in there. Some restaurants you get a bowl of pasta with like three prawns in it. That’s not what In Forno does.
Each pasta dish is made using traditional techniques and they actually know what they’re doing. The pasta is cooked properly – al dente, not mushy. Sauces are balanced. Portions are generous but not ridiculous. That’s why people actually rate their pasta so highly in Newcastle.
Everything Else That Matters
The staff know what they’re doing. You can tell because they’ve actually eaten the food themselves. They can recommend things instead of just reading the menu at you. And they remember you if you come back. Small thing but it matters.
Wine list is decent. Not trying to rip you off. You can get a proper Italian red without it being 40 dollars a glass. Which is actually nice.
Service is warm without being annoying. You know when restaurants hover around your table asking if everything’s okay every two minutes? This isn’t like that. They leave you alone to actually enjoy your meal.
The atmosphere is relaxed. You can bring a date and it feels nice without being stuffy. You can bring your mates and laugh without worrying you’re being too loud. You can sit at the bar alone if you want. It’s inclusive in a natural way.
They do gluten-free which is good. And actually decent vegetarian options too. Not like they’re doing you a favor or something. Actually good vegetarian pizzas and pastas.
Portions are fair. You’re satisfied after but not uncomfortably full. Not those places where you’re literally struggling to move.
The Honest Part
Are they perfect? No. The TripAdvisor rating is 3.3 which tells you they’re still working through some stuff. Sometimes the pizza is excellent. Sometimes it’s just good. That’s normal for restaurants that are relatively new though. They’re finding their rhythm.
The menu is actually massive which could be a problem – they might be spreading themselves too thin. But the core stuff, pizza and pasta, that’s solid. Focus on those.
You definitely need to book ahead especially on weekends. Walk-ins are hit or miss during busy times.
Two Convenient Locations
Hamilton is on Beaumont Street – right in the middle of where all the good restaurants are. It’s a warm, contemporary space with the wood-fired oven as the centerpiece so you can actually watch them make your pizza. Good for lunch and dinner, good vibe, right on Beaumont Street where you can explore other places before or after.
Charlestown is near Charlestown Square which is actually convenient if you’re coming from that side. Easy parking, family-friendly, close to the shopping if you want to combine it with a shopping trip.
Hamilton Location
79-81 Beaumont St, Hamilton NSW 2303
Phone: 02 4961 0079
Email: info@inforno.com.au
Charlestown Location
36 Pearson St, Charlestown NSW 2299
Phone: 02 4961 4031
Email: info@inforno.com.au
Why You Should Go
Main reason is they actually care. And that sounds like a soft thing to say but it’s genuinely true. You can taste when someone’s put real thought into what they’re doing. In Forno tastes like that.
Newcastle’s got good restaurants. I’m not saying it doesn’t. But most of them just feel like restaurants – places where food happens. In Forno feels like someone’s actually trying to do something right.
It’s good food in a nice place run by people who care. That’s becoming rare.
Questions People Ask
Is it expensive?
Pizzas are around 25 to 28 dollars. Pasta similar price. Not cheap but not expensive. Fair for what you’re actually getting.
Good for a date?
Yeah definitely. Vibe is nice without being stuffy. You’re not stressed about it. Food’s good enough to talk about without the whole thing being awkward.
Do I need to book?
You can walk in but you might wait especially if it’s busy. Book if you can – takes literally two seconds on the phone.
Why the 3.3 rating?
Because they’re still building their thing. Every restaurant goes through this phase when they’re relatively new. They’re getting better though.
How’s the service?
Genuinely nice. People aren’t pretending to care. They actually seem to care. That’s rare.
Is the pizza actually good?
If you like proper balanced pizza with a crispy-but-chewy base and good toppings, yeah it’s genuinely good. If you’re into super thin crispy or thick doughy pizza maybe not your place. But if you like proper pizza, it’s great.
Vegetarian stuff?
Yeah. Good vegetarian pizzas and pastas. Not limited or anything. Actually decent.
Which location is better?
Both are good honestly. Hamilton’s more central. Charlestown has better parking. Don’t stress about choosing, either one will be good.
Can you do events or catering?
Ring them directly. They’re set up for it. They’ll sort you out.
What about takeaway?
Absolutely. Both locations do takeaway so you can get their food at home.
Most popular dishes?
Customer favorites are the Margherita and Quattro Formaggi pizzas, Carbonara and Bolognese pastas, and the Crispy Pork Belly starter.
Gluten-free?
Yeah they’ve got gluten-free options.
Vegan stuff?
They can usually work with vegan requests if you give them advance notice.
Bottom Line on Best Italian Restaurant in Newcastle
You should go to In Forno. It’s good food in a nice place run by people who actually care about what they’re doing. That’s becoming rare and it’s worth supporting.
Ring them. Book a table. Go eat.
In Forno Hamilton: 02 4961 0079
In Forno Charlestown: 02 4961 4031
🍕 Hamilton, Newcastle – Come to In Forno and taste the difference.
📍 Come to charlestown, Newcastle, or reserve your table online today!
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