Al Forno food hygiene rating
Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen · Darlington
Al Forno holds a 5, the highest food hygiene rating there is. At its last inspection the restaurant met every standard the inspector checked, with nothing needing attention.
The rating: 5 - Very good
The rating dates from 18 November 2025, 7 months ago. Councils typically re-inspect higher-risk businesses every six months to two years, with well-run, low-risk places visited least often, so this is a normal gap.
Address: 81 Skinnergate, Darlington, DL3 7LX
How it compares in Darlington
That puts Al Forno among the 755 places in Darlington holding top marks, 90% of everywhere the council rates. A 5 is the norm here rather than the exception, so it is the rating to expect, not to be impressed by.
| 5 out of 5 | 755 | 90% | ← Al Forno | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 48 | 6% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 19 | 2% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 7 | 1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 6 | 1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 1 | <1% |
A further 79 businesses in the area are awaiting inspection or exempt, so are not counted above.
Food hygiene ratings nearby
The closest food businesses to Al Forno, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bombay Gate Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 46 yards away | 5 - Very good | 9 May 2024 |
| Babul's Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 54 yards away | 5 - Very good | 7 May 2025 |
| Cafe Spice Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 61 yards away | 5 - Very good | 11 March 2026 |
| Bakerman Retailers - other | 67 yards away | 5 - Very good | 25 October 2023 |
| Cherry Tree Cocktail Bar Pub/bar/nightclub | 73 yards away | 5 - Very good | 30 January 2025 |
| Bright Post House Store Retailers - other | 75 yards away | 5 - Very good | 23 March 2026 |
| Best Kebab Takeaway/sandwich shop | 79 yards away | 5 - Very good | 13 February 2026 |
| Cafe Zest (Massarella Restaurants Ltd) At House Of Fraser Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 102 yards away | 5 - Very good | 3 September 2025 |
Questions about Al Forno
What is Al Forno's food hygiene rating?
Al Forno has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Darlington Council on 18 November 2025.
Is Al Forno safe to eat at?
The rating covers hygiene standards found at inspection, not the food itself. At 5 out of 5, the inspector found hygiene standards at this restaurant to be very good, the top end of the scale.
When was Al Forno last inspected?
Al Forno was last inspected on 18 November 2025, 7 months ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Darlington Council rather than by the business.
How does Al Forno compare to other places in Darlington?
90% of the 836 rated food businesses in Darlington hold the top rating of 5, and Al Forno is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Darlington Council inspects Al Forno and sets the rating; the Food Standards Agency publishes it. Neither the business nor this site can change a rating, a business that disagrees can appeal to its council, and can request a re-inspection once it has fixed the problems.
Tell me when this changes
The Food Standards Agency publishes only a business's rating today, not what it scored before, and not when it moves. We check every UK rating each night. Watch Al Forno and we will email you the morning after its rating changes.
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Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
Darlington inspects and rates 915 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Darlington →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.darlington.gov.uk
Rating from the Food Standards Agency under the Open Government Licence. Ratings reflect standards found at the time of inspection and can change. If you think a rating is wrong, the official record is held by the FSA and the local authority; corrections there flow through here. How ratings work →