Five stars for the service! I came in by myself, and everyone made me feel so welcome. A big thank you to my waiter and to Jay for taking such great care of me. The caramel espresso martini was absolutely perfect--delicious, perfectly sweet, and exactly what I was hoping for. It definitely hit the spot. For dinner, I tried the chef's special: the fettuccine with scallops and mushrooms. Unfortunately, it was a bit disappointing for me because it was very bland. I ended up adding salt just to bring out some flavor. The scallops themselves were seasoned well and tasted great, and both the scallops and the pasta were cooked perfectly. The sauce had a wonderful, creamy texture--it just lacked flavor. I think it could have benefited from something cheesy, tangy, peppery, or simply a little more seasoning. Even with that, I'm still giving this place five stars because the service was outstanding. They genuinely listened to my feedback about the meal and went above and beyond to make things right, which says a lot about how much they care about their customers. This was my first visit, and I definitely plan on coming back to try one of their signature dishes. I highly recommend this restaurant overall. I just wouldn't recommend the scallop fettuccine based on my experience. Thank you all for making my solo dinner such a pleasant one! read more

Buona Forchetta - Fettuccine, scallop mushrooms - Italian Near Me - Newport Beach, California

See all

First off we made a reservation a month ahead of time. We reserved for a party of 5 and had a change to 3. We called ahead of time to let the restaurant know of the party number change and the hostess noted it. When we arrived at the hostess stand, both hostesses did not acknowledge or greet us. When they finally acknowledged us (they were gossiping the entire time), they were rude, short, and bothered. They told us to wait a minute while they set up the table; the hostess came back and asked if it was 5. We told her we called and changed to 3 and she did not know what we were talking about. Therefore they did not have a table ready for us inside and stuck us outside. We complied and accepted the outdoor table. Next, the worker who was bringing out the food was extremely rude. We were working on our first appetizer and she said "are you done with that or not?" We put the last of it on our plates and said she could take it. She rolled her eyes at us and grabbed the plate. While grabbing it, her arms rubbed my wine glass and where I sip from. She looked at me, made a bothered face, and walked away. I have never been to a restaurant with such rude service. We also had an unfortunate circumstance while dining and one of our party members needed to go to the Urgent Care. She was having extreme chest pain and shortness of breath. We asked the staff to bring to go boxes and the check due to this emergency. They moved very slowly and did not give a care in the world despite our urgency. We will not be dining here again. I hope they train their staff on manners, service, and hospitality. The two stars are for the apps we were able to try: artichoke and eggplant. Our actual server also decent but still lacked a sense of urgency. It is obviously not the staffs fault that we were in that situation, but they treated us like they couldn't wait to get us out to serve the next table. read more

What a hidden gem!!! Has the cutest patio dining and the place feels so intimate inside as well. Very clean and when we went, the hostess let us sit wherever we wanted since it was empty on a weekday. The food was absolutely delicious. Lots of vegan and gluten free options that make this spot incredibly inclusive. I did the build your own pasta and my friend did the vegan pasta. Absolutely amazing! The service was also phenomenal. Everyone took care of us rather than just one server and everyone was super attentive. I can't wait to come back. P.s. the outdoor area is so cute after dinner you can sit by the fire and hang with your friends!!! read more

See all

Came into Buona Forchetta late on a Thursday night and left with a satisfied tummy and even leftovers to re-live it tomorrow. The pasta was so fresh and flavorful, as was the pizza! This place was perfect for a late dinner with friends! Service staff was so kind and friendly and made sure everything was perfect! read more

Buona Forchetta - Italian Near Me - Newport Beach, California

See all

Valentines dinner was very sweet here!! I don't remember our servers name but she was so amazing- (she wore a "may the forch be with you" shirt and I believe had pigtails!!). She truly went ABOVE and beyond to perfect everything for us and consistently provided amazing service- thank you!! These prices are NOT BAD either!! The focaccia was a great, large starter. Calamari was very good & I am usually not a fan! The mushrooms were top tier and perfectly paired with EVERYTHING. Especially the buona forchetta pasta- that was soooo delicious and creamy. The drinks were good! High quality wine options!! The pizza was not a favorite unfortunately, unexpectedly a lot of flavors, weirdly overwhelming- and quite spicy! and I thought I had a decent tolerance lol! Good crust though Delicious gelato- but not my absolute favorite- Overall, great price for good food! Great service, had many people check in with us and everyone was so kind!!! Also AMAZINGG location by the water & a beautiful patio!! read more

See all

This spot has both indoor and outdoor patio seating. The patio seating has a heater so it was nice. I got to try the beet salad, mixed mushrooms, calamari, gluten free pasta bolognese, seafood cioppino, Nicola, and Juna pizza. I enjoyed the Nicola and Juna pizza the most. Nicola pizza had a strong truffle and mushroom flavor. Juna pizza had pepperoni and sausage with hot honey sauce. The appetizers and the seafood cippino was ok, nothing really stuck out to me. The pasta was bland, it didn't have enough seasoning or sauce. Service was a bit slow, servers took awhile to come. The food here is ok, I would recommend trying out the pizza here! read more

See all

Even though its San Clemente location left an impeccable impression, Buona Forchetta in Newport proves just as wow-worthy. Order the focaccia! It's stupidly delicious, and conveniently vegan. Add garlic for extra heaven. Focaccia leftovers store well, so don't be afraid to place an extra order--or two...or three... I love their separate vegan menu, which provides much-needed options for those with dietary restrictions/preferences. Their vegan ravioli, and spaghetti puttanesca, are dangerously delightful. I haven't indulged in their vegan pizza yet, which a friend recently recommended and is now next on my To-Order list. Pescavegan options are also abundant. I dared order off their Specials Menu, and had no regrets: scallops with kale and almonds are exceptionally exquisite. Fire flavor, generous portions, and quality ingredients. Bonus points for sweet service, and a cozy atmosphere. Buona Forchetta is an essential addition to your restaurant routine, no matter the location. read more

See all

Honestly, this place is closer to a 3.5 stars. There is nothing wrong with it; it's a decent/standard, higher-end Italian spot. The service is generally nice. We didn't feel pressured to order more than we did. The pasta was fresh. Its sauce was creamy and flavorful. The pizza was not super strong compared to others in the area, but definitely freshly made. There was the characteristic cheese pull and floppy crust. I think it just tasted very homemade for me. There wasn't any burst of flavor other than the tomatoes. The view was beautiful, and there is a nice walking area nearby. Street parking is free after 6pm, but they validate if you park in the parking structure below it. read more

Buona Forchetta - Fettuccini Carbonara - Italian Near Me - Newport Beach, California

See all

This is the first Italian restaurant I've tried that I really enjoyed! My party ordered drinks and the calamari fritti to share.. calamari was super fresh with a light breading paired with the perfect amount of acidity in the marina sauce. I could tell that their marina sauce was super fresh and balanced well. Service was excellent with a very cute ambiance for date night or friends night out! Our server was super friendly and attentive, as well as the manager who came by to check in on us.. will be back to try the other things offered on their menu! read more

Buona Forchetta - Italian Near Me - Newport Beach, California

One of new fave Italian restaurants in OC! It gives you the real Italy feels from asking if you want sparkling or still water to all the amazing options on the menu. We got the Amatriciana pasta and Carbonara pasta. Both were super delicious and the guanicale was tasty. We also got focaccia with garlic and we couldn't stop eating it - would definitely get again. The pricing is decent and the seating area outside is great, especially at nice. Also love the overall location. Parking is easy; there's a lot underneath and they validate it at the restaurant. read more

Buona Forchetta - Menu as of 11/2/25 - Italian Near Me - Newport Beach, California

See all

This place was awesome! We made a reservation for 6:30pm on a Friday and got right in with no troubles. Our service was top tier from the beginning the waiters were so kind and made us feel appreciate and welcomed. We sat on the patio and unfortunately it was raining and asked to be moved, but they were so kind and adaptable for our needs! This is a good place for a date or a small group. My pasta was delicious, it was so creamy with a little spice and the best flavors in the sauce. Once we ordered, the food came out I swear within 10 minutes! My only comment would be my pasta wasn't the warmest it was on the colder side once it came out. read more

Buona Forchetta - Bucatini with Buona Forchetta sauce and Italian sausage - Italian Near Me - Newport Beach, California

It was our first time here and I came with my whole family so we were excited. The location is in a beautiful spot right next to the harbor with nice outdoor seating. Service was also excellent and we were able to order right away. Here's what we ordered: Eggplant Parmigiana: this was alright. It's usually my favorite dish to eat at an Italian restaurant but this wasn't. The eggplant wasn't seasoned at all but was totally blend. The presentation was great but lacking flavor. Piera pizza: the best dish on the menu! Wish they added more pesto pesto but I may just be getting greedy. All ingredients were fresh and delicious. Gnoki: it was overdone and the texture was off, not flavorful either. We would never order this again. Calamari: my in laws absolutely loved this dish! It was crispy and delicious. Carbonara: my in laws also enjoyed this dish - can't go wrong here. Fatorre: delicious salad - the veggies were fresh and the dressing was on point. Chefs special salad: my wife enjoyed the grapefruit and I enjoyed the creamy burrata. Fantastic dish overall. Buono forchetta: this was my wife's favorite dish! The sauce was creamy and extremely mouth watering. A truly warming dish. All the wines my family had they also loved. Overall, a solid restaurant but definitely room for improvement. read more

Buona Forchetta - Italian Near Me - Newport Beach, California

The bread products here are amazing - the focaccia and pizza crust. Wanting to try the pasta next time read more

See all

It feels like a truly authentic Italian place, filled with warm, attentive service from people who genuinely care about their customers. I loved how we could customize our pasta noodles and sauces, and a wide variety of toppings to choose from... paired with a light Sauvignon Blanc. Located around balboa beach. There should be structured parking but we found metered street parking right across. Buona Forchetta with added Polpettine and Guanciale- it was creamy from the egg yolk and parmigano, with spicy marinara sauce. The added meatballs were so good! I typically order fettuccini but this time I tried Tagliolini, which had a great texture from each bite Calamari - great lightly battered, served with yummy marinara sauce read more

Buona Forchetta - Calamari - Italian Near Me - Newport Beach, California

See all

FANTASTIC GLUTEN FREE!!! server was knowable and personable, had great recommendations. Only complaint is that the patio was quite loud (music plus people). Otherwise great dinner spot! read more

Buona Forchetta - Italian Near Me - Newport Beach, California

I really think this place has the potential to be a five star. Just needs a bit more. We were a party of 6 and were sat down promptly at our reservation time. We ordered a few cocktails. I had their spritzer that USA water down version of an aperol spritz. I asked the waiter whether the use aperol and he said it's ther own version which I am not sure what that meant. Had the focaccia artichoke and calamari for appetizers. 4, 5, 4 stars. For mains I had their weekly special pasta with heirloom tomato sauce and scallops. Pasta was really under seasoned and the scallop was really well seasoned. 4. I finished my wife's cioppino. The xioppino was good but the bread needed to be toasted but regardless it was a hearty portion with good broth. 5. I tried the tiramisu and the or salted caramel gelato. Both really good. With wine it came to $130 per person. read more

See all

I visited this restaurant few weeks ago and when i made a reservation they asked me if we're celebrating something. I said we're actually celebrating 2 birthdays. I invited two of my friends whose birthdays are a day apart to treat them to a nice dinner. Everything was fine, the food was good, the server was very attentive but they didn't do anything for my friends' birthday. That was disappointing Why are you even asking when it goes totally unnoticed. read more

Newport Beach's new authentic Italian spot where you can customize your own pasta! My first impression of it was great, as it has a very aesthetic interior and outdoor patio dining space. The menu was also amazing, with many options for pastas and pizzas. What stood out the most was that you can customize your pasta! They provide a variety of pasta shapes, some that they make in house, with some sauces that you can pick from, and the choice of adding what ever toppings you'd like. The food was DELICIOUS!!! Pasta is one of my favorite foods, and they did it so well. I will probably come back at some point. What we got: * Penne Pasta w/ Pesto The pesto paired with penne pasta tasted great. It was a bit oily- i guess they used a good amount of evoo (extra virgin olive oil) I'm glad we chose to add burrata- it added a great cheesiness and creamy taste. The pesto at some restaurants tastes too green (if that makes sense) or nutty, but this one was very well made. * The Buono Forchetta w/ Tagliolini Pasta This was a blend of mainly cream, marinara sauce, and egg yolk. It says that the marinara sauce is spicy, but it was not spicy in the least, which I appreciated since I don't have a good spice tolerance. After mixing it together, it was a great balance of creaminess and tomato. This was a more unique sauce compared to other italian restaurants, and it was tasty, so i'm glad we tried it. * The Isabella Pizza w/ Pesto & Tomato Sauce This pizza is actually under the "no sauce" ones, but I asked if they could put some since I liked the toppings. They had tomato and pesto sauce, so I requested doing half and half. This was really good as well. The staff was all really nice. We took so long deciding what to get, but our waiter was very patient with us. When I was taking photos of the food, he asked if we wanted a photo as well (we said no we were not feeling it). The owner I think was also walking around and he checked in on us as well. The lighting also ate for these pics I'm obsessed. read more

See all

Buona Forchetta has landed in Newport Beach as its 6th location, after absolutely crushing it in San Diego and San Clemente. The name, by the way, literally means "good fork"--an Italian idiom for someone who truly loves to eat. Not a glutton. Not a speed eater. A connoisseur of joy with utensils. After one meal here, you'll realize they weren't naming a restaurant... they were issuing a diagnosis. The pizza is outstanding--perfectly blistered, chewy, and charred just enough to make you reconsider every frozen pizza decision you've ever made. The homemade pasta is legit, comforting, and clearly made by someone who respects carbs on a spiritual level. But then there's the artichoke. Friends, this is not your average artichoke. This is an artichoke that went to finishing school. Baked and crisped on the outside, buttery and tender at the heart, and soaked in garlicky goodness that makes you briefly forget your table manners. I don't even like artichokes. I now trust this artichoke more than most people. No hard liquor--but don't panic. The wine list more than compensates, ranging from a totally reasonable $54 Chianti to a $1,200 Super Tuscan that subtly asks whether you've had a really good year. Add in charming outdoor seating just steps from Balboa Bay, ocean air, and that warm Italian "sit, eat, stay awhile" vibe, and you've got a place that fully lives up to its name. Come hungry. Bring a good fork. Leave as a buona forchetta. read more

Buona Forchetta - Excellent bolognese - Italian Near Me - Newport Beach, California

See all

Really good italian. Pizza was perfect and the carbonara was amazing. Very well done. Would absolutely come back again.

My wife and I were loyal regulars at the South Park location for three years--at times dining there twice a week. The service and food there set a high standard, which is exactly why what we've experienced at the Newport location is so disappointing. We've now visited three times, and each visit has been worse than the last. On our most recent visit, we were left standing outside at the host stand while multiple staff members clearly saw us and chose to ignore us. After waiting, I had to walk inside and interrupt a waiter just to be seated. While we were waiting, we overheard a staff member say to "just leave them out there until they go away" in reference to guests waiting outside. That's not just poor service--that's outright disrespectful. Once seated, it didn't get better. Our waiter was nowhere to be found, and we had to rely on the busser for basic service. At that point, it felt like we were inconveniencing the staff just by being there. We're not high-maintenance customers--we're people who supported this brand for years. But this location feels completely mismanaged, with staff who either don't care or haven't been trained to meet even basic service standards. This isn't a one-off bad experience. It's a pattern. And unless something changes, we won't be coming back. read more

Lots of vegan options on the menu. Been here a couple of times and each time was great! Service is always amazing each time. Food comes out fast. Definitely recommend if you're in the area. read more

Came here as a party of 6 and had a great time. We were seated outside. The outdoor patio area has a nice atmosphere and is plenty warm with ceiling heaters (maybe a bit too warm at times and they were very nice about turning the heat off). We weren't the easiest party to serve (read: indecisive haha) but our server was extremely patient with us. The manager was kind enough to come by our table, greet us and wish the birthday celebrant of our party a happy birthday. This doesn't happen at all establishments but when it does it's a really nice gesture and I appreciate it a lot. As for the food, we ordered a couple of salads (Piemonte and beet salad) and calamari. Calamari had batter that was crispy, nice and light. The salads, however, were drenched in too much dressing for us to really enjoy. The salads came with mixed greens, which is more delicate than romaine or butter lettuce, so the dressing just weighed the greens down. Ordered a seafood pasta ravioli special (I think it came with scallops) that was really good. Also got cacio e pepe bucatini with guanciale and that was solid as well. The third pasta dish, penne with chicken and buona forchetta was my least favorite of the pasta dishes. The chicken breast was too dry and I didn't find the sauce nearly as flavorful as the other two. In addition to the pastas, we ordered two pizzas - the Eva and Martina. Both were really good but I think our table universally liked the Eva more. The dough had nice spring and consistency. Really impressed with the pizzas. Overall, we really enjoyed our dining experience here and will likely return. Keep in mind you can park in the structure but they only validate 1.5 hours. read more

I was excited to see that Buona Forchetta opened in Newport Beach and mentioned it to my husband. We previously enjoyed visiting the location in San Diego so naturally, for his birthday dinner with his parents, we made a reservation at Buona Forchetta. Parking can be found in the underground lot (validated) behind the Crab Cooker or on the street at metered parking. We found parking at a meter nearby. I really enjoy using my phone to pay with the Park Mobile app. No more coins! His parents had arrived before us so they were shown to the table. We were seated on the outdoor patio. We had water in a carafe for the table. We also ordered some drinks: Venetian Spritzer and Rose Prosecco. They only have a beer and wine license so no full bar. There is the main menu and a separate menu with specials. We ordered the Burrata Caprese to share. I ordered the Buona Forchetta pasta with pappardelle and a meatball. DH ordered the Risotto with scallops special instead of his usual steak. MIL ordered the spinach ravioli from the specials menu as well. SFIL ordered a salad with added salmon. He also tried to order a Margarita but alas, no full bar. I enjoyed my meal immensely. Unfortunately, DH thought the scallops were a little fishy so he was turned off by his meal. The risotto had a nice al dente bite to it and the mushroom sauce was delicious. I really enjoyed my pasta with the thick handmade noodles. I had a bite of the ravioli and it was delicious too. For dessert, we ordered the Straccetti Alla Nutella and Cannoli. Since it was his birthday, they also brought out a Panna Cotta with a candle and sang to him. The Straccetti Alla Nutella was a unique dessert because it is fried pizza dough with Nutella and fresh berries. It was a lot. The Cannoli was crunchy and hard to share since there were different varieties served to us. The panna cotta was delightful. The location is in a busy part of Newport Beach but worth it if you're local. 4 stars. read more

See all

A friend suggested this Italian Pizzeria for a night out. Nice ambiance with a nice cozy patio. That's the reason for the 2 stars, everything else deserves 0 Our pizza were soggy and burned. The server had no knowledge of wine to suggest, no manager on sight and no one who speaks italian in the restaurant. Not a good sign for an italian place. Wont be back anytime soon. read more

From the moment we walked into Buona Forchetta, we felt like we were in Italy. We sat in the covered outdoor patio, and honestly--it was beautiful. The whole area outside the restaurant is so charming, it really looks like something you'd find along a quiet Italian canal. It totally set the tone for what ended up being such a special night. The service was amazing. Our server, Castillo, was so kind and incredibly quick with everything. He brought out our food and drinks in record time and checked in just the right amount. He was really easy to talk to and made us feel super taken care of. Omar, who I believe is the general manager, also stopped by a few times just to make sure we were happy--he was so warm and welcoming. You can tell the team here genuinely loves what they do, and it really shows. The staff was one of the stars of the show and really stood out to us because they were so kind and thoughtful!!! As for the food--wow. We ordered the Juna pizza and the vodka penne pasta, and both were fantastic. The pizza crust was just right and the toppings were super fresh. The pasta had so much flavor--rich and comforting without being too heavy. And the tiramisu? So good. I loved that it wasn't overly creamy--the focus was really on the ladyfingers and the flavor was spot-on. We ended up hanging out for about two and a half hours because we were just enjoying the atmosphere so much. It's one of those places you don't want to leave. Buona Forchetta is such a gem in Newport. Amazing food, even better service, and an overall experience that makes you want to come back again and again. read more

Buona Forchetta - Vodka Penne - Italian Near Me - Newport Beach, California

See all

went back for a second time after contacting customer service and received a coupon but i'm sorry, you cannot pay me money to like this restaurant. for the second time, we went right when they opened at 5 with optimism. we ordered the bruschetta chef choice, nicola pizza, and aglio olio with shrimp and tagliatelle. the best part was the bruschetta, that exceeded our expectations, as everything was fresh but could use more balsamic and olive oil. however, we did also get the bruschetta the first time and this time it looked pretty different. in the first visit, there was a big slice of tomato in the middle and also more cherry tomatoes on top of the bruschetta. in addition, the eggplant ones had a lot of balsamic. the second time there was less balsamic, less tomatoes. if a restaurant can't keep their dishes consistent to the point there's noticeable differences each time, there's a lack of care and management should re-evaluate how these changes can disrupt customer experience. everything went downhill after that. first the aglio olio. the pasta came out so dry and under seasoned it tasted like i was eating dry pasta. we tried adding more olive oil to make it smoother but it just made it even blander. the nicola pizza was nothing special, just regular pizza with a few pieces of prosciutto on top. it was also very salty. however, the worse part was our server. last time although the food wasn't the best, the service was great. however, this time when we went our server was in a rush even though the restaurant was basically empty. there were 3 incidents that happened during our visit which made me never want to come back here: 1. whenever our server was serving us, the table behind us were her friends, so it seemed like she just wanted to talk to them. one time when she was serving our food, her head was completely angled to the other table and was constantly checking up on the other party instead of us. 2. when we were paying and i was showing the coupon code to the server, the server just grabbed my phone out of my hand with "let me see that. " i have never experienced a server grabbing my phone from my hand at any other restaurant and i was pretty shocked by that so i didn't have time to process. however, i kept thinking about it and i figured if i had to think this hard about whether i should be offended, the answer is probably yes, i am offended. the server should have at least asked me if she could see my phone first before she grabbed it from me. 3. after we paid, we had the machine just laying on our table. the server walked over and just took the machine without saying anything. i might be too sensitive about this but i feel like the least she could do was say "thank you and hope you enjoyed your meal." i don't know, some kind of greeting would've been nice to end the meal on a good note. unfortunately this second visit solidified my perspective of buona forchetta and it was no buena. i will not come to this location again. read more

See all

Yum yummy yum YUM! This place hit the SPOT!! My wife and I actually had reservations at another pizza Italian place in Newport that we were so excited to try it they close at 2 and we had a 1:30 reservation. So rather than be rushed she remembered seeing this on socials so we gave it a try! I AM GLAD WE DID! On a Sunday at 1:30 we got parking in the parking garage underneath super easy, got to the restaurant and decided to sit on the super spacious patio. We ordered such a fresh crisp salad with Gorgonzola and pear and my wife added the artichokes, we got a special pasta and a Neapolitan pizza. The salad was fantastic maybe best thing, the artichoke was fresh and a nice change up from grilled artichoke. The cheese pear pistachio gnocchi caught our eye and man it did not disappoint this was GOOD! The flavors were great but the pasta was so nice a pillowy with so much flavor. The Margherita pizza was good now I think I have an issue with Margherita pizza but the crust was magnificent the sauce was sweet and thin and flavorful this was just so so flipping good!! My wife had the great idea of dipping the crust in the gnocchi cheese sauce this was fabulous. Oh and the prices were extremely honest and fair! For such a nice location and ambience they could charge an arm and a leg but felt very fair! Thank you Really glad this spot is here and will 100% be returning! read more

See all

The first time trying this gem on the peninsula, the food, service , ambiance , quality and everything else checked off exceptionally. Our server Andy was super welcoming, knowledgeable and very helpful. The pasta is very authentic and brings the comfort of Italy locally here in Newport Beach. Everything about this place was fantastic and I can't wait to come back. read more

See all

3rd visit! Consistent great service from hostess to manager running around assisting and engaging with his patrons Quick and efficient service Quality fresh tasty and hearty Easy to share and leftover fun Date night, casual, celebratory, group, and pleather of dining fun Will be returning back for my / our once a month trip :) read more

See all

We dined here Saturday with 8 mamas and had the best time! The food, ambiance and service were all wonderful! The Polpettine (meatballs) are calamari fritti were both great appetizers. The manager was also so kind. I can't wait to come back and try more dishes. read more

Love the light decor, good vibes, and White Pizza!!! Just like America loved the Beatles. They too had an all white album, commonly referred to as the White Album. It's well-known for its simplicity, featuring a plain white sleeve, a graphic-less cover with no text other than the band's name embossed. It has since been viewed by some critics as a postmodern work, as well as one of the greatest albums of all time. The White Pizza was perfection! It might be their greatest creation of all time! You go be the judge of that! Check out the picture I posted, YES, that is a layer of truffle that covers the pizza. Prosciutto cotto, Panna italian cream, arugula, and truffles!!! The night we went it was part of their "Specials" for the evening. Call to find out OR try something else. The food was so good, we've gone back to try more pizza! The owners were onsite and fun people! Love going to an authentic restaurant and people speaking the language. It really adds to the experience! Culture and Food is better when shared! While you're at it, try their Espresso Martini! It was so good! read more

See all

What a great night at Buona Forchetta! We were greeted and seated right away. Multiple people came by to attend to us as soon as we sat down, making sure we had everything we needed including thoughtful wine recommendations. The place itself has a great vibe--warm, inviting, beautiful ambiance. They have a vegan section on their menu with creative and exciting choices, which is a refreshing change of pace. We started with cocktails and wine and an absolutely delicious focaccia appetizer that was large enough to have throughout the meal and still have some to take home. My friend had the Cacio E Pepe pasta. Our server told us they make the pasta fresh in house each day, and my friend said the taste was amazing. I had the Insalata Vegana, a salad with quinoa and chickpeas, which I really enjoyed. The highlight of the evening happened after the meal. When the General Manager, Omar, came to our table to greet us earlier in the evening, I told him we were celebrating my friend's promotion at work. He congratulated her and even asked for details, showing genuine interest. Later when we were finished with dinner Omar surprised her with Panna Cotta, beautifully plated with "congratulations" written across the plate and a sparkler in the middle to boot! It was such a lovely touch that made my friend feel so special. Couldn't have asked for a better place to celebrate. We were already planning our next visit before we left! read more

See all

Excellent derisive, instragramable decor, great food by the water and very reasonably priced. I go there every month! read more

See all

Buona Forchetta is a popular Italian restaurant chain from the San Diego area that opened up in Newport Beach. They offer patio seating as well as a cozy indoor dining option. Complimentary parking is available in the parking structure next to the restaurant. I visited on a weekday with some co-workers and ordered a few items to share. Cacio e pepe with penne pasta ($20) - The penne pasta was prepared perfectly al dente and the sauce incorporated pecorino cheese and black pepper. The sauce was a little disappointing and didn't have a sharp and nutty flavor, and couldn't really taste the black pepper. Lasagna Bolognese ($24) - Made with layers of pasta with a ground beef ragu, bechamel sauce, and parmesan cheese I found the lasagna to be just OK taste wise, and nothing really stood out. Margherita ($16) - The neopolitan pizzas here are good and have a thin crust and are slightly chewy. The sauce was made with San Marzano tomatoes and had a wonderful flavor, and were topped with mozzarella, basil and evoo. I expected a bit more flavor from the basil. Isabella ($19) - This was a white sauce pizza made with mozzarella di bufola, sundried tomatoes, onions, and goat cheese. It tasted great. Overall, the food here isn't bad if you are looking for a reasonably priced Italian spot in Newport Beach. read more

See all

Got reservations to Forchetta for my birthday and a friend's birthday celebration dinner! Man, we were not disappointed at all, and this place surprised me immensely. Great flavors on EVERY dish. There was not one dish we had that had bad taste at all. The service was on it the entire night as well! What we got - Foccacia Garlic Bread and Gluten-Free Garlic Bread, Meatballs, and the Juno pizza as appetizers. The Juno was phenomenal. It's a great pack of punch and flavor with a wonderful fluffy crust. The bread had great crunch and TONS of garlic flavor! Meatballs can't go wrong. Just get them. Main courses, we of course, had to the pasta and ended up choosing their Pappardella with the Buona Forchetta sauce, just do it. Make sure to get the handmade egg pasta! Friends got the pesto, cacio e pepe, and another meatball red sauce. Again, all wonderful. I'm definitely going back again to try more pasta and pizza. HIGHLY RECOMMEND! read more

See all

As a vegetarian this place has options. Firstly, my friends and I did get a reservation a week before since we heard it was popular and were planning on going on a Saturday evening. But wow, this place is definitely well decorated and would be great if you're looking to dress up which we did! Let's talk food; I got a pappardelle pesto pasta and it was creamy and filling. However, it was kind of plain since it didn't have any vegetables or toppings (most of the extra toppings are additional cost and were meat). I heard the pizza is highly recommended for vegetarians but unfortunately I was carbo loading for my half marathon the next day :( So i'll definitely be revisiting to try it out, but for now I would give it a 4/5 rating. I think it would be a good idea to share a pasta and a pizza for variety! read more

Buona Forchetta - Italian Near Me - Newport Beach, California

See all

I came to Buona Forchetta on a summer Saturday night, to celebrate a birthday. Mistakes were made by making that reservation on a Saturday night in Newport though. It was so, so crowded. Parking was non-existent, and so I had to get dropped off, while the rest of my party searched for parking. I checked in with the host, and she said it would be a few minutes. I'm glad I came when I did though, because despite everyone having reservations, some parties waited over 30 minutes for their tables. I waited about 15, and was seated on the patio by myself, while the rest of my party futility searched for parking in the lot, or on the street. They almost parked and took the trolley, but finally found something in the lot after stalking someone leaving. Food was excellent - I highly recommend the calamari and the Fattore salad (Mixed greens, grape tomatoes, walnuts, and parmesan cheese). Pizza was decent, though it arrived soggy. It was much better when I reheated the leftovers on my pizza stone. Service was atrocious! We waited about 10 minutes just to get water, and then another 10 to place our drink order, and never saw our server again. We must have looked bored, because eventually someone came to take our order (Omar). He looked like a manager, as he was not dressed like the rest of the waitstaff. He took our entire food order, without writing anything down, and amazingly, got everything correct! Food took forever to come out, and even longer for dessert. We tried to get Nonna's cheesecake, but they didn't have it, and so we settled on the cannolis. (Don't get these, the shells had barely any filling!) Overall, while the food was great, the service turned me off, and I probably won't be back for a while, until they get more servers and get the kinks worked out for this new location. read more

Probably my favorite little spot in Newport right now! The food is always outstanding and generously portioned. The service is spot on, everyone is very helpful, always checking to make sure you have what you need and are satisfied. They get busy so I recommend making reservation during prime times but we have been lucky enough to walk in and get a table if we go earlier! read more

See all

o m g.... there is a ton that is good here, but the seasonal salted caramel gelato..... hole-lee-smokes! ... wow that is good! dont stop at dinner, get dessert!!!! i totally forgot to take a picture. sorry about that. :) read more