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    Buona Forchetta

    4.4 (241 reviews)
    Closed 12:00 pm - 3:00 PM, 5:00 PM - 9:00 PM
    Updated 2 months ago

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    Recommended Reviews - Buona Forchetta

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    Margherita pizza
    Alison R.

    Met friends for dinner tonight and none of us had eaten here before of even noticed it so we were all excited to try something new. It was a little chilly to fully enjoy the big open space of the big main room and the large windows. The big doors are likely open on a warm summer night. The design elements gave an intentional feel as though you are eating in a friend's Italian garden at a farm house table. Boxes of wine bottles stacked neatly against the wall added to the charm of a "local Italian business" nothing pretentious about this place. We had fast and friendly service and our food was prepared quite quickly despite a nearly full restaurant. Everyone in our party loved their menu choice but I only got to photograph my Margherita pizza and our surprise birthday dessert. The pizza was perfectly cooked with a nice wood smoked scent to the slightly chewy crust. A few of the bubbles on the crust were also a nice blackened char that added to the overall flavor but didn't detract from the sweetness of the sauce. My mouth is watering just thinking about eat bite as I write this. Our server knew we were celebrating two birthdays and brought us a surprise Panna Cotta with fresh berries and a sparkler to top it off. Surprisingly, I have never had Panna Cotta before and it is such a lovely treat. Not overly sweet and something everyone can enjoy. We had a pleasant evening and will definitely return. We look forward to tasting more items from the menu but as a Margherita pizza lover myself, I will find it hard to stray from that selection now that I've tasted how fresh it is! Thanks Buona Forchetta for welcoming our families into your "home" tonight.

    Sergio Pizza
    Shaza R.

    This was our first time coming to Buona Forchetta and we were so happy with our experience. We came to celebrate our 7th anniversary and came on a quiet Sunday evening. The restaurant gave such a cozy atmosphere and seemed like a great local spot for families and friends. Our server, Kevin, was incredibly kind and explained how the menu operated and what he recommended. We ordered some calamari to start, which was light and delicious and not too heavy on the breading. Then we split a carbonara and a pizza. The carbonara was rich and delicious. We both loved this pasta so much! The pizza crust was to die for and the ingredients were very fresh! We even had leftovers for the next night and it was perfect. Very happy with the portions and quality of food. Finally, we split the specialty lemon dessert per Kevin's recommendation and it was perfect. They had decaf espresso, which was such a treat for me being pregnant and ended the night perfectly. Thanks for making our night special!

    Beer
    Elisa G.

    I'm obsessed with their gluten free focaccia but they never put enough garlic even when I call and request it however it's still AMAZING! The salmon tonight was overcooked and I think it was previously frozen which is unnecessary when they can easily have fresh salmon. I'm kind of bummed but the focaccia was delicious. I can't wait to eat it for breakfast tomorrow with avocado on top.

    Vegan ravioli with asparagus. Omggg-worthy.
    Korbi K.

    WHOA. Just the thought of Buona Forchetta induces an embarrassing amount of drool. Although I'd explored the Newport location's menu and was enticed by ample vegan options, I didn't get around to actually visiting the restaurant until an overnight pet-sit led me to this San Clemente spot. Better late than never...better never late. My only regret is not gettin' my nom on at Buona Forchetta sooner. My date (erm, Italian lover) and I ordered everything from the vegan ravioli with asparagus to foccacia to roasted potatoes with vegan cheese (customized). Our decadent drinks included champagne and red wine--both house (my choice) and whatever obscure brand that my date raved about. I actually loved my house wine more than his semi-fancy choice (he agreed!), but I'm also a two-buck-Chuck/Charles Shaw kind of girl. Staff was accommodating to my dietary needs. It's so refreshing to see a menu that caters to all preferences! More Orange County restaurants should take note. Generous portions of fantastic food: leftovers the next day tasted just as divine--if not more so--as original meal. The fact that my Italian amante loves this place as much as me says everything. No more need be said: just go!

    Jade W.

    The food was outstanding! I ordered off the specials menu & it was a fantastic choice! I ordered a mushroom pasta & the portion size was huge! It's very light and airy, not many places to sit. Our server was awesome and she was very attentive.

    Adele M.

    Another awesome meal@Buona Forchetta!! You can always depend on excellent service & quality food. Lovely inside and outside patio for your choice of dining. On site parking is very convenient. Never a disappointed! Awesome wine list.

    Juna pizza no sausage, added red onion
    Maral C.

    We stopped by for Sunday lunch and had no trouble getting a table. The staff were friendly and polite, and the restaurant has a cute design. Here's what we ordered: * Calamari (appetizer): Really good, crispy and flavorful. * Juna Pizza: Light, fresh, and satisfying. * Eggplant Tortino: Soft and good * Penne with Bolognese: Just okay, nothing standout. Overall, the food felt light and on the healthier side, but some dishes could've used a bit more seasoning, especially salt. A nice spot for a casual meal, but nothing particularly memorable for me.

    Gluten free focaccia
    Ahlennah B.

    Actually great gluten free pasta (bucatini only). We tried the carbonara with both regular and gluten free pasta and both were great. Cacio e pepe was the same sauce without the guanciale. The gluten free focaccia was really great! I would get that again a heartbeat! Fantastic. Everyone enjoyed it. Service was great and the patio was plenty warm with heaters, even tho it was a breezy cold evening. Service was excellent. Everyone was wonderful, great recommendations, very personable, kind and entertaining. This was a very fun place to dine.

    Gluten free gnocchi with pesto and burrata
    Rylee C.

    So happy to have found this place! Great food, service, and ambiance. Pretty large menu with so many different options including customizable pasta dishes. They also have a nice amount of gluten free options, some of which are gluten free focaccia bread and even gluten free gnocchi! I haven't had gluten free gnocchi in over a year so was pleasantly surprised to see that they offer that here. I ordered it with pesto and burrata and it was really good! Definitely hard to stop eating! I can't wait for my next trip here to try more of the menu!

    Cioppino
    Danielle W.

    I enjoyed this restaurant. The food was good (not great) but it came out cold. Meh. The manager was kind of a d*ck the whole night which was a bummer. The rest of the service was excellent including our lovely server from Rome. Apparently the cioppino was the thing to have. Artichoke app and salads were also pretty good.

    Lamb
    Nate P.

    It's a chain but they always deliver. Whether it's the homemade pasta or a regular entree. Food is always good and the service never disappoints. I went with a rack of lamb which was delicious as always. Would have liked more lamb but beggars can't be choosers. Risotto was super tasty as well. Pretty much anything you get here will be good. Trust. Parking is definitely a pain but that's pretty much everywhere in San Clemente. Definitely stop by if you're looking for some good Italian.

    Cioppino

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    Thank you Nate! See you again soon I hope. - Joe P., GM

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    Kristin C. was wonderful. We had some car issues and were late for our Rez, but they sat is within 15 min. Service and food was fantastic!

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    11 months ago

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    truly rewarding to read this, thank you Angelica! - Joe P., GM

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    3 months ago

    Our favorite go to homemade Italian food. They are fun and friendly and I can't say enough of about every item I have tried.

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    1 month ago

    Food $ service was excellent!! Kevin are waiter from Rome was amazing!! Will definitely be back again

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    Buona Forchetta Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Buona Forchetta

    Glad to see a new restaurant opened up in San Clemente. Need to ask one question my granddaughter is celiac, she cannot have any gluten nor cross-contamination of gluten. Will you guys be able to provide her with gluten-free options?

    View All 4 Questions

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