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    Buona Forchetta

    3.9 (503 reviews)
    ModeratePizza, Italian
    Open 11:30 am - 3:00 pm, 5:00 PM - 9:00 PM
    Updated 2 weeks ago

    Buona Forchetta Photos

    Business Info

    BUONA FORCHETTA ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Trendy
    Romantic
    Moderate noise

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    Recommended Reviews - Buona Forchetta

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    Bolognese sauce, and penne pasta.
    Matthew S.

    I know I have reviewed this place before, but this is a nice authentic Italian restaurant that is reasonably priced and has great food. I love their Neapolitan style pizza, the crust is awesome. Their vodka sauce, referred to as their pink sauce is very creamy and flavorful. I'd open table for reservations, just to be safe, worth a stop, I nice date place.

    Cheesecake
    Lucy M.

    Well, I was fairly disappointed! The ravioli had zero flavor, bland. The cheesecake was OKAY. And my friend's pasta, it did have flavor but there was nothing special about it. The outdoors was cute with the lights and the indoor decorations were normal. The service was normal too, although I did have to ask for water 2xs.

    Nick S.

    We made a same day reservation for six using the OpenTable app, and the process was quick and easy. Definitely recommended, as this place fills up fast. We ordered a mix of pastas and pizzas. The pappardelle topped with burrata and amatriciana sauce was very satisfying. The sauce was meaty and tomato forward, and it actually doubled as a great dipping sauce for the pizza crusts. Rich, comforting, and well balanced. For pizza, we went with the Sergio and Martina. Both are around 12 inches and were cooked perfectly with a great crust and well portioned toppings. Easy to share and very enjoyable. We finished with the tiramisu. It was good and something I would order again, though personally I would have preferred a stronger espresso flavor. The restaurant was lively and on the louder side, but still comfortable enough to hold a conversation at the table. Service was attentive throughout the meal, and the ambiance was casual and pleasant. Overall, a solid dining experience. I would definitely come back, though next time I would likely just share a pizza and a pasta rather than ordering multiple dishes. Food: 4 out of 5 Service: 4.5 out of 5 Ambiance: 4 out of 5 A reliable spot for Italian food and a good option for group dining in San Marcos.

    The Cabonara sauce is the best I've had outside of Italy!
    Julie T.

    I came in for the first time this evening (11/21/25) with the hubby, adult daughter and her boyfriend. We had a lovely evening. We were seated promptly, and our server was out to take our drink and starter orders after about a five minute wait. We ordered the cheese and charcuterie board, and a focaccia for the table and a bottle of house wine. For dinner we got a couple of pizzas, lasagna, tagleolini with Cabonara sauce and a side of Brussels sprouts. Everything was delicious. The dining room is super noisy, so make sure to wear your noise canceling earbuds. I actually had a really hard time hearing our server and the conversation at my own table over the din. But beyond the noise level, everything was wonderful. This was my first experience at Buona Forchetta, but it won't be my last. I will be returning again, and often!

    Menu as of 05.13.26
    Courtney L.

    Made a reservation for an early Monday night dinner. Excellent customer service, from waitress to manager to busser. They all came and asked if we needed anything. Food came quickly. Food was outstanding. Calamari was my favorite. Already can't wait to come back.

    Front
    Mariness D.

    The whole area is great, surrounded by residential and several restaurants in a new development near the college. There's outdoor and indoor seating, but I prefer their outdoor option. Service is amazing since they work as a team, so they are fast to clear the table and serve the food. 10/10 on service. Food was delicious, known for their pizza for a reason. The pizza is a good portion. And their build your own pasta is perfection. 10/10 on food.

    Menu
    Monica G.

    This was excellent! Now that i have been to Italy, i'm pickier about my italian food. This place was excellent. Everything we ate plus the wine , was EXCELLENT! I would definitely be back.

    Laura G.

    Haven't been here in a while! I really liked the spaghetti with the sausage! The pesto pasta was pretty yummy, the flavor was very strong. The Margherita pizza was all right! That one could have had more flavor. Service was great and the inside is really comfortable and nice.

    Martina Pizza
    Erick M.

    Beautiful interior, great tasting foods and good service! Food Martina (pizza): Parmesan cheese, arugula, sliced red onion, pepperoni and truffle oil (4.5/5) DELICIOUS Chicken and spinach risotto: tasted amazing 5/5 Overall a great spot to check out for food, service and ambiance!

    Lucy P.

    Amazing restaurant. Came here for the first time a few nights ago and it's SO SO good. The pizza was delicious and so was the salad! I already can't wait to go back. Service was great as well. I'm already dreaming about the next time I go - nothing compares to real authentic Italian food. And I love that it's in my city- 5 minutes away from my house.

    Burnt pizza and lasagna
    Linda P.

    I was really excited to try Buona Forchetta in San Marcos because I've had a great experience at their Coronado location. Unfortunately, this visit was a letdown. I ordered the pepperoni pizza, and it was very disappointing. The dough was somehow soggy yet burnt at the same time, which was confusing and unenjoyable. For an Italian restaurant, messing up a basic pizza is hard to understand. On a positive note, the lasagna was excellent--very flavorful and definitely enough to share between 2 to 3 people. The service was just okay. We waited quite a while for someone to come take our order, and eventually decided to move inside. Only then did we finally get help. The location itself is nice, but between the slow service and the poorly made pizza, the experience overall was disappointing. I really wanted to love this place based on past experiences, but unfortunately this location didn't live up to expectations.

    pasta
    Melanie M.

    My friends came here after a special event and had a reservation on a Friday night. We were seated right away. We started off with focaccia, calamari & meatballs. Everything was delicious. We all got different pastas. The portions were huge. I got the penne with buona forchetta sauce and added sausage. It was so good and I had leftovers. Service was good.

    Lemon sorbet
    Soo H.

    This month our team lunch was at Buona Forchetta - San Marcos. Inside it was new and modern looking. Next door was Wynston's Ice Cream. I skipped it as I was having gelato for lunch. Complimentary bread had a crunchy crust and fluffy insides. Loved the mild flavor which was a little like a French baguette. Lemon sorbet was icy cold and bursting with delicious lemon flavor. One of the best lemon sorbets I have found. Vanilla gelato was rich, creamy, and had a sweet vanilla flavor. Very good. Service was friendly and efficient. Wish they sold pints of gelato here.

    bueno Forchetta with Spaghetti and Meatball

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    Buona Forchetta Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Buona Forchetta

    Is the lasagna beef only or mixed meats?

    Ground beef only

    How's their lasagna?

    It was freshly made. Big portions. Will have leftovers.

    Does the restaurant allow you to bring your own wine for a cork fee?

    yes, there's a painful $18 corkage fee

    Is this place pet friendly?

    Yes, our non-service dog has dined here often in the front patio. Lunch, dinner, and late night.

    View All 6 Questions

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    Ciao Ristorante Italiano

    Ciao Ristorante Italiano

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    Consistently very good food. Been there at least 15 times, and the dinners have been reliably…read moretasty. The Deli is a nice place to pick up authentic ingredients.

    Service - 5 Ambiance - 5…read moreFood - 4.9 We were there before 6 on a Tuesday, so no problem with parking. Had a great table for our party of 7. Our waitstaff was headed by Kap & he did an excellent job. Told us to check out the happy hour menu since it was almost over, so we could get appetizers in at a reduced price. Ordered the calamari (crunchy, yet tender), bruschetta caprese (piled high with mozzarella & basil & chopped tomato), Caesar salad (crisp greens with a garlicky Caesar dressing), meatballs (2 large in a marinara sauce - so tender). They also have sliced warm bread on the table with olive oil/balsamic or butter. The drinks were perfect - nice and chilled and crafted perfectly. Kap also made a great recommendation on a bottle of wine. The menu has changed though. Some of our favorites have disappeared... (seafood risotto), so tried other dishes. Carbonara is so rich & creamy. The pizza margharita was cooked perfectly with a nice crust, but was a little lackluster in taste (not enough cheese maybe?). I did order a side of pesto to add some flavor. The lobster ravioli is always great here, so 2 people ordered it. Added chicken to the vodka penne (grandson's plate was completely emptied). Also had a fettuccini Montanara. Everyone but the grandson had leftovers to take home, so servings more than adequate. Kap really made the dinner perfect. Attentive without being over-bearing & making great recommendations throughout. Will definitely be back.

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    $10 off any bottle togo
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    ZUCCHINI FRITTI
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    I tried liking this place. Truly tried. Ordered and went to pick up and again not ready when it…read moresaid it would be. Waited 15 mins outside even. Nada. Waited 20 inside the restaurant and 35 total and finally manager comes with it. He did apologize, even helped me to the car since it was a big order. Straight home and we tried the food and yikes, not the worse pasta, the worst made us ill. This place at least hasn't made us ill. So there's that. It was either flavorless or sour. A couple dishes had a flavorless oily gritty taste and one was sour. The bread use to be delicious but not now, it was so bad the kids didnt like it. The ice cream which has always been delicious was freezer burnt tasting. What happened? I mean the pasta has always been quite bland which is sad. But the bread and ice cream was always delicious and I'd let the kids have the pasta and I'd enjoy the bread salad and ice cream. The soup has always been bad. Even my husband doesn't like their soup. Bland bland. So sad, this place has a nice location and beautiful restaurant but horrible service apart from the manager being kind enough to help me with the bags. The hostess forgets you if you are even acknowledged in the first place. The man that can didnt even greet anyone. Just talked to her and they laughed then off they went. Ppl waiting, no acknowledgement. Such a waste of a great venue. I hope one day it gets better or closes and a better restaurant replaces it.

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    Love their interior!  This looks into the bar area.
    Love their interior! This looks into the bar area.
    Spumoni
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    Pizza Nova

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    I stopped by Pizza Nova in San Marcos for lunch on a Wednesday and had a really nice first…read moreexperience. There was plenty of parking, and the restaurant is spacious with lots of indoor and outdoor seating. We were seated right away, and the service was friendly throughout our visit. They brought out complimentary garlic knots served hot, and they were so good we even asked for seconds. I also thought the lunch special was a great value for under $17. You can choose a salad and pasta or a salad and a 6 inch personal pizza. I ordered the Best Salad, which was delicious, and paired it with the goat cheese pizza. The toppings were good, but there wasn't any sauce on the pizza, so it ended up being a little dry for my taste. I'd probably try a different pizza next time. They also had a great playlist playing, which made the atmosphere even more enjoyable. Overall, it was a really nice lunch spot, and I'd definitely come back to try more of the menu.

    First time eating at Pizza Nova and I was very happy with my food. I had the lunch special with…read morepersonal size pepperoni pizza & the best house salad. The salad had apples slices, candied walnuts, dried cranberries with a delicious vinaigrette. It was a good size along with an 8" individual pizza. Very filling. And they serve garlic knots at no charge. Restaurant has plenty of indoor and outdoor seating. Staff very friendly. TVs in the bar area for sports games.

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