This location is located in the North City District. It's located in an area that includes dining, residential spaces, and shopping. Almost like an all in one little city. There's a parking garage that's basically a five minute walk away and validate your parking for the first two hours for free so that is cool! We had reservations, and were quickly accommodated upon arrival. The host was extremely friendly and the environment had a feel good energy vibe. It was a beautiful day to eat on the patio. Everyone was having a great time except for one crying baby lol. But that happens! The food was absolutely delicious, but let me start with that lemon drop martini. Wow! Super delicious. I could've probably drank a dozen of them. The focaccia was cooked perfectly. I thought the Montanara we're going to be like little pizza dough bites that you dip in sauce, but they're actually three giant pizza bites with different sauces and toppings! Very surprising to see, but pleasantly surprised. They were delicious! A nice crispy crust on the outside and a soft fluffy inside. But the star of the show for me, was the pappardelle with the Buona Forchetta (V) SAUCE!!!! Cream, egg yolk, parmigano, spicy marinara,black pepper... and I added crumbled Italian sausage for the win. The vibes were on point, the food was amazing, the drinks were delicious, everything was a win. I would definitely recommend this Italian place to just about anybody. I'm hoping all the other locations are just as good! read more

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One of my favorite Italian restaurants for years! This was my first location I originally visited and have always loved it. Really easy to get into and to be seated quickly. Great atmosphere as well. Honestly you cannot go wrong with anything on their menu! I recently tried their gluten free focaccia bread and I have not stopped thinking about it because it was so good. Literally can't believe it's gluten free. I also had the due pomodori with shrimp and it was also heaven. Can't beat their pasta! My other favorite sauces in the past have been their carbonara, buona forchetta, and aglio olio e peperoncino. Also their lunch menu is delicious too! read more

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The food here is ridiculously good. The restaurant has some other issues but I cannot give less than five stars with food this wonderful. Artichoke appetizer was fantastic. You get four artichoke hearts in an olive oil/herb blend. The fresh fettuccine with carbonara was rich, creamy, and extraordinary. Do not get anything here other than pasta. Their other dishes are solid but you are wasting your time, money, and calories if you do not get pasta here. Their chicken parmigiana with fresh spaghetti was very nice. The Kira calzoni with sausage and ricotta was bigger than a football but surprisingly very light. Normally, calzones are belly busters but not this one. I wouldn't have complained if there was a little more sausage and cheese in the calzoni but that's the fat American in me talking. Our server was lovely and very attentive but she was the only server handling about 15 tables. That is not good. Do not be tempted by the other items on the menu. Get the pasta. Every time. read more

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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. read more

Buona Forchetta - Bolognese sauce, and penne pasta. - Pizza Near Me - San Marcos, California

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. read more

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Main course was inedible, I've never not finished my plate but I couldn't even eat more than a-few bites of either dish listed below. We ordered the Sergio pizza and carbonara pasta which looked okay at first glance, but after the first bite immediately made us lose our appetite. The pizza was completely burnt on the bottom leaving you with a mouth full of char, completely ruining the taste of the pizza as it tasted like an ash tray. The pizza was also doughy and undercooked which complimented with the ashy taste made the experience undesirable. The Carbonara was no different, as the sauce was drowned in water leaving the carbonara sauce wet and runny. The biggest complaint was the guanciale, which looked and felt like wet undercooked bacon. The guanciale was rubbery and had no life to it making every bite feel like you were chewing gum. The only thing we semi-enjoyed was the appetizers which were still underwhelming for the price. I would not recommend this establishment based off the lack of care to how the food is prepared and the horrible prices to match said food. read more

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. read more

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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! read more

Buona Forchetta - The Cabonara sauce is the best I've had outside of Italy! - Pizza Near Me - San Marcos, California

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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. read more

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I think they have the best pizza in San Marcos. They are amazing! I have been there couple of times and never had any issues. Their brussel sprouts appetizer is fantastic! read more

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. read more

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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. read more

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My family and I absolutely love this place! We always come here with cousins and enjoy the delicious pasta and pizza! The pasta is HIGH quality and has good service. I do admit the first time we came the service was lacking but always positive since them. This place has an elevated ambiance but with an approachable comfortability. We have loved everything here. There's no bad food- just come hungry! read more

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. read more

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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! read more

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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. read more

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We ordered three dishes. The spinach salad, pizza and a pasta dish. We all shared the salad and the pizza. We all got super sick and I ended up in the ER. Soon after eating there I felt bad. No sorry or nothing from restaurant Try to avoid read more

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. read more

Buona Forchetta - Burnt pizza and lasagna - Pizza Near Me - San Marcos, California

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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. read more

Buona Forchetta - pasta - Pizza Near Me - San Marcos, California

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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. read more

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We had a pre-concert meal here, and it was delicious. The staff were extremely attentive, especially to the food allergy needs of one of our party. read more

This location has gone so so downhill in the past year! They no longer serve complimentary bread/oil, and I ordered a meatball with my pasta and it was one TINY meatball for $5. Our meal for 2 was $100 and extremely average, I don't think we will be back again after being long time fans of this place. read more

Wow! That's the one word I would use to describe the amazing experience me and my wife had on our date night. Beautiful restaurant with the most friendly staff, but wait... the best part... the food! Everything was absolutely full of flavor that made you smile after every bite of the delicious goodness. The focaccia was brilliant, cooked to perfection and honestly we contemplated getting one to go! It was a very nice appetizer. That makes up for the lack of free table bread to start (and way better of course!). We then had a main course of pasta - 1 with Buona Forchetta sauce and the other 1 with Aglio Olio.... We were afraid the pasta wouldn't live up to the focaccia... but luckily we were wrong :) the fresh pasta topped with tasty oils and then crumbled sausage on one and a meatball on the other just filled us with delight. Honesty the smiles kept happening and it made for a very enjoyable night. Thank you to all the staff at Buona Forchetta! We can't wait to try your other locations! read more

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Wonderful atmosphere and food. I think that their location limits the volume of customers. Seems to be a hidden treasure. read more

The intent was to eat here for Happy Hour, unfortunately it is only offered at the high top tables or at the bar. This places offers reservations, and with how small of a restauraunt it is, I do recommend making one. Without a reservation, and being seated at a normal dining table, my experience was still pleasant. The heat warmers truly do work and you do not notice how cold it is with how blazing hot the heat warmers get outside. There is complementary bread for the table. The menu has a nice variety and of pasta, pizza and entree-like dishes. Only ngative would be that for any parties greater than 8 I would assume needs to sit outside. In addition, the parking is very limited. However, there is a parking structure that is intended for plaza/dining/shopping. For the chicken added to the pasta, I would actually recommend maybe any other protein. For whatever reason that was the one thing that I ate and I was not too excited for; especially when you have to pay for a protein. The food was yummy and actually very filling. The pizza tasted like legit pizza and not the fast food chain type of taste. read more

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My daughter had never been here so she asked that we go. We made reservations but probably didn't need them since it was an early dinner. We were greeted as soon as we walked in and sat at our table. It was not loud at all and had a nice feel to the interior. The food came out relatively quick and was pretty good. I had the bolognese. The meat used was really good and overall had a great flavor. Pricing was on point for the area at $22-25 a plate or so. Their blond beer was also worth trying. read more

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Came here around 1 pm on a Saturday and it wasn't busy. It's aesthetic and super spacious with lots of indoor and outdoor seating. The three of us shared the margherita and martina pizzas and we were stuffed! We all liked the margherita the most as it was delicious and nicely flavorful, and not too oily or heavy. The martina was good as well and had a good amount of toppings but it was a bit salty and spicy for my liking. Service was friendly and quick and they validate parking! read more

Buona Forchetta - Margherita and martini pizzas - Pizza Near Me - San Marcos, California

Came here with a friend who really enjoyed this place! Wasn't too busy on a Saturday around 1PM and the three of us shared the margherita and martina pizzas. My favorite was definitely the margherita pizza, it wasn't too oily and I loved the dough! The martina pizza was good too but a little spicy for my taste and loaded with arugula and cheese. Came with complimentary bread too :) I would come back! Service was good and they also also validate parking. read more

Buona Forchetta - Martina pizza ($21) and Margherita pizza ($16) - Pizza Near Me - San Marcos, California

My son was in town from Oregon. We went to this location after have eaten at Encinitas location. Very nice location. Great capresee and pizza. Highly recommend read more

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We stopped in during the holiday fair. I was with my GFFriend, and she loves their pizzas and pastas. She had dined at another location and raved! So, yes sign me up. I am trying to be more plant based. I loved how the menu had vegan and vegetarian options lines out, as well as GF. My GFF ordered the vegetarian GF lasagna. Which sounded great!! When it came out I had my reservations. There was a plethora of béchamel sauce, and cheese... that was suspiciously unmelted. After scooping the soup/sauce out, two bites later we had our answer.. it was cold. Her tummy turned for that dish, so asked for a GF Pizza. From there service lacked. We are both slowish eaters. However even I had to flag down a server for well anything. I sadly cannot recommend this spot at this time. The other locations sound lovely, but the service here was lacking, the food was "eh ok-ish". read more

Buona Forchetta - Margarita Pizza - Pizza Near Me - San Marcos, California

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I had a difficult time sitting down. The nicer looking chairs sink down when you sit on them. If you add a pillow, it is an appropriate height, but uncomfortable since it moves around. I was definitely unimpressed my last time here with the complimentary cold bread that was burnt. They shouldn't be serving this to guests. Been here a couple times now and I think I always order the wrong dish. Ordered a few of their pastas since I thought that was difficult to mess up, but they always came out undercooked. I've been to their other location and it's not like this. I asked them to cook it longer the second time I visited and then it was too soft, simply disintegrates in your mouth and the pasta was too watery. I feel like Goldilocks. The third time I came, I asked for it to be well done thinking it would change something, but it was still undercooked. Noodles were hard. I didn't bother anymore. If I'm paying $20+ here for this kind of pasta, I'm taking that business elsewhere for better food. The food was too salty and I was not impressed with the quality nor the plating. I got the Pappardelle pasta shape, did not do an extra add on or anything and no where on the menu it says it will be an extra cost, but when I got the bill an extra dollar was added on. I was confused but let it go. I still gave the 20% tip. Their tips start high. Services is just okay. They're nice. I don't think I'll be coming back to this location though. I said that the last time I was here, but I still came back. It's a good prime location since it's on the CSUSM campus. The other restaurant across the street closes on Mondays, so I guess they get some of that foot traffic too. It was unusually busy for a Monday. read more

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Park in the garage structure!! We were quickly seated. Luckily we beat the crowd. Staff was quick to refill our drinks, take our orders, and serve us kẹt a smile.my favorite was the spinach salad. The calamari was a little soggy. The pizza was a little undercooked. The pasta was a little bland and cooked al dente. Don't know if I'll come back. read more

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I've heard a lot of positive reviews of Buona Forchetta and decided to try the San Marcos location since we were staying close by. We walked in around 3PM for a late weekday lunch and shared a pizza and pasta. They brought out complimentary sliced bread with oil/vinegar and the bread was extremely dry and stale. The pasta was decently al dente enough, but the sauce was super bland- I had to add salt and pepper to finish the plate. The fried "Amanda" pizza was unique, but the fried dough totally overpowered the rest of the pizza. I'm sure the non-fried pizzas would have tasted more balanced. Overall, it was an "edible-enough" spot to eat a casual Italian meal but we weren't impressed by a single item. Maybe the original location would have been better. read more

Buona Forchetta - Pizza Near Me - San Marcos, California

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We normally go to another location that is smaller but we were going for a birthday. This location has more room and more relaxed. We had two pizzas and lasagna. My pizza everyone wanted a piece of it had hot honey and was delicious. I left with no leftovers and that never happens here. The oldest and dad love the lasagna here as well read more

I've been here many times over the years and have always enjoyed it, which is why this visit was so disappointing. The service was inattentive from the start. Our server barely checked on us--my drink sat empty for quite a while, and no one came by to refill it or ask if we needed anything. When our food arrived, my husband's dish came out first and was good, but my cacio e pepe was extremely watery--essentially just spaghetti sitting in a thin, flavorless sauce. It was completely inedible. We had to flag our server down since she never came back to check on us after the food was delivered. To her credit, she recognized the issue right away and had the chef prepare a new dish. The chef did come out and apologize, which was appreciated, but unfortunately the overall experience didn't improve much from there. Because of the delay, my husband and I ended up eating at completely different times, which isn't ideal for a night out together. Despite the issue with my original dish, nothing was comped on the bill. Additionally, no one ever came around offering parmesan or pepper, and neither were provided on the table. Overall, a very disappointing experience, especially for a place we've enjoyed in the past. I hope this was just an off night, but it definitely didn't meet expectations. read more

We have enjoyed the Buona Forchetta located in downtown San Diego before, so after a doctors appointment in San Marcos, we decided it would be fun to stop in and see the new iteration. It's lovely and the server we had that afternoon was super nice. We already knew we just wanted a piece of that delicious Tiramisu. We each ordered a wedge. I highly recommend you get your own piece, as the dessert is so luscious, you just don't want to share it. The decadent layers of goodness are creamy-whipped-cream-chocolatey-goodness, and combined with the essence of coffee, along with the hint of vanilla extract, your mouth will be satisfied with the sweetness. We want to come back for their Margherita pizza, which we love. Just next time, we'll make sure we haven't already eaten lunch before the next doctors visit. Highly recommend! read more

the special: giganti squid ink, tasted old. Microwaved type bite. Inside cold. Brocolini came out cold pizza was good I should have just stuck with the Pizza here. service:5/29, check#69, 630-800pm (little italy location taste better) read more

Buona Forchetta - giganti squid ink - Pizza Near Me - San Marcos, California

We had a group of 7. We had a nice corner table that we were able to have a conversation without shouting. A majority of the group came for the pizza. Unfortunately the pizza chef was involved in an accident and was late. The manager came and apologize. He brought 3 appetizers while we waited ... excellent customer service. There was a combination of pizza, pasta and lasagna chosen. Portions were large and delicious. Most took a box home due to the portion size. Excellent service, great food and atmosphere. If there was any knock, you had to leave the restaurant to use a public restroom. read more

I had a wonderful experience here on Halloween. My work crew and I typically meet once a month and decide on a restaurant where we can enjoy a good meal since we're all foodies. Nicole was our waitress and had some phenomenal spirit because her make-up was on point!! She was very attentive and made sure to emphasize to stop by the Hostess stand to grab some candy The location and weather was beautiful that day, so we sat outside and the color scheme was beautiful. Definitely a great restaurant tto take photos at. My coworker had an appetizer the Burrata Caprese and the presentation was stunning. The basil was super fresh!! She mentioned it being delicious. I ordered the Eva with vegan cheese. I must add that I LOVE that option, I am a hugeee pizza lover and this option had me over-the-moon since I am lactose intolerant. In general vegan cheese tends to gove a cardboard like texture but whatever vegan cheese they have I did not taste the difference. Only thing I'll say is the crust wasn't very supportive or crispy enough on the bottom to hold all the cheese and toppings. The dough though soo good and the side pizza crust super fluffy. I do plan on coming back and hopefully updating my review. read more

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Located in a cute cozy area near the college with a bunch of other restaurants, it was a nice place to hang out and walk around with live music while we waited to be seated. We waited around 30-40 min without a reservation on a Saturday night. Hostess and waitress were both very nice. Our waitress was friendly and helpful, and gave some good recommendations. Everything on the menu seemed authentic Italian. We had the calamari appetizer which was okay. The pizzas were the star, other than for being a little burnt. The millefoglie dessert was pretty good! Can't go wrong with a puff pastry dessert. We had a good experience and will be back. Prices are good too. Hoping the next time the pizzas won't be burnt. :) read more

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