We came in hungry! I had stopped into Forchettina in Encinitas before, to bring food to my daughter and her family. And we go back to that location decades, with different owners. The turn over is amazing. But this time, this restaurant is here to stay! I must congratulation this Italian Couple from Sicily and Naples only to say: This location has finally landed in the right hands! We start with a terrific Italian Red, recommended by the owner. Caesar Salad and Marinated Artichoke Hearts. That's what I thought the menu says but it turns out to be yummy grilled Artichokes, that includes the heart. Next is a Chicken Parmesan Plate that includes penne marinara and I take a Sausage Pizza. Totally authentic. Totally enjoyable. Totally satisfied. We will be back for sure! With garlic, gusto & gratitude, Chef Marian San Diego Foodies Carlsbad Foodies read more

See all

Forchettina is a forche-amazing. You might just miss it and just drive by this place. Don't worry, turn around. Find the parking lot and come inside. Enjoy delicious pizzas, pastas and of course the dessert. The wine is delicious. Even the water is delicious. Not to mention the owner - she's amazing - passionate, talented and authentic. Welcome to a slice of Italia in Encinitas. Ciao baby. PS: You know you stumbled up on a great gem, If you are having Spaghetti Carbonara for dessert on top of their amazing Ricotta Pistachio goodness. read more

See all

Amazing - went here with my fiance. It's the perfect ambiance - nice-casual, great music & lightning, lovely little patio. It's owned by a wonderful young couple, and has the thoughtfulness of a family-owned restaurant. The servers were so kind too. And the food.... AMAZING !!!!! Everything we ordered was incredible. Must visit in the area. Get the pesto. I'd bathe in it. Love love love - will be back! read more

One of our friends might have just introduced us to our current favorite Italian restaurant. Looking for freshly made pasta with delicious sauce (made from Italian canned tomatoes) and ready to be surprised with their flavorful special soup of the day? Look no more. Give Forchettina a try! You can thank me later. We were here for dinner on a Sunday. There's enough parking right in front of the restaurant. The ambiance was so great with festive vibes and a Christmas tree right in the middle. Several tables were occupied, but there was enough room for us and we were seated right away indoors. The owner of the restaurant is a friendly lady who handed out our menus and took our orders shortly after. The daily special soup was Minestrone. It was perfect for our chilly night, packed with veggies. Next, we had Spaghetti Bolognese -- it was so light for a pasta with irresistible sauce and noodles. To top off this goodness, we ended our meal with Tiramisu, which tasted good and not too sweet. Coming back to try their renowned lentil soup someday. read more

See all

Just revisited the restaurant now that ownership has changed and very happy with the turnover. The new owners are doing a wonderful job changing over and providing great food and nice environment. We had a yummy focaccia and eggplant parm. Service was great. Owner was warm and attentive. Wishing them lots of success. I will be back. read more

See all

My son picked this Italian restaurant for his birthday and we have the best time. Super quaint and charming while casual. Love the patio option but we sat at an indoor table. The service and food exceeded expectations! Calamari, pizza and pasta were delicious. Can't wait to come back. read more

See all

Such warmth, charm and excellent service. We loved the food and enjoyed talking with the owner who also waits on tables and clearly loves all aspects of the work. This is a delightful neighborhood spot and we'll be back. read more

Dined here for the first time since this place changed hands. Wowza. Fabulous Carbonara. Perfect pizza. Personal and friendly service. This place deserves your business. Give them a try. We need the good ones to thrive. We'll be back! read more

We had the Diavola pizza and the Primavera pizza, both were great. The owners came by and were extremely friendly and did I mentioned how great the pizza was? Crust was excellent, limoncello dessert was good also. Definitely coming back. read more

Forchettina - Italian Near Me - Encinitas, California

We came for the Valentine's Day dinner special. I had the Parpadella and my date had the salmon tartare. Delish. We each had a fantastic pizza with a super Tuscan tasty wine For dessert we had the tiramisu. The restaurant was decorated with all kinds of Valentine hearts and roses. They did a great job. Big crowd. Wonderful service. read more

See all

UPDATE: I'm modifying my review (I had previously given an updated review that was a little more negative), as perhaps I was a little too harsh, and we want to support this restaurant. What I will say is simply this: the last pizza we had had too much cheese (very unlike what you'd get on a pizza in Italy, but more like what you typically get in the US - perhaps American customers are simply demanding more and they are responding, which is natural). (By the way, this is not to say they don't make good pizza - compared to just about anything around here, they are superior. It's just that I noticed the last time was not like their usual standard, and perhaps this is not fair, as anything can happen any single time. So please don't take this as a negative review.) read more

New owners and a much more classy and cozy design but annoying music as most pizza places seem to have. Very attentive staff. A much bigger menu including pasta dishes too. Pizza was 5 star for us and was. New York style. We're from that area and love NY style. Delicious sauce, cooked perfectly and correct proportions- not cheese overloaded. Meatballs were good, about a four but have nothing on Rosanna's. They really fell down in the eggplant parm sandwich. Huge portion and the bread was amazing and unwieldy to actually eat but I can deal with that. The eggplant itself tasted smokey or burnt-- it was not fried in olive oil in the typical Southern Italy way. It's also not breaded like Italian American style but that's fine. The smoky taste was really odd. But what killed it was the salt level. It was inedible. Everything else there leaned salty but this was just too much. Neither of us could eat it. Eggplant parm is one of my yardstick items when I go to these restaurants too. Decent assortment of alcoholic beverages. Next time we'll try the pasta and salads. But for now I can only recommend the pizza. read more

Forchettina - Eggplant parm sub--Big! Great bread. Inedible due to salt. - Italian Near Me - Encinitas, California

See all

Parma pizza and Pasta Carbonara SO GOOD 12/10 rating for me. I used to live in little Italy downtown and this place blows every restaurant out of the water. A cute little mom and pop shop and the staff is so nice! Can't wait to come back! read more

Forchettina - Parma pizza and Carbonara - Italian Near Me - Encinitas, California

Our favorite local spot for a cute date night or family dinner! Thank you Jo and Georgia for the best hospitality and food.

I think this is a very good italian spot that is underrated due to its location. It sits within a very popular series of food plazas as you drive along el camino real, but it's particularly tucked away and hard to see. Perhaps that's part of its charm. As for the food itself, i am of two minds: on the one hand I really like the pizza- but I hope the staff is encouraged to keep making them as **** italian as possible ****. We have a lot of pizza places in the area that serve good thick crust, thick cheese american pizza. Not nearly as many that as truly italian in make. I think thin crust, almost wet like buona forchetta. I've had it both ways here but hopefully they'll get their consistency down. Either way the food and vibes were excellent. read more

This small business has big flavor when it comes to pizza. The pizzas were perfectly cooked and the toppings were fresh and delicious. The service was fast and they were on top of water refills and checked in with us throughout our meal. The ambiance is very Italian and very inviting. Great outdoor seating and even room for a stroller! read more

Forchettina - Contadina Pizza - Italian Near Me - Encinitas, California

See all

All went well! Great authentic Italian food with amazing service!! Georgia and her husband provide excellent experience. Personal attentive and kind service. Food is clean healthy delicious and flavorful... I personally love love their house salad and seafood pasta. Daily Specials provide taste buds flavors of all kinds of delicacies to choose from. Thank you for providing excellence to Encinitas top restaurant options. read more

The service, the food and the ambiance all contributed to a delightful celebration for our daughter's birthday dinner. I have no hesitation in recommending this restaurant. read more

The food was absolutely delicious -- you can truly taste a good pasta. The owners are Italian, and their warmth and kindness made the whole experience even more special. The best atmosphere to have a good time. Everything was wonderful, and I can't wait to come back! read more

See all

THE PERFECT VENUE FOR A WEDDING REHEARSAL EVENT My daughter and her fiancee/now husband love eating at Forchettabouddit and many of our meals together, lunch and dinner are there, because of the great quality food AND Itzel, the manager who has become like family to us. So, when we were at lunch one day at Forchettabouddt and talking about wedding plans and possible venues for their Rehearsal dinner, I said, "Why don't we have it here?" And then spoke to Itzel and she said "YES!!" Itzel was the perfect Rehearsal Dinner planner and had such great ideas for the early dinner event and made the event special, beautiful and perfect!! YES, . . . . . I know if you think about the inside of the restaurant, you might be thinking, . . . ."WHAT?" But look at my photos of the transformation with Itzel's brilliance in ideas and openness in creating a beautiful, intimate, memorable Rehearsal Dinner. The memories of the Rehearsal dinner will always be special and heartfelt and I thank Itzel and the staff for making my daughter's Rehearsal Dinner a very, very, very beautiful event and memory!! read more

See all

Delete cious artichoke appetizers and very abundant servings of main dish. Friendly owners too.

There's more to Forchettabouddit than just pizza! We started with some iced teas and the artichoke appetizer. We also got the Italiano and meatball sub, as well as the bolognese pasta! Everything was made fresh and delicious. The chicken in the pollo saltinbocca seemed undercooked to me us though, but looked great! Don't forget to save room for dessert! You'll love the straccetti alla nutella- it was like a giant funnel cake! Hubby opted for some pistachio ice cream instead. Service was very prompt! read more

See all

Yummy, kind, and great service! We walked over with our family and had such a fun dinner. Our son said it was the highlight of his month because they were so kid friendly and the noodles were delicious! read more

Forchettina - Italian Near Me - Encinitas, California

See all

The food is excellent and the service is great,the owners make you feel like family.Our go to Italian restaurant for sure!

forchettabouddit is one of those authentic Italian restaurants that you want to try again and again and get more of their delicious menu. Izzy was so nice and made our experience even more enjoyable. @forchettabouddit is really a hidden gem in Encinitas that must be on your list to visit. I actually loved everything was served: Eggplant Tortino Antipasto salad Spaghetti carbonara 12 soho pizza read more

See all

Very lovely and delicious place ran by a lovely young Italian family. Service was outstanding. Best spaghetti carbonara in town. Pepperoni Pizza was fantastic. read more

See all

We use to travel to Italy annually to enjoy the cuisine. No more TSA lines. Now we relish we have exceptional Italian cuisine right here in Encinitas. Organic fresh food prepared daily by a talented passionate chef and owner . read more

Searched for "pasta near me" while cruising through Encinitas, and this spot came up first. Only 7 minutes from La Costa Resort, so I gave it a try. The entrance is a little tricky (shared with Alice and Rubio--the restaurant is tucked behind them), but once inside I ordered the calamari fritte and chicken parmesan sandwich. The calamari was fried in fresh, clean oil--big win since I can always taste old oil. The chicken sandwich was crispy, perfectly toasted, and they even offered extra parmesan cheese. I was tempted to get pasta (been craving it!) but the two dishes filled me up--so pasta will have to wait for next time. For dessert, I went with the ricotta pistachio cheesecake (if I got the name right) and it was the perfect way to complete my evening. Cozy spot, relaxed fine-dining vibe, and the owner and staff really take care of you. Left saying to myself: great choice! read more

Forchettina - Italian Near Me - Encinitas, California

See all

Oh man, I do my absolute best to leave good reviews and always say the best things I can about an establishment. But this place is no good. Their pizza is not impressive by any means. They constantly cut corners and fall short on their menu. I do not recommend to anyone. Nothing special here. I'm sorry. I wish I had more to say. read more

This restaurant gets all of it right. Excellent combination of great, real Italian food, attentive and friendly service, and a cozy atmosphere. We had a great meal and experience last night. We are definitely going back, and soon! read more

I was excited to try this out and the girl at the register was very nice and pleasant and she said this is so good that all NY visitors say it tastes like a NY Slice----- well it's NOT!! Actually Costco has better pizza!!! sauce tastes like tomato paste, with chemical basil taste - cheap ingredients -what a shame Caesar dressing tastes like mayonnaise read more

Forchettina - Parked in front of - Italian Near Me - Encinitas, California

See all

My wife and I celebrated her birthday at this restaurant yesterday I had been to the location once before when it was owned by the previous owners. I'm happy to say the food was wonderful, even beyond what I remembered. We started off with grilled artichokes and then had the Parma pizza. The ingredients are so fresh at this restaurant. The service was wonderful. The owners were delight. I have nothing but praise. We finished the meal off with a lovely ricotta pistachio birthday cake slice. We look forward to returning to this local favor and trying more things on the menu, which all look wonderful! read more

See all

We absolutely love this restaurant! The food is so good! They are all very attentive and caring for each and every customer! They make excellent food! The owners are so wonderful. We are lucky to have them in Encinitas! read more

Food, service, FOOD, were all outstanding. Alfredo was so light, yet rich. Pizza was perfection, airy, crispy and oh-so tasty. Will be back. Soon! read more

Forchettina - Tribeca pizza and Penne Alfredo w/ shrimp. - Italian Near Me - Encinitas, California

This guy Joele the owner is an absolute legend. Stays open later then anyone else in Encinitas, best pizza I've had in my life and coolest hang I've experienced around here. Definitely a must try if you are looking for Italian in Encinitas. read more

What a great casual italian eatery in Encinitas. We started with calamari fritti which was very light and delicious. We also got half hawaiian and half bronx pizza (cause i couldn't decide) but love that it's thin crust. I had the special that night which was scallop risotto and to me, the dish was a little salty. We ended our night with dessert and I opted for their tiramisu cause i can never resist tiramisu when it's on the menu. Overall, it was a pleasant experience. Service was great and attentive. read more

See all

We decided to go to Forchettina because we hoped it would be as good as its predecessor restaurant, Forchettaboutit, was in its heyday. Forchettina is actually much better in every way! As other recent reviews have noted, the owners are present, passionate and friendly. Our server tonight was co-owner, Georgia, born and grown up in Italy (despite sounding like a southern U.S. state). The food was excellent: we started with a cheese pizza that was generous with tasty cheese and nice tomato sauce; perfect homemade gnocchi with a delicious pesto sauce and eggplant parmigiana with wonderful red sauce. We finished with delectable cannoli. Finally, the new owners have done some interior upgrades that elevate the ambiance of the restaurant from what used to be too much of a fast food pizza place. Great place for an authentic Italian dinner! read more

Saw some positive reviews on Next Door so tried take out. Tiny portions of lasagna for $26 each! Literally less than a 4 X 4 piece in a small take out box. Nothing else. Asked for bread, but was told no free bread. Won't be going back for those prices. read more

The mussels soup, the fried calamari and prawns were very fresh and delicious! I loved the focaccia too and their wine. It's a really authentic Italian restaurant! I know it because I am Italian! I am looking forward to go back ASAP read more

Excellent food and very respectable staff :) A lovely authentic spot with good ambiance. 10/10 would return again! read more