Being frozen out of our homes, we headed to Marriott's. We were pleased to have a restaurant right in the hotel. The meals were great, with generous portions of meat. The salads were tasty and fresh. Our evening server, Damien was very helpful in providing choices of food for specific diets, and in recalling what specific entree each of us had had the evening before! Such professionalism! Ready smiles and delicious meals ( from salads to burgers to full entrees) helped us make it through our "enforced vacation" with much more comfort than hoped for! read more

Came in with a reservation of 14 after river rafting and unfortunately half of my party wasn't able to show up to due unforeseen circumstances :/ On the plus side, the service here was absolutely amazing. I believe my waitress' name was Lisa? Anyways, she was really cool and had great customer service! The food here was amazing, the ambiance and set up was very lax, and the atmosphere was super casual! I honestly might make it a tradition to come here after every river rafting trip!! read more

Nothing too fancy, but a nice good value restaurant in the Marriott hotel. The food and service were both very good. read more

Formaggio - Fried fish with carrots and broccoli - nice light meal - Italian Near Me - Rancho Cordova, California

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The dinner and happy hour service is excellent. The team really knows how to treat guests and diners. The food is even better. Yes, it is a hotel restaurant... but forget about that. The food is rich, flavorful and more than satisfying. Even the house wine is tasty, not that grape-juicy stuff you usually get. If you are staying as a guest in the Marriott or simply in town looking for a good place with great food, I'd recommend Formaggio! read more

Formaggio - Shot of dining room and pizza oven - Italian Near Me - Rancho Cordova, California

I read the reviews and thought I'd still give this restaurant a chance. My grandma had selected this place and I didn't want to argue. Both mine and my fiance burger looked like a Jack in the Box burger, not what we were expecting. You can tell the sides of macaroni cheese were microwaved because of the cold spots. Trust these reviews, because I didn't and I would never return here. read more

I gave 3 points instead of 1 because the pizza was excellent and the service was as well. We had a few pizzas, and all were very good. We ordered the risotto, but the cook served us rice boiled in water. It was tasteless, and clearly not risotto. We shared our pizza with the unfortunate soul who thought the risotto had a chance of being correctly prepared. The chicken dish was nicely garnished but not cooked completely- it was raw near the bone. The cesar salad was ok, nothing brilliant. We thought $8 dollars for 3 slices (nearly bite-sized) of tomato bruschetta was excessively marked up. Instead of sliced garlic cloves being rubbed on toasted bread (as in authentic Italian recipies), garlic was diced and mixed in with the tomatoes. Long story short- not worth $8. read more

Formaggio - The great pizza's man! - Italian Near Me - Rancho Cordova, California

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I stay at the hotel quite often. I've eaten here three times. 1st---had an AMAZING cheese pizza. 2nd--had a very salty pepperoni pizza---pulled off the meat, HAD A GREAT CHEESE PIZZA. 3rd--HOLY COW. I do not normally rave about pork chops. I will now break my normal habit of normally not raving about pork chops. WOW, THIS PORK CHOP WAS WORTH EVERY PENNY I PAID FOR IT! It was thick and had the bone in and I have to tell you. Top 3 pork chops I ever had. The potatoes were also rocking. I can't wait to go back and see if they can strike lightning twice. read more

Great location - seating area was great with a waterfall view .. Peaceful !! Food was delicious and very tasty , good portion size !!! 2 thumbs up ! read more

We are locals and decided to try the restuarant out for a late New Year's Eve dinner. This was our first time dining here. We were so impressed, everything was so delicious! They also had a pianist which made the experience more intimate. We loved everything. Me and my husband both had the prefix 5 course meal, everything from the appetizer to dessert was a solid 5 star! Everything was fresh delicious and just exploded with flavor. I had trout with veggies and gratin potatoes and my husband had the lamb and we were both raving about our dishes!! Food was to die for! To top it off desert was a pleasant surprise, freshly prepared sweet goodness. We will definitely be back to dine here. Until now Formaggio was a hidden gem & were so glad we found it! read more

We had a large group here last night for dinner, 15 of us. They did a great job handling our group, took drink orders and brought our apps quickly. We had 2 Brussels sprouts, 2 calamari and a wings order (should have ordered 2 also, they were amazing!) Everything was great minus the drunk guy that kept coming over from the bar. Otherwise, we had a wonderful time, and I'd definitely recommend for dinner or a date night! read more

Formaggio - Farmers Market pizza with pepperoni added - Italian Near Me - Rancho Cordova, California

We went here recently and food was really great. The bread they give for free is delicious.

I went there for Thanksgiving dinner and it was a bit of a disappointment. The food came out rather tepid in temperature and my dish was very overdone. The flavors were good, although I definitely prefer hot food. What was really disappointing though was the service. Yes this was Thanksgiving and the waiter probably wished he had the day off, but if you're going to be serving you should at least put some effort in it. Didn't give us any bread, although we had bread plates, I guess for decoration? Rarely checked on us to see if we were doing ok. I had higher expectations, especially at the prices they were charging. I don't think I will be returning soon nor sending people their way. read more

Formaggio pleasantly surprised me for dinner and breakfast. Staying at the hotel, I was just too damned lazy to take an Uber to an "outside" eatery, so "settled" for what I thought would be another mediocre restaurant within a hotel. Such was not the case. The staff are friendly and attentive. The menu (especially for dinner) nicely varied. For dinner, I (daringly) sprang for the grilled salmon (rare) with veggies and rice pilaf. The salmon was perfectly crisped to a nice sear on the outside yet pink, fleshy, and juicy inside. It tasted very fresh. Excellent! The veggies were tender crisp and tasty. This meal paired very nicely with a glass of their higher-end Pinot Noir. Dessert was affogato (Italian coffee-based dessert: a shot of espresso poured over a scoop of locally-made vanilla gelato) and a great way to end the meal. Prices are reasonable, given the food quality. If ever in the area again, would not hesitate to eat dinner here. Breakfast the next morning was similarly delicious with equally good service. read more

Formaggio - Yummy salmon - Italian Near Me - Rancho Cordova, California

My hubby and I just returned from the free Yelp dinner at Formaggio in the R.C. Here's my review by course... Bread--served warm with olive oil and roasted garlic. The garlic was a nice touch! I'm a huge fan of roasted garlic, and have not seen bread served this way in a restaurant. Yummy! Chef's antipasti--a few bites of blue cheese that tasted similar to Point Reyes Blue--creamy, rich, quite decadent. There were a few olives, another forgettable, mild cheese and some roasted red bell peppers. The blue cheese was stunning. Caesar salad--the dressing definitely tasted homemade. I am not a fan of croutons, but I ate all that were on my plate. Not only did they taste good, but importantly, they did what no other croutons do--came in tiny, bite-size pieces, and I did not break my jaw chewing them. Perfect! Rigatoni (roasted eggplant, smoked mozzarella and aged ricotta)--great on the cheeses! My husband described this dish as a sort of deconstructed lasagna. There were gobs of melty mozzarella throughout, so few bites were lacking cheese--always a bonus when it comes to eating pasta. The red sauce had hints of wine, and was light, consisting mostly of tomatoes and eggplant (my favorite). The aged ricotta was a welcome addition, but paled against the high flavor of the smoked cheese. This was the dish I ordered, but my husband and I split it, because it was the tastiest dish, and it was a large portion. Tamas Sangiovese--the red wine was smooth and robust. An excellent pairing with my red sauce. Shell pasta (chicken, garlic, sun-dried tomatoes, broccoli, white wine and pecorino)--underwhelming. Where's the garlic? We added salt (something we almost never do), but it still was just -eh. And how come there were peas in there? This was the only bummer of the dinner, but we still had more than enough good food to fill our bellies, so we didn't take it personally. Tiramisu--I believe there are two schools of tiramisu: the ones that 1) taste like cheap liquor, and the ones that 2) melt in your mouth. This tiramisu was a mouth-melter! The thick ribbons of chocolate, the creamy custard layer, and the spongy cake came together perfectly. Even though I was stuffed, I ate my entire piece. And I'm pretty sure my husband licked his plate when he thought I wasn't looking. Thanks for the meal, Formaggio! Well done. read more

The food was good but not great. I was disappointed with the slow service on a relatively slow night. I didn't receive my wine for 15 minutes after ordering. The food was also slow to arrive. With prices this high, I expect better service. read more

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Mother's day extreme disappointment. We made reservations months in advance as we always do. We even mentioned the buffet from last year was amazing and couldn't wait to experience it again this year when we reserved the time. But to our surprise they had made a last minute change (and 30 days before the day is not the time to make a change without notice). We had not been notified of this change, came in on time for our reservations, and was given a menu for a la carte!?! That is a huge change from the Buffett we had expected from last year, and now we cannot make new plans for the day. When I asked when they made the change, the manager stated it was sometime last month. Thanks for fouling up our day, and then stated there was nothing they could do. But and if we wanted to come back for dinner another day, they could serve us. What? Totally unacceptable. 1 star read more

Since no one heeded Anna D.'s advice, and in the interest of full disclosure, here is my disclaimer: Free Dinner Sponsored for Yelpers by Formaggio Management on 5/18. ********* According to their website, Sunday nights are Family Nights and dinner for adults is only $13.50 and kids 5-12 are only $6. While I don't know how many of the dishes would go over with the children, the value for what I would get is unbeatable. I could spend that much at Olive Garden just eating soup and salad. The bread was warm, but was nothing special - supermarket-esque. We asked the bread guy if we could get balsamic vinegar to go along with our olive oil, but he never returned. The waiter eventually came back to take our order and apologized , but our bread was gone by that time. Being the vegetarian that I am, I had to be difficult and ask for some modifications to the preset menu that they were offering for the tasting. The General Manager, his name escapes me, came out and told us that he wasn't planning on taking any requests for changes since the meal was already planned out and any deviation would take more time to prepare, etc, but he was more than happy to accommodate me by making my dishes meat free. I am very thankful for that. Got the mixed baby greens salad instead of the ceasar and from what I hear I was better off. I had the farfalle and my friend got the shell pasta without meat. Both were okay, but needed something to replace the meat, maybe broccolis or artichokes. I get that the shell pasta was a white wine reduction sauce, but it was was too thin and lacked umph. I'm not well versed on the complexities of wine, but I was a fan of the two glasses I sampled; Frances Coppola presents chardonnay 2005 Monterey (chilled white) & Tamas Carta d' Embarco sangiovese 2004 Livermore (room red.) Luckily, I brought along a wino to opin; she tongued the bottom of her glass. I didn't leave a tip on the table I gave cash to the server himself (he was being overly polite and told us he was already receiving an 18% gratuity from the restaurant, but we gave him a Jackson because he was so nice.) The restaurant seemed on the large and spacious side considering that there were only a few booths in the room. The decor is modern and the room was bright because of the windows that allow natural sunlight into the room. Just make sure you are not sitting in the suns rays or ask to have the shades pulled or you will be annoyed during your dinner. IMO Formaggio's is doing a lot of things right, but still needs a little more refinement with some of the dishes. I hope they add a little more variety or at least change the menu options seasonally. I'm looking forward to going back. &&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&& Came back again 6/1 coupons in hand. Redeemed them (even though they expired 5/31) for the cheese plate appetizers and it was delicious as ever. Service was more attentive and quicker with a less crowded room. My Magherita pizza was also cooked to perfection and I got to watch it cook in their fandangled pizza oven. read more

I also took advantage of the free dinner for Yelpers last Sunday. Now granted, the staff was poised to impress potential reviewers, so the service was just fantastic. I get the feeling though, that great service is probably the norm for this cozy, comfortable, clean, and well-appointed restaurant. Having been a frequent business traveler, I can say that I almost always ran from hotel restaurants whenever something else was close by. Formaggio's was a stunning exception to the hotel-restaurant-is-a-dumpy-overpriced-afterthought rule. The food was delicious, and the Italian mojitos - dangerous! read more

The place is clean and the food is beyond delicious. Please ask for Michael, he provided such a welcoming and nice experience. He went above and beyond for my daughter and I who are both vegan. On top of our food I also ordered a muddled mojito and sweet rose wine which were both to perfection. If I ever come back to the area I will definitely be coming to this restaurant and I'll ask for Michael. read more

I along with my boyfriend took advantage of the free Yelp dinner on Sunday. What a nice hotel! The decor is really inviting and I would suggest this place to out of towners looking for a nice place to stay. We were pleasantly greeted by our hostesses and seated promptly. The restaurant itself is nice and spacious. Our waitress brought us our yummy ciabotta bread and olive oil and offered to bring us drinks. I spotted a mojito at the table next to us and decided that was what I wanted to start my dinner with. The boyfriend opted for one of their dark bottled Italian beers. My Italian mojito (had basil in it) was excellent! The boyfriend's La Rossa beer was VERY GOOD. I will have to find out where we can get more of this. The antipasti plate as others have mentioned was kinda sparse but offered some nice tasty treats to go with the bread. We really didn't need more than what was brought...and hey, it was free so no complaints! I really enjoyed the cesar salad and it did have a lot of dressing on it but I am not someone who minds that. I really enjoyed the bite size croutons and there was just enough added to give that extra crunch. I went to put some pepper on mine and darn it! The pepper wasn't working :-( No biggy. I ordered the Rigatoni which consisted of roasted eggplant ragu, smoked mozzarella and aged ricotta. The boyfriend chose the Penne Bolognese. We both opted for the Tamas sangiovese wine. I really enjoyed the wine. I thought it paired well with our pasta choices. I also really enjoyed the rigatoni and thought my pasta was cooked perfectly. There was an appropriate amount of eggplant and the smoked mozzarella added a nice flavor. The boyfriend's penne bolognese was my favorite though! I just loved the flavor of the sauce and his pasta was also cooked perfectly. We waited a while to get our ticket and had to ask for our Tiramisu. Our waitress was embarrassed and apologized. I REALLY loved the dessert. I thought it had the right amount of sweetness and texture. We were never offered coffee which was fine because we didn't need it. The wait staff was fairly attentive but did forget our 2nd drink order and Parmesan cheese for our dishes. Our waitress did eventually remember both but it was a little slow coming, as was our plate removal from the table. I wouldn't really complain about the service as what was forgotten wasn't on purpose or due to lack of concern. I think the pressure of the event and knowing that every move was being criticized probably got the best of our friendly waitress. I'm much happier when my server is friendly as ours was. We both really enjoyed our dinner and appreciate Formaggio giving us the opportunity to try them out. I think we have definitely found a nice option for our Italian cravings! read more

Apparently a non-chain under an umbrella company called Puccini. May end up competing with Il Fornaio for quality in Italian cuisine. This one is new in the Marriott Rancho Cordova. Bar and restaurant. Specialty drinks are on the too-sweet side for me, but they do have lots of alcohol. The calamari salad was OK, but the tomatoes were a bit mealy. The bread was ho-hum. I had the special duck confit on a cheesy/veggie/risotto. The duck was very nicely done, but the risotto a bit too cheesy. No dessert for me, but they looked good. I would like to see the dishes improve more for the price. read more

This is my second trip to Fommaggio. The wild mushroom risotto is amazing. Feels like a warm suffocating hug from a portly Italian grandmother. Not sure what Home should taste like but it's so warm and creamy it seems like it should taste like home. So worth it. read more

Hands down best polenta I've ever had in my life. The bartender Erin was the highlight though! Favorite bartender I've ever had anywhere.

Staying at the Marriott was nice and I know they always have pretty decent food options within their hotels. Since my coworker and I were staying in Sacramento for a couple of days, it was nice to be able to have a good spot to eat at. We ate here for both of our nights here. First night I got the filet that was wrapped in procusitto and it was decent. The price was definitely worth it, but the beef was a bit undercooked by my standards and it was definitely very chewy. The second night I ordered the steak salad and the same thing - chewy steak. Not my favorite part. Also, they card. I know that I'm not used to getting carded because I'm in SF where they rarely card you when you're in a bar, but they did here. Not a big deal, but it was just kind of weird. Ah, oh well. read more

I had asked to speak with your F&B Manager and when she did come out she insulted me. I explained to her that I own two catering companies along coming from a extensive history of a well know bakery in Los Angeles. He response to me that she liked the meatballs. It crappy service that I still had to pay for something that I did not eat. She never once apologize for MY experience along with disregarding the fact that I have been going there for years. I have been back to Rancho Cordova 6 times since the last trip and have not stepped foot back into Formaggio. Had she apologize things may have been different. As for Chef Patrick he should be cooking at a Dennys with his pompas attitude. NEVER let soggy french fries go out to a table. He then proceeded to touch them with his bare hands and said they're french fries. If that's not a caulky attitude then I don't know one is. Anyone reading this go to the H Bar at the Hyatt House for drinks and snacks. Food at Formaggio is less than par. Save yours and your employer's money and go to Brookfields across the street for home cooked meal for the half the price. read more

While I certainly appreciated a free meal from this restaurant, I was not impressed. The service was very attentive and friendly. The establishment was clean and typically decorated for a hotel restaurant. The hotel it is in is very nice and exceeded my expectations for that neck of the woods. But the food and drinks were pretty average. We ordered a mojito since we saw our adjoining table have one and it looked very good. Once it arrived it was super sweet, way too much simple syrup. The antipasto plate for 2 was super small and barely afforded a real taste of what otherwise was really good blue cheese. The salad had too much dressing. My pasta was 1-2 minutes underdone and while the sauce with the prosciutto was good, I could not get a hold of anyone in time to get it replaced, and I also felt awkward being a pain in the *** during a free meal. I did like that they offered you fresh grated parmigiana reggiana with the salad and the main course. Dessert was tiramisu, and it lacked the kick it normally has. It also was made with cake rather then lady fingers, so I was underwhelmed. I likely will not return, but I think for guests at the hotel they will get a decent meal compared to what you traditionally get in similar venues. read more

Rancho Cordova's nicest restaurant. The Marriott only opened Formaggio a year ago - prior to that it was just your standard run of the mill hotel restaurant. They did such a nice job renovating it to look like a cozy bistro (think Paraguary's) and creating a menu filled with hearty, fresh food with an Italian and Californian feel. I usually get a salad for lunch - they have a great caesar and a spring mix with salmon. Both are wonderful. I feel bad that the restaurant is tucked in the hotel - I don't think most business people who work in the area know about it and they have an amazing bar which would be perfect for after work cocktails! read more

I do those "back of the receipt" surveys from Burger King with the offer for a free chicken sandwich so that proves that I am an expert when it comes to reviewing classy establishments. Our group of 4 was the involved with the free yelp member dinner. In addition to a choice of red or white wine, we received an antipasti plate, bread with olive oil and balsamic vinegar, salad, pasta, dessert and coffee or tea. It was an upscale version of the all inclusive meal at the old spaghetti factory. Most of our group enjoyed the Caesar salad but my greens tasted bitter. I had the Farfalle with smoked salmon, capers, tomatoes and a cream sauce and I loved every last bite of it. The tiramisu dessert was awesome too - it tasted like it had been made in house. I ordered a mojito, which came in a super tall glass that I had to take off the table and put in my lap to drink. The mint and lime levels were just right and the price [8.50$] seemed normal for a hotel restaurant but not for my wallet. Service was great and attentive but not annoying, which it could have been seeing as the place was trying to impress a bunch of wannabe food critics who are always looking for the worst in a place. read more

Excellent food with a good variety of options. Great atmosphere. Fun, informed staff make it easier to decided on your meal. The bartenders are very knowledgeable on drinks and are able to make excellent recommendations based on your own likes. read more

Love this resturant. The food and service is always great. Dominic was exceptional. Sat in the patio area it is very nice. Had the rib eye steak it was cooked perfectly. The bread is very good also. Had the best martini ever! This is a perfect getaway place. read more

I had lunch at the Formaggio a couple of weeks ago and I thought it was fantastic. They have a new "express" lunch that is a well rounded meal that is delivered to you in under 20 minutes - perfect for a client lunch! What I thought was great was that our server actually brought out a stop watch to time the order (which I was going to do myself since I'm such a geek). I knew that my lunch shouldn't have been a problem to bring out in under 20 minutes since I was having a salad but my lunch mates had items that would take longer. Lunch arrived in 14 minutes and 29 seconds. WHEW! The atmosphere was really comfortable and warm. Formaggio just happens to be inside of a hotel, not a "hotel" restaurant. I would highly recommend this to professionals in the area who are looking to have a nice lunch. There is also a Starbucks right outside of the restaurant for the late afternoon caffeine fix. The restaurant is well worth the stop! read more

After reading the reviews, I thought I was in for a treat. I ordered the sauteed sea bass and it was tiny, like 3 ounces. The bartender (as I was sitting at the bar) wouldn't let me swap out the potatoes for pasta. Further, I waited 30 minutes for my measly 3 ounces of dry sea bass, 1 baby carrot, 2 slices of tiny zucchini, and 4 string beans.. I'm still hungry. The woman next me to me has the seafood pasta ($16). She said it was tasteless. The pasta wasn't homemade. So....what's the point of charging so much for little tiny portions? I won't be going back and don't recommend the restaurant. Besides that, the bartender should try to smile every once in a while and not be such a total crab. read more

Jordan at the bar makes fantastic drinks! Also a very funny and genuine guy. Ps corn soup is great.

Very pricey. Waitress was barley around when we needed her. She even gave attitude when asked if my boyfriend(21 almost 22) could order alcohol even if I (20) was paying for it. I could get the same meal for $10-$15 cheaper with a lot less judgment at a different Italian restaurant. People say you get what you pay for...what was I paying for? read more

Formaggio - Almost have the whole place to ourselves. Sweet and romantic. - Italian Near Me - Rancho Cordova, California

Christmas dinner was delicious. The prime rib cooked medium was outstanding. Tender and tasty. I asked them to flash on the grill and demi glaze on the side. The Christmas goose tasty as well. Not gamey. Platter presentation was well thought. Very nice wine selection. Bar has 8 beers on tap. Ambiance was thought out with a nice holiday feeling. We will return. read more

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First time here on business. Normally I don't like hotel restaurants but this one is completely privately owned so I'm willing to try. Glad I did. Got the mixed green salad and spicy Hawaiian pizza. They serve an amazing warm rolls. There was a huge conference here and it must have just ended so its was pretty busy here and loud. So much for a quiet evening. No matter. Enjoying my meal. Cheers! read more

Formaggio - Pizza oven in clear view. Guess what I'm having! - Italian Near Me - Rancho Cordova, California

As the name suggests, this is an Italian themed Bar/Restaurant in the Marriott hotel. The pasta sounded good, but I had to go for the pizza. The restaurant has an open kitchen, where you can watch the chef prepare your meal. There is also a real pizza oven. I ordered the Calabrese sausage pizza. It came with a crispy crust. If I would have known how thin and crispy they could make it, I would have ordered the Margherita, which is at its best with a crispy crust- maybe next time. The Calabrese sausage was very savory and worked well with the peppers and onions. The restaurant also has a good wine list. A Tempranillo accompanied this meal. read more

Formaggio - Decorations - Italian Near Me - Rancho Cordova, California

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Call me crazy, but I am in love with the food. I couldn't stop eating the bread- I don't care who you are. It was so good. Place was empty for a Saturday night, so I was just fine with that. The waitress was a sweetheart and I wish I could remember her name. I ate this seafood pasta and it was so good, I ate ALL OF IT (bad me!). Dessert was that chocolate lava purse and that was amazing too. Holy cow I want to come here again. read more

You get 1 Star for the food being pretty decent. The fact that you think a single drink is worth $21 is absurd and the reason this review is so poor. Getting slammed with a $80 bill for dinner for myself and two drinks is robbery. I'd never go back to this place. Unless you want to pay obscene prices for mediocre food/service, don't come here... read more

I have been here countless times, and I think this is the hidden gem of Rancho Cordova! I absolutely love coming here with my co-workers after work to avoid some traffic, or a quiet evening with a book, a glass of wine, and good food. This place has a wonderful Happy Hour menu serving local beers and wines, yet simple enough that you do not feel overwhelmed. For meatlovers, get the meatballs wrapped with bacon over polenta, you won't regret it. At least one order of the bruschetta is a must. They also used to offer great wings during HH, but they are no longer on the HH menu. They are replaced by fish tacos which is also delicious. This place does cost a little more compared to other places nearby, but I like the atmosphere, food, and drink selections. read more