Buona Forchetta

In order to celebrate a great moment in my life, I searched for a highly-rated Italian restaurant. They offered homemade pasta and pizza, and all the wines were from Italy, including the house wine. The service was as warm and attentive as in Italy. When I arrived with my dog, they enthusiastically provided water and treats for him. For a moment, I felt as if I had returned to Italy. Upon reflection, I realized that aside from the people and the air, everything here was 100% from Italy! PS:It is said the boss was made in Italy

Dinner in this nice Italian restaurant, i didn't have pizza ... and looks like pizza is the beat thing they can do ... The other dishes are pretty good some probably very good ... but looks like they're not really Authentic Italian ... too much garlic...too much onions... Service is very good and friendly... Location is nice . Next time I'll try again and see if I can give them 4. Starts .

A very good Italian restaurant! The pasta is truly excellent and the pizzas have the authentic taste of Italy – we travel often in Europe and can confirm the authenticity here. The service is fast and the décor is very tasteful, which makes the experience even more enjoyable. The only small downside: we asked for a carafe of water but received a bottled one charged at $6. Despite that, this is a place we’ll definitely keep in mind and come back to with pleasure

Customer service and yummies - top notch! Mad props to Kailyn and Omar for their vibe, guidance, and incredible service 🙌🏼 Thank you, both of you...you are stars! The pizza was the perfect hit after a beach day (I got the Sergio plus artichokes and yummy hot oil, after Omar's rec). The vino was the perfect pairing to Sergio, especially after Omar let me figure out which one fit my palate...after multiple samples, ha. Thank you, Omar! The last couple days - my cousins had been commenting on Buona Forchetta - and I don't regret that this was my last meal on my last night visiting Newport!

So happy this place is open! Love the OG sister restaurant in South Park neighborhood of San Diego! We ordered the cioppino, sage ravioli, pomodoro, and make your own fettuccine with pink sauce and 🍤 Friendly staff! Lovely atmosphere

Amazing food & service! You definitely have to try this new place! My friend and I stumbled across this cute place just looking to get a glass of wine a little later in the night. Everything was closing down except the younger places on the boardwalk which we did not want! The owner Matteo said they were closed and we mentioned all we wanted was a glass of wine, well he invited us in and not only gave us some great wine, but also had a pizza made for us in their wood burning oven which was delicious! We had such great service from all of the staff we decided to come back the next day for dinner. We were greeted by Matteo with some champagne & a big smile which was a special treat. The food was fantastic! We all had something off the specials menu. We were also treated with a tiramisu that was so good to thank us for coming back. We highly recommend Buona Forchetta in Newport and we can't wait to be back! You will not be disappointed with the food and especially the great service. Thank you Matteo, you have something special and we appreciate your generosity!

My wife and I went there for lunch today and had an incredible experience. The service was excellent, and the entire staff was very accommodating from the moment we entered the restaurant until we left. Excellent pizza, and I could certainly tell this place was managed properly. Well done, gentlemen.

Went here for the first time and the service and food were incredible. We started with gluten free focaccia bread which was amazing and had 3 pizzas and a pasta for our family of 6. Probably the best pizza we have had. The owner came over and made us feel like family. Even surprised our family with a complimentary desert. If you are in Newport Beach and feel like having pizza this is the place to go. They do pick up orders as well!!

FANTASTIC GLUTEN FREE!!! server was knowable and personable, had great recommendations. Only complaint is that the patio was quite loud (music plus people). Otherwise great dinner spot!

I'm not usually one to write any negative reviews, but I really have to be honest about the disappointing experience I had here on Friday September 5th. It started immediately when arriving, no one was acknowledging us or helping us and the other 3 parties waiting for their reservations. Once we were finally seated, we didn't have a designated server. No one really checked up on us at all & overall it was lacking the inviting feeling that you hope for when going to a restaurant. Not only that, I regretfully decided to spend my birthday here, I made a note of that in the reservation due to it being an option to choose from. We were sat next to a couple who seemed to be doing the same, & wow was their experience so much better than ours. I witnessed the host ask about their reservation & confirming that they were celebrating a birthday, we did not get that same experience. It was disappointing to see the table right next to us getting better service & a special treat at the end of the dinner to celebrate their birthday while we were left trying to flag ANYONE down to help us at all. Of course, this is not about getting a dessert, but of the extreme contrast in treatment that we witnessed first hand. The food was okay at best, truly the only very slightly redeemable part of the night, but still not salvaging the poor experience overall. This is also from someone who works in the service industry & understands the hard work it takes to provide a great experience for people who are spending their hard earned money. I am super disappointed in having spent my birthday dinner here & would not recommend this establishment to anyone. Especially if you're planning on celebrating anything at all.

We celebrated an anniversary dinner here and it was so lovely. The food was fantastic (try the fresh egg pasta!), the decor was very nice, and the location was unbeatable. The service was the best part. Alfredo and Blaze were wonderful. My purse kept falling and Blaze offered to bring me a purse hook which was such a nice touch. Can't wait to come back.

It feels like a truly authentic Italian place, filled with warm, attentive service from people who genuinely care about their customers. I loved how we could customize our pasta noodles and sauces, and a wide variety of toppings to choose from... paired with a light Sauvignon Blanc. Located around balboa beach. There should be structured parking but we found metered street parking right across. Buona Forchetta with added Polpettine and Guanciale- it was creamy from the egg yolk and parmigano, with spicy marinara sauce. The added meatballs were so good! I typically order fettuccini but this time I tried Tagliolini, which had a great texture from each bite Calamari - great lightly battered, served with yummy marinara sauce

Came here with a party of 7 and literally all of us were late with the horrendous newport parking situation (plan ahead for weekends!!) but staff was so nice about it and accommodating. We sat outside and the weather was amazing right next to the water. First food item we got was their focaccia first (get it with garlic it's amazing) and then some of their pizzas and pastas. Literally everything was good and I'm so happy they had decent vegan + vegetarian options so definitely coming back here. 10/10 in my books

I came to Buona Forchetta on a summer Saturday night, to celebrate a birthday. Mistakes were made by making that reservation on a Saturday night in Newport though. It was so, so crowded. Parking was non-existent, and so I had to get dropped off, while the rest of my party searched for parking. I checked in with the host, and she said it would be a few minutes. I'm glad I came when I did though, because despite everyone having reservations, some parties waited over 30 minutes for their tables. I waited about 15, and was seated on the patio by myself, while the rest of my party futility searched for parking in the lot, or on the street. They almost parked and took the trolley, but finally found something in the lot after stalking someone leaving. Food was excellent - I highly recommend the calamari and the Fattore salad (Mixed greens, grape tomatoes, walnuts, and parmesan cheese). Pizza was decent, though it arrived soggy. It was much better when I reheated the leftovers on my pizza stone. Service was atrocious! We waited about 10 minutes just to get water, and then another 10 to place our drink order, and never saw our server again. We must have looked bored, because eventually someone came to take our order (Omar). He looked like a manager, as he was not dressed like the rest of the waitstaff. He took our entire food order, without writing anything down, and amazingly, got everything correct! Food took forever to come out, and even longer for dessert. We tried to get Nonna's cheesecake, but they didn't have it, and so we settled on the cannolis. (Don't get these, the shells had barely any filling!) Overall, while the food was great, the service turned me off, and I probably won't be back for a while, until they get more servers and get the kinks worked out for this new location.

I was excited to see that Buona Forchetta opened in Newport Beach and mentioned it to my husband. We previously enjoyed visiting the location in San Diego so naturally, for his birthday dinner with his parents, we made a reservation at Buona Forchetta. Parking can be found in the underground lot (validated) behind the Crab Cooker or on the street at metered parking. We found parking at a meter nearby. I really enjoy using my phone to pay with the Park Mobile app. No more coins! His parents had arrived before us so they were shown to the table. We were seated on the outdoor patio. We had water in a carafe for the table. We also ordered some drinks: Venetian Spritzer and Rose Prosecco. They only have a beer and wine license so no full bar. There is the main menu and a separate menu with specials. We ordered the Burrata Caprese to share. I ordered the Buona Forchetta pasta with pappardelle and a meatball. DH ordered the Risotto with scallops special instead of his usual steak. MIL ordered the spinach ravioli from the specials menu as well. SFIL ordered a salad with added salmon. He also tried to order a Margarita but alas, no full bar. I enjoyed my meal immensely. Unfortunately, DH thought the scallops were a little fishy so he was turned off by his meal. The risotto had a nice al dente bite to it and the mushroom sauce was delicious. I really enjoyed my pasta with the thick handmade noodles. I had a bite of the ravioli and it was delicious too. For dessert, we ordered the Straccetti Alla Nutella and Cannoli. Since it was his birthday, they also brought out a Panna Cotta with a candle and sang to him. The Straccetti Alla Nutella was a unique dessert because it is fried pizza dough with Nutella and fresh berries. It was a lot. The Cannoli was crunchy and hard to share since there were different varieties served to us. The panna cotta was delightful. The location is in a busy part of Newport Beach but worth it if you're local. 4 stars.

LADIES, DO YOURSELF A FAVOR AND REQUEST LUCA AS YOUR SERVER -- thank me later! Also, for the guys, Blaze is a babe! We had the pleasure of being served by Blaze, who brought so much fun and energy to our experience! She was incredibly patient and kind to my stepdad, who's facing cancer, which added a special touch to our visit. The food was fantastic, and the beautiful ambience made it even more memorable! It was such a blessing to enjoy this lovely place in the summer; everything felt so vibrant and perfect. I thought it was unique how they let you pick your pasta type, sauce, and topping so you can customize it to your preference. I savored a delightful burrata salad and shared some scrumptious focaccia bread with my mom. My carbonara was delicious, and the Dauo cab reserve never lets us down. Everyone left feeling satisfied and happy! Jose and his homies are also the MVPs! Per my mom, anyone who misses Canaletto's Pasta Aglio e Olio will love this spot!

From the moment we walked into Buona Forchetta, we felt like we were in Italy. We sat in the covered outdoor patio, and honestly--it was beautiful. The whole area outside the restaurant is so charming, it really looks like something you'd find along a quiet Italian canal. It totally set the tone for what ended up being such a special night. The service was amazing. Our server, Castillo, was so kind and incredibly quick with everything. He brought out our food and drinks in record time and checked in just the right amount. He was really easy to talk to and made us feel super taken care of. Omar, who I believe is the general manager, also stopped by a few times just to make sure we were happy--he was so warm and welcoming. You can tell the team here genuinely loves what they do, and it really shows. The staff was one of the stars of the show and really stood out to us because they were so kind and thoughtful!!! As for the food--wow. We ordered the Juna pizza and the vodka penne pasta, and both were fantastic. The pizza crust was just right and the toppings were super fresh. The pasta had so much flavor--rich and comforting without being too heavy. And the tiramisu? So good. I loved that it wasn't overly creamy--the focus was really on the ladyfingers and the flavor was spot-on. We ended up hanging out for about two and a half hours because we were just enjoying the atmosphere so much. It's one of those places you don't want to leave. Buona Forchetta is such a gem in Newport. Amazing food, even better service, and an overall experience that makes you want to come back again and again.

Obsessed! This place has all the right things: the ambience of the space is amazing, the service is great and the food is delicious. Will continue to make it back here, especially for the pizza ball appetizer which is made by the chef with whatever ingredients they want to add. The server does ask if there is any allergies so they can avoid certain ingredients for you. The pesto here is the star of the show.

Yum yummy yum YUM! This place hit the SPOT!! My wife and I actually had reservations at another pizza Italian place in Newport that we were so excited to try it they close at 2 and we had a 1:30 reservation. So rather than be rushed she remembered seeing this on socials so we gave it a try! I AM GLAD WE DID! On a Sunday at 1:30 we got parking in the parking garage underneath super easy, got to the restaurant and decided to sit on the super spacious patio. We ordered such a fresh crisp salad with Gorgonzola and pear and my wife added the artichokes, we got a special pasta and a Neapolitan pizza. The salad was fantastic maybe best thing, the artichoke was fresh and a nice change up from grilled artichoke. The cheese pear pistachio gnocchi caught our eye and man it did not disappoint this was GOOD! The flavors were great but the pasta was so nice a pillowy with so much flavor. The Margherita pizza was good now I think I have an issue with Margherita pizza but the crust was magnificent the sauce was sweet and thin and flavorful this was just so so flipping good!! My wife had the great idea of dipping the crust in the gnocchi cheese sauce this was fabulous. Oh and the prices were extremely honest and fair! For such a nice location and ambience they could charge an arm and a leg but felt very fair! Thank you Really glad this spot is here and will 100% be returning!

3rd visit! Consistent great service from hostess to manager running around assisting and engaging with his patrons Quick and efficient service Quality fresh tasty and hearty Easy to share and leftover fun Date night, casual, celebratory, group, and pleather of dining fun Will be returning back for my / our once a month trip :)

I went to this place because of the large number of vegan and vegetarian options. Everything we got was good and everyone finished their entire meal. However, nothing was spectacular. You know how sometimes you go to a place and think, how this is the best _______ I've ever had. I didn't get that feeling here. Servers are very friendly. I do feel like our service was a bit slow. Especially at the end. We waited a good 30 mins to receive the bill after asking for it 3 times. Nonetheless less, I enjoyed our experience there. I would give it a 3.5 total

Love the light decor, good vibes, and White Pizza!!! Just like America loved the Beatles. They too had an all white album, commonly referred to as the White Album. It's well-known for its simplicity, featuring a plain white sleeve, a graphic-less cover with no text other than the band's name embossed. It has since been viewed by some critics as a postmodern work, as well as one of the greatest albums of all time. The White Pizza was perfection! It might be their greatest creation of all time! You go be the judge of that! Check out the picture I posted, YES, that is a layer of truffle that covers the pizza. Prosciutto cotto, Panna italian cream, arugula, and truffles!!! The night we went it was part of their "Specials" for the evening. Call to find out OR try something else. The food was so good, we've gone back to try more pizza! The owners were onsite and fun people! Love going to an authentic restaurant and people speaking the language. It really adds to the experience! Culture and Food is better when shared! While you're at it, try their Espresso Martini! It was so good!

Buona Forchetta is a popular Italian restaurant chain from the San Diego area that opened up in Newport Beach. They offer patio seating as well as a cozy indoor dining option. Complimentary parking is available in the parking structure next to the restaurant. I visited on a weekday with some co-workers and ordered a few items to share. Cacio e pepe with penne pasta ($20) - The penne pasta was prepared perfectly al dente and the sauce incorporated pecorino cheese and black pepper. The sauce was a little disappointing and didn't have a sharp and nutty flavor, and couldn't really taste the black pepper. Lasagna Bolognese ($24) - Made with layers of pasta with a ground beef ragu, bechamel sauce, and parmesan cheese I found the lasagna to be just OK taste wise, and nothing really stood out. Margherita ($16) - The neopolitan pizzas here are good and have a thin crust and are slightly chewy. The sauce was made with San Marzano tomatoes and had a wonderful flavor, and were topped with mozzarella, basil and evoo. I expected a bit more flavor from the basil. Isabella ($19) - This was a white sauce pizza made with mozzarella di bufola, sundried tomatoes, onions, and goat cheese. It tasted great. Overall, the food here isn't bad if you are looking for a reasonably priced Italian spot in Newport Beach.

We went around 11 and there was no one else there so we got served quickly and seated quickly. If you park in the parking structure near the restaurant they will validate your parking for 90 mins. The food was really good, I got the margarita pizza and it was more than enough for me. My friend who eats slightly less brought it home with them. The pizza came out fresh and it definitely hit the spot.

Went with the fam last night and we all ordered different pasta dishes and their garlic focaccia bread. We tasted each other's dish and everyone agreed that they were all flavorful. Flavor, serving and presentation were all on point. The restaurant itself is more fine dining but we came without reservations and very casually attired, as we came straight from the beach. Staff was friendly but I feel like our table could have used more 'personal interaction' with staff. Overall, a great restaurant if you're in the mood for Italian cuisine. Next time we come back, we'll be dressed appropriately.

Amazing place. I would say this restaurant is best Italian I've ever been. All the food was excellent. The server was amazing too. Will be back definitely.

Got reservations to Forchetta for my birthday and a friend's birthday celebration dinner! Man, we were not disappointed at all, and this place surprised me immensely. Great flavors on EVERY dish. There was not one dish we had that had bad taste at all. The service was on it the entire night as well! What we got - Foccacia Garlic Bread and Gluten-Free Garlic Bread, Meatballs, and the Juno pizza as appetizers. The Juno was phenomenal. It's a great pack of punch and flavor with a wonderful fluffy crust. The bread had great crunch and TONS of garlic flavor! Meatballs can't go wrong. Just get them. Main courses, we of course, had to the pasta and ended up choosing their Pappardella with the Buona Forchetta sauce, just do it. Make sure to get the handmade egg pasta! Friends got the pesto, cacio e pepe, and another meatball red sauce. Again, all wonderful. I'm definitely going back again to try more pasta and pizza. HIGHLY RECOMMEND!

Newport Beach's new authentic Italian spot where you can customize your own pasta! My first impression of it was great, as it has a very aesthetic interior and outdoor patio dining space. The menu was also amazing, with many options for pastas and pizzas. What stood out the most was that you can customize your pasta! They provide a variety of pasta shapes, some that they make in house, with some sauces that you can pick from, and the choice of adding what ever toppings you'd like. The food was DELICIOUS!!! Pasta is one of my favorite foods, and they did it so well. I will probably come back at some point. What we got: * Penne Pasta w/ Pesto The pesto paired with penne pasta tasted great. It was a bit oily- i guess they used a good amount of evoo (extra virgin olive oil) I'm glad we chose to add burrata- it added a great cheesiness and creamy taste. The pesto at some restaurants tastes too green (if that makes sense) or nutty, but this one was very well made. * The Buono Forchetta w/ Tagliolini Pasta This was a blend of mainly cream, marinara sauce, and egg yolk. It says that the marinara sauce is spicy, but it was not spicy in the least, which I appreciated since I don't have a good spice tolerance. After mixing it together, it was a great balance of creaminess and tomato. This was a more unique sauce compared to other italian restaurants, and it was tasty, so i'm glad we tried it. * The Isabella Pizza w/ Pesto & Tomato Sauce This pizza is actually under the "no sauce" ones, but I asked if they could put some since I liked the toppings. They had tomato and pesto sauce, so I requested doing half and half. This was really good as well. The staff was all really nice. We took so long deciding what to get, but our waiter was very patient with us. When I was taking photos of the food, he asked if we wanted a photo as well (we said no we were not feeling it). The owner I think was also walking around and he checked in on us as well. The lighting also ate for these pics I'm obsessed.

As a vegetarian this place has options. Firstly, my friends and I did get a reservation a week before since we heard it was popular and were planning on going on a Saturday evening. But wow, this place is definitely well decorated and would be great if you're looking to dress up which we did! Let's talk food; I got a pappardelle pesto pasta and it was creamy and filling. However, it was kind of plain since it didn't have any vegetables or toppings (most of the extra toppings are additional cost and were meat). I heard the pizza is highly recommended for vegetarians but unfortunately I was carbo loading for my half marathon the next day :( So i'll definitely be revisiting to try it out, but for now I would give it a 4/5 rating. I think it would be a good idea to share a pasta and a pizza for variety!

First time here and I've been wanting to try this place for quite some time! Made reservations for my friend and I on a Friday evening. Took a minute for our server to help us but it was a little busy. We indulged in some drinks that were okay, aperol spritz and an espresso martini. They don't have their liquor license therefore all drinks are made with lower abv alternative like soju wine I believe. My friend and I split a pizza and pasta and both were delicious. Food came out extremely quick compared to the time it took for us to get our order in. We ordered a special pistachio dessert that, to be honest, tasted a little bit like plastic.. like when you store something in the fridge in a plastic container and the plastic taste seeps into the food. Had to wave down our waiter by the end of the night to close out even though there weren't many people left in the restaurant. Overall, I would come back because the pizza and pasta were that good. There isn't much parking here as it is basically in the downtown part of the Peninsula so plan to give yourself enough time for parking.

GLUTEN FREE PIZZA ALERT!!! From your one and only non bougie reviewer.....ME. Let's get to the caps.... my wife has gluten issues, yeah shush, it sucks. But I try and support her as much as possible. And yes, I feel bad cause GF food usually sucks!!! But hold the Phone!!!!! This places GF pizza is incredible..... take it from a fat guy non bougie foodie.... 10/10. I'd order it just for me and I don't have a gluten issues!!! Now the rest. I had a calzone. I'd say if you're used to the large hot pocket stuffed pizza dough, this ain't for you. This was a perfectly crafted cheese filled, wood fired unbelievable dough. Perfectly seasoned, perfectly cooked. Look, this place is new. It's on the corner. It's got great views, the people who work there are amazing and attentive. Desserts ..... cannolis were amazing. The kid had some pastry thing with fruit and layers and goooood gaaawwdd. Again, go here. Have a great beer or glass of wine, eat drink, and be merry! Non bougie...... done!!

This is my third time at the restaurant and today we were lucky enough to have Omar the manager at the restaurant. He levels up our experience by being super friendly and helpful with the recommendations and just all around giving off good vibes. I brought three of my friends who have never been there and they loved it. We had their lasagna and three different types of pizzas. They were all amazing. Can't wait to go back again. The owners are really lucky to have Omar as their manager. Rico was our server and he was also amazing. A+ all around.

Friends recommendation of authentic Italian food. No public parking so you have to use meter parking (strictly enforce everyday). There outside courtyard that has a nice view while waiting. There's inside and outside seating. Recommend on outside dining if bringing pets. Server was knowledge on answering questions and concerns. Got the calamari Fritti, cioppono (seafood soup), Giuseppe pizza while friend got Amatriciana Here's what this restaurant specialize: everything is made to order. Each pasta dish is unique because you get to choose what type of pasta you want (some cost extra) and pizza can be sauce/no sauce. Calamari fritti is lightly friend so it's not too greasy but household marina sauce is homemade and can actually taste the tomatoes. Giuseppe pizza is "spicy" but not spicy enough if you are spicy lover. Cioppono is most order if you love seafood and worth it to add noddles to it. Friend say Amatriciana is deli's if want something simple. Overall, highly recommend on trying authentic Italian cuisine.

Ambiance was very nice service was amazing. Food was great. Overall a nice little spot to stop by and grab some lunch.

I really wanted to love this place as it has so much potential and is in a great location. Took my boyfriend for his bday dinner (which wasn't even acknowledged) The ambiance is lovely but first thing that rub me the wrong way were plastic appetizer plates. I understand the relaxed Italian mentality but it took about 30 min until I'm assuming the owner came to our table to offer us something to drink. Let me point out the restaurant wasn't busy at all. The food wasn't bad, pizza was very authentic and made to perfection, I couldn't get over the service though as our server (owner?) was condescending and very unprofessional. Not trying to be a hater but from a messed up order to a long wait and being thrown jabs at during our dinner the experience wasn't worth it at all.

So you still need a reservation to get seated promptly here at night. I suspect this will be the case for a while. I left here with kind of mixed feelings. I felt like the wine pours were kind of small. The waiter that we had was amazing but literally like jogging from table to table as it appeared he was the only waiter working. He was also pouring all the drinks. The restaurant was completely full. We started with the focaccia, which was amazing. Totally recommend. My friend and I probably would have been happy with just this. We both got pappadelle with bolognese. She added sausage and burrata I believe. After one bite, we both looked at each other and said that it felt like something was missing. I'm not sure if it needed more garlic, or what but it just kind of lacked flavor. The pasta itself was great. We also got tiramisu, which was delicious. I would recommend. Side note- The women's large bathroom stall has the lock installed upside down, so the door doesn't lock.

We love coming to eat at Buona Forchtta. So far everything that we ordered there was so delicious. Food, Service and atmosphere makes this restaurant a place to but on your list for places to eat at.

Really cute indoor and outdoor Italian restaurant near the beach. It's a fun ambiance to gather and enjoy friends/family Loved their pizza-crust was perfectly thin and ingredients were quality. Their house made pasta is a must try. Calamari was not too breaded-and the sauce paired well with it. I had to ask for extra to dip my pizza crust. Service was on par-attentive but not too overbearing.

Amazing food, amazing ambiance, amazing service! Enjoyed an incredible dinner with my husband, and can't forget how BOMB their own draft beer was!

My mom and I had a craving for a good cioppino for awhile. After browsing through Yelp reviews and pictures, I decided to come here. Side note, cioppino is not on their regular menu but is usually one of their daily specials. I called before heading over to make sure it was on the menu that day. And luckily it was! Everything on the menu looked so good but we came here for their cioppino lol. I had the cioppino and my mom had the cioppino with tagliatelle for $2.50 extra. And wow the Yelp reviews did not disappoint! The seafood in cioppino was abundant and so fresh! The pasta was also al dente. The broth was flavorful. My mom is a picky eater but she was satisfied with her dish. I think it's one of the best cioppinos in So Cal. Oh and the warm bread they served was also yummy, esp dipped in olive oil. The service was also excellent. The server was attentive. The place is casual but has great vibe. It's great for family outings, friend gatherings or a romantic date. I would definitely come back again for the cioppino and others dishes

We came here for the first time on my birthday weekend. We sat at a wonderful outside table. The patio is super cute with lights. The area around the restaurant is nice. There's a few fires and places to sit while you wait. We got the Soju tequila drink with pomegranate and orange juice I believe and it was so delicious, Highly recommend. Our waiter was super friendly and helpful with any questions we had we love the fact that there's so many Vegan options clearly labeled on the menu. We got the pizza that had pesto, no mushrooms and added olives, and we got the rigatoni Bolognese with Seitan. Both were absolutely outstanding. We can't wait to come back here. They even have a vegan lemon sorbet and a vegan Pena cotta made with coconut ( to me I did taste the coconut) but if you weren't too sensitive or like coconut, you will like this dish. We can't wait to come back here and take family and friends. It will be a great destination for vegans and non-vegans. I like to have delicious food and a wonderful environment.

I had the best experience dining at buona forchetta this past weekend. We started with the fried pizza bites and they were excellent. They were crispy on the outside and soft and buttery on the inside. For my entree, I ordered the carbonara with fettuccine noodles and chicken. I really like how you can pick and choose your noodles with your sauce and toppings. The entrees are large portions with enough for splitting or taking some home. I felt that everything was fairly priced for the quality and quantity of food. The service that was provided exceeded my expectations. We had the pleasure of being served by Omar. He was very friendly and cracked jokes with us all night. He gave us the best recommendations and was patient with us as we decided what we wanted. Truly a great experience and I can't wait to go back!

Came with a large group for a birthday and it was such a lovely experience! The staff was incredibly kind, the food was great, and the ambience was really nice. Hope to return sometime soon!

I am elated that Buona Forchetta is now in Newport Beach! I used to live in SD and fell in love with the Nicola pizza. When I moved to OC, I made it a point to drive down to SD just to eat at Buona Forchetta. This place is incredible! Everything on the menu is great: from salads, to pastas to pizza and dessert. They did a great job with interior design and I love the al fresco dining option on the patio. The twinkle lights and heaters are such a nice touch. If you sit indoors, there's a grand window into the kitchen and you can see the pizza oven being put to work. Service is extremely friendly, food comes out quickly and please trust me when I say IT IS DELICIOUS! I also got a good laugh at the pictures on the wall in the women's restroom ;) Small parking lot in an underground parking structure. There's also plenty of metered parking all around.

A great, new Italian place in Newport! The ambiance is romantic & cosy with a gorgeous outdoor patio! The service is amazing, the staff understand the food/wine and give great recommendations! The seasonal menu is always the ideal choices, but the pastas & pizzas and yummy too! They do not have a full bar, but have soju cocktails that are well balanced.

Just tried this place for my birthday. While the food was good, not impressive, what was really disappointing was the service. Our waiter about messed up everything about our order, was very unhelpful, and majorly rushed us. First, our appetizer never came. We ordered wine and got beer. We ordered a pasta, and a different pasta came. It was only then that he told us that we couldn't have the pasta we ordered because they only have one gluten free option which was different. We would've totally changed what sauce and toppings we got because we chose them based on the pasta shape. Also we were harassed when ordering, he came over three times when we kept saying we needed more time and never offered if he could help us make a decision either. We were gonna have dessert but after all that we just decided to go somewhere else to get my birthday dessert. Super unfortunate.

Food was so yummy! The gluten free pasta and pizza was to die for! Crust was so good and fluffy!

I was there other night with my friends and ordered pizza. Very mediocre not impressed. I also ordered focaccia as an appetizer and it came as a baked pizza dough and a waiter was trying to convince me it was a focaccia even though I just told him I came from Italy last month. I can't believe he was telling me that like I was stupid and don't know the difference and finally he admitted it was a pizza dough. I looked around and didn't see anyone enjoying the food. Tourist trap.

Loved everything here and enjoyed spending time with family. Lovely area! Ordered the special Seafood Cioppino. Dessert was tiramisu.

Nice ambiance and great service. Food is ok, the menu offerings provide a wide variety of pasta choices and some unique offerings that feel very authentic Italian. Drinks are tasted watered down and were not the best. My carbonara had way too much pepper and the taste was off, like they added cream? Not sure, wish I had ordered a pizza.

Solid spot! A+ for service (Rico, our server, was excellent). Ambiance is bright, cute and fun. Very beach-town vibes. There's a cute yellow car outside. We shared a beet salad (it was okay), a pasta- homemade noodles in a sauce that was supposed to be like vodka (but def didn't taste like it), and the guila pizza (perfection). Ended the meal with a tiramisu (solid). We will def come back for pizza!

We've been wanting to try this place for a while. When you drive by, it's super cute and charming. The food was pretty solid, and the espresso martini was delicious. The only downsides were slow service and a little noisy inside. Worth going to, and I'm sure we'll go back during the summer.

First off the 2 young ladies seating the door were so nice right away wishing me a Happy Birthday! Our waiter was a delight with the most joyful happy personality. His name was Ricco! We shared the lasagne bolognese and Buffalo mozzarella which our waiter recommended. The lasagne was good and pizza was a replica of pizzas we had in Italy! Very delicious with each flavor enhanced by the other. Sooo good! And a birthday dessert of Panna cotta was complimentary. I highly recommend.

Food was very disappointing. Pasta tasted like it was a week old and microwaved before serving. Everything tasted like frozen food you got from the grocery store and microwaved at home. Definitely not a place I would visit again. However I need to mention that the staff was very nice and attentive. Great service, bad food.

Extremely friendly, attentive, patio area is very nice. Food tastes fresh. My organic tomato basil pasta was decent but a little salty for me. Had just come back from Italy and loved it and had some of the best seafood and pesto pasta in Cinque Terre. Can't say this was the best but it was decent. Homemade pasta minus a few of them. Focaccia was a little burnt to my liking but still good. Would want to come back and try the other dishes! Great bike pit stop for a nice sunny lunch! :)

I have been meaning to stop by this restaurant after seeing all the good reviews, and it did not disappoint. We were walking around and stopped in for a late bite. It was close to closing, but they graciously sat us and gave us recommendations to order. We opted for the Sergio pizza since we wanted arugula and it was delicious! The crust is absolutely incredible and the prosciutto was clearly top quality. While it wasn't covered in cheese, this pizza provided the taste of a true Italian pie, and we loved every bite. The location of the restaurant is amazing, as well, with it being steps from overlooking the marina. Right now, there are beautiful Christmas trees and hanging lights that make this the perfect date night spot. I can't wait to go back and try their pasta dishes. They smelled delicious!

As you meander along the canal of Peninsula Village in Newport Beach, with the lone row boat tied off on the shore, and a retro, golden Italian automobile to your side, Buona Forchetta will appear. The scent of fresh dough permeates the entrance, and a few steps later you are transported into the outdoor seating area with chic, modern comforts, amber lighting, and a soft and soothing ambiance. Although the restaurant is split between indoor and outdoor seating, they blend seamlessly together in a pleasant way. My friend and I got the special tortino as an appetizer, a delicate dish with an interesting twist, well balanced and nutritious, pairing beets with pistachio. I ordered a scrumptious and savory margherita pizza, and we finished our meal with a tiramisu that was ambrosial. This was hand delivered by the wonderful wait staff, with an added touch of fresh fruit and an espresso for each of us. Overall, the service and food was more than "Buona," in fact, I would go so far as to say it was "Fantastica."