Buona Forchetta - San Marcos

Italian restaurant · San Marcos

Buona Forchetta - San Marcos

Italian restaurant · San Marcos

1

250 N City Dr Suite 3, San Marcos, CA 92078

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Buona Forchetta - San Marcos by null
Buona Forchetta - San Marcos by null
Buona Forchetta - San Marcos by null
Buona Forchetta - San Marcos by null
Buona Forchetta - San Marcos by null
Buona Forchetta - San Marcos by null
Buona Forchetta - San Marcos by null
Buona Forchetta - San Marcos by null
Buona Forchetta - San Marcos by null
Buona Forchetta - San Marcos by null
Buona Forchetta - San Marcos by null
Buona Forchetta - San Marcos by null
Buona Forchetta - San Marcos by null
Buona Forchetta - San Marcos by null
Buona Forchetta - San Marcos by null
Buona Forchetta - San Marcos by null
Buona Forchetta - San Marcos by null
Buona Forchetta - San Marcos by null
Buona Forchetta - San Marcos by null
Buona Forchetta - San Marcos by null
Buona Forchetta - San Marcos by null
Buona Forchetta - San Marcos by null
Buona Forchetta - San Marcos by null
Buona Forchetta - San Marcos by null
Buona Forchetta - San Marcos by null
Buona Forchetta - San Marcos by null
Buona Forchetta - San Marcos by null
Buona Forchetta - San Marcos by null
Buona Forchetta - San Marcos by null
Buona Forchetta - San Marcos by null
Buona Forchetta - San Marcos by null
Buona Forchetta - San Marcos by null
Buona Forchetta - San Marcos by null
Buona Forchetta - San Marcos by null
Buona Forchetta - San Marcos by null
Buona Forchetta - San Marcos by null
Buona Forchetta - San Marcos by null
Buona Forchetta - San Marcos by null
Buona Forchetta - San Marcos by null
Buona Forchetta - San Marcos by null
Buona Forchetta - San Marcos by null
Buona Forchetta - San Marcos by null

Highlights

Buona Forchetta enchants with its lively vibe and classic Italian menu—think hearty pizzas and fresh pasta—with a pinch of local charm.  

Featured in Eater
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250 N City Dr Suite 3, San Marcos, CA 92078 Get directions

buonaforchettasd.com
@buonaforchettasanmarcos

$20–30 · Menu

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250 N City Dr Suite 3, San Marcos, CA 92078 Get directions

+1 442 515 3147
buonaforchettasd.com
@buonaforchettasanmarcos

$20–30 · Menu

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outdoor seating

Last updated

Jul 11, 2025

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"Joining Mason Aleworks, Copa Vida, and Newtopia Cyder at the North City development, which features its own farmer’s market and live music twice a week, is local fave Buona Forchetta, whose latest spot is a 3,000-square-foot space serving the Italian restaurant’s popular lineup of dishes including its Neapolitan and Roman-style pizzas, calzones, and fresh pasta. Offering lunch and dinner to start, owner Matteo Cattaneo will eventually add breakfast and brunch with pastries from his eponymous bakery in South Park as well as a retail component with gourmet items." - Candice Woo

New San Diego Restaurants and Bars That Have Opened During the Pandemic - Eater San Diego
View Postcard for Buona Forchetta - San Marcos

Ryan P. F.

Google
The food is amazing here. I love the pasta with the shrimp. It’s traditional and tasted wonderful. The atmosphere was not too loud and my friends and I could all converse and hear one another easily. The service was good and I look forward to going back.

Sara C.

Google
I’ve been to their South Park location over 20 times and have enjoyed birthday celebrations at the Liberty Station and Encinitas locations as well. I know this menu well and am a big fan of this local chain. I had an appointment nearby and to reward myself after I of course wanted to go check this location out. It’s in a college/mixed use area so expect to park in the nearby garage and walk a couple blocks. Not ideal but I get it. I sat at the bar and was greeted promptly by the bartender. I had a glass of Falanghina ($13) and ordered the Salmon Picatta special ($32). Big portion of vegetables, mash, and the salmon was nicely cooked though it was browned in the pan which is different than most salmon picattas I’ve ordered, which are cooked more delicately. Flavor was decent, I did bite into two bones in the salmon which is understandable but still not ideal or expected from what should be a deboned fillet of salmon. Was going to order dessert but the ambiance just wasn’t that comfortable, the bathroom is across a hallway that is shared with the whole building and it was just kind of weird. For the price of items I would expect a bit of a more exclusive ambiance. Also didn’t love the plastic cup for water and was not offered more bread or asked if I wanted more wine. There were many staff members looking busy but I did have to ask for bread to start. It came with a small ramekin of olive oil and balsamic which tasted rancid but I was starving so I just ate it to fill my stomach. Restaurant is pretty large and open, patio seating is available. I won’t be returning here and will stick to my beloved Encinitas or South Park locations.

Swetha Uppula

Google
Overrated and disappointing! The food was average, and the service was terrible. We had to wait a long time for our order, and despite asking twice, they never brought the extra sauce for the Calamari Fritti—even though the staff passed by our table multiple times. By the time we had it, the calamari was cold, bland, and oily. The Margherita Pizza was just okay, and the Tiramisu was the only saving meal. Overall service was poor and inattentive. Definitely not worth the visit—service needs serious improvement!

charles amor

Google
It's okay. A solid 7/10, but for the price I expected much better. The table bread is good, but the oil and vinegar was in the same cup so you dipped for 100% oil and 0% vinegar to start, then it was 0%/100% after the oil ran out. The pappardelle carbonara was mediocre, with a good flavor but overcooked noodles and the pork not crispy. The eggplant parmesian was alright with good marinara and fresh basil, but the actual eggplant was a bit soggy. Brussels sprouts were tasty but tough. The lemon gelato was nice. I don't hate the place, but I wouldn't return for the value. The menu has so much promise and looks really authentic but the chefs just can't execute on it. Also I duslike the modern industrial aesthetic. The sound bounces around on the walls and makes it hard to talk.

Maddie Haneline

Google
We love the South Park & Encinitas locations but sadly this one just doesnt measure up. The service was poor. The bartender while sweet but didn’t have much business being behind the bar. Our server lacked any sort of hospitality. We ordered a pizza and pasta to share which was plenty of food. They provide bread and oil to the table but the bread is cold and seems like it was day old bread. It crumbled the second you touched it. The pasta arrived cold which we returned. It was brought back to us within 2 minutes steaming hot but the noodles were hard. The Sergio pizza was delicious and helped make the visit better.

E Berry

Google
Delicious Italian cuisine! Choose your pasta, your noodles, and sauce for the perfect dish! They also serve pizzas and salads if you don't want carbs! They have other locations, but we liked the San Marcos location! Super cool vibe, a nice surrounding area, and other fun spots to hit while you're there. The place was hopping on Saturday night! It is loud and fun for celebrating birthdays. Nice wine selection, also! We'll be back!

Alejandro Cruz

Google
Everyone that works here is super friendly and cheerful. Everything came out quickly and piping hot. All of the appetizers were good, and the pastas we ordered were fantastic, but unfortunately my lasagna was burnt on the bottom. Even so it was still good.

bluescorpion21

Google
Mama Mia ! What a mess where to begin. No aqua pana, and then the pasta was horrible! We ordered a carbonara and got scrambled eggs with spaghetti and what kinda resembled guanciale… so disappointing!!!! And the other pasta was equally disappointing. The pizza Margherita Was decent. The only bright spot. Bottom line the ingredients where there but totally failed in execution witch ruins the hole dish ! Lower that heat and more pecorino romano plz ! So disappointed 😢

Melodee Marie G.

Yelp
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.

Greg M.

Yelp
We have been to Buona Forchetta many times but the first time to the San Marcos location. It is clean and a the outside of the restaurant was very nice. The patio overlooking the newer neighborhood is very nice. The choice of music playing was great music (guns n roses, cold play, etc) but for an Italian restaurant? The pizza guy on Saturday was on break for 40 minutes so you couldn't order a pizza? They were out of Peroni? The people working were very kind, but it is not the same feel as the other locations (we love Encinitas the best). The food was great as always so we will always go back, but maybe not this site.

Jessica L.

Yelp
I recently dined at Buona Forchetta with my mom and my infant, and we had an amazing experience! My mom ordered the Chicken Parmesan and absolutely loved it. She swapped the spaghetti for mashed potatoes, and it already came with a side of perfectly cooked veggies. She couldn't stop raving about how flavorful everything was! I went with the Spaghetti Amatriciana, and it was delicious. The sauce was rich and well-balanced, and the pasta was cooked to perfection. We also appreciated how spacious the restaurant was--it made dining with an infant so much easier. The ambiance was cozy and inviting, and the staff was friendly and attentive, which made the evening even better. Definitely a place I'd recommend and can't wait to visit again.

Sena Y.

Yelp
Had tried other locations and loved it so decided to stop by for dinner here! Their pasta is always incredible and love how it is customizable. The interior of this location is stunning and cozy with high ceilings and the salad was one of the best I've had in a while. Warm and friendly service to match the atmosphere & you absolutely cannot leave without trying the tiramisu!

Kristina M.

Yelp
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".

Jessica D.

Yelp
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.

Andrea A.

Yelp
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.

Serli N.

Yelp
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. :)

Edith S.

Yelp
I came across this place looking for restaurants in the San Marcos area. The parking situation isn't the best. There's limited timed parking along the street, and a parking structure a block away. Don't forget to validate. The staff were friendly, attentive, and accommodating. The vibe was super chill for a weekend lunch date. The fresh warm pizzas were flavorful. Portions just right for one person and perfect take out boxes ready for you if needed. I was impressed with the Italian soda. I love sweet drinks and my sweet tooth was satisfied. Their desserts were beautifully made and delicious. I already had a sweet drink and I needed a dessert that was sweet, yet light. The Panna Cotta was perfect! I would definitely come and visit once again.

Alex E.

Yelp
Another great visit to Buona Forchetta. We are slowly making the rounds to all of their locations. This location by Cal State San Marcos might be our favorite so far. Really like the outdoor dining area and the food as always was solid. We started off with sharing the Fried Pizza Dough appetizers and then ordered pasta dishes and a salad. First time trying the carbonara with pappardelle pasta, and it was delicious and perfectly filling. Finished with the panna cotta for dessert, and it was a great way to finish off our meal. Plenty of parking in the parking garage in back. It was free that night, but not sure if it always is. Great place to come with friends for lunch or a night out, and we'll return.

Lisa W.

Yelp
Glad I live next to one! My husband wanted to come here for Father's Day. Our very first one we visited the original location and it was below average (overly soggy pizza, bland food) and since then I've only been to the Liberty Station (made up for the pizza- it was good) but was afraid to try this one. But definitely better than I expected! Got the pizzas, and pappardelle with ragu sauce. The pizzas were definitely delicious, that dough of theirs. The bread was really good. We even took it home and reheat it and the bread still held. It was good. The pasta was plentiful and good too, and I got sausage as extra meat but couldn't taste it in there. We sat outside and it was nice. Good place to grab some Italian.

Adam Z.

Yelp
Disappointed. Ordered two pizzas and panna cotta to go. 1. Margherita pizza - burned crust. Made the pie inedible. I truly hate when restaurants think it is OK to serve burnt pizza. It totally changes the taste. 2. Pizza with pepperoni and onions. Crust was better. Toppings were poor. $3.00 for 7.5 pepperonis and another $2.00 for onions that they couldn't be bothered to pull apart and spread around. A quarter of the pizza (one piece) had no pepperoni at all. 3. Panna Cotta - rubbery, not creamy. Too much gelatin, weird. No real vanilla taste. Not sure where they get it from, but it is pretty poor. No real reason to go back to this place.

Brittany T.

Yelp
Food: 5/5 Portions: 4/5 Atmosphere: 4/5 Cleanliness: 5/5 Customer service: 5/5 Speed: 4/5 Price: $$ Outdoor seating: yes ADA access: yes Restrooms: yes, M/ Dogs: no Kid Friendly: yes Vegetarian options: yes Vegan options: yes Ambiance: casual/sate Pros: bread is the best I've ever had, great flavor, food comes out fast Cons: I ordered the spaghetti puttanesca and it came with cheese (not listed in menu), very tight seating area (the waiters bottom brushed my shoulder to squeeze by, very busy, waiters are very busy, while the food does come out fast, it took a while for the waiter to acknowledge us or bring us bread

Cynthia M.

Yelp
Service and food were excellent! I had the house Sangiovese and the Pappardelle with Due Pomodori sauce and one meatball. It was delicious! And the sauce had just the tiniest bit of heat that makes it all the better! The leftovers were a real treat at work the next day!! My friend enjoyed the spaghetti with Bolognese sauce. She thought it was yummy--and she also enjoyed her leftovers. Thank you!

Agnes D.

Yelp
Love this location. Friendly staff; flexible orders, can make minor modifications. GF crust is the best here! This has become our favorite. The Jackson is amazing! Not a fan of their version of Pomodoro sauce though. Best spot for pizza! Excellent service.

Ed M.

Yelp
Our favorite date night place. Food is great. Pizza, Calamari, eggplant. We have had it all. 5 stars. Tonight we drink a glass of wine and snacked and chatted. Wonderful vibe. Big cheers for Michelle, our server and bartender. Best service,and DAMN she works hard. Love this place!!

Jason L.

Yelp
Buona never disappoints. Doesn't really matter which location you go to either - they're all solid. The vibe at the San Marcos location is easy, sort of trendy and comfortable. The servers are all friendly and helpful. Yours truly was in the mood to celebrate and what better way to do that than with a deep fried pizza? To be clear, it's just the crust that's fried and the rest is melted atop. 'Twas amazing. The crust takes on a sort of pillowy, unsweet donut-like texture. If you've ever had native fry bread, it's a lot like that. I had the Rebecca, a sauceless pie with mozzarella, proscuitto cotto and mushrooms. 9.5/10 really good stuff. Of course, fried pizza isn't nearly enough calories for my indulgence, so I added some imported Italian beer and an order of calamari to the order. Why not? I went big and I went home (mostly to nap).

Nate P.

Yelp
Went on a Thursday night and it was relatively empty when we got there. By the time we left a lot of people had showed up so our timing was great. I will say the table we got kinda sucked cause the whole place was empty and we were put in the back corner but it's all good. We had a big party so we were loud. I went with the gnocchi Buona Forchetta and added sausage. Holy moly this was delicious. I couldn't finish the whole thing so I took some home and ate it the next night just as good. The oil and vinegar for the bread was interesting, it was very hard to get the bread to soak up the vinegar haha. Meatballs were also tasty. Nice little spot outside of cal state with plenty of seating if you get there at the right time. Plenty of parking in the garage behind the place so no worries there. I will be coming back for that gnocchi 100%.

Kenneth W.

Yelp
Alejandra provided us with great service and even better recommendations, her warm beautiful smile, and graciousness made us feel welcome and comfortable as if we were coming back home. It was so nice to see that she is still here after all these years. The food is still as amazing as ever. We were seated inside in a nice quiet corner of the restaurant which gave us a great view. We had some great pasta and even better pizza! I ordered the Martina and Guiseppe both are topped with arugula and are delicious! The dessert was amazing! Highly recommend ordering the Affogato and Tiramisu to finish your meal! We will be coming back to celebrate my Birthday on January 3rd! Looking forward to coming back! Keep up the great work!

Jennifer C.

Yelp
We love the south park location but this location was definitely subpar. We got reservations for a Tues at 7 and got their on time. We were told that we had to wait for our table even though the restaurant was not full and we could actually see our table set for us. When we sat down it took a while for us to get water or any service really. They do give complimentary bread and olive oil but the bread was bad. A little dense and almost no flavor. So I love buona forchetta pizza so I decided to get the Jackson (artichoke, arugula, grape tomatoes and onions). The dough was still amazing. But the overall flavor was so bland. Everything tasted unseasoned and the middle of the pie was completely soggy. I couldn't even pick up the slice without all the toppings falling off. Some of the other people in my party got pastas and the consensus was that it was too al dente. The actual space is much more airy and bright than the south park location but I think I liked the homey feel of the south park.

Connie G.

Yelp
When you want to get all your authentic Italian food fix in this is definitely your spot! Lots of tables inside or out with a great setting for families, work, friends, or date nights. Staff were swift and very polite. Pricing was average but the food! Mouthwatering at every bite. I ordered the Cacio De Pepe for my main dish with Italian sausage Appetizers I enjoyed was calamari, bruschetta, pizza bites, and a Charcuterie board Topped off my meal with a nice glass of Sauvignon blanc Fantastic meal, atmosphere and staff!

Orlando P.

Yelp
A nice warm lunch date with friends in a beautiful and simple yet elegant restaurant with a home cook atmosphere. The orders were delivered quickly, receiving awesome table service with filling waters and clearing plates and bringing bread with the olive oil and balsamic vinegar dip. The Sardinia Sunrise was quite refreshing complimenting my Ribeye Steak with a creamy Gorgonzola sauce, and generous portions of grilled cauliflower and carrots that were caramelized to perfection and the mashed potatoes were soft and creamy and well seasoned with a balance of garlic and butter. A definite return visit is in order. Also, for an appetizer the calamari fritti is a definite favorite for me. Best I've had in years. I won't "Forchetta" 'bout it!!!!

Mabel B.

Yelp
Been here a few times now and consider this a solid place for Italian. Easy parking in nearby decks or street parking. Cute vibe inside and has outdoor seating. Service has always been attentive and food hits the spot. My puttanesca was great and not too tangy. My friend approved their gf focaccia bread and we all found the food filling providing us extra to take home. Happy they're part of North City.

Veronica C.

Yelp
Came here on a first date and Nicolette was absolutely AMAZING! She was funny and extremely helpful in helping guide me through the menu. 10/10 recommend coming here and asking for Nicolette!

MIchael A.

Yelp
"I usually do not write reviews for restaurants or the staff, but I felt I needed to make an exception today. I came in for lunch at the San Marcos location. I was greeted by my server, Nicole, very promptly. We ordered a few beers and an appetizer of calamari. The beers were served within minutes and were very cold. Nicole brought out the calamari, which was outstanding. We proceeded to order our main courses--Lasagna and pizza. Not sure what pizza my guest ordered, but I can say the lasagna was over the top good. Nicole followed up with a second round of beers right on time. Nicole was very friendly and seemed genuinely happy to assist with whatever we needed. The one downside was the parking, which could be a bit challenging, but overall, it didn't take away from the great experience. I'll definitely be back!"

Kara V.

Yelp
Love the food, atmosphere, and quality of this place! Thankful for good pizza and a fabulous menu.

OcGirl I.

Yelp
Service was excellent. We've been several times in the past but never on a Saturday evening. This time we were let down by the temperature of the pizzas. They were all served tepid. The plates they were served on was also cold. I think they were so busy that they left the pizzas just sitting around waiting for a server to take them to the tables. Informazione per Matteo: per favore informa i camerieri di non lasciare che le pizze siedano a lungo sul banco per evitare che si raffreddano. L'impasto è strepitoso ed è un vero peccato rovinare una pizza del genere. Grazie

Lim K.

Yelp
We sat outside and enjoyed the food here on a Sunday after church. The pizza and salad were delicious. Great service and nice atmosphere. We will definitely try again.

Tatyana K.

Yelp
I liked ravioli, soft and a lot of cheeses and I like it! Carrots soup was all right not too much flavor. The cheesecake was absolutely horrible! The consistency was very weird not smooth but just like some old bread pudding, for $10!!? check picture...

Alyssa S.

Yelp
4 stars again this visit. What was great: the patio! The friendly servers! What was delicious: RADICCHIO SALAD: wow! Super delicious and huge. (Radicchio and cauliflower salad, salumi piccante, pine nuts, basil, ricotta salata, currant vinaigrette) What was good: Eggplant parmigiana was very tasty (love the smoked mozzarella) but at $22 it seems a lot. With pasta that would be ok, but it's a lot for an app and not enough for a full entree, I think. Pizza: I have loved some of their pizzas in the past. The Guido was great. But this time I got the Augusta. It was just too busy, and the grilled vegetables weren't really the right consistency to be on an Italian pizza like this. A very thin slice of grilled zucchini works, but there were massive al dente baby squash pieces. I had to take them off to make the pizza worth eating or the textures were wrong. Without the veggies, the crush here is *delicious*. Anyway, I'll come back here happily, but there's usually one element that keeps it from being 5 stars, and that changes every time! This time some of the food was delicious, the service and the patio were still great - and I'd not order the Augusta again!

Houssam J.

Yelp
The one in Little Italy is far better. Last few times we went there food was just ok.

Stephanie L.

Yelp
Been here before and service was definitely not welcoming today. Put my number down on the waiting list and we never got a text back. We went to Draft Republic instead. Very dissatisfied.

Grace C.

Yelp
Delicious. Flavorful crust was chewy not hard. I dipped the crust in olive oil. Cheese was plenty. Hot honey gave the pizza an awesome addition to savory and it wasn't too spicy. Want to go back and try their pasta. Great location. Big slices we had to cut the slices in halves.

Bonita 1.

Yelp
The location was not too bad. Inside, if you have a low tolerance on sound like voice, plates or loud noises, better sit outside. We liked the calamari, tiramisu and house red wine but the main entrees, we had the lasana and carbonara, not so much. If we go back we will try other entrees. The lasana was burned while carbonara was dry. The service was good. We might give them another try.

Griffen S.

Yelp
A notable Italian diner with great variety. We found this hidden gem one afternoon and finally booked dinner there. This place is amongst cal state San Marcos and an apartment complex with a handful of food places. Parking is a bit of an adventure but they have a large parking complex close to all the restaurants. When you walk in the walls are decorated with old Italian advertising, and a relaxing atmosphere. They have a main menu and a special day of menu for food and drinks, which adds to a nice variety of choices. They have traditional Italian food and a make your own bowl of pasta selection which we chose to order. The drinks were delicious, we had a glass of wine, and Italian brand beer. The server brought out food fairly quickly, which was great cause this place was packed. The food was fantastic, and it left us feeling very filled with some extra left over. Generous portions is not always easy to find these days. Overall a fantastic place to reserve for dinner if you're in an Italian mood. The prices are very reasonable and service was very attentive. Check this place out!

G R.

Yelp
Vegetarian lasagna--AMAZING! I've been craving it since; so we're going back today! Vegetarian Lasagna 5++ Overall Food 4 Service 3.8 (was a bit off; not a huge deal but could improve) Ambiance 3.9 Overall Rating: 4.3

Maria S.

Yelp
Dined here last Friday evening . Our server was so bad , I was very dissatisfied with the level of service we received from her . I overheard her saying that she rarely works at this restaurant anymore since she's working elsewhere. What a shame , I wanted to like this place . I hope management sees this and takes appropriate action .

Nayyirah F.

Yelp
Came here for a work holiday party. They were able to accommodate a large group which was great. I have tried to come here previously with a friend,however they've always been so busy we weren't able to be sat which shows how good they are. I definitely would like to come back at night. I ordered the gluten free bolognese and it was fantastic, hadn't had pasta in a while so this was well worth it.

Denny V.

Yelp
I have been to the Buona Forchetta in South Park, which is amazing. So my expectations were really high. The location was in a very nice area in San Marcos. There was ample parking in a ramp nearby with 2 hours free parking. However, everything was very sub par. We had reservations on a Tuesday night and it wasn't very busy but the service was pretty slow. I ordered the Bucatini al Pesto and the Broccolini. The Bucatini texture was very good (al dented) however the pesto was just okay nothing amazing. The Broccolini was also pretty disappointing. It had good flavor but it seemed like it was steamed and served on a cast iron skillet. Overall I'll probably just go back to the South Park location.

Daniel ..

Yelp
I really wanted to like this place. The menu looks awesome and the decor is great. The food... on 3 different occasions over a year was just meh. My wife asked me why do we keep coming back here... We had the pizza and the crust was so soggy it was gross and the topping fell off. Not much flavor and very very bland. Last week we went for lunch and had a hard time finding our server with 4 other tables total. Seems to be a common theme with this place. Ordered a pasta that has spicy Mariana on top. No flavor and zero "spice". Paid close to $30 for a pasta my daughter could make with $2. Then I was delivered something other than what I ordered. Tried to find my server and couldn't. I write this review hoping the manager will read it

Annie D.

Yelp
Nestled in an apartment complex. Parking is in the nearby lot, first 2 hours is free but the restaurant validates. Service was attentive enough. Calamari was a tad undercooked but worked out bc I ended up taking the leftovers home and threw it in the air fryer. Vegetable lasagna probably my favorite dish. Pizza was OK. I love arugula on my pizza but crust was too thin and soggy.

Hannah N.

Yelp
Once again this spot does not disappoint! I'm always excited to try something else when I come. Thankfully my boyfriend went for the pizza and I went for a pasta so we got the best of both worlds. I definitely want to try another pizza because it was so good! I will say the service was a little slow to start but the food came out really quickly which is always a plus. We choose to sit in the patio since it was a nice night and it wasn't too busy. I love the area this spot is in looks like there are a lot of other great places to check out.

Nancy S.

Yelp
Cute place. Love the decor and vibe. Food was cold. I should have said something, but would have been difficult since I had a pizza with arugula on it. Hard to reheat. My friend's linguine with clams came warm but cooled off rapidly. It's a shame. Like the selection of food. Complementary bread was blah. Waiter was a little too jokey and sure of himself for my taste. It would be fun to sit outside in the summertime. As I said, nice vibe. I would give it another try, especially in outdoor area.

Michelle L.

Yelp
Was so excited to try this restaurant as it has delicious vegan options on the menu, is an a cute area and is so close to Mayas cookies, which are all vegan. They are located below apartments. There is a public parking that is free down the street. We walked in at around noon on a Saturday and were able to get seated right away. You get free bread and olive oil and balsamic and they have a chili oil on the table as well. I got a vegan pizza that had pesto, which was vegan, zucchini, artichokes tomatoes and olives. I was so happy they had vegan cheese. It was absolutely delicious. I would go back here in a heartbeat. The staff were super nice and attentive. Bonus points for being able to snag Mayas cookies to go for later .

Shannon L.

Yelp
Cute Italian place near CSUSM with nice ambiance. Bring a jacket because they leave the doors open. Food was good but nothing really stood out as being amazing. The tomato sauce is a bit bland. With a large party expect to be charged a 20% tip without great service.

Masashi J.

Yelp
The Artichoke was amazing, Pasta and Pizza has been our favorite. And Nicolette was great!

Maggie W.

Yelp
Love this restaurant! Great atmosphere, cuisine, and staff! Everything we ordered was phenomenal!

Mina D.

Yelp
FINALLY found the perfect Neopolitan pizza I've been searching for! Their crust is bubbly, airy, crispy and chewy. Omg the best.

Amy K.

Yelp
Got seated really fast. It took the server a while to come on a busy Friday night. I ordered the special, tagliatelle with white wine reduction and clams. It didn't seem like white wine reduction, just oil. You get about 10-12 clams. The pasta seemed hand made. The parking is just one block away, but not sure I will come again for the pasta. It just wasn't great. Perhaps I will try pizza next time.