Buona Forchetta - Encinitas - Exceptional Italian Dining Experience Awaits

Buona Forchetta - Encinitas stands out as a remarkable Italian dining destination in the heart of Encinitas, California. Nestled along the vibrant Coast Hwy 101, this restaurant draws rave reviews for its exceptional pizza and pasta offerings, making it a favorite among locals and visitors alike.

First-time diners are often captivated by the delicious pizzas, notably praised for their soft, fluffy dough and fresh, balanced flavors. Customer experiences underscore the culinary magic of dishes like the Pizza Regina Margherita and enticing appetizers such as burrata and eggplant. Many patrons find themselves enamored with the creamy tiramisù, hailed as a top-five dessert experience.

For those seeking vegetarian options, the restaurant impresses with a diverse menu, including a delightful Vegan Spaghetti Puttanesca and other delectable pasta choices. The overall vibe resonates with a charming ambiance that makes it ideal for both casual meals and special occasions. With attentive service and quick food delivery even during busy hours, Buona Forchetta - Encinitas surely cultivates an unforgettable dining experience.

In summary, if you're in the San Diego area and yearning for authentic Italian fare, Buona Forchetta is a must-visit destination.

Accessibility
- Has wheelchair-accessible car park
- Has wheelchair-accessible entrance
- Has wheelchair-accessible seating
- Has wheelchair-accessible toilet
Service options
- Has outdoor seating
- Offers takeaway
- Serves dine-in
Highlights
- Serves great dessert
- Has great wine list
Popular for
- Popular for lunch
- Popular for dinner
- Good for solo dining
Offerings
- Serves alcohol
- Serves beer
- Serves cocktails
- Serves coffee
- Serves comfort food
- Serves food
- Serves small plates
- Serves vegetarian dishes
- Serves wine
Dining options
- Serves lunch
- Serves dinner
- Has catering
- Serves dessert
- Has seating
Amenities
- Has toilet
Atmosphere
- Casual
- Cosy
- Romantic
- Trendy
Crowd
- Family friendly
- Good for groups
- Popular with tourists
Planning
- Dinner reservations recommended
- Accepts reservations
- Usually has a wait
Payments
- Accepts credit cards
- Accepts debit cards
- Accepts NFC mobile payments
- Credit cards
Children
- High chairs available
- Has kids' menu
Parking
- Free of charge street parking
- Plenty of parking

Maxwell Myers

Jun 10,2025

Excellent pizza and pasta! No challenge getting a table for lunch on a Sunday. Reasonably priced too! I will say the oil and vinegar for the bread is served in an oddly deep bowl. There was too much oil on the top, you don't get the right balance of both when dipping the bread.

Sean Chen

Jun 6,2025

This is probably my favorite Italian restaurant near San Diego so far! The pizzas were amazing; they had a soft and fluffy dough, well balanced and fresh flavors, and delicious overall. My only regret was eating them too fast. The burrata and eggplant appetizers were also delicious and beautiful. We ordered the mille-feuille which was perfect: the puff pastry was incredibly crispy and the pastry cream was smooth and fragrant.

Ram Ambatipudi

Jun 5,2025

Satisfying lunch experience at a Veg friendly Italian place in Encinitas. It is rare to find a Vegan Spaghetti Puttanesca, but it was quite tasty. Someone in my party raved about the Spaghetti with the Aglio Olio e Peperoncino sauce (quite spicy). The pastas with Pesto sauce and Cacio e Pepe sauce also got good reviews. The Focaccia bread was a good appetizer.

Liam

Jun 3,2025

Many people consider this restaurant the best in San Diego, and I can definitely see why. The food here is genuinely outstanding. This might've been the best Italian style pizza I've had outside of Italy. The pizza itself is pretty large, but thin enough to be perfect for one person. The tiramasu here was also the best I've had anywhere, easily a top 5 dessert of all time for me. The service was also ridiculous, with our food coming out about 5-10 minutes after we ordered which was shocking given how busy it was. The waiter was also literally from Italy which added to how authentic the whole experience was. For the atmosphere, we didn't want to wait so we chose the only available table which was outside on a cold night, but at least they had heaters and ambient lighting. Overall this is the perfect date spot and a top restaurant in San Diego, no question. Recommendation: Pizza Regina Margherita, Tiramasu

Kim Hernandez

May 30,2025

So amazing. The food, the atmosphere, the service. Everything was so good. Highly recommend.

Jamie Nelson

Apr 24,2025

Took me a while to make it here but definitely lived up to the hype. We made online reservations, we were seated quickly and immediately greeted by a waiter. We tried a bottle of Sangiovese wine, calamari for the table and for dinner had several pizzas and the eggplant Parmesan. Everything was great. The calamari was flavorful and expertly prepared. The marinara dipping sauce was good but overpowered the delicate flavors of the calamari. The pizzas were fantastic. I tried the Juna with hot honey. The most developed flavor profile of the night was the eggplant Parmesan. Next time we will try the pastas and leave some room for desserts. Fantastic service from the hostess to the bussers.

Joe McGlinchey

Apr 16,2025

Buono Forchetta is a causal restaurant that produces fine dining quality Italian food. The pizza is a prime example of first class Neapolitan pizza. The crust is chewy but not hard and the cheese and sauce remind me of pizza from Italy. The pastas are fresh and properly cooked and the sauces take me back to the North End of Boston or Little Italy in NYC. The eggplant and chicken dishes are also expertly prepared. The staff is nice and service is always on the mark.

Tim Wiest

Apr 5,2025

Wonderful real Italian food. Don't ask for pineapple on your pizza here because it's authentic and it doesn't exist here. If you want real Italian food and a great atmosphere this is your spot. Always best to make reservations to make sure you have a table as it's always popular due to the good food and service.

Buona Forchetta - Encinitas

Amenities and More

Photos

Reviews For Buona Forchetta - Encinitas

Add a Review

Location

Appreciated by Others