Buona Italia Caffe

This location is small, but it makes up for the food. I had the linguini with clams on a tomato sauce. Delicious. We also ordered the Salmon. Not dry at all and a white fish dish. We would definitely come back again. This is where el toro loco used to be.

Fantastic salmon picatta and truffle gnocci w mushrooms

We really enjoyed our lunch here. I'm ashamed we live so close and waited this long to try it out! Our family will be regulars now. The folks working here are so sweet and run a clean kitchen. Our food was really delicious and all ingredients were clearly fresh. d The standouts were homemade Gnocchi, Meatballs and marinara and Chicken Picatta. Our table of four had nothing but compliments and smiles. So glad this place exists in Pacifica!

We visited there first time. It is exactly how we like our restaurants- no frills, nice people, great food. We ordered pear arugula salad, salmon piccata and branzino. Everything was perfect. Beans with the fish were done just perfectly. Fish was fresh and flaky.

This really tiny local gem has surprisingly good Italian food, and as a full-blooded Sicilian, I’m pretty picky. You’ve got to be really observant before ordering because aside from the chalkboard menu, there are additional items posted on papers taped all over the front counter. You order and pay at the counter and your food come out later. I had the Chicken Marsala and my girlfriend had the Chicken Parmigiana. Both serving were very generous. The Marsala came with very fresh green beans, zucchini and baby carrots. The Marsala sauce was excellent with savory richness of the mushrooms perfectly complementing the sweetness of the Marsala wine. The chicken was cooked perfectly, tender and juicy. The Chicken Parmagiana was also perfectly cooked -and huge! The marinara sauce was bright and super tasty. When the plates came out neither of us thought we could finish them. When done the plates were clean. Highly recommended.

What a great, cozy little Italian restaurant. My bruschetta and lasagna were prepared to perfection. Fast and friendly service. So wonderful!

Food prepared straight from the heart. Magical place. We had the breakfast there and was absolutely fantastic.

Very tasty food, amazing service. Very friendly workers !!

Absolutely phenomenal food! Passed through Pacifica for the night and stopped here based on the great reviews. Pastas, calamari, and cannolis were delicious! We arrived about 25 mins before closing and still had great service.

Absolutely one of THE BEST Italian restaurants in the Bay Area!!!! The quality is outstanding!!! This is a family run establishment and it shows in the warm welcome and the care taken to provide a delicious meal. The chef is friendly and skilled! Their (homemade) pasta is TOP-NOTCH! Their "specials menu" is always creative, fun, and absolutely DELICIOUS!!! I'm a return customer and will continue to be even if I move a great distance away! They're THAT good!!! Unfortunately, it's a bit small, only about four tables. Two that seat 4, and two that seat 2, so depending on how busy it is, you might be waiting outside. Fortunately there's Winter's Tavern a few doors away for a cocktail while you wait. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND this wonderful restaurant!!!

Really impressed by the quality and value. My fish was excellent. My wife usually orders linguini and clams in Italian restaurants, and often they come out fishy and unappetizing. These were fresh and delicious though.

This is an amazing food experience, highest marks for the bruschetta , had it three times and I will have it EVERY time I go. The meatballs with the spaghetti are a biblical experience, and must had, they really should make them into an appetizer !

We got the clam linguini and the fresh branzino. Delicious and well presented food. Straightforward menu. Fast and friendly service. The cannolis are amazing!! What a great lunch!!

Very nice little place serving homey and delicious Italian food. I had the linguine with clams, and the portion size was just right - I had a clam with every mouthful of pasta. Husband had the spaghetti carbonara and was also very happy. Americanos were also strong and rich, better than most coffee shops. We'll be back :)

Stopped by for a quick lunch. Place is clean and quaint with plenty of natural light. We had the pastrami panini and the smoked salmon and goat cheese omelette with a side salad. I'd recommend ordering the side salad as the dishes were naturally salty. Would recommend for anyone who wants a quick bite :)

Just had a meal with friends and everything we had was awesome. Small place so not room for a big party but the food is amazing. Highly recommend it. Had the pastrami panini, meatballs and spaghetti, calamari, ravioli and all we were all pleased

We were on a whale sighting trip to Pacifica and we headed over to this place for lunch it’s super close to the Pacifica municipal pier. The place is cozy like just 4 tables and a small kitchen. The menu is pretty impressive however what stood out was accommodating our request for a no meat or pescatarian dish. The staff was kind enough to understand that we don’t eat meat and whipped up some delicious pasta that was also a bit like a warm soup on cloudy and cold summer day and it turned out to be a completely satisfying meal. I think we will come back here on our next trip to Pacifica.

Best little Italian restaurant in Pacifica! I’ve tried severalthings - grilled chicken panini, spaghetti carbonara, spaghetti and meatballs, chicken parmigiana- and haven’t had a bad meal. The staff is friendly, kind and welcoming. The space is small but clean and cute. Definitely recommend!

This place is small but mighty!!!! The chef serves your table himself and pours his love into each plate. Do not pass over this lovely eatery. Keep them alive by eating the amazing food and tipping well. It will be worth it!!!

I had a great experience, very excited to have this in the neighborhood. I had the Cesar salad and lasagna. The Caesar salad dressing was delicious and crisp, and the lasagna was fresh and rich. They are new to the neighborhood and very excited to be here. It is a family-run restaurant, and there is a lot of pride, joy, and care that goes into the food and business. I will be back to try the Panini‘s and look forward to working through the menu!

5 star experience. Linguine with clams.

This is a tiny little hole in the wall with only about 12 seats with table tops inside. I had the eggplant Parmesan with green beans on the side. The sauce was unique to this place and I loved it. The atmosphere was friendly with people chatting with each other across tables. The owner either knew the other people in the restaurant or was just super friendly to chit chat with them. I was with friends so I didn't count the amount of time that it took for dinner to be prepared, but the place was full and I didn't feel like I was waiting too long. I have to reiterate that the food was delicious. This is definitely a repeat restaurant for me.

Absolutely loved dining at Buona Italia in Pacifica! I had the Caprino, French fries, garlic bread, and eggplant Parmesan—all were incredibly tasty and full of flavor. The place is cozy and comfortable, and the staff is super friendly with warm smiles. A great spot for delicious food and a welcoming atmosphere. Highly recommend!

A very small establishment but the food is amazing. The staff is really friendly and there is a lot to choose from but not overwhelming. And the food we had was cooked to perfection and really good. A good authentic pasta place

Arturo’s Buona Italia Café is a hidden gem offering genuine, down-to-earth Italian cuisine at outstanding value and authentic flavors. Family-owned and full of warmth, Arturo is always there with a big smile, making everyone feel at home. The food is excellent! Fresh, homemade pasta and sauces make every dish shine. The pear salad is crisp and delicious, the calamari is light and crunchy, and staples like bolognese, chicken parmigiana, and lasagna are truly comfort food. However, what truly makes this place special is the daily specials. Arturo consistently comes up with new creations—think gnocchi al tartufo, asparagus soup, or other surprises that even the most seasoned food lovers wouldn’t anticipate. A visit here feels like an adventure, offering something new to try every time. If you're looking for authentic flavors, great prices, and a modest and inviting atmosphere, this spot rivals the best neighborhood Italian restaurants in New York or San Francisco. I highly recommend it!

First time and I will be back! My friend and I split an arugula salad with fresh pears, walnuts and, I think, gorgonzola. It was delicious! Plus pasta Alfredo with shrimp 🍤. Sooo good! The food was fresh and service friendly. It's a small restaurant but warm and inviting. Saw a few other dishes served and it all looked 👌. Will definitely go back. * I've been back 3 more times. Each time the meals have been outstanding. Yesterday we had Butternut Squash Ravioli. Delicious! Freshly made!! Starting to feel like a regular and there's nothing wrong with that! 🥰🍝

Brian King

This is a tiny little hole in the wall with only about 12 seats with table tops inside. I had the eggplant Parmesan with green beans on the side. The sauce was unique to this place and I loved it. The atmosphere was friendly with people chatting with each other across tables. The owner either knew the other people in the restaurant or was just super friendly to chit chat with them. I was with friends so I didn't count the amount of time that it took for dinner to be prepared, but the place was full and I didn't feel like I was waiting too long. I have to reiterate that the food was delicious. This is definitely a repeat restaurant for me.

Walter Saltos

Arturo’s Buona Italia Café is a hidden gem offering genuine, down-to-earth Italian cuisine at outstanding value and authentic flavors. Family-owned and full of warmth, Arturo is always there with a big smile, making everyone feel at home. The food is excellent! Fresh, homemade pasta and sauces make every dish shine. The pear salad is crisp and delicious, the calamari is light and crunchy, and staples like bolognese, chicken parmigiana, and lasagna are truly comfort food. However, what truly makes this place special is the daily specials. Arturo consistently comes up with new creations—think gnocchi al tartufo, asparagus soup, or other surprises that even the most seasoned food lovers wouldn’t anticipate. A visit here feels like an adventure, offering something new to try every time. If you're looking for authentic flavors, great prices, and a modest and inviting atmosphere, this spot rivals the best neighborhood Italian restaurants in New York or San Francisco. I highly recommend it!

Srikanth Patil

Absolutely loved dining at Buona Italia in Pacifica! I had the Caprino, French fries, garlic bread, and eggplant Parmesan—all were incredibly tasty and full of flavor. The place is cozy and comfortable, and the staff is super friendly with warm smiles. A great spot for delicious food and a welcoming atmosphere. Highly recommend!

Jer king

A very small establishment but the food is amazing. The staff is really friendly and there is a lot to choose from but not overwhelming. And the food we had was cooked to perfection and really good. A good authentic pasta place

Tu

We got the clam linguini and the fresh branzino. Delicious and well presented food. Straightforward menu. Fast and friendly service. The cannolis are amazing!! What a great lunch!!

Ashley Chwastyk

Very nice little place serving homey and delicious Italian food. I had the linguine with clams, and the portion size was just right - I had a clam with every mouthful of pasta. Husband had the spaghetti carbonara and was also very happy. Americanos were also strong and rich, better than most coffee shops. We'll be back :)

Sneha Mirajkar

We were on a whale sighting trip to Pacifica and we headed over to this place for lunch it’s super close to the Pacifica municipal pier. The place is cozy like just 4 tables and a small kitchen. The menu is pretty impressive however what stood out was accommodating our request for a no meat or pescatarian dish. The staff was kind enough to understand that we don’t eat meat and whipped up some delicious pasta that was also a bit like a warm soup on cloudy and cold summer day and it turned out to be a completely satisfying meal. I think we will come back here on our next trip to Pacifica.

Diane

First time and I will be back! My friend and I split an arugula salad with fresh pears, walnuts and, I think, gorgonzola. It was delicious! Plus pasta Alfredo with shrimp 🍤. Sooo good! The food was fresh and service friendly. It's a small restaurant but warm and inviting. Saw a few other dishes served and it all looked 👌. Will definitely go back. * I've been back 3 more times. Each time the meals have been outstanding. Yesterday we had Butternut Squash Ravioli. Delicious! Freshly made!! Starting to feel like a regular and there's nothing wrong with that! 🥰🍝

Ryan Lucke

5 star experience. Linguine with clams.

Anne Jolene Cuaresma

Stopped by for a quick lunch. Place is clean and quaint with plenty of natural light. We had the pastrami panini and the smoked salmon and goat cheese omelette with a side salad. I'd recommend ordering the side salad as the dishes were naturally salty. Would recommend for anyone who wants a quick bite :)

Bonkoner

Just had a meal with friends and everything we had was awesome. Small place so not room for a big party but the food is amazing. Highly recommend it. Had the pastrami panini, meatballs and spaghetti, calamari, ravioli and all we were all pleased

Jenna Jayroe

Best little Italian restaurant in Pacifica! I’ve tried severalthings - grilled chicken panini, spaghetti carbonara, spaghetti and meatballs, chicken parmigiana- and haven’t had a bad meal. The staff is friendly, kind and welcoming. The space is small but clean and cute. Definitely recommend!

Sierra Barnett

This place is small but mighty!!!! The chef serves your table himself and pours his love into each plate. Do not pass over this lovely eatery. Keep them alive by eating the amazing food and tipping well. It will be worth it!!!

Justin Price

I had a great experience, very excited to have this in the neighborhood. I had the Cesar salad and lasagna. The Caesar salad dressing was delicious and crisp, and the lasagna was fresh and rich. They are new to the neighborhood and very excited to be here. It is a family-run restaurant, and there is a lot of pride, joy, and care that goes into the food and business. I will be back to try the Panini‘s and look forward to working through the menu!

This place is easily some of the best Italian food in the state honestly, it rivals Joe’s in Westlake at a fraction of the price. The flavors are spot-on: simple, high-quality, and incredibly satisfying. Portions are perfect too—you leave full without feeling heavy. Before coming, I read some reviews. Shane mentioned the sauce wasn’t good… but I have to respectfully disagree. The sauce here is rich, balanced, and honestly some of the best I’ve had. Maybe it just wasn’t his style, and that’s okay! Norma said the portions felt small. Personally, I thought they were exactly right authentic Italian portions, not oversized, but definitely filling. If you enjoy real, well-crafted Italian food, you’ll love this place. Highly recommend!

This place is real good. The food was tasty the chicken parmigiana with green beans sounds off no spaghetti 🍝 but it was real fresh and good. 👍🏼 the chicken picatta too. I would recommend this if you are Pacifica We did take out and it was still nice and hot and fresh.

Analía García

This place is real good. The food was tasty the chicken parmigiana with green beans sounds off no spaghetti 🍝 but it was real fresh and good. 👍🏼 the chicken picatta too. I would recommend this if you are Pacifica We did take out and it was still nice and hot and fresh.

James Bean

This place is easily some of the best Italian food in the state honestly, it rivals Joe’s in Westlake at a fraction of the price. The flavors are spot-on: simple, high-quality, and incredibly satisfying. Portions are perfect too—you leave full without feeling heavy. Before coming, I read some reviews. Shane mentioned the sauce wasn’t good… but I have to respectfully disagree. The sauce here is rich, balanced, and honestly some of the best I’ve had. Maybe it just wasn’t his style, and that’s okay! Norma said the portions felt small. Personally, I thought they were exactly right authentic Italian portions, not oversized, but definitely filling. If you enjoy real, well-crafted Italian food, you’ll love this place. Highly recommend!

Jason McKenna

Absolutely one of THE BEST Italian restaurants in the Bay Area!!!! The quality is outstanding!!! This is a family run establishment and it shows in the warm welcome and the care taken to provide a delicious meal. The chef is friendly and skilled! Their (homemade) pasta is TOP-NOTCH! Their "specials menu" is always creative, fun, and absolutely DELICIOUS!!! I'm a return customer and will continue to be even if I move a great distance away! They're THAT good!!! Unfortunately, it's a bit small, only about four tables. Two that seat 4, and two that seat 2, so depending on how busy it is, you might be waiting outside. Fortunately there's Winter's Tavern a few doors away for a cocktail while you wait. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND this wonderful restaurant!!!

Eggplant Parmigiana was generous, with an Italian hearty homemade flavor. A small small place, seats about fourteen. Fifteen feet wide. Sincerely good family style service The take out service was a steady stream Interestingly, no prices on the chalkboard and only menu. Good street parking. I would happily return when in the area to try the linguine with clams. While there the entire staff met in the small kitchen and sang happy birthday to a family member. Sweet.

The fresh Branzino was the star of our meal. I will be back to try other menu items! Edit: I've been here many more times since. I like everything. However, I did not like the Ciopinno. I added a picture of it. They just don't sell enough seafood for it to be good.

The location of this little cafe is so cool, close to the Pacifica pier that it is a must visit. The menu is also very good with sandwiches, snacks and coffee. The ambience is simple but there are some paintings there made by a local artist. The best part are the cozy benches placed outside where you can chill. The barista was very courteous to us and I will definitely visit this place again.

Good food. Only 4 tables inside 2 outside but the food came out quick and they give you a little salad and bread, with the omelet at least. The Italian sausage is a little spicy aka perfect

Darren Lobb

Good food. Only 4 tables inside 2 outside but the food came out quick and they give you a little salad and bread, with the omelet at least. The Italian sausage is a little spicy aka perfect

Let me start saying i hold the bar high for all restaurants but especially Italian food.The pear salad was really good. The meatballs were not good. I think they are probably frozen. The sauce lacked any flavors. Seemed like just tomato sauce. The spinach ravioli filling was tasty...but on the menu said a butter, sage sauce and it was presented on top of red sauce. The service was really good and friendly.

Well the food was okay, needed some salt, but the biggest thing was I found a rock in my food. Not sure how it got in there but I don't get why this place is so hyped up

I'm a bit frustrated right now as I feel the menu is misleading. I ordered the ravioli. The ravioli themselves were homemade and well filled. However, the menu said it came with a sage butter sauce but it was served with a tomato sauce which while flavorful, was not what I expected. It was kind of pricey and disappointing. My husband had the lasagna and it was very tasty. The staff were friendly. Maybe I just need to give them another chance?

Wasn't too fond of the food, but the service was good. The carbonara was kinda flavorless and the spinach gnocchi were so overpriced for what you get. The red sauce with the gnocchi was very good though.

Really disappointed with the ravioli, watery sauce taste, flavorless, almost not filled with anything, this dish is better at any buffet, I'm reading the reviews, will definitely try again, but I'm pushing myself not to leave one star, definitely disappointed to say at least.

Shrimp Linguini and Spinach Ravioli was good. The pricey Fresh Branzino Fish in butter, lemon sauce was a big disappointment as a TAKE OUT. The fish was ok, however the sauce was super thin, watery and not seasoned well. You cannot pair this with anything because of how runny the liquid was. Advice for the Chef - Lemon butter sauce for Fish should not be runny, but rather have a creamy, glossy consistency thick enough to coat the fish. A runny sauce is a sign of a broken sauce or too much liquid. It can be fixed by thickening it with a bit more butter or a thickening agent, or by simmering it slightly longer. Lastly - if one sees the sauce is broken, better not to serve it to the customer. If your approach is to make it watery - please speak to customers and get their opinion as well. Please note - I literally had to dispose of the watery liquid in the sink. Also test this out - hot creamy sauce in take out box - you added a big chunk of lemon, does it break the sauce and make it runny? This is what Google said - please take some learning out of this for future takeouts involving lemon butter sauce - Yes, a chunk of lemon can cause a lemon butter sauce to become watery in a hot takeout container. The excess heat from the food, combined with the extra liquid and acid from the lemon, will likely "break" the delicate emulsion that holds the sauce together, causing the fat and water to separate. How a lemon butter sauce breaks- A lemon butter sauce, like a beurre blanc, is a fragile emulsion of butterfat and liquid. To keep the sauce together, the butter must be whisked into a liquid base over very low heat. However, the emulsion can easily be ruined by: - Excess heat: The temperature inside a hot takeout box will likely exceed the threshold for a butter emulsion, causing the butterfat and water to separate. - Holding for too long: An emulsified sauce is meant to be served immediately. Holding it, even in a warm state, causes the emulsion to destabilize over time. - Too much acid: While acid helps build an emulsion, a sudden increase from the juices of a lemon chunk can disrupt the balance, especially when heated. - Extra liquid: The additional water from the lemon juice will be released and combine with the rest of the sauce, thinning it out. How to prevent watery sauce in takeout To ensure your lemon butter sauce stays creamy and cohesive for takeout, follow these steps: - Use lemon zest instead of a chunk: Use the grated zest of a lemon to get all the citrus flavor without adding a rush of extra liquid. - Add an extra stabilizer: Some chefs add a small amount of heavy cream to a lemon butter sauce to help it hold its emulsified state for longer. - Pack the lemon separately: If you want a fresh squeeze of lemon with your meal, request the restaurant pack a lemon wedge on the side

S P

Shrimp Linguini and Spinach Ravioli was good. The pricey Fresh Branzino Fish in butter, lemon sauce was a big disappointment as a TAKE OUT. The fish was ok, however the sauce was super thin, watery and not seasoned well. You cannot pair this with anything because of how runny the liquid was. Advice for the Chef - Lemon butter sauce for Fish should not be runny, but rather have a creamy, glossy consistency thick enough to coat the fish. A runny sauce is a sign of a broken sauce or too much liquid. It can be fixed by thickening it with a bit more butter or a thickening agent, or by simmering it slightly longer. Lastly - if one sees the sauce is broken, better not to serve it to the customer. If your approach is to make it watery - please speak to customers and get their opinion as well. Please note - I literally had to dispose of the watery liquid in the sink. Also test this out - hot creamy sauce in take out box - you added a big chunk of lemon, does it break the sauce and make it runny? This is what Google said - please take some learning out of this for future takeouts involving lemon butter sauce - Yes, a chunk of lemon can cause a lemon butter sauce to become watery in a hot takeout container. The excess heat from the food, combined with the extra liquid and acid from the lemon, will likely "break" the delicate emulsion that holds the sauce together, causing the fat and water to separate. How a lemon butter sauce breaks- A lemon butter sauce, like a beurre blanc, is a fragile emulsion of butterfat and liquid. To keep the sauce together, the butter must be whisked into a liquid base over very low heat. However, the emulsion can easily be ruined by: - Excess heat: The temperature inside a hot takeout box will likely exceed the threshold for a butter emulsion, causing the butterfat and water to separate. - Holding for too long: An emulsified sauce is meant to be served immediately. Holding it, even in a warm state, causes the emulsion to destabilize over time. - Too much acid: While acid helps build an emulsion, a sudden increase from the juices of a lemon chunk can disrupt the balance, especially when heated. - Extra liquid: The additional water from the lemon juice will be released and combine with the rest of the sauce, thinning it out. How to prevent watery sauce in takeout To ensure your lemon butter sauce stays creamy and cohesive for takeout, follow these steps: - Use lemon zest instead of a chunk: Use the grated zest of a lemon to get all the citrus flavor without adding a rush of extra liquid. - Add an extra stabilizer: Some chefs add a small amount of heavy cream to a lemon butter sauce to help it hold its emulsified state for longer. - Pack the lemon separately: If you want a fresh squeeze of lemon with your meal, request the restaurant pack a lemon wedge on the side

Felt like i was eating baby food. Just finished my 40 dollar meal now im goin to the burger joint next door smh im not fat either

I see a lot of high reviews. The food….did I just pay $20 for spaghetti and meatballs and it taste and saucy like Chef Boyardee can food back in the 80s. No flavor, orange sauce. Grocery store deli spaghetti tastes better.

Shane C.

I see a lot of high reviews. The food….did I just pay $20 for spaghetti and meatballs and it taste and saucy like Chef Boyardee can food back in the 80s. No flavor, orange sauce. Grocery store deli spaghetti tastes better.