Buona Forchetta

One of the Best Italian restaurants in San Diego with an Excellent variety of amazing appetizers and main courses. The service we enjoyed was 5- Star 🌟 If the reviews allowed a 10- Star, it would be totally deserving. Our server, Nicolette was over-the-top friendly , professional, and so patient with all our food option questions and served us like royalty! Owning a resort myself with a restuarant and tavern, I know food quality must be a 10 and service has to consistently match that to build & retain a loyal repeat customers. BUONA FORCHETTA has both! The Manager, Dario, was exceptional, too.

Buona Forchetta in San Marcos absolutely impressed me! The food tasted so fresh and authentic, and you can feel the love in every dish. The staff was warm, attentive, and made the whole experience feel so welcoming. Definitely one of my new favorite spots in San Marcos!

This is the best . Buona is incredible and the food is amazing. Fresh pasta, outstsnding pizzas and caprese salads. This one is next to college campus and js busy, but worth it. Numerous choices in the menu plus daily specials. The spinach at this location is not quite as good as others, but it was fresh.

I got bucatini w/ buona forchetta and added Polpettine. Sooooo delicious! We came at a time the pizza chef wasn’t in but we didn’t mind waiting til he got back and I’m so glad we did because the starters we got ( focaccia & burrata caprese w/ prosciutto) were amazing !! Drinks could be a little better but still cute.

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.

Simply wonderful. Build your own pasta or pizza from fresh daily ingredients. This place came recommended to us from a business contact and didn’t fail to deliver. The waiter was attentive and charming. When the food arrived the portions were generous, but the star of the show was the flavor. Simple clean and sublime. Would highly recommend a visit here for date night or pretty much any other occasion.

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!

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!

Claire

I got bucatini w/ buona forchetta and added Polpettine. Sooooo delicious! We came at a time the pizza chef wasn’t in but we didn’t mind waiting til he got back and I’m so glad we did because the starters we got ( focaccia & burrata caprese w/ prosciutto) were amazing !! Drinks could be a little better but still cute.

T R Ross

This is the best . Buona is incredible and the food is amazing. Fresh pasta, outstsnding pizzas and caprese salads. This one is next to college campus and js busy, but worth it. Numerous choices in the menu plus daily specials. The spinach at this location is not quite as good as others, but it was fresh.

Ryan P. F.

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.

Ratskrad Noretsym

Simply wonderful. Build your own pasta or pizza from fresh daily ingredients. This place came recommended to us from a business contact and didn’t fail to deliver. The waiter was attentive and charming. When the food arrived the portions were generous, but the star of the show was the flavor. Simple clean and sublime. Would highly recommend a visit here for date night or pretty much any other occasion.

E Berry

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!

Griffen Stapp

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!

I had such an amazing date night here! My boyfriend and I came here and the second we walked in we were greeted so warmly with smiles by Scarlett. I got a delicious bottle of Pinot Grigio and we also ordered the artichokes ( the most amazing artichoke hearts i’ve ever had). We also got the buena forchetta pasta and it was so delicious! Our server Alejandra was so attentive and helpful. Definitely come here!

My family and I have been visiting this location for last year. Always an excellent experience and the food is always outstanding. In the recent months I decided to try the Chef's specials instead of my regular risotto. Every single one that I've tried has been so delicious and well put together. Thank you for always serving excellent food, for the great service that is worth every penny. And to the chef creating these dishes, cheers.

Mally Castaneda

My family and I have been visiting this location for last year. Always an excellent experience and the food is always outstanding. In the recent months I decided to try the Chef's specials instead of my regular risotto. Every single one that I've tried has been so delicious and well put together. Thank you for always serving excellent food, for the great service that is worth every penny. And to the chef creating these dishes, cheers.

Ava Bivins

I had such an amazing date night here! My boyfriend and I came here and the second we walked in we were greeted so warmly with smiles by Scarlett. I got a delicious bottle of Pinot Grigio and we also ordered the artichokes ( the most amazing artichoke hearts i’ve ever had). We also got the buena forchetta pasta and it was so delicious! Our server Alejandra was so attentive and helpful. Definitely come here!

Accessibility: this building is very accessible getting inside, with the door open for people to come in and out of, and lots of seating inside and outside on their covered patio. The bathroom has a single push door to enter, and pull to exit the bathroom. They have one smaller stall and one larger stall, Wheelchair accessible. The bathroom is very dark inside though...not good lighting for those visually impaired (the photos look a lot brighter than it was). The final issue I have with this location is the parking. Most of the parking is a bit far. There is a very small amount of 20 minute parking right in front of the building but they will be strict about giving tickets and towing after that 20 minutes coming in the next week when CSUSM opens and there will be A TON more people and cars. The other parking nearby is in a dirt/gravel parking lot, so uneven, rough ground. The next closest parking after that is the large, covered parking garage, but the walk (or stroll on wheelchair) is much farther. This is not accessible for older people or people who have difficulty walking. This is by far the biggest issue with this location. Experience: the building inside, and their outdoor, covered patio are absolutely beautiful. I love how they have the tables spaced out, and they have different types of chairs to sit in...they have chairs, benches, and couches. You can also sit at the bar inside. The food was good but it wasn't anything super mind-blowing, and I feel it was overpriced. I think you pay more for the location. For 3 meals and no drinks we paid $61. This would be a beautiful place to have a date night or small family dinner or friend gathering though.

+6

Decided to try this Italian restaurant. I was looking forward to trying their pizzas. We ordered 2 pasta dishes and 2 pizzas. The pastas were spaghetti amatriciana, and the other one was penne with buona forchetta sauce. Added meatballs to this last dish. The pizzas were the Lucia that was part of the specials and the Alessandro on the gourmet pizza section. Service was fast and the server was great. Out of the 2 pastas, the amatriciana was better than the buona forchetta. The buona forchetta sauce was very heavy. I liked the variety and combination of flavors in the pizzas but overall the pizzas were ok. I’m picky about the dough and this dough had too much of the burnt flavor that ruined the pizza for me, unfortunately.

+2

Went there for lunch on a Sunday. I've been in San Diego and Encinitas locations and this new location in San Marcos is excellent. Nice terrace and decor. Quiet street. Excellent service, menu with vegan and vegetarian options. Reasonable prices, good portions.

Thank you so much to our server Alejandra!! She was amazing, very attentive and wonderful personality. Very good ambiance, cozy and family friendly. We enjoyed our dinner with great service and very good food! Please don’t skip over their Piera and Martina pizza!!

We made a same day reservation for six using the OpenTable app, and the process was quick and easy. Definitely recommended, as this place fills up fast. We ordered a mix of pastas and pizzas. The pappardelle topped with burrata and amatriciana sauce was very satisfying. The sauce was meaty and tomato forward, and it actually doubled as a great dipping sauce for the pizza crusts. Rich, comforting, and well balanced. For pizza, we went with the Sergio and Martina. Both are around 12 inches and were cooked perfectly with a great crust and well portioned toppings. Easy to share and very enjoyable. We finished with the tiramisu. It was good and something I would order again, though personally I would have preferred a stronger espresso flavor. The restaurant was lively and on the louder side, but still comfortable enough to hold a conversation at the table. Service was attentive throughout the meal, and the ambiance was casual and pleasant. Overall, a solid dining experience. I would definitely come back, though next time I would likely just share a pizza and a pasta rather than ordering multiple dishes. Food: 4 out of 5 Service: 4.5 out of 5 Ambiance: 4 out of 5 A reliable spot for Italian food and a good option for group dining in San Marcos.

The food was really good. I feel like it lacked a little spice to it. Could have had more flavor. I really enjoyed it though. I would recommend it for sure.

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.

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.

Nick Su

We made a same day reservation for six using the OpenTable app, and the process was quick and easy. Definitely recommended, as this place fills up fast. We ordered a mix of pastas and pizzas. The pappardelle topped with burrata and amatriciana sauce was very satisfying. The sauce was meaty and tomato forward, and it actually doubled as a great dipping sauce for the pizza crusts. Rich, comforting, and well balanced. For pizza, we went with the Sergio and Martina. Both are around 12 inches and were cooked perfectly with a great crust and well portioned toppings. Easy to share and very enjoyable. We finished with the tiramisu. It was good and something I would order again, though personally I would have preferred a stronger espresso flavor. The restaurant was lively and on the louder side, but still comfortable enough to hold a conversation at the table. Service was attentive throughout the meal, and the ambiance was casual and pleasant. Overall, a solid dining experience. I would definitely come back, though next time I would likely just share a pizza and a pasta rather than ordering multiple dishes. Food: 4 out of 5 Service: 4.5 out of 5 Ambiance: 4 out of 5 A reliable spot for Italian food and a good option for group dining in San Marcos.

Wes Young

The food was really good. I feel like it lacked a little spice to it. Could have had more flavor. I really enjoyed it though. I would recommend it for sure.

Sara C.

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.

charles amor

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.

We sat out on the patio because the weather was so nice. We were seated right away. The waitress was very nice and informative on the different items on the menu. I had the shrimp scampi. It was fine but I have had better. The tail shells were still on so I had to remove them. My granddaughter had the child size spaghetti. She ran out of the meatballs and sauce before she ran out of noodles. I ordered the drink with orange, pomegranate, and tequila. It was really good.

Kaylene Dennison

We sat out on the patio because the weather was so nice. We were seated right away. The waitress was very nice and informative on the different items on the menu. I had the shrimp scampi. It was fine but I have had better. The tail shells were still on so I had to remove them. My granddaughter had the child size spaghetti. She ran out of the meatballs and sauce before she ran out of noodles. I ordered the drink with orange, pomegranate, and tequila. It was really good.

Went on a Wednesday night at 6 and it was open seating. With hardly anyone there I hoped to get better service. The lack of interest was annoying. The drinks took too long and they never checked if we wanted another. Had to flag down the busser. Food was dropped off and never was asked if we wanted Parmesean. Just uninterested service. *The espresso martini was delicious. Calamari is always lightly breaded with a delicious sauce. It's a must The pasta added to the Pappardelle with Aglio olio e peperoncino added shrimp was amazing. Gluten free gnocchi with pesto is another favorite but very rich and filling.

Food was just ok. I was so excited to get the pizza, it hardly had any toppings! You can see it in the photo. The crust was soggy. Kids pasta was ok but not much flavor. The garbanzo soup also was too plain. Some kind of green on it could’ve made it a much better dish, like chives, basil, or parsley. Overall, service was just ok too. For four of us, only very little bread and olive oil and vinegar was brought to the table and they failed to add to it even when we asked. It’s a nice place but I think the food and service can use a booster.

+2

Great ambience and nice decor! The food miss the flavor and taste, it tasted pretty bland. We ordered several options of pasta and pretty much everyone on the table had the same opinion that it lacked flavor.

+3

It's a lovely place with a good atmosphere. I think it might be overpriced for the food that you are getting. If you are getting pasta make sure you pick the homemade pasta it tastes so much better than the other pasta options . The parking kinda sucks but there's free parking you just need to walk a little.

I ordered the pasta with carbonara sauce; however, when I got my plate, it was way too salty. My daughter asked to try it, as our salt tastes differ, and she said, "Oh yes, way too salty." I told the server, and they took it back. When I got my dish again, it was not any better—the pasta tasted like egg, and as a cook, you rushed the process because you were mad someone returned your dish. I would not order this again, and my best bet is to go to Eugenio Italian Ristorante.

A solid chain for Italian pasta and pizza but nothing out of this world in terms of flavor! The eggplant tortino was tasteless but I would recommend the Nicola or a pappardelle pasta. The atmosphere was also quite chaotic and loud — definitely better suited for a more social night out with friends rather than an intimate night. I do prefer the Encinitas location but definitely try out Buona Forchetta once in your life!

Selina Oeien

A solid chain for Italian pasta and pizza but nothing out of this world in terms of flavor! The eggplant tortino was tasteless but I would recommend the Nicola or a pappardelle pasta. The atmosphere was also quite chaotic and loud — definitely better suited for a more social night out with friends rather than an intimate night. I do prefer the Encinitas location but definitely try out Buona Forchetta once in your life!

Overall, based on my experience, I can't recommend Buona Forchatta's San Marcos location (I've yet to try the other locations). I came in as a single diner around 5pm on a Tuesday and was promptly seated in a corner (next to a cement support beam) whereby it took about 10 minutes to be given water and greeted by the waiter (maybe they just didn't like my ugly face, who knows). They weren't busy, at least not by the looks of it, though they did just open so I give the staff the benefit of the doubt there. The food on the other hand (in my opinion) missed the mark quite significantly. I ordered an aranciata (basically an Italian orange soda), polipo salad, and a pizza (the Regina Margherita). When the aranciata came out the can was dented, while it was probably fine to drink, I have a food safety quirk about drinking from dented cans so I decided not to drink it (heh, don't take a microbiology class it'll make you paranoid like me). Then the pizza came out, which was somehow both burnt and wet (a conundrum wrapped in a paradox, a feat worthy of an award in itself), not soggy but completely soaked to the point where the pizza was flaccid and impossible to pick up by hand, as if it handn't had enough time in the oven, the flavor profile was okay, far from the the best but it still ranks above Chuck-e-Cheese pizza in my book. I took two bites of the pizza and decided it wasn't entirely worth the calories. Almost having forgotten about the salad, and preparing to pay, it came out. In the waiter's defense he did apologize profusely and informed me that the salad was indeed supposed to come out first. The salad looked amazing (I wish I had taken a photo) but unfortunately looks can be deceiving. The octopus had a chewy over-cooked texture and the potatoes seemed raw which was off-putting, I think I only had 4 bites and asked for a box so as not to offend. The food sat undisturbed in my fridge for several days and was eventually discarded. There are so many good reviews here that I might give it another shot. I also wouldn't let one bad review from someone that is very picky about Italian food determine where you go to eat, this is just my experience and would suggest, if you have the money (there are less expensive pizza places in town), and are curious, to experience it for yourself.

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.

This restaurant used to be one of our family’s favorites, but sadly, things have gone downhill in a big way. We came to celebrate my daughter’s birthday, and from the start, the experience was disappointing. We sat, ignored for 20 minutes before anyone even acknowledged our table. When service finally came, it was slow, indifferent, and felt like we were more of an inconvenience than valued guests. The food and attention to detail were just as careless — we were charged for an extra kids’ meal after my daughter finished her initial one that they brought us, which they only gave her a partial portion to begin with! But even after being charged, they forgot the sauve that goes with it! Additionally, my daughter’s birthday dessert never arrived at all. For a special occasion, it was especially disheartening. After waiting and waiting, we finally gave up and asked for the check just to leave. It’s frustrating to see a place that once meant so much to our family lose the quality and hospitality that made it special. I hope they can turn things around, but right now, it’s simply not the restaurant it used to be. We won't be back!

First time getting food from here. Love beets, so I ordered a beet salad to go. Got home and opened up container, salad only had 2 little quarters of beets...the rest was greens. Should be called green salad topped with beets on the menu. Ridiculous!

The quality has degraded here. I waited 35min to receive my food after the order was submitted. If it wasn’t for us ordering bread as an appetizer, we would’ve been sitting hungry the entire time. The portion of lasagna for what they charge has change drastically, it’s not even worth it. It was once good, but I won’t be coming back.

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!

Josh Aguilar

The quality has degraded here. I waited 35min to receive my food after the order was submitted. If it wasn’t for us ordering bread as an appetizer, we would’ve been sitting hungry the entire time. The portion of lasagna for what they charge has change drastically, it’s not even worth it. It was once good, but I won’t be coming back.

Swetha Uppula

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!

Food was good, service was not so good. Way too long to wait for your dinner and they forgot one order, it didn't show up till we had finished. I'm a generous tipper for good service, but when we got our check a 20% service fee was automatically added. (Yes i understand the service charge for a larger table) so 20% for poor service bummer. We were 10 it wasn't busy, so very disappointed.

Ordered two seafood dishes tonight. The seared scallops I ordered were grey/brown with no sear. They would fall apart with barely any pressure with a fork. The prawn in the wife’s seafood soup was the same, the meat just mushy within the prawn. Either terrible cook or cheap product. Either way not worth $40 per dish. Ambiance and service was okay but the food was mediocre. Much better Italian food in the area in the same price range

Jeff Tate

Food was good, service was not so good. Way too long to wait for your dinner and they forgot one order, it didn't show up till we had finished. I'm a generous tipper for good service, but when we got our check a 20% service fee was automatically added. (Yes i understand the service charge for a larger table) so 20% for poor service bummer. We were 10 it wasn't busy, so very disappointed.

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 😢

The food here is good, but ordering online or through Toast is the absolute worst. If you call, they only have one phone line, so if they’re already on a call, you’re sent to voicemail, and I have no idea who’s even checking it. Online ordering is only available through Toast, which is extremely inconvenient. Delivery through Toast takes around two hours, which is unacceptable. My recommendation to management: please sign up for more than one phone line or a holding feature and for online use Uber Eats or DoorDash. It would make the ordering experience so much easier and much more reliable.

When we came in, no one welcomed us. A girl eventually came over, but she was chewing food while talking to us—she was “apologizing,” yet still chewing the whole time. Overall, the service was far from excellent. The pizza was burnt, and the server didn’t even know what the special dish was. They handed us the menus and then just disappeared. Definitely not coming in this location anymore.

Unfortunately, I had the worst experience in San Marcos. The pizza oven was broken, the service is awful and unwelcoming. Encinitas and South Park, well done. San Marcos, we were charged twice for the same awful dining experience, and we were rushed and felt unwelcome. We won’t return back to the San Marcos location. So unfortunate, especially in a new location.

Lovely kind wait staff and servers, unfortunately the food totally sucks. The pizzas are ok. Everything else is obviously cooked by an untrained rookie of a chef, doing their damndest to make a flavorful plate of food. Im sure its the chains recipes fault, but goodness gracious, it was just so incredibly below subpar. Im sure for the average family or person who doesnt cook at all, they'd find it incredible. But if you know how to cook, are familiar with the history behind the dishes served, or you've ever been to a really good authentic Italian place, youre going to walk out overcharged and underappreciative. Sorry to say we wont be back.

I didn’t like the way it was presented or tasted. The presentation is much prettier in the picture and everything that’s hot was on top of salad. Personally I don’t like cold foods and hot foods mixed like that. Nothing was seasoned the sauce tasted like nothing. The egg was ok i ended up tossing everything. $20 for the bowl n it was bland and tasteless. Also the drink was ok but not amazing. Indoor vibes and employees are very polite. Although it lacks warmth, I walked in wasn’t greeted couldn’t figure the kiosk out . If I’m paying for the whole experience right ? I hated it

Christina McBreen

I didn’t like the way it was presented or tasted. The presentation is much prettier in the picture and everything that’s hot was on top of salad. Personally I don’t like cold foods and hot foods mixed like that. Nothing was seasoned the sauce tasted like nothing. The egg was ok i ended up tossing everything. $20 for the bowl n it was bland and tasteless. Also the drink was ok but not amazing. Indoor vibes and employees are very polite. Although it lacks warmth, I walked in wasn’t greeted couldn’t figure the kiosk out . If I’m paying for the whole experience right ? I hated it

I had really high hopes for this restaurant. It’s in a cute area and had a cute patio and it was recommended on a GF blog. The “GF focaccia” as the appetizer was actually a just pizza crust that came burned and overcooked. The GF gnocchi was one of the worst and weirdest dishes I have ever had (and I was GF in the 90’s so that’s saying something). It was hard and tasted oddly bitter and the sauce was gooey and also spicy? Honestly one of the strangest things I’ve ever had. I took 2 bites and sent it back and the waitress said: “yeah it’s kinda gross, I’ll replace it.” Even the staff knows it’s a horrible dish. I ordered a pesto pasta and the noddles were cooked but also dry and the pesto sauce was horrible oily and bitter. And it was 4.50 for a 12oz can of soda that was not refillable. The waitress staff were overworked and they all seemed annoyed and unhappy (though they were not rude and were always kind and polite). It just didn’t seem like a great place to work. Honestly, it was the worst 50$ meal I’ve ever had. Would NEVER recommend this place.

Amanda Mertes

Lovely kind wait staff and servers, unfortunately the food totally sucks. The pizzas are ok. Everything else is obviously cooked by an untrained rookie of a chef, doing their damndest to make a flavorful plate of food. Im sure its the chains recipes fault, but goodness gracious, it was just so incredibly below subpar. Im sure for the average family or person who doesnt cook at all, they'd find it incredible. But if you know how to cook, are familiar with the history behind the dishes served, or you've ever been to a really good authentic Italian place, youre going to walk out overcharged and underappreciative. Sorry to say we wont be back.

Emma Vdoviak

I had really high hopes for this restaurant. It’s in a cute area and had a cute patio and it was recommended on a GF blog. The “GF focaccia” as the appetizer was actually a just pizza crust that came burned and overcooked. The GF gnocchi was one of the worst and weirdest dishes I have ever had (and I was GF in the 90’s so that’s saying something). It was hard and tasted oddly bitter and the sauce was gooey and also spicy? Honestly one of the strangest things I’ve ever had. I took 2 bites and sent it back and the waitress said: “yeah it’s kinda gross, I’ll replace it.” Even the staff knows it’s a horrible dish. I ordered a pesto pasta and the noddles were cooked but also dry and the pesto sauce was horrible oily and bitter. And it was 4.50 for a 12oz can of soda that was not refillable. The waitress staff were overworked and they all seemed annoyed and unhappy (though they were not rude and were always kind and polite). It just didn’t seem like a great place to work. Honestly, it was the worst 50$ meal I’ve ever had. Would NEVER recommend this place.