If you’re looking for authentic Italian eats in a safe, outdoor setting, park yourself at Garage Buona Forchetta. Not only will you enjoy perfection in pasta, pizza, and in-house specials, you’ll be treated to a playful taste of Halloween.
When everything feels a little different, it’s fun to celebrate some normalcy. Like, a fun date night on the town amidst the changing of the seasons. For the COVID-weary among us, restaurant dining can be a challenge when outdoor seating is limited. Fortunately, Garage Buona Forchetta has lots of outdoor dining, along the street and on its sun-drenched back patio. Add some spooky Halloween decor–creepy stagecoach, animatronic wolf man, a giant skeleton and an evil clown–and you’ve got a killer venue.
It’s a recipe for success.
The food, of course, is why we came here. But let’s start with the wine.
The wine list is extensive and offers lots of regional labels from Tuscany, Sardinia, and Sicily which is a nice change from typical California reds. We started with a sangiovese which was bright and tasty with hints of cherry, and moved on to a super Tuscan, succulent and flavorful, full of berry. And, did you know, you can buy bottles of wine from the in-house market to take home, and add them to your bill at a discount? Now you know!
For appetizers, we started with the beet salad with organic mixed greens, lentils, goat cheese, parmigiana and balsamic. This refreshing and savory salad featured both red and golden beets, and was quickly devoured by the fork full.
And, why not throw in a fried pizza as another app? The delicious Rebecca le fritte came topped with mozzarella, prosciutto cotto, and mushrooms. It was so good, it felt a little naughty. The deep-fried crust was crispy on the outside, doughy and delicious on the inside. Turns out fried pizza is a thing; it originated in Naples and is said to be as Neapolitan as buffalo mozzarella.
Of course, you can’t end an Italian dinner without dessert The waitress recommended the tiramisu and the cheesecake, but we could not be swayed. We went straight for the cannoli. (It went straight into our mouths, that’s why there are no pictures.)
As the sun began to set behind us and the hint of a chill entered the air, we paid our check and bid arrivederci to Garage Buona Forchetta. As always, the authentically delicious Italian flavors and warm, spot-on service are a constant. But we were surprised by the great deals on wine, the delightful house specials, and the kitschy Halloween decor. It’s like Buona Forchetta will do anything to make you smile. Pretty soon, you just can’t help it.
