Garage Buona Forchetta — Restaurant in Coronado

Garage Buona Forchetta was recommended to us as a good spot when we were visiting the Coronado area at the beginning of December. After reading reviews here, it did seem like a great spot to try out. We called ahead on a Saturday to see what the wait time was and if we could make a reservation. The guy that we talked to told us that there were no reservations available, but he could put our name on a list if we showed up in person, and that we could also see if bar space was available. Upon arrival, there was a huge group of people out front and no one in sight to take down names. I proceeded to go inside and found two bar seats available, but was told I had to make a reservation for the bar (contrary to what I was told on the phone) and that someone out front could put my name down (there was no one there).

After waiting a considerable amount of time, someone came out front to put names down. While a couple directly in line in front of us was given a wait time of 30 minutes, we were told 1 hour. I figured we would wait just because it had been recommended so highly. We waited the full hour (despite several open tables inside) and finally received a text that it was our turn. Initially, they tried to seat us outside nowhere near any kind of heat, despite the fact that it was like 55 degrees out at this time. We pushed for at least having a table near heat, which they eventually gave us after a longer wait.

Our waiter took our order and when we asked him which sauce he recommended with our gnocchi, he immediately said “the bolognese”, so we went with that, in addition to some pizza. He also asked if we’d like some bread while we waited and we said yes. We never got the bread before our meals arrived 30 mins later, despite asking about it twice. The pizza arrived first (lukewarm) - we waited on the pasta dish for a while before deciding we should just eat the pizza because it was already cold and we were sitting in 55 degree weather. Finally, the pasta dish arrived, but it had pesto sauce on it, despite the waiter adamantly recommending bolognese! We told him it was the wrong sauce and he looked confused before agreeing to get it fixed. We waited another 15-20 mins before that was ready. When it finally came out, the waiter offered to bring us “extra” bread given the inconvenience, even though we hadn’t even received the original bread he promised!

Terrible experience, no effort on the part of the staff to make it better, and not worth the wait or having to sit outside in the cold just to eat the food. We will not be returning to this restaurant and I highly recommend against...

⭐️ 1 star — What a shame this place has become

I’m a local, and it’s truly disappointing to see how far this place has fallen. The service was absolutely terrible from the start. A young woman took our order using a handheld device — we ordered an appetizer and two drinks while deciding on a pizza. No one ever came back. The appetizers were eventually brought out by a cook, and no one followed up to ask if we wanted anything else.

We finally flagged someone down to order a pizza and a pasta. They brought the pizza first without clearing the dirty plates and containers from the appetizers — I had to move them myself just so they could set the pizza down. Then, 25 minutes later, they brought the pasta. Apparently, they decided for us that we should eat the pizza first, then the pasta — even though we always enjoy them together.

The pasta was terrible — it had an overpowering egg flavor. Yes, pasta includes egg, but this was simply unpleasant. We asked for a spoon to eat it properly with a fork, and the spoon arrived ice cold, like it came straight from a freezer.

To make matters worse, we didn't have a reservation, but there were plenty of empty two-person tables inside. They refused to seat us at any of them. When we left, those tables were still empty. We took our time — we were there for at least an hour or more — and would have ordered more wine or food if the service had been better. But with that kind of treatment, we had no desire to stay longer.

We also ordered another glass of wine, and the person who brought it set it down almost behind my husband, without even making eye contact. We're not animals — but that’s exactly how we were treated.

It’s truly a shame, because this used to be a wonderful place. Now they seem more concerned with setting tables for imaginary guests than serving real, paying customers. Honestly, I think I would have received better service at Pizza Hut.

The check was handed to us loose — no folder, no presentation, just a crumpled receipt. And despite always tipping generously, this time it didn’t feel right to leave even a penny.

They clearly have no idea — or simply don’t care — how to serve or treat guests. I will never return, and I certainly won’t recommend this...

The Garage Buona Forchetta is a charming Italian restaurant located on Coronado Island. I spent one Saturday evening there, and it was just the vibe I was looking for

This restaurant has plenty of seating, but it’s such a popular spot that you may end up waiting for a table. There’s exterior patio seating that’s perfect for date nights or for people watching out front. There’s also the main dining area (inside) that offers a lively atmosphere. There is also a backyard patio (covered). We sat in the backyard, and it felt like a lovely little outdoor dinner party. The entire restaurant is beautifully decorated. I like really appreciated the small Italian cars placed as decor. This is a converted garage/car repair shop, so, it seems fitting. But as someone who gardens, one of my favorite things was seeing the hanging planters out front (on the fences) that had both flowers and produce growing like pepper plants. This made me think they most likely compost, and I love restaurants that compost

The menu offers a variety of Italian delicacies (antipasti, insalate, pizza, etc). There a vegetarian options as well. There is a beer, wine, and cocktail menu. There are also non-alcoholic options. I got the Sicilian mule, and the cup was neat, but it was really just a Moscow mule with a touch of grapefruit

I like to think of myself as a pizza connoisseur, and I would recommend this one. It’s Neapolitan style, lightly charred on the crust, thin, and flavorful. The base/bottom of the dough was slightly soft, but it was delicious. The carbonara was rich and tasty. With the pasta dishes you can choose which pasta you prefer which is a nice touch. We also had the calamari, which was fresh, but it had more of a fishy smell than I wanted lingering at the table. Still delicious

Some tips: They do take reservations, and this spot is a popular destination, especially on the weekends. There’s quaint market inside the restaurant and you can purchase groceries (mostly Italian), and these are components you might not find in a typical market or grocery store. They also have an extensive selection of wine that you can purchase and either take home or you can enjoy there (with a corking fee/up...