Buona italia caffe — Restaurant in Pacifica

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...

TLDR: tasted like school cafeteria pasta for dine-in restaurant prices. Small space (2 tables for 4, 2-3 tables for 2). Quiet atmosphere.

Full review: Sorely disappointed by the food and associated price, especially reading all the great reviews. We had the lasagna, spaghetti and meatballs and spaghetti carbonara. Each dish was ~$19, after tax and tip it was $70. You order at the counter and order/tip upfront.

Lasagna (my dish): sauce tasted watery and salty, and was missing that bright tomato flavor. The beef was crumbly/dry and the pasta didn't have any chew. It also came lukewarm, despite taking the longest to get to the table. The staff offered to give me a new piece, which came out piping hot (though it again took quite some time to come out). Unfortunately, the flavor/texture didn't improve.

I had a bite of the other dishes - the spaghetti and meatballs had the same sauce as mine, and the meatball texture was rubbery. The carbonara sauce tasted a little better to me, but it was simply cream...

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...