March 6, 2017
It's finally happening! The highly anticipated Officine Buona Forchetta is set to open its doors in Liberty Station on Wednesday, March 15, so we are reposting the real first look at the space and expanded menu of classic and modern Italian dishes at what is sure to be San Diego next dining hotspot.
A collaboration project from two of San Diego's top Italian-born restaurateurs -
Buona Forchetta founder Matteo Cattaneo &
BiCE Ristorante owner and executive chef Mario Cassineri - Officine Buona Forchetta will offer guests a much-expanded menu than what is found at the original South Park location. Cassineri has been tasked with adding a menu of pasta, cheeses, entrees, and Italian culinary staples to compliment the extremely popular wood-fired pizzas.
Officine Buona Forchetta is located within a 2,600 square foot space in the Arts District of Point Loma's Liberty Station, on the same strip as Breakfast Republic, Stone Brewing World Bistro, and Liberty Public Market. The restaurant offers indoor dining for 50 patrons, as well as front and back patios that will accommodate 150 additional diners. There is also a kid-friendly mini-jungle gym and an outdoor gelato cart constructed from an adorable three-wheeled vehicle. Inside, the kitchens are totally on display. There is a quaint bar, an open cucina where appetizers and entrees will be prepared, and a central pizza kitchen where two gold-tiled, wood-fired pizza ovens, imported straight from Italy, will heat up the entire space. The beautiful ovens, named Augusta & Sergio after owner Matteo's mother and father, are already heating up to be ready for a menu of more than 40 pizza and calzone creations, including vegan and vegetarian option. One oven will even be devoted entirely to gluten-free items.
New to the menu is an exciting lineup of antipasta, salads, pastas and main courses. We cannot wait to try items like the tuna & shrimp tartare, pizza in a jar, insalate di mare, crab gnocchi, saffron rissoto, veal ossobuco, T-Bone Fiorentinia, and then there's the Napoleon fritti, a stuffed and fried pizza dough. From the bar, there is a menu of wines, sangrias, bellinis, cocktails, Italian spirits, and Italian and craft beers. Officine, which means "workshop" in Italian, will also offer a daily $12 lunch special (pizza or pasta, soup or salad, and soda) and intends to launch a weekend brunch menu in the near future.
Buona Forchetta continues to work on its third location, set to debut in North County later this year at 250 N Coast Highway 101 in Encinitas at the space that formerly housed Bird House Grill in the Leucadia area, anticipated to open this spring/early summer.
Officine Buona Forchetta is located at 2880 Sims Road in Point Loma's Liberty Station. Be sure to check out the new menu below.
