It was a dining experience just not a pleasant one. Our party of six had a 630p reservation and weren’t seated until 730p. Due the size of our party we had a table in the “party room”. It was so loud we had to shout to our server to put in our order. The food was great. The idea of converting a packing shed is really kool. Unfortunately between the seatng fiasco and horribly loud environment I would not go back.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 4
Service: 2
Glenn Thompson
1st time! Was amazing!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Carbonara La Fornaretta, Bread and Olive Oil
Lauren G.
I love this place! I've never been disappointed with the food or the service. It's so cozy inside, and outside date nights on the deck can't be beat.
Ry B.
Went on a Wednesday night, party of two and got seated right away indoors. Great, quaint and dimly lit restaurant with some decent old jazz music and Dean Martin going on in the background. Servers kept re-upping their freshly made bread with balsamic/olive oil dip which is essential for an Italian restaurant and a great touch. Enjoyed some good wine, linguine & clam and spaghetti dishes which were excellent. Only thing I wish they would start doing is putting small candles or lamps at your table, can get a little dark in there. We'll definitely go again.
Glenn Simon
Frustrating because we have tried to go a couple of times recently but the wait was so long we gave up, and they don't take reservations. We have eaten there a few years ago and thought it was good, but standing around in the cold is a bummer
Julian Mehnle
My wife and I ordered a portion of the steamed clams and a large La Fornaretta pizza. The pizza was a five-stars Sicilian pizza, hands down, just to get that out there. Unfortunately 8–10 minutes after placing our order we were informed that they had run out of clams, and we were offered a substitution of mussels, which we accepted. After another 10–15 minutes the mussels finally arrived, but the portion turned out to be small — way smaller than the ¾–1 lbs of clams the menu promised for a single portion. Our plate contained a whopping 11 mussel shells, with 4 of them empty and one mussel floating separately in the broth, for a total of 8 mussels. That must've been about 2 ounces of mussels excluding the shells (and probably <½ lbs including the shells), for a price of $21. And there wasn't even any bread included. We did ask for bread, which they agreed to bring, but after about another 15 minutes of slowly working on the mussels, almost no broth was left and we cancelled the bread order. I understand we got there at what was probably the busiest time (7pm), but ... Lesson learned. Be careful ordering the steamed clams or mussels here. We will definitely come back, though.Edit: Seeing that the owner made the effort to respond to my review, and that they've given a substantial response (and not just platitudes) at that, I'm raising my review from 4 to 5 stars. The portion of mussels was still too small compared to what the menu promised, but I'm willing to attribute this to the fact that they usually serve clams, which are a different size and weight than mussels. Thank you for caring. You guys are great!
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: La Fornaretta
Candi G.
La Fornetta is a family favorite!!! The food is authentic and delicious! Love everything about it Top Notch! We just hosted a family event and La Fornetta did a fantastic job with our catered food. We ordered Lasagna, Tortellini Sugo, and Chicken Piccata. Also the green salad with blue cheese crumbles and bread. Everything was delicious! Chicken Piccata the all time favorite La Fornetta really took great care of us! The dessert somehow got forgotten...and they hand delivered Cannolis instead!!! Customer service above and beyond Thank you La Fornetta! We will be looking forward to many more celebrations with you guys * how could I forget the MEATBALLS!!! Also ordered those! DELICIOUS!!!
Richard Schuette
While my spaghetti was al dente and properly cooked and the meatballs were to die for the bread was ridiculous and a small finger bowl of vinegar & oil was inadequate,..the halibut was good and rigatoni fair...also the house salad with blue cheese was good....but no fresh cracked pepper and just mediocre store bought parmesan was available...for what they charge at least have some shaved parmesan....expect a hefty price tag ..wine by the glass was hardly worth the price for barely half full....staff was wonderful... Extremely loud in our room and we couldn't hear each other..overall a positive experience
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 4
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Meatballs, Bolognese
Lonnie Wheeler
No mater what you order it going to be authentically delicious. It has been at least 4 years since I've been back and it was exactly the same amazing food and exceptional service!! Bravo ?
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Caprese Salad, Ravioli Pesto, Bread and Olive Oil, Small Pizza 12 6 Slices
Alex Nicoloso
Exellent experience.Great corteous and knowledgeable servers10 stars to
They charge an extra for paying with credit card? On top of the tip?The bad thing is… they inform you on the Menue… meaning you settled in, ready to order and no way to
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 3
Service: 1
Sue Anderson-Seibert
All guest stating "this was the best."
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Meatballs
Jon S.
Amazing food. We had the prosciutto and chicken tortellini, blue cheese salad, scallops, and ended with cannolis. Great service and can't wait to go back. It's like NY or East coast Italian. So good.
Todd G.
Venturing into the heart of Newcastle, CA, my wife surprised me with a birthday dinner at La Fornaretta, a hidden gem nestled in the old downtown area just off I-80. From the moment we arrived, it felt like stumbling upon a well-kept secret, a delightful surprise waiting to be discovered. Opting for the large combination pizza, I was already planning for leftovers, while my wife chose the gluten-free eggplant parmigiana. Little did we know that we were about to embark on a culinary journey that would leave us craving for more. The first bite of the pizza was revelatory. The sourdough crust, with its perfect balance of chewiness and crispiness, served as a canvas for an explosion of flavors. Each topping, from savory meats to fresh vegetables, melded together harmoniously, creating a symphony of taste that lingered on the palate. As for the eggplant parmigiana, it was a gluten-free delight that exceeded all expectations. The sauce, rich and robust, was undoubtedly the star of the dish, complementing the tender eggplant and melted cheese flawlessly. My wife couldn't stop raving about it, and I must admit, I found myself sneaking more than a few bites. Throughout our meal, our server was a beacon of hospitality, ensuring our glasses were never empty and our bread basket never lacked replenishment. Their attentiveness added to the overall enjoyment of our dining experience, making us feel welcomed and well taken care of. La Fornaretta is not just a restaurant; it's an experience. From the charming ambiance of old downtown Newcastle to the impeccable service and, most importantly, the mouthwatering dishes, every aspect of our visit left an indelible mark. As we left, already planning our return, we knew that La Fornaretta had secured a special place in our hearts and culinary repertoire. If you find yourself in Newcastle, CA, do yourself a favor and uncover this hidden gem for a dining experience unlike any other. We certainly will be back to explore more of their tantalizing menu offerings.
Sonja Midtune
Great place for a big family dinner! We made a reservation a few days in advance for a family bday dinner. Didn’t like our table so they graciously moved us to one my grandma liked more ?Loved the selection of local CA and Italian wines! The oysters were the highlight for me, and the rigatoni bolognese !! I got the carbonara and it was good, but couldn’t help but keep stealing bites of my husband’s bolognese lol.By 6pm it was very busy in there. We got there around 5 and the dinner was about 2 hours. I wouldn’t say service was “slow” but I think we could have been in and out of there faster. We enjoyed our time though! I would go back
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Carbonara La Fornaretta, Bolognese, Bread and Olive Oil, House Tiramisu
It was a dining experience just not a pleasant one. Our party of six had a 630p reservation and weren’t seated until 730p. Due the size of our party we had a table in the “party room”. It was so loud we had to shout to our server to put in our order. The food was great. The idea of converting a packing shed is really kool. Unfortunately between the seatng fiasco and horribly loud environment I would not go back.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 4
Service: 2
1st time! Was amazing!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Carbonara La Fornaretta, Bread and Olive Oil
I love this place! I've never been disappointed with the food or the service. It's so cozy inside, and outside date nights on the deck can't be beat.
Went on a Wednesday night, party of two and got seated right away indoors. Great, quaint and dimly lit restaurant with some decent old jazz music and Dean Martin going on in the background. Servers kept re-upping their freshly made bread with balsamic/olive oil dip which is essential for an Italian restaurant and a great touch. Enjoyed some good wine, linguine & clam and spaghetti dishes which were excellent. Only thing I wish they would start doing is putting small candles or lamps at your table, can get a little dark in there. We'll definitely go again.
Frustrating because we have tried to go a couple of times recently but the wait was so long we gave up, and they don't take reservations. We have eaten there a few years ago and thought it was good, but standing around in the cold is a bummer
My wife and I ordered a portion of the steamed clams and a large La Fornaretta pizza. The pizza was a five-stars Sicilian pizza, hands down, just to get that out there. Unfortunately 8–10 minutes after placing our order we were informed that they had run out of clams, and we were offered a substitution of mussels, which we accepted. After another 10–15 minutes the mussels finally arrived, but the portion turned out to be small — way smaller than the ¾–1 lbs of clams the menu promised for a single portion. Our plate contained a whopping 11 mussel shells, with 4 of them empty and one mussel floating separately in the broth, for a total of 8 mussels. That must've been about 2 ounces of mussels excluding the shells (and probably <½ lbs including the shells), for a price of $21. And there wasn't even any bread included. We did ask for bread, which they agreed to bring, but after about another 15 minutes of slowly working on the mussels, almost no broth was left and we cancelled the bread order. I understand we got there at what was probably the busiest time (7pm), but ... Lesson learned. Be careful ordering the steamed clams or mussels here. We will definitely come back, though.Edit: Seeing that the owner made the effort to respond to my review, and that they've given a substantial response (and not just platitudes) at that, I'm raising my review from 4 to 5 stars. The portion of mussels was still too small compared to what the menu promised, but I'm willing to attribute this to the fact that they usually serve clams, which are a different size and weight than mussels. Thank you for caring. You guys are great!
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: La Fornaretta
La Fornetta is a family favorite!!! The food is authentic and delicious! Love everything about it Top Notch! We just hosted a family event and La Fornetta did a fantastic job with our catered food. We ordered Lasagna, Tortellini Sugo, and Chicken Piccata. Also the green salad with blue cheese crumbles and bread. Everything was delicious! Chicken Piccata the all time favorite La Fornetta really took great care of us! The dessert somehow got forgotten...and they hand delivered Cannolis instead!!! Customer service above and beyond Thank you La Fornetta! We will be looking forward to many more celebrations with you guys * how could I forget the MEATBALLS!!! Also ordered those! DELICIOUS!!!
While my spaghetti was al dente and properly cooked and the meatballs were to die for the bread was ridiculous and a small finger bowl of vinegar & oil was inadequate,..the halibut was good and rigatoni fair...also the house salad with blue cheese was good....but no fresh cracked pepper and just mediocre store bought parmesan was available...for what they charge at least have some shaved parmesan....expect a hefty price tag ..wine by the glass was hardly worth the price for barely half full....staff was wonderful... Extremely loud in our room and we couldn't hear each other..overall a positive experience
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 4
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Meatballs, Bolognese
No mater what you order it going to be authentically delicious. It has been at least 4 years since I've been back and it was exactly the same amazing food and exceptional service!! Bravo ?
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Caprese Salad, Ravioli Pesto, Bread and Olive Oil, Small Pizza 12 6 Slices
Exellent experience.Great corteous and knowledgeable servers10 stars to
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Restaurantji Recommends
They charge an extra for paying with credit card? On top of the tip?The bad thing is… they inform you on the Menue… meaning you settled in, ready to order and no way to
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 3
Service: 1
All guest stating "this was the best."
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Meatballs
Amazing food. We had the prosciutto and chicken tortellini, blue cheese salad, scallops, and ended with cannolis. Great service and can't wait to go back. It's like NY or East coast Italian. So good.
Venturing into the heart of Newcastle, CA, my wife surprised me with a birthday dinner at La Fornaretta, a hidden gem nestled in the old downtown area just off I-80. From the moment we arrived, it felt like stumbling upon a well-kept secret, a delightful surprise waiting to be discovered. Opting for the large combination pizza, I was already planning for leftovers, while my wife chose the gluten-free eggplant parmigiana. Little did we know that we were about to embark on a culinary journey that would leave us craving for more. The first bite of the pizza was revelatory. The sourdough crust, with its perfect balance of chewiness and crispiness, served as a canvas for an explosion of flavors. Each topping, from savory meats to fresh vegetables, melded together harmoniously, creating a symphony of taste that lingered on the palate. As for the eggplant parmigiana, it was a gluten-free delight that exceeded all expectations. The sauce, rich and robust, was undoubtedly the star of the dish, complementing the tender eggplant and melted cheese flawlessly. My wife couldn't stop raving about it, and I must admit, I found myself sneaking more than a few bites. Throughout our meal, our server was a beacon of hospitality, ensuring our glasses were never empty and our bread basket never lacked replenishment. Their attentiveness added to the overall enjoyment of our dining experience, making us feel welcomed and well taken care of. La Fornaretta is not just a restaurant; it's an experience. From the charming ambiance of old downtown Newcastle to the impeccable service and, most importantly, the mouthwatering dishes, every aspect of our visit left an indelible mark. As we left, already planning our return, we knew that La Fornaretta had secured a special place in our hearts and culinary repertoire. If you find yourself in Newcastle, CA, do yourself a favor and uncover this hidden gem for a dining experience unlike any other. We certainly will be back to explore more of their tantalizing menu offerings.
Great place for a big family dinner! We made a reservation a few days in advance for a family bday dinner. Didn’t like our table so they graciously moved us to one my grandma liked more ?Loved the selection of local CA and Italian wines! The oysters were the highlight for me, and the rigatoni bolognese !! I got the carbonara and it was good, but couldn’t help but keep stealing bites of my husband’s bolognese lol.By 6pm it was very busy in there. We got there around 5 and the dinner was about 2 hours. I wouldn’t say service was “slow” but I think we could have been in and out of there faster. We enjoyed our time though! I would go back
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Carbonara La Fornaretta, Bolognese, Bread and Olive Oil, House Tiramisu