Reviews

In Newcastle…

Strong Italian

Pasadena's loss is Newcastle's gain

Cesare Di Lorenzo—a native of Calabria at the toe of the Italian boot, the son of a Sicilian mother, and author of a book about the classic postage stamps of Italy—oversees the front of the restaurant with a spirit both gregarious and watchful… Suzanne Di Lorenzo, whose family has been in the restaurant business in the Bay Area for 35 years, is in the kitchen, orchestrating the preparation of everything from the housemade Sicilian flatbread that greets diners to the tiramisu with which they can conclude their meal… Dishes almost invariably are prepared with a hand that appreciates the more muscular side of Italian cooking… The current specialties have been eggplant Parmigiano and cannelloni—fresh, light and fluffy crepes stuffed with salami, sausage and ricotta, finished with a bright tomato sauce and melted mozzarella; it was a dish without pretense but nevertheless proud… Regardless of whether a diner's preference is pasta or pizza, he or she likely will get a dish husky in build, vibrant in flavor and thoughtfully balanced… Even salads are robust. A traditional caprese—three thick slices of bright-red tomato alternating with cuts of mozzarella and leaves of basil—was made not so traditional with the addition of olives that brought vivid punctuation to the composition… Suzanne Di Lorenzo dresses [La Fornaretta's imported pastas] up with sauces fresh and zesty… La Fornaretta's take on spaghetti puttanesca was straightforward and lusty… The tortellini sugo—small rings of pasta filled with meat, swimming in a tomato sauce—had a sauce more delicate than dense… Our visits were early on hot evenings, but that didn't discourage people who couldn't get a seat inside from settling on the sun-blasted deck, where misters struggled to provide relief from the heat. Other patrons gathered just inside the entrance, making for a chaotic scene that Cesare Di Lorenzo handled with humor and grace… Servers were brisk, sharp and candid… Portions are large… and prices are restrained… it's a short drive for residents of Roseville, Granite Bay and Rocklin who have a hankering for substantial and affectionately prepared Italian regional food.

—Mike Dunne, Sacramento Bee, 9/16/2007

Favorite Restaurants

Sherry Mosby e-mails: My husband George and I went to a new restauant in Newcastle. La Fornaretta, a new Sicilian restaurant and pizzeria. …We had their specialties, Eggplant for George and Cannelloni for me. My Cannelloni melted in my mouth and was delicious; his was also wonderful. The owner, Cesare [di] Lorenzo came by the table to make sure we were enjoying our meal. The service was excellent and very friendly. The restaurant is small, but has lots of character. We can't wait to try something else on their extensive menu. …All in all, if you want to try Italian food Sicilian-style, La Fornaretta sounds like the place to go.

—Martin Green, Sun Senior News - Roseville, 7/2007

La Fornaretta offers authentic Sicilian fare

Cesare and Suzanne Di Lorenzo are creating a unique taste of Italy in Newcastle.…Suzanne is the heart and soul of the business, Cesare is quick to say. She is the chef, preparing family recipes that date back many years. …Suzanne's roots in the restaurant business run deep—her family owns the Lo Coco chain in the Bay Area, with locations in Berkeley, Oakland, San Anselmo and Corte Madera… Her recipes are highly prized family secrets. …In creating the new La Fornaretta, they wanted it to be as much like the original as possible, even bringing on two of their best kitchen employees from the former restaurant. …The couple shares a Sicilian heritage… The pizza, thin crust with puffy edges, is a particular favorite, with 20 choices available. The eggplant parmigiana is popular, too, as well as the seafood pasta and other seafood dishes. There's a selection of beer and wine including locally produced vintages. …I just happened to drive by and see it, [first-time visitor and basil grower Brian Murphy, of Nevada City] said. I had ravioli pesto. It was fantastic… It was a different kind of pesto sauce, really nice… The service was great, too. They are really nice people. …That interaction with their clientele is what the Di Lorenzos enjoy best about being restaurateurs. …It is the chance to meet the most diverse diners and different people, different cultures, different backgrounds and different education, Cesare said.

—Gloria Young, Auburn Journal, 5/13/2007

Yahoo! Travel

Excellent! If you want to get out of the city and enjoy the feel of a small town without sacrificing taste then this is the place for you. I live in Sacramento and it was worth the drive. I didn't have to worry about finding a parking spot or even paying for parking. There was no traffic, the food was wonderful, even the bread they bring you is superb and tastes completely homemade.

—03/03/2008

This place is great! Just what the foothills needed as far as Italian goes. I stumbled on it one day for lunch. I was doing some work on my property in Newcastle and remembered there was a mexican restaurant in that location. I went for lunch and found it had been replaced with an italian retsaurant. I gave it a try and I was immediatly hooked. I excitedly came home and told my wife that we just had to go for dinner one evening. She became hooked also. Their red sauce is the best I have ever had and their seafood specials on weekends are a real treat. The bread is to die for. I think its the same as they use for the pizza. The desserts are equally as good. We have had nothing but excellent food and outstanding service. We are addicted to this place and if you like truly authentic italian dishes you will be too.

—12/21/2007

My Mother in law took me to La Fornaretta for my birthday. Being that i used to live a stone's throw away from sicily ( Malta is the name of the island i used to live) It really took me back to the flavors i grew up with and cherished , so as you can imagine i was thrilled to find this place so close to where i live . There is absolutely nothing that comes even close to La Fornaretta as far as authenticity in this area, We started with the Insalata Selvaggia , which was dressed to perfection , not too oily like some salad dressings can be , I had the Favignana Pizza, which really tasted like the pizza my grandma used to make us growing up and i'm picky when it comes to pizza .we also had the ricotta cheesecake which to me tasted like a huge cannoli minus the shell part , which is my all time favorite dessert , so needless to say i will be going back , this time with my husband .P.S , no i dont work there . It's just that good. Oh and the waitress there was so nice too.

—11/29/2007

My husband and I stumbled upon this litte jewel last week. The minute we walked up the steps and were greeted by the owner, (obviously from Italy himself as he spoke with an italian accent) we knew this was a rare find in the foothills. The owner proceeded to personally take us on a tour of their newly opened banquet rooms. The large rooms were packed with larger parties. We then were taken to the small but also crowded dining room where there were people already waiting for tables. This was at 5:45! You should definitely make reservations on the weekends… We were pleasantly surprised that the staff of waiters, bussers and servers were first rate! They were so friendly, pleasant and attentive. Our water glasses were never empty and the homemade bread was always being replenished. Watch out for that bread,as it is addicting! The sauces and pasta were obviously homemade and cooked to perfection. I highly recommend the pesto ravioli. Oh my! We were just too stuffed to try the desserts, but they all looked amazing and we be sure to save room next time for the tiramasu. So glad to have a quality, charming and friendly local restaurant in the foothills.

—11/23/2007

My wife and I found out about La Fornaretta in the local paper and we are both glad we gave it a try. We will definitely be repeat customers. We went there on a Saturday night and the place was packed. The place is small, but the staff managed to seat several parties of 6 or more. Reservations are recommended. If the weather is good, you might ask to be seated outside where you have a little more elbow room. The staff was friendly and attentive to our needs. The food was exquisite. The flavor of the dishes we tried here was sophisticated and very authentic to what we experienced during our recent honeymoon to Italy. The red sauces and pesto sauces tasted home made and not from a can. The crust of the pizza was thin and delicious. My wife raved about her ravioli. For desert I had tiramasu and gelato and they both were wonderful. I am not a cheesecake fan, but I had a bite of my wife's and (I'm not exaggerating here) it was the best cheesecake I had in my life. All in all, the experience at La Fornaretta was far superior to any other Italian restaurant in the foothills (we know, we've tried them). Thank you to the owners of this restaurant for coming to our corner of the world and providing such a superior dining experience. La Fornaretta has my highest recommendation.

—06/03/2007

…And in Southern California

Buzzing about La Fornaretta

In an atmosphere as friendly as a handshake, Cesare di Lorenzo, who owns and operates the restaurant with his wife, both Sicilian-born, glows with pleasure when he talks about the place… La Fornaretta translates into young, cute, baker girl, said Di Lorenzo, who used the name to honor his wife whose baking skills reflect the Sicilian passion for sweets… Her tiramisu, according to my sources, is an elixir of Roman deities… While all the pasta and pizza dishes are attractive, you get the idea that anything that appears on a plate is meant more to impart flavor than beauty… for those of us with an unwavering affection for Italian food—both north and south—Old Pasadena appears to be very fortunate in the addition of this popular, authentic Sicilian newcomer with all its variety and richness.

—Dan, Dan's Dinner Review

Around the world and back

La Fornaretta settles down with solid Sicilian style

What does an authentic Sicilian restaurant serve that other Italian restaurants don't? …[P]ermanent appetizers like caprese (the incresasingly popular mélange of fresh buffalo mozarella, tomato and basil leaves) with a typical Sicilian touch of anchovy fillets… or mushrooms Caruso… or Pasta alla Sfincioni… Eggplant parmigiana is unlike the usual thick, mozzarella-blanketed concoction. The eggplant slices, unskinned Japanese, are slightly charred, floured. Breading is so light as to be undetectable, and it's sauced with a garlicky, rich puree of fresh tomato, the cheese a light, crisped topping, garnished with a sprig of basil… The small pillowy loaves (about 6-inch by 2-inch) of hot bread, are seductive, crusty, buttery and dense. We could easily have polished off about a dozen of them without batting an eyelash… servers at the Caffe constantly replenish them as they disappear… Even better are the pizzas, whose crusts are thinnish, with puffy crisp perimeters and great flavor…

—Erica Wayne, Dining Out

Spaghetti Alla Puttanesca cited one of the year's ten best dishes

Foodies have finally gotten over their prejudice against Sicilian cuisine, and La Fornaretta, a bright, genial Pasadena joint, shows one reason: the tomato sauce. It's freshly made, positively snaps with flavor and makes absolutely anything worth eating. The supreme dish here, spaghetti alla puttanesca, combines this wonderful sugo with olives, garlic, capers and pungent bits of prosciutto for the jazziest puttanesca sauce in town.

—CP, Eats Restaurant Reviews and News

La Fornarettas offers Sicilian cooking

…Sicilian food is defined by flavor, and lots of it… The menu at the original La Fornaretta is a pleasure to negotiate. There are several worthy salads, constructed of baby spinach, ricotta, beets and pine nuts; radicchio, arugula, endive, fennel and olives; lettuce, pecans, bleu cheese, currants and olives. Mozzarella stuffed with ricotta, which has of late been the ingredient of the moment on the Westside, has been on this menu for ages… Those looking for a heartier appetizer should consider the mussels parmigiana, baked mussels topped with a healthy dose of cheese, a fortuitous blend of flavors that fills the diner with a sense of well being; how can the world be bad when there are mussels this good? …[T]he menu rolls through a score of well-topped pizzas (No. 19 has tuna and capers), belly-pleasing pastas (the Sicilian-style tomato sauces are notable for the unstinting addition of herbs, and lots of them; and you can't go wrong with the spaghetti alla puttanesca, with its topping of tomato, garlic, capers, prosciutto and olives)… Owner Cesare DiLorenzo stands behind the counter, next to his espresso machine, offering a history of Sicily to anyone who'll listen… served on a Sicilian flatbread made in house that would taste wonderful with nothing but butter spread on it… It's a fine vehicle for sandwiches of eggplant parmigiana, Sicilian meatballs, chicken breast and prosciutto (a really fine combination of flavors and textures), smoked salmon, and a combo of salami and mozzarella. There are grilled sandwiches (which adds a bit more crunch) filled with stuffed mozzarella with ham, Portobello mushrooms with salami, even Gorgonzola and pears (now, that's a different sandwich for you!).

—Merrill Shindler, Merrill Shindler's Dining Reviews

Yelp.Com

Yes it has closed in Pasadena. But if you're up for a road trip you can check out its homey new digs in bustling downtown Newcastle, CA. Sorry for you Pasadena folk, but your loss is our gain. The food is astonishing! I had read about them coming to town, and ate there for the first time tonight. I had some of the best fresh steamed clams ever on top of great linguini with a delicious red sauce full of garlic and italian parsley. Yum!

—Regor A. of Colfax, CA, on 10/04/2007

Did this place close? I walked by and it looked like it had shuttered… Why? Oh Why?? This place was amazing. Best meatballs around.

—Al C. of Pasadena, CA, on 10/01/2007

The food at La fornaretta was very delicious. We ordered their house specialty pasta… We also had the swordfish and the sauce was excellent. The pizza was so rustic and yummy. They have the BEST tiramisu. It was smooth and light.

—Keri T. of San Gabriel, CA, on 10/16/2007

…[T]here is a gem of an Italian restaurant hidden on a side street… The food here is simple and well done and the restaurant is super cozy and always packed…

—LizX of Chicago, IL, on 03/06/2007

Real Eats

Real restaurant reviews from real people

A small, Italian restaurant with charm.

—pja

My favorite Sicilian restaraunt. Been to many of the greats, but this one takes the Tiramisu… No one else makes Salmon A la Vodka like La Fornaretta. I recommend it for its great service, pleasureable atmosphere (dim lighting), and delicious food (try the Mushrooms). The staff is mostly Italian and the waiters are very attentive. Great place for a date or a long meal with friends and family.

—AV

…[T]ry the spaghetti with fresh clams (in tomato sauce). This dish is terrific. I am from a family that owned an excellent Italian restaurant, and am very fussy about my Italian food. The salads are also very good. The cannoli is wonderful.

—vt

Pasadena CityCenter

Your unofficial guide to Pasadena, California, and its vicinity

My acid test for southern Italian/Sicilian restaurants is Eggplant Parmesan. The eggplant has to be prepared right… the sauce has to be good, because the eggplant absorbs all of its flavors… La Fornaretta does it right. Just like my Nonna used to make.

—Rick

My family is from Sicily, and we're all good cooks… the chef Suzanna, creates flavors of my childhood… YUMMMMMMMMMMM

—maria

This restaurant reminds me of my own mother's Sicilian-style Italian cooking; hearty and homestyle yet wonderfully flavorful… Go for the food and the considerate service.

—SB

City Search: Los Angeles, CA City Guide

My Favorite Restaurant. Period

Under the scrutiny of its warm, Sicilian-to-the-core owner Cesare, and with the help of some very seasoned waitstaff… this cozy Italian eatery is by far the best restaurant of MANY in Pasadena. With a charming ambience that resonates provincial appeal and your favorite dishes cooked to perfection, (the pizza is to die for, and even the spaghetti is truly remarkable!) La Fornaretta is a necessity… This is a must dine for any serious Italian food lover, and also a success story of Sicilian immigrants who brought all the wonders of authentic Italian cooking with them when they opened this Pasadena jewel.

—misskate19 on 08/28/2003

Now that's Italian!!!

Coming from an Italian-American raised on real southern Italian cooking, La Fornaretta is the real deal!!

—cpont on 12/31/2002

OoooooooH Yeah!

…After living in Italy for more than 3 years I can say that this is the ONLY authentic Italian eatery in the local area. I tried some of the pasta dishes of course but the pizza and wine is always a great combo… The bread (I was told a family recipe) was fantastic.

—babin on 09/27/2002

SurferMag.com Message Board

Old town Pasadena… La Fornaretta… beautiful pies there man!

—Debaser Michael Peterson

455 Main Street #4 • Newcastle, CA, 95658
Phone (916) 663-1338 • Fax (916) 663-1537 • Email lafornaretta@ncbb.net