Buon Fornello cafe’

Where to start. Was looking on Yelp for either pizza or Italian food. This place had a good rating, so we figured why not.
The food was amazing!!!
Now understand this is not a full service, get waited on place. You walk to the counter and place your order. Have a seat and they bring your food to you when it's ready. YES, they have real dishes and silverware.
It was obvious right away these people know what they're doing. Fresh, fresh ingredients and definitely top quality.
This dish we had was Prestecca ( I know I got the spelling wrong). It was delicious.
As always, the test of any restaurant is will I come back?........OH YES I WILL!!!!

Buon Fornello may appear unassuming beside Walgreens and Publix, but don't let its modest exterior fool you. The homemade pasta here is a true delight! The owners are incredibly kind, and the customizable options allow you to craft your perfect dish, from protein to sauce to pasta type. They also serve gelato.

A hidden gem for pasta enthusiasts seeking a casual but delicious experience.

I had read so many good reviews here and finally decided to try it. It's a time place with 6 tables. Order at the counter. Something seemed off from the moment we arrived.

First the red wine had turned to vinegar. It must be stored in a warm area. We didn't mention it. Then they brought out the calamari. It was unmistakably made from frozen. It was fishy, rubbery, and the breadcrumbs were not like any homemade you would ever see. We sent it back. We tried the Parmesan fries. They came out with no seasoning, no garlic, parsley, truffle oil or anything you'd normally see in a restaurant. Just generic looking, luke warm fries with some grated parm.

The lasagne we ordered had a decent flavor, but it seemed like there were not even noodles in it. It was just a gooey, mushy meld of cheese and sauce. I'd say it was overcooked by several hours, if not days. The chicken piccata was OK, the sauce was separated and the chicken a bit on the tough side, but edible.

I don't understand all the positive reviews. I wonder if people just really like being able to eat out for cheap.

It's a casual and clean place. Menu is simple and appetizing. You order / pay at the counter and they bring food to your table. After paying I waited about 10 minutes for my lunch.
The lasagne is excellent. I liked the flavors. Caprese salad could be better as I've had better. Salad wasn't very fresh. Still had good experience. It's basically quality Italian food without the upscale dining atmosphere.

We stumbled on this gem when we grabbed a few things at Publix and decided we were hungry. The food is very authentic Italian bistro fare. The staff is friendly and helpful with ordering if you're indecisive. There was a table full of people speaking Italian who didn't stop complimenting the food throughout their lunch. It's small and unassuming, but delicious!

Buon Fornello Italian restaurant in Sandy Springs Atlanta is an absolute hidden gem! We were on our way back to our home in Florida, and decided to stop for lunch at this place, best decision made that day.
From the moment I walked in, I was greeted with warm smiles and friendly service from the owner. The food was outstanding, with every dish bursting with flavor and cooked to perfection. The Eggplant Parmigiana was particularly noteworthy, with delicious homemade sauces that left me wanting more. The service was attentive and thoughtful, with the staff making sure that every detail was taken care of. I cannot recommend this amazing place highly enough - it is truly a must-visit for anyone looking for exceptional Italian cuisine and service in Atlanta.

I WISH I COULD GIVE THIS 6 STARS!

I am literally mid-bowl and had to stop to write this review... this place is the definition of a hidden gem. If you live anywhere near the Atlanta area you MUST come here and if you're local you should be eating here at least once a week... I definitely will be

I don't even have the words to describe how amazing this place is but I feel like I have hopped on a plane and flown to Italy. This is the first pasta I have ever had in the US that actually tasted like what I had during my trips to Italy.


DONT BE FOOLED BY THE EXTERIOR APPEARANCE. I had previously passed this place because it's in a strip center by Publix. It looks like those little fast food wing or Chinese places that they throw next to grocery stores in strip centers and didn't seem too inviting. BUT I was SOO wrong! I actually found this place on Yelp as I was looking for a place to take my Italian roommate for her birthday. This place was the best reviewed and I couldn't believe it. Like everywhere in Europe, it was sadly closed yesterday (Sunday) when we tried to go. I was so excited to try it that I went tonight to get a to-go order... and let me tell you... it has changed my life.

***Location:
Just to the right of Publix. Plenty of parking in the strips parking lot!

***Staff:
The staff was nice. I heard a bit of an accent and thought they were Italian but I'm not sure. I read that the owner was from Sicily though!

***Experience:
Can't wait to dine-in here but there are only about 6 two person tables and 2 four person tables. As far as placing a to-go order, it was pretty quick but long enough that it's not like they just have everything sitting out ready. They had to prepare it, which is good imo. There was Italian music playing and I really kind of got the vibe that I was in a little hole in the wall restaurant owned by a little old Italian man in Italy hahah I loved it.

***Food:
The pasta is incredible! There are so many options and the pastas are made in house and it shows! I am so excited to try everything! I will for sure be coming here regularly. One bowl of pasta would've been enough for 2 meals for me if I paired it with a salad and some bread but not gonna lie I'm eating the whole bowl this time it's so good lol. But I can definitely see myself picking up a bowl once a week and making it into two meals by adding salad and bread at home. The bowl was 11$, so that's not too bad!

I also saw they even have vegan meatballs and pizza! Love that they have so many Vegan/veggie options!

***Order:

Fusilli pasta with arrabbiata sauce

***Price:
Great price. The bowl was plenty of food for only 11$. The food tastes like you're eating at a fine dining restaurant in Italy but the price and atmosphere feels a lot more casual.

***Improvements:
Absolutely none!

Fantastic espresso, real italian style - balanced, tasty, just as it should be. Also tiramisu was authentic.

Went here today and we loved the food. I have been looking for a place with authentic Italian food that the entire family can enjoy. We are vegetarians - the eggplant parm, the alfredo sauce and the fresh tomato and basil with the home made pasta were outstanding. This place hits the mark and does it well. Frank was a very hospitable server. It's climbed up to be one of our favorite Italian restaurants in Atlanta. Didn't get to try the coffee, gelato or desserts since we were so full but plan to try them next time. Also we will be visiting this restaurant often.

We only sampled two dishes, the chicken piccata and the lobster ravioli. Both were disappointing. The chicken piccata was really sour. Just too much lemon juice. More butter and broth would have toned it down a bit. Also, the chicken was tough and dry. Just overcooked, I think. My husband was offered lobster ravioli, which wasn't on the menu, because they found out they couldn't make the fried pizza he ordered, and had already been charged for. They didn't want to, or didn't know how to, change the amount of the charge, so they gave him a couple of choices that were the same price. So we thought, great, we love lobster ravioli. But unfortunately, we couldn't detect any lobster--just a lot of oregano. The Alfredo sauce was good, but there wasn't enough of it. Maybe there are other dishes that are better, but we're not likely to try again. On the upside, everyone was very nice.