Located at the east end of Plaza del Pescador in the hotel zone in San Jose del Cabo. Owned and managed by Pablo Portilla Gonzalez, La Forchetta is one of the best-known Italian restaurants in San Jose del Cabo. With both indoor and outdoor seating, the restaurant offers a comfortable atmosphere even in the heat and rain of the hurricane season in Los Cabos.

Friends from southern California were looking for a good place for dinner on their last night in Los Cabos. Brooke loves Italian food and so we suggested that we meet at La Forchetta for dinner. We made a reservation and Pablo greeted us and led us to a table in the back corner of the indoor dining room. Our server, Alex brought us menus and a drink list to look over. The first stage of any meal at La Forchetta is their version of bruschetta. A bowl of chopped tomatoes with olive oil and garlic and a basket of both fresh bread and bread sticks. It is so good that we often ask for extra to take home. Jake loved it and as we waited for Brooke to arrive (she had gone to downtown San Jose del Cabo to buy a hat), he devoured the bruschetta and we asked for another bowl.

The menu is lengthy and offers Antipasto and Salads to start, risotto and fresh pastas, pizza, a choice of lobster, shrimp, fish, chicken, and beef entrées and a page of specials. Beth and I decided to share a Caesar Salad to start (with the parmesan on the side). The dressing is creamy and delicious and I added the thin slices of parmesan to the top of my half of the salad. For Jake and Brooke, the bruschetta was enough of an appetizer.

We all chose our main courses – Beth, the risotto gamberi; Jake, the Spaghetti Tutti le Carne; Brooke, the Spaghettecapesante y vongolle; and I choose the Carpaccio de Manzo. Everyone was very happy with their choices. The risotto was creamy with lots of shrimp. The spaghetti with clams and scallops had shells evident in the middle of the pasta. The bolognese was just the way that Jake liked it with lots of meat in the sauce. The beef carpaccio was perfect for my diet and I love capers and the thin sliced parmesan. It also came with several pieces of garlic bread that everyone at the table tried (I couldn’t because of my diet). Both Brooke and Jake enjoyed red wine with their meals.

As expected, the food – portion size, presentation, and flavor – was excellent, the atmosphere pleasant and comfortable and the service great. Pablo came over to escort us to the door when we were finished our meal.