Forma Restaurant Cheese Bar and Forma Restaurant & Cheese Bar

Forma Restaurant & Cheese Bar

1610 Montana Ave. (16th St.)
Santa Monica, CA 90403
Map
Cuisine: Italian / Pasta / Pizza
Santa Monica Italian restaurant specializes in dalla forma pasta preparation, where dishes are finished inside giant wheels of cheese.
Openings: Lunch daily 11:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m., Dinner nightly 5 p.m.-10:30 p.m.

Features

Forma Restaurant & Cheese Bar, Santa Monica, CA


Forma Restaurant & Cheese Bar Restaurant Review:


Santa Monica’s Forma Restaurant & Cheese Bar features a unique dalla forma preparation, in which freshly cooked pasta is tossed in large wheels of fine Italian cheese. A floor-to-ceiling glass cheese case and bar set the stage for diners to watch the dalla forma --- something that’s as entertaining as it sounds. Gregarious executive chef/partner Piero Topputo (Toscana) hails from Gravina Di Puglia. Spaghetti cacao e pepe is bathed in Pecorino Romano. Garganelli tumbled in Grana Padano with speck, radicchio and peas is silky and savory. Dalla forma dishes are the indisputable stars of the menu, but we also enjoyed a rustic artichoke and fennel casserole, and a pizza with thin, curled shavings of Raspadura cheese. Stopping in for just wine and the cheese bar is an option --- especially if you focus on exploring the cheese program that includes Rosso di Langa, Cacio de Roma or Fiori Sardo. The wine list offers nice pairings from Marche, Sicily and Tuscany, but you’ll also find favorites from Napa. Olive oil cake is a pleasing dessert.