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Forma Santa Monica

4.3 (1.6k reviews)
PriceyItalian, American
Closed • 11:00 am - 8:45 pm
Updated a few days ago

Order Forma Santa Monica Takeout or Delivery

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FORMA SANTA MONICA ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Trendy
Moderate noise
Happy hour specials
Good for groups

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Recommended Reviews - Forma Santa Monica

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Braised Short Ribs (8 hours slow cooked boneless beef short ribs and short ribs ravioli with Parmigiano cheese)
Irene L.

First time here and the food is delicious! The waiter that my family had was so nice; he said that he can make the chicken mushroom without dairy. Kudos for him! The ambiance is amazing and casual. Great place for a get together with friends and family.

Cheese plate
Kermeka D.

We made a reservation for a Saturday evening at 6:45pm and boy am I glad we did because soon after we sat down there was a line out the door of people waiting to get a table here. We enjoyed a couple of appetizers and got the pastas stirred in the cheese wheels. I was sad we didn't get to see the pasta being stirred in the wheel at our table but it doesn't look like there is room for that here because there are so many tables packed together in the dining area. However, if you want to see the wheels they are displayed near the kitchen area so you can walk by them. The arancini was really lovely - crispy on the outside and creamy inside. The burrata was loved by everyone at our table. I had the cacio e pepe which was also delightful. Not too overpowering or spicy but still had flavor. The noodles were cooked perfectly al dente. I would recommend this place for a group hang or a date night.

vodka pasta
Najeya K.

Mid food. Mid service. Mid experience. The Fettuccine Bolognese was just so bad. The meat tasted pasty & grainy at the same time. The sauce was too oily. The huge chunks of parmesan weren't helping either The Spicy Vodka was alright. Nothing too special in my opinion. The Fondue Cauliflower was actually very good but NOT what i was expecting Our waiter led us to think we were getting Fondue that is served in a hot pot that we would dip the cauliflower in. You know, the Swiss way! Instead, it comes mixed in like a sauce over the cauliflower. Still tasty.

Burrata
Terry C.

Forma Santa Monica & Cheese Bar is located on SaMo's vibrant Montana Avenue. This restaurant is a wonderful establishment with a refined atmosphere for a drink & dining experience with a diverse contemporary Italian menu. Forma specializes in a process in which pasta is finished in a cheese wheel before being served. They also offer a large menu of authentic Italian selections, in addition to their superior menu of 8 types of 57 different cheeses. Yes!, a full menu of cheese tasting selections. We enjoyed a bowl of Fettuccine Bolognese (two sizes are available) along with an order of Burrata and bread. The burrata was heavenly with its rich, buttery flavor and a luscious, melt-in-your-mouth texture. It was served over a bed of arugula graced with sliced beets and cherry tomatoes. The Fettuccine was prepared al dente with a delicate meat sauce. The portion of the small bowl offering was perfect for lunch. The breads were lightly grilled and served along with EVOO and a spicy calabrese spread. Our server, Tommaso, was very attentive, friendly and professional. The environment was immaculate.

Chitarra Cacio E Pepe
Mckenna C.

Forma is in such a prime Santa Monica location, nestled among all the cute shops and cafes, it's a great lunch or dinner spot after a long day of exploring all that this location has to offer. The happy hour menu is great to get smaller portions and then share, and that's exactly what my husband and I did! We shared a Citrus Avocado salad and Cacio E Pepe, which is one of the pastas made in one of their cheese wheels. It was so delicious I asked for the full sized entree! The wait staff have great recommendations for what wines to pair with your meal, and if you're inclined to, I'd recommend sitting at the bar. There's always very interesting conversations to jump into! You can also watch the chefs make entrees through the back wall windows, exposing the kitchen. Always a fun time at Forma!

Sara B.

Forma continues to be a favorite when I visit my sister in Santa Monica. For classic Italian food, fresh cheese, pasta and pizza you can not go wrong. We started with a margarita pie that was topped with so much fresh shaved parm. For my main I tried the veal picatta on special which came with three substantial sized pieces of veal. This was flavorful and delicious. The star of the show is always the cacio e pepe which is rich and buttery perfection. Even the kids menu spaghetti with butter and cheese is almost as good as the cacio e pepe which is saying a lot. This is the kind of place that I probably would visit monthly if I lived close by. Mangia!

Ying S.

Every time I will order the same ,and always good ! Maybe next time I will try different things

Inside Dining Area
Harris A.

Parking is a bit tricky since there's only three dedicated spots behind the restaurant. I do recommend parking in the residential area as long as it's not a do not park day. Staff was super friendly and was able to get a reservation same day. Nice ambience that you walk in, the lunch rush was an effect, but still managed to hold the conversation without it being too loud. The food was amazing. The assassina was the star of the meal with the avocado citrus tied for best.

Darien M.

Lunch at Forma on a Saturday was very nice. I had the Lemon Ricotta Pancakes topped with whipped ricotta and warm maple syrup, which were light and airy. Plus it was $11 which I thought was an excellent price. My friend had the hamburger, which was a big amount of burger plus the condiments and fries. $19. Service was friendly but a little slow. Parking in the neighborhood on the street.

Harikrishnan U.

Went on a Thursday evening for my younger daughter's birthday dinner. We all love good Italian food so I took her to try this Italian which is our time. In fact, I was checking which is a good restaurant in the area serves cheese wheel pasta and this was suggested in one of the forums. I was happy that I called and made a reservation few days prior as this place was so full when we arrived and for a Thursday night. We were seated right away as we had an appointment. The tables are pretty close to each other like any other restaurant in Santa Monica. The vibe was very good. Warm lighting and parking can be found easily. The portion size of all the items were decent, if you are really hungry, then you might as well order one entree per person. The cheese wheel pasta was delicious, could taste the freshness of the cheese in every bite. Overall the experience is great.

12 ounce Steak
Gary H.

The food was amazing! We ordered way too much for two but we just wanted to try everything We started off with the bone marrow then the lobster pasta and 12ounce. Steak that was to die for. The service was so great and helpful for our first time. The dim lighting and smooth music really set the mood.

Gohar K.

Our second time here at this wonderful restaurant. Now it's on my go to list for sure. My husband and I had a date night and enjoyed our meal soooo much. We walked in around 5pm and the lovely hostess welcomed us with a smile. She sat us right away which was great since we didn't have reservations. It was an unplanned dinner but it worked out perfectly. Our waitress was friendly and attentive. The ambiance here is amazing, when you walk in you right away smell the cheese ... yummmm We started with a salad that had fried artichokes. OMG a must try ... we both ordered the Cacio e pepe , freshly made pasted swirled in a pecorino cheese wheel. It was soooo good. Can't wait to go back and have another one. We had a wonderful dinner, I highly recommend this place

Madelyn L.

Everything I was hoping for in a pasta & more! Came to this beautiful gem on a Saturday afternoon - beautiful decor, very kind and attentive staff. We tried 3 items from the "Specials" menu. One being the bone marrow, the steak with a side salad and the truffle pasta (I'm so sorry, I don't remember the exact names). 10/10 for all three! The bone marrow was divine and paired with gnocchi. The dish overall was beautifully seasoned without being overpowering and still allowed the bone marrow to be the star of the show. The steak was seasoned perfectly as well, so tender and buttery. Now, the pasta .. prior to coming I was really hoping there was something buttery, cheesy and truffle-y on the menu. This hit the mark & exceeded all expectations of the pasta I imagined in my head lol. Balanced in all regards, I couldn't be more satisfied! Extra points to Forma for having spumoni on the dessert menu! I could've done without the chocolate shell but the ice cream itself was great! Thank you Forma team, wonderful job!

Filet of Sole, Beef Tartare, Pizza Margherita

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2 months ago

Good cheese boards and pasta. Like the outside space in the back area in the Santa Monica location.

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3 months ago

Consistently good place with great food and service. Customer since 2017. Cheese table and cacio el pepe are the favorite!

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Forma Santa Monica Reviews in Other Languages

Ask the Community - Forma Santa Monica

Do they still do the cheese wheel pasta?

Yes!

Are you allowed to bring in cupcakes or a cake for her birthday? If so, is there a charge and how much?

Dear Mary, we do allow to bring cupcakes or cakes at no charge but we do not cut it. We provide plates and silverware and bring the cake to the table (With candles if requested) with a knife for you to cut it and serve it.… Read more

What Italian regional dishes do you offer in your restaurant?

Hello, we have pasta "Assassina" (Burnt spaghetti) typical from Puglia region and other classics from other regions like Pesto (Liguria), Fettuccine e Lasagna Bolognese (Emilia Romagna), Cacio e Pepe (Lazio) and Wild boar ragu (Toscana), thanks.… Read more

Do you have a special menu for vegetarians/vegans/people with specific allergies?

They are able to tell you what is vegan and what isn't. I do not believe there is formally a special menu. But, substitutions can be made.

Are well behaved dogs allowed on the patio?

Yes, thanks.

Can you bring your own wine and if so is there a corkage fee?

Yes

Is outdoor seating available?

Yes!

Are the charcuterie boards included on the happy hour menu as well?

There is one on the happy hour menu. Olives, fennel, Calabrese spread a slice of bread, pickles & 1oz daily selected cheese

Do they have happy hour? If so, what is the time?

Yes from 3-6pm

Do i need to make reservations?

They take walk in, but the polite thing to do is make reservations

Wanna go this Friday. May I video the cheese wheel action or is it all done in the back?

You can take a video. They have an area towards the rear of the restaurant where they mix the pasta in the wheels.

Do they come out and serve you your pasta out the giant cheese here or no?

I dined at Forma April 20th and ordered the tortellini. I asked if they would and the waiter said they are not mixing and serving out of the cheese bowl because of Covid. When I walked through the restaurant to the ladies room, I saw a server with… Read more

Do they mix the pasta in the cheese wheel in front of you or do they not do that right now because of Covid?

Good question, I'm really not sure. The waiters are masked and have visors, so I don't see why they wouldn't do it at the table, because they're waiting on you none the less. You can always call and ask, sure they'd be happy to let you know.… Read more

With the current situation, is there dine available?

Forma has outdoor dining in the back parking lot and in front in the street. Both are excellent options.

What's good to order?

Cacio e pepe, filet of sole

Is this restaurant quiet enough for conversation among group of 4 on Fri and Sat pm?? How is it for those with hearing aids?

It's small but when it's full, it's hard to hear conversation. Definitely go at an off peak hour ( maybe 4pm for early dinner or late lunch)

How much is an average plate for 2?

Probably around 30 per person without wine or appetizer.

What's the dress code?

Dressy casual

Do they have TVs to watch march madness?

They might have one at the bar but that's all if that. It's a great restaurant but not to go watch sports.

It states "not good for kids", but are they welcome to come?

Yes. As far as I know, kids are welcome. The restaurant is located in a very family friendly neighborhood.

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Forma Santa Monica - italian - Updated May 2026

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