Skip to content

Pizza restaurant · Big Bear Lake

De La Nonna Big Bear review of pizza and lakefront drinks

De La Nonna is a lakefront restaurant at Hotel Marina Riviera serving focaccia-style, Sicilian-inspired pizza, cocktails and wine. It suits diners prioritizing a lakeside setting and is about 1.5 miles from Snow Summit's main address.

  • Best for: Lakefront cocktails
  • 1.5 mi from Snow Summit

At a glance

  • Sicilian-inspired pizza restaurant
  • 40770 Big Bear Boulevard, Big Bear Lake
  • Lakefront hotel setting
  • Advance reservations advised for busy periods
  • Best for: lakefront cocktails
  • Official website: delanonna.com

What it is known for

The restaurant's own website describes focaccia-style pizzas, cocktails and natural wines served at its Big Bear Lake hotel location.

Visitors often mention the lake views and distinctive thick pizza. Reports about food consistency and service differ notably across public review platforms.

The food and the room

The setting and the offerings

De La Nonna is situated at 40770 Big Bear Blvd, within the Hotel Marina Riviera property. The restaurant provides lakefront seating, contributing to a laid-back atmosphere as described on its official page. It operates as a seated restaurant, not as a self-guided hotel amenity.

The menu features signature focaccia-style pizzas, a specialty of the Big Bear Lake location. The beverage selection includes craft cocktails and natural wines. An all-day menu and a separate happy-hour menu are available online.

Dining experiences

The restaurant is presented as suitable for various occasions, from winter après-ski visits to warm-weather stops after time at the beach.

The establishment serves its focaccia-style pizzas, along with its drinks, within the lakefront setting of the Hotel Marina Riviera. The dining experience is focused on the restaurant service itself.

The atmosphere is described as laid-back.

The restaurant is about 1.5 miles from Snow Summit's main address.

Strengths and limits

Pros

  • Lakefront seating
  • Distinctive focaccia-style pizza
  • Cocktails and wine

Cons

  • Food reports vary substantially
  • Service experiences are inconsistent
  • Busy periods require planning

Other places to try

Dining alternatives

Tropicali is a restaurant in Big Bear Lake that suits those seeking a quick lunch. Our assessment gave it a score of 8.3 out of 10.

For a more polished dinner, consider Peppercorn Grille in Big Bear Lake. It received a score of 8.1 out of 10 from our review.

Sweet Basil Bistro is another option in Big Bear Lake, particularly suited for a date night. We scored this restaurant 7.9 out of 10.

Captains Anchorage in Big Bear Lake is recommended for a special-occasion dinner. Our review assigned it a score of 7.8 out of 10.

Who it suits

  • Lake lovers

    This spot suits visitors who enjoy lakeside settings with their meals and drinks.

  • Après-ski crowd

    The restaurant is positioned for those seeking food and beverages after skiing.

  • Beachgoers

    The official page positions the restaurant for diners arriving from the beach.

  • Pizza seekers

    The menu appeals to those who want thick, focaccia-style pizza.

  • Drink enthusiasts

    Visitors looking for cocktails or natural wine will find options here.

On the menu and beyond

Pizza offerings

De La Nonna features a variety of pizzas. The Margherita pizza includes basil, mozzarella, tomato sauce, and Parmesan. For those seeking plant-based options, a vegan Sicilian pizza is available with red-chili flakes, red onion, Kalamata olives, capers, pine nuts, and oregano. Another vegan choice is the kale pizza, prepared with charred kale, cashew ricotta, dairy-free smoked mozzarella, and pepperoncini. The menu also lists a White pizza, which combines Japanese sweet potato, fennel, onion, mozzarella, pesto, and Parmesan.

Sandwiches and sides

Beyond pizza, De La Nonna offers several sandwich choices. The Italian Hero is made with prosciutto, salami, provolone, romaine, red onion, and giardiniera aioli on toasted focaccia. There is also an eggplant sandwich featuring fried eggplant, fennel-cucumber slaw, basil, and Calabrian aioli. For a side dish, eggplant caponata is listed as fried eggplant dressed in a sweet-and-sour sauce with parsley.

When ordering takeout, customers will find distinct categories for pizza, salads, vegetables, desserts, wine, sides, and sandwiches.

Plan your visit

  1. 01

    Reservations

    The restaurant suggests booking ahead for busy weekends.

  2. 02

    Menus

    View the full-day and happy-hour offerings on the official website.

  3. 03

    Seating

    Confirm current table arrangements when you book if you want a lakefront spot.

  4. 04

    Itinerary

    The pizzeria fits into a lakefront, beach, or post-ski plan at Hotel Marina Riviera.

  5. 05

    Seasonal visits

    The site notes its suitability for winter après-ski gatherings and warm-weather trips from the beach.

Getting there and parking

De La Nonna is located at 40770 Big Bear Blvd, Big Bear Lake, CA 92315. This puts it about 1.5 miles from Snow Summit's main address. The restaurant is part of the Hotel Marina Riviera property and offers lakefront seating there. It can be a stop for those visiting the lakefront, beach, or enjoying a post-ski itinerary.

For those driving to Big Bear Lake, the main routes are State Route 330 via Highland, State Route 38 through Redlands, and State Route 18 from Lucerne Valley. Winter conditions can change quickly. Drivers should always check Caltrans QuickMap or their highway conditions service before traveling. Carrying traction devices and obeying chain-control signs are important for winter travel.

Public parking is available in the city of Big Bear Lake at several locations, including lots on Bartlett Road, Knickerbocker Road, and Pennsylvania Road, as well as the Alden Lot behind Dynasty restaurant. The Big Bear trolley provides a free transit option that serves various locations like grocery stores, restaurants, recreation areas, ski resorts, and The Village. Mountain Transit's Red Line also connects key areas including The Village, Moonridge, Bear Mountain, and Snow Summit.

Before you go

Should diners book ahead?

The restaurant advises making a Resy reservation in advance for busy weekends, per its own Big Bear Lake page.

Which website has current information?

Use De La Nonna's own Big Bear Lake page for current menus and reservation links, per the restaurant.

What seating options are available?

Visitors wanting a lakefront table should confirm current seating arrangements when booking. The official page presents De La Nonna as suitable for winter après-ski visits and warm-weather visits from the beach.

What kinds of pizza are offered?

De La Nonna lists Margherita pizza with basil, mozzarella, tomato sauce, and Parmesan. A vegan Sicilian pizza features red-chili flakes, red onion, Kalamata olives, capers, pine nuts, and oregano. The White pizza combines Japanese sweet potato, fennel, onion, mozzarella, pesto, and Parmesan. A gluten-free and vegan kale pizza is made with charred kale, cashew ricotta, dairy-free smoked mozzarella, and pepperoncini.

Are there sandwich options?

De La Nonna offers an Italian Hero sandwich with prosciutto, salami, provolone, romaine, red onion, and giardiniera aioli on toasted focaccia. An eggplant sandwich includes fried eggplant, fennel-cucumber slaw, basil, and Calabrian aioli.

Can this location be part of a larger itinerary?

The restaurant can be included in a lakefront, beach, or post-ski itinerary at Hotel Marina Riviera. It is located about 1.5 miles from Snow Summit's main address.

Where it is

Who reviewed this

Jenna Whitcomb

Jenna Whitcomb

Local guide editor

Jenna Whitcomb edits Near Big Bear. Every place on this page was checked against the business's own website and OpenStreetMap on the date below.

Reviewed by
Marcus Delgado, Fact checker
Updated
September 22, 2026