Buca di Beppo-your ultimate Italian Dining Destination
Written: Feb 26 '08
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Pros: Food quality, price, family friendly
Cons: Limited locations, slow service, limited parking
The Bottom Line: This is a great restaurant for a large group, friendly and cozy place.
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| sliznyak2's Full Review: Buca di Beppo |
My one and only trip so far to the restaurant has been wonderful. I am definetely coming back. This is an Italian-themed restaurant, very charming and classy. It is appropriate for just about any occasion such as family gathering, a meal with kids in the evening and even a romantic dinner for a couple. I would not recommend this for any type of business lunch or dinner since the menu portions and atmosphere are mainly targeted for relaxed, slow paced environment.
The first restaurant was opened in 1993 in the basement of Minneapolis apartment building. Since then, a very modest unsophisticated start it is hard to believe that they have 93 opened locations nationwide. There are over 20 some states that do have one or more locations so chances are you will be able to find one near you, however compared to other chain restaurants, locations are still scarce but it is worth the look and it is going out of your way.
The outward appearance of this restaurant may be very ordinary and generic. The location I have visited is a downtown Scottsdale Buca di Beppo in Arizona. This particular location has difficulty with parking availability and they almost force you to take advantage of their wallet parking. This adds to the high class type of dining experience but it does surprise you as you typically should be able to self park. I prefer to self park and for that reason I may choose a different location in the future.
The menu is diverse and rich in Italian style dishes. You will find some great pizzas, they have specialty items and seasonal items such as fresh seafood platters. Every location's menu differs but generally they do offer Romano Crusted Tilapia which is outstanding. Goat Cheese Stuffed Chicken tastes great and their Fettucini Alfredo is rich and authentic. In other words, there will be something on the menu to satisfy even the most elaborate and picky taste buds. Shrimp Barese is another favorite.
There is a catch about Buca di Beppo, Unlike most other restaurants, this one offers mostly family portions. Their meals serving 2-3 (they call them small) runs about $16-$22 and will on average be enough food for two adults. Ordering a large which runs $30-35 per order can feed a family of two adults and two kids. I would recommend ordering a few different items from the menu. The sides run $4-6 dollars and are the best value. For sophisticated dishes, you may want to try rather expensive appetizers such as goat cheese mushrooms.
I personally like the idea of serving large portions which will serve the whole family. This adds to a nice comfortable atmosphere of family traditional dining. For those who may want a plate all to themselves, they just recently introduced a menu for one. I figured Buca did not want to miss out on any business for those who want to order a meal all to themselves. Those plates usually cost between $9-15 per serving.
Service is great and polite, very attentive and nice to customers. It is slower so you should allow enough time. This is an ultimate destination to spend a long slow evening around your friends and family. If you are being asked if you are at the Buca di Beppo for the first time, consider saying yes, you will not regret it since you will be walked through the kitchen and shown how the food is made, it is quite an experience and is worth seeing. It is almost like having your own factory production tour without free samples. I recommend this restaurant for their style and authenticity. It is definitely an entirely Italian restaurant experience.
Recommended:
Yes
Kid Friendliness: Yes
Vegetarian Friendly: Yes
Notes, Tips or Menu Recommendations I recommend Tilapia and Goat Cheese Stuffed Chicken.
The tour of the kitchen is totally worth the wait
This place fills up on the weekends, get there early to get a good seat
Best Suited For: Large Group
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Epinions.com ID:
sliznyak2
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Location: Seattle, WA
Reviews written: 96
Trusted by: 6 members
About Me:
I am a professional court interpreter and ESL instructor at a local community college.
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