This is one of our favorites for Italian. It's a great atmosphere and you never get bored with the decor. Be prepared to share what you order because everything is family friendly portion, but always yummy!! Can never go wrong with a pizza and pasta!!
(5)
James J.
I have been to this location at least 10 times, and many, many others Buca di Beppo locations. I love the food, the environment, and normally the service. However today started off bad, very bad. We walked in the front door and there was nobody there. 10 different employees walked by, and not a single "hello", "someone will be with you in a sec", or "have you been helped?" Nothing! We waited 10 minutes before the hostess decided to show up. Then when she did, she took our group size of 6, and walked away again. If this was out first visit, we would have left and never returned again. We were finally seated and the overall experience improved dramatically. Our server Kevin was amazing (and the only reason this review is not 1 star). If you don't mind waiting an extra minute and ignoring the hostess, you will love this place.
(3)
Wendy M.
It is a good place. I like it here. They serve good food. The spaghetti and pizza are my favorite. I take my daughter here to celebrate her birthday every year. She likes it very much. The servers are very nice and helpful. They talk to you in a vey respectful manner. I will definitely go back again.
(5)
Nora M.
I went here with a group of friends and after the waitress took our drink and appetizer order she said "can i bring you guys some garlic bread to start off with?".... The way she worded it we were under the impression that it was complimentary bread that is normally given at a restauraunt. When we recieved the bill we were charged $12.99 for a tiny basket of a few pieces of bread. This restaurant is pricey as it is and I was extremely annoyed that we were tricked into ordering an extra item. The food here was decent but expensive and I probaly wont return.
(1)
Ingrid G.
Best Italian food ever. Great customer service. Our waiter was very helpful and fast. Great place for family or friends.
(5)
Jillie S.
I am a fan of Buca! The place is really a character. So many pictures, colorful decors, tables are next to each other. The servings are huuuuge! one small pasta can feed at least 4 people ) in my opinion). I love their Calamari, crispy, not too salty not too oily. We always, always, get their Supremo Italiano pizza in Buca large. Their crust is thin crust and they have so much toppings! I also like their Chicken Carbonara I have not tried their desserts, but seeing them from other tables...oh man, they are freaaakin' huge!!! haha! I will try them one day though... :)
(4)
Dina T.
We were basically rushed out the door after finishing our meal. I thought it was rude. Hurry up and eat clean your table and get out. The food and service was great.
(4)
Annie P.
Long story short food is amazing but service is not. Asked for assistance for a pointed finger and the girl taking my order was so awkward. We asked her what people usually get the most and she said I don't know there stuff on the menu.
(3)
Maricela R.
My experience at this restaurant was far from perfect. I was surprised at how much things have changed over the years. My husband made reservations for 15 to celebrate my birthday. It took forever to get drinks to our table. They no longer offer bread to dip in oil and vinegar. The waitress informed us that these are only available upon request. It didn't feel good to have to ask for something that should be complimentary especially after our bill was $350! The pasta was over cooked and not near al dente. The spaghetti and meatballs had very little marinara sauce so we had to ask for a side of marinara. It never came to the table! The chicken limon had very little sauce with capers. Kids loved the pizza. They sang happy birthday to me but didn't even offer a complimentary scoop of ice cream or some small dessert. They are just too corporate and cut corners at customers expense! For better service and higher quality food, we are going to stick with our go to small businesses.
(2)
William H.
I came here with just my friend and I. The wait was about thirty minutes for a table of two. Service was good. If you like those places where they make a huge scene when it's your birthday, then this is the place for you I quite enjoyed the food. Remember that food is served family style at Bucca Di Beppo. We ordered fried calamari and the small baked ziti. That was more than enough food for two. Plus, they also serve bread. I highly reccomend the Fried Calamari. Overall, I highly recommended you go here on special occasions. I say that because food is slighly pricier here. However, it's well worth the money. :)
(4)
John H.
The service was very fast and accurate. A wonderfully themed and fun location. But the food...the food taste like it was off the basic Olive Garden menu. I was looking forward to some more flavorful Italian options, but instead I got some bland American-Italian. Our table of six got the undercooked Bianca pizza, prosciutto stuffed chicken breasts, garden salad and spaghetti marinara. Nothing unique, flavorful or outstanding about anything. No need to go back. 2 stars for good service, selection and theming. Not for the food.
(2)
Stephen H.
I'm usually able to talk my parents into some independent restaurant they've never heard of before. On my most recent visit they were tired, not that hungry, and not interested in driving much out of the "resort" area. Oh, my parents live in the area of the Anaheim "resort" which is dominated by Disneyland and the Convention Center and so big box concepts like Buca di Beppo dominate. Before you get mad, remember that their suggestion was, "How about Cheesecake Factory?" :-) Ordered a small cheese ravioli, a side of green beans, some garlic bread, and finished off with their cannoli. All the food was good, served in a timely manner, and was "just the right size" which you have to be careful about when ordering at a family style restaurant like Buca. Remember that the problem with Italian food is that 2 or 3 days later you're hungry again :-) With Buca, if you're not careful, you might have leftovers for 2 or 3 days. Be conservative when ordering. You can always order more if you run out.
(4)
Crystal W.
I do really like the food here but it always feel over priced for the atmosphere. Our server was very slow and took 15 minutes to come back to our table to take orders which is okay but when I'm hangry it's not the greatest scenario. The pros are good food and funny pictures. It feels like it would be really fun for a large group which I think is the purpose The cons are just ok servers and bad for small parties for dinner Not sure if I'll be coming back
(3)
Sam M.
Good service by Mary , great food, big portions most likely I'll come back , bread was served cold but all an all good experience
(4)
Janize S.
I've been to other Bucca di Beppos closer to my area & my boyfriend & I went to this one because it was local from the Gardenwalk. Service was definitely not the best. The waitress was so intimidating when I would have questions about the menu like the soup of the day. She didn't give us any bowls for our soup. As previously noted, she made it so intimidating for me to ask for another bowl & it certainly continued throughout the night such as asking for another fork because my fork was dirty. She would just look at me like, "Are you really asking me to do something for you?" Uh yeah, because you are my waitress. Dinner was so terrible. Finally, we were about to pay. She asks if I want change back. Yes, because I gave you $35.00 & the bill was only $32.38. She made it so obvious she wants tip & with the service she'd given me, I wouldn't immediately say, "Keep the change." We asked if she could break a $5 bill for her tip & she was questioning us. Usually, we hear, "Sure, no problem !" When service is great like at Woodranch or those high end sushi places, we have no problem giving a $5 tip. However, if you're gonna be rude to us the whole night, you're not gonna get a $5 tip for a party of 2. The restaurant wasn't completely terrible. The other lady who brought our food was very nice. I said thank you & she said, "You're welcome." & She greeted us when we left too. The food was good but I don't think I'm coming to this one anytime soon. Brea is in a better surrounding & the service is a lot better.
(1)
Beautiful Girl W.
Kindly, for the cost of food, I expected a higher class establishment. Although not low-class, it was not high class. The prices are structured for two entrees. So, a bowl of rigatoni is $23.99 and it satisfies two guests. No single serve. I ordered the walnut salad and rigatoni and shared mine, while my 3 other guests ordered various things. Salad was way too salty and the rigatoni was overcooked - seriously lacking marinara. Why add salt? Great quality food does not need cheap, sodium chloride table salt. Also, the scenery was old. The restaurant was way to cluttered with out-dated Italian memorabilia. Our waiter was friendly, and tried to be professional; it just was not in him. I tire of the lazy, non-professional staff employed in what is supposed to be a mid- level upscale place!!! This is not. As a personal note to the restaurant, the cost of food does not match the integrity of the restaurant. I walk in to see an employee on their cellphone - leaning over the counter. Not a good first impression. I brought with me special, high caliber guests to experience a low quality meal, and cluttered atmosphere. By the way, the picture next to the woman's restroom with the elephant trunk in another elephant's deri aire is "very classy." Gross. Maggianos!!! I appreciate you so much more!! True Italian food cooked by REAL Italian chefs. Their wait staff treated me and my guest with high respect. The food was outstanding. The atmosphere was high- class at Maggianos. Buca di peppo is not real Italian food. It was tasteless, and the rigatoni was thrown together. The salad leaves were brown and just yuk. Thank you. By the way, the bread the waiter brought out was some cheap, store bought, pre-sliced stuff. What? They don't make their own bread? So cheap, the starch and bleach were already oozing out of it from it being microwaved. Me - usually would have a slice or two, backed away from that week old stuff. Oh my goodness!!!! While leaving, the CEO of my company asked me, "Is it too late for me to throw this stuff up?" I sadly responded yes and to take some fast acting enzymes. If this was an Olive Garden, I knew what to expect and would not dare eat or bring my guests. But this is supposed to be "better." :( Thank you.
(2)
Sheila M.
In my book, Buca will always beat Olive Garden, hands-down! Not only are their restaurants elaborate and unique and decor, but their service and food quality are great! This particular Buca tends to be very busy (on weekends especially) because of tourists from Disneyland and the Anaheim Convention Center. However, they are very friendly in trying to accommodate you. (We usually call ahead to find the wait-time for a party our size). You'll always get some fresh bread (and a smile) upon seating. Not sure how to rate their food since it's a chain and they've established their reputation already. However, it is consistently good. Haven't found myself saying, "Eeek, this does not taste right today! Nevertheless, these are the fatty roads to my heart: Spicy Chicken Rigatoni and Chicken Saltimbocca! Also, I would say SKIP the Tiramisu here :-\ The creme they use is so darn dense. I swear their portion must weigh around 5 pounds! It's just "aight" Also, sign up for their email club and you'll be receiving great coupons, periodically!
(4)
Ethan F.
I have to honestly say that this place does fit the bill of traditional Italian.... In respect to the PORTIONS!!! When you have a larger than life family, you could order the large portion and be satisfied. We broke bread with a delightful, yet sadly cold sourdough loaf with a delicious yet simple garnish of extra virgin olive oil and balsamic vinegar; the next course was a slightly overpriced, yet delicious spinach artichoke dip mad with fresh spinach and ripe Roma tomatoes; chicken Parmesan and an order of meatballs rounded out the dinner course. The only problem, no noodles to go with the entre... How can you have Italian without the pasta? My daughter enjoyed a very oversized Mac and cheese for a value of 4 dollars. We also had some of the most delicious wine I have ever tasted here. When you think of Buca di Beppo, just know it is a franchise restaurant, and in comparison to Johnny carinos, or even Olive Garden, there is more value here. Come with an empty stomach, and be prepared to spend some money... Only a three star from me today. Service= a star ambience= a star value = a star, warm up the bread and serve pasta pro bono for a five star from me.
(3)
Jillene B.
Buca is yummy! Today we the Quattro all Forno. I had the spinach and chicken cannelloni and the Apple Gorgonzola salad. Omg, super good. Asked for a side of sun dried tomatoes and Kevin, the manager was awesome and brought me a whole cupful! Salad comes with the dressing on it, which I'm not a fan. It's still crisp, but I wouldn't take it home the leftovers. Service was a little slow, there may have been a big party that we didn't see. But food is good and the manager is very cool!
(3)
Otto W.
Nice clean restaurant, almost aleays empty when we have lunch on a weekday. Hate the fact they always want to seat us in the bar section, I am with my family..how about another section huh?!? Servers are 50/50..if they dont come by and ask if I need a refill or more napkins or bread... its ok, bad service equals low tips or no tips, good service higher tips, so I dont really sweat it :-) Food is good, decos nice, ambience is fitting. Location is great, but the parking is horrible, too TIGHT!!!
(3)
Jane C.
Boddy, our waiter, was responsive, however the kitchen staff was not or not keen to how Frutti di Mare should be prepared. It was watery & watered down the flavor. Not what I remembered from the San Diego establishments. Fortunately they honored the $10 Yelp coupon which helped to ease our dissapointment.
(3)
Cynthia N.
1st time here, the food is so delicious. The waiter Boddy was awesome!!! Great service
(5)
Roscoe A.
Great restaurant, and considering it's a chain, Buca di Beppo definitely upheld the homestyle Italian cuisine. Family-style dinner was great, and the portions were large. We had the Eggplant Lasagna, Veggie Lasagna, Chicken Pasta and the Shrimp Pasta. All of which were great. The wine we received, granted it was the house wine, tasted a lot like Welch's Grape Juice. It was probably made to be drinkable, and palatable...but it lacked a bit of character, other than sweetness. Our server was great, but for the life of me I can't remember his name. We had our picture taken, and were given a complimentary collage. I'll definitely be back for dinner, and to try more wine!
(4)
Anna K.
We had a party of 30 and the service was terrible. We ordered family style which included soggy Caesar salad, fettuccine Alfredo which had absolutely no taste and one piece of chicken parmigiana per person among a few other sub-par dishes. The bottom line is we paid around $38/per person for a pretty gross dinner...WAY OVERPRICED!!!
(1)
Sarah M.
Go next door to Joe's! Save urself a trip! Pasta over cooked, under seasoned, and just plain watery. Service was alright, a pack of 5 employees standing by front podium not sure exactly what their purpose was but I don't think they knew themselves.
(1)
David G.
Went to Buca for a group dinner. Food was great, staff was awesome. Family style so we had tons of food left over.
(5)
Jessica L.
Went on Sunday afternoon and it was pretty busy. Make reservations online if you plan on coming. Service was adequate. Food was better than Olive Garden. Served family style. Fun but noisy atmosphere.
(3)
Jordan Bennett S.
I had dinner here the other night with a friend, i was in the mood for Italian food but had never tried this place. i do not recommend it for parties of less then four, everything is served "family style" so if you just want something small your out of luck. as a BIG guy i don't personally mind it. but i did want a small side salad and they don't have on on the menu, but the server was nice enough to have the kitchen make me a little mediterranean salad and it was very tasty. The the service was great and the food came out VERY HOT! Ill be back again!
(4)
M J.
More like bucca de barf. If your going to waste your money on crappy fast food at least go next door to jack in the box and spend less money. They couldn't even get a basic salad right, food was cold and was poorly thrown together. Waste of money.
(1)
Suzy S.
If you've been to one, you've been to all. Buca di Beppo is a step above Olive Garden (I am NOT a fan of OG) but by no means authentic Italian. If you know that going in then your dining experience won't be a disappointment. The photos and plaques that line the walls are always entertaining and provide a fun ambiance which lends to the enjoyment of large crowds. The huge portions of bland food is also perfect for big groups. Three of us took home plenty of leftovers. We started with an apple gorgonzola salad. How can a salad be salty? Mr. S can make a meal from one meatball, my lasagna was overly stuffed with ricotta and little meat, but the leftover was better the next day as often the case. The cheesy garlic bread was good but cold in spots when served. Service can be iffy, but considering that they are scurrying around to take care of the table of 20 next to us it was tolerable. If you are celebrating any occasion, expect to get a table sign that announces your celebration to everyone in the dining room. DO NOT expect a free dessert because it's not going to happen.
(3)
Truong T.
Huge portions and there pretty good. First time here I had the spaghetti, yesterday I had the pizza. Both were definitely worth the price tag. Place is great for special occasions. The waiters are helpful and will go out of their way to make sure your experience is amazing. Didn't see hot chicks though but I guess I was too busy munching on that pizza
(5)
Delbert N.
Great Italian Food, tasteful and plentiful. Truly family oriented. Waitress, Danica was very helpful and friendly. This is one of our favorite. Mahalo Nui Loa........
(5)
Tamara F.
Used to come to Buca di Beppo all the time with my family and remember it being a great place to come to. However, we came to this location one night and were not impressed. The ambiance is always cool and the service was decent which is the reason for the 3 stars. The food, however, was well below par. We ordered the stuffed mushrooms and the spaghetti with meatballs. The mushrooms themselves had no flavor and I could have made better spaghetti and meatballs at home with little effort. The sauce was a joke - it was like watered down tomato sauce. Maybe it was because we came here late at night but it shouldn't be an excuse. On top of all that, the bill was not cheap. I won't be coming back here. If you do, make sure you have a coupon at least.
(3)
James L.
I haven't been to Buca in ages, and I was just reminded that it is definitely not equipped to eat for two. What brought me back here was a gift card I received for Christmas. For $25 (and after doing some research, a $10 off coupon), I thought this would be more than enough to cover lunch. We ordered: - Florentine garlic bread - Chicken cannelloni (small) - Frutti de Mare (small) The bread was delicious but came out warm and parts of it were cold. It tastes just fine but the temperature definitely made it off putting. The chicken cannelloni is basically what I like to call enchiladas Italian style. I really liked them here. A small consisted of 4 decent sized 'roll ups' but if I did the break down of it, each one was in the ball park of $4. Hmmm. As for the frutti de mare, it is basically an assortment of seafood over a bed of linguine sitting in a red clam sauce. I liked the way the pasta tasted in this dish but the seafood here didn't wow me at all. All of this rang up to about $60 and even after my gift card and coupon, it was about $35 tax and tip. It's strange because I thought using my coupon and gift card would make it cheap, but it ended up costing more than I bargained for. I don't even usually count pennies but I didn't expect this price point for a place like Buca. Service was attentive for lunch time. I can't tell if I liked this or not but they had a photographer going around to tables taking 'complimentary' photos while you eat. We had a mini photoshoot of us scooping pasta, toasting with waters, laughing out loud, and acting like gangsters. We laughed at the cheesiness we had to go through. In the end, we were given a small collage of photos (which inadvertently made me look like I was wearing lipstick) and they were selling nice, large size photos in frames. I'll pass on that and I guess thanks for entertaining us for a little bit during our meal. Overall I enjoyed it, but in these tough times, and me not having a family to feed, I think I can take my money elsewhere for now.
(3)
Tonyaa G.
Went last night after a full day at Disney. I called around 4 and made a reservation for 9 just to be safe that we would be on time from leaving the park. Well, we showed up early at 830 and were seated about 5 mins later. Everything was wonderful. The service was great. We ordered cheese bread, fried cheese, pesto chicken(which was amazing) and manicotti. Plus we finished with a slice of celebration cake(not my fav) all small which was plenty for us 4 to share and we only spent 86$! Forgot how much I like this place! Def go!!
(5)
Amanda L.
When a group of us were completely turned off by horrible service at a restaurant down the way we stumbled upon Bucca. I've been to the SF location and this one was virtually the same. Nook and cranny dining spaces, heavily decorated & stuffed with photos and trinkets. Various dishes were ordered at the table but I tried the brushetta, sangria, and had a bite of a canoli. Everything tasted good but nothing was amazingly special. Overall we were just happy to be somewhere where they gave us good service!
(3)
Mrs E.
We ordered the linguini frutti di mare & the penne san remo for a party last night and it was amazing. We also got some garlic bread & Caesar salad to go with it. We got a lot of compliments on the food so we couldn't have been happier with our choices. The food was delivered for a $25 fee, which we thought it was a bit much considering the amount of the bill BUT it did make it convenient for us. And the delivery person was very nice and helpful. We definitely recommend using Buca for any catering needs!
(4)
Rob R.
Made a last minute reservation on line and they had it when we walking in a few minutes earlier. Were seated within a few minutes and then the flow of food started up. Be forewarned that "large" plates are just that. It is said that a large portion will feed 4. In reality, it will easily feed 6-8 hungry folks. The wedge salad is very nice and different enough from other restaurants to make it stand out. The chicken parmigiana is sooooooooo good. Thinly pounded chicken breast with a perfect coating that comes to the table piping hot and crispy. Nothing pre made or microwaved here. It's all freshly prepared and brought out promptly. Also ordered the garlic bread with mozzarella. A hint of olive oil sets this apart from ordinary garlic bread. Very tasty, as was a heaping bowl of baked rigatoni with sausage. Four of us barely made a dent in the supersize bowl. Finished our family style meal with two deserts that left us loosening our belts. All in all, a great dining experience. But for the crying baby one table over, it would have been perfect. :) Update: returned for a birthday dinner two nights ago. The food continues to be great. Fresh, hot, tasty, made to order. However, service was way below par. Once our order was taken, our server Josh was invisible for the rest of the meal. Asked for sugar and didn't get it for 20 minutes. All four of us had our glasses run dry 30 minutes in. One refill, and he was gone again. That's it. One refill. Never got asked how the meal was, never asked if we wanted more bread, never thanked for coming in (the place was mostly empty). No birthday desert. As we all stared at each other over the poor service, I told a joke I heard a long time ago: "We looked for you during the meal, now you look for the tip". The other servers in the room seemed way more attentive of their tables. Kind of put a damper on an important night out.
(3)
Tori T.
Went here for lunch on a Saturday afternoon. Place was pretty much empty. No wait and got seated immediately. Waitress was nice; provided bread, got our drinks/refills, and appetizer fairly quick. Service was what I expected for being empty. The thing that wasn't good was the food. There's no flavor, just bland fettuccine alfredo and spaghetti and meatballs. Nothing special especially for $20 a plate. We ordered the small portions and they were exactly as described...SMALL. Lol. The biggest thing here though is the girl that goes around taking pictures and then charges whatever price she can get away with. Don't allow her to take pictures of your party!!! She'll small-talk ya and then swiftly leave after taking your money. Better off using your camera phone for memories.
(2)
Marie D.
Considering my party of 12 showed up here at 8pm on a Saturday night with no reservation, it was no surprise that we were told it would be about a 45 minute wait. We were happily surprised when the wait was only about 20 minutes. Buca is fun - lots of crazy photos on the walls, goofy stuff in the bathrooms (the women's, at least), and a good vibe. The food is fine - nothing amazing, but not bad. Our service was also good - everyone was attentive and polite. Decent wine list.
(3)
Gina S.
Been to one other one in Huntington beach So far place is ok They placed us at a small table by the bar and we called in reservations the service sucked we got bread and we asked for sauce and received it late Forgot to get us silverware Food was not bad
(2)
Brenna L.
Flavorless spaghetti, poor service and they were in a big hurry to rush is out! Not a pleasant experience. I will not return.
(1)
Gleicyane G.
The first time I went I loved it, so I went back a second time. Not nearly as good this time around. I don't know what it was, but the food fell flat on every level. We ordered the Chicken Parm. My husband cooks a delicious one. This one didn't come nearly as close. Might as well have eaten at home and saved the money. The pasta wasn't cooked right. I'm still wondering what went wrong, or did I just fall in love the first ti me because they gave us free stuffed mushrooms to make up for the waiter forgetting to bring it to us for appetizer.
(2)
Michael V.
We had lunch there while having a meeting, so I wanted to keep it light. I order the minestrone and a few minutes later the server returned to the table and said they were out of the soup. How in the world does an Italian restaurant run out of minestrone at 1:00 pm?? I had the mixed green salad instead, and it was just ok. I thought it was way overpriced!
(3)
Victoria V.
We SAT IN THE KITCHEN!!!! whooo hoooo- reserve this spot it is a MUST do !!! great food as awlays and very nice staff
(5)
Minh N.
The food at any Buca Di Peppo will be the same. If you've never been, it's not fabulous Italian food, but they do offer family sized portions for a good price. A 1/2 order is good for at least 2 people and a full order for at least 4. Definitely great for groups. They now offer "individual" portions, which in my opinion is still huge! We took a small lasagna to go, and it was hearty enough to feed 2 people (or in my case, 4 really drunk people...haha). They've got tacky artwork and what nots displayed all over, which add to the very casual and fun atmosphere. Not quite romantic date dinner material. I totally view this place as a "go with lots of friends" place. The parking here is a lil whack because the whole lot in front of the place was just valet (maybe because it was a weekend?). So I had to park next door in the hotel lot and walk on over. The wait time here on a Saturday evening was well over an hour! Even for a table for 2. Luckily they take reservations, because I came with a party of 21. The reservation was for 6:45, and they promptly seated us a few minutes afterwards. This restaurant in particular was very accommodating to our large group, and although a few more people showed up than expected, they were able to squeeze in some more seats. Our waiter was very quick with getting our orders, as well as making sure if we needed anything else, as well as switching out our plates. Overall, a great experience with service. Food at Buca is average Italian fare, but they get an A for effort! I know it can be difficult when serving large groups, but they handle it quite well. Prices aren't too bad either. It came out to about $20 a person (tax + tip), that's with us pay for the 3 birthday people too. And we still had leftovers to go. Btw, if you plan on bringing your own wine, there's a corkage fee of $10.
(4)
Lida K.
Would give it a four...except I don't like eating in a damn igloo. Not necessarily the freshest or most tasty, but their food is consistently good and I have yet to get food poisoning. So for a franchise place so far it wins. - Service: Fair. Just fair. They gave us a big table that could seat 6 when it was just two of us. But they didn't take away extra silverware and when they brought more food, they didn't take away the old stuff instead they just pushed it off to the side. Bartenders are usually nice but the dining servers are just fair. - Wait Time: Grosssss.... Call ahead! - Interior: It looks like a brochure for the Italian Travel Bureau barfed all over the place. But I don't have complaints. I usually bring out of town visitors here and they usually like it. - Food: Salads are tasty and the pastas aren't overly greasy. So in my book that's good. But I just can't get over how COLD it is...like FREEZING cold. Whenever I forget to bring a thick jacket, my teeth are chattering and it's annoying as hell. Worth the visit. Bring a fur coat.
(3)
Eric H.
Family and I have been here many times and always have good food and service. See if you can get the table in the kitchen, it's a cool experience. Get the spaghetti and meatballs with some Italian sodas you can't go wrong with that.
(4)
dorothy f.
I've been coming here for years and the food is always consistent and good. We always sit in the bar and the service is great. We usually get the same thing, Since I'm Italian I love the cheesy decor and the music in the back ground. The family style dinners are the best way to eat dinner. Here is what we consistently eat the has never been a bad dish. Pizza A+ Always fresh thin crust extra crispy just the way i like it. Salads While I'm not a salad eater my family is, so the apple Gorgonzola is the fav then the chopped Antipasto. Me I like the Caesar but rarely order it. Pasta: We get the linguine frutti di mare, always order a little sauce on the side so it's not dry and you'll get more clams. Spaghetti with meat sauce, just as good as my own. We always get a side of the fettuccine Alfredo, its OK I add a lot of cheese so it get the job done. Appetizers: The calamari is always great the rest of the are so so, you never want to order too much because of large dinner portions. The eggplant is different than min but a B+. We've ordered the stuffed rigatoni to go once and like the previous yelper it was dry. So all in all you get a bang for buck, good service and a great place for the whole family to go.
(4)
Anshul N Eypsa T.
This place is great. We stopped by for a family dinner and left with complete satisfaction. The food quantity is very filling for a family. The Quality of food was also great. Our server always had a smile on his face, and was so friendly. It was a memorable experience for our family. It has a great location with all the hotels and disneyland around it, which is why you need to make reservations since its always busy. But def worth a must - try !!
(4)
Madd C.
A fun place to dine! The apple salad is outta this world. I could eat it everyday. My husband is gluten intolerant so we ordered the chicken Marsala. It was probably the worst I've ever had. Everything else we ordered was good though. And service was alright.
(4)
davie g.
Went here last night and admittedly, I wasn't starving and we didn't order our favorite dish (Penne San Remo), but we're big Bucca fans so we know what we're getting. Bucca never messes up the salad but I felt one of the two dishes we ordered was just so-so. It was the eggplant parm. I thought it was a little overcooked, and the eggplant tasted a little more bitter than usual. We tried the Steak Parm? A new dish. I won't go into details but we had to alert the waiter of a problem. Long story short, I just felt like Bucca didn't hit it out of the park like they normally do for us. Not to worry, Manager ANNA took care of us without a hitch! And YES, I'm still bitter about them taking that ROCKING round thick crust garlic bread off the menu years ago! Bring it BACK!!!!! You go to regular menus, expand the menu, take the best thing off the menu, and you're getting close to being an "also ran". I know I'm not the only long-time customer who feels this way! ;-) Oh, and it's IN GARDEN GROVE, but they call it the Anaheim Bucca.
(3)
Yan G.
If you take your neighborhood Olive Garden, add some tchotchkes and checkered tablecloths, and then supersize the portions, you will have a Buca Di Beppo. At 8:30 pm on a Sunday, the place was almost empty. A friendly hostess walked us through the kitchen (something they do on purpose to show you how clean and fresh everything is) and showed us to our booth. It was a booth with long wooden benches that could easily seat 6 adults. The ubiquitous checkered tablecloths were hardly noticeable, drowning in the sea of kitschy figurines, "authentic" Italian photos, toys, clocks, and whatchamacallits. Seriously, the place made Pee-wee Herman's house look like the Library of Congress. Our waitress showed up a few minutes later, took our drink orders and explained to us that the dishes at Buca are served family style. She was almost too friendly, but a bit forgetful. It really did feel like you were having dinner at your Italian cousins' house. We weren't particularly hungry, so we ordered a salad and 2 entrees. A small Apple Gorgonzola salad ($11.99) was more than enough for the three of us to share. The salad was good, with fresh, crispy apples and tasty Gorgonzola crumbs. My dad wanted Veal Parmigiana, so we opted for a small version of that ($20.99). For $21 you get 4 thin over-salted and overcooked pieces of veal, and it doesn't even come with a side dish. Since we obviously needed some pasta to complement the meal, we opted for a small order of spaghetti marinara ($9.99). The pasta itself was good, but the sauce was sour and bland. There was a LOT of pasta though. I have been to two other locations of Buca di Beppo (San Francisco, CA and Palo Alto, CA), and I have to say that my experience has been consistently underwhelming. Any time a restaurant chooses to focus on adding "pieces of flair" to its decor and making portions larger, the quality of the food usually suffers. I believe it's still a decent place to celebrate your kid's 10th birthday or invite the whole mishpucha for a bargain post-bar mitzvah dinner. Economies of scale, however, are the only reason anyone should come to Buca. When you bring a party of 10 or more, you can share a lot of food for not too much money. If you're just here for a quiet dinner with a couple of friends, I'd keep looking elsewhere. Yelp said it best - "Meh. I've experienced better."
(2)
Elizabeth S.
Meh. I've had better Italian food, for cheaper too. Pretty much sums it up. I came here a couple of times, twice for a friend's birthday and once for Mother's day. The great thing about this place is that if you come with a group you can split the larger entrees (and of course the check too). The food isn't very authentic Italian in my opinion, but it still tastes alright. Buca Di Beppo is actually the first place I've ever had calamari at and I was pleasantly surprised that fried squid tasted so good. When I came here for a friend's birthday there was a very long wait plus the service was incredibly slow, which leads me to warn you my fellow Yelpers: dinner time at Buca is insanely busy, especially on the weekends. On Mother's Day afternoon however, there was absolutely no wait and the waitress was extremely attentive and kind (she even helped my mother clean up after she spilled her wine on her white capris -_-) Overall, the quality of the food is alright, mediocre at best, and the prices are a bit too much for food of that nature. But it is a nice place to gather with your family and friends for intimate conversation and catching up.
(3)
Karen C.
After digging through my purse, I realized I had a gift card given to me back in 2004 for $50 and YES, there was a convenient BDP located right next to our hotel in Anaheim! Take advantage and use the gift card....Well, just to be sure there WAS actually money still on the card, I went online to find out they were charging me $2.00 a year to store my card...HUH? Wasn't this illegal? So, when I went to the restaurant to use the card, I politely asked the hostess if they could put back on the $6. they had taken off and she said the law went into affect in 2008 and they couldn't do this...oh well, bummer...but that still didn't keep me from enjoying a nice family style Italian dinner. Our waitress was very prompt and got our drinks right away and put fresh warm bread on the table along with balsamic vinegar and oil. My son is always hungry, so he ate away! He ordered the spicy chicken rigatoni and I ordered the spicy Italian sausages with peppers. The food came out promptly and we ordered the small portions and still had leftovers. My son loved his pasta and I ate up the sausages! This restaurant is really cozy and has a great ambiance. I felt like I was sitting in a scene of Goodfellas...in a good way....hahaha! When I return to Dland, I will definitely come back here because it's just like eating at home!
(4)
Merrill M.
So where should we bring our 6 kids to eat.... Lets see... Family style eating and portions..Buca is the palce to go. My kids love the real thin crust pizza not the little ceasars crapola and their spagetti and meat balls. My favorite is the Frutti de Mare or seafood pasta.. So good!! Love it. The Chicken marsala is wonderful. The eggplant parmigiana is so good you dont even relize theirs no meat in that dish. I love their Whenever we have a small party of 50 or less we usually buy from Buca.
(4)
Roger Paul V.
This is the second time I ate at Buca, the first time was in San Francisco a few years ago as part of a large party of over ten folks. This time four of us went there for a late lunch. Both times left me with positive taste experiences. Started with Apple Gorgonzola Salad. This had nice blend of lite flavors. Another appetizer was the Fried Calamari. Even though I was really hungry, it tasted a little bland to me. The Garlic Bread did taste good, along with the sauce that came with the calamari. My main dish was Chicken Marsala. I ordered this because I vividly remember that I really enjoyed it a couple years ago. This time did not disappoint as well. So delicious. It's sweeter than other Marsalas I've had, but I have a sweet tooth, so it works for me. My sister mentioned that the sweetness may have come from onion. Had Mashed Potatoes for my side dish. This too had a sweetness buttery taste to it and was made of red potato, I can tell coz they mashed the skin along. These two made for a wonderful combination, in addition to the mushrooms that topped the chicken Marsala. I snuck in a taste of my cousin's Spaghetti and Meatball. I didn't care for their meatball. It was bland for my taste. For dessert we all shared Tiramisu and Chocolate Cake. Both were huge, it got an OMG. The Tiramisu came in a big bowl, the biggest serving I've ever seen. Dee-lish. You can really taste the rum and the sweetness of the lady fingers and blended very nicely. Buca always has a fun atmosphere because of its kitschy, "messy, cluttered home" feeling. The wait staff seem busy and buzzing along here and there...you need to flag them down and don't have the most pleasant attitude, but cordial.
(4)
Jon H.
vegetarian here. i used coupons on my 3 visits. better food than olive garden. i had the baked ziti 2/3 times and the manicotti once. pass on the manicotti. the sizes are enormous. $16 for a plate of ziti they say will feed 3, i gotta say thats pretty honest. pepsi fountains but no dr. pepper.
(4)
Dustin R.
My wife and I have been here many times... always like the food and service... but we got some take out on Sunday 11/13/11 of a small pizza and small salad and ended up with food poisoning. I know it was from here because it was the only meal we had shared within days of getting sick. Doubt we will be back...
(1)
Julie C.
I think Buca Di Beppo is a perfect place to go if you have a large group. They serve family style and you could choose from small or large. There pastas and salads are pretty decent and the prices are affordable. I recommended this restaurant if you have a large party and need to celebrate something.
(3)
Katie K.
I am italian so I am very picky when it comes to italian dishes, the food was not so bad. The service was awful, I signed up for the yelp special to get a free appetizer and they denied it and said I had to use it the next time around, well I live in Memphis the closest Buca is hours away if you cant use a special that is listed, then obviously you have no business coming in which means you should step your game up Buca
(2)
Kevin N.
Place is great. Went here for Prom and ate so much and didn't break the bank. Big plus in my book. Got the to-go the second time for a family party and it's amazing how 8 kids can kill 6 orders, but when it's good it's good. Only thing is that if you want to make a romantic date, well don't. The portions are too big for a 2 man date. If you want to dine here make sure it's a triple date or something.
(4)
C L.
The chicken carbonara is very good!
(4)
Linda M.
I've been to BdB's in SF and Roseville and this one down the street from Disneyland did not disappoint. We arrived during happy hour, and although it was packed, it was a good experience as usual. My husband had never been to one of these and was thoroughly impressed at how good it was for chain food. The baked ravioli is particularly screamin.
(4)
Alfred V.
Wow, the food is great. If you like calimari, this place won't dissapoint. The sauce if comes with is great. The Chicken Marsala is delicious if you like your food/chicken sweet. The pizza is great, its thin crust. The dishes are big proportions and you can definitely share.
(4)
red s.
This one is Olive Garden's prettier sister, Italian American food served family style. I liked their decor, almost unique, very interesting. Had the mozzarella caprese (pizzeria mozza's version is way better), prosciutto stuffed mushrooms (yum), spicy arrabbiatta and margherita pizzas (good) and eggplant parmigiana (tasty). The service was quick and friendly. Fun and relaxing night with the whole family awaits you :)--- good selection of food, ideal for large party, yummier than regular pasta joint, generally clean with a nice ambiance feel, free parking :(--- a tad pricier than what you're hoping for, did I mention the dessert?
(3)
Patricia W.
So we spent last weekend at Disneyland. A friend of mine lives about 45 minutes away and we haven't seen eachother in a long time so the 5 of us came here for dinner....quite strange. The menu consists of "large" and "small" portions. The large serves a group of 4 and the small 2 people....it's all family style. My BF and I ordered the stuffed shells and a caesar salad, it was ok, not the best shells I have had (I make better ones) My daughter had the mac-n-cheese which was with spiral noodles, I tasted it and it had good flavor. The garlic bread was delicious, I love carbs though so it hit the spot. Would I go back? Yes, but I would try something else.
(3)
Michael C.
We held our team gathering at Buca in Anaheim on Labor Day Weekend to meet and greet our runners for Top Of The Mountain Children's Disease Foundation. It was awesome. The place was packed. P.A.C.K.E.D. People were streaming out the door in anticipation of the end of their 45 to 75 minute wait! Thank GAWD we had reservations. This should indicate to you just how good the food is. The food is old style, Italian American food - not really Italian-Italian food, which is considerably more mild than Italian American style. With rich, creamy pesto sauces on al dente pasta (drool!) and spicy pepperoni on their single size pizzas. The salads are excellent and creative. I think I saw someone else mention 'Wine and Beer Only', but I had a Screwdriver whilst awaiting my fearless leader. The place is a bit intimidatingly old school gangster like. But, I'm married to the mob, so I'm alright with it.
(4)
J G.
Great place after Disneyland. You will spend as much but better food and DRINKS. Great staff. Will go again.
(5)
Jade N.
We were supposed to dine here for our friend's birthday. We came there and we were told to wait 2 hours. No biggie, we should've made a reservation so we were willing to wait. 2 hours later, our little buzzer starts buzzing and we come back to the restaurant. They gave our table away to another group because we were a bit (and by a bit I mean a few minutes) late. We were told to wait around 20 minutes for them to finish. (I doubt they'd be done in 20 min????) 30 minutes passed so we just went off to Red Robin's, and their service was amazing compared to this place. Don't go here. Waste a lot of time.
(1)
Silvia D.
Not too impressed! Overpriced for "ok" food.
(2)
Darlene J.
We were seated quick for a Friday night. Weren't very happy with our table and our duo server team was very helpful to move us to a booth. Service was incredible; they checked on us often. Everything went smooth and our order was perfect. There was nothing we can do to make it better. Been to many Buccas in CA and MN and this was the best experience yet. This place is worth every expectations. Thanks - servers whom i didn't catch your names. (sorry)
(5)
Alan T.
A good place to go if you don't want surprises. If you eat Buca anywhere - it's consistent - and it's good. Good atmosphere - I can look at the pictures on the walls all night. Staff is friendly also. I asked the valet at the local Hyatt how to get to Buca the quickest and he gave me a $10 off coupon (one of a whole stack). I bet other hotels around have the same coupon. A reasonably-priced meal turned quite inexpensive!
(4)
Amber W.
This place is awesome! I would have to say that it is my new favorite! When I go I usually have the lasagna and a couple glasses of the house Chianti following it up with a tiramisu to go!!--makes for a fantastic evening. The cannelloni is amazing as well. LOVE IT!!!
(5)
Mike T.
Lots of great reviews here! I agree that it's the Italian Claim Jumper. Large family portions that the servers are usually very helpful in assisting you in picking out. The garlic cheese bread and chicken parmesan are very good. Their meatballs are excellent. This place is a good one-time experience. Once you find out that all of that "one of a kind" decor is carbon copied at ALL of their locations, it loses it's luster. Not sure if they still have it, but there's a "Pope Room" where a replica head of the pope sits on your table inside a glass cube. Creepy fun! I've come in and sat at the bar for a few drinks with friends, and it was a nice little getaway. The drinks weren't too terribly overpriced. I haven't been in a while, but when I went, reservations were a MUST for dinner, or you can expect a 30-45 minute wait.
(3)
Patrick M.
This used to be my favorite place to do a smack down. I have been to Buca's across the Country. This has been the worst visit, I was aware of the menu changes from my Louisville, KY visit. Now the to the food, the Linguine Frutti di Mare was the worst ever. The pasta was dry, "very little marinara " clams?? I could not tell?? asked for some extra marinara "might as well been linguine with canned tomatoes and mussels around the pasta. Table cheese use to be a good ramono, now a cheep parmesan with fillers. The quality of food has been tragically down scaled and prices raised.
(2)
Christine H.
No thanks! I don't think I'll go again. Their ingredients were average to below average. If you want family style, go to magiano's instead.
(2)
Grace M.
We stopped by Jan. 1st, 2011, thought we'd make our first dinner of the year something enjoyable. Honestly, we should have gone to Maggiano's or Finbars Italian. The chicken parm used to have a delicious prosciutto on the top but no longer. They also raised the price to approx. $30.00 for just three pieces of chicken! Talk about foul play! Spaghetti wasn't anything memorable and the service wasn't good at all. Had to continually ask for refills and they forgot the bread. It cost three of us $75.00 to eat and we didn't order anything fancy or complex. One salad for three, chicken parm., and a small order of spaghetti. We really left feeling somewhat taken advantage of. I'll pay good money for good food and service, but don't serve me mediocre concoctions and expect us to grace your doorstep a second time. Sad really, their food used to be higher quality. We have no plans on going back, sorry gang! I know this place may have a strong following, but I'm not a follower. The next time I hope to see Bucca di Beppo will be on an episode of South Park, perhaps when Jimmy has a date.
(1)
Jack M.
I love buca! I also love the new Yelp reservations system. I used it for the first time while in Anaheim. They were able to seat us within a few minutes of the reservation time. Love the food and the decor! The Lemon chicken is fab!
(4)
Nami C.
perfect for big groups huge portions always leftovers~ must try: supremo italiano-pizza mixed green salad chicken caronara-pasta
(4)
Joseph S.
We were visiting the area from NJ and were on vacation with our three children. The waitress and hostess were very friendly and helpful. With we were excited by the family portions the restaurant promoted. My wife and I decided to share a veal dish which the menu said would feed two to three people. When the dish came we were surprised to see only three thin slices of veal. Our children had the spaghetti. The portion was OK, but the sauce was very thin and watery. When scooping the spaghetti onto the plates it was difficult to even catch the sauce with the noodles. Meal came to $65 which included the two dishes, soda, and one $6 glass of wine. We also had our picture taken at the booth and were told we would get a complimentary postcard. The photographer came back to the table with two photos of different sizes for between $10 and $15 dollars. The complimentary post card was really a coupon with a small picture of our family printed in the corner. I think they could go a long way to building goodwill by really following through with a reasonable photo, even if they charged for the larger ones. Overall we felt the dinner was a bit high for the portions and food quality.
(2)
Charlene H.
Margherita pizza was okay but not greasy enough to be a real Italian style pizza. The baked ravioli was better than the pizza, but not as good as Mama Ds. The ice cream had ice crystals in it and did not seem fresh. The service was extremely slow and the place was not busy. It seemed to be due to a lack of communication between servers. No one seemed to know who was supposed to be taking care of our table. I will not come to this particular location again by choice.
(2)
Nicole F.
Good location, friendly staff. This was our 1st time dining here. Food was really really good. In fact we ended up eating here 2 nights in a row. SUPER good giant meatballs, amazing marinara, baked ziti was the bomb.........
(4)
Winnie R.
Buca is my favorite Italian franchise restaurant! I guess their food is a hit-or-miss, but what I always order is the linguine fruitti di mare. (seafooood). Love it! I also like their subtle decoration of nude people on the wall. hahaha. Plus, that pope's head that pops out of a table (usually reserved for big party) is somewhat scary/ funny. If you go, you have to try the linguine frutti di mare! Yum!
(4)
Jasmine M.
The young kids who work here are charming and like to smile, which isn't a bad thing, but I do get the impression that's really all they know how to do. We've stopped in here a few times during our annual trips down from Seattle, and once I called two weeks out to change existing reservations for 8 to 3 people. When we were seated it was at a table big enough for 10 people. I reiterated the change and we stood there like awkward prom nerds while the tween and her big hair called the front on her headset. The verdict? "No problem, it's okay." Followed by a big smile. So me and my daughter and my mom sat at a big table in a corner of a room full of 10 and 12 tops. Yes, people openly stared, which normally doesn't bother me but c'mon I'm trying to eat here! Despite the chain status, it's not really that tasty here compared to the one in Seattle.The service, though smiley and nice, is slow and often needing to ask multiple times what we ordered.
(3)
Mike L.
A place that serves a hefty meal in every dish. I recommend that you bring as many people as much as possible because you will need help in finishing off any of the dishes. The portions are gigantic in every way possible. The meatballs are in the size of a fist. Oh yes, it's true! The pasta are mouthwatering. If you want to try the ravioli, go for it. Manicotti are also awesome. If you want to burst your waist line, then go with the very popular 9 layers worth of lasagna, only Garfield can finish that all by himself. Oh for desert, don't miss out on the Tiramisu. Think of Creme Bulle with rum. That was a hefty meal I must say. It is a great feast for large group of people. The place was a little hard to find as it is surrounded by hotels, but there's plenty parking when you get there, so it's a plus on that. The service was good and everyone try to make you have a good time when you get there. Definitely a great dining experience.
(3)
Steven S.
Bomb food!!!! But my adios tasted like cool aid!!! Got food order wrong!!! And the service fuckin sucked!!!!
(3)
Sarah K.
It's a franchise. What do you expect? The pasta tasted like spaghettios, the service wholly unremarkable and annoying at times, and the decor is kitchy and epitomizes American consumerisms (which includes other cultures). So why did I come? Because I wanted cheap pasta so I can drink fruity and nasty cocktails with the money I saved on the food. Which is exactly what I got. Extraordinary? No. Average? Very much so.
(3)
Brian S.
Great food, service, atmosphere, and location. The Lobster Ravioli was simply excellent!
(5)
Ricky S.
Fun for a group- good for kids, and people who like to share big Italian dishes. Prices are fair. On a recent weeknight, the bar was packed- probably a result of this restaurant being smack in the middle of a whole bunch of hotels. Veal Parmesan was tender and tasty, but a bit dry- it could have used a bit more tomato sauce. Also, in an order 'to-go' they threw in some yummy bread, but a little bit of butter would have made it a lot nicer. Service seems good.
(3)
David Y.
This restaurant chain offers Italian favorites served family style. Try the Linguini Frutti Di Mare and book a party in the Pope Room. $$
(3)
Freshta M.
this place gives u a ton of food for the price its worth it! the food is very good! unfortunately it is a tourist area so they are always busy here so the service was slow and our table was right next to the kitchen very noisy. i recommend a more calm location but the food is amazing!
(4)
Louis G.
We were down for the NAMM convention and a few shows. We went here for dinner and drinks. The waiter we had was very helpful. Great service and huge beers. We had 5 people in our party. We had a few main dishes , The lasagna was like 3 foot long & very tasty, Then the ravioli's were just awesome. We ordered meat balls that were just like a pound or 2 each. Mozzarella caprese was the best. I think we'll have to hit this place up again.
(4)
N I.
Updating my previous review...although the experience described below will not be erased from memory anytime soon, the fact that buca di beppo management went out of their way to apologize and reach out to me has left me with a favorable customer service experience. Management explained the thorough cleaning services that Bucca restaurants receive on a weekly basis. This was just a very rare and unfortunate incident but I will revisit Bucca again.
(4)
Savanna M.
We enjoyed a great casual family meal here while visiting DL. Very friendly and attentive staff! The veal saltambico was delicious. My husband is on a Gluten Free diet, and we were thrilled that they offered a menu outlining items on this diet. Our kids LOVED the atmosphere.
(4)
Christopher S.
Well this is the Buca I eat at the most (GG\Anaheim). The family style dining is great and always have plenty to take home for a late night snack or meal the next day. Due to my economic condition right now, I haven't been visiting as much. But one thing I enjoy most is having my server remember me and my guest even if it has been a couple of months. Kevin has done a great job in making me and my guest feel as though we are part of the family and making us enjoy the dining experience. He never makes a person feel bad for using a coupon is prompt with every aspect of the meal.
(4)
Nick O.
Service: Dishonest! Food: Soso. This place is what i didn't expect what it would be like. My expectations went too high.
(2)
Jesse G.
Very bland Italian food. Great place to come to with a ton of people who don't really care what they shove down their gullet as the portions are extremely huge: you typically order 1 dish per 2-3 people. Food's not bad but not good either.
(3)
Brian K.
I went to this place on Father's Day with my family and it was great. The food was delicious and came in large portions. The only thing that was weird was that some lady there asked us if we wanted a picture, so we took it. We didn't know about the picture because it was our first time at Buca di Beppo. Then, the same lady came back and and showed us the picture and said it cost $11. I thought it was a little to much for a picture, but it turned out good so I bought it. Besides that, everything was really good. The waiters were very nice and came to check how we were doing quite often.
(4)
Cassy D.
This place sucks.... I've eaten here once and I'm never coming back! Enough said.
(1)
Chris N.
The food here is pretty good and they have nice hearty portions. But the decor is God'Awful! I know it's on purpose, but that doesn't make it right. Walls painted blood red, rainbow christmas lights, an ugly bust of the the new pope... It's just too much. I have a headache just thinking about it. And there was a mildewy smelly in certain parts of the place. Was that to properly replicate the basement feel?
(3)
Duke D.
Arrived right before closing Sun night as they were locking up the place. They let us in. Good service and very good food. Ordered the braised rib the regular order and thought they must have made a mistake with 2 huge rib without bones and looked more like prime ribs. It was regular order. Did not come with pasta and waitress suggested kid's meal spaghetti which was done perfect pasta with marinara sauce.
(5)
Suzn L.
I love their Fruitti de Mare. The chickens in lemon butter is also really good. The portions are really big though so bring lots of people. I don't recommend Tiramisu unless you wanna be liquor up...not really for kids. There's usually quite a wait but it's a great place for family and friends.
(5)
Andrea C.
I came here with my boyfriend a few weeks ago. The atmosphere is really interesting and unique! There are so many decorations and old movie posters featuring italian actors/actresses. We ordered the Rigatoni and an appetizer stuffed mushrooms. At first, we were shocked at the prices...$18 for one order of baked rigatoni. However, the portion size totally made up for the prices. If you order the small portion, you will have enough food to feed up to 3 people...3 very hungry people. We had a lot much food left over and were absolutely stuffed! The appetizer came with about 5-7 individually stuffed mushrooms. They're served on top of this delicious pesto sauce. Later, you can dip the complementary bread in the pesto sauce. They do give you some bread to munch on, and you can dip it in olive oil, with pepper. The check came out to about $42 for 2 cokes, an appetizer of stuffed mushrooms (delicious), and a huge order of the baked rigatoni (which could be reheated and eaten the next day!). The food was delicious...The atmosphere was a delight. Everything from the bathrooms to the floor pleasantly reeked of Italian-inspired decore. I would come here again, but this time, I'm bringing more than one other person. In my opinion, this is a pretty cool place to go. Kinda pricey, so I wouldn't recommend coming here if you just want to eat at a restaurant really quick.
(4)
Jenny K.
I am embarrassed to say that this place isn't bad for a cheap lunch with friends. Totally tacky, completely overdecorated, total bastardization of true Italian food and fine dining. But for hearty portions and decent tasting food (depending on what you order of course), not a bad spot. The Pope room was a little much even for me and I am not religious. But the food wasn't bad. The pizza was surprisingly tasty. Very thin crust, lots of delicious melting cheese, very light tomato sauce. The Italian wedding soup I had was decent. I found the Caesar salad to be subpar. On the whole a good place for a group meal at a reasonable price. Just be prepared for some serious sensory overload. Those walls, like all Bucca Di Beppo locations, could not be more covered with pictures and other crap.
(3)
Clifford Y.
I always get the same thing here. Penne arrabiata with a side of the green beans which are always super crunchy and fresh. I could care less for their other entree's such as their pizzas. the inside is quite unique, really weird pictures. and LOTS of them... the service here is always great, gets packed on weekend nights that isn't really worth the wait so just make a reservation. they do have a bar here, i guess you can chill there while ur waiting. for the price range here it's always a very fulfilling meal here!
(4)
Robert A.
Fan of buca di Beppo. Love ther alfredo Chiken pizza. very thin crispy. not saucy but the alfredo taste is really delicious! A must try is the Cheese cake! OMG! dont know how to describe how rich a taste full it is. too delicious to describe. :) waiters are friendly! came with the familly. my 2 year old sisters
(4)
Paul P.
Very good food the service was excellent did have a problem with anyone I would recommend it for everyone
(4)
Ruel G.
2.5 stars. I had some family visiting from out of town and after doing some catching up at their hotel, we decided to have dinner here. The location was convenient and easily accessible from many of the hotels in the area. The last time I went to Buca di Beppo was many years ago and it was a good experience, but this trip was meh. The food was nowhere near as good as I remembered. The family-size servings were perfect for our group of seven, but the baked ziti was bland, the cheese bread appetizer was globs of cheese with no flavor, and the cannolis were flat-out awful. As far as food goes, I was embarrassed at having chosen this place for dinner, but we had a good time nonetheless. The service was very good, from hostess to waiter, the atmosphere was conducive to big, family-type gatherings, and we didn't have to wait long for a table.To be fair, the calamari appetizer was decent and I did enjoy the chicken parmigiana, but not enough for a return visit.
(2)
Ben N.
Food was good, service was lacking. Waiter was never around when we needed him. He did stop by and ask, how's the food, but we haven't even ate yet. Caprese salad was tasty, after I added olive oil, cracked pepper and salt, they must have been trying to save money bc salad only had a small drizzle of oil on the plate. Had to ask for oil, to put plenty on the salad. The biggest complaint, price was TOO HIGH for what you get. I checked prices at Huntington Beach location and it was much lower. SAVE YOUR MONEY, and go to another Buca instead of the Harbor Blvd one.
(2)
Erik G.
~ 1.5 miles from Disneyland... standard Buca di Beppo faire. Big groups welcome, seems standardized enough. Nothing overly spectacular. Destination point by virtue of being a lodger of a nearby Hotel.
(3)
Barry H.
OK, so we stayed at the Embassy Suites across the parking lot and their restaurant is just fair. I have my dad, wife and three kids 4-9 y/o who are picky eaters with me. Down the street are Morton's and Ruth's Chris and Denny's. What a choice for a group with three picky kids. On a previous visit, after we had tried the hotel restaurant, we got take out from Buca di Beppo and it was decent. In all fairness, I've been to the ones in San Diego before too. We wandered across the parking lot about 6 PM and were promptly seated. The best table in the house is the one in the kitchen. They say it's and Italian thing but I've been to many Italian restaurants before that never had a table in the kitchen. Anyway, they have this at all the B di B's I've ever been to and it's always reserved. I've gotta hand it to them because they've taken what most people generally consider the worst seat in the house and turned it into a popular, sought-after thing. The hostesses were very nice and friendly as was the server. She was very helpful in selecting items. Warning-when they say the portions are big the aren't kidding! We couldn't decide between the chopped Italian salad and the Cesar so we got a small of each. Now my Dad, wife and oldest daughter eat salad as do moi but we had salad coming out of our ears! The other two picky ones were contented with buttered bread and buttered spaghetti-yeach! The adults had chicken with lemon butter and ravioli. It was all prepared well and tasty. The price was reasonable and all of us left full and happy. They don't market B di B as fine dining but more like a family Italian restaurant which is about right. And they do a very good job especially for a chain.
(4)
JoAnn V.
We stayed at Embassy Suites (which shares the Buca Di Beppo parking lot) and it was really convenient to have a restaurant that serves hearty meals and that wasn't Disney related. Ordered take-out from Buca's and they had it ready in time. Even gave us paper plates and utensils. The food is yummy and well worth the money you spend. Totally would order food from there again. :)
(4)
Ms. Classic C.
I LOVE their home made pizza it's the best nice and fresh and yummy :)The environment was very interesting and creative. Tons of culture display through out the whole restaurant, even in the bathrooms :) great place just to chill and relax with family and Friends.
(5)
Kai H.
Went to Buca Di Beppo for the first time last week with a large group to celebrate a friends birthday. The waitress was very friendly and attentive, and always kept us satisfied...Our Glasses were full at all times, even though she was the only server for our party of 35!! That's Talent! The whole staff was wonderful, and the food was delicious. Could have used another server to help with the food, but all in all she did a terrific job. The only reason I deducted 1 star was that the restrooms weren't very clean, the paper towels were empty, and 1 of the managers, seemed to have a bad attitude. I would go back again.
(4)
Irene Y.
Buca di Beppo is a family style Italian restaurant...or as the signage on their building says, "Immigrant Italian..." I have yet to come with a group of friends, but I think that would be best. That way, you could order a million things and share (since that's the concept anyway) and be able to try out their selection. Their dishes are either small or large. Small meaning it serves two people, large 4-6. You should probably keep that in mind if you're ordering a lot of food. You can check out their menu online at bucadibeppo.com/menu Overall, the food I've had has been great. First time I came, we had the Pizza Angelo, Gnocchi, and...can't remember but the pizza was very interesting =] corn, potato chips, chicken...you just have to try it. AVOID THE MEATBALLS. Why you ask? They may be giant, delicious round balls of meaty goodness, but they're also 5 bucks each. That's right. EACH. Not worth it. We ordered: -Small Calamari (eh. Ok) -Small Penne Arrabbiata w/extra mushrooms (yummy!) -Meatballs -Small Broccoli Romano TOTAL: 47.36 Leftovers: One meatball, half the broccoli romano, and roughly a third of the penne arrabbiata. I'll be back the next time I'm in the mood for Italian and have the money for it.
(4)
Jeff O.
Call them at 7:05pm and I was told no reservation needed and plenty of tables available. We got there at 7:35pm and 30min wait. Food was ok. Waitress came by during dinner with a digital camera and asking if she can take complementary pic for us. We say Yes. At the end of dinner, she came back with the pic and $11 each. I said WTF!
(2)
Tom N.
The portions are huge and the food is good. We had the spaghetti and meatballs which didn't have enough sauce, but the meatballs were excellent. The San Remo (pasta with artichoke) was very good... and the baked ziti was also excellent. So overall, if you're looking for a place with a lively atmosphere, good service, and good (but not great) food, this is the place. But since it's near Disneyland, make sure you make reservations, especially if you have a large party. Otherwise, you'll be waiting a long time....
(3)
Jennifer M.
I just love this place! Great food and great service! Come hungry- you won't be disappointed! Yes it's a chain restaurant- but I won't hold this against them...
(5)
Matthew C.
If you've ever wanted too much food, this is the place to go. I sat at the kitchen table which is the noisiest eating environment I've ever experienced, but it was fun as well. Just remember to order fewer dishes than there are people in the party, or you'll have tons of leftovers.
(4)
Clive L.
Lunch style today for biz meet - they gave us our own private room - nice and quiet and as much time as we needed - oh and the food was delicious all round!!!
(4)
Maria P.
only been here once or twice in my life. i never liked it until i ordered that shrimp diablo pasta recently. it is soo good. and good place for big families because they do have big portions and as a whole a warm family ambience/atmosphere.
(3)
Anonymous K.
bucca di beppo de bappa de poopo. Someone needs to tell them the age old saying, "SIZE DOESN'T MATTER" seriously, this place isn't that great. The only thing that i thought was decent was the warm spinach salad, it was good but over dressed. couldn't finish any of the 4 pasta dishes ordered, thought they were all meh and not worth eating. The meatball was the size of a softball, tasted like one too. can't remember much about the place, and that means it was bad. GO somewhere else, unless you are trying to feed an army, AND get them upset. ok that's overboard, no one is gonna be upset cause you gave them free food from bucca, but thats the only way ill eat it again, it has to be free.
(2)
Jonathan E.
Service is normally mediocre at best, but the most recent time I went the service is just awful. I do realize that the servers have multiple tables, but you'd think they would have a max that each server can table. I have no idea how many this poor women was doing, or if she just didn't think that college students were a main priority. Needless to say, got received awful service. Do servers think, "oh these are college students so I won't receive a good tip anyways." This is an awful stereotype that I think most servers have. So they give bad service, which results in a bad tip, which results in strengthening the stereotype that has no solid ground. FOOD IS GOOD! : ) LOL
(3)
Estelle L.
I went to Disneyland this Christmas, and didn't want to stay in the park for lunch (god forbid that overpriced food), so we Yelped up a good Italian restaurant. There weren't that many people around that day, which was explainable. I find their "family sized servings" really nice. Anyhow, we ordered a seafood plate (forgot the name), which came with shrimp, calamari, and mussels with a side of tomato sauce. The shrimp were really tender, the calamari was definitely delicious with the tomato sauce, but I didn't try the mussels. I had been craving Alfredo for over a week, so naturally we ordered their "small" serving (could feed over two people!), and to be frank it was really nice. Not overpoweringly creamy and not very salty, but still tasted very good. The food all came at perfect timings and the waiters/waitresses were kind. Definitely satisfied with their food, and their ambiance is very comfortable; this could be a nice place to go for a family meal.
(4)
Rach G.
Love this place! Eat at the kitchen table!! Great salads, pizza and of course pasta. Nice place to take a large group too. Everything is family style. And this is not anything like Olive Garden... their red sauce and meat dishes are a lot better than Olive Garden's frozen meatballs (for example). And by the way... try a meatball at Buca's... they are so good!
(4)
Craig D.
Noisy place, greasy bland food in large quantity. Nothing really redeeming at all. Not that difficult to make a few pasta dishes or pizza at home. Italian chain places by far are the most mediocre food places to eat, outside of the Trailer Trash American Places like Norms or Dennys. Find a good mom and pop place to support.
(2)
Sharon C.
Too much tomato based sauces methinks. I do like their calamari. Their spaghetti is average. Come to think of it, I have yet to have really good plain 'ol spaghetti anywhere. A good place to come with a few people, not too many, not too few. Take advantage of the whole family style thing. Perhaps time to visit again... refresh the 'ol noggin.
(3)
ben l.
A magnificent evening of food and service at the Garden Grove Buca. We had my son's and daughter-in-law's wedding rehearsal dinner on 3_19-2010. Yvette Openshaw was just superb in handing all the front end overall arrangements and communicating with us so graciously. At dinner time, Sara was tremendous in making sure we were comfortable and well taken care even with a full restaurant with a wait list. She is a star!. Kevin, Megan and the rest of the team were just magnificent in handling all of our requests. Just super accomodating and so very attentive. Your team in Garden Grove is really the best service that we have had in the times we have eaten at Buca Di Beppo as we have gone to several in the SF Bay Area. Please extend our gratitude to Yvette, Sara, Kevin, Megan and the rest of the team for a truly memorable and wonderful evening. OOPS...almost forgot about the food that was extemely well prepared and tasty. The pasta was done just right in the al dente mode! and the lemon chicken was delicious!
(4)
eleanor b.
Disappointing, that describes my experience in one word. Tara was our slow food server. Portions aren't really as advertised, they are tight. We had the Warm Tomato Spinach Salad, barely enough for 2, it was tasty though. The small portion of lasagna was exactly that: small AND dry. Yelch! Good thing I had a $10. coupon, but it was still a waste of $$. I wanted to give it 1/2 a star rating but wasn't allowed. Mac Grill & Olive Garden=way better.
(1)
Iris Y.
This is the first time eating at a Buca Di Beppo for me and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I've heard good things about it before, but I just never had the chance to go to one and it was a good decision. Since there were so many various choices on the menu, half our group decided with specialized pasta and the other half decided to go with traditional regular pasta. Little did they know, the specialized pasta would be WAYY better than the traditional. Our waiter was very friendly and took our orders promptly. He made us laugh by telling us that Garden Grove Buca Di Beppo waiters are better looking than the ones at Buca Di Beppo SF. At the end of our meal, he gave a free cupcake to whoever guessed the closest to the total amount of money our dinner was worth. It was a very fun dinner and I highly recommend the margherita pizza. (:
(4)
Shane R.
i know that this is a chain that is probably only a step up from spaghetti factory in terms of quality, but i've had various dishes and i've never had a complaint. i like the atmosphere.
(3)
Marlana W.
The food is not anything special in particular, but there are a few dishes I love to eat. Last night my boyfriend and I went for the Spicy Chicken Rigatoni since he had a coupon for being in their club or whatever. The waiter we had gave us a bad vibe...We usually get good service whenever we come here but he was just...no. The man who brought out our food did more than he did. Our rigatoni, by the way, was undercooked, and I didn't eat as much of it as I did the last time. Bleh. My boyfriend handed the waiter the coupon once he brought the check, and the waiter said, "Okay write the total on the receipt and I'll be back." Ok, what? Neither of us had a pen, so we just put everything together for him to take to the register. I just knew something was going to go wrong, and it did. My boyfriend was double charged for our undercooked pasta. Nice. We should've stayed at the Brea location despite the 45 minute wait.
(3)
Doug B.
Good place to go once. Family-style portions. The decor is pretty fun. The food isn't killer, but it's not bad. I don't think Buca's quite good enough to eat at regularly, but once in a while with a group is acceptable. Don't expect authentic Italian but it's better than Olive Garden. You will eat a lot here.
(3)
Alejandro R.
First of all ask for LORAN best waiter in town. Good food I mean lots of good food. I recommend the side of brocolli it was yummmy the Italian sodas are good insanly huge meatballs but any dish is a good dish. A bit loud but a fun environment. Oh and I should mention that the tiramisu is drenched really drenched in dark rum if your trying to get drunk off dessert then this is your pick.
(4)
Emberwild T.
Bartender was nice and friendly and the apps came hot and fast.
(4)
Monica S.
So my family went today for dinner and I had my $10 coupon, but when I went to use it I was told I couldn't because the code was torn off. So I spoke with the manager Katie Brown, showed her the coupon and she tells me that corporate requires a code bla, bla, bla. I would think an establishment such as Buca di Peppo would have honored the coupon even with the code torn off. It wasn't like I didn't have one. The maanger Katie Brown was unprofessional andkept talking at even when I had turned to go. My family will never eat there again
(1)
Kittie P.
Family style Italian. My first experience. Fun concept. Not always a fan of franchise dining; however, this was unique and different. Very eclectic and engaging. Good value even though I was the guest of a very generous host. We were a large party of 15 with a room to ourselves. Great service, very attentive and informative. We ordered a couple of appetizers and approx 8 entrees for our group. More than adequate amount of food. Pesto salmon was very tasty as well as Alfredo. Yummy desserts. Extra fun if you are celebrating a birthday or other special event.
(4)
Jen N.
tiramisu is as huge as a D Cup...for a bra i mean - maybe not the best analogy, but take a look and youll see it too. The menu hasnt changed much, and it is very crowded there, youll soon forget that once your food comes. this is the only family style place i know of, and i really like the concept. far different from olive garden or macaroni grill...i suggest getting any of the pastas, the Cesar salad and the garlic bread..with real garlic - not just a powder or garlic salt. oh, and while we were waiting, they served us garlic bread...aww.... anyways - dont skip the dessert!! the tiramisu is strong, but who cares!
(5)
Dan Y.
Finally paid our first visit to Buca di Beppo two months ago. The whole family was impressed with the experience,not just the food but the atmosphere and the special attention we got from our server. Some might say this is a big corporation's idea of what an authentic old-fashioned Italian restaurant should be like. Personally I don't care. I've eaten in hundreds of genuine old Italian restaurants,and I love this place. The food was outstanding. It came with delicious bread, all we wanted,and jug wine. Luckily we were staying right next door so there was no limit on the vino. I love plain old red wine,with or without Italian food to go with it,but preferably with. I don't know if all the locations are as good as this one,but I intend to find out. Highly recommended.
(4)
Xenia G.
our family loves this place. great service! i signed up for their e-club and for your birthday they send you a free dessert coupon, sometimes they'll send coupons for $10 off $30 or free appetizer so those come in really handy!!! usually we order a small spaghetti and meatballs, it says it can feed 2-3 adults but we always end up taking some home! we also order a small pepperoni pizza. my 7 year old orders a kids' cheese pizza and my 10 year old orders a kids' chicken parmigiana-that one comes with spaghetti as well. the pizzas have a very thin handmade crust [sometimes the shape is off, thin or thicker in certain areas] but its very delicious, i'm positive they use a fresh tomato sauce mixture. i LOVE their spaghetti, it doesn't taste like it comes from a can so i don't care...its delicious and always hits the spot! the only time we had a problem was one time we ordered ravioli with meat sauce, it was so salty :/ we didn't complain but we know not to order it now. the decor is italian kitschy, i love it. makes me feel at home. the bathrooms are even decorated and if you listen carefully, they play some sort of conversation in there. IF you want to do something a bit special, RESERVE the chef's table. its a booth right inside the kitchen. a few of my friends told me that if the chef isn't pleased with an order he sends it to the chef's table for free. that has yet to happen to us [we've sat there twice lol] my sons love it because they get to watch all the action and if you pick up the blue rotary phone beside the table - a recorded conversation plays. sooo cute!
(5)
akzidenz g.
woah. so why give buca 1 star? so not necessary. i mean, its buca. all the locations are the same. its a chain. its not gonna be fantastic and authentic italian cuisine, but hey, you go for the portions and its edible. i mean, why else would you come here, for great food? pshhh
(4)
lance s.
this place was a block from my hotel(marriott suites) and the food was great! jeff at the bar was quick and friendly and made me feel at home. like other reviews stated-LARGE helpings, so be prepared. all these photos of Sinatra,Joe Dimaggio and Sofia Loren. great wine list enjoy!
(5)
Victoria Y.
Before going to Disneyland we ate at the Anaheim Buca - sorry we did. THe Server was aloof and irritated we had a coupon and we had 3 kids (well-mannered I might add) that ordered from the kids menu. Here's a good way to order smaller portions for adults - ask ro order from the lunch menu - that way you have room to enjoy salads and dessert. As the server left he asked if we wanted garlic bread - we said sure. Well, for $11:45 we got a little basket with the most unexcceptional bread I've ever eaten. It was dry, room temperature, with a scant amount of cheese dried onto the bread - NOTHING like the description in the menu. When we mentioned this to the server, he said nothing and just stood there. In the middle of this, a table of about 12 all stood up and left abruptly with raised voices - their server had taken their picture and charged them for it - it was a surprise to them when they saw it on their receipt. They said at least they's like the photo and their server said he gave it to them - apparently not... Very unhappy, joyless atmosphere and employees seem so down and flustered. I'll enjoy going back to Pasadena Buca.
(2)
Emily P.
Parking was ridiculous on a Saturday night, I drove around for 15 min and there were literally no spots in the entire lot because of the 4 hotels around the restaurant. Finally we found a security guard who informed us we could park across the street which was inconvenient, so for that I took off a star. Wait time was short for a table, and once we were seated it didn't take long for our food to come, which was really nice. Our drinks stayed filled and the food was really good. Servers were happy and friendly. The whole vibe of the restaurant is really fun. Food portions are huge, so make sure to come hungry!
(4)
Bryan W.
In all honesty, I can say that I'm definitely not a food connoisseur for Italian food- it's usually pricy so I go for the low end to moderate restaurants. However, whatever people say about Bucca Di Beppo, I'll always consider it my favorite Italian restaurant, even if it's a chain. When you walk in, you get this homely feeling like you're in Italy. Romantic music is playing, there are beautiful pictures on the walls, and the seating really gives you the sense that you're not home. As for the food, you get a wide selection of items. Sometimes you can ask for the lunch menu during dinner or even on weekends. For portion sizes, in a party of 3-4, get large. If you have 1-2 people, small is enough. I've tried probably half their items, and my favorite pasta dish is hands down the spicy chicken rigatoni. It's delicious and the peppers give it a kick. Other great dishes are the shrimp diavolo and the penne with artichoke. All in all you get a great experience. The restaurant is fun, service is great, food is yum. Also check out the Italian sodas if you have time. Eat well and prosper,
(4)
Rob H.
Stayed at the Embassy Suites 100yds away so we gave it a try. Quite spendy for pasta. However the food was very good and our server Roberto was great. Family style serving sizes is a different concept but it works for us. Kids had incredible fettuccine alfredo at a very modest price. Cost is only thing keeping it at 4 stars.
(4)
Christine W.
Loved our waiter, he was really friendly and accommodating and did his best to check in with us regularly. The food, while not authentic in the least, was filling and delicious. I loved the decor as well.
(5)
Grace C.
I never heard of Buca di Beppo until I was in college, where fatness reigned and just enjoying life (within reason) was a mantra. Although adult responsibilities have kind of butchered the enjoyment of life, fatness still reigns! Fatness sounds awesome. Anyways, we've been to this Buca di Beppo several times. Great parking, as it's situated next to a hotel. When you walk in, everything is decorated in a cluttered and cozy way, which is very similar to all of the other Buca di Beppo restaurants. This Buca is convenient because it's next to Disneyland/California Adventure, as well as the convention center. It's definitely an option if you have large groups, though, if it's only a party of 2, it's pretty accommodating, as well. Truth be told, hubby and I basically only go as a couple when we go to Buca, or we just take items to go. Service has always been courteous. Never a problem here. Food is very good! For the price, though, eh, it's a bit high, but the food is enjoyable. It is family-style, so you will be given a huge plate/bowl of food that you will dish out to your individual plates. I would always recommend looking for coupons, or signing up with the Buca Rewards, as you can get a $10 or $20 off coupon, or even some 10% or 20% off coupon. Plus, $20 off for your birthday! Even with a party of two, our bill comes out to almost $100 with tip, though we do have leftovers for at least 2 to 3 more meals. Bread is soft and fresh. The gnocchi is great. Spaghetti is basic, but the sauce is good. Love any seafood pasta, especially with the spicy creamy vodka sauce (absolute fave!). Appetizers are very good: calamari is fresh, crispy, and not too-breaded, clams (any style) are fresh and nicely seasoned, mozzarella sticks are piping hot and nice and cheesy (that's how they should be!). For dessert, you can't go wrong with the tiramisus, cannolis, or chocolate cakes. For the most part, this restaurant prides themselves in providing comfort foods and they do it expertly. Never had any bad food here at all We'll be back. No reason to not come back other than for our own personal health reasons; very easy to gain a few pounds from the food here, even if we visited only a handful amount of times in a given year.
(4)
Christine B.
Buca di Beppo is a great place to take the kids because a 16 year old boy sure can eat! This location is in a tourist heavy section of Garden Grove not far from Disneyland. The wait for dinner wasn't too long and the seating hosts are pleasant. The walls are covered with random pics of Italian celebrities plus others of stuff such as pigeons, a man wearing a fig leaf and crazy dancing folk. The music is kitschy Dean Martin-esque songs and the atmostphere is very casual. Once we were seated our server did a great job of explaining that the food comes in ginormous portions and is served family style. You pick out a dish, for 2 persons or for 4, and in truth you get enough to feed a whole army! We shared the Garlic Bread, Chicken Parmesan and the Spicy Rigatoni and all were tasty and satisfying. For dessert we had the Brownie Sundae and it was HUGE! And it was delicious, with a brownie that was surprisingly moist (you know, the brownie is usually dry on this dessert everywhere else we've ever had it!) and tasty. We went home with leftovers for days!
Whenever I'm feening Italian food, Buca was always one of my number one choices. Their chicken pesto and chocolate cake are my ultimate favorite at this place. Though this place is not a traditional Italian restaurant, their food is pretty decent and the ambiance is cute and cozy. I prefer this place over Olive Garden any time, though some people may differ. I think it has a little more flavor overall. Last night the fam bam decided to go have dinner here and we had a horrible experience. First of all they "revamped" their menu and removed my favorite dishes the penne basilica and penne arrabbiata!!! Why in the world would they do that?! We were so disappointed when we first found out. Ugh! Some restaurants are willing to make it for you even tho it's not longer part of their menu but not at Buca. Our waiter was a little rude about it when we asked if they could make it for us. I'm extremely disappointed and whoever made the executive decision to take those two things off the menu made a huuuuge mistake.
(2)
Christopher B.
I had an amazing experience here with my good friend Crisol that treated me to a birthday weekend at Disney and dinner at a few restaurants, this was one of them. The service was on point and the food was delicious.
(5)
Artie L.
Family style Italian food! We got the usual tour of the kitchen when we got seated at our table. We really liked being seated immediately when we arrived. The chicken parmigiana was nicely prepared. It was juicy and lots of flavor. The linguine Alfredo was ok but did not have any taste. It needed some salt and pepper and more cheese. Our server Danica was very nice and checked on the dinner a number of times to inquire about the food and to see if we were okay. We were seated in the wine room. The ceiling is decorated with old wine bottles. Some of the pictures on the walls are always fun to look at. Nice place to go for a decent Italian meal
(4)
Aaron C.
Our server Enrique was extremely polite courteous and professional he gave great recommendations on the foods that we should try or there common favorites of the other guess we ended up eating the chicken Prosectio the sausage with peppers and some of the calamari for appetizers. I would definitely come again because the service and the food were both excellent
(5)
Celeste B.
A great place to bring a large group. They have some delicious dishes and some just average ones but the environment is fun and casual. There are a wonderful salads that will serve an army. Both the Cesar and antipasto one are tasty. Entrees are humongous. My favorite is the eggplant parmesan. Cooked perfectly with a tasty sauce - rich and decadent treat. I found the spaghetti and meatballs very disappointing. Definitely worth a try.
(3)
Jennifer P.
WOW - what a turn for the better from my last experience at the Pasadena location! We came here for my son's 20th birthday. As a family of 4, we shared: Spicy Arrabbiata pizza Cesar salad Italian Broccoli Romano Prosciutto stuffed chicken Fettuccine Alfredo Garlic bread Yeah, it's a lot of food but man, we can all eat and my boys can E A T. That said, we had plenty of leftovers for the next day. The entire experience was amazing. Our waitress, Maria or Marie, I can't remember (not because she was bad but this was in January people!) was amazing! From start to finish, she took excellent care of us. I was weary of ordering either too little or too much food and she counseled me through the entire transaction. She assured me that my order would be more than enough food and I trusted her. SHE WAS RIGHT. They gave my son a HUGE brownie sundae for his birthday dessert. We barely put a dent in that thing but it was so much fun trying! I can say, without reservation, that this was the BEST experience we've had Buca, to date. We will be back to this location, for sure!
Olive Garden who? If there were more stars to give I would . :) I highly recommend the penne pasta with rosa sauce (add chicken)
(5)
Stacey M.
Over-rated. Pasta was really spicy and not listed that way on the menu, therefore half of our party wasn't able to eat it The Chicken Parmesan was just okay. I've had better. For the price...I would expect excellence and got a little below Olive Garden quality.
(2)
Bianca U.
I have been to this location a few times while visiting Disney. I like Buca's food more than Olive Garden and the atmosphere is totally kitsch. As much as I like Buca this location leaves a bit to be desired. The parking lot gets packed because it is shared by other hotels and during peak season for Disneyland you can count on a very long wait time and a very full parking lot. They have call ahead seating, but even that is a gamble. Every time I have been here, but especially on my last visit, it has been incredibly loud. So much so that you are yelling to talk to the person directly across from you. This is a restaurant geared towards families so there are lots of kids here and at night the noise level is almost unbearable. The servers are cordial but sometimes the wait to be seated and the wait for your meal can be tedious. The last time I ate here it took at least a half an hour to get the bill on top of the noise and a kid behind us kicking our booth. I've had good meals here and because their portions are 'family style' (read: big enough for at least two hungry adults) I was able to take leftovers back to my room. At lunch they have smaller portions/lunch specials but they won't serve these at dinner time. If my very picky Italian family likes the food here then I figure it can't be all bad. This is probably one of the better family chain restaurants in the area in terms of price and food quality.
(3)
Candice M.
This was my first time coming here, and to be honest, I felt it was a little pricey despite the dishes being "family size." Came here with my sister and boyfriend and ordered the seafood pasta (I forgot the name of the dish) and the lasagna. Our bill came out to be about $61, which isn't bad given the portion, but my problem seemed to be more about technical stuff. First, I don't like how the menu and portions are structured. As students, $20-$30 per dish is a bit pricey - especially when you're out with two other people who may or may not like the same dish as you. I suppose the restaurant is smart in this aspect, in which customers are tempted to order more than one dish for some variety - making an extra 30 to 60 dollars in one sitting. They give you complementary bread, though, and the service was average. The food came out fairly quickly, and my only complaint is that the lasagna was dry. Food was good but I didn't find myself thinking, "Wow, this was worth the price!" So overall, decent food and portions, and the decor is nice. The waiters and waitresses do this fun mini-tour as they're bringing you to your table. I probably won't come here to eat again but my sister swears by this place. Also, parking is pretty difficult to find. Especially since this area gets packed.
(3)
Theresa M.
The food was alright. Not worth the price. Was disappointed that I was denied alcohol because my id is vertical instead of horizontal even though I'm 22.. Which is ridiculous! Don't celebrate your 21st birthday at Buca!
(3)
Erika G.
Omg!! The food was so amazingly delicious! It's family style so the portions are big, that's why it's so pricey. we ordered the small bowls. I had the spicy chicken rigatoni, it was the right amount of spicy and flavor was perfect! We ordered the salmon and wow! It was to die for. The Cesar salad was delicious like always, I love Cesar salad. The stuffed mushrooms sauce was the perfect topping to the stuffed mushrooms and the red sangria was my favor drink. The server was so welcoming and friendly, he made the experience great! I came here for my birthday and I did inform them I was there for that reason after being ask if we were there to celebrate anything, I didn't get a happy birthday song like the other customers. :( I don't know if I was suppose to request it but that's awkward to ask someone else to sing you a birthday song lol but Regardless i would like to return one day.
(5)
Kirsten O.
The food is always so delicious. This particular visit our server Brian was excellent! Very very attentive!
(5)
Matt C.
Worst Buca di Beppo I've ever been to first off the server was bald secondly they brought out my spaghetti meatballs and the meatballs were just falling apart he had no stick to that lady just probably will just bring mom some ground beef and the sauce was dinner and let's not forget about the soda it was salty I would not recommend going but I would not recommend going to go even though I enjoy Buca di Beppo's generally overall this one is there right
(2)
Robert M.
Went with in laws to experience all what I was told and OMG! Food was incredible and WAY more than we could eat. Over the top best food and service thus far. Will return for sure.
(5)
Brian A.
Dishes are only served family style. If you're lucky enough that everyone in your family likes the same thing this might work for you. If not you are going to end up with leftovers that are over priced. Remember to ask for the "complementary" bread. If you order an appetizer they do not bring it to you. The service was poor our waitress didn't seem to realize we where sharing. Which is odd cuz that's how their menu is set up. The prices are outrageous for what you get. We ordered a chicken dish for two. It cost 27 and was 3 pieces and if you wanted sides that cost extra as well. Ended up being $50 for chicken and mashed potatoes. Seasonings where lacking and no salt and pepper on the table, apparently not in the kitchen either. My two teens had Fettuccine Alfredo that was bland and boring. Then they send someone around to bother you and take your picture. Then they harass you again at the end trying to sell you the pics.
(1)
Stacy F.
2.5 stars I've been waiting to write this review and trying to decide how to approach it. We did a search for Buca specifically so we could have a date night and we usually enjoy their locations and thought this would be a good pick. We arrived and there was a little bit of a line, so we knew there was probably a wait. We were told it would be a 20-30 minute wait time, not too bad so we decided to sit it out. However, we ended up waiting 55 minutes and had to ask where we were in the line twice. The front desk host offered no apology or explanation despite my husband explaining that we'd waited nearly double our promised time. He just told us that we had three ahead of us still and they'd "get to us when they could." Not a great start... We were then seated in a completely empty area, that sat roughly twenty people, with no one at any of the tables. We waited about ten minutes for a server to come over. Our server Brittany was really awesome once we got her! We explained to her our disappointment with all that had happened so far. She was really quick to apologize despite it not being her fault at all, and was sure to take good care of us going forward. We had spaghetti and meat sauce which was good and came out quickly since Brittany put a rush on it for us. When we placed our spaghetti order we decided on the Mount Vesuvius dessert and ordered that since we know it takes time to make due to it's design. Found out after we finished eating our main meal that they were out of the Mount Vesuvius. Sigh. Brittany got the manager for us, without us asking for it, and explained to her about our wait time and the dessert being out, which wasn't discovered until we were done and ready for it. The manager did offer us another dessert, which we declined to take (we were really just ready to leave and be done here). In the end the manager ended up comping our meal, which was very nice of her, but then we ended up having to scramble for cash since we certainly didn't want to leave Brittany without a tip since she was the saving grace to the whole mess. They really did try to make it better, but we won't be back to this location, which is a bummer since it's the only one within driving distance to us. Overall: C Make a reservation. You will probably wait longer than the promised time. It's a tourist hot spot, so it's a little chaotic with parking.
(2)
Randall N.
Mehhh... Just mediocre at best. After walking around Disneyland all day we decided this would be a good choice for 'yummy' dinner. There was no wait at 8pm and we were seated quickly. Our waiter was attentive and was helpful navigating the menu. We ordered Fried calamari- just ok, a bit too many tentacles for my liking. The marinara sauce was bland. Spicy chicken rigatoni- this dish was flavorful and just right spicy. Not too hot or bland. Chicken pieces were few and far between. Cheesy garlic florentine bread- yummy, for sure! No complaints. Lasagna- sad and mushy. Noodles were overcooked and didn't require you to chew them at all. Skip it! Adult beverages were mixed well and price point was average. I will probably go here once more just to be fair with my review.
(4)
Sheryl I.
Showed up on Mother's Day without reservation and only had 30 minute wait. Server was very nice! Mozzarella bread delicious as was the antipasto salad, chicken saltimbocca and penne al forno. Huge sizes. Don't need to order large for 3 people.
(4)
Josh S.
We sat at the kitchen table. It was definitely something my daughter loved. Good was good. Service was also good. If I had a negative point it would be the brownie Sunday was not as big as the one on the desert table but it was plenty big for the 4 of us not to finish.
(4)
Zombie C.
Great food & awesome service! We loved the atmosphere and the liveliness of the place. Not at all stuffy or uptight like other restaurants. We were definitely able to enjoy ourselves. Our food was delicious and drinks were even better! Verona Punch is a must try, but watch out! The alcohol sneaks up on ya half way through the glass! Would without a doubt recommend BDB to my friends & family!
(5)
Ulysses Anahi D.
Pros: friendly staff, they're informative, and let I'd know portiond are huge. Lasagna and fettuccine was very good. Cons: cold bread, hard browney, spaghetti is no good, apple gorgonzola salad is average And overpriced. Overall it's a good place.
(4)
Michelle D.
Came here about a year ago. We were new to the area and were exploring the different restaurants nearby. I love pasta, so I decided to make a reservation at their chef's table, which is located in their kitchen. Our server was horrible. No wine knowledge and treated us like second class citizens. Service was slow, and food was mediocre at best. We have not been back since and have no intention on ever going to any of their locations.
(1)
Robert L.
Good food and atmosphere, a bit noisy but the food makes up for the noise. Spent the evening with my mother-in-law who loves this place and requested it for her 75th birthday. She enjoyed her dinner and the family that attended. Happy Birthday Barb.
(5)
Ana B.
So, this is my second trip to Buca. The manager was so kind to send me a $50 gift certificate after seeing I last had a bad experience, so that's very good on their part. So my actual experience at the restaurant: My boyfriend and I sit down and the waiter comes... and the odds must have NOT been in our favor because who do we get? Josh. The same bad server we got last time. Now let me tell you, food was great (we ordered Fried Mozzarella and Baked Ziti) and it was served in a timely manner. BUT THE WAITER WAS JUST BAD. You can't enjoy your food when you have such a bland, un-charismatic, waiter who looks like he just wants his shift to end. Ugh. Oh well. Other than that everything was great. I was very happy that a VERY kind and outgoing photographer took pictures of us. I purchased two for $20 along with the complimentary post card, not bad in my opinion. Would I come back? Maybe....
(4)
Carol B.
Always a fun place to bring a crowd! We brought the staff who was here for the Dental Convention, and as always, this place makes for a grand party! Good (not great) food, but with this many, a perfect place to celebrate! LOVED the STAFF!
(5)
Sam P.
Order: Calamari: I think it was very good the marinara was also good. Note that there is spice in the flour/breading that made it so my son, who loves calamari, wasn't able to eat it. Prosciutto stuffed chicken: I can't say that it didn't have a decent flavor but, there was absolutely no prosciutto, let management know so they sent out a new order...same issue. I am not sure if they have a prep cook stuffing these or if they order them regardless whoever is stuffing them needs to find a new job. 1 out of 6 had a little bit of prosciutto Rosemary Potatoes: Terrible I thought they would be roasted but, they were fried. So greasy. Blue Moon: Out, had to get a Stella Kids cheese pizza: Was good Overall: Disappointed. For the price there are several amazing Italian restaurants that worry more about quality vs. quantity
(2)
C C.
I am a big fan. The pasta carbonara is really delicious. Big family style. But i do like going here sometimes by myself and enjoy the ambiance and just eat. Then since the servings are bigger, i am always sure there are something more for dinner. The servers are nice and acommodating. Oh also make sure you come in before 5pm so that you don't have to wait long. Since this is a real popular place. Also sign up for their eClub because they send out 10$ coupons if u buy something worth 20$. So you save half off. This is the only way I can go and afford this place. Plus if there's 2 of you, then you only pay like 5$ for one regular entree. The house bread is free anyway. Enjoy buca.
(5)
Elizabeth S.
The last time we were there, my husband and I were enjoying our anniversary of dating. The food was okay. Some of the ingredients to my salad were missing. I felt my salad was over priced on top of that, I mean almost $15 for a salad with a tiny piece of chicken on it. Come on. After the meal was done we tried to use a discount we had been using for a long time and they said they don't do that discount anymore. When we asked when they stopped it the server told us 3 years ago, which we knew was wrong because last summer we used it. Down hill food + poor service = not going back again
(2)
Nijole T.
Honestly, I never got the hype of Buca di Beppo. I see it as a step above Olive garden. Service is never great, only ok. It's always full and I think pricey. We had the veal parmigiana, a salad, pasta and garlic bread, as menu items are shared family style. The food is filling, but we ordered a large of everything and were only 2 plus a child and polished it off, especially when it comes to meat items, order up, sides can be easily shared. All was fine, but nothing I can't make better at home or feel a need to rush back for.
(3)
Andrew P.
Food was good, waitress was great. Hostess told us we would be seated shortly and we waited for 25 minutes before seeing several walk-ins get seated before us and we asked to be seated. We had a reservation for 30 minutes later, but she said no problem, we'll seat you shortly. Worst part, they sat us at a crappy table by the bar where every server enters orders. On purpose, no doubt. Word to the wise young hostess, COMMUNICATION and setting appropriate expectations will make happier customers.
(2)
Mary N.
A big thank you to Jen and I believe her name was Karen for taking care of me. I wasn't able to get a refund which is fine but they made sure I got a meal on the house. Thank you very much ladies.
(5)
Dory N.
Honestly. For the price, I would rather make the dishes at home. I don't think it's worth it at all. The interior of the restaurant is interesting, you have to look at the restroom. On the way to the restroom, you'll see a head on a table. That totally freaked me out, I almost peed my pants on the way to the restroom.... Anyways. The food was dry, the salad was nothing special. I was not really impressed with my visit. I ordered a Alfredo fettuccine and spaghetti + 2 salads.
(2)
Diana W.
Its always fun eating here. LARGE PORTIONS as usual! =) Italian chain restaurant around SoCal, decent and tasty....definitely a great deal when coming with large parties. Meaning...come in a big party unless you want leftovers for days haha They also have a cute couples table, I mean it fits more than 2 people but its uniquely decorated as opposed to all other booths. Food wise, pretty darn good for being a chain restaurant... but yes it is Americanize because it is a chain restaurant. You have to go to mom/pops place for authenic italian food.
(4)
Elizabeth T.
PROS: - The portions are huge so it's ideal for big groups or families to share. - I had pasta and veal. The food tasted OK. - The ambiance is homey. CONS: - The portions are huge so you don't get to try out a variety of different dishes if you're only a party of 2. - All the Italian foods are cheesy and high in calories.
(3)
Whitney M.
four years ago, I went here after my highschool graduation with the fam bam a party of 8 or so if I can remember.... So we waited outside to be seated as we wait for my siblings to come. I'm only thinking mainly pasta when I came here idk why lol and I don't like pasta that much. The atmosphere was really tight and the table was like a picnic table with the red plaid sheets covered over them. I didn't like the seating, it felt uncomfortable. Im guessing this restaurant is family orientated cause of their culture haha I don't have a lot of knowledge about Italians but that's what the theme seemed like. The service was so great because our server was very uplifting and so smiley. The food took quite a while it did take long cause we ordered so much food. Pasta, pizza, spaghetti, garlic bread and calamari and oh my god there garlic bread and calamari appetizers are to fucking die for! It was soooooo good ! But their food is really greasy just to warn you if you got an easy stomach. I'd come back only for a special event cause its really expensive but well worth it.
(4)
Jeff A.
Not a place we will come back to. Servers complaining about their shifts. No thank you after the meal. Just not good. I don't like feeling like I'm wasting people's time.
(1)
Nam B.
Wholesome Italian food, but have no distinctively. The portions are family size, made to share and you can also reserve a romantic table right in the kitchen.
(2)
Reyna J.
Went yesterday for lunch after a doctors appointment. Being pregnant when your hungry your hungry! With that said stopped in and within 5 minutes was seated. Due to my prego belly I asked for table and hostess was so nice to comply with request. Server came right out his name Mikey. Such a sweetie. My mom and I ordered strawberry ice tea which was so delicious. Then ordered antipasto salad lunch portion which is enough for two, penne San Remo yummie . Food was nice and hot!! Had a slice of raspberry cream cake man had to take it home. Loved the service and just over all cozy feeling. Try to get there before lunch rush and nice and quite. Ask for Mikey best server there.
(4)
Brett B.
Haven't been here in a while, and the last time we were, the server was better. Our waitress, Demi, gave off a strange vibe, at least we perceived that. She brought out a basket of cold bread. When she returned 10 minutes later to take our order, I asked if Buca normally served bread cold with no butter. She said that they do, as it comes with oil & vinegar ( which she just hadn't gotten around to bringing yet). She said it in a tone which sounded like she was perturbed that I asked. The food was good, just overpriced. I've been to this location before, and the service has been pretty good. This was just an experience that didn't meet out expectations. The next day we ordered a small pizza for takeout. For $16 we received a pie that was pretty small. Sure they say a small is 9 slices, but the slices are rectangular shaped.
(2)
Mercy T.
To be fair, I'm writing this review based on the food that came with the banquet deal my group purchased. Service was prompt and above average, but nothing too special. I was seated promptly as soon as I arrived. Our servers did what they were supposed to do, but they didn't seem too enthusiastic about their jobs. I'm just being picky here, but I do like waiters and waitresses who talk with a smile and act like they actually give a crap. I wish I could give the pasta no stars. Let's start with the angel hair pasta with tomato sauce. I mean seriously, did I just pay $20 to eat a can of tomato sauce dumped over some boiled pasta from a box? It tasted bland and watery. Ick, I'd take a frozen dinner over that any day. Moving on to the fettuccine alfredo. Again, a can of cream dumped over a box of pasta. You get the idea. The chicken parmigiana, however, was actually decent. Nothing special, though. Ambiance and decor was a bit weird for me. Odd pictures on the wall. Not sure what they're trying to convey here. I don't get why this place is "a step above" Olive Garden. Maybe I just ate all of the wrong stuff. I think it's safe to say that I'll be sticking with Olive Garden... at least their Ravioli di Portabello has flavor.
(2)
tina a.
This is only the second time I have been to this restaurant chain but it is fun enough to go back to again. I like when they seat you they give you a "tour" of the restaurant. You walk through the kitchen part where they show you all the gargantuan sized deserts and you see people cooking. Since I consider myself a "foodie" and would love to get in a working kitchen, this was fun to see. The tour showed us different named rooms (all cool Italian of course) and then we were seated in a nice quiet booth. The server was great. Friendly, comfortable, didn't have to work at it. Those are the best ones. I only went with my daughter so we got "small" portions of everything. On one hand I would say it doesn't pay to go with just two people as you pay for big portion sizes even if there are only two of you BUT we got "small" stuffed canneloni and the plate only came with 4 small ones, 2 each. Do not see how three people could have shared that and been satisfied. I wanted to get a salad but again just for the"small" (which says it feeds two to three) was between 10-15 dollars. A lot for a side salad I thought so we passed. We got cheesy garlic bread which was good, not OMG this is amazing, but good. So for canneloni, bread and sodas our bill for two with tip was 43. I thought a little pricey but good food. If you haven't tried family style it may throw you off and I think you definately end up spending quite a bit when trying to navigate how much to get for the people in your party but overall, great food and a fun experience so I will be back.
(4)
Tony A.
My family and I visited this Buca Di Beppo's on Tuesday November 22, 2011 for lunch. The food was just okay, but their house Chianti is great. I guess I can finally say "what more can you expect from a chain restaurant." Our server Laura was outstanding and very attentive.
(3)
Suga B.
Food was good service was good... And I received this all on Christmas Day. No bad.i will say if you make reservations more then one week in advance to call back and confirm. I made mine 2 weeks in advance and they didn't have the reservation ... But I showed them my call log and they honored my time.
(4)
Jamie V.
Buca Di Beppo is just a fun place to go. Especially if you have a big group. We had a party of seven. I rolled over to the bar while waiting for our table. The bartender asked to see my ID. Yes, I got carded at Buca Di Beppo in Garden Grove. Jamie V.- Shot of Jack and a Peroni please. Bartender- I need to see your ID sir. Jamie V.- I'm old enough to be your father son. (He just got sonned, urbandictionary.com/defi… ) Bartender- I just need to be sure sir, your ID? Jamie V- If I looked like I do now at age 20, I'd be dead by now. I'm 46 years old young man. Bartender- Blank stare. Okay fine! Our order: Large pepperoni pizza Large mixed salad Calamari Fritti Chicken Penne San Remo Chicken Piccata Green Beans with lemon. Everything was really good and our table had a blast. I think they changed the pizza sauce and started adding too much romano cheese. Please go back to the old recipe. It was money (at the expense of sounding like Guy Fieri). After I convinced them I was more than twice the legal drinking age they kept the Peroni's and Jack coming. Good times.
(4)
Jose E.
I came here with my friend soon to be my girl and the food was good nothing more than what i expected but the service was amazing ! Ashley is the best she came to our table at least 15 times making sure we were having a good time , 4 stars because i wasn't that impress with the food .
(4)
Alodie D.
This Buca di Beppo location turned me off. It doesn't have the star quality as the one in Santa Monica which is a shame. Pros: *The Eggplant Parmigiana is really good (better than Olive Garden IMO) and the decor, like always, is excellant. Now to the bad news... Cons: *Unlike the Santa Monica location, this Anaheim location doesn't give out free bread. To add, Idk why my family insisted on getting garlic bread with cheese. It was a whopping $12 and it wasn't good at all. I could make better ones at home. *The spagetti that came with my eggplant parmigiana was too watery and didn't taste good. Again, I could have made better spagetti at home. *I was celebrating my 25th birthday and a bunch of employees came up to my table to sing to me. One employee brought chandelier with 3 candles lit and they started to sing. As I was getting happy in this moment I noticed one of the employees in front of me have a birthday dessert. I was like wow this is cool until they ended the song and went to another table to sing and give the cake. I was so confused at the moment and my family was like "you don't get a cake." I didn't complain and just got the check on left. It is not until now when I checked on Yelp and found out that they don't give free bread, mentioned earlier, and complimentary birthday dessert. Fine they don't do that but please don't show me a cake in front of me, sing to me, and go away. Unfortunately this experience left a bad taste in my mouth and life and I do not plan on going here again. Thanks for the memories, BDB.
(2)
S M.
Let me start off by saying, I had been to another Buca di Beppo at a different location a few years ago and it was an amazing experience, but this experience was over the top. We were greeted by our waitress, Ashley who was very friendly and got our drinks right away. She made amazing suggestions for both food and drink. Our food came out faster than expected, we ordered the penne chicken pesto pasta along with the mozzarella garlic bread, both are a MUST have. I also ordered the peach Bellini and I would definitely recommend it. The food was amazing but the service from Ashley is what made our night. Not to mention it was my 21st birthday and she definitely made me feel special on my big day! We will definitely be returning to this location and will be asking for a seat in Ashley's section the next time we are in town.
(5)
Matthew M.
I'm writing this with one eye open due to the food coma it has induced. The spaghetti with meat sauce was thee bomb! Flavorful and intense! We started with the caesar salad and the friends added lemon juice to it and it made it pretty tasty. Then no italian meal is complete without some pizza, our choice was the italiano supremo, which was packed with different italian flavors from the pepperonis right down to the crust being on point! Overall a great experience...qpiunapiuwnavp (that was my face hitting the keyboard)...thx buca.
(4)
Miguel R.
Visited the restaurant with a group of fellow musicians. There are two parts to this review, the place and the food. The decor and ambiance of the place was awesome, as soon as the guest walks in he or she gets the home feeling to the restaurant. The host led us through the kitchen into the dining room, pretty cool start to the evening. The walls are covered in pictures and mementos that make you feel as if you are in an Italian home. Then there's the food. The drinks were alright, specially the Italian sodas which have a creamy taste to them. There are two sizes of food, small (feeds 2) and large (feeds 4+). The friend whom I paired up with and I ordered the baked rigatoni (rigatoni with spicy Italian sausage and marinara sauce topped with mozzarella and ricotta, and of course baked). Upon arrival it looked promising, the melted cheese popped out the red plate of pasta. The pizzas and other foods of those around us also looked delicious. We were starving, so we dove in, it's wasn't pleasing. The sauce lacked a bit of flavouring and the sausage quantity was a small one. The rigatoni wasn't al dente, it was a bit undercooked. The plate was a little less than warm, it wasn't hot as if it had been baked. We decided not to finish it. We ordered dessert, the colossal brownie sundae and it was better than the entree. The food was really not worth the price, the small portion of our entree was $29.99. Anyway, overall it was an alright experience, mainly because of the ambience that the place emanated.
(2)
stephanie p.
Granted we ordered take out because this place was right in our parking lot, and honestly I have never eaten here, so we tried it. We did the 3 item appetizer and a small spaghetti and meatball, oh my goodness, the calamari was wonderful especially on take out, sometimes it gets soggy not this one. I would highly recommend eating here versus the restaurant inside embassy suites, it is so much better and cheaper!
(5)
Linda C.
Bring everyone you know in large groups because large portions are a way of life here! We enjoyed sharing the salad and a couple of pasta dishes (everything is good!). So worth it! The women's bathroom has some crazy, fun photos from the 1950's---! We rolled out if there feeling satisfied and will remember this culinary experience!!!
(5)
Jonathan P.
Food was delicious...service was slow at first, but began to pick up right around when the larger tables left...Food came out on time and was on point in flavor...texture and temperature was also just right the usual at a franchise restaurant...the facilities wasn't too on par and our table became cluttered with extra plates which took away from the presentation value of the food. Last what's with the pictures? I don't think pictures and food go together while I'm eating...meaning don't bother me with money until I get to the bill..
(4)
Monica N.
I had the responsibilty of planning a holiday luncheon for 12 people. I've done this many times, not a big deal...chose the Brea location for geographical reasons and communicated with a catering person via email to set up everything. I've have never been to a Buca di Beppo before, not a fan of chain restaurants...but this was a great experience. They send you a menu, you make your selections according to your budget. We had a vegatarian in our group, not a problem at all. I ordered and paid for everything before I even set foot in the restaurant. Seriously, I could have skipped the luncheon took off to the neighboring Brea mall and the event would have ran itself. The staff is so professional and accomodating. Everything is served in mega-generous portion sizes (that's why we're a chubby country of Americans!) and was perfect.
(5)
Shannon F.
If I had to rate this restaurant based on the decor alone, there its no doubt I would have given it one star. garish is the perfect word for the wall displays here. At least I think there were walls, but I never saw them due to the tacky photos and memorabilia that were on display. I mean, I seriously could have done without looking at a giant (and I mean giant) photo of women in their bathing suits participating in a spaghetti eating contest. If I were Italian, I would be protesting this place. Now on to the food. Ya know that salad at olive garden that I swear they put crack in the salad dressing to make it that much more addictive? This stuff was as good or better. And the eggplant was the best I have ever had. Aside from the decor, the restaurant lost one star for another reason, the fettucine Alfredo. I felt it was just not up to snuff. It was edible and all, it just wasn't my bag. It tasted like the cheap Alfredo sauce that you can buy for two bucks in a jar at the supermarket. the cannolis were good, but something really has to wow me for me to eat a lot of it after a big meal. I'm not sure if they do this all the time, but they took a bunch of photos of us that were available for sale after our meal. One last thing about the setup, they have it setup as if you were literally eating in someone's house. It had a bunch of tiny rooms with for of five tables instead of one big room. This was bad as it acted as a maze, literally zig zagging through to the point that you don't remember how you got there. I had to ask for directions on how to get outside! All in all, I would return.
(4)
Ashveen S.
Celebrated my birthday here yesterday at lunch. The food was GREAT! The server recommended the quantity we should order (since we did family style for about 15-20 people) and it was just the right amount. The only thing was that the service was kind of slow, but think that had to go with the size of our party. I would definitely go back because the food was DELICIOUS. I recommend the antipasto salad, the pasta alla vodka and the shrimp diavanti. YUM!
(4)
Sophie D.
The ambiance is terrific if you're looking for a great dinner with family and friends. Our entire group had made reservations a week prior to the event. After a conference, we headed here for dinner. Although the restaurant might seem small from the outside, it was quite posh and comfortable. It did manage to seat all hundred or so of us. The salads were fresh and the bread was soft. Our table devoured the loaf in seconds and we received a second, third roll. The balsamic vinegar and oil dip were fantastic complements. The entrees came; the set menu included fettuccine alfredo, pasta marinara, and chicken parmigiana. The bowls/plates were huge! The pastas were quite standard; I thought that, by themselves, they lacked flavor. Call me strange, but mixing the red sauce with the alfredo created a hybrid sauce that tasted better than the originals. I'd never tasted chicken parmigiana before, but Buca's dish was pretty satisfying. It wasn't as crunchy as I'd hoped, but there was plenty of flavor. It wouldn't hurt to have a bit more mozzarella on top of the chicken, either. For dessert we each received a small piece of chocolate cake. At first, I thought it was a rather small portion. I soon discovered that a few bites had already satiated my sweet tooth. It was delicious, but incredibly rich. The restaurant was clean and filled with countless posters/paintings/collectibles. Some are quite interesting. Overall, a great experience! For the price we paid, (23 dollars per person), it was a great deal. I had a great time with everyone here. I look forward to coming to Buca's again sometime in the near future.
(5)
Tony M.
Business trip, So Cal, Buca, Pepperoni Pizza, Simply Perfection! Oh yeah, I finished with a chocolate chip cannoli!
(5)
Remie M.
I've always loved the portions here. . .family style is awesome! Came here on a sunday for lunch. . .wasn't really busy Mushroom ravioli and baked ziti, yum! Our server was super attentive and helpful. She made sure everything met our expectations.
(3)
Joe R.
A wonderful experienceTino made our evening extra special...the food was EXCELLENT...the four for forty deal was good...GREAT birthday fun...very noisy w lots of large family parties..sensitive to noise? May be a bit loud...overall experience was a good one!
(5)
Brooklyn C.
Walked here from hotel for a business dinner. The food was good, but not amazing. The apple blue cheese salad was better than the veggie lasagna. The waitress was friendly.
Had my birthday lunch here. We made a special request for their discontinued Italian Wedding Soup which is amazing. The service has always been pretty good here.
(4)
Erica C.
Just came back from lunch. They have a new special, not sure exactly what its called but it's something like "in-betweener" where the food is cheaper than lunch and comes with soup or salad. The food is smaller portioned (ended up taking half to-go) and with a good variety of dishes. They also have a sangria special that is absolutely delicious. The service was exceptional. Super nice, helpful, attentive, and patient. As always, the food was great. Buca has a warm family atmosphere and their service and food is always consistent.
(5)
Charleen B.
I love bucca! Their authentic Italian food never disappoints. It's a great place to go for huge parties because their serving style is family style. Their "small" portions are not small! They can feed 2-4ppl depending on how hungry you are, but it's way too big for just a single person. Many choices and seating is great. This bucca has a weird layout because depending where you are seated, sometimes you go through the kitchen to get to your designated seating area. Prices are decent. About $18 for a small, but remember it will feed 2-4ppl! Their pasta isn't homemade, I've seen a few boxes of pasta (because like I mentioned above that we had to walk through the kitchen to be seated.) Decor fits the Italian theme and the restaurant is big. Close but not walking distance from Disneyland.
(3)
Mellani L.
I've always passed this place up during my visits to Anaheim and even pass up the one back home in SF, but finally I came in and dined here. First off before they seat you they give you a tour of the kitchen. At first I was like "uhh are we really going through the kitchen, that's hella unsafe! We could slip for crying out loud!" haha But it was all apart of the experience. Finally we were seated. Wasn't sure how it worked it out, I figured it was a family style restaurant which it is. Our server explained to us that we share all of the food, which is fine 'cause I do that all the time anyways. We ordered stuffed mushrooms for appetizzers and bkaed rigatoni for our meal. The stuffed mushrooms were pretty good, I personally still prefer Olive Garden's better but still good none-the-less. The baked rigatoni hit the spot though. It was so delish. There's such a wide variety on the menu, that I can honestly say, that while eating not once did I think "Oh I should've gotten the carbonara, or fetticunni." SO yummy. Oh and their portions are so huge! There were three of us and we could barely finish the a small bowl of pasta (small feeds 2-3 people). Although the food was spectacular, our waitress on the other hand was very neglective. Barely chacked up on us, we had to keep flagging her down. She was horrible. We asked her for these game scratchers that every table is suppose to get and she never gave us one. She offered more bread (they're complimentary) and she never gave us some until we asked her AGAIN. The host on the other hand was very nice and he's the one that gave us the scratchers. Overall nice family style restaurant. Good food. I'd normally give this place 4 stars but the service was horrible. I'd definitely come back to Buca though, just back in SF and not the one down in Anaheim.
(3)
Michael W.
Like I said in my first post, we've been back for Buca's calamari. Even in a funky margarita glass, it's nearly always perfectly tender. This last time we went, which is the last time, we noticed they had a new menu. I happened to look at the stuffed shells, which seemed to list all of the ingredients. On that list, red pepper was not. This made me prompt the bartender (the same bartender from my first post). I asked: Did they change? Are there now no red peppers? She went to the kitchen to ask. She returned and said there are no red peppers. SWEET! We'll take the quatro al forno again, which includes stuffed shells. Well, it came and was covered in melted cheese, but not melted like it was placed under the broiler. More like melted like it was nuked in the microwave. I cut into a stuffed shell and immediately smelled the red pepper. Upon further investigation, I pulled a small chunk out and cut it in half, eating half to verify. Yup, red pepper! I showed this to the bartender, who said she asked the manager and the kitchen manager, who advised there was none. She said they should have read the ingredients on the box. On the box? ON THE BOX? That prompted me to ask, So they're frozen? Yeah, they're frozen was the reply. Then I taste the manicotti, and I can taste the freezer. When I go to an italian restaurant, I expect to be eating fresh pasta. Buca, read your reviews. The negative ones are complaining about bland food. We want fresh food that is baked, not just taken out of a box and placed in the microwave. We're not stupid, we can taste the difference. This is the last trip to Buca for us unfortuneately. Looks to me like they've gotten too big for their britches.
(1)
scott f.
Good portions but lacking in quality.. The meat here was not that great. But it is a mega chain so what bar do your really set. Also not really a fan of being pressured in to joining a stupid club while I am eating dinner.. The server was nice though and was quick on getting things for us. He also recommended some good items. It is a good place to go with kids. They have coloring books which are really good thing to have to distract them for a little bit.
(3)
Shari M.
This place was better than I expected. My family and I had the Calamari, Chicken Parmesan and Spaghetti with Meat Sauce. Very friendly staff and fast service. A little pricy, but we were on vacation :)
(4)
Robert H.
Bucca de Beppo has quite the selection but its apparent how cirporate it has become when you sed the prices. I guess the only competion us Olive Garden which goes for a different feel. - Large plates but overpriced. - Complicated maze interior layout with too many wall dividers. - Entrees are the only dishes with flavor. - Side dishes and apps are pretty much flavorless. I went in a group if four and started with the seafood trio platter ($24.95) That comes with shrimp scampi, mussels marinara and fried calamari. The flavorless shrimp, must be due to the butter. The calamari is lightly breaded but just chewy and the maranara dip didn't enhance it. The mussels and sauce with was POPPIN'. I tried a bit of the lasagna ($19.95) that comes with nine towering layers of lasagna noodles stuffed with a savory combination of ricotta, mozzarella, provolone and Parmesan cheeses with plenty of chunky homemade meat sauce. This dish was jammed with flavor and is nearly an 8" tall stack. The meat sauce made thus dish. My wife and I shared the supremo Italiano pizza ($16.95) which comes with chunks of ground beef and spicy Italian sausage mixed with strips of pepperoni, bell peppers and onions, all on top of red sauce and cheese. The thin crust, needed more of the light sauce but it was still crunchy with flavor. I should have never ordered a side of their "famous" garlic mashed potatos ($6.95) because they didn't taste good and didn't pair well with everything else. These skin-on red potatoes with garlic were just OK. Should have blended the butter instead of globbing a chunk on top. I thought I wolkd try the Buca di Beppo Sangria ($4.99) which is supposed to be aN anytime cocktail. It was a blend of Barefoot Merlot and brandy mixed with orange juice, simple syrup, fresh orange and lime slices served over ice. There was a little shock on the first sip but you can get used to the mixed taste. Watch out because it'll knock you out. My wife and I sipped on some Riesling, Chateau Ste. Michelle ($6.99) which has flavor of juicy peach, apricot, pear and citrus flavors. This desert wine went down smooth and was sweet. While the meal wasn't bad, there was nothing that makes me want to come back. For the cost, there are many other places I would rather eat even though I do enjoy Italian food quite a bit. About $100 total!
(3)
T C.
This review is for the to-go window. So I place an order online for pick-up at 6:15. I get there about five minutes early, so no big deal that my food wasn't ready. I pay for my food and the girl tells me it'll be a few minutes - which is perfect because then they'll be right on time, right? SO NOT RIGHT. I waited twenty minutes right next to the to-go window before someone stops and asks if I've been helped (the person at the to-go window kept telling me it'll be just a little longer - big fat liar). I told her I'm waiting for my to-go order of - get this - SPAGHETTI. The kitchen is right next to the to-go window and I can see a bunch of bags lined up on the counter. Guess what? The bag she handed me was the first in line! Even though about three other people got their orders before me, I just wasted away standing next to the to-go window, no one thought "Hey, this first bag has been sitting here for awhile, let me see if it belongs to someone standing by the to-go window". WORST TO-GO SERVICE EVER. EVER. EVER. EVER. EVER. EVER. EVER. EVER. EVER. EVER. EVER. EVER. EVER. EVER. EVER. EVER. EVER. EVER. EVER. EVER. EVER. EVER. EVER. EVER. EVER. EVER. EVER. EVER. EVER. EVER. EVER. EVER. EVER. EVER. EVER. EVER. EVER. EVER. EVER. EVER. EVER.EVER. EVER.EVER. EVER. EVER. EVER. EVER. EVER. EVER. EVER. EVER.EVER. EVER.EVER. EVER. This was weeks ago....and I'm still pissed. You suck, Garden Grove Buca!
(1)
Donald G.
I like how when you walk in, it looks like an old Italian woman's house. Way too many pictures on the wall, dozens of openings to the same room, and lots of odd things just used as props all over the place. I just wonder how you clean a place like this. The best part of this place is the service and the food. The food is available is huge share-able entrees, salads, appetizers, and desserts (Not sure what would happen if I came in alone). Haven't had a dish I didn't like yet. And the service is super friendly and honest. I like that they don't beat around the bush. Its kind of like they are talking about their grandmas cooking when they refer to the kitchen. "She won't make it like that." (we had strange requests) My last server was good (bald guy with arm brace) but my favorite server here is Carly. That woman is amazing. Nuff said.
(5)
Svetlana K.
I'm not crazy about the food, but my fiance likes them a lot. We were desperate for a meal after the park closed. Why more restaurants don't stay open later when they're right next to Disneyland is beyond me. It seems like there's a financial gain to be made if you know people are leaving the park at certain times. But what do I know about the restaurant business? Maybe these businesses around the park get sooo slammed all day long, that by the time the park closes, they've physically exhausted all of their restaurant employees as well. All I know is, we spent a good portion of our evening trying to find a place that was either not about to close or not so slammed that we couldn't even get a glass of water. We came in tired, hungry and just wanting some reprieve from a long day at the park. Buca di Beppo came through for us. We sat at the bar and the bartender was fabulous. I can't remember her name, but she totally made sure we were good. I didn't order a lot to eat, but my fiance loved the chicken marsalla. I highly recommend coming here than any of the other joints down the street.
(4)
Bungo B.
After reading the "garvone" reviews by the twenty something know-nothings, I felt compelled to offer an alternative view. As an Italian American, I find this place disgusting. The food is awful. Sure, it's like home cooking: if your mother is mentally deficient and makes pasta with ketchup. You're better off eating pig slop than this one step above The Olive Garden garbage. This is to Italian cuisine as Panda Express is to Chinese,
(1)
Renzel J.
This place has the worst service ever. We waited 3 hours for a table it was my friend's birthday and we never got the table. They didn't even say sorry about it. This place is just the worst. I am not going to any Buca di Beppos ever again.
(1)
Jim R.
Fun place and the food was good. Only complaint being that we asked the waitress for guidance on portion control because we did not want lefovers. The waitress way over sold us on food. We only ate half the amount of food ordered.
(3)
Kevin H.
Always good service, even when large parties (10+) are there. They offer Disney Cast member discount! Oh, and sign up for their email coupons!! The best coupons!!
(5)
H C W.
Lunch break good food
(5)
Aimee H.
Its was good, not great!
(3)
Alison T.
Ugh Buca, please try harder with your service and your food. What happened? You used to be decent.
(2)
Jalene V.
We went there for my daughters birthday and we got to sit in the kitchen it was awesome!! We also got a life size sundae
(5)
Ray N.
Came here with a large group a few days ago-- and it was pretty amazing. The environment was very interesting and creative-- there's tons of culture being portrayed throughout the restaurant; yes, even in the restrooms. The setting is also pretty dim, with tons of small booths and tables to fit small couples to large groups. Having said, this place is definitely a place to come for big groups, or just a romantic date, or just if the person you are dating is starving and hasn't eaten for years. The food was pretty intense. It wasn't just the large portions, but it was also how delicious the food taste. Whether if it's lasagna, a mix of appetizers, spaghetti, etc.-- this place does not fail in (1) serving a huge portion and (2) the food was cooked to perfection with a generous amount of baked cheese on top of most entrees. But then again, Italian food is pretty difficult to mess up on-- unless you the restaurant fails at making pasta or their sauce. As for the service, it was decent. Being such a big group, we had a pitcher of water within our table-- which meant we didn't really need the waiter for the most part. Overall, this place is pretty cool-- I wouldn't mind coming here again since I really agree with how Italian food should be made in their perspective ( generous amount & lots of cheese). High lights: - Delicious food. - Large portions.
(4)
Matthew G.
typical chain type Italian; wouldn't go unless forced
(2)
Mary B.
Horrible service. Tried to make a reservation on a Thursday night. It was okay if we had to wait. However, it seem like they didn't want to take us in. Then, when we wanted to place a take out order instead, they transferred me twice to the same person and transferred me again for the third time. We decided to just get an In N Out burger that night instead.
(1)
Hillary M.
Sometime around 9pm, my boyfriend, Robert and I decide to go to Buca after finishing an expo across the parking lot. Oy vay, big mistake and one not likely to repeat. He'd been noshing all day and was not really hungry, I was kind of so-so. I'd never been in a Buca before and didn't realize everything was in HUGE family portions. We are sitting there waiting for a waiter to show up, finally we flag a busboy to ask about a small meal. He says the only thing way to get one is on the kids menu, he then reaches over to an abandoned dirty table and grabs a used crayon scribbled kids menu, hands it to me and walks away. Finally after about 12 to 15 minutes Nick shows up (remember it is 9pm and the place is pretty much empty) to take our order. Robert orders a drink and I question Nick a bit and decide on the Pasta Alfredo. My meal gets delivered, I then have to put on my "chef's hat" to try to fix it as it is totally bland even though it is supposedly the same food as the adult menu. We're eating and talking, I look down and notice my scribbled menu says it comes with a drink. This guy did not even mention it, what's with that? For another 20 minutes I am looking for someone to ask about it. Nick finally shows up and the smart alack he was says "you have to ask for it". Really? Since when is it my job to know their menu? He brings the drink, which by then I am finished with dinner and don't consume much of it. Incidentally, Robert says the drink he ordered had almost no booze in it which seems to be a common problem in restaurants these days. We are on our way out when, me being a bit pissed at Nick's attitude, I ask for the manager. Kelly Simmons, assistant general manager, comes out and I tell her the whole story. She apologizes and offers to reverse the charge for the evening. Then she offers to give us a $10 gift card which I kept refusing as I would not be coming back and told her so. After multiple offers and refusals Robert takes it, then later gave it away to a relative who for some reason actually likes Buca. Go figure. There is a Buca in Huntington Beach which I have never been in, now I never will. In my opinion based on performance, their food is bland, the drinks watered and the service sucks. No thanks!
(2)
Julie M.
This place is great! Friendly staff, fair prices and the portions and food are a good deal. Must try the baked rigatoni.
(5)
josie c.
"When the moon hits your eye like a big'a pizza pie..." your probably thinking of Buca Di Beppo. Best Italian food place I have been to in a long time that didnt feel like a glorified McDonalds or smelt of old people and pee. After seeing a Shaytards vlog on YouTube, I had to try this place. So after spending a long day at Disneyland, I took my family here. So delicious. Our party of 5 were treated like old friends, and escorted all around the restaurant and finally seated in the bar. Upon meeting our waiter Toni, we were introduced to the Buca's style of "Large" now when people say "Large" you don't think they mean large. You think of them serving enough to satiate you. NOT AT BUCAS! We ordered 1) Buca sampler (full of calamari, shrimp scampi, and mussels. YUM!!) 2) Caprese Salad (delicious) 3) Cheesy Bread Florintine (should be illegal) 4) Chicken Parmisean (OHH OHH YEA!) 5) Alfredo Fetuccine (My only true love) Definitely, if you are in the Disneyland Resort area, then you have to go to Buca's! Youll laugh, you'll cry, you'll wish you had packed bigger pants! Love you Buca Di Beppo!!!
(5)
Sara C.
When the time came around for my group of college friends to organize our five year reunion, it was up to me, from 2500 miles away, to herd the cats, pick a day and time, book the restaurant, negotiate the menu, and attempt to nail down a headcount. Working with Yvette at this Buca turned out to be a good experience, and really helped to organize this event with little stress (at least on the restaurant side of things -- the attendees now...). Since most of us are now graduate students or struggling entry-level professionals, I let Yvette know that we couldn't really afford the pricey banquet orders, and she was great about helping choose and remove options which reduced our cost per person greatly. She was very helpful and timely about the paperwork, and it worked out great despite the distance. On the night of the event, the wait staff did a great job of seating us and taking drink orders as each attendee arrived. The food was served in appropriate portions, and they refilled salad, spaghetti, and other dishes as needed. We had a great time, enjoying one another's company, eating good food, and reminiscing together. There was even food leftover at the end for packed lunches the next day. Everyone had a great time, and though of course the food is not gourmet Italian, the experience for our reunion was excellent.
(4)
Honest F.
GREAT Food!!!! And LOTS of it! The wait for a table wasn't long, we were told 20 but were seated in 10 minutes. The server took our drink order almost immediately. The food came flowing not too long after - all within a reasonable amount of time. The quality of the food was awesome. The portions are huge! The staff was extremely friendly and did not forget to check up on our needs all throughout the evening. This location is a MUST if you're traveling to the area.
(5)
Kaitlyn S.
I love going out to Buccaneer because the food is great, atmosphere is fun, andI always leave with left overs. They didn't get five stars because our waiter disappeared fora long time and the staff was talking about gambling and other non-work appropriate topics.
(4)
So H.
I think I've eaten enough food to last me the rest of the weekend. I left feeling VERY fappy ( Fat+Happy)! We ordered the buca trio platter, chicken pesto pizza, prosciutto stuffed chicken, and the penne arabbiata. Don't trip chocolate chip, they were all small sized portions (for 3 people, but that's beside the point!). The stuffed mushrooms in the platter were really good. Chicken pesto pizza was fabulous. Prosciutto stuffed chicken was plate-licking good, and the penne was good too. The spicy Italian sausage in the penne had a real nice kick to it, but a tad on the salty side. The free birthday brownie a la mode.... HOLY CRAP! At first glance, I thought, "Oh, that brownie looks really dry"... but I was wrong. It was warm and gooey and fudgy and just freakin perfect!!! For the amount of food you get, it's a decent price. Nice homey atmosphere perfect for family style dining. Very eclectic things decorating the walls. It's like some old Italian grandma's scrapbook box exploded onto the walls, complete with a mini figurine of an Orca whale barfing out a tuft of taffeta (yeah, I don't know, it was weird).
(4)
Krystal F.
I'm a huge fan of Bucca di Beppo so when I seen this location so close to my hotel I knew I needed to go. I was with a group of ladies which 2 of the 5 of us had never been so we were all excited to get an early Mother's day lunch before heading back home. I made reservations via the Yelp app, we were running a little late so they called me to ask if I was still going to need the reservation which I thought was nice. They rescheduled my reservation with no problem. Once we arrived we were seated right away and our drink order was taken shortly after. Our waitress was as nice as can be, super helpful and friendly. As we reviewed the menu she gave us some suggestions which I really thought was nice because we were debating on our entrees. We ordered 5 small servings of a mix of pastas, breads and pizzas. Needless to say everything we ordered was delicious! We ordered the cheese garlic bread which was cheesey and not to garlicy. The pizza was my favorite, just enough of cheese and pep. The pastas added to the deliciousness of everything else. Customer service, food and overall experience was great. I only give them a 4 stars because it can be a little pricey. I would definitely recommend this place and visit here again when I get back to Anaheim.
(4)
Joseph S.
We were visiting the area from NJ and were on vacation with our three children. The waitress and hostess were very friendly and helpful. Without family we were excited by the family portions the restaurant promoted. My wife and I decided to share a vile dish which the menu said would feed two to three people. When the dish came we were surprised to see only three thin slices of veal. Our children had the spaghetti,. The portion was ok, but the sauce was very thin and watery. When scooping the spaghetti onto the plates it was difficult to even catch the sauce with the noodles. Meal came to $65 which included the two dishes, soda, and one $6 glass of wine. We also had our picture taken at the booth and were told we would get a complimentary postcard. The photographer came back to the table with two photos of deferent sizes for between $10 and $15 dollars. The complimentary post card was really a coupon with a small picture of our family printed in the corner. I think they could go a long way to building goodwill by really following through with a reasonable photo, even if they charged for the larger ones. Overall we felt the dinner was a bit high for the portions and foot quality.
(2)
Robert L.
Great food. Have eaten here two times when my wife and I have stayed in Anaheim to visit Disneyland. The first time we ate here, we actually took our food to go because it was so packed that the waiting time was two hours... i guess that's what happens when you are five minutes away from Disneyland. this last time we went, they sat us down in less than ten minutes. Funny because we went the same day.. same time.. just a year after. Not sure if they are losing clientele. Idk, overall, very good and great service!
(5)
Sonia R.
Have never had a bad meal at Buca di Beppo, love, love, love!
(5)
Amanda E.
As much as I love Italian food, I was a little disappointed this time around with the quality of the food @ Buca. Their pizza never fails on flavor, but I can't say the same for their pasta, which I've found to be a hit or miss most of the time. We ordered the Baked Ziti (pasta was too dried out and just tasted like ricotta, not tomatoes) and the Penne San Remo (no flavor at all). I find it disappointing when the appetizers are better than the main dishes. On another note, the service at this place was good. We were seated within a reasonable time of our reservation. I tried to book a reservation through Open Table with no luck and attempted to have my reservation points logged through the restaurant, but the employee who took my call had never even heard of Open Table.... Overall, friendly service, but be aware of what you order.
(3)
Jennifer M.
I love Buca but a lot has changed since the last time I ate at this restaurant back in 2008. The food just didn't taste the same. The portions are HUGE even if you get the small so either share with someone or go during their lunch time when the entrees are much smaller. Our waiter was super friendly and even gave us a discount. So much food but we were happy to have some leftovers left for the next day.
(3)
Joe M.
What a joke this place has become! It seriously is like a bunch of college age kids goofing around here. We came in at 9 and parking is always terrible here so that gets you frustrated from the start. Last time I came here, was the same problem. We were seated really quick, which was nice but the large party next to us in the bar area had a bunch of unruly kids screaming and making tons of noise with no manager coming over to do anything. Completely annoying to say the least. We sat over 15 minutes before a server even came over to help or take our drink order. It was not even that busy so I have no idea why the long wait. We were finally served and our server was nice but we then waited over 10 more minutes before we even got the drinks! WTH? Food finally came and it was nice. Not great but nice. Then we have some slap ass who decided to practice near the bar his trick bar tending skills. He's bouncing metal containers on the ground, dropping bottles and making a ton of noise, as if we were all in the back somewhere away from the public. I was just blown away with the lack of professionalism or care these guys had while people were trying to have a nice enjoyable meal. If this was some hole in the wall establishment, I would understand but with the prices you pay at Buca today, I expect a lot more. Where is your management? After years,of going here, this will definitely be the last time I ever go to Buca again!
(1)
Sila W.
We went here for my birthday lunch, and my overall experience was awesome. I'm in love with this place! Great food and great service! I had the chicken limone and veal parmigiana. Lovely meal. Who cares if Buca is a chain. Great ambience!
(4)
Jorge P.
Came here with my family for lunch. The table service was excellent as always. The food was lacking on flavor and too expensive. We had to stay with spaghetti and meatballs to stay on budget. Entrees prices went up and are too expensive.
(2)
Yuki M.
Since June of last year, something has happened to Buca that results in a +1 from my previous review. It is still FAR from authentic but dammit if it doesn't (now) have a fair balance between taste, price, and quantity. In addition to the list below in my antiquated ranting, I've recently become a fan of the prosciutto stuffed chicken breast and the spicy arrabiata pizza. The chicken breast is tender and the prosciutto is generous. Small order totals two giant servings sitting in a pleasant pool of creamy pesto sauce. The arrabiata pizza is salty but very crisp and the crunch alone is enough to draw me back to another order. Taste is good but I could do with less sodium. Baked rigatoni pasta is good but if you get it to go, it will be dry and flavorless. The chopped Anitpasto salad has diced pepperoni, finocchiona salami, red onions, pepperoncini, provolone, cucumbers, feta and Gorgonzola, tossed with lettuce and a tasty vinaigrette on the side. The small order is enough for 4 people. Quite salty and fairly unhealthy but a damn good "salad" for someone who wants the lettuce but doesn't give a damn about the health aspect. Cheesecake dessert was firm and had good flavor, though I've had better at Costco. Served in a bed of raspberry puree and topped with roasted chestnuts, it's an interesting and curious dessert that I probably won't order again. Tiramisu is SOAKED IN ALCOHOL. If that's not your cup of cognac, stay away. Otherwise, it's wonderful! General point of advice would be to never get this food to go as it gets cold and soggy quite fast. Is it the best Italian out there? Of course not. Is it good enough for heavy touristy food? Definitely. Would I come back? Now I would.
(4)
Kressler N.
Sorry - just not a fan. My friend had a birthday dinner here & I thought it might be fun because I haven't eaten here in a long, long time. Although I really enjoyed the company, my food experience was not that great. The good? *Menu has gotten better. There's more variety from what I saw & they have small portions (2-3 people) and large portions you can order. I used to not like the fact that you had to get giant mixing bowl sizes of pasta to share. The not-so-good? *They had no butter for bread!?!? This seems like it's not a big deal but it is! They threw out some dry, cold bread on the table. We asked for butter and they said they ran out - WHAT? Can you please tell me how you run out of butter in a restaurant?? *Limited alcohol menu. There was about 7 drinks to order...I think 4-5 all had lemon flavoring of some kind. Ordered a plain margarita that tasted bad! *Had to ask for water 3-4 times before finally getting a glass. grr. *Red sauce pasta is bland to my taste buds but white/alfredo sauces are ridiculously drowning in garlic. I do like garlic but even I could not take all the garlic in our chicken carbonara pasta. To be fair, that evening I felt tired so maybe my appetite and stomach were not in the best condition for eating but I remember only taking a few bites of my food before I had to stop. Another weird thing was that after eating, I just felt utterly exhausted out of nowhere - it came out of nowhere, as it someone put nyquil in my drink. I don't know if I can blame the restaurant for that but it did force us to leave early (which may have been a good thing). I can see the appeal of this restaurant for large groups...you'll save money by sharing entrees and the decor of the place is amusing (although I have seen too many bare breasts on the wall). Oh Buca...I wanted to enjoy you but give me butter with my bread!
(2)
Tina-Marie L.
One of my good friends is in town for a Cookie Lee convention and we needed a spot that was close her hotel but wouldn't break the bank like a wonderful trip to Morton's would be. Voila! Buca di Beppo! It started off with a small dinner for 5. But those darn jewelry hawkers are always up to party and our group of 5 turned into like 14. And when you have a group of women, some having never been to a BDB, it can turn into a clusterf**k. Luckily, our waiter, Bradford, kept a smooth head and was very sweet when he had the question, "Can we get separate checks?" asked like 50 billion times. Did I mention we also had some $10 off coupons that we used? And my friend, a retiree who loves nothing more than to fight for her right to get her well deserved bargain was able to finagle a separate check for three of us and then use two coupons for our party since it was one coupon per table and we were, technically, seated at two tables. Fun times were had, food was pretty good, and the service was great!
(4)
Yolanda C.
So it was my friend's 21st birthday and we were staying in the Embassy Suites right across the parking lot so we decided to try out Buca and see how it was. My friend was so excited because it was her 21st birthday and we were all stoked on her FINALLY being able to order her first legal drink. We sit down and my friend starts talking to the server about how we spent the day at Disneyland and how it's her 21st birthday and about what drinks she can order. Finally she choses a drink and he CARDS her. We had been saying the entire night how it was her 21st birthday and he cards her and he did it in the most hostile and rude fashion. It wasn't a fun way of getting carded for your first time but he was extremely hostile and awkward. Then came the food. It was okay. I've definitely had better. And throughout the night the host never refilled our waters, he never came and asked if we needed anything and FINALLY when he did come, he just complained to us the entire time about how a huge party had just come in and he was tired and wanted to go home. I'm sorry, I understand that he may have had a stressful day but I do not want to get that type of service and neither did my friend on her 21st birthday. You never complain to customers no matter the circumstance. Anyways, we were about a party of 7 and we needed to split our checks (which yes, is annoying to a server but it is part of their job more or less). And when we asked him to split the check he went "oh my god I hate you guys" SERIOUSLY!? What kind of service is that. And then he proceeded to ask US to stack our plates so it would be easier for him and the bussers to grab it. He finally split our checks, he took a very long time and I wanted to try the cannoli hoping it'd be better than the actual dinner. He had to literally come back to the table probably 3 times or more to remember who ordered what and how many people ordered. It was embarrassing and so extremely awkward. And then as we were waiting for the cannoli, another server walked by with a huge thing of ice cream, and we all looked in awe at it. Then he said "you'll get one because it's your birthday" to my friend. Obviously she was excited because the thing cost about $12 and it was a bunch of ice cream. But we never got one. The man was just being extremely sardonic. I absolutely do not recommend going to this restaurant or at least THIS Buca. The service was absolutely terrible and ruined my friend's 21st birthday dinner.
(1)
Nicole R.
I definitely had a good experience at Buca di Beppo, my boyfriend and I went there for Valentine's Day and we enjoyed ourselves, lots of decorations and posters to look at to look at, a good atmosphere, SUPER friendly service... I can't wait to go there again! A hostess gave us a quick tour of the place and sat us down. We decided to order a small Calamari, and a small Supremo Italiano; the calamari was good, I wish I had ordered the larger size though. The pizza was pretty good as well, I think that it's cool that they serve the dish on top of a large tomato can. My boyfriend and I did have some trouble eating it though, I don't know if we were eating it wrong or something but all of the cheese and toppings kept falling off. In the end it all came down to about $40, including the tip. I was definitely satisfied but I could tell my boyfriend wasn't (haha he's a big eater). The only complaint that I have is that I wish the service was a little more attentive, we had to wait awhile in between the two dishes that we ordered -_-. I wasn't too bothered, we entertained each other by looking at what every one else was ordering, and I have to say that I can't wait to try some of them out. Some of the pizzas and look DELISH and some of the desserts look huge! I can't wait to try them out the next time that I go. :)
(4)
JT B.
Great dinner on Friday night! Busy night and servers were stretched thin but they pulled together as a team and did a great job! Lauren started our dinner off because Lizz our server was too busy. After taking out drink order Lauren turned the table back to Lizz! Delicious food and fun wine!
(5)
Jeff A.
Service through the door was excellent! however once seated it went down hill fast...... :( our waitress Tara went well out of her way to avoid the table as we watched 3 other tables get seated and served fresh bread drink and appetizers before we received our first drink- our appetizer came out cold (Calamari does not do well when its cold) at which time we had to ask for the bread ( no offer here ) and then we ordered our meal- Dinner came out hot and tasted great though! it took 20 extra minutes just to get the check so we could leave so i guess all in all Service was a one star appetizer was a one star and dinner was a five star... we believe it was because of our server since everyone else outside of her section was getting items in a timely manner .... also it doesn't hurt to smile (just saying).
(2)
Scott C.
Buca service used to be pretty good, but we went here hoping for better Service than Tustin or Huntington. Nope. Disorganized from the hostess through the check. Team service with no team interaction, and the primary server just completely disappeared after asking about dessert. Hello, check please?! Someone finally picked up the slack. Food was fine, with 1893 salad, calamari fritti and ravioli with meat sauce the standouts. The pasta with shimp was undersauced/underseasoned. Having really enjoyed BdB before the Orange County locations opened, our family was there at the opening of Huntington Beach and regular kitchen table occupants. It was cool to watch the traveling openers get the store going, with high-energy service and a great staff service culture. Sad to see the decline in service. So, we still love much of the food and when we have the kids stopping in from college we still go sometimes. I'm hoping that Huntington still has good service, but don't expect such at Anaheim/Garden Grove. Last thing. I love the idea of group photos. Yes they give you a free montage. Good. But then the inevitable pitch for the extras. Klunk. Choose between making something special and making a little more coin. How cool would it be for all the tourists and those celebrating if you gave a large pic per diner. End on a high note and reinforce an enjoyable experience. You can do better Buca.
(3)
Derek N.
Bucca has never disappointed me. I love the everything from atmosphere to service to food. Time always seems to fly by while i'm here. Try: Chicken Carbonara Moretti Beer
(4)
Nicole C.
I have been to a couple other Buca's before and I was never a big fan of their franchise. I never disliked it, but it just never stood out. Came here for lunch. I was craving for some Chicken Alfredo but for some reason, their Shrimp Fra Diavolo was just screaming my name everywhere. Boy was I surprised. The sauce was this creamy, and perfect blend of Alfredo and marinara sauce. The shrimp was delicious and the pasta was perfectly cooked. I like my pasta to be a little bit on the soft side. It wasn't soggy, but I'm definitely not a fan of hard, raw-tasting pasta. We also decided to order their Tiramisu for dessert. It was SO GOOD. It came in a bowl and one order was way too big for three big eaters. I liked it because it was light, it wasn't too sweet and it just melted right in my mouth. Do take advantage of their $10 off $20 coupons that they often send out. Just do some googling and I'm sure you will find plenty of them. If you use that coupon for just two people, it's definitely a good deal. In my case, we split that among the three of us. We each paid about $20 with tips and tax included. Bit pricey for lunch but still good.
(4)
Jack A.
The fiancee has been dying for Buca and I had Buca Bucks from my work, so we came back yet again. As always, great, great food. We usually get the same meal every time: Either Caesar or Apple Gorgonzola Salad, Baked Rigatoni, and then Tiramisu. We decided to change it up and skip the salad in favor of the Chicken Parmigiana. LOVED it. Everything we had was delicious. Our waitress Deidre left a little to be desired. As someone who works in the service industry (and who formerly worked at an Italian restaurant), I'm pretty forgiving of service, but there could have been a bit more care for us. While dropping off our second serving of bread, she was talking to another server and didn't even look at our table. We had to ask a different server for oil and vinegar, and we didn't get enough straws for all our drinks. She did redeem herself by suggesting the off-menu half-size tiramisu, which was excellent and perfectly portioned for a couple. As always, a good experience at a good restaurant. Will be back again and again.
(4)
Christine K.
After spending an ENTIRE day at the Disney parks walking for miles upon happiest-place-on-Earth miles we needed food, like a lot of it. This was a short drive away from the parks and our hotel and was still open at nearly 10 pm. It was clear that the wait staff wasn't excited to still have patrons but they put on their best fake faces and indulged us albeit slowly and kind of haphazardly. Best part about this meal was the table of whack-a-doodles next to us. We were never able to figure out whether it was some kind of NA meeting or maybe a bunch of folks from a halfway house but they were highly entertaining/disturbing.
(4)
Dale H.
The food is okay at the best. In terms of American Italian food, I've had much better for only a slightly higher price. Certainly, the only-satisfactory food doesn't warrant a 4-star rating (especially from a picky eater like me), however, it is the environment and atmosphere that absolutely enthralls me. The top-notch treatment given by the waiters and waitresses combined with the embellished walls and ceilings not only give the restaurant a true authentic feel, but makes eating at Buca di Beppo that much more enjoyable. I don't like chains. Repeated restaurants tend to lack quality or passion. However, Buca di Beppo manages to maintain the very essence of their Italian heritage. And as for the food? Who cares if it's "okay" if I'm having a blast every time I drop by with my friends! And honestly? What more could you ask for from a restaurant?
(4)
Nicole F.
My cousins and I went here tonight to celebrate our older cousin's birthday. We heard this location was better than the Brea location. They should have skipped the tour of the kitchen, it was pointless to us. At least we know the kitchen is clean though. It was disappointing that they don't offer a complimentary bread plate like most restaurants do. Having to pay $11 for a small basket of garlic bread is a bit extreme. The menu is really confusing. We appreciated that the waiter was very attentive but constantly rushing us to order was annoying. We came as a group of six and for the amount of food in each dish we were able to split each plate with 3 people at a time, which was nice. But the prices were kind of high for a dish of pasta. (My cousin was disappointed that she didn't get a small dessert for her birthday like most restaurants do. But at least they sang her a song. Seating was kind of weird. There were 6 of us but they gave us a table for 10 which looked silly. This place is nice to go to if you plan ahead and know the menu, that way you can save a few dollars. My cousins and I decided that if we were to ever go back we would come in small groups and order small dishes (maybe a group of 3 or 4 since each plate can feed about 3 to 4 people) . Update - May 20, 2011 The restaurant double charged me. Our bill was around $130 and they were only suppose to charge my card $30, they charged my card the $30 and then $130 on top of it. The waiter never said anything about it. I called the manager today to ask what happened, he told me to wait until Monday to see if the money will go back in my account and if not they will give us a credit. Really? Because of this I dropped a star.
(2)
Stella K.
for an affordable meal and nothing too fancy, i really enjoy buca di beppo. my all time favs are their margherita pizza and linguine frutti de mare pasta. both a perfect combo w. their mixed green salad and a glass of wine. their wine list needs improvement, a lot of improvement so i definitely recommend bringing your own bottle. the corkage fee is $15 which i think is a little steep for this restaurant. the sunday newspaper always has coupons so check it out before having a meal here and they do take reservations at opentable.com !
(4)
Jaye C.
I've always had a great experience with Buca, but this time around the occasion for coming here on the evening of Feb 20 was to celebrate 3 of my family members' birthdays simultaneously. I had booked a reservation at 715pm for 4 people through OpenTable.com and left a note specifically letting them know that we'll be celebrating three birthdays for this evening. Unfortunately this note didn't show up on their side when we arrived, but they still accommodated for it nonetheless. I'm guessing since it was President's Day weekend they were slammed but our waitress (this cute blonde girl named Ruby) showed no signs of being flustered from the pressure. Her service was great, kept our glasses filled, & periodically asked if we needed anything else. I was the only one who's been at any Buca di Beppo before, but upon learning that it was everyone else's first time, our waitress gave them a kiddie breakdown on what to expect. In terms of food portion, we're small Asian people and a large dinner portion would've covered a family of 10. Now imagine our surprise when we thought we could take on their servings. We only ordered four things and even then we couldn't finish it all. We ordered the fettucine alfredo & lasagna (both in large portion), margherita pizza (small), and calamari in large portion. Our total bill was about $90, and they were even kind enough to comp the birthday dessert, which took off -$15 from my bill, so I gave our waitress a generous amount of tip for making the dinner go smoothly. P.S. they'll take a picture of your group & process it for you with a frame and all for $5-$9
(4)
Matthew M.
Would give it zero stars if I could. Good company was the only highlight of this place. We got mediocre service from a waiter with as much personality as burnt toast. I've been to my fair share of Italian places, but this was the most disgusting Italian food I've ever had.
(1)
Ailene M.
Wow! What a great place for our reunion with our cousins and their friends from up North (about 30+ people...no we did not get our own room). I pity the people around us who had difficulty with the noise. We were the loud ones. They were big boys with big voices and the children's table was pretty good. They were really well behaved. The FOOD was yummy! We had everything you could think of, reds, whites, the pastas, the salads, there was even a veggie dish (with garlic) that I've never had before and that was the best! Anyone that can serve a large party on time and with a smile on their face definitely deserves 5-stars.
(5)
Mike P.
Their dishes are huge, so it's a family style restaurant. You need at least 4 people to enjoy otherwise you can't eat them all. Their service is superb, but their food is average and no option to get a small portion for dessert.
(3)
Trang L.
Came here the night before the disneyland half marathon looking for some carbs... bad idea. SUPER packed and we were there at 5pm for an early dinner. Hostess said it would be 35 minutes. 35 minutes became about little over an hour if not more.. I lost time. It was our fault really for choosing to go there before the half marathon.. PLUS Labor day weekend. Oh well... Aside from that.. ..The hostesses were trying their best which I appreciated, but the manager was a bit over the top.. especially when my friend politely asked how many people were in front of us.. she had a bit of a tude. Anywho, we got seated, our server was very nice and our food came out at a timely manner. Food was good. Overall A-ok.
(3)
Kelley W.
The food here was pretty good. Enjoyed the family-style eating and shared some yummy pasta with chicken and artichoke hearts (sorry, but I can't remember the name.) The anti-pasta salad was off-the-hook! and the garlic bread wasn't half-bad either. I'm rating for the food at 3 stars, but the service gets 4 stars! Our server was amazing! She was funny, very entertaining and attentive. Another thing I really, really liked was the reservation option through Yelp! It was super easy to use, convenient and a feature I would use again and again.
(3)
Ricardo C.
I think this place is a bit overpriced, and overhyped. The food doesn't have a freshly made feel, and the spaghetti with meatballs simply taste liked canned chef boyardi spaghettis. The pizza however is very good, probably the only thing on the menu, and worth the long wait for. Put simply, a chain restaurant, with a chain feel.
(3)
Michael B.
Boy do I love this place. Definitely the best affordable Italian food I've had. They have TONS of dishes that are mouth watering, I don't think I've had anything yet that I would say I wasn't all that satisfied with. If your a spaggetti and meatball fan, you will love their meatballs, these things are HUGE (we're talking baseball sized meatballs here!) but that's not it, you know how a lot of places with huge meatballs also have a problem with flavor? Not these ones, they are huge, but have the quality and taste of a standard sized perfect meatball. Love pasta? You'll be in heaven here. I highly recommend the Baked Rigatoni, it's phenomenal! Of course you can't go wrong with others as I've had pretty much all of them and love them all. Like pizza? Try their classic Pepparoni, it's GREAT. so thin that you have to use your whole hand to handle one small square, but has just enough crisp to it. It's definitely the best thin-crust pizza's I've had. Chicken Parmigiana, I LOVE this stuff! Portions. They come in Buca Small and Buca large, if your feeding 2, get the small, trust me. Their "Small" consists of 1 pound of pasta (if your getting pasta). Generally, they say their "small" portions perfectly feed 2 and their "Large" will perfectly feed 4. In short translation, go try it.
(5)
Yolanda T.
The food is Good, Biggest Meat Balls i ever seen.
(3)
Coco R.
This food is not special in any way shape or form. I tried it for the 2nd time and still did not see it special. Lemon Chicken....it was bland and slightly "okay"
(2)
Jane S.
I would not recommend this place to anyone. This was the first time my family and I dined at a Buca. It was a horrible experience. First the wait was long for a table. We arrived at around 9:00 pm, which is not even a busy time. We waited 15-20 minutes for our table. Once we sat down the dinning room was not even full, lots of empty tables. We got our appetizer and the waiter was in the process of giving each of us plates. These plates were sitting at our table when we arrived. When the waiter got to the third plate it was dirty. Not just one plate but two of them. The plates had salad and dressing on them. So that was a complete disappointment. I knew that they did not change the plates they must of left the plates that the previous customers had eaten on.The part that disgusts me the most is that my children used the top plates to eat their appetizer on. Next my son's dinner arrives and he orders the spaghetti and meatballs. When his food arrives there is no meatball. The server said that they do not have any meatballs. I thought that Bucca's signature dish is their spaghetti and meatballs? Why did they not inform us that my son's food was out? We get the manager on duty, and let her know that we do not want the dish anymore because the reason we ordered it was for the meatball. She apologizes and says that she will go find us a meatball. But the server said they were completely out. She comes back and has one messed up meatball on a plate and said whe was able to find one. I found this extremely weird, her server said there is none but she finds one. The service was horrible, I asked the manager if she can get a refill for my daughters drink she forgets. I wait 10 minutes and I am tired of waiting. So I had to ask my server to get it. I would not recommend this place to anyone. The service is horrible and the food is a disappointment. After all the craziness that happened we still had to pay for our dinner minus the appetizer. Dirty plates on our table is not acceptable, the food is not that great and worth the price that they charge, and the service is not great either. Do not eat here, this is the worst dinning experience I have ever had. I would give this place a 1/2 star if I could.
(1)
Mark C.
Just Ok. Not thrill about the flavor of the food but if your starving...it will do...
(3)
Kell N.
Came here on a date night and the service was okay. I love the decor of all the Buca locations. It's cool to look at and at the same time it's cozy. I had the ravioli in meat sauce and my boyfriend had the spicy chicken penne. Both were the "Buca smalls" which are still not small, and very good. We had the cheesy bread florentine for an appetizer (which is an entire loaf of bread, holy crap) and a chopped antipasto salad. My boyfriend doesn't even like pepperoncinis but he liked them in this salad! It was just the two of us and we finished most of the food. I felt horrible afterward because I was so full, but it was worth it. Money wasn't holding us back so we definitely splurged. Gave three stars because of how expensive it is.
(3)
TT T.
I have to admit, I kind of like this place, even though it is a chain and they serve to the masses. I like the Shrimp Fra Diavalo or anything with that spicy rosa sauce. It's delicious and totally non-italian-authentic, but nevertheless, I enjoy. If you are looking for a little bit of Italy, this would not be the place. However, if you are looking for wannabe Italian food, owned by White people, and food cooked by Mexicans, you've got a winner in Buca Di Beppo.
(4)
Deirdre M.
I wish I could give this place NO STARS!!! Worst food I've ever eaten! The spaghetti I got was flavorless and the noodles chalky my daugter got the children's Alfredo and it tasted like they just thickened cream or milk no flavor what so ever! The prices were overpriced for the quality of the food, never again! Lesson learned will never eat at a Buca di Beppo again!
(1)
Marty F.
I've always had a not so great experience with the Buca's I've been to in Arizona. My cousin once worked there and told me "please let me order for you guys." He was right.. you had to get certain items that would make the time enjoyable. That was just once. Another time I sent the place smelled like a bathroom and the Parmesan smelled like bleach. Nasty. Well this time it was a pleasant one. My girlfriend and my friends and me all went down after we checked into our hotel. The server was awesome and was pretty prompt on getting us our drinks and bread. Damn that bread is tasty. Because their portions can be massive, we all split their ... totally forgot then name, but it had chicken, bruccitio, artichoke arts, ... delicious. Also try their ceaser salads. yum. Good experience and with four people, the bill was about $57. not too shabby!
(4)
Nelson P.
I love the food here and the service once was great and now has become mediocre. There was this Latino server in his 40's and he was argoant as hell. Honestly I like the younger servers. Another tip for the wise Fridays and Saturday's are crowded, if you enjoy the craziness those are the days to go. If you want a more low key visit go during the week.
(3)
Lynn L.
Definitely a A+++ for the service. We were a party of 9 and I had to change the number of guest at the very last minute and despite how busy they were, they accommodate us without missing a beat. Our waiter, Michael (?) was awesome and made great recommendations, which everyone enjoyed. We had a 3-yr old who has nut allergies and the manager came over to ensure that we had the right order for his dessert. The family had a wonderful time and Buca took very good care of us. Loved the Apple Gorgonzola Salad and the Chicken Parmigiana!
(4)
L B.
I went to the location on harbor by Disneyland around 7pm on a tuesday with my husband. We got our pager and was told 20-30 minutes. We got seated at exactly 25 minutes, we timed it, because had read that it usually is 30-45 min more then promised. After getting seated in a corner we realized we were next to a rather large birthday party. Despite the fact that their party kept getting bigger and bigger, our waiter had acknowledged us right away and was happy to get our drinks. The bread came to us within 5 minutes of us being seated. He saw we had a coupon and told us he needed to have the manager enter it in the system. I thought that was weird but sure enough the manager came over and introduced himself. He went off with the coupon. Next our food came out. We waited for about 20 minutes which wasn't bad. We ordered the lasagna and chicken Parmesan. The chicken was tender and seemed to have been freshly cooked. The lasagna came out on a burning hot plate and yet when I cut it in half the food was lukewarm in the middle. I noticed the cheese had no brown on it. So basically it was frozen or something, taken out, had cheese sprinkled on it and microwaved. But the chicken was so good I let it slide. Next thing i know the manager comes back. He sincerely asked how everything was. He looked nervous for some reason! i told him the chicken was great but the lasagna was cold in the middle. He apologized, looked concerned and said he would talk to the chef about it. Not sure if he ever did, but was glad he at least was interested in out experience. Our server was so attentive. He filled our drinks promptly, checked on us appropriately and was very friendly. Despite the fact that the table next to us was rowdy and kept adding more people to their party so that it became difficult for the server to even get to us because their chairs were in the way, he still made us feel important and we had a nice time. After experiencing horrible service at the Brea location 3 times in a row, we were really glad we came to this location instead. Yes the decor is hideous and the place is SO loud, to the point that my husband was shouting at me half the time, we still had a good time.
(4)
Will H.
Was lured for my first visit to Buca in Garden Grove by their $10 coupon in the Sunday L.A. Times. Food was O.k., decor very tacky at best, and who wants to wander through a kitchen to get to the dining room? Nice server failed to warn us about the gigantic portions that are made to serve 2 people. BUT, the BIG RIP-OFF was the cheesy garlic bread which was offered to us by the server before we ordered. We THOUGHT it was a nice comp, as many Italian restaurants offer, but when I got the bill, I saw a charge for $12 on it for that very same bread. WHAT THE HELL? $12 for a few pieces that at most cost them 50 cents to make. I mentioned it to BOTH the server and manager, and was told "Yeah, people complain about that all the time.: WHAT? IF people complain and you know that it is the BIGGEST GOUGE AT ANY RESTAURANT I HAVE EVER EATEN AT, then why in the world don't you just drop the price to a reasonable $2.95 and you would never hear another word about it, and you would avoid that nasty end-of-the-meal sticker shock. I guess that $10 of the $12 goes to pay for their coupon, and the other $2 is the legit cost of the bread. Just because of this rip-off, I will NOT ever be taking my friends to ANY Buca in the future, and will give my businsess instead to Olive Garden or a local Mom & Pop place.
(3)
Valerie H.
The first time I went to Buca w/ my bf, we were seated and the waitress explained how the menu worked. We ordered the apple gorgonzola salad and the Fettuccine Supremo (name?) and drinks. We ended up with MUCH too much food. The leftovers of the pasta alone were enough for both of us to have for dinner. We left the salad and took the bread. The bread is fresh and hot and just crusty enough on the outside and soft on the inside. The salad was awesome, the pasta was flavorful and filling. The second time, we came for dinner. We ordered a Caesar salad and a forgettable pasta that they didn't remove the peas from like we asked (we both aren't fans of peas in pasta). The salad was really good and we ate around the peas. The pasta was good but not great. I won't order it again. After dinner I had coffee (the bf doesn't drink coffee and I still can't accept it, he is a tea man) and tiramisu. The Tiramisu was spectacular. It came in a HUGE bowl and I would guess it was made to serve 4-6 people. We didn't know. We each had a small serving and saved the rest for my dad. The lady fingers were drenched in dark rum and the top was coated in unsweetened cocoa. I am the biggest fan of dark chocolate, to the point where unsweetened cocoa makes my heart melt! To top it off, there was a crumbled dark chocolate biscotti that I spooned up and dipped in my strong italian black coffee and ate. It was divine! We will certainly be back for more...
(4)
Sam S.
O.k. Italian food. In your face Italian culture. Statue of David naked table side, in fact there's more crank hanging off the walls than I'd like to see EVER....not too appetizing but oh well. Buca will do in a "pinch."
(3)
Nhi Thao N.
I went to this Buca di Beppo last night with my boyfriend, his parents, and his grandma for his family's belated birthday dinner for him. The place was super packed for a Tuesday night! I wonder if this Buca di Beppo is busier than others because it's close to Disneyland. Good thing we had a reservation! We ordered the large Apple Gorgonzola Salad, large Linguine Frutti Di Mare pasta, and a small Baked Ziti. The food was delicious, and the service was pretty good. We got two pictures taken as part of the postcard promotion, and I bought one since it turned out really nice. The staff sung Happy Birthday to my boyfriend, although we were bummed that they don't give a complimentary slice of cake there. He did get to blow out their chandelier of candles, though :) All in all, a very good visit to Buca!
(4)
Jackie V.
Buca di Beppo became my favorite Italian restaurant the first time I ate there. I love the decor of the place, it feels so home-y and comfortable. There are different rooms with different themes. I ALWAYS order the fetuccini alfredo with two orders of shrimp. Their shrimp is heavenly and juicy, and the fettucini is flavored to perfection. It's a blend of creamy cheese and savory pasta and it's just amazing! Their house bread and vinegrette and olive oil starts out your meal perfectly. I also really enjoyed the spicy chicken rigatoni. Simply delicious. I was not a fan of the apple gorgonzola salad, however. The flavors just didn't mix for me, we ended up not eating a bunch of it. Beware: the portions here are FAMILY style so be prepared to share! These are not meant to be eaten alone, because you will not finish! Also, just to let you guys know, the buca large is REALLY large.
(5)
Emmy L.
Pretty good food here and impressive service. First off, we had 16 people and we had made reservations. We still had to wait, but we waited because they were setting our table with glasses and so and so. We didn't mind much but we were already late and they didn't have our table set up yet. Service is super friendly. The hostess takes you through a small tour through the kitchen and greets you with a warm, friendly attitude. Our server was quite nice too and starts a little conversation with us and was funny and friendly. Absolutely loved the server, very attentive and never forgot who ordered what. Busboys were friendly too. Also, they sing a very cheerful song if it's your birthday, not the standard Happy Birthday to you. It involves lots of clapping! Fun! The decor here is quite charming, but a little overwhelming. It is really cramped and has extremely low ceilings, not to mention very little space to walk through. The hanging lamps here are adorable and really add to the charm of this restaurant. But, there are a bunch of pictures covering red walls and they covered their tables with red checkered plastic. I don't get what's Italian about the decor. I didn't feel like this was an Italian restaurant and I did not understand the concept. But they have a bunch of cool, funny things to read in the women's restroom. Made me laugh! I've noticed the food isn't the best Italian food in Anaheim or anywhere per se, but it's quite delicious! I do not remember everything our group ordered, but I remember the salmon with pesto sauce and that was delicious. Our group complimented the apple-gorgonzola salad quite a lot. We also had fried calamari which was actually pretty good! We also ordered shrimp florentine, and a clam linguine. Kind of bland, but with their sea salt, delicious! Cheesy garlic bread was alright, could do better. I had better garlic bread at an Indian restaurant. No taste of garlic, tasted like regular bread with cheese. Overall, I would give the service 5 stars, food 4 stars, decor 3 stars. The food is very American, not so much Italian but still delicious. Pricey though.
(4)
Tiffany L.
I love their pizza!
(4)
Jim F.
My girlfriend and I went to Buca di Beppo for a NYE dinner. I've been to the one at Universal CityWalk, so I knew what to expect as far as atmosphere and portion size were concerned. We waited in the bar area until our table was available. The bartender was polite and wished us a Happy New Year. The hostess called us within the estimated time period and escorted us to our table. Our server arrived and it was apparent that she didn't want to be working on NYE. She brought a round of waters although my Corona bottle, from the bar, sat empty for the entire meal without an offer for another...I was on the fence about whether to keep drinking there anyway, so it wasn't a big deal. The food arrived within a reasonable time and both of the entrees were enjoyable. We finished our meal but had to wave down our server since she paid very little attention to our needs. Literally ten minutes later, she arrived with the bill. Eager to progress with our NYE plans, the waitress leisurely returned with my credit card and gave us a weak "thank you". I returned the sentiment by giving her a weak tip. I don't expect cartwheels and a goodbye kiss but especially during the holidays, a little bit of warmth and attention makes a huge difference in gratuity. I love family-style Italian restaurants so it's disappointing that both of my servers at two separate Buca di Beppos were lacking.
(3)
eric k.
Ordered To-Go here.... Knocks are for the menu and the pricing..... So what would you expect a "typical italian meal" to be? maybe some salad, spaghetti, some bread, and maybe a dessert? ok.. I didn't get that far. So... if I were to order a "side" of spaghetti with marinara, and a meatball, and nothing else... I would be out about $12. I didn't even get to the salad, the MAIN COURSE, or dessert. what's up with that? the quality is good.. .but places like this also embody why the US is so friggin fat... no portion control... and no good pricing either. If you didnt' know the portions at this place, you'd probably end up ordering like $50/person and have enough to live off of for a week.
(3)
Ralphy J.
I have been to Buca di Beppo's all over the state and it is always incredible. The restraunt decor is interesting and the service is almost always impeccable. The menu is tops, and that says a lot considering I grew up on Italian food. Really everthing I have had is great... Family style service is cool, sharing encourages interaction and discussion on the meal etc..
(5)
Carina C.
Went for my B-day a few years back I LOVE THE PIZZA!!! the best in my world so far! I actually go back and just order the pizza to go! and they have WATERMELON SODA!! Not as much of a fan for the pasta or for the bulk table servings but the place is really cool the servers are nice and I would defiantly recommend this place!! :)
(4)
Dawn H.
Love hate relationship with this place. The service can sometimes be under par but the food is excellent! ! I always gain weight after eating here! !
(4)
Lance H.
Coming to Buca di Beppo is like gum on your shoe. It is annoying, sometimes it comes off easy others time you just throw your shoes away. This Buca di Beppo is close to the convention center so a lot of conventioneers will be here. The interior tries too hard to be unique and funky Italian. It pretty much fails. Terrible space arrangement for waiting. A lot of people like to come here but the reception is tiny. Pretty dumb. The staff was pretty friendly and decent. Plus there. The food was hit and miss. Pizza was good, lasagna stunk, cheese bread terrible. Rather eat the Olive Garden than most of this crap. Price: Luckily, I was there for a private party and did not pay since anything was overpriced. Overall, I pretty much hate this place now. Had one good experience at Buca in San Francisco. The rest have been crap. If you want chain Italian food and do not care about quality go to Olive Garden instead. Suck it.
(2)
Carlos M.
We decided to go here for lunch since it was down the street from our hotel. When we arrived they walked us through there kitchen which was awesome and different. Waiter was nice and I order the lasange and my wife order some kind of chicken and butter sauce pasta. The lasange didn't have to much favor and the whole time i thought i had better at home. my wife plate was better but not the best. than when we ordered dessert it was expensive 11-14 bucks for one plate but decided to get it thinking it had to be good and it wasnt. Very dissappoint with this franchise and will not go back anything time soon in disneyland or in san diego.
(2)
Jason L.
This is a really good value for families and groups. Basically, this is a family style (huge platters to share) Italian-American pasta restaurant. It's not authentic Italian, but Italian-American. There are variations on spaghetti (Marinara, Meat Sauce, Meatballs), lasagne, fettuccine, rigatoni and penne. The seafood platters and chicken and veal options, plus huge thin crust pizzas (Napoli-style). You're not going to suddenly think Mario Batali cooked your meal, but all the red and white check tablecloth Italian-American comfort foods are there, in absolutely gigantic portions for sharing (individual servings are available during lunch). The food is hot and tasty if not haute cuisine. For families and groups out on a budget, this can't be beat: Familiar foods, big portions, friendly service, cheerful atmosphere. The negatives, such as they were, were that it does take a while for the food to turn up if no appetizers are ordered (mind you, that much pasta takes a while to cook) and the AC is set to meat locker, so you're freezing if you sit under an AC duct.
(4)
Michael R.
Worst Veal Parmagiana that wasn't from the frozen aisle at Safeway- tasteless meat with no cheese that was at least not tough. The food is very inconsistent, with some good and other items just bad. Big portions of bad food- won't be back.
(1)
C L.
We catered from BdB on New Years eve and were really disappointed with the service. First, I called at 2:00 for a 6:00 pickup. I promptly arrived at 6:00 and was told it was going to be 5-7 minutes longer. After 20 minutes and going in a couple of times from my car, the food finally arrived. When we got home, we were shocked at how little food we received fro $100+, particularly the Buca Trio Platter that cost $26 and came with 2 cheese sticks, a few mushrooms and a small handful of calimari. I called to speak to the manager that night, he was busy. Was supposed to receive a call or potentially something in the mail, neither ever happened. Really disappointing, as I'd had good experiences at other BdD in the past. Will never cater from them again though.
(1)
Brian C.
Bring your friends. Everything is family style. Hit the gym when you are done.
(3)
Bill V.
Buca di Beppo has been one of my favorite Italian food Restaurants sinse the first time I have dined there. Giant servings. Very good pricing. Very busy and lots to look at while you dine. I'm not sure if its authentic or not? All I can say is the food is very tasty! Every thing I have tried was delicious! My favorite is Spaghetti with Meat Sauce and giant meat balls! And the Pizza is so good! Very consistent food and very friendly and fast service. I love everything about Buca di Beppos. Every one of the locations I have tried was great! Very good for families! Great experience and full bar! They will give you a tour of the Restaurant and they even have a dining table in the kitchen where you can see the staff in action. Highly recommend Buca! And they have takeout!
I had such a great experience dinning at bucca di beppo! We were in the poster room and our servers name was cameron! He had an awesome personality and he took the time to help us pick the right food items on the menu that would be good wine and it was excellent! We will definitely be returning again! Keep up the great work!
(5)
Dana W.
We've done take out here for large groups several times. They are very accommodating, and the food has always been ready on-time. Alex, the manager, was a pleasure to work with and very helpful with the ordering process; making suggestions, pricing etc., and on the day of pick-up, he was able to adjust our pick up time so the food was fresh out of the oven an ready to go. Buca is always a favorite with the team
(4)
Natalie B.
The worst food I've ever had! I seriously wanted to make myself throw up afterwards just to get the taste out of my mouth. The bruschetta was just a bowl of diced tomatoes and some mozz. The waiter was very nice and patient, but I will never eat there again! If I could rate 0 stars I would! YUCK!
(1)
Katy Y.
We came here around 4:30 on a Monday afternoon to celebrate my mother's birthday. We came from Disneyland and we were starving! Restaurant was sort of dead at the time and surprisingly it took us awhile to finally get seated as the hostess was missing. I'm not going to repeat what everyone else has mentioned but i will say that our waiter offered good service. Food was amazing. Family style so we shared everything. That white sauce garlic pizza was delicious! I always say that i want to ear their desserts but i am always too full! Since it was my mother's birthday, they brought out huge candles and sang to her which was nice and embarrassing. Overall, a pleasant experience and will return!
(4)
Howie G.
I have to say I'm surprised at how much I enjoyed the food here. As I have said that chain type restaurants are most often somewhat dull. This was not the case here. Chicken Marsala was different from what I'm used to but really great. I'm looking forward to another visit.
(4)
April P.
This place is great for large parties since their dishes are family style. I came here with a large group, and we ordered the chicken parmesan dish, spaghetti, and a pesto chicken pasta dish. They were all pretty good. We also received chocolate chip cookies for dessert. The cookies were inedible!!!! They were so HARD I couldn't eat it. Bleh...
(3)
Curt E.
The perfect place to celebrate with a group! All the dishes are served up family style, and sharing is a must... Don't forget the desert, it is amazing.
(5)
Rachel B.
Edward is the BEST server of all time. He was so kind and quick with his service. Tonight was family night so it was awesome being able to have fun and joke around. I came here for a friends birthday party this past summer and LOVED how big the food portions were. So, obviously I had to take my family here! We had a party of seven and Edward handled our large, energetic, crazy, loud group with grace. We will surely come back because of his service. Thanks for having us Buca do Beppos! P.S. I also want to give props to the photographer guy! I didn't catch his name, but he was very friendly and we are super happy with the prints we bought!
(5)
Dana Z.
I mean, every Buca is kind of the same. But I just wanna give them props for handling the craziness of Disneyland race weekend. There was a huge long wait, and they handed out slices of their pizza. Good job Buca.
(3)
Melissa S.
Had a wonderful dinner!! Can't wait to go back!! Kids enjoyed it too!! Only thing negative is it's pricey, but worth it.
(4)
Michelle T.
I was not happy with the service here. My boyfriend and I were here for a banquet which included unlimited pastas and salads. Once we finished our two pasta bowls, we requested for more and our waiter gave us the pastas from the previous tables. This is utterly disgusting and I never want to come back here again.
(2)
Christina M.
What a disappointment, I brought my husband here for his birthday because this is one of his favorite restaurants. We usually go to the Brea location and have always had a great experience. I really regret coming to the Anaheim location. Our server Linda needs to learn some better customer service skills. I almost never complain to a manager but I was so upset I started crying when I went to complain about the service. This is a special day, I wanted the best for my husband. We felt rushed, our server was not friendly, gave a fake smile, was somewhat rude and impatient. I have had better service at McDonalds. The food is awesome, but today I left with a sour taste in my mouth. When they came to sing the birthday song they sang it soo fast I couldn't understand a word they said except for meatballs. As soon as they were done singing they all ran away including our server before my husband could blow out the candle and no one wished him a happy birthday or said make a wish. They didn't even give me an option to chose a dessert, it was just a big red candle on a huge candlestick. I never felt so disgusted and sick to my stomach at how careless and abrupt the servers appeared. I would have preferred they never came to our table. Even the bus boy was rude, he offered to box up our food and then changed his mind and just brought us the boxes. I am one to make sure to take care of my servers and always tip 20% or more, I'm sorry but I gave a $0 for tip, I would have given a little more, but she charged us for wine that was spilled all over table and never even bothered to give us a refill for the spilled drink. Yes it was our fault it spilled, but for $17 a glass you would think she could take care of it and make sure we were taken care of. We can afford to splurge, go out to eat a nice dinner and take care of our servers, my family is well mannered and we go out of our way to be friendly and courteous to our servers, but when we get low grade customer service don't expect to get a tip from us.
(1)
David L.
Needed a place to carbo-load prior to a Disney race. Was the perfect spot. Close to all the are hotels without being right next to the park. Had reservations on a busy Friday, they sat us about 5 minutes after the reservation time, which I consider very great given my experiences at other sit-down chain restaurants.
(4)
Yolanda P.
Came here on a Sat with my fiance and 1 year old baby girl. This location is near Disneyland so we expected for it to be pretty packed. It was! 1 hour wait to be seated. Our waiter was somewhat friendly (at first) but he never offered us any bread. He also never asked us if we wanted a refill on our water or cofee. What bothered us the most about these things was that as other folks were being seated around us, they were assisted with these /offered these very common items by other waiters and even our own. I had to ask for cream and sugar for my coffe, ask for bread and when it was brought to us we didn't get butter, or oil &vinegar. I know I am probably sounding nit picky, the thing is that I have been to Buca many times before and this is standard! Finally after not seeing our waitor for a while we caught him and asked for help with boxing up our left overs, so he brought us the boxes and a plastic bag and walked away. Pretty rude and careless.... other waiters were boxing up customers food. Not left with a good feeling. The food was good, but service is absolutely what brings us back... we will return but not to this location.
(2)
Margo D.
Today is Easter and a lot of places can be really busy and difficult to deal with in making reservations for a large group but not here. We had a change in our original reservation size, but that was no problem, they accommodated our additional guests and were attentive to our needs the entire meal. They unfortunately couldn't seat us all at one table and were split up in two but it was ok it worked out. We had two waiters, Jamal and Fernando, they were both awesome! If we needed anything they were there, Fernando even tried to get my nephews attention so he would smile for a picture. We went with a banquet meal and already pre-ordered two salads, pasta and appetizers. The salads we ordered were the garden and apple Gorgonzola, I wasnt too sure how everyone would fare with the apple salad but it was actually a hit and had great flavor. The pastas we ordered were spaghetti with meat sauce and pasta san remo, both were delicous and recommended. At the end of the meal we had cupcakes we brought in for dessert and they were nice enough to plate and hand them out for us. All in all they treated us great and usually wehn you go to a restaurant with a large group the tip is already included so the service usually lacks but not here. Thanks Bucca for making today a hit!
(5)
ßenjämin Ä.
Sure its a chain spot so don't expect "Authentic" but overall the food is pretty good here. The crap all over the walls is supposed to give you the old world feeling of Italy but if thats what old Italy feels like why the hell you would want to relive that? In reality its just a dog and pony show for the kids and those that don't get out much. The food is always the same, so no need to review the quality. My only complaint is the the shetty service. As most places here its staffed with you not so rich OC kids that dont really want to be there. Drinks never get refilled, and when we got served our food some random bus boy saw we had no plates and he brought us some plates. Thats about it , rather go here than the Olive Garden.
(3)
James P.
Food was great! And service was wonderful! Have a very nice birthday celebrating for my brothers 24th!
(5)
Alfredo M.
Couldn't tell you how the food is. For the 2nd time in a row we came in and was told 20-30 minutes. After waiting 75 minutes we have up. We asked why they never called us, and they said they were too busy. I asked for a manager, was put on hold for five minutes and just gave up. Forever. My family of 7 and six figure income will never ever ever spend a dime with this restaurant company. Ever!!!!
(1)
Mark B.
I had my daughter and her family in town and thought this would be a nice place to treat them to dinner. We found the place extremely crowded and had a long wait for a table. This wouldn't normally be a bad thing if the staff was friendly. Just a tip .... A smile and a friendly sympathetic comment would go a long way. We also found the food to be rather bland.
(2)
J S.
Buca di Beppo, another Olive Garden-wannabe: SERVING DISCOMFORT AND INDIGESTION - FOR YOUR DINING DISPLEASURE BRING YOUR OWN EARPLUGS, BARF BAG AND POT TO PEE IN! WORST ATMOSPHERE EVER! I really wish yelp would allow 0 star reviews. 1 star is just too many to give to this restaurant. I'll warn you, now, though, you won't be reading a review of the food here, because the atmosphere was such that I refused to order anything for fear that I would have indigestion all night long (too bad I did, anyway). I had the misfortune of having to attend a family gathering at this obnoxious family-style restaurant. I should disclose, at this point, that I really despise family-style restaurants (Olive Garden, included). This one is made all the more worse, as it is located near Disneyland, so you can imagine the element that this establishment attracts. As soon as I entered the dining area where my family was seated, my head began reeling from the din and commotion. I was in the room barely two minutes before I had to turn around and exit, as I was already developing a migraine from the noise and lack of ventilation in the room. To top it off, I couldn't even reach my seat, since people were packed in like sardines. Seriously, people were sitting, literally (and, trust me, I do not misuse the word "literally") back-to-back. My sister's back was barely an inch away from the back of the person at the neighboring table. And, I kid you not, I could not get to my seat, because there was no open pathway to it. Once I determined to brave the cacophony and, after precision navigation, managed to gain my seat, I was considering creating a makeshift catheter with straws and a glass, so I could pee without having to leave the table, since any attempt to navigate my way out of the dining room, and through the narrow corridor to the restroom, would have certainly resulted in an embarrassing "accident". It's hard to believe that any fire marshal with integrity (an image of Fire Marshal Bill Burns instantly comes to mind) would sign off on this restaurant's floor plan. If there was a fire, or an earthquake, the dining room would become a tomb and everyone in it would quickly perish from a stampede, if not from the disaster itself. And good luck to anyone who has IBS, PMS, diarrhea or a weak bladder. Oh, and let's not forget that absolutely irritating birthday song . . . and the wait staff that sings it. I would have run screaming from the room, had I thought I could actually get out of there before the song was finished. The entire dining experience and circus-style atmosphere is detrimental to one's digestion and general well-being. Hell, I got indigestion and I didn't even eat anything! CONSIDER YOURSELVES WARNED!
(1)
Faith D.
Let me start this by saying I seldom go to chain restaurants. Having said that, there are mostly chain restaurants in this particular area (convention center). After traveling half a day to get here, my husband and I were looking for somewhere to fill our bellies. I've been to Bucca di beppo before in AZ and remembered good things about it. Had a staple lunch of spaghetti marinara and a side salad. It was good. The bread was fresh. What makes this a 4 star, not 3 is the service. I guess being in "the friendly city" really does make a difference. Our server was great! Friendly, attentive and he secured this place 4 stars.
(4)
Carol W.
Kudos to our server, Erica. She was professional, very friendly, and efficient. She helped to make an initial unpleasant situation end well. Customer service on the part of the restaurant's manager and hostess, however, was a different story. Realizing we would have a wait ahead of us without reservations, we were willing to wait the hour to hour and a half we were quoted upon our arrival to the restaurant (7 in our party). As we waited outside IN THE COLD, we watched smaller party after smaller party - also without reservations - be seated ahead of us. When questioning the hostess, we were told that they were seating smaller parties first and were waiting for a party of 30 to clear before seating us. WTH? We finally split ourselves into two groups and asked to be seated in two adjoining booths after waiting an hour and forty-five minutes. Who knows how much longer we would have had to wait if we hadn't done this. Once seated, I asked to speak with the manager who came off arrogant and full of excuses. He had no clue what was actually happening at his front desk, appeared to not care, and "blew me off" when I merely tried to offer a suggestion for the future. Not the way to do business.
(2)
Harley F.
I wrote a letter to the CEO of Buca di Beppo expressing my displeasure. I got a call from the Senior Divisional Vice President...right away,. She said they had a meeting of the top executives about my concerns and have changed their policy at all their restaurants so this won't happen again. Ah the power of the pen! It pays to speak up. They have invited me to give the restaurant another try which I will and I'll revisit the number of stars I give the place after that dinner.
(1)
Alex L.
I like Buca Di Beppo. I've been to the locations at Universal City and Redondo Beach - Both good times. My family went (four of us) to this location on our way to Morongo for my sister's 18th birthday. We wanted to go to a fun spot to celebrate, this was a mistake. Minus one star because the restaurant was EMPTY but we were still seated in this tiny booth near some very noisy children. The booth was right next to the cash register, so there were waiters running cards and standing there and talking the entire time right next to our table. Minus another star because out waiter was a complete asshole. He was rude and sarcastic, and not in the "funny" way. Not even in the slightest. I drew a picture of him (In cat form, since I don't know how to draw people) drinking poison on the back of my menu. I hate him. Minus one star because there was some guy taking pictures of our "dining experience" and trying to sell us prints of these pictures. Shit dude, we're just trying to have a meal... Stop trying to sell us pictures of us that we didn't ask for. I actually had to get up from the table to get some air outside. the whole meal was anxiety inducing and I will NEVER go back to this location.
(2)
Miss Cindy P.
Delicious food! Great, fun and family friendly atmosphere. My boyfriend and I ended up getting the Aphrodite booth and loved all the decor on the wall. Oh la la....So romantic! The staff was very prompt and friendly. We shared one big family style bowl of spaghetti and meal balls and a serving of garlic bread. We even tried the sassy Italian soda. It was a nice treat! Be prepared to take PHOTOS! Yes, they have a photographer that goes around taking a photo of your group. They give you a free souvenir postcard of your images and then print out larger 5 x 7's for you to buy for an additional $15 or two for $20. I usually don't go for those kinds of things but we were on vacation and everything was so delightful.....Why not take some memories to treasure? Who really prints out their photos anymore. What a great way to end our vacation. Enjoy your dinner! Mama mia!
(5)
Melissa R.
The highlights of this review: outstanding service, cool atmosphere, good food, large portions, and somewhat difficult parking. Came in for dinner with a reservation for 2 at 6:45PM on 2/6/15. Although I can see what other reviewers mean about limited parking, we found a spot easily (maybe because this is the off season?). We were seated within 2 minutes of checking in and got a tour of the whole restaurant (including kitchen). As others have said, and as your server will no doubt inform you, portions are family style. Even the small is good for two people with fair appetites. When in doubt, ask the server the size of each dish, they seem very happy to help. The food: we ordered a large calamari, a small Caesar salad, and small pizza Bianca, and the Mount Vesuvius (lava cake with raspberry sauce and ice cream) for dessert. The calamari was perfect and came with a slightly spicy marinara sauce for dipping. The Caesar dressing and croutons were great but I would have preferred shaved Parmesan to the grated (powdered?) that it was topped with. The pizza was delicious and had so much flavor. We ended up only eating a small slice each of the pizza and packing the rest up (the leftovers tasted great!) so we could save room for the huge dessert we were expecting. We had put the order in early (as requested on the menu) and were anxiously awaiting dessert. Turns out the dessert just wasn't turning out the way they expected and after a few tries of it looking bad, the manager came and informed us and offered to comp us another dessert for our trouble. I really appreciated his sincerity and kindness. And now that we ate and paid, I'll be honest: I would have ordered and paid for another dessert, but it was really nice to get it comped. Accidents and unforeseen problems happen and as someone who works in customer service, I know some things can't be avoided. The way you face these problems, however, makes a big difference. Both the manager (sorry I didn't get his name) and our server Cameron, were really great and we want to thank them for their awesome service! Working in the food industry, especially in a tourist town is tough. People expect a lot and sometimes too much. These guys treat everyone (that I could see) the way they would want to be treated while on vacation. Thanks again for some great service and tasty food. We ended up with a brownie sundae which was super tasty and it really rounded out our dinner (and bellies).
(5)
Debra E.
As the restaurant claims, the portions really are HUGE! We ordered fettuccine alfredo and mozzarella garlic bread to go. The fettuccine was a small, but I only managed to have it for two meals and still had a lot left over (at the end of our trip). The mozzarella bread tasted great, but had chunks of fresh garlic worked into the topping. Ordinarily that would be a good thing, but it's not so good if you are trying to avoid eating the garlic chunks so you don't smell like a garlic clove when going out for the evening! It would be nice to have the option to get even smaller portions for less money. The value for the money is good in that you get a lot of food for what you pay. The food tasted great, and the order was ready when we arrived.
(4)
Jose V.
This place is great! Family-friendly service and delicious food! I went last night (Nov 1) for my engagement party. They treated us just like family. It was so much fun to have everyone happy around us. Staff did a very well job of keeping us entertained. They even had a photographer taking pictures to capture the special moment. Now on to the food. Their pizzas are delicious. I never used to be a fan if the flatbread until I came here. The cheesy garlic bread is also great, especially with marinara. Definitely worth a try. I would recommend this place for large groups of people. Their serving sizes are big.
(5)
Susan F.
I was craving a chopped salad so decided to go to Buca Di Beppo for dinner. We ordered a pasta and the salad. After eating part of the salad, we noticed that it was pretty bland. Turns out it was missing pepperoni. We brought it to our servers attention and he did remove the charge. Still, it would have been nice to get the salad right to begin with. The pasta was good. I would probably go back, but most likely not to this location. Because of the close proximity to Disneyland, they seem too busy and it showed by their rushed attitude, both in service and quality of food.
(2)
Ivy L.
5 stars for having a great kids menu!! We order kids meals to-go here about 2-3 times a month! Bc they are Great portion size for kids. Sometimes we order 1 for them to share. These are only 4.99 (drink not included but breads comes with the meals). Our toddlers age 3 and 5 love: Chicken Parmesan comes w spaghetti and sauce. Mac and cheese. Spaghetti w meat ball. Overall Food quality - is same just like other locations equally good & tasteful. Staffs here: friendly! Atmosphere here: fun and a bit noisy&stuffy. No patio sitting.
(5)
J C.
Average Italian food. Family style servings which is great for parties of three or more. The shrimp diablo is my favorite but flavors ate quite muted for my taste. The dessert is also family style but the tiramisu is pretty darn good. I would recommend this restaurant for bigger parties. The ambiance is great and family friendly. Most location have great friendly staff although it does vary since it is a chain. Overall it's definitely average nothing is above and beyond except maybe service if you get lucky with staff. Try a peach Bellini to sweeten the deal.
(3)
Laura S.
If I could give my visit a 0 I would. Was here las Monday night. We waited a long time for our food. When it came the fettucini was ice cold and the chicken parm was dry and cold. Took forever to get our waiter back. He finally came back and said he'd refire the food then manager came over and said " what's the problem with the chicken ? No apology just rude ! She said she'd refire the food. After 20 more min still no food. We asked another waiter to get ours he came over and we to him to give us the check for the garlic bread as we had to leave for the airport. Instead he got the manager who once again was quite rude. She claimed our food was just coming up but we were never told that. " as a courtesy we have removed the food from your bill" a courtesy? We never ate any food ! Can't believe she even charged us for the two pieces of bread we ate ! Worst service I have ever experienced. Needless to say we got on our plane without dinner !
(1)
Mia V.
Big servings... TASTY, but a little pricey for me. Atmosphere was fun, cozy... love their spaghetti and meatballs the most. One of my fave italian restaurants...
(4)
Allan B.
This restaurant is AWFUL. Nonstop waiting game. Wait for your table. Wait to be seated while people are taking pictures. Wait 20 minutes for your waiter who never comes. Voting with my feet and walking out the door from this overpriced restaurant with really poor service.
(1)
Sarah K.
This review is specifically for the Christmas night. I reserved using Open table and it was so easy! Recommend it than trying to call-in. The service was a bit slow but I expected it since it's Christmas. People are needy at every table. Our food was hot and prepared well. Thumbs up to the chefs who worked hard even on Christmas! One downfall of this place is the tight parking space of its lot. It's all compact car size.
(4)
Jesse R.
This is from a couple months ago, but the wife and I met some good friends we hadn't seen in awhile for dinner. My one start review revolves around the fact that a photographer comes around to your table and bugs you to take a bunch of pictures and comes back at the end of dinner and tries to sell pictures to you at a 1,000% mark up! How incredibly tacky. Never again based on this experience. Oh, food was meh.
(1)
Andrea A.
Delicious! Best meatballs I've ever had and the bread is to die for! My daughter and I had a tug o war for the last piece! Yum!
(5)
Karen C.
I always enjoy having dinner here with my boyfriend. The servers are very kind and always friendly. The most recent visit I had, our server Ryan L. was so great. He gave us a few tips on the most popular dishes. He also sat us and was the first out of our 4 visits to give us a tour which was cool. Everyone greeted us; hosts,servers, manager, and all the ppl in the kitchen. They are all so friendly and really make it feel like home and comfortable.
(4)
Leanne N.
Would definitely come back! GREAT for groups. Our waiter was super helpful and funny. We loved all his recommendations. I can't remember exactly what we got but we got a small pizza, a large garlic bread, a large salad, a large pasta, and a small spaghetti. We had 4 girls and 3 guys and we had plenty of leftovers. Portions were huge, food was great, I'm actually craving it again and I was just here yesterday! Ask for recommendations if you're unsure on what to get or what size. Servers really know their stuff. They even take pictures for your group and print it out for you for free. They also offer bigger individual copies with frames that you can purchase for the price of $20 for 2. My new fav Italian Restaurant, thank you Buca!
(5)
Jennifer T.
Service is amazing. I had a coupon for a free dish only after 4pm. We asked if we could use the coupon even though it was not 4pm. The server asked the manager and the manager said yes. O_O ;_; Food is good, but comes in a large size. If you cannot eat a lot a small size can probably feed 3 people even though it says serves 2 or more. Prices are 15 dollars and up!
(5)
Nicole B.
Been here twice over the weekend since it is in the parking lot of my hotel. First visit we were told the wait would be over an hour. Then we got slick and ordered curb side. It was ready in 30 and we took to hotel. Had spaghetti first visit and lasagna second. Both were good. The small portions are larger than they say.
(4)
Abraham C.
I have never been to an Italian place like this. This resturaunt has a very unique atmosphere that feels like home. As they walked me to my table they took me through the kitchen and it reminded me of the Goodfellas scene. Kinda cool. The only thing i didn't like was that I ordered a spicy pasta dish aaaaaaand it was spicy at all. :/ other than that. It was a great experience.
(4)
Jenn W.
We ate here because it was close to the hotel we were staying at and we could easily get it to go. It was because of this convenience (we have two smaller children who don't always cooperate for a dine in experience) that we ate here twice - unfortunately. The food was ok but I have definitely had better. It was ok in a pinch but definitely not my top choice. On top of it being just "meh" it was rather pricey and we would likely not go back unless in another late-night pinch. I will say that the to-go experience was seamless - our order was correct, bag was stocked with all eating necessities (utensils, plates, condiments, etc..) and it was ready on time.
(2)
Sonny Q.
I'm not impressed by the food at this place. The Buca d Beppo place at Palo Alto Ca. have better food, better servings better service from appetizers, desserts to entree. Example is the fried calamari. Palo Alto has a better calamari sauce. Frutti d Mare is a "I want seconds" entree @ Palo Alto . They should improve the taste of their food if they want to compete with the other restaurants around the area.
(2)
Arshan A.
This place is a gem. We came on a Sunday night and this place was busy but extremely well managed. We did not wait to sit, the waitress was professional while handling 10 other tables. Also, the food came quickly and tasted well everything here is amazing from the pastas to the beers to the pizza everything is just great. You will be happy after you leave here. This is a place of professionals and great food and people.
(5)
Mira T.
food was awesome and so was the staff :)
(4)
Tram N.
Visited this Buca location on an afternoon for lunch. I had recently joined the eClub so I received a coupon for ONE Free Small Pasta (had 3 choices) and brought it with me to the restaurant. I ordered 2 small pastas to share with my boyfriend and right then I presented the coupon to the waiter who was taking our order. After he had read the coupon, he all of the sudden looked annoyed. When I told him what kind of pasta I wanted, he stared at me for a couple of seconds in an uncomfortable way as if he couldn't comprehend what I was saying then proceeded to respond with a bland "Okay?". I thought it was ridiculous because he was in a super cheerful mood with the table next to us. I immediately got annoyed because he gave us an attitude right when we ordered. Wtf is that? Throughout the lunch, the waiter did not come by our table very often to check up on us. He was too busy being attentive the guests next to us. He came by their table multiple times and even stood there for minutes to make conversations with them. He also politely told them on their way out "I hope you enjoyed our service and thank you so much for coming in." With that being said, we did not once receive a thank you from him or any of the employees standing around doing nothing as we left. It ticked me off that he chose to give us BS service and kissed ass to other customers. Did he want good tips from them that bad? Lol. As for the food... -Free Baked Ziti: came out cold and hard; tasted like it was microwaved and then had cheese melted on top of it. -Spicy Chicken Rigatoni: came out a bit cold but was pretty decent. Wasn't worth it for the price, I'll tell you that much. Overall, this was an okay Buca experience. I will not come back unless it is a special occasion.
(2)
K O.
I have been to Bucas in two other states and have always been happy with the service and the food. While our waitress did a fine job, the food we had was not up to usual Buca standards...or, at least, what I expect from Buca. My son had the fettuccine Alfredo and complained that the sauce was "flavorless". I tried some and agreed - it tasted creamy, but had zero seasoning. We doctored it up as best we could with salt and pepper, but it was disappointing. My other son ordered the pepperoni pizza and said it was okay, but he didn't like the red sauce - same issue as the fettuccine - too bland. My husband and I shared the spaghetti and meatballs and a mixed green salad. The salad was a joke - the menu said it came with red onions, pepperoncini, kalamata and green olives. We barely had ANY olives (maybe five in the entire bowl) and two pepperoncini. The spaghetti and meatballs was also "meh" - the meatball had no seasoning. We were there visiting from out of state, but would HIGHLY recommend to anyone visiting the area to avoid this Buca! Not tasty at all.
(2)
Robert B.
Outstanding service ask for Fernando. We went on a Tuesday and had a great meal. The staff and Manager were attentive. Definitely recommend the sangria.
(5)
Mike C.
I ordered a salad and added chicken. The chicken was pre made chicken strips, they weren't that good. The salad by itself was pretty good. The diet Pepsi I ordered, you can tell they don't clean their lines.
(2)
Bern R.
Met expectations. Definitely reserve a table. There were 4 adults and 2 kids in our party for dinner after a grueling day at DisneyLand. We were hungry, tired, and at peak exhaustion. Friendly staff greeted us at the door and got us seated. Orders taken promptly making thoughtful accommodations for our 22-and 5- month old guests. Immediately you felt enveloped in the Buca universe, multiple servers going in all directions inside tight corridors. The noise level is the first thing you notice, next to the overlapping orders from nearby tables that tend to confuse the servers. Minutes later, you'd hear phrases like "I didn't order THAT!!!" and it goes south in a hurry. Come w an appetitive teetering on starvation. The family style entrees could feed a family of 8 for a week. Shirley I jest. Glasses tend sit empty until you flag a server for refills. Ample parking. Clean dining areas and restrooms. Service with a smile always no matter the pain level. Not for everyone but it's a fav stopover whenever one is spotted in our travels.
(3)
Jose L.
Reservation needed since the spot is always busy... we were seated right away, didn't wait too long... good food... server was helpful when given us helpful tips on how food is served
(5)
Chris J.
Just got back from a party of 12, they had us seated in the party room...yep, the one with the bust of the Pope. One of the kids in the group thought it was creepy. I agree; I don't need a likeness of a pope I really, really don't like staring at me when I'm trying to enjoy a salad. This is good for the 'family style' dining experience, but the real challenge just comes with waiting for something you want while the lazy susan spins around. I didn't feel like loading up on carbs and cheese and pizza/bread, so I stuck to the salads and green beans, but did have a couple scoops of pasta. Nothing outstanding, but not bad either. I really wasn't pleased with the server overall. First, I order a small caesar salad and discreetly ask her to split the check. She poorly handled this by stating loudly "we don't split checks". I just handed her the menu and crossed my arms in front of my chest. Insult me and I'll throw it right back at you. They really needed her just dedicated to the party, but management had her working a couple other tables, so sometimes things would come on the spot, other times there was a wait. One was a missing chicken entree that came late; tasty, warm but late. They did comp the party with another salad, but forgot to take it off the check. Fortunately, the group was cordial, although I only met most of the people on one other occassion years ago. Artwork and layout of the restaurant is strange; what is this...tours of the kitchen? At least they're not afraid of you or the Health Department. Food was average and I still don't understand the difficultly of generating ONE seperate check for a $15 salad. I can guarantee not coming back as I'm out of the area.
(3)
Christine M.
We had a waiter Edberto who did a wonderful job taking care of us tonight. The food was really good. The chicken Parmesan was the dinner favorite. We were seated quickly and the food arrived very fast!
(5)
Lee A.
Sometimes I wish I had an Italian grandmother, but going to Buca was close enough indeed. She just needed to be there urging us to "mangia mangia!" while we dug through the amazingly green pesto sauce and stuffed mushrooms, cheese-filled pasta dishes, and eggplant parmigiana. Foursquare mentioned something about a Pope Room, so my friend Christine A. wandered off in search of both the Pope Room and the restroom. She found the room, which is catered for parties of at least 8 where you'd sit around a huge table in a room covered from floor to ceiling with trinkets, pictures and other religious memorabilia topping the whole experience with a bust of the pope as centerpiece of the table. Buca itself is a wonderful dining experience, for even a franchise type restaurant. All served family-style, be sure to bring friends and agree on items as a group rather than as individuals. It did fall on the pricey side, but I can see dinners here for special occasions being a thing. Or if you're just craving pasta. We have to return for the pesto alone.
(5)
Michael C.
Linguine frutti di mare alone makes it worth coming to Buca. Family portions so if your on a date for 2 get the small portion. Buca provides a family vibe and cool ambiance worth trying if your craving some pasta.
(4)
Michael B.
I love Italian food and when I first heard of buca di beppo, I was quite excited and I've always enjoyed coming here. But, after 3 or 4 times, it does start to get old. During my most recent visit, we were a party of 8 and we ordered family style. That's what I enjoy about this place because it's very family friendly as most Italians are. But, despite all the plates of food, I wasn't that impressed and to be honest, I wasn't all that full. We had the baked ziti, and seafood sampler. But, I found everything to be quite bland at this place and the staff wasn't particularly that friendly. Plus, I don't like being bothered to have photos taken of me and then shortly, being asked to pay $10 for one picture. I really don't understand why they print them out when most people aren't going to buy them. So in short: food: okay. I've had better. Kind of bland and unsatisfying. Could use more flavor. You're definitely going to be seasoning your own food to your taste. May I recommend the grated parmesan cheese for extra flavor. I found myself using a lot of this so that I could actually taste my food. staff: friendly and somewhat attentive. environment: welcoming and perfect for families (especially if you're loud!) I love Italian food and it's sad to say, but I've had better. I'd much rather spend the extra few bucks for food that is better than decent. Don't get me wrong, it's a great place, but I'm just kind of over it now. Maybe it's just me.
(3)
Jonie L.
Had the baked Ziti, and Anti Pasta Salad. It was pretty good. The colossal brownie sundae is awesome!!!
(3)
Sharon O.
I would say this place is more of a 3 1/2 star imho...but alas we can't do halfies here on yelp. Everyone was very friendly here...the manager was quick to comp us our $15 off coupon. The decor...whoa...CREEPY lol I'm not gonna lie I was looking at all the weird collage of weird and it scared me haha The food was good but nothing to go crazy about ...we had the spicy chichen rigatoni and the mozzarella garlic bread...garlic bread was amazing, really tasty...the pasta was ok much better when I put on some parmesan cheese and salt. Overall...it was an ok experience...not amazing by any means.
(3)
Sally E.
Looooooong wait. I'd never been to Buca, and we decided to finally venture here one weekend. I came here on a sunday around 7 (the one near Disneyland) with my family, but the four of us didn't get seated until 8. Once we did get seated however, the service was absolutely fabulous...my compliments to our waiter! Because we were starving, we ordered a variety of dishes: the appetizer sampler that had calamari, mushrooms, and fried mozzarella sticks, apple-gorgonzola salad, and two pastas: shrimp florentine (i think that's what it's called? it's a white sauce spaghetti with shrimp and veggies) and a spicy chicken pasta that had red sauce, and corn. Appetizer--awesome, although the calamari was really tiny and it was a lot more baby squid legs than actually calamari. Salad-even better, and I don't usually like sweet and salty mixes. somehow, this works, although it is by no means a "healthy" salad. florentine pasta: lacking in flavor. it was a bit better with salt, but wouldn't order it again. spicy chicken: delish, after some added salt. The food was plenty for the four of us, and we ended up taking some leftovers home. All in all, pretty good for an italian chain, but nothing really to call home about.
(3)
Rigby A.
we had such an awesome night at this restaurant. we're so happy we chose this place to celebrate a friends' n her daughter's birthday here... shout out to r server ramon--- dude ur absolute best!!! n to all the employees--- u guys are all awesome. foods were great esp the fried calamari. its a bit expensive, but def well worth it. will def come back n dine again!!!
(5)
John S.
Had a wonderful dinner with my family at Buca tonight. Calamari was delicious as was the margarita pizza was great and the apple Gorgonzola salad was fantastic. Matt our server was great! It was a great way to cap off a busy day. And by the way the tiramisu is off the hook good!
(5)
Felisha E.
I remember eating here a few years ago and thinking it was so-so. I came here recently and found it hasn't changed. It's definitely Olive Garden-type "Italian" food. I ordered the shrimp florentine (family style, small) which heartily fed two people. We also ordered sangria, which was very watered down. The service was really great though. On my way to the bathroom, I saw a fake pope's head encased atop one of the tables. I thought that was creepy o__o
(3)
M And J.
We had our dinner with for a prom Saturday, May 19, 2013 with a group of twenty people or so in their banquet room. The service and setting was wonderful, it was very lovely. But we paid $23 for our meal, which was simple, unflavored, and a letdown in such a nice setting. We expected more for our money. We did get full on the normal everyday salad, easy to make pasta, simple breaded (even burnt) chicken, and chewy brownie topped with whipped cream. But we expected more for what we paid for, we did get full, but were disappointed. The ambiance of the place was worth more than our food, and eating good food was what we expected to pay for. Ill have to come back to re-edit this in regards to why our meal was so simple, yet so expensive. But this was the first impression, overall experience that we left Buca de Beppo with. Service & Setting, were wonderful. Food was meh.
(2)
Maria E.
The ambience, service and food is exceptional. They're always very welcoming I go there time after time to dine in and take out. Great coupon offers as well.
(5)
K S.
Bucca di bomb! This place had some delicious food. My family and I went there on a Thursday night and had Chicken Carbonara Spaghetti, pizza, stuffed mushrooms, and stuffed parmesan chicken. The spaghetti was the best and the pizza was probably my least favorite. The pizza is a bit greasy and the sauce was alright, but other than that, food was great. The service was good and the pictures that decorate the restaurant are pretty funny to look at and read.
(4)
Vladimir P.
I was pretty sceptical about this one, since it is a chain in a touristy location, but food was generally OK. Fish was a bit overcooked, but salad was well dressed and the pizza was pretty good. If you are OK with a very sexist decor :) and don't want to walk far from your hotel, this is a reasonable choice. A warning though, the desserts are HUGE !
(3)
Tae K.
Brought my gf here for her birthday and I really enjoyed eating at this restaurant. Food and drinks were great but what stood out the most was the service. Alex, our server was awesome, and that is an understatement. He was the best server I have come across in years. My girlfriend and I will frequent this place from now on. Now the restaurant is next to a couple of hotels and the parking gets a little tight. Just a heads up for folks.
(5)
Matthew D.
One of my new favorites! Now I have a "go to" in Anaheim. The portions are big and the atmosphere is casual. Unless you don't like Italian food, just drive here and eat... Don't think about it or debate it... Just enjoy. It would be tragic to utter any comparison to Olive Garden and Buca di Beppo.
(5)
Yvonne H.
My roommate introduced us to this restaurant. We went on Halloween night. Food was great and service was good. The meal portion was huge. Tiramisu was the best ever. At first when we tried to order it, the server told us that they were out. In a few minutes, he came back and told us that the kitchen had made some more because there were quite a few requests. We had the huge tiramisu fresh. It was super delicious. Will definitely go there again to dine.
(4)
Jlyn T.
Walked in and got no type of greeting. Stood there for about 10 minutes along with another family but nothing. Several waiters walked by too. So we just left. Went to cheesecake factory instead so I guess it was better that way.
(1)
Joey D.
All chain restaurants are similar but Drew's great sense of humor and friendly demeanor topped off a wonderful evening. If you want an awesome experience, demand Drew. Don't forget the cannoli!
(5)
Sorry, we don't have Q&A for this restaurant.
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Address :11757 Harbor Blvd
Garden Grove, CA, 92840
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : Yes Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : No Has TV : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
The immense popularity of Italian cuisine globally isn't unknown. You can find an Italian Pizzeria around every corner of almost every city in the United States. Not to forget that in every house, people enjoy mac and cheese as comfort food. But it would be wrong to believe that Italian food starts with pizza and ends with good pasta as this Mediterranean country has much more to offer other than these two dishes. In Italian Cuisine, there is a high use of fresh tomatoes, all kinds of herbs, great quality of cheese, all types of meat, seafood and fresh handmade pasta. Many find it hard to believe that Italians have been making noodles long back.
Italian and Greek cuisines are always mistaken to be same, but they are poles apart. The primary difference between the two cuisines is the use of cheese in most of the Italian dishes. Italians love to cultivate their own cheese and process them as per their food requirement. It is believed that some cheese is so expensive that cheese producers secure them in lockers.
If you are bored eating the same old pasta or pizza, you can try some of the authentic Italian dishes like Risotto, Polenta, Ribollita, Lasagna, Fiorentina Steak, Bottarga, Ossobuco, Carbonara, Focaccia, Arancini and Supplì. Another item which Italians love to relish every morning is a good cup of Italian Coffee. Once you taste a freshly brewed cup of Italian Coffee, you might not visit Starbucks ever again. Authentic Italian food is made with heart and soul, so go find a restaurant where you can relish Italian cuisine in your city.
Giselle B.
This is one of our favorites for Italian. It's a great atmosphere and you never get bored with the decor. Be prepared to share what you order because everything is family friendly portion, but always yummy!! Can never go wrong with a pizza and pasta!!
(5)James J.
I have been to this location at least 10 times, and many, many others Buca di Beppo locations. I love the food, the environment, and normally the service. However today started off bad, very bad. We walked in the front door and there was nobody there. 10 different employees walked by, and not a single "hello", "someone will be with you in a sec", or "have you been helped?" Nothing! We waited 10 minutes before the hostess decided to show up. Then when she did, she took our group size of 6, and walked away again. If this was out first visit, we would have left and never returned again. We were finally seated and the overall experience improved dramatically. Our server Kevin was amazing (and the only reason this review is not 1 star). If you don't mind waiting an extra minute and ignoring the hostess, you will love this place.
(3)Wendy M.
It is a good place. I like it here. They serve good food. The spaghetti and pizza are my favorite. I take my daughter here to celebrate her birthday every year. She likes it very much. The servers are very nice and helpful. They talk to you in a vey respectful manner. I will definitely go back again.
(5)Nora M.
I went here with a group of friends and after the waitress took our drink and appetizer order she said "can i bring you guys some garlic bread to start off with?".... The way she worded it we were under the impression that it was complimentary bread that is normally given at a restauraunt. When we recieved the bill we were charged $12.99 for a tiny basket of a few pieces of bread. This restaurant is pricey as it is and I was extremely annoyed that we were tricked into ordering an extra item. The food here was decent but expensive and I probaly wont return.
(1)Ingrid G.
Best Italian food ever. Great customer service. Our waiter was very helpful and fast. Great place for family or friends.
(5)Jillie S.
I am a fan of Buca! The place is really a character. So many pictures, colorful decors, tables are next to each other. The servings are huuuuge! one small pasta can feed at least 4 people ) in my opinion). I love their Calamari, crispy, not too salty not too oily. We always, always, get their Supremo Italiano pizza in Buca large. Their crust is thin crust and they have so much toppings! I also like their Chicken Carbonara I have not tried their desserts, but seeing them from other tables...oh man, they are freaaakin' huge!!! haha! I will try them one day though... :)
(4)Dina T.
We were basically rushed out the door after finishing our meal. I thought it was rude. Hurry up and eat clean your table and get out. The food and service was great.
(4)Annie P.
Long story short food is amazing but service is not. Asked for assistance for a pointed finger and the girl taking my order was so awkward. We asked her what people usually get the most and she said I don't know there stuff on the menu.
(3)Maricela R.
My experience at this restaurant was far from perfect. I was surprised at how much things have changed over the years. My husband made reservations for 15 to celebrate my birthday. It took forever to get drinks to our table. They no longer offer bread to dip in oil and vinegar. The waitress informed us that these are only available upon request. It didn't feel good to have to ask for something that should be complimentary especially after our bill was $350! The pasta was over cooked and not near al dente. The spaghetti and meatballs had very little marinara sauce so we had to ask for a side of marinara. It never came to the table! The chicken limon had very little sauce with capers. Kids loved the pizza. They sang happy birthday to me but didn't even offer a complimentary scoop of ice cream or some small dessert. They are just too corporate and cut corners at customers expense! For better service and higher quality food, we are going to stick with our go to small businesses.
(2)William H.
I came here with just my friend and I. The wait was about thirty minutes for a table of two. Service was good. If you like those places where they make a huge scene when it's your birthday, then this is the place for you I quite enjoyed the food. Remember that food is served family style at Bucca Di Beppo. We ordered fried calamari and the small baked ziti. That was more than enough food for two. Plus, they also serve bread. I highly reccomend the Fried Calamari. Overall, I highly recommended you go here on special occasions. I say that because food is slighly pricier here. However, it's well worth the money. :)
(4)John H.
The service was very fast and accurate. A wonderfully themed and fun location. But the food...the food taste like it was off the basic Olive Garden menu. I was looking forward to some more flavorful Italian options, but instead I got some bland American-Italian. Our table of six got the undercooked Bianca pizza, prosciutto stuffed chicken breasts, garden salad and spaghetti marinara. Nothing unique, flavorful or outstanding about anything. No need to go back. 2 stars for good service, selection and theming. Not for the food.
(2)Stephen H.
I'm usually able to talk my parents into some independent restaurant they've never heard of before. On my most recent visit they were tired, not that hungry, and not interested in driving much out of the "resort" area. Oh, my parents live in the area of the Anaheim "resort" which is dominated by Disneyland and the Convention Center and so big box concepts like Buca di Beppo dominate. Before you get mad, remember that their suggestion was, "How about Cheesecake Factory?" :-) Ordered a small cheese ravioli, a side of green beans, some garlic bread, and finished off with their cannoli. All the food was good, served in a timely manner, and was "just the right size" which you have to be careful about when ordering at a family style restaurant like Buca. Remember that the problem with Italian food is that 2 or 3 days later you're hungry again :-) With Buca, if you're not careful, you might have leftovers for 2 or 3 days. Be conservative when ordering. You can always order more if you run out.
(4)Crystal W.
I do really like the food here but it always feel over priced for the atmosphere. Our server was very slow and took 15 minutes to come back to our table to take orders which is okay but when I'm hangry it's not the greatest scenario. The pros are good food and funny pictures. It feels like it would be really fun for a large group which I think is the purpose The cons are just ok servers and bad for small parties for dinner Not sure if I'll be coming back
(3)Sam M.
Good service by Mary , great food, big portions most likely I'll come back , bread was served cold but all an all good experience
(4)Janize S.
I've been to other Bucca di Beppos closer to my area & my boyfriend & I went to this one because it was local from the Gardenwalk. Service was definitely not the best. The waitress was so intimidating when I would have questions about the menu like the soup of the day. She didn't give us any bowls for our soup. As previously noted, she made it so intimidating for me to ask for another bowl & it certainly continued throughout the night such as asking for another fork because my fork was dirty. She would just look at me like, "Are you really asking me to do something for you?" Uh yeah, because you are my waitress. Dinner was so terrible. Finally, we were about to pay. She asks if I want change back. Yes, because I gave you $35.00 & the bill was only $32.38. She made it so obvious she wants tip & with the service she'd given me, I wouldn't immediately say, "Keep the change." We asked if she could break a $5 bill for her tip & she was questioning us. Usually, we hear, "Sure, no problem !" When service is great like at Woodranch or those high end sushi places, we have no problem giving a $5 tip. However, if you're gonna be rude to us the whole night, you're not gonna get a $5 tip for a party of 2. The restaurant wasn't completely terrible. The other lady who brought our food was very nice. I said thank you & she said, "You're welcome." & She greeted us when we left too. The food was good but I don't think I'm coming to this one anytime soon. Brea is in a better surrounding & the service is a lot better.
(1)Beautiful Girl W.
Kindly, for the cost of food, I expected a higher class establishment. Although not low-class, it was not high class. The prices are structured for two entrees. So, a bowl of rigatoni is $23.99 and it satisfies two guests. No single serve. I ordered the walnut salad and rigatoni and shared mine, while my 3 other guests ordered various things. Salad was way too salty and the rigatoni was overcooked - seriously lacking marinara. Why add salt? Great quality food does not need cheap, sodium chloride table salt. Also, the scenery was old. The restaurant was way to cluttered with out-dated Italian memorabilia. Our waiter was friendly, and tried to be professional; it just was not in him. I tire of the lazy, non-professional staff employed in what is supposed to be a mid- level upscale place!!! This is not. As a personal note to the restaurant, the cost of food does not match the integrity of the restaurant. I walk in to see an employee on their cellphone - leaning over the counter. Not a good first impression. I brought with me special, high caliber guests to experience a low quality meal, and cluttered atmosphere. By the way, the picture next to the woman's restroom with the elephant trunk in another elephant's deri aire is "very classy." Gross. Maggianos!!! I appreciate you so much more!! True Italian food cooked by REAL Italian chefs. Their wait staff treated me and my guest with high respect. The food was outstanding. The atmosphere was high- class at Maggianos. Buca di peppo is not real Italian food. It was tasteless, and the rigatoni was thrown together. The salad leaves were brown and just yuk. Thank you. By the way, the bread the waiter brought out was some cheap, store bought, pre-sliced stuff. What? They don't make their own bread? So cheap, the starch and bleach were already oozing out of it from it being microwaved. Me - usually would have a slice or two, backed away from that week old stuff. Oh my goodness!!!! While leaving, the CEO of my company asked me, "Is it too late for me to throw this stuff up?" I sadly responded yes and to take some fast acting enzymes. If this was an Olive Garden, I knew what to expect and would not dare eat or bring my guests. But this is supposed to be "better." :( Thank you.
(2)Sheila M.
In my book, Buca will always beat Olive Garden, hands-down! Not only are their restaurants elaborate and unique and decor, but their service and food quality are great! This particular Buca tends to be very busy (on weekends especially) because of tourists from Disneyland and the Anaheim Convention Center. However, they are very friendly in trying to accommodate you. (We usually call ahead to find the wait-time for a party our size). You'll always get some fresh bread (and a smile) upon seating. Not sure how to rate their food since it's a chain and they've established their reputation already. However, it is consistently good. Haven't found myself saying, "Eeek, this does not taste right today! Nevertheless, these are the fatty roads to my heart: Spicy Chicken Rigatoni and Chicken Saltimbocca! Also, I would say SKIP the Tiramisu here :-\ The creme they use is so darn dense. I swear their portion must weigh around 5 pounds! It's just "aight" Also, sign up for their email club and you'll be receiving great coupons, periodically!
(4)Ethan F.
I have to honestly say that this place does fit the bill of traditional Italian.... In respect to the PORTIONS!!! When you have a larger than life family, you could order the large portion and be satisfied. We broke bread with a delightful, yet sadly cold sourdough loaf with a delicious yet simple garnish of extra virgin olive oil and balsamic vinegar; the next course was a slightly overpriced, yet delicious spinach artichoke dip mad with fresh spinach and ripe Roma tomatoes; chicken Parmesan and an order of meatballs rounded out the dinner course. The only problem, no noodles to go with the entre... How can you have Italian without the pasta? My daughter enjoyed a very oversized Mac and cheese for a value of 4 dollars. We also had some of the most delicious wine I have ever tasted here. When you think of Buca di Beppo, just know it is a franchise restaurant, and in comparison to Johnny carinos, or even Olive Garden, there is more value here. Come with an empty stomach, and be prepared to spend some money... Only a three star from me today. Service= a star ambience= a star value = a star, warm up the bread and serve pasta pro bono for a five star from me.
(3)Jillene B.
Buca is yummy! Today we the Quattro all Forno. I had the spinach and chicken cannelloni and the Apple Gorgonzola salad. Omg, super good. Asked for a side of sun dried tomatoes and Kevin, the manager was awesome and brought me a whole cupful! Salad comes with the dressing on it, which I'm not a fan. It's still crisp, but I wouldn't take it home the leftovers. Service was a little slow, there may have been a big party that we didn't see. But food is good and the manager is very cool!
(3)Otto W.
Nice clean restaurant, almost aleays empty when we have lunch on a weekday. Hate the fact they always want to seat us in the bar section, I am with my family..how about another section huh?!? Servers are 50/50..if they dont come by and ask if I need a refill or more napkins or bread... its ok, bad service equals low tips or no tips, good service higher tips, so I dont really sweat it :-) Food is good, decos nice, ambience is fitting. Location is great, but the parking is horrible, too TIGHT!!!
(3)Jane C.
Boddy, our waiter, was responsive, however the kitchen staff was not or not keen to how Frutti di Mare should be prepared. It was watery & watered down the flavor. Not what I remembered from the San Diego establishments. Fortunately they honored the $10 Yelp coupon which helped to ease our dissapointment.
(3)Cynthia N.
1st time here, the food is so delicious. The waiter Boddy was awesome!!! Great service
(5)Roscoe A.
Great restaurant, and considering it's a chain, Buca di Beppo definitely upheld the homestyle Italian cuisine. Family-style dinner was great, and the portions were large. We had the Eggplant Lasagna, Veggie Lasagna, Chicken Pasta and the Shrimp Pasta. All of which were great. The wine we received, granted it was the house wine, tasted a lot like Welch's Grape Juice. It was probably made to be drinkable, and palatable...but it lacked a bit of character, other than sweetness. Our server was great, but for the life of me I can't remember his name. We had our picture taken, and were given a complimentary collage. I'll definitely be back for dinner, and to try more wine!
(4)Anna K.
We had a party of 30 and the service was terrible. We ordered family style which included soggy Caesar salad, fettuccine Alfredo which had absolutely no taste and one piece of chicken parmigiana per person among a few other sub-par dishes. The bottom line is we paid around $38/per person for a pretty gross dinner...WAY OVERPRICED!!!
(1)Sarah M.
Go next door to Joe's! Save urself a trip! Pasta over cooked, under seasoned, and just plain watery. Service was alright, a pack of 5 employees standing by front podium not sure exactly what their purpose was but I don't think they knew themselves.
(1)David G.
Went to Buca for a group dinner. Food was great, staff was awesome. Family style so we had tons of food left over.
(5)Jessica L.
Went on Sunday afternoon and it was pretty busy. Make reservations online if you plan on coming. Service was adequate. Food was better than Olive Garden. Served family style. Fun but noisy atmosphere.
(3)Jordan Bennett S.
I had dinner here the other night with a friend, i was in the mood for Italian food but had never tried this place. i do not recommend it for parties of less then four, everything is served "family style" so if you just want something small your out of luck. as a BIG guy i don't personally mind it. but i did want a small side salad and they don't have on on the menu, but the server was nice enough to have the kitchen make me a little mediterranean salad and it was very tasty. The the service was great and the food came out VERY HOT! Ill be back again!
(4)M J.
More like bucca de barf. If your going to waste your money on crappy fast food at least go next door to jack in the box and spend less money. They couldn't even get a basic salad right, food was cold and was poorly thrown together. Waste of money.
(1)Suzy S.
If you've been to one, you've been to all. Buca di Beppo is a step above Olive Garden (I am NOT a fan of OG) but by no means authentic Italian. If you know that going in then your dining experience won't be a disappointment. The photos and plaques that line the walls are always entertaining and provide a fun ambiance which lends to the enjoyment of large crowds. The huge portions of bland food is also perfect for big groups. Three of us took home plenty of leftovers. We started with an apple gorgonzola salad. How can a salad be salty? Mr. S can make a meal from one meatball, my lasagna was overly stuffed with ricotta and little meat, but the leftover was better the next day as often the case. The cheesy garlic bread was good but cold in spots when served. Service can be iffy, but considering that they are scurrying around to take care of the table of 20 next to us it was tolerable. If you are celebrating any occasion, expect to get a table sign that announces your celebration to everyone in the dining room. DO NOT expect a free dessert because it's not going to happen.
(3)Truong T.
Huge portions and there pretty good. First time here I had the spaghetti, yesterday I had the pizza. Both were definitely worth the price tag. Place is great for special occasions. The waiters are helpful and will go out of their way to make sure your experience is amazing. Didn't see hot chicks though but I guess I was too busy munching on that pizza
(5)Delbert N.
Great Italian Food, tasteful and plentiful. Truly family oriented. Waitress, Danica was very helpful and friendly. This is one of our favorite. Mahalo Nui Loa........
(5)Tamara F.
Used to come to Buca di Beppo all the time with my family and remember it being a great place to come to. However, we came to this location one night and were not impressed. The ambiance is always cool and the service was decent which is the reason for the 3 stars. The food, however, was well below par. We ordered the stuffed mushrooms and the spaghetti with meatballs. The mushrooms themselves had no flavor and I could have made better spaghetti and meatballs at home with little effort. The sauce was a joke - it was like watered down tomato sauce. Maybe it was because we came here late at night but it shouldn't be an excuse. On top of all that, the bill was not cheap. I won't be coming back here. If you do, make sure you have a coupon at least.
(3)James L.
I haven't been to Buca in ages, and I was just reminded that it is definitely not equipped to eat for two. What brought me back here was a gift card I received for Christmas. For $25 (and after doing some research, a $10 off coupon), I thought this would be more than enough to cover lunch. We ordered: - Florentine garlic bread - Chicken cannelloni (small) - Frutti de Mare (small) The bread was delicious but came out warm and parts of it were cold. It tastes just fine but the temperature definitely made it off putting. The chicken cannelloni is basically what I like to call enchiladas Italian style. I really liked them here. A small consisted of 4 decent sized 'roll ups' but if I did the break down of it, each one was in the ball park of $4. Hmmm. As for the frutti de mare, it is basically an assortment of seafood over a bed of linguine sitting in a red clam sauce. I liked the way the pasta tasted in this dish but the seafood here didn't wow me at all. All of this rang up to about $60 and even after my gift card and coupon, it was about $35 tax and tip. It's strange because I thought using my coupon and gift card would make it cheap, but it ended up costing more than I bargained for. I don't even usually count pennies but I didn't expect this price point for a place like Buca. Service was attentive for lunch time. I can't tell if I liked this or not but they had a photographer going around to tables taking 'complimentary' photos while you eat. We had a mini photoshoot of us scooping pasta, toasting with waters, laughing out loud, and acting like gangsters. We laughed at the cheesiness we had to go through. In the end, we were given a small collage of photos (which inadvertently made me look like I was wearing lipstick) and they were selling nice, large size photos in frames. I'll pass on that and I guess thanks for entertaining us for a little bit during our meal. Overall I enjoyed it, but in these tough times, and me not having a family to feed, I think I can take my money elsewhere for now.
(3)Tonyaa G.
Went last night after a full day at Disney. I called around 4 and made a reservation for 9 just to be safe that we would be on time from leaving the park. Well, we showed up early at 830 and were seated about 5 mins later. Everything was wonderful. The service was great. We ordered cheese bread, fried cheese, pesto chicken(which was amazing) and manicotti. Plus we finished with a slice of celebration cake(not my fav) all small which was plenty for us 4 to share and we only spent 86$! Forgot how much I like this place! Def go!!
(5)Amanda L.
When a group of us were completely turned off by horrible service at a restaurant down the way we stumbled upon Bucca. I've been to the SF location and this one was virtually the same. Nook and cranny dining spaces, heavily decorated & stuffed with photos and trinkets. Various dishes were ordered at the table but I tried the brushetta, sangria, and had a bite of a canoli. Everything tasted good but nothing was amazingly special. Overall we were just happy to be somewhere where they gave us good service!
(3)Mrs E.
We ordered the linguini frutti di mare & the penne san remo for a party last night and it was amazing. We also got some garlic bread & Caesar salad to go with it. We got a lot of compliments on the food so we couldn't have been happier with our choices. The food was delivered for a $25 fee, which we thought it was a bit much considering the amount of the bill BUT it did make it convenient for us. And the delivery person was very nice and helpful. We definitely recommend using Buca for any catering needs!
(4)Rob R.
Made a last minute reservation on line and they had it when we walking in a few minutes earlier. Were seated within a few minutes and then the flow of food started up. Be forewarned that "large" plates are just that. It is said that a large portion will feed 4. In reality, it will easily feed 6-8 hungry folks. The wedge salad is very nice and different enough from other restaurants to make it stand out. The chicken parmigiana is sooooooooo good. Thinly pounded chicken breast with a perfect coating that comes to the table piping hot and crispy. Nothing pre made or microwaved here. It's all freshly prepared and brought out promptly. Also ordered the garlic bread with mozzarella. A hint of olive oil sets this apart from ordinary garlic bread. Very tasty, as was a heaping bowl of baked rigatoni with sausage. Four of us barely made a dent in the supersize bowl. Finished our family style meal with two deserts that left us loosening our belts. All in all, a great dining experience. But for the crying baby one table over, it would have been perfect. :) Update: returned for a birthday dinner two nights ago. The food continues to be great. Fresh, hot, tasty, made to order. However, service was way below par. Once our order was taken, our server Josh was invisible for the rest of the meal. Asked for sugar and didn't get it for 20 minutes. All four of us had our glasses run dry 30 minutes in. One refill, and he was gone again. That's it. One refill. Never got asked how the meal was, never asked if we wanted more bread, never thanked for coming in (the place was mostly empty). No birthday desert. As we all stared at each other over the poor service, I told a joke I heard a long time ago: "We looked for you during the meal, now you look for the tip". The other servers in the room seemed way more attentive of their tables. Kind of put a damper on an important night out.
(3)Tori T.
Went here for lunch on a Saturday afternoon. Place was pretty much empty. No wait and got seated immediately. Waitress was nice; provided bread, got our drinks/refills, and appetizer fairly quick. Service was what I expected for being empty. The thing that wasn't good was the food. There's no flavor, just bland fettuccine alfredo and spaghetti and meatballs. Nothing special especially for $20 a plate. We ordered the small portions and they were exactly as described...SMALL. Lol. The biggest thing here though is the girl that goes around taking pictures and then charges whatever price she can get away with. Don't allow her to take pictures of your party!!! She'll small-talk ya and then swiftly leave after taking your money. Better off using your camera phone for memories.
(2)Marie D.
Considering my party of 12 showed up here at 8pm on a Saturday night with no reservation, it was no surprise that we were told it would be about a 45 minute wait. We were happily surprised when the wait was only about 20 minutes. Buca is fun - lots of crazy photos on the walls, goofy stuff in the bathrooms (the women's, at least), and a good vibe. The food is fine - nothing amazing, but not bad. Our service was also good - everyone was attentive and polite. Decent wine list.
(3)Gina S.
Been to one other one in Huntington beach So far place is ok They placed us at a small table by the bar and we called in reservations the service sucked we got bread and we asked for sauce and received it late Forgot to get us silverware Food was not bad
(2)Brenna L.
Flavorless spaghetti, poor service and they were in a big hurry to rush is out! Not a pleasant experience. I will not return.
(1)Gleicyane G.
The first time I went I loved it, so I went back a second time. Not nearly as good this time around. I don't know what it was, but the food fell flat on every level. We ordered the Chicken Parm. My husband cooks a delicious one. This one didn't come nearly as close. Might as well have eaten at home and saved the money. The pasta wasn't cooked right. I'm still wondering what went wrong, or did I just fall in love the first ti me because they gave us free stuffed mushrooms to make up for the waiter forgetting to bring it to us for appetizer.
(2)Michael V.
We had lunch there while having a meeting, so I wanted to keep it light. I order the minestrone and a few minutes later the server returned to the table and said they were out of the soup. How in the world does an Italian restaurant run out of minestrone at 1:00 pm?? I had the mixed green salad instead, and it was just ok. I thought it was way overpriced!
(3)Victoria V.
We SAT IN THE KITCHEN!!!! whooo hoooo- reserve this spot it is a MUST do !!! great food as awlays and very nice staff
(5)Minh N.
The food at any Buca Di Peppo will be the same. If you've never been, it's not fabulous Italian food, but they do offer family sized portions for a good price. A 1/2 order is good for at least 2 people and a full order for at least 4. Definitely great for groups. They now offer "individual" portions, which in my opinion is still huge! We took a small lasagna to go, and it was hearty enough to feed 2 people (or in my case, 4 really drunk people...haha). They've got tacky artwork and what nots displayed all over, which add to the very casual and fun atmosphere. Not quite romantic date dinner material. I totally view this place as a "go with lots of friends" place. The parking here is a lil whack because the whole lot in front of the place was just valet (maybe because it was a weekend?). So I had to park next door in the hotel lot and walk on over. The wait time here on a Saturday evening was well over an hour! Even for a table for 2. Luckily they take reservations, because I came with a party of 21. The reservation was for 6:45, and they promptly seated us a few minutes afterwards. This restaurant in particular was very accommodating to our large group, and although a few more people showed up than expected, they were able to squeeze in some more seats. Our waiter was very quick with getting our orders, as well as making sure if we needed anything else, as well as switching out our plates. Overall, a great experience with service. Food at Buca is average Italian fare, but they get an A for effort! I know it can be difficult when serving large groups, but they handle it quite well. Prices aren't too bad either. It came out to about $20 a person (tax + tip), that's with us pay for the 3 birthday people too. And we still had leftovers to go. Btw, if you plan on bringing your own wine, there's a corkage fee of $10.
(4)Lida K.
Would give it a four...except I don't like eating in a damn igloo. Not necessarily the freshest or most tasty, but their food is consistently good and I have yet to get food poisoning. So for a franchise place so far it wins. - Service: Fair. Just fair. They gave us a big table that could seat 6 when it was just two of us. But they didn't take away extra silverware and when they brought more food, they didn't take away the old stuff instead they just pushed it off to the side. Bartenders are usually nice but the dining servers are just fair. - Wait Time: Grosssss.... Call ahead! - Interior: It looks like a brochure for the Italian Travel Bureau barfed all over the place. But I don't have complaints. I usually bring out of town visitors here and they usually like it. - Food: Salads are tasty and the pastas aren't overly greasy. So in my book that's good. But I just can't get over how COLD it is...like FREEZING cold. Whenever I forget to bring a thick jacket, my teeth are chattering and it's annoying as hell. Worth the visit. Bring a fur coat.
(3)Eric H.
Family and I have been here many times and always have good food and service. See if you can get the table in the kitchen, it's a cool experience. Get the spaghetti and meatballs with some Italian sodas you can't go wrong with that.
(4)dorothy f.
I've been coming here for years and the food is always consistent and good. We always sit in the bar and the service is great. We usually get the same thing, Since I'm Italian I love the cheesy decor and the music in the back ground. The family style dinners are the best way to eat dinner. Here is what we consistently eat the has never been a bad dish. Pizza A+ Always fresh thin crust extra crispy just the way i like it. Salads While I'm not a salad eater my family is, so the apple Gorgonzola is the fav then the chopped Antipasto. Me I like the Caesar but rarely order it. Pasta: We get the linguine frutti di mare, always order a little sauce on the side so it's not dry and you'll get more clams. Spaghetti with meat sauce, just as good as my own. We always get a side of the fettuccine Alfredo, its OK I add a lot of cheese so it get the job done. Appetizers: The calamari is always great the rest of the are so so, you never want to order too much because of large dinner portions. The eggplant is different than min but a B+. We've ordered the stuffed rigatoni to go once and like the previous yelper it was dry. So all in all you get a bang for buck, good service and a great place for the whole family to go.
(4)Anshul N Eypsa T.
This place is great. We stopped by for a family dinner and left with complete satisfaction. The food quantity is very filling for a family. The Quality of food was also great. Our server always had a smile on his face, and was so friendly. It was a memorable experience for our family. It has a great location with all the hotels and disneyland around it, which is why you need to make reservations since its always busy. But def worth a must - try !!
(4)Madd C.
A fun place to dine! The apple salad is outta this world. I could eat it everyday. My husband is gluten intolerant so we ordered the chicken Marsala. It was probably the worst I've ever had. Everything else we ordered was good though. And service was alright.
(4)davie g.
Went here last night and admittedly, I wasn't starving and we didn't order our favorite dish (Penne San Remo), but we're big Bucca fans so we know what we're getting. Bucca never messes up the salad but I felt one of the two dishes we ordered was just so-so. It was the eggplant parm. I thought it was a little overcooked, and the eggplant tasted a little more bitter than usual. We tried the Steak Parm? A new dish. I won't go into details but we had to alert the waiter of a problem. Long story short, I just felt like Bucca didn't hit it out of the park like they normally do for us. Not to worry, Manager ANNA took care of us without a hitch! And YES, I'm still bitter about them taking that ROCKING round thick crust garlic bread off the menu years ago! Bring it BACK!!!!! You go to regular menus, expand the menu, take the best thing off the menu, and you're getting close to being an "also ran". I know I'm not the only long-time customer who feels this way! ;-) Oh, and it's IN GARDEN GROVE, but they call it the Anaheim Bucca.
(3)Yan G.
If you take your neighborhood Olive Garden, add some tchotchkes and checkered tablecloths, and then supersize the portions, you will have a Buca Di Beppo. At 8:30 pm on a Sunday, the place was almost empty. A friendly hostess walked us through the kitchen (something they do on purpose to show you how clean and fresh everything is) and showed us to our booth. It was a booth with long wooden benches that could easily seat 6 adults. The ubiquitous checkered tablecloths were hardly noticeable, drowning in the sea of kitschy figurines, "authentic" Italian photos, toys, clocks, and whatchamacallits. Seriously, the place made Pee-wee Herman's house look like the Library of Congress. Our waitress showed up a few minutes later, took our drink orders and explained to us that the dishes at Buca are served family style. She was almost too friendly, but a bit forgetful. It really did feel like you were having dinner at your Italian cousins' house. We weren't particularly hungry, so we ordered a salad and 2 entrees. A small Apple Gorgonzola salad ($11.99) was more than enough for the three of us to share. The salad was good, with fresh, crispy apples and tasty Gorgonzola crumbs. My dad wanted Veal Parmigiana, so we opted for a small version of that ($20.99). For $21 you get 4 thin over-salted and overcooked pieces of veal, and it doesn't even come with a side dish. Since we obviously needed some pasta to complement the meal, we opted for a small order of spaghetti marinara ($9.99). The pasta itself was good, but the sauce was sour and bland. There was a LOT of pasta though. I have been to two other locations of Buca di Beppo (San Francisco, CA and Palo Alto, CA), and I have to say that my experience has been consistently underwhelming. Any time a restaurant chooses to focus on adding "pieces of flair" to its decor and making portions larger, the quality of the food usually suffers. I believe it's still a decent place to celebrate your kid's 10th birthday or invite the whole mishpucha for a bargain post-bar mitzvah dinner. Economies of scale, however, are the only reason anyone should come to Buca. When you bring a party of 10 or more, you can share a lot of food for not too much money. If you're just here for a quiet dinner with a couple of friends, I'd keep looking elsewhere. Yelp said it best - "Meh. I've experienced better."
(2)Elizabeth S.
Meh. I've had better Italian food, for cheaper too. Pretty much sums it up. I came here a couple of times, twice for a friend's birthday and once for Mother's day. The great thing about this place is that if you come with a group you can split the larger entrees (and of course the check too). The food isn't very authentic Italian in my opinion, but it still tastes alright. Buca Di Beppo is actually the first place I've ever had calamari at and I was pleasantly surprised that fried squid tasted so good. When I came here for a friend's birthday there was a very long wait plus the service was incredibly slow, which leads me to warn you my fellow Yelpers: dinner time at Buca is insanely busy, especially on the weekends. On Mother's Day afternoon however, there was absolutely no wait and the waitress was extremely attentive and kind (she even helped my mother clean up after she spilled her wine on her white capris -_-) Overall, the quality of the food is alright, mediocre at best, and the prices are a bit too much for food of that nature. But it is a nice place to gather with your family and friends for intimate conversation and catching up.
(3)Karen C.
After digging through my purse, I realized I had a gift card given to me back in 2004 for $50 and YES, there was a convenient BDP located right next to our hotel in Anaheim! Take advantage and use the gift card....Well, just to be sure there WAS actually money still on the card, I went online to find out they were charging me $2.00 a year to store my card...HUH? Wasn't this illegal? So, when I went to the restaurant to use the card, I politely asked the hostess if they could put back on the $6. they had taken off and she said the law went into affect in 2008 and they couldn't do this...oh well, bummer...but that still didn't keep me from enjoying a nice family style Italian dinner. Our waitress was very prompt and got our drinks right away and put fresh warm bread on the table along with balsamic vinegar and oil. My son is always hungry, so he ate away! He ordered the spicy chicken rigatoni and I ordered the spicy Italian sausages with peppers. The food came out promptly and we ordered the small portions and still had leftovers. My son loved his pasta and I ate up the sausages! This restaurant is really cozy and has a great ambiance. I felt like I was sitting in a scene of Goodfellas...in a good way....hahaha! When I return to Dland, I will definitely come back here because it's just like eating at home!
(4)Merrill M.
So where should we bring our 6 kids to eat.... Lets see... Family style eating and portions..Buca is the palce to go. My kids love the real thin crust pizza not the little ceasars crapola and their spagetti and meat balls. My favorite is the Frutti de Mare or seafood pasta.. So good!! Love it. The Chicken marsala is wonderful. The eggplant parmigiana is so good you dont even relize theirs no meat in that dish. I love their Whenever we have a small party of 50 or less we usually buy from Buca.
(4)Roger Paul V.
This is the second time I ate at Buca, the first time was in San Francisco a few years ago as part of a large party of over ten folks. This time four of us went there for a late lunch. Both times left me with positive taste experiences. Started with Apple Gorgonzola Salad. This had nice blend of lite flavors. Another appetizer was the Fried Calamari. Even though I was really hungry, it tasted a little bland to me. The Garlic Bread did taste good, along with the sauce that came with the calamari. My main dish was Chicken Marsala. I ordered this because I vividly remember that I really enjoyed it a couple years ago. This time did not disappoint as well. So delicious. It's sweeter than other Marsalas I've had, but I have a sweet tooth, so it works for me. My sister mentioned that the sweetness may have come from onion. Had Mashed Potatoes for my side dish. This too had a sweetness buttery taste to it and was made of red potato, I can tell coz they mashed the skin along. These two made for a wonderful combination, in addition to the mushrooms that topped the chicken Marsala. I snuck in a taste of my cousin's Spaghetti and Meatball. I didn't care for their meatball. It was bland for my taste. For dessert we all shared Tiramisu and Chocolate Cake. Both were huge, it got an OMG. The Tiramisu came in a big bowl, the biggest serving I've ever seen. Dee-lish. You can really taste the rum and the sweetness of the lady fingers and blended very nicely. Buca always has a fun atmosphere because of its kitschy, "messy, cluttered home" feeling. The wait staff seem busy and buzzing along here and there...you need to flag them down and don't have the most pleasant attitude, but cordial.
(4)Jon H.
vegetarian here. i used coupons on my 3 visits. better food than olive garden. i had the baked ziti 2/3 times and the manicotti once. pass on the manicotti. the sizes are enormous. $16 for a plate of ziti they say will feed 3, i gotta say thats pretty honest. pepsi fountains but no dr. pepper.
(4)Dustin R.
My wife and I have been here many times... always like the food and service... but we got some take out on Sunday 11/13/11 of a small pizza and small salad and ended up with food poisoning. I know it was from here because it was the only meal we had shared within days of getting sick. Doubt we will be back...
(1)Julie C.
I think Buca Di Beppo is a perfect place to go if you have a large group. They serve family style and you could choose from small or large. There pastas and salads are pretty decent and the prices are affordable. I recommended this restaurant if you have a large party and need to celebrate something.
(3)Katie K.
I am italian so I am very picky when it comes to italian dishes, the food was not so bad. The service was awful, I signed up for the yelp special to get a free appetizer and they denied it and said I had to use it the next time around, well I live in Memphis the closest Buca is hours away if you cant use a special that is listed, then obviously you have no business coming in which means you should step your game up Buca
(2)Kevin N.
Place is great. Went here for Prom and ate so much and didn't break the bank. Big plus in my book. Got the to-go the second time for a family party and it's amazing how 8 kids can kill 6 orders, but when it's good it's good. Only thing is that if you want to make a romantic date, well don't. The portions are too big for a 2 man date. If you want to dine here make sure it's a triple date or something.
(4)C L.
The chicken carbonara is very good!
(4)Linda M.
I've been to BdB's in SF and Roseville and this one down the street from Disneyland did not disappoint. We arrived during happy hour, and although it was packed, it was a good experience as usual. My husband had never been to one of these and was thoroughly impressed at how good it was for chain food. The baked ravioli is particularly screamin.
(4)Alfred V.
Wow, the food is great. If you like calimari, this place won't dissapoint. The sauce if comes with is great. The Chicken Marsala is delicious if you like your food/chicken sweet. The pizza is great, its thin crust. The dishes are big proportions and you can definitely share.
(4)red s.
This one is Olive Garden's prettier sister, Italian American food served family style. I liked their decor, almost unique, very interesting. Had the mozzarella caprese (pizzeria mozza's version is way better), prosciutto stuffed mushrooms (yum), spicy arrabbiatta and margherita pizzas (good) and eggplant parmigiana (tasty). The service was quick and friendly. Fun and relaxing night with the whole family awaits you :)--- good selection of food, ideal for large party, yummier than regular pasta joint, generally clean with a nice ambiance feel, free parking :(--- a tad pricier than what you're hoping for, did I mention the dessert?
(3)Patricia W.
So we spent last weekend at Disneyland. A friend of mine lives about 45 minutes away and we haven't seen eachother in a long time so the 5 of us came here for dinner....quite strange. The menu consists of "large" and "small" portions. The large serves a group of 4 and the small 2 people....it's all family style. My BF and I ordered the stuffed shells and a caesar salad, it was ok, not the best shells I have had (I make better ones) My daughter had the mac-n-cheese which was with spiral noodles, I tasted it and it had good flavor. The garlic bread was delicious, I love carbs though so it hit the spot. Would I go back? Yes, but I would try something else.
(3)Michael C.
We held our team gathering at Buca in Anaheim on Labor Day Weekend to meet and greet our runners for Top Of The Mountain Children's Disease Foundation. It was awesome. The place was packed. P.A.C.K.E.D. People were streaming out the door in anticipation of the end of their 45 to 75 minute wait! Thank GAWD we had reservations. This should indicate to you just how good the food is. The food is old style, Italian American food - not really Italian-Italian food, which is considerably more mild than Italian American style. With rich, creamy pesto sauces on al dente pasta (drool!) and spicy pepperoni on their single size pizzas. The salads are excellent and creative. I think I saw someone else mention 'Wine and Beer Only', but I had a Screwdriver whilst awaiting my fearless leader. The place is a bit intimidatingly old school gangster like. But, I'm married to the mob, so I'm alright with it.
(4)J G.
Great place after Disneyland. You will spend as much but better food and DRINKS. Great staff. Will go again.
(5)Jade N.
We were supposed to dine here for our friend's birthday. We came there and we were told to wait 2 hours. No biggie, we should've made a reservation so we were willing to wait. 2 hours later, our little buzzer starts buzzing and we come back to the restaurant. They gave our table away to another group because we were a bit (and by a bit I mean a few minutes) late. We were told to wait around 20 minutes for them to finish. (I doubt they'd be done in 20 min????) 30 minutes passed so we just went off to Red Robin's, and their service was amazing compared to this place. Don't go here. Waste a lot of time.
(1)Silvia D.
Not too impressed! Overpriced for "ok" food.
(2)Darlene J.
We were seated quick for a Friday night. Weren't very happy with our table and our duo server team was very helpful to move us to a booth. Service was incredible; they checked on us often. Everything went smooth and our order was perfect. There was nothing we can do to make it better. Been to many Buccas in CA and MN and this was the best experience yet. This place is worth every expectations. Thanks - servers whom i didn't catch your names. (sorry)
(5)Alan T.
A good place to go if you don't want surprises. If you eat Buca anywhere - it's consistent - and it's good. Good atmosphere - I can look at the pictures on the walls all night. Staff is friendly also. I asked the valet at the local Hyatt how to get to Buca the quickest and he gave me a $10 off coupon (one of a whole stack). I bet other hotels around have the same coupon. A reasonably-priced meal turned quite inexpensive!
(4)Amber W.
This place is awesome! I would have to say that it is my new favorite! When I go I usually have the lasagna and a couple glasses of the house Chianti following it up with a tiramisu to go!!--makes for a fantastic evening. The cannelloni is amazing as well. LOVE IT!!!
(5)Mike T.
Lots of great reviews here! I agree that it's the Italian Claim Jumper. Large family portions that the servers are usually very helpful in assisting you in picking out. The garlic cheese bread and chicken parmesan are very good. Their meatballs are excellent. This place is a good one-time experience. Once you find out that all of that "one of a kind" decor is carbon copied at ALL of their locations, it loses it's luster. Not sure if they still have it, but there's a "Pope Room" where a replica head of the pope sits on your table inside a glass cube. Creepy fun! I've come in and sat at the bar for a few drinks with friends, and it was a nice little getaway. The drinks weren't too terribly overpriced. I haven't been in a while, but when I went, reservations were a MUST for dinner, or you can expect a 30-45 minute wait.
(3)Patrick M.
This used to be my favorite place to do a smack down. I have been to Buca's across the Country. This has been the worst visit, I was aware of the menu changes from my Louisville, KY visit. Now the to the food, the Linguine Frutti di Mare was the worst ever. The pasta was dry, "very little marinara " clams?? I could not tell?? asked for some extra marinara "might as well been linguine with canned tomatoes and mussels around the pasta. Table cheese use to be a good ramono, now a cheep parmesan with fillers. The quality of food has been tragically down scaled and prices raised.
(2)Christine H.
No thanks! I don't think I'll go again. Their ingredients were average to below average. If you want family style, go to magiano's instead.
(2)Grace M.
We stopped by Jan. 1st, 2011, thought we'd make our first dinner of the year something enjoyable. Honestly, we should have gone to Maggiano's or Finbars Italian. The chicken parm used to have a delicious prosciutto on the top but no longer. They also raised the price to approx. $30.00 for just three pieces of chicken! Talk about foul play! Spaghetti wasn't anything memorable and the service wasn't good at all. Had to continually ask for refills and they forgot the bread. It cost three of us $75.00 to eat and we didn't order anything fancy or complex. One salad for three, chicken parm., and a small order of spaghetti. We really left feeling somewhat taken advantage of. I'll pay good money for good food and service, but don't serve me mediocre concoctions and expect us to grace your doorstep a second time. Sad really, their food used to be higher quality. We have no plans on going back, sorry gang! I know this place may have a strong following, but I'm not a follower. The next time I hope to see Bucca di Beppo will be on an episode of South Park, perhaps when Jimmy has a date.
(1)Jack M.
I love buca! I also love the new Yelp reservations system. I used it for the first time while in Anaheim. They were able to seat us within a few minutes of the reservation time. Love the food and the decor! The Lemon chicken is fab!
(4)Nami C.
perfect for big groups huge portions always leftovers~ must try: supremo italiano-pizza mixed green salad chicken caronara-pasta
(4)Joseph S.
We were visiting the area from NJ and were on vacation with our three children. The waitress and hostess were very friendly and helpful. With we were excited by the family portions the restaurant promoted. My wife and I decided to share a veal dish which the menu said would feed two to three people. When the dish came we were surprised to see only three thin slices of veal. Our children had the spaghetti. The portion was OK, but the sauce was very thin and watery. When scooping the spaghetti onto the plates it was difficult to even catch the sauce with the noodles. Meal came to $65 which included the two dishes, soda, and one $6 glass of wine. We also had our picture taken at the booth and were told we would get a complimentary postcard. The photographer came back to the table with two photos of different sizes for between $10 and $15 dollars. The complimentary post card was really a coupon with a small picture of our family printed in the corner. I think they could go a long way to building goodwill by really following through with a reasonable photo, even if they charged for the larger ones. Overall we felt the dinner was a bit high for the portions and food quality.
(2)Charlene H.
Margherita pizza was okay but not greasy enough to be a real Italian style pizza. The baked ravioli was better than the pizza, but not as good as Mama Ds. The ice cream had ice crystals in it and did not seem fresh. The service was extremely slow and the place was not busy. It seemed to be due to a lack of communication between servers. No one seemed to know who was supposed to be taking care of our table. I will not come to this particular location again by choice.
(2)Nicole F.
Good location, friendly staff. This was our 1st time dining here. Food was really really good. In fact we ended up eating here 2 nights in a row. SUPER good giant meatballs, amazing marinara, baked ziti was the bomb.........
(4)Winnie R.
Buca is my favorite Italian franchise restaurant! I guess their food is a hit-or-miss, but what I always order is the linguine fruitti di mare. (seafooood). Love it! I also like their subtle decoration of nude people on the wall. hahaha. Plus, that pope's head that pops out of a table (usually reserved for big party) is somewhat scary/ funny. If you go, you have to try the linguine frutti di mare! Yum!
(4)Jasmine M.
The young kids who work here are charming and like to smile, which isn't a bad thing, but I do get the impression that's really all they know how to do. We've stopped in here a few times during our annual trips down from Seattle, and once I called two weeks out to change existing reservations for 8 to 3 people. When we were seated it was at a table big enough for 10 people. I reiterated the change and we stood there like awkward prom nerds while the tween and her big hair called the front on her headset. The verdict? "No problem, it's okay." Followed by a big smile. So me and my daughter and my mom sat at a big table in a corner of a room full of 10 and 12 tops. Yes, people openly stared, which normally doesn't bother me but c'mon I'm trying to eat here! Despite the chain status, it's not really that tasty here compared to the one in Seattle.The service, though smiley and nice, is slow and often needing to ask multiple times what we ordered.
(3)Mike L.
A place that serves a hefty meal in every dish. I recommend that you bring as many people as much as possible because you will need help in finishing off any of the dishes. The portions are gigantic in every way possible. The meatballs are in the size of a fist. Oh yes, it's true! The pasta are mouthwatering. If you want to try the ravioli, go for it. Manicotti are also awesome. If you want to burst your waist line, then go with the very popular 9 layers worth of lasagna, only Garfield can finish that all by himself. Oh for desert, don't miss out on the Tiramisu. Think of Creme Bulle with rum. That was a hefty meal I must say. It is a great feast for large group of people. The place was a little hard to find as it is surrounded by hotels, but there's plenty parking when you get there, so it's a plus on that. The service was good and everyone try to make you have a good time when you get there. Definitely a great dining experience.
(3)Steven S.
Bomb food!!!! But my adios tasted like cool aid!!! Got food order wrong!!! And the service fuckin sucked!!!!
(3)Sarah K.
It's a franchise. What do you expect? The pasta tasted like spaghettios, the service wholly unremarkable and annoying at times, and the decor is kitchy and epitomizes American consumerisms (which includes other cultures). So why did I come? Because I wanted cheap pasta so I can drink fruity and nasty cocktails with the money I saved on the food. Which is exactly what I got. Extraordinary? No. Average? Very much so.
(3)Brian S.
Great food, service, atmosphere, and location. The Lobster Ravioli was simply excellent!
(5)Ricky S.
Fun for a group- good for kids, and people who like to share big Italian dishes. Prices are fair. On a recent weeknight, the bar was packed- probably a result of this restaurant being smack in the middle of a whole bunch of hotels. Veal Parmesan was tender and tasty, but a bit dry- it could have used a bit more tomato sauce. Also, in an order 'to-go' they threw in some yummy bread, but a little bit of butter would have made it a lot nicer. Service seems good.
(3)David Y.
This restaurant chain offers Italian favorites served family style. Try the Linguini Frutti Di Mare and book a party in the Pope Room. $$
(3)Freshta M.
this place gives u a ton of food for the price its worth it! the food is very good! unfortunately it is a tourist area so they are always busy here so the service was slow and our table was right next to the kitchen very noisy. i recommend a more calm location but the food is amazing!
(4)Louis G.
We were down for the NAMM convention and a few shows. We went here for dinner and drinks. The waiter we had was very helpful. Great service and huge beers. We had 5 people in our party. We had a few main dishes , The lasagna was like 3 foot long & very tasty, Then the ravioli's were just awesome. We ordered meat balls that were just like a pound or 2 each. Mozzarella caprese was the best. I think we'll have to hit this place up again.
(4)N I.
Updating my previous review...although the experience described below will not be erased from memory anytime soon, the fact that buca di beppo management went out of their way to apologize and reach out to me has left me with a favorable customer service experience. Management explained the thorough cleaning services that Bucca restaurants receive on a weekly basis. This was just a very rare and unfortunate incident but I will revisit Bucca again.
(4)Savanna M.
We enjoyed a great casual family meal here while visiting DL. Very friendly and attentive staff! The veal saltambico was delicious. My husband is on a Gluten Free diet, and we were thrilled that they offered a menu outlining items on this diet. Our kids LOVED the atmosphere.
(4)Christopher S.
Well this is the Buca I eat at the most (GG\Anaheim). The family style dining is great and always have plenty to take home for a late night snack or meal the next day. Due to my economic condition right now, I haven't been visiting as much. But one thing I enjoy most is having my server remember me and my guest even if it has been a couple of months. Kevin has done a great job in making me and my guest feel as though we are part of the family and making us enjoy the dining experience. He never makes a person feel bad for using a coupon is prompt with every aspect of the meal.
(4)Nick O.
Service: Dishonest! Food: Soso. This place is what i didn't expect what it would be like. My expectations went too high.
(2)Jesse G.
Very bland Italian food. Great place to come to with a ton of people who don't really care what they shove down their gullet as the portions are extremely huge: you typically order 1 dish per 2-3 people. Food's not bad but not good either.
(3)Brian K.
I went to this place on Father's Day with my family and it was great. The food was delicious and came in large portions. The only thing that was weird was that some lady there asked us if we wanted a picture, so we took it. We didn't know about the picture because it was our first time at Buca di Beppo. Then, the same lady came back and and showed us the picture and said it cost $11. I thought it was a little to much for a picture, but it turned out good so I bought it. Besides that, everything was really good. The waiters were very nice and came to check how we were doing quite often.
(4)Cassy D.
This place sucks.... I've eaten here once and I'm never coming back! Enough said.
(1)Chris N.
The food here is pretty good and they have nice hearty portions. But the decor is God'Awful! I know it's on purpose, but that doesn't make it right. Walls painted blood red, rainbow christmas lights, an ugly bust of the the new pope... It's just too much. I have a headache just thinking about it. And there was a mildewy smelly in certain parts of the place. Was that to properly replicate the basement feel?
(3)Duke D.
Arrived right before closing Sun night as they were locking up the place. They let us in. Good service and very good food. Ordered the braised rib the regular order and thought they must have made a mistake with 2 huge rib without bones and looked more like prime ribs. It was regular order. Did not come with pasta and waitress suggested kid's meal spaghetti which was done perfect pasta with marinara sauce.
(5)Suzn L.
I love their Fruitti de Mare. The chickens in lemon butter is also really good. The portions are really big though so bring lots of people. I don't recommend Tiramisu unless you wanna be liquor up...not really for kids. There's usually quite a wait but it's a great place for family and friends.
(5)Andrea C.
I came here with my boyfriend a few weeks ago. The atmosphere is really interesting and unique! There are so many decorations and old movie posters featuring italian actors/actresses. We ordered the Rigatoni and an appetizer stuffed mushrooms. At first, we were shocked at the prices...$18 for one order of baked rigatoni. However, the portion size totally made up for the prices. If you order the small portion, you will have enough food to feed up to 3 people...3 very hungry people. We had a lot much food left over and were absolutely stuffed! The appetizer came with about 5-7 individually stuffed mushrooms. They're served on top of this delicious pesto sauce. Later, you can dip the complementary bread in the pesto sauce. They do give you some bread to munch on, and you can dip it in olive oil, with pepper. The check came out to about $42 for 2 cokes, an appetizer of stuffed mushrooms (delicious), and a huge order of the baked rigatoni (which could be reheated and eaten the next day!). The food was delicious...The atmosphere was a delight. Everything from the bathrooms to the floor pleasantly reeked of Italian-inspired decore. I would come here again, but this time, I'm bringing more than one other person. In my opinion, this is a pretty cool place to go. Kinda pricey, so I wouldn't recommend coming here if you just want to eat at a restaurant really quick.
(4)Jenny K.
I am embarrassed to say that this place isn't bad for a cheap lunch with friends. Totally tacky, completely overdecorated, total bastardization of true Italian food and fine dining. But for hearty portions and decent tasting food (depending on what you order of course), not a bad spot. The Pope room was a little much even for me and I am not religious. But the food wasn't bad. The pizza was surprisingly tasty. Very thin crust, lots of delicious melting cheese, very light tomato sauce. The Italian wedding soup I had was decent. I found the Caesar salad to be subpar. On the whole a good place for a group meal at a reasonable price. Just be prepared for some serious sensory overload. Those walls, like all Bucca Di Beppo locations, could not be more covered with pictures and other crap.
(3)Clifford Y.
I always get the same thing here. Penne arrabiata with a side of the green beans which are always super crunchy and fresh. I could care less for their other entree's such as their pizzas. the inside is quite unique, really weird pictures. and LOTS of them... the service here is always great, gets packed on weekend nights that isn't really worth the wait so just make a reservation. they do have a bar here, i guess you can chill there while ur waiting. for the price range here it's always a very fulfilling meal here!
(4)Robert A.
Fan of buca di Beppo. Love ther alfredo Chiken pizza. very thin crispy. not saucy but the alfredo taste is really delicious! A must try is the Cheese cake! OMG! dont know how to describe how rich a taste full it is. too delicious to describe. :) waiters are friendly! came with the familly. my 2 year old sisters
(4)Paul P.
Very good food the service was excellent did have a problem with anyone I would recommend it for everyone
(4)Ruel G.
2.5 stars. I had some family visiting from out of town and after doing some catching up at their hotel, we decided to have dinner here. The location was convenient and easily accessible from many of the hotels in the area. The last time I went to Buca di Beppo was many years ago and it was a good experience, but this trip was meh. The food was nowhere near as good as I remembered. The family-size servings were perfect for our group of seven, but the baked ziti was bland, the cheese bread appetizer was globs of cheese with no flavor, and the cannolis were flat-out awful. As far as food goes, I was embarrassed at having chosen this place for dinner, but we had a good time nonetheless. The service was very good, from hostess to waiter, the atmosphere was conducive to big, family-type gatherings, and we didn't have to wait long for a table.To be fair, the calamari appetizer was decent and I did enjoy the chicken parmigiana, but not enough for a return visit.
(2)Ben N.
Food was good, service was lacking. Waiter was never around when we needed him. He did stop by and ask, how's the food, but we haven't even ate yet. Caprese salad was tasty, after I added olive oil, cracked pepper and salt, they must have been trying to save money bc salad only had a small drizzle of oil on the plate. Had to ask for oil, to put plenty on the salad. The biggest complaint, price was TOO HIGH for what you get. I checked prices at Huntington Beach location and it was much lower. SAVE YOUR MONEY, and go to another Buca instead of the Harbor Blvd one.
(2)Erik G.
~ 1.5 miles from Disneyland... standard Buca di Beppo faire. Big groups welcome, seems standardized enough. Nothing overly spectacular. Destination point by virtue of being a lodger of a nearby Hotel.
(3)Barry H.
OK, so we stayed at the Embassy Suites across the parking lot and their restaurant is just fair. I have my dad, wife and three kids 4-9 y/o who are picky eaters with me. Down the street are Morton's and Ruth's Chris and Denny's. What a choice for a group with three picky kids. On a previous visit, after we had tried the hotel restaurant, we got take out from Buca di Beppo and it was decent. In all fairness, I've been to the ones in San Diego before too. We wandered across the parking lot about 6 PM and were promptly seated. The best table in the house is the one in the kitchen. They say it's and Italian thing but I've been to many Italian restaurants before that never had a table in the kitchen. Anyway, they have this at all the B di B's I've ever been to and it's always reserved. I've gotta hand it to them because they've taken what most people generally consider the worst seat in the house and turned it into a popular, sought-after thing. The hostesses were very nice and friendly as was the server. She was very helpful in selecting items. Warning-when they say the portions are big the aren't kidding! We couldn't decide between the chopped Italian salad and the Cesar so we got a small of each. Now my Dad, wife and oldest daughter eat salad as do moi but we had salad coming out of our ears! The other two picky ones were contented with buttered bread and buttered spaghetti-yeach! The adults had chicken with lemon butter and ravioli. It was all prepared well and tasty. The price was reasonable and all of us left full and happy. They don't market B di B as fine dining but more like a family Italian restaurant which is about right. And they do a very good job especially for a chain.
(4)JoAnn V.
We stayed at Embassy Suites (which shares the Buca Di Beppo parking lot) and it was really convenient to have a restaurant that serves hearty meals and that wasn't Disney related. Ordered take-out from Buca's and they had it ready in time. Even gave us paper plates and utensils. The food is yummy and well worth the money you spend. Totally would order food from there again. :)
(4)Ms. Classic C.
I LOVE their home made pizza it's the best nice and fresh and yummy :)The environment was very interesting and creative. Tons of culture display through out the whole restaurant, even in the bathrooms :) great place just to chill and relax with family and Friends.
(5)Kai H.
Went to Buca Di Beppo for the first time last week with a large group to celebrate a friends birthday. The waitress was very friendly and attentive, and always kept us satisfied...Our Glasses were full at all times, even though she was the only server for our party of 35!! That's Talent! The whole staff was wonderful, and the food was delicious. Could have used another server to help with the food, but all in all she did a terrific job. The only reason I deducted 1 star was that the restrooms weren't very clean, the paper towels were empty, and 1 of the managers, seemed to have a bad attitude. I would go back again.
(4)Irene Y.
Buca di Beppo is a family style Italian restaurant...or as the signage on their building says, "Immigrant Italian..." I have yet to come with a group of friends, but I think that would be best. That way, you could order a million things and share (since that's the concept anyway) and be able to try out their selection. Their dishes are either small or large. Small meaning it serves two people, large 4-6. You should probably keep that in mind if you're ordering a lot of food. You can check out their menu online at bucadibeppo.com/menu Overall, the food I've had has been great. First time I came, we had the Pizza Angelo, Gnocchi, and...can't remember but the pizza was very interesting =] corn, potato chips, chicken...you just have to try it. AVOID THE MEATBALLS. Why you ask? They may be giant, delicious round balls of meaty goodness, but they're also 5 bucks each. That's right. EACH. Not worth it. We ordered: -Small Calamari (eh. Ok) -Small Penne Arrabbiata w/extra mushrooms (yummy!) -Meatballs -Small Broccoli Romano TOTAL: 47.36 Leftovers: One meatball, half the broccoli romano, and roughly a third of the penne arrabbiata. I'll be back the next time I'm in the mood for Italian and have the money for it.
(4)Jeff O.
Call them at 7:05pm and I was told no reservation needed and plenty of tables available. We got there at 7:35pm and 30min wait. Food was ok. Waitress came by during dinner with a digital camera and asking if she can take complementary pic for us. We say Yes. At the end of dinner, she came back with the pic and $11 each. I said WTF!
(2)Tom N.
The portions are huge and the food is good. We had the spaghetti and meatballs which didn't have enough sauce, but the meatballs were excellent. The San Remo (pasta with artichoke) was very good... and the baked ziti was also excellent. So overall, if you're looking for a place with a lively atmosphere, good service, and good (but not great) food, this is the place. But since it's near Disneyland, make sure you make reservations, especially if you have a large party. Otherwise, you'll be waiting a long time....
(3)Jennifer M.
I just love this place! Great food and great service! Come hungry- you won't be disappointed! Yes it's a chain restaurant- but I won't hold this against them...
(5)Matthew C.
If you've ever wanted too much food, this is the place to go. I sat at the kitchen table which is the noisiest eating environment I've ever experienced, but it was fun as well. Just remember to order fewer dishes than there are people in the party, or you'll have tons of leftovers.
(4)Clive L.
Lunch style today for biz meet - they gave us our own private room - nice and quiet and as much time as we needed - oh and the food was delicious all round!!!
(4)Maria P.
only been here once or twice in my life. i never liked it until i ordered that shrimp diablo pasta recently. it is soo good. and good place for big families because they do have big portions and as a whole a warm family ambience/atmosphere.
(3)Anonymous K.
bucca di beppo de bappa de poopo. Someone needs to tell them the age old saying, "SIZE DOESN'T MATTER" seriously, this place isn't that great. The only thing that i thought was decent was the warm spinach salad, it was good but over dressed. couldn't finish any of the 4 pasta dishes ordered, thought they were all meh and not worth eating. The meatball was the size of a softball, tasted like one too. can't remember much about the place, and that means it was bad. GO somewhere else, unless you are trying to feed an army, AND get them upset. ok that's overboard, no one is gonna be upset cause you gave them free food from bucca, but thats the only way ill eat it again, it has to be free.
(2)Jonathan E.
Service is normally mediocre at best, but the most recent time I went the service is just awful. I do realize that the servers have multiple tables, but you'd think they would have a max that each server can table. I have no idea how many this poor women was doing, or if she just didn't think that college students were a main priority. Needless to say, got received awful service. Do servers think, "oh these are college students so I won't receive a good tip anyways." This is an awful stereotype that I think most servers have. So they give bad service, which results in a bad tip, which results in strengthening the stereotype that has no solid ground. FOOD IS GOOD! : ) LOL
(3)Estelle L.
I went to Disneyland this Christmas, and didn't want to stay in the park for lunch (god forbid that overpriced food), so we Yelped up a good Italian restaurant. There weren't that many people around that day, which was explainable. I find their "family sized servings" really nice. Anyhow, we ordered a seafood plate (forgot the name), which came with shrimp, calamari, and mussels with a side of tomato sauce. The shrimp were really tender, the calamari was definitely delicious with the tomato sauce, but I didn't try the mussels. I had been craving Alfredo for over a week, so naturally we ordered their "small" serving (could feed over two people!), and to be frank it was really nice. Not overpoweringly creamy and not very salty, but still tasted very good. The food all came at perfect timings and the waiters/waitresses were kind. Definitely satisfied with their food, and their ambiance is very comfortable; this could be a nice place to go for a family meal.
(4)Rach G.
Love this place! Eat at the kitchen table!! Great salads, pizza and of course pasta. Nice place to take a large group too. Everything is family style. And this is not anything like Olive Garden... their red sauce and meat dishes are a lot better than Olive Garden's frozen meatballs (for example). And by the way... try a meatball at Buca's... they are so good!
(4)Craig D.
Noisy place, greasy bland food in large quantity. Nothing really redeeming at all. Not that difficult to make a few pasta dishes or pizza at home. Italian chain places by far are the most mediocre food places to eat, outside of the Trailer Trash American Places like Norms or Dennys. Find a good mom and pop place to support.
(2)Sharon C.
Too much tomato based sauces methinks. I do like their calamari. Their spaghetti is average. Come to think of it, I have yet to have really good plain 'ol spaghetti anywhere. A good place to come with a few people, not too many, not too few. Take advantage of the whole family style thing. Perhaps time to visit again... refresh the 'ol noggin.
(3)ben l.
A magnificent evening of food and service at the Garden Grove Buca. We had my son's and daughter-in-law's wedding rehearsal dinner on 3_19-2010. Yvette Openshaw was just superb in handing all the front end overall arrangements and communicating with us so graciously. At dinner time, Sara was tremendous in making sure we were comfortable and well taken care even with a full restaurant with a wait list. She is a star!. Kevin, Megan and the rest of the team were just magnificent in handling all of our requests. Just super accomodating and so very attentive. Your team in Garden Grove is really the best service that we have had in the times we have eaten at Buca Di Beppo as we have gone to several in the SF Bay Area. Please extend our gratitude to Yvette, Sara, Kevin, Megan and the rest of the team for a truly memorable and wonderful evening. OOPS...almost forgot about the food that was extemely well prepared and tasty. The pasta was done just right in the al dente mode! and the lemon chicken was delicious!
(4)eleanor b.
Disappointing, that describes my experience in one word. Tara was our slow food server. Portions aren't really as advertised, they are tight. We had the Warm Tomato Spinach Salad, barely enough for 2, it was tasty though. The small portion of lasagna was exactly that: small AND dry. Yelch! Good thing I had a $10. coupon, but it was still a waste of $$. I wanted to give it 1/2 a star rating but wasn't allowed. Mac Grill & Olive Garden=way better.
(1)Iris Y.
This is the first time eating at a Buca Di Beppo for me and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I've heard good things about it before, but I just never had the chance to go to one and it was a good decision. Since there were so many various choices on the menu, half our group decided with specialized pasta and the other half decided to go with traditional regular pasta. Little did they know, the specialized pasta would be WAYY better than the traditional. Our waiter was very friendly and took our orders promptly. He made us laugh by telling us that Garden Grove Buca Di Beppo waiters are better looking than the ones at Buca Di Beppo SF. At the end of our meal, he gave a free cupcake to whoever guessed the closest to the total amount of money our dinner was worth. It was a very fun dinner and I highly recommend the margherita pizza. (:
(4)Shane R.
i know that this is a chain that is probably only a step up from spaghetti factory in terms of quality, but i've had various dishes and i've never had a complaint. i like the atmosphere.
(3)Marlana W.
The food is not anything special in particular, but there are a few dishes I love to eat. Last night my boyfriend and I went for the Spicy Chicken Rigatoni since he had a coupon for being in their club or whatever. The waiter we had gave us a bad vibe...We usually get good service whenever we come here but he was just...no. The man who brought out our food did more than he did. Our rigatoni, by the way, was undercooked, and I didn't eat as much of it as I did the last time. Bleh. My boyfriend handed the waiter the coupon once he brought the check, and the waiter said, "Okay write the total on the receipt and I'll be back." Ok, what? Neither of us had a pen, so we just put everything together for him to take to the register. I just knew something was going to go wrong, and it did. My boyfriend was double charged for our undercooked pasta. Nice. We should've stayed at the Brea location despite the 45 minute wait.
(3)Doug B.
Good place to go once. Family-style portions. The decor is pretty fun. The food isn't killer, but it's not bad. I don't think Buca's quite good enough to eat at regularly, but once in a while with a group is acceptable. Don't expect authentic Italian but it's better than Olive Garden. You will eat a lot here.
(3)Alejandro R.
First of all ask for LORAN best waiter in town. Good food I mean lots of good food. I recommend the side of brocolli it was yummmy the Italian sodas are good insanly huge meatballs but any dish is a good dish. A bit loud but a fun environment. Oh and I should mention that the tiramisu is drenched really drenched in dark rum if your trying to get drunk off dessert then this is your pick.
(4)Emberwild T.
Bartender was nice and friendly and the apps came hot and fast.
(4)Monica S.
So my family went today for dinner and I had my $10 coupon, but when I went to use it I was told I couldn't because the code was torn off. So I spoke with the manager Katie Brown, showed her the coupon and she tells me that corporate requires a code bla, bla, bla. I would think an establishment such as Buca di Peppo would have honored the coupon even with the code torn off. It wasn't like I didn't have one. The maanger Katie Brown was unprofessional andkept talking at even when I had turned to go. My family will never eat there again
(1)Kittie P.
Family style Italian. My first experience. Fun concept. Not always a fan of franchise dining; however, this was unique and different. Very eclectic and engaging. Good value even though I was the guest of a very generous host. We were a large party of 15 with a room to ourselves. Great service, very attentive and informative. We ordered a couple of appetizers and approx 8 entrees for our group. More than adequate amount of food. Pesto salmon was very tasty as well as Alfredo. Yummy desserts. Extra fun if you are celebrating a birthday or other special event.
(4)Jen N.
tiramisu is as huge as a D Cup...for a bra i mean - maybe not the best analogy, but take a look and youll see it too. The menu hasnt changed much, and it is very crowded there, youll soon forget that once your food comes. this is the only family style place i know of, and i really like the concept. far different from olive garden or macaroni grill...i suggest getting any of the pastas, the Cesar salad and the garlic bread..with real garlic - not just a powder or garlic salt. oh, and while we were waiting, they served us garlic bread...aww.... anyways - dont skip the dessert!! the tiramisu is strong, but who cares!
(5)Dan Y.
Finally paid our first visit to Buca di Beppo two months ago. The whole family was impressed with the experience,not just the food but the atmosphere and the special attention we got from our server. Some might say this is a big corporation's idea of what an authentic old-fashioned Italian restaurant should be like. Personally I don't care. I've eaten in hundreds of genuine old Italian restaurants,and I love this place. The food was outstanding. It came with delicious bread, all we wanted,and jug wine. Luckily we were staying right next door so there was no limit on the vino. I love plain old red wine,with or without Italian food to go with it,but preferably with. I don't know if all the locations are as good as this one,but I intend to find out. Highly recommended.
(4)Xenia G.
our family loves this place. great service! i signed up for their e-club and for your birthday they send you a free dessert coupon, sometimes they'll send coupons for $10 off $30 or free appetizer so those come in really handy!!! usually we order a small spaghetti and meatballs, it says it can feed 2-3 adults but we always end up taking some home! we also order a small pepperoni pizza. my 7 year old orders a kids' cheese pizza and my 10 year old orders a kids' chicken parmigiana-that one comes with spaghetti as well. the pizzas have a very thin handmade crust [sometimes the shape is off, thin or thicker in certain areas] but its very delicious, i'm positive they use a fresh tomato sauce mixture. i LOVE their spaghetti, it doesn't taste like it comes from a can so i don't care...its delicious and always hits the spot! the only time we had a problem was one time we ordered ravioli with meat sauce, it was so salty :/ we didn't complain but we know not to order it now. the decor is italian kitschy, i love it. makes me feel at home. the bathrooms are even decorated and if you listen carefully, they play some sort of conversation in there. IF you want to do something a bit special, RESERVE the chef's table. its a booth right inside the kitchen. a few of my friends told me that if the chef isn't pleased with an order he sends it to the chef's table for free. that has yet to happen to us [we've sat there twice lol] my sons love it because they get to watch all the action and if you pick up the blue rotary phone beside the table - a recorded conversation plays. sooo cute!
(5)akzidenz g.
woah. so why give buca 1 star? so not necessary. i mean, its buca. all the locations are the same. its a chain. its not gonna be fantastic and authentic italian cuisine, but hey, you go for the portions and its edible. i mean, why else would you come here, for great food? pshhh
(4)lance s.
this place was a block from my hotel(marriott suites) and the food was great! jeff at the bar was quick and friendly and made me feel at home. like other reviews stated-LARGE helpings, so be prepared. all these photos of Sinatra,Joe Dimaggio and Sofia Loren. great wine list enjoy!
(5)Victoria Y.
Before going to Disneyland we ate at the Anaheim Buca - sorry we did. THe Server was aloof and irritated we had a coupon and we had 3 kids (well-mannered I might add) that ordered from the kids menu. Here's a good way to order smaller portions for adults - ask ro order from the lunch menu - that way you have room to enjoy salads and dessert. As the server left he asked if we wanted garlic bread - we said sure. Well, for $11:45 we got a little basket with the most unexcceptional bread I've ever eaten. It was dry, room temperature, with a scant amount of cheese dried onto the bread - NOTHING like the description in the menu. When we mentioned this to the server, he said nothing and just stood there. In the middle of this, a table of about 12 all stood up and left abruptly with raised voices - their server had taken their picture and charged them for it - it was a surprise to them when they saw it on their receipt. They said at least they's like the photo and their server said he gave it to them - apparently not... Very unhappy, joyless atmosphere and employees seem so down and flustered. I'll enjoy going back to Pasadena Buca.
(2)Emily P.
Parking was ridiculous on a Saturday night, I drove around for 15 min and there were literally no spots in the entire lot because of the 4 hotels around the restaurant. Finally we found a security guard who informed us we could park across the street which was inconvenient, so for that I took off a star. Wait time was short for a table, and once we were seated it didn't take long for our food to come, which was really nice. Our drinks stayed filled and the food was really good. Servers were happy and friendly. The whole vibe of the restaurant is really fun. Food portions are huge, so make sure to come hungry!
(4)Bryan W.
In all honesty, I can say that I'm definitely not a food connoisseur for Italian food- it's usually pricy so I go for the low end to moderate restaurants. However, whatever people say about Bucca Di Beppo, I'll always consider it my favorite Italian restaurant, even if it's a chain. When you walk in, you get this homely feeling like you're in Italy. Romantic music is playing, there are beautiful pictures on the walls, and the seating really gives you the sense that you're not home. As for the food, you get a wide selection of items. Sometimes you can ask for the lunch menu during dinner or even on weekends. For portion sizes, in a party of 3-4, get large. If you have 1-2 people, small is enough. I've tried probably half their items, and my favorite pasta dish is hands down the spicy chicken rigatoni. It's delicious and the peppers give it a kick. Other great dishes are the shrimp diavolo and the penne with artichoke. All in all you get a great experience. The restaurant is fun, service is great, food is yum. Also check out the Italian sodas if you have time. Eat well and prosper,
(4)Rob H.
Stayed at the Embassy Suites 100yds away so we gave it a try. Quite spendy for pasta. However the food was very good and our server Roberto was great. Family style serving sizes is a different concept but it works for us. Kids had incredible fettuccine alfredo at a very modest price. Cost is only thing keeping it at 4 stars.
(4)Christine W.
Loved our waiter, he was really friendly and accommodating and did his best to check in with us regularly. The food, while not authentic in the least, was filling and delicious. I loved the decor as well.
(5)Grace C.
I never heard of Buca di Beppo until I was in college, where fatness reigned and just enjoying life (within reason) was a mantra. Although adult responsibilities have kind of butchered the enjoyment of life, fatness still reigns! Fatness sounds awesome. Anyways, we've been to this Buca di Beppo several times. Great parking, as it's situated next to a hotel. When you walk in, everything is decorated in a cluttered and cozy way, which is very similar to all of the other Buca di Beppo restaurants. This Buca is convenient because it's next to Disneyland/California Adventure, as well as the convention center. It's definitely an option if you have large groups, though, if it's only a party of 2, it's pretty accommodating, as well. Truth be told, hubby and I basically only go as a couple when we go to Buca, or we just take items to go. Service has always been courteous. Never a problem here. Food is very good! For the price, though, eh, it's a bit high, but the food is enjoyable. It is family-style, so you will be given a huge plate/bowl of food that you will dish out to your individual plates. I would always recommend looking for coupons, or signing up with the Buca Rewards, as you can get a $10 or $20 off coupon, or even some 10% or 20% off coupon. Plus, $20 off for your birthday! Even with a party of two, our bill comes out to almost $100 with tip, though we do have leftovers for at least 2 to 3 more meals. Bread is soft and fresh. The gnocchi is great. Spaghetti is basic, but the sauce is good. Love any seafood pasta, especially with the spicy creamy vodka sauce (absolute fave!). Appetizers are very good: calamari is fresh, crispy, and not too-breaded, clams (any style) are fresh and nicely seasoned, mozzarella sticks are piping hot and nice and cheesy (that's how they should be!). For dessert, you can't go wrong with the tiramisus, cannolis, or chocolate cakes. For the most part, this restaurant prides themselves in providing comfort foods and they do it expertly. Never had any bad food here at all We'll be back. No reason to not come back other than for our own personal health reasons; very easy to gain a few pounds from the food here, even if we visited only a handful amount of times in a given year.
(4)Christine B.
Buca di Beppo is a great place to take the kids because a 16 year old boy sure can eat! This location is in a tourist heavy section of Garden Grove not far from Disneyland. The wait for dinner wasn't too long and the seating hosts are pleasant. The walls are covered with random pics of Italian celebrities plus others of stuff such as pigeons, a man wearing a fig leaf and crazy dancing folk. The music is kitschy Dean Martin-esque songs and the atmostphere is very casual. Once we were seated our server did a great job of explaining that the food comes in ginormous portions and is served family style. You pick out a dish, for 2 persons or for 4, and in truth you get enough to feed a whole army! We shared the Garlic Bread, Chicken Parmesan and the Spicy Rigatoni and all were tasty and satisfying. For dessert we had the Brownie Sundae and it was HUGE! And it was delicious, with a brownie that was surprisingly moist (you know, the brownie is usually dry on this dessert everywhere else we've ever had it!) and tasty. We went home with leftovers for days!
(3)Rodney S.
"When the moon hits your eye, like a big pizza pie, that's amore." - "That's Amore", Dean Martin Free Colossal Sundae coupon Happy 70th Birthday, Mom! yelp.com/biz_photos/buca… With said coupon in my possession, I made the call to have our celebratory lunch at Buca di Beppo, most of us not having dined here before. Dishes are served either family-style or in individual lunch specials. Complimentary bread & butter w/ oil & vinegar started things off. We indulged ourselves so much, we had 2 refills of it ;p Salmon Sorrento lunch special w/ Italian Broccoli Romano yelp.com/biz_photos/buca… Not a big pasta guy, I chose the salmon Sorrento. Crispy on the outside, yet moist & flaky underneath, the salmon was a healthy & delicious meal of omega-3's. It was enhanced with a lemon butter sauce, along with roma tomatoes & capers. For my side, I chose the Italian broccoli romano. Crunchy broccoli florets kept things green & healthy for me, along with garlic, red pepper & parmesan cheese. Nice lunch choice! Colossal Sundae yelp.com/biz_photos/buca… Okay, here's why I kept my entrée healthy. Because of this bad boy! Consisting of 12 chunks of freshly baked brownies, layered with 6 scoops of vanilla & chocolate ice cream, topped with caramel & chocolate sauce & buried under mounds of whipped cream with a cherry on top, it's the diabetic coma-inducing colossal sundae. Enough for 4 and then some, it was all the more delicious because it was free with coupon. The brownies were moist, the ice cream cold & everything else proved magical. As if you didn't know by now, I finished most of it because I'm a glutton & I don't try to waste food. Hey, I go to the gym & line dance every week. That makes it okay to help myself to this monstrosity, doesn't it? ;p The décor is like Walt Disney meets Salvador Dali. The hostess led us through the kitchen, where I spied a table (which is I assume for VIP's/special guests), and into one of the dining areas. Like a scene from Tim Burton's imagination, it seemed like organized chaos. Like Alice in Wonderland with an Italian twist. Even the restroom's kept with the theme of the décor. Speaking of which, as I went to use the restroom, my eyes spied the Pope Room- yelp.com/biz_photos/buca… A circular room with a corresponding round table, complete with a lazy Susan & a bust of Pope Francis, I must say, it was kinda creepy. Having a meal with a Pope Francis bust looking down on my antipasti seems rather awkward. But, to each their own, I suppose. Service was great! The young lady attending our table didn't bat an eyelash as we asked for more bread. She was quick with drink refills & extra plates. The staff sang a birthday song to my mom when they brought out the colossal sundae. Parking is in a private lot. I actually passed by going north on Harbor, so keep your eyes peeled. First time here & I had a great time. My salmon Sorrento lunch special hit the spot & the colossal sundae gives me the motivation to work out & dance even harder to burn it all off. To reiterate, the service we experienced was great & the décor was surprisingly visually appealing. I don't foresee myself frequenting Buca di Beppo often, but if my inbox holds another complimentary offer, then I wouldn't mind coming back and giving a fist bump to the Pope. That is, if his bust had hands ;p Recommend! NOMNOMNOMNOMNOMNOMNOMNOMNOMNOMNOM
(4)Angela R.
Whenever I'm feening Italian food, Buca was always one of my number one choices. Their chicken pesto and chocolate cake are my ultimate favorite at this place. Though this place is not a traditional Italian restaurant, their food is pretty decent and the ambiance is cute and cozy. I prefer this place over Olive Garden any time, though some people may differ. I think it has a little more flavor overall. Last night the fam bam decided to go have dinner here and we had a horrible experience. First of all they "revamped" their menu and removed my favorite dishes the penne basilica and penne arrabbiata!!! Why in the world would they do that?! We were so disappointed when we first found out. Ugh! Some restaurants are willing to make it for you even tho it's not longer part of their menu but not at Buca. Our waiter was a little rude about it when we asked if they could make it for us. I'm extremely disappointed and whoever made the executive decision to take those two things off the menu made a huuuuge mistake.
(2)Christopher B.
I had an amazing experience here with my good friend Crisol that treated me to a birthday weekend at Disney and dinner at a few restaurants, this was one of them. The service was on point and the food was delicious.
(5)Artie L.
Family style Italian food! We got the usual tour of the kitchen when we got seated at our table. We really liked being seated immediately when we arrived. The chicken parmigiana was nicely prepared. It was juicy and lots of flavor. The linguine Alfredo was ok but did not have any taste. It needed some salt and pepper and more cheese. Our server Danica was very nice and checked on the dinner a number of times to inquire about the food and to see if we were okay. We were seated in the wine room. The ceiling is decorated with old wine bottles. Some of the pictures on the walls are always fun to look at. Nice place to go for a decent Italian meal
(4)Aaron C.
Our server Enrique was extremely polite courteous and professional he gave great recommendations on the foods that we should try or there common favorites of the other guess we ended up eating the chicken Prosectio the sausage with peppers and some of the calamari for appetizers. I would definitely come again because the service and the food were both excellent
(5)Celeste B.
A great place to bring a large group. They have some delicious dishes and some just average ones but the environment is fun and casual. There are a wonderful salads that will serve an army. Both the Cesar and antipasto one are tasty. Entrees are humongous. My favorite is the eggplant parmesan. Cooked perfectly with a tasty sauce - rich and decadent treat. I found the spaghetti and meatballs very disappointing. Definitely worth a try.
(3)Jennifer P.
WOW - what a turn for the better from my last experience at the Pasadena location! We came here for my son's 20th birthday. As a family of 4, we shared: Spicy Arrabbiata pizza Cesar salad Italian Broccoli Romano Prosciutto stuffed chicken Fettuccine Alfredo Garlic bread Yeah, it's a lot of food but man, we can all eat and my boys can E A T. That said, we had plenty of leftovers for the next day. The entire experience was amazing. Our waitress, Maria or Marie, I can't remember (not because she was bad but this was in January people!) was amazing! From start to finish, she took excellent care of us. I was weary of ordering either too little or too much food and she counseled me through the entire transaction. She assured me that my order would be more than enough food and I trusted her. SHE WAS RIGHT. They gave my son a HUGE brownie sundae for his birthday dessert. We barely put a dent in that thing but it was so much fun trying! I can say, without reservation, that this was the BEST experience we've had Buca, to date. We will be back to this location, for sure!
(5)Natalie B.
My fiancé and I went here and got food poisoning- they refused to refund us even though it was obvious that we had gotten it from there. I won't be returning, duh.
(1)Cindy G.
Olive Garden who? If there were more stars to give I would . :) I highly recommend the penne pasta with rosa sauce (add chicken)
(5)Stacey M.
Over-rated. Pasta was really spicy and not listed that way on the menu, therefore half of our party wasn't able to eat it The Chicken Parmesan was just okay. I've had better. For the price...I would expect excellence and got a little below Olive Garden quality.
(2)Bianca U.
I have been to this location a few times while visiting Disney. I like Buca's food more than Olive Garden and the atmosphere is totally kitsch. As much as I like Buca this location leaves a bit to be desired. The parking lot gets packed because it is shared by other hotels and during peak season for Disneyland you can count on a very long wait time and a very full parking lot. They have call ahead seating, but even that is a gamble. Every time I have been here, but especially on my last visit, it has been incredibly loud. So much so that you are yelling to talk to the person directly across from you. This is a restaurant geared towards families so there are lots of kids here and at night the noise level is almost unbearable. The servers are cordial but sometimes the wait to be seated and the wait for your meal can be tedious. The last time I ate here it took at least a half an hour to get the bill on top of the noise and a kid behind us kicking our booth. I've had good meals here and because their portions are 'family style' (read: big enough for at least two hungry adults) I was able to take leftovers back to my room. At lunch they have smaller portions/lunch specials but they won't serve these at dinner time. If my very picky Italian family likes the food here then I figure it can't be all bad. This is probably one of the better family chain restaurants in the area in terms of price and food quality.
(3)Candice M.
This was my first time coming here, and to be honest, I felt it was a little pricey despite the dishes being "family size." Came here with my sister and boyfriend and ordered the seafood pasta (I forgot the name of the dish) and the lasagna. Our bill came out to be about $61, which isn't bad given the portion, but my problem seemed to be more about technical stuff. First, I don't like how the menu and portions are structured. As students, $20-$30 per dish is a bit pricey - especially when you're out with two other people who may or may not like the same dish as you. I suppose the restaurant is smart in this aspect, in which customers are tempted to order more than one dish for some variety - making an extra 30 to 60 dollars in one sitting. They give you complementary bread, though, and the service was average. The food came out fairly quickly, and my only complaint is that the lasagna was dry. Food was good but I didn't find myself thinking, "Wow, this was worth the price!" So overall, decent food and portions, and the decor is nice. The waiters and waitresses do this fun mini-tour as they're bringing you to your table. I probably won't come here to eat again but my sister swears by this place. Also, parking is pretty difficult to find. Especially since this area gets packed.
(3)Theresa M.
The food was alright. Not worth the price. Was disappointed that I was denied alcohol because my id is vertical instead of horizontal even though I'm 22.. Which is ridiculous! Don't celebrate your 21st birthday at Buca!
(3)Erika G.
Omg!! The food was so amazingly delicious! It's family style so the portions are big, that's why it's so pricey. we ordered the small bowls. I had the spicy chicken rigatoni, it was the right amount of spicy and flavor was perfect! We ordered the salmon and wow! It was to die for. The Cesar salad was delicious like always, I love Cesar salad. The stuffed mushrooms sauce was the perfect topping to the stuffed mushrooms and the red sangria was my favor drink. The server was so welcoming and friendly, he made the experience great! I came here for my birthday and I did inform them I was there for that reason after being ask if we were there to celebrate anything, I didn't get a happy birthday song like the other customers. :( I don't know if I was suppose to request it but that's awkward to ask someone else to sing you a birthday song lol but Regardless i would like to return one day.
(5)Kirsten O.
The food is always so delicious. This particular visit our server Brian was excellent! Very very attentive!
(5)Matt C.
Worst Buca di Beppo I've ever been to first off the server was bald secondly they brought out my spaghetti meatballs and the meatballs were just falling apart he had no stick to that lady just probably will just bring mom some ground beef and the sauce was dinner and let's not forget about the soda it was salty I would not recommend going but I would not recommend going to go even though I enjoy Buca di Beppo's generally overall this one is there right
(2)Robert M.
Went with in laws to experience all what I was told and OMG! Food was incredible and WAY more than we could eat. Over the top best food and service thus far. Will return for sure.
(5)Brian A.
Dishes are only served family style. If you're lucky enough that everyone in your family likes the same thing this might work for you. If not you are going to end up with leftovers that are over priced. Remember to ask for the "complementary" bread. If you order an appetizer they do not bring it to you. The service was poor our waitress didn't seem to realize we where sharing. Which is odd cuz that's how their menu is set up. The prices are outrageous for what you get. We ordered a chicken dish for two. It cost 27 and was 3 pieces and if you wanted sides that cost extra as well. Ended up being $50 for chicken and mashed potatoes. Seasonings where lacking and no salt and pepper on the table, apparently not in the kitchen either. My two teens had Fettuccine Alfredo that was bland and boring. Then they send someone around to bother you and take your picture. Then they harass you again at the end trying to sell you the pics.
(1)Stacy F.
2.5 stars I've been waiting to write this review and trying to decide how to approach it. We did a search for Buca specifically so we could have a date night and we usually enjoy their locations and thought this would be a good pick. We arrived and there was a little bit of a line, so we knew there was probably a wait. We were told it would be a 20-30 minute wait time, not too bad so we decided to sit it out. However, we ended up waiting 55 minutes and had to ask where we were in the line twice. The front desk host offered no apology or explanation despite my husband explaining that we'd waited nearly double our promised time. He just told us that we had three ahead of us still and they'd "get to us when they could." Not a great start... We were then seated in a completely empty area, that sat roughly twenty people, with no one at any of the tables. We waited about ten minutes for a server to come over. Our server Brittany was really awesome once we got her! We explained to her our disappointment with all that had happened so far. She was really quick to apologize despite it not being her fault at all, and was sure to take good care of us going forward. We had spaghetti and meat sauce which was good and came out quickly since Brittany put a rush on it for us. When we placed our spaghetti order we decided on the Mount Vesuvius dessert and ordered that since we know it takes time to make due to it's design. Found out after we finished eating our main meal that they were out of the Mount Vesuvius. Sigh. Brittany got the manager for us, without us asking for it, and explained to her about our wait time and the dessert being out, which wasn't discovered until we were done and ready for it. The manager did offer us another dessert, which we declined to take (we were really just ready to leave and be done here). In the end the manager ended up comping our meal, which was very nice of her, but then we ended up having to scramble for cash since we certainly didn't want to leave Brittany without a tip since she was the saving grace to the whole mess. They really did try to make it better, but we won't be back to this location, which is a bummer since it's the only one within driving distance to us. Overall: C Make a reservation. You will probably wait longer than the promised time. It's a tourist hot spot, so it's a little chaotic with parking.
(2)Randall N.
Mehhh... Just mediocre at best. After walking around Disneyland all day we decided this would be a good choice for 'yummy' dinner. There was no wait at 8pm and we were seated quickly. Our waiter was attentive and was helpful navigating the menu. We ordered Fried calamari- just ok, a bit too many tentacles for my liking. The marinara sauce was bland. Spicy chicken rigatoni- this dish was flavorful and just right spicy. Not too hot or bland. Chicken pieces were few and far between. Cheesy garlic florentine bread- yummy, for sure! No complaints. Lasagna- sad and mushy. Noodles were overcooked and didn't require you to chew them at all. Skip it! Adult beverages were mixed well and price point was average. I will probably go here once more just to be fair with my review.
(4)Sheryl I.
Showed up on Mother's Day without reservation and only had 30 minute wait. Server was very nice! Mozzarella bread delicious as was the antipasto salad, chicken saltimbocca and penne al forno. Huge sizes. Don't need to order large for 3 people.
(4)Josh S.
We sat at the kitchen table. It was definitely something my daughter loved. Good was good. Service was also good. If I had a negative point it would be the brownie Sunday was not as big as the one on the desert table but it was plenty big for the 4 of us not to finish.
(4)Zombie C.
Great food & awesome service! We loved the atmosphere and the liveliness of the place. Not at all stuffy or uptight like other restaurants. We were definitely able to enjoy ourselves. Our food was delicious and drinks were even better! Verona Punch is a must try, but watch out! The alcohol sneaks up on ya half way through the glass! Would without a doubt recommend BDB to my friends & family!
(5)Ulysses Anahi D.
Pros: friendly staff, they're informative, and let I'd know portiond are huge. Lasagna and fettuccine was very good. Cons: cold bread, hard browney, spaghetti is no good, apple gorgonzola salad is average And overpriced. Overall it's a good place.
(4)Michelle D.
Came here about a year ago. We were new to the area and were exploring the different restaurants nearby. I love pasta, so I decided to make a reservation at their chef's table, which is located in their kitchen. Our server was horrible. No wine knowledge and treated us like second class citizens. Service was slow, and food was mediocre at best. We have not been back since and have no intention on ever going to any of their locations.
(1)Robert L.
Good food and atmosphere, a bit noisy but the food makes up for the noise. Spent the evening with my mother-in-law who loves this place and requested it for her 75th birthday. She enjoyed her dinner and the family that attended. Happy Birthday Barb.
(5)Ana B.
So, this is my second trip to Buca. The manager was so kind to send me a $50 gift certificate after seeing I last had a bad experience, so that's very good on their part. So my actual experience at the restaurant: My boyfriend and I sit down and the waiter comes... and the odds must have NOT been in our favor because who do we get? Josh. The same bad server we got last time. Now let me tell you, food was great (we ordered Fried Mozzarella and Baked Ziti) and it was served in a timely manner. BUT THE WAITER WAS JUST BAD. You can't enjoy your food when you have such a bland, un-charismatic, waiter who looks like he just wants his shift to end. Ugh. Oh well. Other than that everything was great. I was very happy that a VERY kind and outgoing photographer took pictures of us. I purchased two for $20 along with the complimentary post card, not bad in my opinion. Would I come back? Maybe....
(4)Carol B.
Always a fun place to bring a crowd! We brought the staff who was here for the Dental Convention, and as always, this place makes for a grand party! Good (not great) food, but with this many, a perfect place to celebrate! LOVED the STAFF!
(5)Sam P.
Order: Calamari: I think it was very good the marinara was also good. Note that there is spice in the flour/breading that made it so my son, who loves calamari, wasn't able to eat it. Prosciutto stuffed chicken: I can't say that it didn't have a decent flavor but, there was absolutely no prosciutto, let management know so they sent out a new order...same issue. I am not sure if they have a prep cook stuffing these or if they order them regardless whoever is stuffing them needs to find a new job. 1 out of 6 had a little bit of prosciutto Rosemary Potatoes: Terrible I thought they would be roasted but, they were fried. So greasy. Blue Moon: Out, had to get a Stella Kids cheese pizza: Was good Overall: Disappointed. For the price there are several amazing Italian restaurants that worry more about quality vs. quantity
(2)C C.
I am a big fan. The pasta carbonara is really delicious. Big family style. But i do like going here sometimes by myself and enjoy the ambiance and just eat. Then since the servings are bigger, i am always sure there are something more for dinner. The servers are nice and acommodating. Oh also make sure you come in before 5pm so that you don't have to wait long. Since this is a real popular place. Also sign up for their eClub because they send out 10$ coupons if u buy something worth 20$. So you save half off. This is the only way I can go and afford this place. Plus if there's 2 of you, then you only pay like 5$ for one regular entree. The house bread is free anyway. Enjoy buca.
(5)Elizabeth S.
The last time we were there, my husband and I were enjoying our anniversary of dating. The food was okay. Some of the ingredients to my salad were missing. I felt my salad was over priced on top of that, I mean almost $15 for a salad with a tiny piece of chicken on it. Come on. After the meal was done we tried to use a discount we had been using for a long time and they said they don't do that discount anymore. When we asked when they stopped it the server told us 3 years ago, which we knew was wrong because last summer we used it. Down hill food + poor service = not going back again
(2)Nijole T.
Honestly, I never got the hype of Buca di Beppo. I see it as a step above Olive garden. Service is never great, only ok. It's always full and I think pricey. We had the veal parmigiana, a salad, pasta and garlic bread, as menu items are shared family style. The food is filling, but we ordered a large of everything and were only 2 plus a child and polished it off, especially when it comes to meat items, order up, sides can be easily shared. All was fine, but nothing I can't make better at home or feel a need to rush back for.
(3)Andrew P.
Food was good, waitress was great. Hostess told us we would be seated shortly and we waited for 25 minutes before seeing several walk-ins get seated before us and we asked to be seated. We had a reservation for 30 minutes later, but she said no problem, we'll seat you shortly. Worst part, they sat us at a crappy table by the bar where every server enters orders. On purpose, no doubt. Word to the wise young hostess, COMMUNICATION and setting appropriate expectations will make happier customers.
(2)Mary N.
A big thank you to Jen and I believe her name was Karen for taking care of me. I wasn't able to get a refund which is fine but they made sure I got a meal on the house. Thank you very much ladies.
(5)Dory N.
Honestly. For the price, I would rather make the dishes at home. I don't think it's worth it at all. The interior of the restaurant is interesting, you have to look at the restroom. On the way to the restroom, you'll see a head on a table. That totally freaked me out, I almost peed my pants on the way to the restroom.... Anyways. The food was dry, the salad was nothing special. I was not really impressed with my visit. I ordered a Alfredo fettuccine and spaghetti + 2 salads.
(2)Diana W.
Its always fun eating here. LARGE PORTIONS as usual! =) Italian chain restaurant around SoCal, decent and tasty....definitely a great deal when coming with large parties. Meaning...come in a big party unless you want leftovers for days haha They also have a cute couples table, I mean it fits more than 2 people but its uniquely decorated as opposed to all other booths. Food wise, pretty darn good for being a chain restaurant... but yes it is Americanize because it is a chain restaurant. You have to go to mom/pops place for authenic italian food.
(4)Elizabeth T.
PROS: - The portions are huge so it's ideal for big groups or families to share. - I had pasta and veal. The food tasted OK. - The ambiance is homey. CONS: - The portions are huge so you don't get to try out a variety of different dishes if you're only a party of 2. - All the Italian foods are cheesy and high in calories.
(3)Whitney M.
four years ago, I went here after my highschool graduation with the fam bam a party of 8 or so if I can remember.... So we waited outside to be seated as we wait for my siblings to come. I'm only thinking mainly pasta when I came here idk why lol and I don't like pasta that much. The atmosphere was really tight and the table was like a picnic table with the red plaid sheets covered over them. I didn't like the seating, it felt uncomfortable. Im guessing this restaurant is family orientated cause of their culture haha I don't have a lot of knowledge about Italians but that's what the theme seemed like. The service was so great because our server was very uplifting and so smiley. The food took quite a while it did take long cause we ordered so much food. Pasta, pizza, spaghetti, garlic bread and calamari and oh my god there garlic bread and calamari appetizers are to fucking die for! It was soooooo good ! But their food is really greasy just to warn you if you got an easy stomach. I'd come back only for a special event cause its really expensive but well worth it.
(4)Jeff A.
Not a place we will come back to. Servers complaining about their shifts. No thank you after the meal. Just not good. I don't like feeling like I'm wasting people's time.
(1)Nam B.
Wholesome Italian food, but have no distinctively. The portions are family size, made to share and you can also reserve a romantic table right in the kitchen.
(2)Reyna J.
Went yesterday for lunch after a doctors appointment. Being pregnant when your hungry your hungry! With that said stopped in and within 5 minutes was seated. Due to my prego belly I asked for table and hostess was so nice to comply with request. Server came right out his name Mikey. Such a sweetie. My mom and I ordered strawberry ice tea which was so delicious. Then ordered antipasto salad lunch portion which is enough for two, penne San Remo yummie . Food was nice and hot!! Had a slice of raspberry cream cake man had to take it home. Loved the service and just over all cozy feeling. Try to get there before lunch rush and nice and quite. Ask for Mikey best server there.
(4)Brett B.
Haven't been here in a while, and the last time we were, the server was better. Our waitress, Demi, gave off a strange vibe, at least we perceived that. She brought out a basket of cold bread. When she returned 10 minutes later to take our order, I asked if Buca normally served bread cold with no butter. She said that they do, as it comes with oil & vinegar ( which she just hadn't gotten around to bringing yet). She said it in a tone which sounded like she was perturbed that I asked. The food was good, just overpriced. I've been to this location before, and the service has been pretty good. This was just an experience that didn't meet out expectations. The next day we ordered a small pizza for takeout. For $16 we received a pie that was pretty small. Sure they say a small is 9 slices, but the slices are rectangular shaped.
(2)Mercy T.
To be fair, I'm writing this review based on the food that came with the banquet deal my group purchased. Service was prompt and above average, but nothing too special. I was seated promptly as soon as I arrived. Our servers did what they were supposed to do, but they didn't seem too enthusiastic about their jobs. I'm just being picky here, but I do like waiters and waitresses who talk with a smile and act like they actually give a crap. I wish I could give the pasta no stars. Let's start with the angel hair pasta with tomato sauce. I mean seriously, did I just pay $20 to eat a can of tomato sauce dumped over some boiled pasta from a box? It tasted bland and watery. Ick, I'd take a frozen dinner over that any day. Moving on to the fettuccine alfredo. Again, a can of cream dumped over a box of pasta. You get the idea. The chicken parmigiana, however, was actually decent. Nothing special, though. Ambiance and decor was a bit weird for me. Odd pictures on the wall. Not sure what they're trying to convey here. I don't get why this place is "a step above" Olive Garden. Maybe I just ate all of the wrong stuff. I think it's safe to say that I'll be sticking with Olive Garden... at least their Ravioli di Portabello has flavor.
(2)tina a.
This is only the second time I have been to this restaurant chain but it is fun enough to go back to again. I like when they seat you they give you a "tour" of the restaurant. You walk through the kitchen part where they show you all the gargantuan sized deserts and you see people cooking. Since I consider myself a "foodie" and would love to get in a working kitchen, this was fun to see. The tour showed us different named rooms (all cool Italian of course) and then we were seated in a nice quiet booth. The server was great. Friendly, comfortable, didn't have to work at it. Those are the best ones. I only went with my daughter so we got "small" portions of everything. On one hand I would say it doesn't pay to go with just two people as you pay for big portion sizes even if there are only two of you BUT we got "small" stuffed canneloni and the plate only came with 4 small ones, 2 each. Do not see how three people could have shared that and been satisfied. I wanted to get a salad but again just for the"small" (which says it feeds two to three) was between 10-15 dollars. A lot for a side salad I thought so we passed. We got cheesy garlic bread which was good, not OMG this is amazing, but good. So for canneloni, bread and sodas our bill for two with tip was 43. I thought a little pricey but good food. If you haven't tried family style it may throw you off and I think you definately end up spending quite a bit when trying to navigate how much to get for the people in your party but overall, great food and a fun experience so I will be back.
(4)Tony A.
My family and I visited this Buca Di Beppo's on Tuesday November 22, 2011 for lunch. The food was just okay, but their house Chianti is great. I guess I can finally say "what more can you expect from a chain restaurant." Our server Laura was outstanding and very attentive.
(3)Suga B.
Food was good service was good... And I received this all on Christmas Day. No bad.i will say if you make reservations more then one week in advance to call back and confirm. I made mine 2 weeks in advance and they didn't have the reservation ... But I showed them my call log and they honored my time.
(4)Jamie V.
Buca Di Beppo is just a fun place to go. Especially if you have a big group. We had a party of seven. I rolled over to the bar while waiting for our table. The bartender asked to see my ID. Yes, I got carded at Buca Di Beppo in Garden Grove. Jamie V.- Shot of Jack and a Peroni please. Bartender- I need to see your ID sir. Jamie V.- I'm old enough to be your father son. (He just got sonned, urbandictionary.com/defi… ) Bartender- I just need to be sure sir, your ID? Jamie V- If I looked like I do now at age 20, I'd be dead by now. I'm 46 years old young man. Bartender- Blank stare. Okay fine! Our order: Large pepperoni pizza Large mixed salad Calamari Fritti Chicken Penne San Remo Chicken Piccata Green Beans with lemon. Everything was really good and our table had a blast. I think they changed the pizza sauce and started adding too much romano cheese. Please go back to the old recipe. It was money (at the expense of sounding like Guy Fieri). After I convinced them I was more than twice the legal drinking age they kept the Peroni's and Jack coming. Good times.
(4)Jose E.
I came here with my friend soon to be my girl and the food was good nothing more than what i expected but the service was amazing ! Ashley is the best she came to our table at least 15 times making sure we were having a good time , 4 stars because i wasn't that impress with the food .
(4)Alodie D.
This Buca di Beppo location turned me off. It doesn't have the star quality as the one in Santa Monica which is a shame. Pros: *The Eggplant Parmigiana is really good (better than Olive Garden IMO) and the decor, like always, is excellant. Now to the bad news... Cons: *Unlike the Santa Monica location, this Anaheim location doesn't give out free bread. To add, Idk why my family insisted on getting garlic bread with cheese. It was a whopping $12 and it wasn't good at all. I could make better ones at home. *The spagetti that came with my eggplant parmigiana was too watery and didn't taste good. Again, I could have made better spagetti at home. *I was celebrating my 25th birthday and a bunch of employees came up to my table to sing to me. One employee brought chandelier with 3 candles lit and they started to sing. As I was getting happy in this moment I noticed one of the employees in front of me have a birthday dessert. I was like wow this is cool until they ended the song and went to another table to sing and give the cake. I was so confused at the moment and my family was like "you don't get a cake." I didn't complain and just got the check on left. It is not until now when I checked on Yelp and found out that they don't give free bread, mentioned earlier, and complimentary birthday dessert. Fine they don't do that but please don't show me a cake in front of me, sing to me, and go away. Unfortunately this experience left a bad taste in my mouth and life and I do not plan on going here again. Thanks for the memories, BDB.
(2)S M.
Let me start off by saying, I had been to another Buca di Beppo at a different location a few years ago and it was an amazing experience, but this experience was over the top. We were greeted by our waitress, Ashley who was very friendly and got our drinks right away. She made amazing suggestions for both food and drink. Our food came out faster than expected, we ordered the penne chicken pesto pasta along with the mozzarella garlic bread, both are a MUST have. I also ordered the peach Bellini and I would definitely recommend it. The food was amazing but the service from Ashley is what made our night. Not to mention it was my 21st birthday and she definitely made me feel special on my big day! We will definitely be returning to this location and will be asking for a seat in Ashley's section the next time we are in town.
(5)Matthew M.
I'm writing this with one eye open due to the food coma it has induced. The spaghetti with meat sauce was thee bomb! Flavorful and intense! We started with the caesar salad and the friends added lemon juice to it and it made it pretty tasty. Then no italian meal is complete without some pizza, our choice was the italiano supremo, which was packed with different italian flavors from the pepperonis right down to the crust being on point! Overall a great experience...qpiunapiuwnavp (that was my face hitting the keyboard)...thx buca.
(4)Miguel R.
Visited the restaurant with a group of fellow musicians. There are two parts to this review, the place and the food. The decor and ambiance of the place was awesome, as soon as the guest walks in he or she gets the home feeling to the restaurant. The host led us through the kitchen into the dining room, pretty cool start to the evening. The walls are covered in pictures and mementos that make you feel as if you are in an Italian home. Then there's the food. The drinks were alright, specially the Italian sodas which have a creamy taste to them. There are two sizes of food, small (feeds 2) and large (feeds 4+). The friend whom I paired up with and I ordered the baked rigatoni (rigatoni with spicy Italian sausage and marinara sauce topped with mozzarella and ricotta, and of course baked). Upon arrival it looked promising, the melted cheese popped out the red plate of pasta. The pizzas and other foods of those around us also looked delicious. We were starving, so we dove in, it's wasn't pleasing. The sauce lacked a bit of flavouring and the sausage quantity was a small one. The rigatoni wasn't al dente, it was a bit undercooked. The plate was a little less than warm, it wasn't hot as if it had been baked. We decided not to finish it. We ordered dessert, the colossal brownie sundae and it was better than the entree. The food was really not worth the price, the small portion of our entree was $29.99. Anyway, overall it was an alright experience, mainly because of the ambience that the place emanated.
(2)stephanie p.
Granted we ordered take out because this place was right in our parking lot, and honestly I have never eaten here, so we tried it. We did the 3 item appetizer and a small spaghetti and meatball, oh my goodness, the calamari was wonderful especially on take out, sometimes it gets soggy not this one. I would highly recommend eating here versus the restaurant inside embassy suites, it is so much better and cheaper!
(5)Linda C.
Bring everyone you know in large groups because large portions are a way of life here! We enjoyed sharing the salad and a couple of pasta dishes (everything is good!). So worth it! The women's bathroom has some crazy, fun photos from the 1950's---! We rolled out if there feeling satisfied and will remember this culinary experience!!!
(5)Jonathan P.
Food was delicious...service was slow at first, but began to pick up right around when the larger tables left...Food came out on time and was on point in flavor...texture and temperature was also just right the usual at a franchise restaurant...the facilities wasn't too on par and our table became cluttered with extra plates which took away from the presentation value of the food. Last what's with the pictures? I don't think pictures and food go together while I'm eating...meaning don't bother me with money until I get to the bill..
(4)Monica N.
I had the responsibilty of planning a holiday luncheon for 12 people. I've done this many times, not a big deal...chose the Brea location for geographical reasons and communicated with a catering person via email to set up everything. I've have never been to a Buca di Beppo before, not a fan of chain restaurants...but this was a great experience. They send you a menu, you make your selections according to your budget. We had a vegatarian in our group, not a problem at all. I ordered and paid for everything before I even set foot in the restaurant. Seriously, I could have skipped the luncheon took off to the neighboring Brea mall and the event would have ran itself. The staff is so professional and accomodating. Everything is served in mega-generous portion sizes (that's why we're a chubby country of Americans!) and was perfect.
(5)Shannon F.
If I had to rate this restaurant based on the decor alone, there its no doubt I would have given it one star. garish is the perfect word for the wall displays here. At least I think there were walls, but I never saw them due to the tacky photos and memorabilia that were on display. I mean, I seriously could have done without looking at a giant (and I mean giant) photo of women in their bathing suits participating in a spaghetti eating contest. If I were Italian, I would be protesting this place. Now on to the food. Ya know that salad at olive garden that I swear they put crack in the salad dressing to make it that much more addictive? This stuff was as good or better. And the eggplant was the best I have ever had. Aside from the decor, the restaurant lost one star for another reason, the fettucine Alfredo. I felt it was just not up to snuff. It was edible and all, it just wasn't my bag. It tasted like the cheap Alfredo sauce that you can buy for two bucks in a jar at the supermarket. the cannolis were good, but something really has to wow me for me to eat a lot of it after a big meal. I'm not sure if they do this all the time, but they took a bunch of photos of us that were available for sale after our meal. One last thing about the setup, they have it setup as if you were literally eating in someone's house. It had a bunch of tiny rooms with for of five tables instead of one big room. This was bad as it acted as a maze, literally zig zagging through to the point that you don't remember how you got there. I had to ask for directions on how to get outside! All in all, I would return.
(4)Ashveen S.
Celebrated my birthday here yesterday at lunch. The food was GREAT! The server recommended the quantity we should order (since we did family style for about 15-20 people) and it was just the right amount. The only thing was that the service was kind of slow, but think that had to go with the size of our party. I would definitely go back because the food was DELICIOUS. I recommend the antipasto salad, the pasta alla vodka and the shrimp diavanti. YUM!
(4)Sophie D.
The ambiance is terrific if you're looking for a great dinner with family and friends. Our entire group had made reservations a week prior to the event. After a conference, we headed here for dinner. Although the restaurant might seem small from the outside, it was quite posh and comfortable. It did manage to seat all hundred or so of us. The salads were fresh and the bread was soft. Our table devoured the loaf in seconds and we received a second, third roll. The balsamic vinegar and oil dip were fantastic complements. The entrees came; the set menu included fettuccine alfredo, pasta marinara, and chicken parmigiana. The bowls/plates were huge! The pastas were quite standard; I thought that, by themselves, they lacked flavor. Call me strange, but mixing the red sauce with the alfredo created a hybrid sauce that tasted better than the originals. I'd never tasted chicken parmigiana before, but Buca's dish was pretty satisfying. It wasn't as crunchy as I'd hoped, but there was plenty of flavor. It wouldn't hurt to have a bit more mozzarella on top of the chicken, either. For dessert we each received a small piece of chocolate cake. At first, I thought it was a rather small portion. I soon discovered that a few bites had already satiated my sweet tooth. It was delicious, but incredibly rich. The restaurant was clean and filled with countless posters/paintings/collectibles. Some are quite interesting. Overall, a great experience! For the price we paid, (23 dollars per person), it was a great deal. I had a great time with everyone here. I look forward to coming to Buca's again sometime in the near future.
(5)Tony M.
Business trip, So Cal, Buca, Pepperoni Pizza, Simply Perfection! Oh yeah, I finished with a chocolate chip cannoli!
(5)Remie M.
I've always loved the portions here. . .family style is awesome! Came here on a sunday for lunch. . .wasn't really busy Mushroom ravioli and baked ziti, yum! Our server was super attentive and helpful. She made sure everything met our expectations.
(3)Joe R.
A wonderful experienceTino made our evening extra special...the food was EXCELLENT...the four for forty deal was good...GREAT birthday fun...very noisy w lots of large family parties..sensitive to noise? May be a bit loud...overall experience was a good one!
(5)Brooklyn C.
Walked here from hotel for a business dinner. The food was good, but not amazing. The apple blue cheese salad was better than the veggie lasagna. The waitress was friendly.
(3)Letty R.
I liked their décor and their food, but the waitress that was helping us was not giving us good service at all!! no refills, no coming back to see if we needed anything and 2 times we caught her talking to other customers in their tables and sitting with them? Are you really allowed to sit with your customers and chat on the clock, and ignore your other customers? this are the kind of servers who don't deserve a tip!
(2)Joel L.
Had my birthday lunch here. We made a special request for their discontinued Italian Wedding Soup which is amazing. The service has always been pretty good here.
(4)Erica C.
Just came back from lunch. They have a new special, not sure exactly what its called but it's something like "in-betweener" where the food is cheaper than lunch and comes with soup or salad. The food is smaller portioned (ended up taking half to-go) and with a good variety of dishes. They also have a sangria special that is absolutely delicious. The service was exceptional. Super nice, helpful, attentive, and patient. As always, the food was great. Buca has a warm family atmosphere and their service and food is always consistent.
(5)Charleen B.
I love bucca! Their authentic Italian food never disappoints. It's a great place to go for huge parties because their serving style is family style. Their "small" portions are not small! They can feed 2-4ppl depending on how hungry you are, but it's way too big for just a single person. Many choices and seating is great. This bucca has a weird layout because depending where you are seated, sometimes you go through the kitchen to get to your designated seating area. Prices are decent. About $18 for a small, but remember it will feed 2-4ppl! Their pasta isn't homemade, I've seen a few boxes of pasta (because like I mentioned above that we had to walk through the kitchen to be seated.) Decor fits the Italian theme and the restaurant is big. Close but not walking distance from Disneyland.
(3)Mellani L.
I've always passed this place up during my visits to Anaheim and even pass up the one back home in SF, but finally I came in and dined here. First off before they seat you they give you a tour of the kitchen. At first I was like "uhh are we really going through the kitchen, that's hella unsafe! We could slip for crying out loud!" haha But it was all apart of the experience. Finally we were seated. Wasn't sure how it worked it out, I figured it was a family style restaurant which it is. Our server explained to us that we share all of the food, which is fine 'cause I do that all the time anyways. We ordered stuffed mushrooms for appetizzers and bkaed rigatoni for our meal. The stuffed mushrooms were pretty good, I personally still prefer Olive Garden's better but still good none-the-less. The baked rigatoni hit the spot though. It was so delish. There's such a wide variety on the menu, that I can honestly say, that while eating not once did I think "Oh I should've gotten the carbonara, or fetticunni." SO yummy. Oh and their portions are so huge! There were three of us and we could barely finish the a small bowl of pasta (small feeds 2-3 people). Although the food was spectacular, our waitress on the other hand was very neglective. Barely chacked up on us, we had to keep flagging her down. She was horrible. We asked her for these game scratchers that every table is suppose to get and she never gave us one. She offered more bread (they're complimentary) and she never gave us some until we asked her AGAIN. The host on the other hand was very nice and he's the one that gave us the scratchers. Overall nice family style restaurant. Good food. I'd normally give this place 4 stars but the service was horrible. I'd definitely come back to Buca though, just back in SF and not the one down in Anaheim.
(3)Michael W.
Like I said in my first post, we've been back for Buca's calamari. Even in a funky margarita glass, it's nearly always perfectly tender. This last time we went, which is the last time, we noticed they had a new menu. I happened to look at the stuffed shells, which seemed to list all of the ingredients. On that list, red pepper was not. This made me prompt the bartender (the same bartender from my first post). I asked: Did they change? Are there now no red peppers? She went to the kitchen to ask. She returned and said there are no red peppers. SWEET! We'll take the quatro al forno again, which includes stuffed shells. Well, it came and was covered in melted cheese, but not melted like it was placed under the broiler. More like melted like it was nuked in the microwave. I cut into a stuffed shell and immediately smelled the red pepper. Upon further investigation, I pulled a small chunk out and cut it in half, eating half to verify. Yup, red pepper! I showed this to the bartender, who said she asked the manager and the kitchen manager, who advised there was none. She said they should have read the ingredients on the box. On the box? ON THE BOX? That prompted me to ask, So they're frozen? Yeah, they're frozen was the reply. Then I taste the manicotti, and I can taste the freezer. When I go to an italian restaurant, I expect to be eating fresh pasta. Buca, read your reviews. The negative ones are complaining about bland food. We want fresh food that is baked, not just taken out of a box and placed in the microwave. We're not stupid, we can taste the difference. This is the last trip to Buca for us unfortuneately. Looks to me like they've gotten too big for their britches.
(1)scott f.
Good portions but lacking in quality.. The meat here was not that great. But it is a mega chain so what bar do your really set. Also not really a fan of being pressured in to joining a stupid club while I am eating dinner.. The server was nice though and was quick on getting things for us. He also recommended some good items. It is a good place to go with kids. They have coloring books which are really good thing to have to distract them for a little bit.
(3)Shari M.
This place was better than I expected. My family and I had the Calamari, Chicken Parmesan and Spaghetti with Meat Sauce. Very friendly staff and fast service. A little pricy, but we were on vacation :)
(4)Robert H.
Bucca de Beppo has quite the selection but its apparent how cirporate it has become when you sed the prices. I guess the only competion us Olive Garden which goes for a different feel. - Large plates but overpriced. - Complicated maze interior layout with too many wall dividers. - Entrees are the only dishes with flavor. - Side dishes and apps are pretty much flavorless. I went in a group if four and started with the seafood trio platter ($24.95) That comes with shrimp scampi, mussels marinara and fried calamari. The flavorless shrimp, must be due to the butter. The calamari is lightly breaded but just chewy and the maranara dip didn't enhance it. The mussels and sauce with was POPPIN'. I tried a bit of the lasagna ($19.95) that comes with nine towering layers of lasagna noodles stuffed with a savory combination of ricotta, mozzarella, provolone and Parmesan cheeses with plenty of chunky homemade meat sauce. This dish was jammed with flavor and is nearly an 8" tall stack. The meat sauce made thus dish. My wife and I shared the supremo Italiano pizza ($16.95) which comes with chunks of ground beef and spicy Italian sausage mixed with strips of pepperoni, bell peppers and onions, all on top of red sauce and cheese. The thin crust, needed more of the light sauce but it was still crunchy with flavor. I should have never ordered a side of their "famous" garlic mashed potatos ($6.95) because they didn't taste good and didn't pair well with everything else. These skin-on red potatoes with garlic were just OK. Should have blended the butter instead of globbing a chunk on top. I thought I wolkd try the Buca di Beppo Sangria ($4.99) which is supposed to be aN anytime cocktail. It was a blend of Barefoot Merlot and brandy mixed with orange juice, simple syrup, fresh orange and lime slices served over ice. There was a little shock on the first sip but you can get used to the mixed taste. Watch out because it'll knock you out. My wife and I sipped on some Riesling, Chateau Ste. Michelle ($6.99) which has flavor of juicy peach, apricot, pear and citrus flavors. This desert wine went down smooth and was sweet. While the meal wasn't bad, there was nothing that makes me want to come back. For the cost, there are many other places I would rather eat even though I do enjoy Italian food quite a bit. About $100 total!
(3)T C.
This review is for the to-go window. So I place an order online for pick-up at 6:15. I get there about five minutes early, so no big deal that my food wasn't ready. I pay for my food and the girl tells me it'll be a few minutes - which is perfect because then they'll be right on time, right? SO NOT RIGHT. I waited twenty minutes right next to the to-go window before someone stops and asks if I've been helped (the person at the to-go window kept telling me it'll be just a little longer - big fat liar). I told her I'm waiting for my to-go order of - get this - SPAGHETTI. The kitchen is right next to the to-go window and I can see a bunch of bags lined up on the counter. Guess what? The bag she handed me was the first in line! Even though about three other people got their orders before me, I just wasted away standing next to the to-go window, no one thought "Hey, this first bag has been sitting here for awhile, let me see if it belongs to someone standing by the to-go window". WORST TO-GO SERVICE EVER. EVER. EVER. EVER. EVER. EVER. EVER. EVER. EVER. EVER. EVER. EVER. EVER. EVER. EVER. EVER. EVER. EVER. EVER. EVER. EVER. EVER. EVER. EVER. EVER. EVER. EVER. EVER. EVER. EVER. EVER. EVER. EVER. EVER. EVER. EVER. EVER. EVER. EVER. EVER. EVER.EVER. EVER.EVER. EVER. EVER. EVER. EVER. EVER. EVER. EVER. EVER.EVER. EVER.EVER. EVER. This was weeks ago....and I'm still pissed. You suck, Garden Grove Buca!
(1)Donald G.
I like how when you walk in, it looks like an old Italian woman's house. Way too many pictures on the wall, dozens of openings to the same room, and lots of odd things just used as props all over the place. I just wonder how you clean a place like this. The best part of this place is the service and the food. The food is available is huge share-able entrees, salads, appetizers, and desserts (Not sure what would happen if I came in alone). Haven't had a dish I didn't like yet. And the service is super friendly and honest. I like that they don't beat around the bush. Its kind of like they are talking about their grandmas cooking when they refer to the kitchen. "She won't make it like that." (we had strange requests) My last server was good (bald guy with arm brace) but my favorite server here is Carly. That woman is amazing. Nuff said.
(5)Svetlana K.
I'm not crazy about the food, but my fiance likes them a lot. We were desperate for a meal after the park closed. Why more restaurants don't stay open later when they're right next to Disneyland is beyond me. It seems like there's a financial gain to be made if you know people are leaving the park at certain times. But what do I know about the restaurant business? Maybe these businesses around the park get sooo slammed all day long, that by the time the park closes, they've physically exhausted all of their restaurant employees as well. All I know is, we spent a good portion of our evening trying to find a place that was either not about to close or not so slammed that we couldn't even get a glass of water. We came in tired, hungry and just wanting some reprieve from a long day at the park. Buca di Beppo came through for us. We sat at the bar and the bartender was fabulous. I can't remember her name, but she totally made sure we were good. I didn't order a lot to eat, but my fiance loved the chicken marsalla. I highly recommend coming here than any of the other joints down the street.
(4)Bungo B.
After reading the "garvone" reviews by the twenty something know-nothings, I felt compelled to offer an alternative view. As an Italian American, I find this place disgusting. The food is awful. Sure, it's like home cooking: if your mother is mentally deficient and makes pasta with ketchup. You're better off eating pig slop than this one step above The Olive Garden garbage. This is to Italian cuisine as Panda Express is to Chinese,
(1)Renzel J.
This place has the worst service ever. We waited 3 hours for a table it was my friend's birthday and we never got the table. They didn't even say sorry about it. This place is just the worst. I am not going to any Buca di Beppos ever again.
(1)Jim R.
Fun place and the food was good. Only complaint being that we asked the waitress for guidance on portion control because we did not want lefovers. The waitress way over sold us on food. We only ate half the amount of food ordered.
(3)Kevin H.
Always good service, even when large parties (10+) are there. They offer Disney Cast member discount! Oh, and sign up for their email coupons!! The best coupons!!
(5)H C W.
Lunch break good food
(5)Aimee H.
Its was good, not great!
(3)Alison T.
Ugh Buca, please try harder with your service and your food. What happened? You used to be decent.
(2)Jalene V.
We went there for my daughters birthday and we got to sit in the kitchen it was awesome!! We also got a life size sundae
(5)Ray N.
Came here with a large group a few days ago-- and it was pretty amazing. The environment was very interesting and creative-- there's tons of culture being portrayed throughout the restaurant; yes, even in the restrooms. The setting is also pretty dim, with tons of small booths and tables to fit small couples to large groups. Having said, this place is definitely a place to come for big groups, or just a romantic date, or just if the person you are dating is starving and hasn't eaten for years. The food was pretty intense. It wasn't just the large portions, but it was also how delicious the food taste. Whether if it's lasagna, a mix of appetizers, spaghetti, etc.-- this place does not fail in (1) serving a huge portion and (2) the food was cooked to perfection with a generous amount of baked cheese on top of most entrees. But then again, Italian food is pretty difficult to mess up on-- unless you the restaurant fails at making pasta or their sauce. As for the service, it was decent. Being such a big group, we had a pitcher of water within our table-- which meant we didn't really need the waiter for the most part. Overall, this place is pretty cool-- I wouldn't mind coming here again since I really agree with how Italian food should be made in their perspective ( generous amount & lots of cheese). High lights: - Delicious food. - Large portions.
(4)Matthew G.
typical chain type Italian; wouldn't go unless forced
(2)Mary B.
Horrible service. Tried to make a reservation on a Thursday night. It was okay if we had to wait. However, it seem like they didn't want to take us in. Then, when we wanted to place a take out order instead, they transferred me twice to the same person and transferred me again for the third time. We decided to just get an In N Out burger that night instead.
(1)Hillary M.
Sometime around 9pm, my boyfriend, Robert and I decide to go to Buca after finishing an expo across the parking lot. Oy vay, big mistake and one not likely to repeat. He'd been noshing all day and was not really hungry, I was kind of so-so. I'd never been in a Buca before and didn't realize everything was in HUGE family portions. We are sitting there waiting for a waiter to show up, finally we flag a busboy to ask about a small meal. He says the only thing way to get one is on the kids menu, he then reaches over to an abandoned dirty table and grabs a used crayon scribbled kids menu, hands it to me and walks away. Finally after about 12 to 15 minutes Nick shows up (remember it is 9pm and the place is pretty much empty) to take our order. Robert orders a drink and I question Nick a bit and decide on the Pasta Alfredo. My meal gets delivered, I then have to put on my "chef's hat" to try to fix it as it is totally bland even though it is supposedly the same food as the adult menu. We're eating and talking, I look down and notice my scribbled menu says it comes with a drink. This guy did not even mention it, what's with that? For another 20 minutes I am looking for someone to ask about it. Nick finally shows up and the smart alack he was says "you have to ask for it". Really? Since when is it my job to know their menu? He brings the drink, which by then I am finished with dinner and don't consume much of it. Incidentally, Robert says the drink he ordered had almost no booze in it which seems to be a common problem in restaurants these days. We are on our way out when, me being a bit pissed at Nick's attitude, I ask for the manager. Kelly Simmons, assistant general manager, comes out and I tell her the whole story. She apologizes and offers to reverse the charge for the evening. Then she offers to give us a $10 gift card which I kept refusing as I would not be coming back and told her so. After multiple offers and refusals Robert takes it, then later gave it away to a relative who for some reason actually likes Buca. Go figure. There is a Buca in Huntington Beach which I have never been in, now I never will. In my opinion based on performance, their food is bland, the drinks watered and the service sucks. No thanks!
(2)Julie M.
This place is great! Friendly staff, fair prices and the portions and food are a good deal. Must try the baked rigatoni.
(5)josie c.
"When the moon hits your eye like a big'a pizza pie..." your probably thinking of Buca Di Beppo. Best Italian food place I have been to in a long time that didnt feel like a glorified McDonalds or smelt of old people and pee. After seeing a Shaytards vlog on YouTube, I had to try this place. So after spending a long day at Disneyland, I took my family here. So delicious. Our party of 5 were treated like old friends, and escorted all around the restaurant and finally seated in the bar. Upon meeting our waiter Toni, we were introduced to the Buca's style of "Large" now when people say "Large" you don't think they mean large. You think of them serving enough to satiate you. NOT AT BUCAS! We ordered 1) Buca sampler (full of calamari, shrimp scampi, and mussels. YUM!!) 2) Caprese Salad (delicious) 3) Cheesy Bread Florintine (should be illegal) 4) Chicken Parmisean (OHH OHH YEA!) 5) Alfredo Fetuccine (My only true love) Definitely, if you are in the Disneyland Resort area, then you have to go to Buca's! Youll laugh, you'll cry, you'll wish you had packed bigger pants! Love you Buca Di Beppo!!!
(5)Sara C.
When the time came around for my group of college friends to organize our five year reunion, it was up to me, from 2500 miles away, to herd the cats, pick a day and time, book the restaurant, negotiate the menu, and attempt to nail down a headcount. Working with Yvette at this Buca turned out to be a good experience, and really helped to organize this event with little stress (at least on the restaurant side of things -- the attendees now...). Since most of us are now graduate students or struggling entry-level professionals, I let Yvette know that we couldn't really afford the pricey banquet orders, and she was great about helping choose and remove options which reduced our cost per person greatly. She was very helpful and timely about the paperwork, and it worked out great despite the distance. On the night of the event, the wait staff did a great job of seating us and taking drink orders as each attendee arrived. The food was served in appropriate portions, and they refilled salad, spaghetti, and other dishes as needed. We had a great time, enjoying one another's company, eating good food, and reminiscing together. There was even food leftover at the end for packed lunches the next day. Everyone had a great time, and though of course the food is not gourmet Italian, the experience for our reunion was excellent.
(4)Honest F.
GREAT Food!!!! And LOTS of it! The wait for a table wasn't long, we were told 20 but were seated in 10 minutes. The server took our drink order almost immediately. The food came flowing not too long after - all within a reasonable amount of time. The quality of the food was awesome. The portions are huge! The staff was extremely friendly and did not forget to check up on our needs all throughout the evening. This location is a MUST if you're traveling to the area.
(5)Kaitlyn S.
I love going out to Buccaneer because the food is great, atmosphere is fun, andI always leave with left overs. They didn't get five stars because our waiter disappeared fora long time and the staff was talking about gambling and other non-work appropriate topics.
(4)So H.
I think I've eaten enough food to last me the rest of the weekend. I left feeling VERY fappy ( Fat+Happy)! We ordered the buca trio platter, chicken pesto pizza, prosciutto stuffed chicken, and the penne arabbiata. Don't trip chocolate chip, they were all small sized portions (for 3 people, but that's beside the point!). The stuffed mushrooms in the platter were really good. Chicken pesto pizza was fabulous. Prosciutto stuffed chicken was plate-licking good, and the penne was good too. The spicy Italian sausage in the penne had a real nice kick to it, but a tad on the salty side. The free birthday brownie a la mode.... HOLY CRAP! At first glance, I thought, "Oh, that brownie looks really dry"... but I was wrong. It was warm and gooey and fudgy and just freakin perfect!!! For the amount of food you get, it's a decent price. Nice homey atmosphere perfect for family style dining. Very eclectic things decorating the walls. It's like some old Italian grandma's scrapbook box exploded onto the walls, complete with a mini figurine of an Orca whale barfing out a tuft of taffeta (yeah, I don't know, it was weird).
(4)Krystal F.
I'm a huge fan of Bucca di Beppo so when I seen this location so close to my hotel I knew I needed to go. I was with a group of ladies which 2 of the 5 of us had never been so we were all excited to get an early Mother's day lunch before heading back home. I made reservations via the Yelp app, we were running a little late so they called me to ask if I was still going to need the reservation which I thought was nice. They rescheduled my reservation with no problem. Once we arrived we were seated right away and our drink order was taken shortly after. Our waitress was as nice as can be, super helpful and friendly. As we reviewed the menu she gave us some suggestions which I really thought was nice because we were debating on our entrees. We ordered 5 small servings of a mix of pastas, breads and pizzas. Needless to say everything we ordered was delicious! We ordered the cheese garlic bread which was cheesey and not to garlicy. The pizza was my favorite, just enough of cheese and pep. The pastas added to the deliciousness of everything else. Customer service, food and overall experience was great. I only give them a 4 stars because it can be a little pricey. I would definitely recommend this place and visit here again when I get back to Anaheim.
(4)Joseph S.
We were visiting the area from NJ and were on vacation with our three children. The waitress and hostess were very friendly and helpful. Without family we were excited by the family portions the restaurant promoted. My wife and I decided to share a vile dish which the menu said would feed two to three people. When the dish came we were surprised to see only three thin slices of veal. Our children had the spaghetti,. The portion was ok, but the sauce was very thin and watery. When scooping the spaghetti onto the plates it was difficult to even catch the sauce with the noodles. Meal came to $65 which included the two dishes, soda, and one $6 glass of wine. We also had our picture taken at the booth and were told we would get a complimentary postcard. The photographer came back to the table with two photos of deferent sizes for between $10 and $15 dollars. The complimentary post card was really a coupon with a small picture of our family printed in the corner. I think they could go a long way to building goodwill by really following through with a reasonable photo, even if they charged for the larger ones. Overall we felt the dinner was a bit high for the portions and foot quality.
(2)Robert L.
Great food. Have eaten here two times when my wife and I have stayed in Anaheim to visit Disneyland. The first time we ate here, we actually took our food to go because it was so packed that the waiting time was two hours... i guess that's what happens when you are five minutes away from Disneyland. this last time we went, they sat us down in less than ten minutes. Funny because we went the same day.. same time.. just a year after. Not sure if they are losing clientele. Idk, overall, very good and great service!
(5)Sonia R.
Have never had a bad meal at Buca di Beppo, love, love, love!
(5)Amanda E.
As much as I love Italian food, I was a little disappointed this time around with the quality of the food @ Buca. Their pizza never fails on flavor, but I can't say the same for their pasta, which I've found to be a hit or miss most of the time. We ordered the Baked Ziti (pasta was too dried out and just tasted like ricotta, not tomatoes) and the Penne San Remo (no flavor at all). I find it disappointing when the appetizers are better than the main dishes. On another note, the service at this place was good. We were seated within a reasonable time of our reservation. I tried to book a reservation through Open Table with no luck and attempted to have my reservation points logged through the restaurant, but the employee who took my call had never even heard of Open Table.... Overall, friendly service, but be aware of what you order.
(3)Jennifer M.
I love Buca but a lot has changed since the last time I ate at this restaurant back in 2008. The food just didn't taste the same. The portions are HUGE even if you get the small so either share with someone or go during their lunch time when the entrees are much smaller. Our waiter was super friendly and even gave us a discount. So much food but we were happy to have some leftovers left for the next day.
(3)Joe M.
What a joke this place has become! It seriously is like a bunch of college age kids goofing around here. We came in at 9 and parking is always terrible here so that gets you frustrated from the start. Last time I came here, was the same problem. We were seated really quick, which was nice but the large party next to us in the bar area had a bunch of unruly kids screaming and making tons of noise with no manager coming over to do anything. Completely annoying to say the least. We sat over 15 minutes before a server even came over to help or take our drink order. It was not even that busy so I have no idea why the long wait. We were finally served and our server was nice but we then waited over 10 more minutes before we even got the drinks! WTH? Food finally came and it was nice. Not great but nice. Then we have some slap ass who decided to practice near the bar his trick bar tending skills. He's bouncing metal containers on the ground, dropping bottles and making a ton of noise, as if we were all in the back somewhere away from the public. I was just blown away with the lack of professionalism or care these guys had while people were trying to have a nice enjoyable meal. If this was some hole in the wall establishment, I would understand but with the prices you pay at Buca today, I expect a lot more. Where is your management? After years,of going here, this will definitely be the last time I ever go to Buca again!
(1)Sila W.
We went here for my birthday lunch, and my overall experience was awesome. I'm in love with this place! Great food and great service! I had the chicken limone and veal parmigiana. Lovely meal. Who cares if Buca is a chain. Great ambience!
(4)Jorge P.
Came here with my family for lunch. The table service was excellent as always. The food was lacking on flavor and too expensive. We had to stay with spaghetti and meatballs to stay on budget. Entrees prices went up and are too expensive.
(2)Yuki M.
Since June of last year, something has happened to Buca that results in a +1 from my previous review. It is still FAR from authentic but dammit if it doesn't (now) have a fair balance between taste, price, and quantity. In addition to the list below in my antiquated ranting, I've recently become a fan of the prosciutto stuffed chicken breast and the spicy arrabiata pizza. The chicken breast is tender and the prosciutto is generous. Small order totals two giant servings sitting in a pleasant pool of creamy pesto sauce. The arrabiata pizza is salty but very crisp and the crunch alone is enough to draw me back to another order. Taste is good but I could do with less sodium. Baked rigatoni pasta is good but if you get it to go, it will be dry and flavorless. The chopped Anitpasto salad has diced pepperoni, finocchiona salami, red onions, pepperoncini, provolone, cucumbers, feta and Gorgonzola, tossed with lettuce and a tasty vinaigrette on the side. The small order is enough for 4 people. Quite salty and fairly unhealthy but a damn good "salad" for someone who wants the lettuce but doesn't give a damn about the health aspect. Cheesecake dessert was firm and had good flavor, though I've had better at Costco. Served in a bed of raspberry puree and topped with roasted chestnuts, it's an interesting and curious dessert that I probably won't order again. Tiramisu is SOAKED IN ALCOHOL. If that's not your cup of cognac, stay away. Otherwise, it's wonderful! General point of advice would be to never get this food to go as it gets cold and soggy quite fast. Is it the best Italian out there? Of course not. Is it good enough for heavy touristy food? Definitely. Would I come back? Now I would.
(4)Kressler N.
Sorry - just not a fan. My friend had a birthday dinner here & I thought it might be fun because I haven't eaten here in a long, long time. Although I really enjoyed the company, my food experience was not that great. The good? *Menu has gotten better. There's more variety from what I saw & they have small portions (2-3 people) and large portions you can order. I used to not like the fact that you had to get giant mixing bowl sizes of pasta to share. The not-so-good? *They had no butter for bread!?!? This seems like it's not a big deal but it is! They threw out some dry, cold bread on the table. We asked for butter and they said they ran out - WHAT? Can you please tell me how you run out of butter in a restaurant?? *Limited alcohol menu. There was about 7 drinks to order...I think 4-5 all had lemon flavoring of some kind. Ordered a plain margarita that tasted bad! *Had to ask for water 3-4 times before finally getting a glass. grr. *Red sauce pasta is bland to my taste buds but white/alfredo sauces are ridiculously drowning in garlic. I do like garlic but even I could not take all the garlic in our chicken carbonara pasta. To be fair, that evening I felt tired so maybe my appetite and stomach were not in the best condition for eating but I remember only taking a few bites of my food before I had to stop. Another weird thing was that after eating, I just felt utterly exhausted out of nowhere - it came out of nowhere, as it someone put nyquil in my drink. I don't know if I can blame the restaurant for that but it did force us to leave early (which may have been a good thing). I can see the appeal of this restaurant for large groups...you'll save money by sharing entrees and the decor of the place is amusing (although I have seen too many bare breasts on the wall). Oh Buca...I wanted to enjoy you but give me butter with my bread!
(2)Tina-Marie L.
One of my good friends is in town for a Cookie Lee convention and we needed a spot that was close her hotel but wouldn't break the bank like a wonderful trip to Morton's would be. Voila! Buca di Beppo! It started off with a small dinner for 5. But those darn jewelry hawkers are always up to party and our group of 5 turned into like 14. And when you have a group of women, some having never been to a BDB, it can turn into a clusterf**k. Luckily, our waiter, Bradford, kept a smooth head and was very sweet when he had the question, "Can we get separate checks?" asked like 50 billion times. Did I mention we also had some $10 off coupons that we used? And my friend, a retiree who loves nothing more than to fight for her right to get her well deserved bargain was able to finagle a separate check for three of us and then use two coupons for our party since it was one coupon per table and we were, technically, seated at two tables. Fun times were had, food was pretty good, and the service was great!
(4)Yolanda C.
So it was my friend's 21st birthday and we were staying in the Embassy Suites right across the parking lot so we decided to try out Buca and see how it was. My friend was so excited because it was her 21st birthday and we were all stoked on her FINALLY being able to order her first legal drink. We sit down and my friend starts talking to the server about how we spent the day at Disneyland and how it's her 21st birthday and about what drinks she can order. Finally she choses a drink and he CARDS her. We had been saying the entire night how it was her 21st birthday and he cards her and he did it in the most hostile and rude fashion. It wasn't a fun way of getting carded for your first time but he was extremely hostile and awkward. Then came the food. It was okay. I've definitely had better. And throughout the night the host never refilled our waters, he never came and asked if we needed anything and FINALLY when he did come, he just complained to us the entire time about how a huge party had just come in and he was tired and wanted to go home. I'm sorry, I understand that he may have had a stressful day but I do not want to get that type of service and neither did my friend on her 21st birthday. You never complain to customers no matter the circumstance. Anyways, we were about a party of 7 and we needed to split our checks (which yes, is annoying to a server but it is part of their job more or less). And when we asked him to split the check he went "oh my god I hate you guys" SERIOUSLY!? What kind of service is that. And then he proceeded to ask US to stack our plates so it would be easier for him and the bussers to grab it. He finally split our checks, he took a very long time and I wanted to try the cannoli hoping it'd be better than the actual dinner. He had to literally come back to the table probably 3 times or more to remember who ordered what and how many people ordered. It was embarrassing and so extremely awkward. And then as we were waiting for the cannoli, another server walked by with a huge thing of ice cream, and we all looked in awe at it. Then he said "you'll get one because it's your birthday" to my friend. Obviously she was excited because the thing cost about $12 and it was a bunch of ice cream. But we never got one. The man was just being extremely sardonic. I absolutely do not recommend going to this restaurant or at least THIS Buca. The service was absolutely terrible and ruined my friend's 21st birthday dinner.
(1)Nicole R.
I definitely had a good experience at Buca di Beppo, my boyfriend and I went there for Valentine's Day and we enjoyed ourselves, lots of decorations and posters to look at to look at, a good atmosphere, SUPER friendly service... I can't wait to go there again! A hostess gave us a quick tour of the place and sat us down. We decided to order a small Calamari, and a small Supremo Italiano; the calamari was good, I wish I had ordered the larger size though. The pizza was pretty good as well, I think that it's cool that they serve the dish on top of a large tomato can. My boyfriend and I did have some trouble eating it though, I don't know if we were eating it wrong or something but all of the cheese and toppings kept falling off. In the end it all came down to about $40, including the tip. I was definitely satisfied but I could tell my boyfriend wasn't (haha he's a big eater). The only complaint that I have is that I wish the service was a little more attentive, we had to wait awhile in between the two dishes that we ordered -_-. I wasn't too bothered, we entertained each other by looking at what every one else was ordering, and I have to say that I can't wait to try some of them out. Some of the pizzas and look DELISH and some of the desserts look huge! I can't wait to try them out the next time that I go. :)
(4)JT B.
Great dinner on Friday night! Busy night and servers were stretched thin but they pulled together as a team and did a great job! Lauren started our dinner off because Lizz our server was too busy. After taking out drink order Lauren turned the table back to Lizz! Delicious food and fun wine!
(5)Jeff A.
Service through the door was excellent! however once seated it went down hill fast...... :( our waitress Tara went well out of her way to avoid the table as we watched 3 other tables get seated and served fresh bread drink and appetizers before we received our first drink- our appetizer came out cold (Calamari does not do well when its cold) at which time we had to ask for the bread ( no offer here ) and then we ordered our meal- Dinner came out hot and tasted great though! it took 20 extra minutes just to get the check so we could leave so i guess all in all Service was a one star appetizer was a one star and dinner was a five star... we believe it was because of our server since everyone else outside of her section was getting items in a timely manner .... also it doesn't hurt to smile (just saying).
(2)Scott C.
Buca service used to be pretty good, but we went here hoping for better Service than Tustin or Huntington. Nope. Disorganized from the hostess through the check. Team service with no team interaction, and the primary server just completely disappeared after asking about dessert. Hello, check please?! Someone finally picked up the slack. Food was fine, with 1893 salad, calamari fritti and ravioli with meat sauce the standouts. The pasta with shimp was undersauced/underseasoned. Having really enjoyed BdB before the Orange County locations opened, our family was there at the opening of Huntington Beach and regular kitchen table occupants. It was cool to watch the traveling openers get the store going, with high-energy service and a great staff service culture. Sad to see the decline in service. So, we still love much of the food and when we have the kids stopping in from college we still go sometimes. I'm hoping that Huntington still has good service, but don't expect such at Anaheim/Garden Grove. Last thing. I love the idea of group photos. Yes they give you a free montage. Good. But then the inevitable pitch for the extras. Klunk. Choose between making something special and making a little more coin. How cool would it be for all the tourists and those celebrating if you gave a large pic per diner. End on a high note and reinforce an enjoyable experience. You can do better Buca.
(3)Derek N.
Bucca has never disappointed me. I love the everything from atmosphere to service to food. Time always seems to fly by while i'm here. Try: Chicken Carbonara Moretti Beer
(4)Nicole C.
I have been to a couple other Buca's before and I was never a big fan of their franchise. I never disliked it, but it just never stood out. Came here for lunch. I was craving for some Chicken Alfredo but for some reason, their Shrimp Fra Diavolo was just screaming my name everywhere. Boy was I surprised. The sauce was this creamy, and perfect blend of Alfredo and marinara sauce. The shrimp was delicious and the pasta was perfectly cooked. I like my pasta to be a little bit on the soft side. It wasn't soggy, but I'm definitely not a fan of hard, raw-tasting pasta. We also decided to order their Tiramisu for dessert. It was SO GOOD. It came in a bowl and one order was way too big for three big eaters. I liked it because it was light, it wasn't too sweet and it just melted right in my mouth. Do take advantage of their $10 off $20 coupons that they often send out. Just do some googling and I'm sure you will find plenty of them. If you use that coupon for just two people, it's definitely a good deal. In my case, we split that among the three of us. We each paid about $20 with tips and tax included. Bit pricey for lunch but still good.
(4)Jack A.
The fiancee has been dying for Buca and I had Buca Bucks from my work, so we came back yet again. As always, great, great food. We usually get the same meal every time: Either Caesar or Apple Gorgonzola Salad, Baked Rigatoni, and then Tiramisu. We decided to change it up and skip the salad in favor of the Chicken Parmigiana. LOVED it. Everything we had was delicious. Our waitress Deidre left a little to be desired. As someone who works in the service industry (and who formerly worked at an Italian restaurant), I'm pretty forgiving of service, but there could have been a bit more care for us. While dropping off our second serving of bread, she was talking to another server and didn't even look at our table. We had to ask a different server for oil and vinegar, and we didn't get enough straws for all our drinks. She did redeem herself by suggesting the off-menu half-size tiramisu, which was excellent and perfectly portioned for a couple. As always, a good experience at a good restaurant. Will be back again and again.
(4)Christine K.
After spending an ENTIRE day at the Disney parks walking for miles upon happiest-place-on-Earth miles we needed food, like a lot of it. This was a short drive away from the parks and our hotel and was still open at nearly 10 pm. It was clear that the wait staff wasn't excited to still have patrons but they put on their best fake faces and indulged us albeit slowly and kind of haphazardly. Best part about this meal was the table of whack-a-doodles next to us. We were never able to figure out whether it was some kind of NA meeting or maybe a bunch of folks from a halfway house but they were highly entertaining/disturbing.
(4)Dale H.
The food is okay at the best. In terms of American Italian food, I've had much better for only a slightly higher price. Certainly, the only-satisfactory food doesn't warrant a 4-star rating (especially from a picky eater like me), however, it is the environment and atmosphere that absolutely enthralls me. The top-notch treatment given by the waiters and waitresses combined with the embellished walls and ceilings not only give the restaurant a true authentic feel, but makes eating at Buca di Beppo that much more enjoyable. I don't like chains. Repeated restaurants tend to lack quality or passion. However, Buca di Beppo manages to maintain the very essence of their Italian heritage. And as for the food? Who cares if it's "okay" if I'm having a blast every time I drop by with my friends! And honestly? What more could you ask for from a restaurant?
(4)Nicole F.
My cousins and I went here tonight to celebrate our older cousin's birthday. We heard this location was better than the Brea location. They should have skipped the tour of the kitchen, it was pointless to us. At least we know the kitchen is clean though. It was disappointing that they don't offer a complimentary bread plate like most restaurants do. Having to pay $11 for a small basket of garlic bread is a bit extreme. The menu is really confusing. We appreciated that the waiter was very attentive but constantly rushing us to order was annoying. We came as a group of six and for the amount of food in each dish we were able to split each plate with 3 people at a time, which was nice. But the prices were kind of high for a dish of pasta. (My cousin was disappointed that she didn't get a small dessert for her birthday like most restaurants do. But at least they sang her a song. Seating was kind of weird. There were 6 of us but they gave us a table for 10 which looked silly. This place is nice to go to if you plan ahead and know the menu, that way you can save a few dollars. My cousins and I decided that if we were to ever go back we would come in small groups and order small dishes (maybe a group of 3 or 4 since each plate can feed about 3 to 4 people) . Update - May 20, 2011 The restaurant double charged me. Our bill was around $130 and they were only suppose to charge my card $30, they charged my card the $30 and then $130 on top of it. The waiter never said anything about it. I called the manager today to ask what happened, he told me to wait until Monday to see if the money will go back in my account and if not they will give us a credit. Really? Because of this I dropped a star.
(2)Stella K.
for an affordable meal and nothing too fancy, i really enjoy buca di beppo. my all time favs are their margherita pizza and linguine frutti de mare pasta. both a perfect combo w. their mixed green salad and a glass of wine. their wine list needs improvement, a lot of improvement so i definitely recommend bringing your own bottle. the corkage fee is $15 which i think is a little steep for this restaurant. the sunday newspaper always has coupons so check it out before having a meal here and they do take reservations at opentable.com !
(4)Jaye C.
I've always had a great experience with Buca, but this time around the occasion for coming here on the evening of Feb 20 was to celebrate 3 of my family members' birthdays simultaneously. I had booked a reservation at 715pm for 4 people through OpenTable.com and left a note specifically letting them know that we'll be celebrating three birthdays for this evening. Unfortunately this note didn't show up on their side when we arrived, but they still accommodated for it nonetheless. I'm guessing since it was President's Day weekend they were slammed but our waitress (this cute blonde girl named Ruby) showed no signs of being flustered from the pressure. Her service was great, kept our glasses filled, & periodically asked if we needed anything else. I was the only one who's been at any Buca di Beppo before, but upon learning that it was everyone else's first time, our waitress gave them a kiddie breakdown on what to expect. In terms of food portion, we're small Asian people and a large dinner portion would've covered a family of 10. Now imagine our surprise when we thought we could take on their servings. We only ordered four things and even then we couldn't finish it all. We ordered the fettucine alfredo & lasagna (both in large portion), margherita pizza (small), and calamari in large portion. Our total bill was about $90, and they were even kind enough to comp the birthday dessert, which took off -$15 from my bill, so I gave our waitress a generous amount of tip for making the dinner go smoothly. P.S. they'll take a picture of your group & process it for you with a frame and all for $5-$9
(4)Matthew M.
Would give it zero stars if I could. Good company was the only highlight of this place. We got mediocre service from a waiter with as much personality as burnt toast. I've been to my fair share of Italian places, but this was the most disgusting Italian food I've ever had.
(1)Ailene M.
Wow! What a great place for our reunion with our cousins and their friends from up North (about 30+ people...no we did not get our own room). I pity the people around us who had difficulty with the noise. We were the loud ones. They were big boys with big voices and the children's table was pretty good. They were really well behaved. The FOOD was yummy! We had everything you could think of, reds, whites, the pastas, the salads, there was even a veggie dish (with garlic) that I've never had before and that was the best! Anyone that can serve a large party on time and with a smile on their face definitely deserves 5-stars.
(5)Mike P.
Their dishes are huge, so it's a family style restaurant. You need at least 4 people to enjoy otherwise you can't eat them all. Their service is superb, but their food is average and no option to get a small portion for dessert.
(3)Trang L.
Came here the night before the disneyland half marathon looking for some carbs... bad idea. SUPER packed and we were there at 5pm for an early dinner. Hostess said it would be 35 minutes. 35 minutes became about little over an hour if not more.. I lost time. It was our fault really for choosing to go there before the half marathon.. PLUS Labor day weekend. Oh well... Aside from that.. ..The hostesses were trying their best which I appreciated, but the manager was a bit over the top.. especially when my friend politely asked how many people were in front of us.. she had a bit of a tude. Anywho, we got seated, our server was very nice and our food came out at a timely manner. Food was good. Overall A-ok.
(3)Kelley W.
The food here was pretty good. Enjoyed the family-style eating and shared some yummy pasta with chicken and artichoke hearts (sorry, but I can't remember the name.) The anti-pasta salad was off-the-hook! and the garlic bread wasn't half-bad either. I'm rating for the food at 3 stars, but the service gets 4 stars! Our server was amazing! She was funny, very entertaining and attentive. Another thing I really, really liked was the reservation option through Yelp! It was super easy to use, convenient and a feature I would use again and again.
(3)Ricardo C.
I think this place is a bit overpriced, and overhyped. The food doesn't have a freshly made feel, and the spaghetti with meatballs simply taste liked canned chef boyardi spaghettis. The pizza however is very good, probably the only thing on the menu, and worth the long wait for. Put simply, a chain restaurant, with a chain feel.
(3)Michael B.
Boy do I love this place. Definitely the best affordable Italian food I've had. They have TONS of dishes that are mouth watering, I don't think I've had anything yet that I would say I wasn't all that satisfied with. If your a spaggetti and meatball fan, you will love their meatballs, these things are HUGE (we're talking baseball sized meatballs here!) but that's not it, you know how a lot of places with huge meatballs also have a problem with flavor? Not these ones, they are huge, but have the quality and taste of a standard sized perfect meatball. Love pasta? You'll be in heaven here. I highly recommend the Baked Rigatoni, it's phenomenal! Of course you can't go wrong with others as I've had pretty much all of them and love them all. Like pizza? Try their classic Pepparoni, it's GREAT. so thin that you have to use your whole hand to handle one small square, but has just enough crisp to it. It's definitely the best thin-crust pizza's I've had. Chicken Parmigiana, I LOVE this stuff! Portions. They come in Buca Small and Buca large, if your feeding 2, get the small, trust me. Their "Small" consists of 1 pound of pasta (if your getting pasta). Generally, they say their "small" portions perfectly feed 2 and their "Large" will perfectly feed 4. In short translation, go try it.
(5)Yolanda T.
The food is Good, Biggest Meat Balls i ever seen.
(3)Coco R.
This food is not special in any way shape or form. I tried it for the 2nd time and still did not see it special. Lemon Chicken....it was bland and slightly "okay"
(2)Jane S.
I would not recommend this place to anyone. This was the first time my family and I dined at a Buca. It was a horrible experience. First the wait was long for a table. We arrived at around 9:00 pm, which is not even a busy time. We waited 15-20 minutes for our table. Once we sat down the dinning room was not even full, lots of empty tables. We got our appetizer and the waiter was in the process of giving each of us plates. These plates were sitting at our table when we arrived. When the waiter got to the third plate it was dirty. Not just one plate but two of them. The plates had salad and dressing on them. So that was a complete disappointment. I knew that they did not change the plates they must of left the plates that the previous customers had eaten on.The part that disgusts me the most is that my children used the top plates to eat their appetizer on. Next my son's dinner arrives and he orders the spaghetti and meatballs. When his food arrives there is no meatball. The server said that they do not have any meatballs. I thought that Bucca's signature dish is their spaghetti and meatballs? Why did they not inform us that my son's food was out? We get the manager on duty, and let her know that we do not want the dish anymore because the reason we ordered it was for the meatball. She apologizes and says that she will go find us a meatball. But the server said they were completely out. She comes back and has one messed up meatball on a plate and said whe was able to find one. I found this extremely weird, her server said there is none but she finds one. The service was horrible, I asked the manager if she can get a refill for my daughters drink she forgets. I wait 10 minutes and I am tired of waiting. So I had to ask my server to get it. I would not recommend this place to anyone. The service is horrible and the food is a disappointment. After all the craziness that happened we still had to pay for our dinner minus the appetizer. Dirty plates on our table is not acceptable, the food is not that great and worth the price that they charge, and the service is not great either. Do not eat here, this is the worst dinning experience I have ever had. I would give this place a 1/2 star if I could.
(1)Mark C.
Just Ok. Not thrill about the flavor of the food but if your starving...it will do...
(3)Kell N.
Came here on a date night and the service was okay. I love the decor of all the Buca locations. It's cool to look at and at the same time it's cozy. I had the ravioli in meat sauce and my boyfriend had the spicy chicken penne. Both were the "Buca smalls" which are still not small, and very good. We had the cheesy bread florentine for an appetizer (which is an entire loaf of bread, holy crap) and a chopped antipasto salad. My boyfriend doesn't even like pepperoncinis but he liked them in this salad! It was just the two of us and we finished most of the food. I felt horrible afterward because I was so full, but it was worth it. Money wasn't holding us back so we definitely splurged. Gave three stars because of how expensive it is.
(3)TT T.
I have to admit, I kind of like this place, even though it is a chain and they serve to the masses. I like the Shrimp Fra Diavalo or anything with that spicy rosa sauce. It's delicious and totally non-italian-authentic, but nevertheless, I enjoy. If you are looking for a little bit of Italy, this would not be the place. However, if you are looking for wannabe Italian food, owned by White people, and food cooked by Mexicans, you've got a winner in Buca Di Beppo.
(4)Deirdre M.
I wish I could give this place NO STARS!!! Worst food I've ever eaten! The spaghetti I got was flavorless and the noodles chalky my daugter got the children's Alfredo and it tasted like they just thickened cream or milk no flavor what so ever! The prices were overpriced for the quality of the food, never again! Lesson learned will never eat at a Buca di Beppo again!
(1)Marty F.
I've always had a not so great experience with the Buca's I've been to in Arizona. My cousin once worked there and told me "please let me order for you guys." He was right.. you had to get certain items that would make the time enjoyable. That was just once. Another time I sent the place smelled like a bathroom and the Parmesan smelled like bleach. Nasty. Well this time it was a pleasant one. My girlfriend and my friends and me all went down after we checked into our hotel. The server was awesome and was pretty prompt on getting us our drinks and bread. Damn that bread is tasty. Because their portions can be massive, we all split their ... totally forgot then name, but it had chicken, bruccitio, artichoke arts, ... delicious. Also try their ceaser salads. yum. Good experience and with four people, the bill was about $57. not too shabby!
(4)Nelson P.
I love the food here and the service once was great and now has become mediocre. There was this Latino server in his 40's and he was argoant as hell. Honestly I like the younger servers. Another tip for the wise Fridays and Saturday's are crowded, if you enjoy the craziness those are the days to go. If you want a more low key visit go during the week.
(3)Lynn L.
Definitely a A+++ for the service. We were a party of 9 and I had to change the number of guest at the very last minute and despite how busy they were, they accommodate us without missing a beat. Our waiter, Michael (?) was awesome and made great recommendations, which everyone enjoyed. We had a 3-yr old who has nut allergies and the manager came over to ensure that we had the right order for his dessert. The family had a wonderful time and Buca took very good care of us. Loved the Apple Gorgonzola Salad and the Chicken Parmigiana!
(4)L B.
I went to the location on harbor by Disneyland around 7pm on a tuesday with my husband. We got our pager and was told 20-30 minutes. We got seated at exactly 25 minutes, we timed it, because had read that it usually is 30-45 min more then promised. After getting seated in a corner we realized we were next to a rather large birthday party. Despite the fact that their party kept getting bigger and bigger, our waiter had acknowledged us right away and was happy to get our drinks. The bread came to us within 5 minutes of us being seated. He saw we had a coupon and told us he needed to have the manager enter it in the system. I thought that was weird but sure enough the manager came over and introduced himself. He went off with the coupon. Next our food came out. We waited for about 20 minutes which wasn't bad. We ordered the lasagna and chicken Parmesan. The chicken was tender and seemed to have been freshly cooked. The lasagna came out on a burning hot plate and yet when I cut it in half the food was lukewarm in the middle. I noticed the cheese had no brown on it. So basically it was frozen or something, taken out, had cheese sprinkled on it and microwaved. But the chicken was so good I let it slide. Next thing i know the manager comes back. He sincerely asked how everything was. He looked nervous for some reason! i told him the chicken was great but the lasagna was cold in the middle. He apologized, looked concerned and said he would talk to the chef about it. Not sure if he ever did, but was glad he at least was interested in out experience. Our server was so attentive. He filled our drinks promptly, checked on us appropriately and was very friendly. Despite the fact that the table next to us was rowdy and kept adding more people to their party so that it became difficult for the server to even get to us because their chairs were in the way, he still made us feel important and we had a nice time. After experiencing horrible service at the Brea location 3 times in a row, we were really glad we came to this location instead. Yes the decor is hideous and the place is SO loud, to the point that my husband was shouting at me half the time, we still had a good time.
(4)Will H.
Was lured for my first visit to Buca in Garden Grove by their $10 coupon in the Sunday L.A. Times. Food was O.k., decor very tacky at best, and who wants to wander through a kitchen to get to the dining room? Nice server failed to warn us about the gigantic portions that are made to serve 2 people. BUT, the BIG RIP-OFF was the cheesy garlic bread which was offered to us by the server before we ordered. We THOUGHT it was a nice comp, as many Italian restaurants offer, but when I got the bill, I saw a charge for $12 on it for that very same bread. WHAT THE HELL? $12 for a few pieces that at most cost them 50 cents to make. I mentioned it to BOTH the server and manager, and was told "Yeah, people complain about that all the time.: WHAT? IF people complain and you know that it is the BIGGEST GOUGE AT ANY RESTAURANT I HAVE EVER EATEN AT, then why in the world don't you just drop the price to a reasonable $2.95 and you would never hear another word about it, and you would avoid that nasty end-of-the-meal sticker shock. I guess that $10 of the $12 goes to pay for their coupon, and the other $2 is the legit cost of the bread. Just because of this rip-off, I will NOT ever be taking my friends to ANY Buca in the future, and will give my businsess instead to Olive Garden or a local Mom & Pop place.
(3)Valerie H.
The first time I went to Buca w/ my bf, we were seated and the waitress explained how the menu worked. We ordered the apple gorgonzola salad and the Fettuccine Supremo (name?) and drinks. We ended up with MUCH too much food. The leftovers of the pasta alone were enough for both of us to have for dinner. We left the salad and took the bread. The bread is fresh and hot and just crusty enough on the outside and soft on the inside. The salad was awesome, the pasta was flavorful and filling. The second time, we came for dinner. We ordered a Caesar salad and a forgettable pasta that they didn't remove the peas from like we asked (we both aren't fans of peas in pasta). The salad was really good and we ate around the peas. The pasta was good but not great. I won't order it again. After dinner I had coffee (the bf doesn't drink coffee and I still can't accept it, he is a tea man) and tiramisu. The Tiramisu was spectacular. It came in a HUGE bowl and I would guess it was made to serve 4-6 people. We didn't know. We each had a small serving and saved the rest for my dad. The lady fingers were drenched in dark rum and the top was coated in unsweetened cocoa. I am the biggest fan of dark chocolate, to the point where unsweetened cocoa makes my heart melt! To top it off, there was a crumbled dark chocolate biscotti that I spooned up and dipped in my strong italian black coffee and ate. It was divine! We will certainly be back for more...
(4)Sam S.
O.k. Italian food. In your face Italian culture. Statue of David naked table side, in fact there's more crank hanging off the walls than I'd like to see EVER....not too appetizing but oh well. Buca will do in a "pinch."
(3)Nhi Thao N.
I went to this Buca di Beppo last night with my boyfriend, his parents, and his grandma for his family's belated birthday dinner for him. The place was super packed for a Tuesday night! I wonder if this Buca di Beppo is busier than others because it's close to Disneyland. Good thing we had a reservation! We ordered the large Apple Gorgonzola Salad, large Linguine Frutti Di Mare pasta, and a small Baked Ziti. The food was delicious, and the service was pretty good. We got two pictures taken as part of the postcard promotion, and I bought one since it turned out really nice. The staff sung Happy Birthday to my boyfriend, although we were bummed that they don't give a complimentary slice of cake there. He did get to blow out their chandelier of candles, though :) All in all, a very good visit to Buca!
(4)Jackie V.
Buca di Beppo became my favorite Italian restaurant the first time I ate there. I love the decor of the place, it feels so home-y and comfortable. There are different rooms with different themes. I ALWAYS order the fetuccini alfredo with two orders of shrimp. Their shrimp is heavenly and juicy, and the fettucini is flavored to perfection. It's a blend of creamy cheese and savory pasta and it's just amazing! Their house bread and vinegrette and olive oil starts out your meal perfectly. I also really enjoyed the spicy chicken rigatoni. Simply delicious. I was not a fan of the apple gorgonzola salad, however. The flavors just didn't mix for me, we ended up not eating a bunch of it. Beware: the portions here are FAMILY style so be prepared to share! These are not meant to be eaten alone, because you will not finish! Also, just to let you guys know, the buca large is REALLY large.
(5)Emmy L.
Pretty good food here and impressive service. First off, we had 16 people and we had made reservations. We still had to wait, but we waited because they were setting our table with glasses and so and so. We didn't mind much but we were already late and they didn't have our table set up yet. Service is super friendly. The hostess takes you through a small tour through the kitchen and greets you with a warm, friendly attitude. Our server was quite nice too and starts a little conversation with us and was funny and friendly. Absolutely loved the server, very attentive and never forgot who ordered what. Busboys were friendly too. Also, they sing a very cheerful song if it's your birthday, not the standard Happy Birthday to you. It involves lots of clapping! Fun! The decor here is quite charming, but a little overwhelming. It is really cramped and has extremely low ceilings, not to mention very little space to walk through. The hanging lamps here are adorable and really add to the charm of this restaurant. But, there are a bunch of pictures covering red walls and they covered their tables with red checkered plastic. I don't get what's Italian about the decor. I didn't feel like this was an Italian restaurant and I did not understand the concept. But they have a bunch of cool, funny things to read in the women's restroom. Made me laugh! I've noticed the food isn't the best Italian food in Anaheim or anywhere per se, but it's quite delicious! I do not remember everything our group ordered, but I remember the salmon with pesto sauce and that was delicious. Our group complimented the apple-gorgonzola salad quite a lot. We also had fried calamari which was actually pretty good! We also ordered shrimp florentine, and a clam linguine. Kind of bland, but with their sea salt, delicious! Cheesy garlic bread was alright, could do better. I had better garlic bread at an Indian restaurant. No taste of garlic, tasted like regular bread with cheese. Overall, I would give the service 5 stars, food 4 stars, decor 3 stars. The food is very American, not so much Italian but still delicious. Pricey though.
(4)Tiffany L.
I love their pizza!
(4)Jim F.
My girlfriend and I went to Buca di Beppo for a NYE dinner. I've been to the one at Universal CityWalk, so I knew what to expect as far as atmosphere and portion size were concerned. We waited in the bar area until our table was available. The bartender was polite and wished us a Happy New Year. The hostess called us within the estimated time period and escorted us to our table. Our server arrived and it was apparent that she didn't want to be working on NYE. She brought a round of waters although my Corona bottle, from the bar, sat empty for the entire meal without an offer for another...I was on the fence about whether to keep drinking there anyway, so it wasn't a big deal. The food arrived within a reasonable time and both of the entrees were enjoyable. We finished our meal but had to wave down our server since she paid very little attention to our needs. Literally ten minutes later, she arrived with the bill. Eager to progress with our NYE plans, the waitress leisurely returned with my credit card and gave us a weak "thank you". I returned the sentiment by giving her a weak tip. I don't expect cartwheels and a goodbye kiss but especially during the holidays, a little bit of warmth and attention makes a huge difference in gratuity. I love family-style Italian restaurants so it's disappointing that both of my servers at two separate Buca di Beppos were lacking.
(3)eric k.
Ordered To-Go here.... Knocks are for the menu and the pricing..... So what would you expect a "typical italian meal" to be? maybe some salad, spaghetti, some bread, and maybe a dessert? ok.. I didn't get that far. So... if I were to order a "side" of spaghetti with marinara, and a meatball, and nothing else... I would be out about $12. I didn't even get to the salad, the MAIN COURSE, or dessert. what's up with that? the quality is good.. .but places like this also embody why the US is so friggin fat... no portion control... and no good pricing either. If you didnt' know the portions at this place, you'd probably end up ordering like $50/person and have enough to live off of for a week.
(3)Ralphy J.
I have been to Buca di Beppo's all over the state and it is always incredible. The restraunt decor is interesting and the service is almost always impeccable. The menu is tops, and that says a lot considering I grew up on Italian food. Really everthing I have had is great... Family style service is cool, sharing encourages interaction and discussion on the meal etc..
(5)Carina C.
Went for my B-day a few years back I LOVE THE PIZZA!!! the best in my world so far! I actually go back and just order the pizza to go! and they have WATERMELON SODA!! Not as much of a fan for the pasta or for the bulk table servings but the place is really cool the servers are nice and I would defiantly recommend this place!! :)
(4)Dawn H.
Love hate relationship with this place. The service can sometimes be under par but the food is excellent! ! I always gain weight after eating here! !
(4)Lance H.
Coming to Buca di Beppo is like gum on your shoe. It is annoying, sometimes it comes off easy others time you just throw your shoes away. This Buca di Beppo is close to the convention center so a lot of conventioneers will be here. The interior tries too hard to be unique and funky Italian. It pretty much fails. Terrible space arrangement for waiting. A lot of people like to come here but the reception is tiny. Pretty dumb. The staff was pretty friendly and decent. Plus there. The food was hit and miss. Pizza was good, lasagna stunk, cheese bread terrible. Rather eat the Olive Garden than most of this crap. Price: Luckily, I was there for a private party and did not pay since anything was overpriced. Overall, I pretty much hate this place now. Had one good experience at Buca in San Francisco. The rest have been crap. If you want chain Italian food and do not care about quality go to Olive Garden instead. Suck it.
(2)Carlos M.
We decided to go here for lunch since it was down the street from our hotel. When we arrived they walked us through there kitchen which was awesome and different. Waiter was nice and I order the lasange and my wife order some kind of chicken and butter sauce pasta. The lasange didn't have to much favor and the whole time i thought i had better at home. my wife plate was better but not the best. than when we ordered dessert it was expensive 11-14 bucks for one plate but decided to get it thinking it had to be good and it wasnt. Very dissappoint with this franchise and will not go back anything time soon in disneyland or in san diego.
(2)Jason L.
This is a really good value for families and groups. Basically, this is a family style (huge platters to share) Italian-American pasta restaurant. It's not authentic Italian, but Italian-American. There are variations on spaghetti (Marinara, Meat Sauce, Meatballs), lasagne, fettuccine, rigatoni and penne. The seafood platters and chicken and veal options, plus huge thin crust pizzas (Napoli-style). You're not going to suddenly think Mario Batali cooked your meal, but all the red and white check tablecloth Italian-American comfort foods are there, in absolutely gigantic portions for sharing (individual servings are available during lunch). The food is hot and tasty if not haute cuisine. For families and groups out on a budget, this can't be beat: Familiar foods, big portions, friendly service, cheerful atmosphere. The negatives, such as they were, were that it does take a while for the food to turn up if no appetizers are ordered (mind you, that much pasta takes a while to cook) and the AC is set to meat locker, so you're freezing if you sit under an AC duct.
(4)Michael R.
Worst Veal Parmagiana that wasn't from the frozen aisle at Safeway- tasteless meat with no cheese that was at least not tough. The food is very inconsistent, with some good and other items just bad. Big portions of bad food- won't be back.
(1)C L.
We catered from BdB on New Years eve and were really disappointed with the service. First, I called at 2:00 for a 6:00 pickup. I promptly arrived at 6:00 and was told it was going to be 5-7 minutes longer. After 20 minutes and going in a couple of times from my car, the food finally arrived. When we got home, we were shocked at how little food we received fro $100+, particularly the Buca Trio Platter that cost $26 and came with 2 cheese sticks, a few mushrooms and a small handful of calimari. I called to speak to the manager that night, he was busy. Was supposed to receive a call or potentially something in the mail, neither ever happened. Really disappointing, as I'd had good experiences at other BdD in the past. Will never cater from them again though.
(1)Brian C.
Bring your friends. Everything is family style. Hit the gym when you are done.
(3)Bill V.
Buca di Beppo has been one of my favorite Italian food Restaurants sinse the first time I have dined there. Giant servings. Very good pricing. Very busy and lots to look at while you dine. I'm not sure if its authentic or not? All I can say is the food is very tasty! Every thing I have tried was delicious! My favorite is Spaghetti with Meat Sauce and giant meat balls! And the Pizza is so good! Very consistent food and very friendly and fast service. I love everything about Buca di Beppos. Every one of the locations I have tried was great! Very good for families! Great experience and full bar! They will give you a tour of the Restaurant and they even have a dining table in the kitchen where you can see the staff in action. Highly recommend Buca! And they have takeout!
(5)Van N.
I love the service every time! Thanks to our server Vivian! I love getting the baked ziti and the tiramisu! Its soo good. I usually order the fried mozzarella as an appetizer. Love the atmosphere and the décor, it's just so unique!
(5)Jade C.
I had such a great experience dinning at bucca di beppo! We were in the poster room and our servers name was cameron! He had an awesome personality and he took the time to help us pick the right food items on the menu that would be good wine and it was excellent! We will definitely be returning again! Keep up the great work!
(5)Dana W.
We've done take out here for large groups several times. They are very accommodating, and the food has always been ready on-time. Alex, the manager, was a pleasure to work with and very helpful with the ordering process; making suggestions, pricing etc., and on the day of pick-up, he was able to adjust our pick up time so the food was fresh out of the oven an ready to go. Buca is always a favorite with the team
(4)Natalie B.
The worst food I've ever had! I seriously wanted to make myself throw up afterwards just to get the taste out of my mouth. The bruschetta was just a bowl of diced tomatoes and some mozz. The waiter was very nice and patient, but I will never eat there again! If I could rate 0 stars I would! YUCK!
(1)Katy Y.
We came here around 4:30 on a Monday afternoon to celebrate my mother's birthday. We came from Disneyland and we were starving! Restaurant was sort of dead at the time and surprisingly it took us awhile to finally get seated as the hostess was missing. I'm not going to repeat what everyone else has mentioned but i will say that our waiter offered good service. Food was amazing. Family style so we shared everything. That white sauce garlic pizza was delicious! I always say that i want to ear their desserts but i am always too full! Since it was my mother's birthday, they brought out huge candles and sang to her which was nice and embarrassing. Overall, a pleasant experience and will return!
(4)Howie G.
I have to say I'm surprised at how much I enjoyed the food here. As I have said that chain type restaurants are most often somewhat dull. This was not the case here. Chicken Marsala was different from what I'm used to but really great. I'm looking forward to another visit.
(4)April P.
This place is great for large parties since their dishes are family style. I came here with a large group, and we ordered the chicken parmesan dish, spaghetti, and a pesto chicken pasta dish. They were all pretty good. We also received chocolate chip cookies for dessert. The cookies were inedible!!!! They were so HARD I couldn't eat it. Bleh...
(3)Curt E.
The perfect place to celebrate with a group! All the dishes are served up family style, and sharing is a must... Don't forget the desert, it is amazing.
(5)Rachel B.
Edward is the BEST server of all time. He was so kind and quick with his service. Tonight was family night so it was awesome being able to have fun and joke around. I came here for a friends birthday party this past summer and LOVED how big the food portions were. So, obviously I had to take my family here! We had a party of seven and Edward handled our large, energetic, crazy, loud group with grace. We will surely come back because of his service. Thanks for having us Buca do Beppos! P.S. I also want to give props to the photographer guy! I didn't catch his name, but he was very friendly and we are super happy with the prints we bought!
(5)Dana Z.
I mean, every Buca is kind of the same. But I just wanna give them props for handling the craziness of Disneyland race weekend. There was a huge long wait, and they handed out slices of their pizza. Good job Buca.
(3)Melissa S.
Had a wonderful dinner!! Can't wait to go back!! Kids enjoyed it too!! Only thing negative is it's pricey, but worth it.
(4)Michelle T.
I was not happy with the service here. My boyfriend and I were here for a banquet which included unlimited pastas and salads. Once we finished our two pasta bowls, we requested for more and our waiter gave us the pastas from the previous tables. This is utterly disgusting and I never want to come back here again.
(2)Christina M.
What a disappointment, I brought my husband here for his birthday because this is one of his favorite restaurants. We usually go to the Brea location and have always had a great experience. I really regret coming to the Anaheim location. Our server Linda needs to learn some better customer service skills. I almost never complain to a manager but I was so upset I started crying when I went to complain about the service. This is a special day, I wanted the best for my husband. We felt rushed, our server was not friendly, gave a fake smile, was somewhat rude and impatient. I have had better service at McDonalds. The food is awesome, but today I left with a sour taste in my mouth. When they came to sing the birthday song they sang it soo fast I couldn't understand a word they said except for meatballs. As soon as they were done singing they all ran away including our server before my husband could blow out the candle and no one wished him a happy birthday or said make a wish. They didn't even give me an option to chose a dessert, it was just a big red candle on a huge candlestick. I never felt so disgusted and sick to my stomach at how careless and abrupt the servers appeared. I would have preferred they never came to our table. Even the bus boy was rude, he offered to box up our food and then changed his mind and just brought us the boxes. I am one to make sure to take care of my servers and always tip 20% or more, I'm sorry but I gave a $0 for tip, I would have given a little more, but she charged us for wine that was spilled all over table and never even bothered to give us a refill for the spilled drink. Yes it was our fault it spilled, but for $17 a glass you would think she could take care of it and make sure we were taken care of. We can afford to splurge, go out to eat a nice dinner and take care of our servers, my family is well mannered and we go out of our way to be friendly and courteous to our servers, but when we get low grade customer service don't expect to get a tip from us.
(1)David L.
Needed a place to carbo-load prior to a Disney race. Was the perfect spot. Close to all the are hotels without being right next to the park. Had reservations on a busy Friday, they sat us about 5 minutes after the reservation time, which I consider very great given my experiences at other sit-down chain restaurants.
(4)Yolanda P.
Came here on a Sat with my fiance and 1 year old baby girl. This location is near Disneyland so we expected for it to be pretty packed. It was! 1 hour wait to be seated. Our waiter was somewhat friendly (at first) but he never offered us any bread. He also never asked us if we wanted a refill on our water or cofee. What bothered us the most about these things was that as other folks were being seated around us, they were assisted with these /offered these very common items by other waiters and even our own. I had to ask for cream and sugar for my coffe, ask for bread and when it was brought to us we didn't get butter, or oil &vinegar. I know I am probably sounding nit picky, the thing is that I have been to Buca many times before and this is standard! Finally after not seeing our waitor for a while we caught him and asked for help with boxing up our left overs, so he brought us the boxes and a plastic bag and walked away. Pretty rude and careless.... other waiters were boxing up customers food. Not left with a good feeling. The food was good, but service is absolutely what brings us back... we will return but not to this location.
(2)Margo D.
Today is Easter and a lot of places can be really busy and difficult to deal with in making reservations for a large group but not here. We had a change in our original reservation size, but that was no problem, they accommodated our additional guests and were attentive to our needs the entire meal. They unfortunately couldn't seat us all at one table and were split up in two but it was ok it worked out. We had two waiters, Jamal and Fernando, they were both awesome! If we needed anything they were there, Fernando even tried to get my nephews attention so he would smile for a picture. We went with a banquet meal and already pre-ordered two salads, pasta and appetizers. The salads we ordered were the garden and apple Gorgonzola, I wasnt too sure how everyone would fare with the apple salad but it was actually a hit and had great flavor. The pastas we ordered were spaghetti with meat sauce and pasta san remo, both were delicous and recommended. At the end of the meal we had cupcakes we brought in for dessert and they were nice enough to plate and hand them out for us. All in all they treated us great and usually wehn you go to a restaurant with a large group the tip is already included so the service usually lacks but not here. Thanks Bucca for making today a hit!
(5)ßenjämin Ä.
Sure its a chain spot so don't expect "Authentic" but overall the food is pretty good here. The crap all over the walls is supposed to give you the old world feeling of Italy but if thats what old Italy feels like why the hell you would want to relive that? In reality its just a dog and pony show for the kids and those that don't get out much. The food is always the same, so no need to review the quality. My only complaint is the the shetty service. As most places here its staffed with you not so rich OC kids that dont really want to be there. Drinks never get refilled, and when we got served our food some random bus boy saw we had no plates and he brought us some plates. Thats about it , rather go here than the Olive Garden.
(3)James P.
Food was great! And service was wonderful! Have a very nice birthday celebrating for my brothers 24th!
(5)Alfredo M.
Couldn't tell you how the food is. For the 2nd time in a row we came in and was told 20-30 minutes. After waiting 75 minutes we have up. We asked why they never called us, and they said they were too busy. I asked for a manager, was put on hold for five minutes and just gave up. Forever. My family of 7 and six figure income will never ever ever spend a dime with this restaurant company. Ever!!!!
(1)Mark B.
I had my daughter and her family in town and thought this would be a nice place to treat them to dinner. We found the place extremely crowded and had a long wait for a table. This wouldn't normally be a bad thing if the staff was friendly. Just a tip .... A smile and a friendly sympathetic comment would go a long way. We also found the food to be rather bland.
(2)J S.
Buca di Beppo, another Olive Garden-wannabe: SERVING DISCOMFORT AND INDIGESTION - FOR YOUR DINING DISPLEASURE BRING YOUR OWN EARPLUGS, BARF BAG AND POT TO PEE IN! WORST ATMOSPHERE EVER! I really wish yelp would allow 0 star reviews. 1 star is just too many to give to this restaurant. I'll warn you, now, though, you won't be reading a review of the food here, because the atmosphere was such that I refused to order anything for fear that I would have indigestion all night long (too bad I did, anyway). I had the misfortune of having to attend a family gathering at this obnoxious family-style restaurant. I should disclose, at this point, that I really despise family-style restaurants (Olive Garden, included). This one is made all the more worse, as it is located near Disneyland, so you can imagine the element that this establishment attracts. As soon as I entered the dining area where my family was seated, my head began reeling from the din and commotion. I was in the room barely two minutes before I had to turn around and exit, as I was already developing a migraine from the noise and lack of ventilation in the room. To top it off, I couldn't even reach my seat, since people were packed in like sardines. Seriously, people were sitting, literally (and, trust me, I do not misuse the word "literally") back-to-back. My sister's back was barely an inch away from the back of the person at the neighboring table. And, I kid you not, I could not get to my seat, because there was no open pathway to it. Once I determined to brave the cacophony and, after precision navigation, managed to gain my seat, I was considering creating a makeshift catheter with straws and a glass, so I could pee without having to leave the table, since any attempt to navigate my way out of the dining room, and through the narrow corridor to the restroom, would have certainly resulted in an embarrassing "accident". It's hard to believe that any fire marshal with integrity (an image of Fire Marshal Bill Burns instantly comes to mind) would sign off on this restaurant's floor plan. If there was a fire, or an earthquake, the dining room would become a tomb and everyone in it would quickly perish from a stampede, if not from the disaster itself. And good luck to anyone who has IBS, PMS, diarrhea or a weak bladder. Oh, and let's not forget that absolutely irritating birthday song . . . and the wait staff that sings it. I would have run screaming from the room, had I thought I could actually get out of there before the song was finished. The entire dining experience and circus-style atmosphere is detrimental to one's digestion and general well-being. Hell, I got indigestion and I didn't even eat anything! CONSIDER YOURSELVES WARNED!
(1)Faith D.
Let me start this by saying I seldom go to chain restaurants. Having said that, there are mostly chain restaurants in this particular area (convention center). After traveling half a day to get here, my husband and I were looking for somewhere to fill our bellies. I've been to Bucca di beppo before in AZ and remembered good things about it. Had a staple lunch of spaghetti marinara and a side salad. It was good. The bread was fresh. What makes this a 4 star, not 3 is the service. I guess being in "the friendly city" really does make a difference. Our server was great! Friendly, attentive and he secured this place 4 stars.
(4)Carol W.
Kudos to our server, Erica. She was professional, very friendly, and efficient. She helped to make an initial unpleasant situation end well. Customer service on the part of the restaurant's manager and hostess, however, was a different story. Realizing we would have a wait ahead of us without reservations, we were willing to wait the hour to hour and a half we were quoted upon our arrival to the restaurant (7 in our party). As we waited outside IN THE COLD, we watched smaller party after smaller party - also without reservations - be seated ahead of us. When questioning the hostess, we were told that they were seating smaller parties first and were waiting for a party of 30 to clear before seating us. WTH? We finally split ourselves into two groups and asked to be seated in two adjoining booths after waiting an hour and forty-five minutes. Who knows how much longer we would have had to wait if we hadn't done this. Once seated, I asked to speak with the manager who came off arrogant and full of excuses. He had no clue what was actually happening at his front desk, appeared to not care, and "blew me off" when I merely tried to offer a suggestion for the future. Not the way to do business.
(2)Harley F.
I wrote a letter to the CEO of Buca di Beppo expressing my displeasure. I got a call from the Senior Divisional Vice President...right away,. She said they had a meeting of the top executives about my concerns and have changed their policy at all their restaurants so this won't happen again. Ah the power of the pen! It pays to speak up. They have invited me to give the restaurant another try which I will and I'll revisit the number of stars I give the place after that dinner.
(1)Alex L.
I like Buca Di Beppo. I've been to the locations at Universal City and Redondo Beach - Both good times. My family went (four of us) to this location on our way to Morongo for my sister's 18th birthday. We wanted to go to a fun spot to celebrate, this was a mistake. Minus one star because the restaurant was EMPTY but we were still seated in this tiny booth near some very noisy children. The booth was right next to the cash register, so there were waiters running cards and standing there and talking the entire time right next to our table. Minus another star because out waiter was a complete asshole. He was rude and sarcastic, and not in the "funny" way. Not even in the slightest. I drew a picture of him (In cat form, since I don't know how to draw people) drinking poison on the back of my menu. I hate him. Minus one star because there was some guy taking pictures of our "dining experience" and trying to sell us prints of these pictures. Shit dude, we're just trying to have a meal... Stop trying to sell us pictures of us that we didn't ask for. I actually had to get up from the table to get some air outside. the whole meal was anxiety inducing and I will NEVER go back to this location.
(2)Miss Cindy P.
Delicious food! Great, fun and family friendly atmosphere. My boyfriend and I ended up getting the Aphrodite booth and loved all the decor on the wall. Oh la la....So romantic! The staff was very prompt and friendly. We shared one big family style bowl of spaghetti and meal balls and a serving of garlic bread. We even tried the sassy Italian soda. It was a nice treat! Be prepared to take PHOTOS! Yes, they have a photographer that goes around taking a photo of your group. They give you a free souvenir postcard of your images and then print out larger 5 x 7's for you to buy for an additional $15 or two for $20. I usually don't go for those kinds of things but we were on vacation and everything was so delightful.....Why not take some memories to treasure? Who really prints out their photos anymore. What a great way to end our vacation. Enjoy your dinner! Mama mia!
(5)Melissa R.
The highlights of this review: outstanding service, cool atmosphere, good food, large portions, and somewhat difficult parking. Came in for dinner with a reservation for 2 at 6:45PM on 2/6/15. Although I can see what other reviewers mean about limited parking, we found a spot easily (maybe because this is the off season?). We were seated within 2 minutes of checking in and got a tour of the whole restaurant (including kitchen). As others have said, and as your server will no doubt inform you, portions are family style. Even the small is good for two people with fair appetites. When in doubt, ask the server the size of each dish, they seem very happy to help. The food: we ordered a large calamari, a small Caesar salad, and small pizza Bianca, and the Mount Vesuvius (lava cake with raspberry sauce and ice cream) for dessert. The calamari was perfect and came with a slightly spicy marinara sauce for dipping. The Caesar dressing and croutons were great but I would have preferred shaved Parmesan to the grated (powdered?) that it was topped with. The pizza was delicious and had so much flavor. We ended up only eating a small slice each of the pizza and packing the rest up (the leftovers tasted great!) so we could save room for the huge dessert we were expecting. We had put the order in early (as requested on the menu) and were anxiously awaiting dessert. Turns out the dessert just wasn't turning out the way they expected and after a few tries of it looking bad, the manager came and informed us and offered to comp us another dessert for our trouble. I really appreciated his sincerity and kindness. And now that we ate and paid, I'll be honest: I would have ordered and paid for another dessert, but it was really nice to get it comped. Accidents and unforeseen problems happen and as someone who works in customer service, I know some things can't be avoided. The way you face these problems, however, makes a big difference. Both the manager (sorry I didn't get his name) and our server Cameron, were really great and we want to thank them for their awesome service! Working in the food industry, especially in a tourist town is tough. People expect a lot and sometimes too much. These guys treat everyone (that I could see) the way they would want to be treated while on vacation. Thanks again for some great service and tasty food. We ended up with a brownie sundae which was super tasty and it really rounded out our dinner (and bellies).
(5)Debra E.
As the restaurant claims, the portions really are HUGE! We ordered fettuccine alfredo and mozzarella garlic bread to go. The fettuccine was a small, but I only managed to have it for two meals and still had a lot left over (at the end of our trip). The mozzarella bread tasted great, but had chunks of fresh garlic worked into the topping. Ordinarily that would be a good thing, but it's not so good if you are trying to avoid eating the garlic chunks so you don't smell like a garlic clove when going out for the evening! It would be nice to have the option to get even smaller portions for less money. The value for the money is good in that you get a lot of food for what you pay. The food tasted great, and the order was ready when we arrived.
(4)Jose V.
This place is great! Family-friendly service and delicious food! I went last night (Nov 1) for my engagement party. They treated us just like family. It was so much fun to have everyone happy around us. Staff did a very well job of keeping us entertained. They even had a photographer taking pictures to capture the special moment. Now on to the food. Their pizzas are delicious. I never used to be a fan if the flatbread until I came here. The cheesy garlic bread is also great, especially with marinara. Definitely worth a try. I would recommend this place for large groups of people. Their serving sizes are big.
(5)Susan F.
I was craving a chopped salad so decided to go to Buca Di Beppo for dinner. We ordered a pasta and the salad. After eating part of the salad, we noticed that it was pretty bland. Turns out it was missing pepperoni. We brought it to our servers attention and he did remove the charge. Still, it would have been nice to get the salad right to begin with. The pasta was good. I would probably go back, but most likely not to this location. Because of the close proximity to Disneyland, they seem too busy and it showed by their rushed attitude, both in service and quality of food.
(2)Ivy L.
5 stars for having a great kids menu!! We order kids meals to-go here about 2-3 times a month! Bc they are Great portion size for kids. Sometimes we order 1 for them to share. These are only 4.99 (drink not included but breads comes with the meals). Our toddlers age 3 and 5 love: Chicken Parmesan comes w spaghetti and sauce. Mac and cheese. Spaghetti w meat ball. Overall Food quality - is same just like other locations equally good & tasteful. Staffs here: friendly! Atmosphere here: fun and a bit noisy&stuffy. No patio sitting.
(5)J C.
Average Italian food. Family style servings which is great for parties of three or more. The shrimp diablo is my favorite but flavors ate quite muted for my taste. The dessert is also family style but the tiramisu is pretty darn good. I would recommend this restaurant for bigger parties. The ambiance is great and family friendly. Most location have great friendly staff although it does vary since it is a chain. Overall it's definitely average nothing is above and beyond except maybe service if you get lucky with staff. Try a peach Bellini to sweeten the deal.
(3)Laura S.
If I could give my visit a 0 I would. Was here las Monday night. We waited a long time for our food. When it came the fettucini was ice cold and the chicken parm was dry and cold. Took forever to get our waiter back. He finally came back and said he'd refire the food then manager came over and said " what's the problem with the chicken ? No apology just rude ! She said she'd refire the food. After 20 more min still no food. We asked another waiter to get ours he came over and we to him to give us the check for the garlic bread as we had to leave for the airport. Instead he got the manager who once again was quite rude. She claimed our food was just coming up but we were never told that. " as a courtesy we have removed the food from your bill" a courtesy? We never ate any food ! Can't believe she even charged us for the two pieces of bread we ate ! Worst service I have ever experienced. Needless to say we got on our plane without dinner !
(1)Mia V.
Big servings... TASTY, but a little pricey for me. Atmosphere was fun, cozy... love their spaghetti and meatballs the most. One of my fave italian restaurants...
(4)Allan B.
This restaurant is AWFUL. Nonstop waiting game. Wait for your table. Wait to be seated while people are taking pictures. Wait 20 minutes for your waiter who never comes. Voting with my feet and walking out the door from this overpriced restaurant with really poor service.
(1)Sarah K.
This review is specifically for the Christmas night. I reserved using Open table and it was so easy! Recommend it than trying to call-in. The service was a bit slow but I expected it since it's Christmas. People are needy at every table. Our food was hot and prepared well. Thumbs up to the chefs who worked hard even on Christmas! One downfall of this place is the tight parking space of its lot. It's all compact car size.
(4)Jesse R.
This is from a couple months ago, but the wife and I met some good friends we hadn't seen in awhile for dinner. My one start review revolves around the fact that a photographer comes around to your table and bugs you to take a bunch of pictures and comes back at the end of dinner and tries to sell pictures to you at a 1,000% mark up! How incredibly tacky. Never again based on this experience. Oh, food was meh.
(1)Andrea A.
Delicious! Best meatballs I've ever had and the bread is to die for! My daughter and I had a tug o war for the last piece! Yum!
(5)Karen C.
I always enjoy having dinner here with my boyfriend. The servers are very kind and always friendly. The most recent visit I had, our server Ryan L. was so great. He gave us a few tips on the most popular dishes. He also sat us and was the first out of our 4 visits to give us a tour which was cool. Everyone greeted us; hosts,servers, manager, and all the ppl in the kitchen. They are all so friendly and really make it feel like home and comfortable.
(4)Leanne N.
Would definitely come back! GREAT for groups. Our waiter was super helpful and funny. We loved all his recommendations. I can't remember exactly what we got but we got a small pizza, a large garlic bread, a large salad, a large pasta, and a small spaghetti. We had 4 girls and 3 guys and we had plenty of leftovers. Portions were huge, food was great, I'm actually craving it again and I was just here yesterday! Ask for recommendations if you're unsure on what to get or what size. Servers really know their stuff. They even take pictures for your group and print it out for you for free. They also offer bigger individual copies with frames that you can purchase for the price of $20 for 2. My new fav Italian Restaurant, thank you Buca!
(5)Jennifer T.
Service is amazing. I had a coupon for a free dish only after 4pm. We asked if we could use the coupon even though it was not 4pm. The server asked the manager and the manager said yes. O_O ;_; Food is good, but comes in a large size. If you cannot eat a lot a small size can probably feed 3 people even though it says serves 2 or more. Prices are 15 dollars and up!
(5)Nicole B.
Been here twice over the weekend since it is in the parking lot of my hotel. First visit we were told the wait would be over an hour. Then we got slick and ordered curb side. It was ready in 30 and we took to hotel. Had spaghetti first visit and lasagna second. Both were good. The small portions are larger than they say.
(4)Abraham C.
I have never been to an Italian place like this. This resturaunt has a very unique atmosphere that feels like home. As they walked me to my table they took me through the kitchen and it reminded me of the Goodfellas scene. Kinda cool. The only thing i didn't like was that I ordered a spicy pasta dish aaaaaaand it was spicy at all. :/ other than that. It was a great experience.
(4)Jenn W.
We ate here because it was close to the hotel we were staying at and we could easily get it to go. It was because of this convenience (we have two smaller children who don't always cooperate for a dine in experience) that we ate here twice - unfortunately. The food was ok but I have definitely had better. It was ok in a pinch but definitely not my top choice. On top of it being just "meh" it was rather pricey and we would likely not go back unless in another late-night pinch. I will say that the to-go experience was seamless - our order was correct, bag was stocked with all eating necessities (utensils, plates, condiments, etc..) and it was ready on time.
(2)Sonny Q.
I'm not impressed by the food at this place. The Buca d Beppo place at Palo Alto Ca. have better food, better servings better service from appetizers, desserts to entree. Example is the fried calamari. Palo Alto has a better calamari sauce. Frutti d Mare is a "I want seconds" entree @ Palo Alto . They should improve the taste of their food if they want to compete with the other restaurants around the area.
(2)Arshan A.
This place is a gem. We came on a Sunday night and this place was busy but extremely well managed. We did not wait to sit, the waitress was professional while handling 10 other tables. Also, the food came quickly and tasted well everything here is amazing from the pastas to the beers to the pizza everything is just great. You will be happy after you leave here. This is a place of professionals and great food and people.
(5)Mira T.
food was awesome and so was the staff :)
(4)Tram N.
Visited this Buca location on an afternoon for lunch. I had recently joined the eClub so I received a coupon for ONE Free Small Pasta (had 3 choices) and brought it with me to the restaurant. I ordered 2 small pastas to share with my boyfriend and right then I presented the coupon to the waiter who was taking our order. After he had read the coupon, he all of the sudden looked annoyed. When I told him what kind of pasta I wanted, he stared at me for a couple of seconds in an uncomfortable way as if he couldn't comprehend what I was saying then proceeded to respond with a bland "Okay?". I thought it was ridiculous because he was in a super cheerful mood with the table next to us. I immediately got annoyed because he gave us an attitude right when we ordered. Wtf is that? Throughout the lunch, the waiter did not come by our table very often to check up on us. He was too busy being attentive the guests next to us. He came by their table multiple times and even stood there for minutes to make conversations with them. He also politely told them on their way out "I hope you enjoyed our service and thank you so much for coming in." With that being said, we did not once receive a thank you from him or any of the employees standing around doing nothing as we left. It ticked me off that he chose to give us BS service and kissed ass to other customers. Did he want good tips from them that bad? Lol. As for the food... -Free Baked Ziti: came out cold and hard; tasted like it was microwaved and then had cheese melted on top of it. -Spicy Chicken Rigatoni: came out a bit cold but was pretty decent. Wasn't worth it for the price, I'll tell you that much. Overall, this was an okay Buca experience. I will not come back unless it is a special occasion.
(2)K O.
I have been to Bucas in two other states and have always been happy with the service and the food. While our waitress did a fine job, the food we had was not up to usual Buca standards...or, at least, what I expect from Buca. My son had the fettuccine Alfredo and complained that the sauce was "flavorless". I tried some and agreed - it tasted creamy, but had zero seasoning. We doctored it up as best we could with salt and pepper, but it was disappointing. My other son ordered the pepperoni pizza and said it was okay, but he didn't like the red sauce - same issue as the fettuccine - too bland. My husband and I shared the spaghetti and meatballs and a mixed green salad. The salad was a joke - the menu said it came with red onions, pepperoncini, kalamata and green olives. We barely had ANY olives (maybe five in the entire bowl) and two pepperoncini. The spaghetti and meatballs was also "meh" - the meatball had no seasoning. We were there visiting from out of state, but would HIGHLY recommend to anyone visiting the area to avoid this Buca! Not tasty at all.
(2)Robert B.
Outstanding service ask for Fernando. We went on a Tuesday and had a great meal. The staff and Manager were attentive. Definitely recommend the sangria.
(5)Mike C.
I ordered a salad and added chicken. The chicken was pre made chicken strips, they weren't that good. The salad by itself was pretty good. The diet Pepsi I ordered, you can tell they don't clean their lines.
(2)Bern R.
Met expectations. Definitely reserve a table. There were 4 adults and 2 kids in our party for dinner after a grueling day at DisneyLand. We were hungry, tired, and at peak exhaustion. Friendly staff greeted us at the door and got us seated. Orders taken promptly making thoughtful accommodations for our 22-and 5- month old guests. Immediately you felt enveloped in the Buca universe, multiple servers going in all directions inside tight corridors. The noise level is the first thing you notice, next to the overlapping orders from nearby tables that tend to confuse the servers. Minutes later, you'd hear phrases like "I didn't order THAT!!!" and it goes south in a hurry. Come w an appetitive teetering on starvation. The family style entrees could feed a family of 8 for a week. Shirley I jest. Glasses tend sit empty until you flag a server for refills. Ample parking. Clean dining areas and restrooms. Service with a smile always no matter the pain level. Not for everyone but it's a fav stopover whenever one is spotted in our travels.
(3)Jose L.
Reservation needed since the spot is always busy... we were seated right away, didn't wait too long... good food... server was helpful when given us helpful tips on how food is served
(5)Chris J.
Just got back from a party of 12, they had us seated in the party room...yep, the one with the bust of the Pope. One of the kids in the group thought it was creepy. I agree; I don't need a likeness of a pope I really, really don't like staring at me when I'm trying to enjoy a salad. This is good for the 'family style' dining experience, but the real challenge just comes with waiting for something you want while the lazy susan spins around. I didn't feel like loading up on carbs and cheese and pizza/bread, so I stuck to the salads and green beans, but did have a couple scoops of pasta. Nothing outstanding, but not bad either. I really wasn't pleased with the server overall. First, I order a small caesar salad and discreetly ask her to split the check. She poorly handled this by stating loudly "we don't split checks". I just handed her the menu and crossed my arms in front of my chest. Insult me and I'll throw it right back at you. They really needed her just dedicated to the party, but management had her working a couple other tables, so sometimes things would come on the spot, other times there was a wait. One was a missing chicken entree that came late; tasty, warm but late. They did comp the party with another salad, but forgot to take it off the check. Fortunately, the group was cordial, although I only met most of the people on one other occassion years ago. Artwork and layout of the restaurant is strange; what is this...tours of the kitchen? At least they're not afraid of you or the Health Department. Food was average and I still don't understand the difficultly of generating ONE seperate check for a $15 salad. I can guarantee not coming back as I'm out of the area.
(3)Christine M.
We had a waiter Edberto who did a wonderful job taking care of us tonight. The food was really good. The chicken Parmesan was the dinner favorite. We were seated quickly and the food arrived very fast!
(5)Lee A.
Sometimes I wish I had an Italian grandmother, but going to Buca was close enough indeed. She just needed to be there urging us to "mangia mangia!" while we dug through the amazingly green pesto sauce and stuffed mushrooms, cheese-filled pasta dishes, and eggplant parmigiana. Foursquare mentioned something about a Pope Room, so my friend Christine A. wandered off in search of both the Pope Room and the restroom. She found the room, which is catered for parties of at least 8 where you'd sit around a huge table in a room covered from floor to ceiling with trinkets, pictures and other religious memorabilia topping the whole experience with a bust of the pope as centerpiece of the table. Buca itself is a wonderful dining experience, for even a franchise type restaurant. All served family-style, be sure to bring friends and agree on items as a group rather than as individuals. It did fall on the pricey side, but I can see dinners here for special occasions being a thing. Or if you're just craving pasta. We have to return for the pesto alone.
(5)Michael C.
Linguine frutti di mare alone makes it worth coming to Buca. Family portions so if your on a date for 2 get the small portion. Buca provides a family vibe and cool ambiance worth trying if your craving some pasta.
(4)Michael B.
I love Italian food and when I first heard of buca di beppo, I was quite excited and I've always enjoyed coming here. But, after 3 or 4 times, it does start to get old. During my most recent visit, we were a party of 8 and we ordered family style. That's what I enjoy about this place because it's very family friendly as most Italians are. But, despite all the plates of food, I wasn't that impressed and to be honest, I wasn't all that full. We had the baked ziti, and seafood sampler. But, I found everything to be quite bland at this place and the staff wasn't particularly that friendly. Plus, I don't like being bothered to have photos taken of me and then shortly, being asked to pay $10 for one picture. I really don't understand why they print them out when most people aren't going to buy them. So in short: food: okay. I've had better. Kind of bland and unsatisfying. Could use more flavor. You're definitely going to be seasoning your own food to your taste. May I recommend the grated parmesan cheese for extra flavor. I found myself using a lot of this so that I could actually taste my food. staff: friendly and somewhat attentive. environment: welcoming and perfect for families (especially if you're loud!) I love Italian food and it's sad to say, but I've had better. I'd much rather spend the extra few bucks for food that is better than decent. Don't get me wrong, it's a great place, but I'm just kind of over it now. Maybe it's just me.
(3)Jonie L.
Had the baked Ziti, and Anti Pasta Salad. It was pretty good. The colossal brownie sundae is awesome!!!
(3)Sharon O.
I would say this place is more of a 3 1/2 star imho...but alas we can't do halfies here on yelp. Everyone was very friendly here...the manager was quick to comp us our $15 off coupon. The decor...whoa...CREEPY lol I'm not gonna lie I was looking at all the weird collage of weird and it scared me haha The food was good but nothing to go crazy about ...we had the spicy chichen rigatoni and the mozzarella garlic bread...garlic bread was amazing, really tasty...the pasta was ok much better when I put on some parmesan cheese and salt. Overall...it was an ok experience...not amazing by any means.
(3)Sally E.
Looooooong wait. I'd never been to Buca, and we decided to finally venture here one weekend. I came here on a sunday around 7 (the one near Disneyland) with my family, but the four of us didn't get seated until 8. Once we did get seated however, the service was absolutely fabulous...my compliments to our waiter! Because we were starving, we ordered a variety of dishes: the appetizer sampler that had calamari, mushrooms, and fried mozzarella sticks, apple-gorgonzola salad, and two pastas: shrimp florentine (i think that's what it's called? it's a white sauce spaghetti with shrimp and veggies) and a spicy chicken pasta that had red sauce, and corn. Appetizer--awesome, although the calamari was really tiny and it was a lot more baby squid legs than actually calamari. Salad-even better, and I don't usually like sweet and salty mixes. somehow, this works, although it is by no means a "healthy" salad. florentine pasta: lacking in flavor. it was a bit better with salt, but wouldn't order it again. spicy chicken: delish, after some added salt. The food was plenty for the four of us, and we ended up taking some leftovers home. All in all, pretty good for an italian chain, but nothing really to call home about.
(3)Rigby A.
we had such an awesome night at this restaurant. we're so happy we chose this place to celebrate a friends' n her daughter's birthday here... shout out to r server ramon--- dude ur absolute best!!! n to all the employees--- u guys are all awesome. foods were great esp the fried calamari. its a bit expensive, but def well worth it. will def come back n dine again!!!
(5)John S.
Had a wonderful dinner with my family at Buca tonight. Calamari was delicious as was the margarita pizza was great and the apple Gorgonzola salad was fantastic. Matt our server was great! It was a great way to cap off a busy day. And by the way the tiramisu is off the hook good!
(5)Felisha E.
I remember eating here a few years ago and thinking it was so-so. I came here recently and found it hasn't changed. It's definitely Olive Garden-type "Italian" food. I ordered the shrimp florentine (family style, small) which heartily fed two people. We also ordered sangria, which was very watered down. The service was really great though. On my way to the bathroom, I saw a fake pope's head encased atop one of the tables. I thought that was creepy o__o
(3)M And J.
We had our dinner with for a prom Saturday, May 19, 2013 with a group of twenty people or so in their banquet room. The service and setting was wonderful, it was very lovely. But we paid $23 for our meal, which was simple, unflavored, and a letdown in such a nice setting. We expected more for our money. We did get full on the normal everyday salad, easy to make pasta, simple breaded (even burnt) chicken, and chewy brownie topped with whipped cream. But we expected more for what we paid for, we did get full, but were disappointed. The ambiance of the place was worth more than our food, and eating good food was what we expected to pay for. Ill have to come back to re-edit this in regards to why our meal was so simple, yet so expensive. But this was the first impression, overall experience that we left Buca de Beppo with. Service & Setting, were wonderful. Food was meh.
(2)Maria E.
The ambience, service and food is exceptional. They're always very welcoming I go there time after time to dine in and take out. Great coupon offers as well.
(5)K S.
Bucca di bomb! This place had some delicious food. My family and I went there on a Thursday night and had Chicken Carbonara Spaghetti, pizza, stuffed mushrooms, and stuffed parmesan chicken. The spaghetti was the best and the pizza was probably my least favorite. The pizza is a bit greasy and the sauce was alright, but other than that, food was great. The service was good and the pictures that decorate the restaurant are pretty funny to look at and read.
(4)Vladimir P.
I was pretty sceptical about this one, since it is a chain in a touristy location, but food was generally OK. Fish was a bit overcooked, but salad was well dressed and the pizza was pretty good. If you are OK with a very sexist decor :) and don't want to walk far from your hotel, this is a reasonable choice. A warning though, the desserts are HUGE !
(3)Tae K.
Brought my gf here for her birthday and I really enjoyed eating at this restaurant. Food and drinks were great but what stood out the most was the service. Alex, our server was awesome, and that is an understatement. He was the best server I have come across in years. My girlfriend and I will frequent this place from now on. Now the restaurant is next to a couple of hotels and the parking gets a little tight. Just a heads up for folks.
(5)Matthew D.
One of my new favorites! Now I have a "go to" in Anaheim. The portions are big and the atmosphere is casual. Unless you don't like Italian food, just drive here and eat... Don't think about it or debate it... Just enjoy. It would be tragic to utter any comparison to Olive Garden and Buca di Beppo.
(5)Yvonne H.
My roommate introduced us to this restaurant. We went on Halloween night. Food was great and service was good. The meal portion was huge. Tiramisu was the best ever. At first when we tried to order it, the server told us that they were out. In a few minutes, he came back and told us that the kitchen had made some more because there were quite a few requests. We had the huge tiramisu fresh. It was super delicious. Will definitely go there again to dine.
(4)Jlyn T.
Walked in and got no type of greeting. Stood there for about 10 minutes along with another family but nothing. Several waiters walked by too. So we just left. Went to cheesecake factory instead so I guess it was better that way.
(1)Joey D.
All chain restaurants are similar but Drew's great sense of humor and friendly demeanor topped off a wonderful evening. If you want an awesome experience, demand Drew. Don't forget the cannoli!
(5)