Just ate here and really missed this place. I've eaten at other Bucas around the country and was needing my Italian fix! We started with the mozzarella sticks / triangles. They were hand made and probably the best fried mozzarella I've ever eaten. However, it's $13.99 for 8 of them. That's double the price of most mozzarella appetizers and we could have eaten 2-3 orders of these. But it was delicious. So we ordered another appetizer - the mini meatballs. I was under the impression that they were stuffed with cheese but they weren't. They were pretty decent but we thought they tasted a little odd. We weren't crazy about them. The portion was small and again, this tiny appetizer was also $13.99, which I find expensive for an appetizer. The house bread with oil and Parmesan was good and we ate a lot of bread. The servers were friendly but were never in a hurry. It wasn't busy at all but we had to wait 15 minutes to get our check once we were done eating. Most of the meal operated at that pace, which I find frustrating. I mean, if my drink is empty, please fill it up now, rather than 15 minutes later! Ok, so onto the main entree: we ordered chicken parmigiana. We ate the smaller order which had 3 big pieces of chicken and was about $20. It was good, although my wife and I weren't crazy about it because it had little onions all over as well as little tomato chunks all over (as opposed to a nice tomato-like sauce that other places typically serve). All in all, food was pretty good, arguably much more authentic than other Italian places, and it was a good experience. I think this place can be amazing if you find the dishes you really prefer to eat. One other thing: I wanted the usual salad that I had ordered in the past from Bucas and was told by the server that they didn't carry it, although "all the other Bucas carry it." I found that to be a little odd. Anyway, we will return but I'd like to see some improvements.
(4)
Angela R.
Overall, a decent place and don't mind going back! I would give it 3.5 if I could. I've only gone during lunch time,and both times I've arrived, there hasn't been a hostess to greet me. The first time I went, I had to walk around the restaurant to flag someone down. I usually sit in the bar area and have noticed that other customers have the same experience. The waiters are pretty friendly, which makes up for your initial impression. I've experienced both attentive and not so attentive waiters, but again, overall pleasant customer service. Food is pretty satisfying. You get a good serving size and if you're not too hungry, you can save half of an entree for later. I've had their tomato,basil soup (yum!) and their ziti (double yum!) I definitely crave their ziti every time I go. My boyfriend has had their Spicy Chicken Rigatoni and Chicken Parmesan. I always try a bit of his food and both of us agree, it's pretty freaking delicious. Only disappointment is their garlic bread (who screws up garlic bread?!) It's really dry and I'm used to really buttery garlic bread. I've also tried the mozzarella garlic bread, which is better, but not the best I've had. Again, I've only been at lunch so I'm not sure how it is when it's busier. You'll have a good experience though.
(3)
Jamie L.
The location is convenient and I think it's nice to have a real restaurant attached to the mall. I think Buca is somewhere between Olive Garden and Biaggi's. I've never had a salad here I DID like, which is surprising. It's also disappointing because they do have the family sized servings, so it's a total waste if you're unsatisfied with something. The pasta is always al dente and tastes good. My children are in love with the fettuccine alfredo, but I think it's a little lackluster. I have tried the eggplant parmesan and it was far too chewy and tough to manage. The chicken dishes have always been pleasing and satisfying. Adult beverage selections are limited and pricey compared to other restaurants. Make sure you get the house bread with the balsamic/oil mix. That's the best part of the meal!
(3)
Mark C.
This place functions like a Chinese sit-down restaurants where all the items are meant to be shared. Almost all the menu items have a small (serves 2 people) and a large (serves 4 people). That's all and good, but it has an issue: it's a lie. My buddy and I ordered a small pizza... But we both agreed that we could have eaten that small pizza by ourselves and be satisfied. A small item and a side is sufficient food for two adults. Another issue is that it took an inordinate amount of time for a waiter to even service us.
(2)
Yi L.
Two-people portion is small. Mussels are not fresh. Calamari is over-fried. Veal tastes stale. Nothing good tonight.
(1)
James T.
Went for lunch and spent almost 40 minutes before getting served my soup and salad... Soup, and salad. They weren't even very busy but there didn't seem to be enough staff to handle everyone that was there. Also I was disappointed that they don't have the soup salad and half sandwich combo they've always had in the past. All the rest of their menu is pretty expensive for lunch. I really don't think I'll be going back.
(1)
Jessica Q.
Spaghetti is delicious, baking surface is good also, very suitable friend for dinner, a nice place!
(5)
Cynthia S.
This was my first time with the Champaign location. I usually eat at the Phoenix AZ one and I give them a 5! This one was good, menu has changed some. Service was great. Food was good. Our mozzarella appetizer could have been much warmer so the cheese was more "stringy" but entrees where good. They do serve family style but do single entrees as well. Prices are very reasonable. I would dine again.
(4)
Julie P.
Very awesome restaurant. Waiter was nice and knowledgeable when asked questions. It's a family size portions place and they are huge! Highly recommend the cheese ravioli!
(5)
Sean Y.
Nice place for a casual date! The penne al forno was good, but the garlic bread and spicy rigatoni with chicken were very excellent! The service was also consistently good. Recommend!
(5)
Timothy D.
Wife and I dined here last night. Our waiter James was just the right amount off friendly and did a very good job. We started with the cheesy garlic bread which was excellent. The misses had the lasagna while I had the spaghetti and meatballs both were excellent. Food is all made in house and very good lasagna is best I've ever had out.
(5)
R E.
This is the place to eat!!!! There is a vast majority of high end items, and everything is made from scratch. Everything is made from scratch. I feel this Buca is getting a bad rep, but there is new management, and really everything is delicious. There are many reasons to choose this Buca di Beppo. One of the best things I have experienced is the celebratory dinning, another great aspect is the family style eating experience, and finally the atmosphere is true and authentic. We went here with a large party, and we all split a numerous amount of dishes. We had plenty of left overs, and all left satisfied. The entire staff was extremely grateful and helpful. We loved our service. Having family style options is great because everyone communicates about each dish and the party really stays lively. This establishment really nailed it when it comes to aesthetics. The restaurant really looks like an authentic Italian restaurant. Also, what a top end liquor selection. They had every wine imaginable and a full bar. We really like Buca and hope everyone makes a visit in. IT'S WORTH IT. Go in to Buca in Champaign for a great experience.
(5)
Ben V.
I personally love family style dining. Sharing food at the table is a rarity for many families these days, and eating here with my family recreated that, even if just a little bit. Always helps when the food is good! We ordered a large portion of baked pasta, a small mixed green salad portion, and a large portion of mozzarella bread. Everything was very good and plenty for our family of 5. Our server was friendly and helpful, having to explain a few things since it was our first time eating there. My only complaint is the somewhat cramped dinning area that is cluttered with decoration.
(4)
Maxine C.
I'd have to start out by saying that I didn't expect much. An Italian restaurant in a mall...not much to look forward too. However, my family and I were pleasantly surprised. We started out by meeting our waitress, who despite being very sweet, constantly sounded very aggressive whilst asking us for our orders. "Would you like a glass of water with that? I said, WOULD YOU LIKE A GLASS OF WATER?!" Not only were we one placement may short, we had to repeatedly ask for silverware. I proceeded to order a Shirley temple, my classic go-to when I'm trying to lose weight. But alas, the sweet concoction came without a cherry. I tried to move past that, but I have to admit the rest of my meal was quite scarred from the experience. Onto the food. One should we warned that if one would like one's own meal, this is not the place to go. Almost everything is served family style. The six of us decided to order the Caprese Salad, Spicy Chicken Rigatoni, Baked Ziti, and Eggplant Parmesan. the Caprese salad was the most cleanly cut mozzarella I have ever seen. Bravo. As for the pasta, I cannot complain, however the seasonings could have been a bit more present. One of the most dissapointing parts of the meal was when we were given the check with no dessert menu. I didn't order the Shirley temple for nothing, sweet pea. I cannot complain, but next time, I could've used a cherry.
(4)
Mike J.
If you're ok with food that tastes like it came from the frozen food aisle, then this is the place to go. Ordered the chicken parmigiana and it tasted like boxed breaded chicken you could get out of a grocery store with some extra on top to make it look nicer. High price tag for subpar quality.
(2)
Amanda Z.
The food was delicious. I didn't realize at first that it was "family style". The portions are very large, and the price is excellent when you consider how much food you're getting. It took over 10 mins for our waitress to come to our table after being seated. Other than that, we had an enjoyable experience.
(4)
T F.
Spaghetti and meatballs was just average at best although the meatball was good. However if you tell me I can't remove peppers from my pizza because the ingredients are all bagged.... That means your pizza ingredients are not fresh, they're cut somewhere else, they're frozen, and then they are shipped to you....i do not plan to eat here again. This is the first time I've ever had a waitress tell me they can't make a pizza the way I want... Which is freaking weird. This store is very dark it's very hard to read the menu or pick off peppers because the light is so dim. Now that I think about it the place kind of creeped me out.
(2)
Christy W.
Okay, why does this restaurant have high reviews? The pizza was so-so and the rigatoni was just mediocre and the lasagna was horrible and dry. The only thing that was pleasant were our kind waiter Gerald(?) I dont think ill return.
(1)
Tom L.
The price range is deceptive because they serve family style. At first I thought the "small" was overpriced until I realized you could feed 3-4 people on one. For a franchise I find the quality decent. The service was great and they also regularly publish generous coupons...which entices us to add an appetizer or dessert. They make the money back.
(4)
John S.
My daughter wanted to go to Buca for her birthday dinner, so the whole family went along. My experience this time was much better than the first. I had a coupon for a free small appetizer. Our waitress told us that the amount could be used toward a large size appetizer, which was helpful. Service was very good. Our appetizer was the Cheesy Bread Florentine, which was very good. We followed with the Chopped Antipasto Salad, which was also very good. Our past dish was the Chicken and Sausage Zita, which was heavily spiced and a winner in our book. We had a few drinks which zoomed up the total bill. I was happy that the evening went so well. Although the food was much better this visit, I believe this chain is a tad too pricey for what you get. It would not rate nearly as high as a chain like The Old Spaghetti Factory for value.
(3)
Jay B.
We usually enjoy the food but hard to get into the price structure. They often have coupons to lessen the blow. First time we went packed lately was dead in there.
(3)
Les P.
This place is in the mall in Champaign. Atmosphere 5 stars, cozy and romantic. Service 5 stars, could not have been better. Food 4 stars. I had the eggplant parma. which I would give 5 stars. Friend had the veggie pizza which she gave 4 stars. The bread was kind of boring and the dipping sauce not the best. I would go back for sure.
(4)
Bob L.
We love this Italian Restaurant. Decorated with great photos, friendly staff but suffers from a poor location near the Mall food court. My wife makes great Lasagna, but even she says Buca's version is the best she has ever had!! Some will not like the family style serving at dinner, but overall the product is outstanding.
(4)
Sorry, we don't have Q&A for this restaurant.
Sorry, No Coupons available for this restaurant.
Address :Market Place Shopping Center,2000 N Neil St
Champaign, IL, 61820
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch Bike Parking : No Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : Free 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.
Robert B.
Just ate here and really missed this place. I've eaten at other Bucas around the country and was needing my Italian fix! We started with the mozzarella sticks / triangles. They were hand made and probably the best fried mozzarella I've ever eaten. However, it's $13.99 for 8 of them. That's double the price of most mozzarella appetizers and we could have eaten 2-3 orders of these. But it was delicious. So we ordered another appetizer - the mini meatballs. I was under the impression that they were stuffed with cheese but they weren't. They were pretty decent but we thought they tasted a little odd. We weren't crazy about them. The portion was small and again, this tiny appetizer was also $13.99, which I find expensive for an appetizer. The house bread with oil and Parmesan was good and we ate a lot of bread. The servers were friendly but were never in a hurry. It wasn't busy at all but we had to wait 15 minutes to get our check once we were done eating. Most of the meal operated at that pace, which I find frustrating. I mean, if my drink is empty, please fill it up now, rather than 15 minutes later! Ok, so onto the main entree: we ordered chicken parmigiana. We ate the smaller order which had 3 big pieces of chicken and was about $20. It was good, although my wife and I weren't crazy about it because it had little onions all over as well as little tomato chunks all over (as opposed to a nice tomato-like sauce that other places typically serve). All in all, food was pretty good, arguably much more authentic than other Italian places, and it was a good experience. I think this place can be amazing if you find the dishes you really prefer to eat. One other thing: I wanted the usual salad that I had ordered in the past from Bucas and was told by the server that they didn't carry it, although "all the other Bucas carry it." I found that to be a little odd. Anyway, we will return but I'd like to see some improvements.
(4)Angela R.
Overall, a decent place and don't mind going back! I would give it 3.5 if I could. I've only gone during lunch time,and both times I've arrived, there hasn't been a hostess to greet me. The first time I went, I had to walk around the restaurant to flag someone down. I usually sit in the bar area and have noticed that other customers have the same experience. The waiters are pretty friendly, which makes up for your initial impression. I've experienced both attentive and not so attentive waiters, but again, overall pleasant customer service. Food is pretty satisfying. You get a good serving size and if you're not too hungry, you can save half of an entree for later. I've had their tomato,basil soup (yum!) and their ziti (double yum!) I definitely crave their ziti every time I go. My boyfriend has had their Spicy Chicken Rigatoni and Chicken Parmesan. I always try a bit of his food and both of us agree, it's pretty freaking delicious. Only disappointment is their garlic bread (who screws up garlic bread?!) It's really dry and I'm used to really buttery garlic bread. I've also tried the mozzarella garlic bread, which is better, but not the best I've had. Again, I've only been at lunch so I'm not sure how it is when it's busier. You'll have a good experience though.
(3)Jamie L.
The location is convenient and I think it's nice to have a real restaurant attached to the mall. I think Buca is somewhere between Olive Garden and Biaggi's. I've never had a salad here I DID like, which is surprising. It's also disappointing because they do have the family sized servings, so it's a total waste if you're unsatisfied with something. The pasta is always al dente and tastes good. My children are in love with the fettuccine alfredo, but I think it's a little lackluster. I have tried the eggplant parmesan and it was far too chewy and tough to manage. The chicken dishes have always been pleasing and satisfying. Adult beverage selections are limited and pricey compared to other restaurants. Make sure you get the house bread with the balsamic/oil mix. That's the best part of the meal!
(3)Mark C.
This place functions like a Chinese sit-down restaurants where all the items are meant to be shared. Almost all the menu items have a small (serves 2 people) and a large (serves 4 people). That's all and good, but it has an issue: it's a lie. My buddy and I ordered a small pizza... But we both agreed that we could have eaten that small pizza by ourselves and be satisfied. A small item and a side is sufficient food for two adults. Another issue is that it took an inordinate amount of time for a waiter to even service us.
(2)Yi L.
Two-people portion is small. Mussels are not fresh. Calamari is over-fried. Veal tastes stale. Nothing good tonight.
(1)James T.
Went for lunch and spent almost 40 minutes before getting served my soup and salad... Soup, and salad. They weren't even very busy but there didn't seem to be enough staff to handle everyone that was there. Also I was disappointed that they don't have the soup salad and half sandwich combo they've always had in the past. All the rest of their menu is pretty expensive for lunch. I really don't think I'll be going back.
(1)Jessica Q.
Spaghetti is delicious, baking surface is good also, very suitable friend for dinner, a nice place!
(5)Cynthia S.
This was my first time with the Champaign location. I usually eat at the Phoenix AZ one and I give them a 5! This one was good, menu has changed some. Service was great. Food was good. Our mozzarella appetizer could have been much warmer so the cheese was more "stringy" but entrees where good. They do serve family style but do single entrees as well. Prices are very reasonable. I would dine again.
(4)Julie P.
Very awesome restaurant. Waiter was nice and knowledgeable when asked questions. It's a family size portions place and they are huge! Highly recommend the cheese ravioli!
(5)Sean Y.
Nice place for a casual date! The penne al forno was good, but the garlic bread and spicy rigatoni with chicken were very excellent! The service was also consistently good. Recommend!
(5)Timothy D.
Wife and I dined here last night. Our waiter James was just the right amount off friendly and did a very good job. We started with the cheesy garlic bread which was excellent. The misses had the lasagna while I had the spaghetti and meatballs both were excellent. Food is all made in house and very good lasagna is best I've ever had out.
(5)R E.
This is the place to eat!!!! There is a vast majority of high end items, and everything is made from scratch. Everything is made from scratch. I feel this Buca is getting a bad rep, but there is new management, and really everything is delicious. There are many reasons to choose this Buca di Beppo. One of the best things I have experienced is the celebratory dinning, another great aspect is the family style eating experience, and finally the atmosphere is true and authentic. We went here with a large party, and we all split a numerous amount of dishes. We had plenty of left overs, and all left satisfied. The entire staff was extremely grateful and helpful. We loved our service. Having family style options is great because everyone communicates about each dish and the party really stays lively. This establishment really nailed it when it comes to aesthetics. The restaurant really looks like an authentic Italian restaurant. Also, what a top end liquor selection. They had every wine imaginable and a full bar. We really like Buca and hope everyone makes a visit in. IT'S WORTH IT. Go in to Buca in Champaign for a great experience.
(5)Ben V.
I personally love family style dining. Sharing food at the table is a rarity for many families these days, and eating here with my family recreated that, even if just a little bit. Always helps when the food is good! We ordered a large portion of baked pasta, a small mixed green salad portion, and a large portion of mozzarella bread. Everything was very good and plenty for our family of 5. Our server was friendly and helpful, having to explain a few things since it was our first time eating there. My only complaint is the somewhat cramped dinning area that is cluttered with decoration.
(4)Maxine C.
I'd have to start out by saying that I didn't expect much. An Italian restaurant in a mall...not much to look forward too. However, my family and I were pleasantly surprised. We started out by meeting our waitress, who despite being very sweet, constantly sounded very aggressive whilst asking us for our orders. "Would you like a glass of water with that? I said, WOULD YOU LIKE A GLASS OF WATER?!" Not only were we one placement may short, we had to repeatedly ask for silverware. I proceeded to order a Shirley temple, my classic go-to when I'm trying to lose weight. But alas, the sweet concoction came without a cherry. I tried to move past that, but I have to admit the rest of my meal was quite scarred from the experience. Onto the food. One should we warned that if one would like one's own meal, this is not the place to go. Almost everything is served family style. The six of us decided to order the Caprese Salad, Spicy Chicken Rigatoni, Baked Ziti, and Eggplant Parmesan. the Caprese salad was the most cleanly cut mozzarella I have ever seen. Bravo. As for the pasta, I cannot complain, however the seasonings could have been a bit more present. One of the most dissapointing parts of the meal was when we were given the check with no dessert menu. I didn't order the Shirley temple for nothing, sweet pea. I cannot complain, but next time, I could've used a cherry.
(4)Mike J.
If you're ok with food that tastes like it came from the frozen food aisle, then this is the place to go. Ordered the chicken parmigiana and it tasted like boxed breaded chicken you could get out of a grocery store with some extra on top to make it look nicer. High price tag for subpar quality.
(2)Amanda Z.
The food was delicious. I didn't realize at first that it was "family style". The portions are very large, and the price is excellent when you consider how much food you're getting. It took over 10 mins for our waitress to come to our table after being seated. Other than that, we had an enjoyable experience.
(4)T F.
Spaghetti and meatballs was just average at best although the meatball was good. However if you tell me I can't remove peppers from my pizza because the ingredients are all bagged.... That means your pizza ingredients are not fresh, they're cut somewhere else, they're frozen, and then they are shipped to you....i do not plan to eat here again. This is the first time I've ever had a waitress tell me they can't make a pizza the way I want... Which is freaking weird. This store is very dark it's very hard to read the menu or pick off peppers because the light is so dim. Now that I think about it the place kind of creeped me out.
(2)Christy W.
Okay, why does this restaurant have high reviews? The pizza was so-so and the rigatoni was just mediocre and the lasagna was horrible and dry. The only thing that was pleasant were our kind waiter Gerald(?) I dont think ill return.
(1)Tom L.
The price range is deceptive because they serve family style. At first I thought the "small" was overpriced until I realized you could feed 3-4 people on one. For a franchise I find the quality decent. The service was great and they also regularly publish generous coupons...which entices us to add an appetizer or dessert. They make the money back.
(4)John S.
My daughter wanted to go to Buca for her birthday dinner, so the whole family went along. My experience this time was much better than the first. I had a coupon for a free small appetizer. Our waitress told us that the amount could be used toward a large size appetizer, which was helpful. Service was very good. Our appetizer was the Cheesy Bread Florentine, which was very good. We followed with the Chopped Antipasto Salad, which was also very good. Our past dish was the Chicken and Sausage Zita, which was heavily spiced and a winner in our book. We had a few drinks which zoomed up the total bill. I was happy that the evening went so well. Although the food was much better this visit, I believe this chain is a tad too pricey for what you get. It would not rate nearly as high as a chain like The Old Spaghetti Factory for value.
(3)Jay B.
We usually enjoy the food but hard to get into the price structure. They often have coupons to lessen the blow. First time we went packed lately was dead in there.
(3)Les P.
This place is in the mall in Champaign. Atmosphere 5 stars, cozy and romantic. Service 5 stars, could not have been better. Food 4 stars. I had the eggplant parma. which I would give 5 stars. Friend had the veggie pizza which she gave 4 stars. The bread was kind of boring and the dipping sauce not the best. I would go back for sure.
(4)Bob L.
We love this Italian Restaurant. Decorated with great photos, friendly staff but suffers from a poor location near the Mall food court. My wife makes great Lasagna, but even she says Buca's version is the best she has ever had!! Some will not like the family style serving at dinner, but overall the product is outstanding.
(4)