Sam Buca’s Italian Restaurant
12231 S Harlem Ave, Palos Heights, IL, 60463
Sam Buca’s Italian Restaurant Menu
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Address :
12231 S Harlem Ave
Palos Heights, IL, 60463 - Phone (708) 361-1226
- Website https://sambucasrestaurant.com/
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :11:30 am - 2:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
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 : Yes
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : Yes
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : No
Categories
Italian Cuisine
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.
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Jason M.
My family just took me here for my birthday and I have to rave about it. It is a very unassuming place from the outside, but slightly upscale inside. Casual Friday attire is appropriate here. For appetizers we got fried calamari, which was lightly battered and had a delicious, chunky dipping sauce. We also got stuffed mushrooms, which I could have passed on. There just wasn't much there for $8. For the main entrees we got veal picatta, lemon chicken, and steak vesuvio. Thankfully my mom and sister were in a mood to share so we each got to try everything. The veal picatta was very tender, and came as 3 cutlets in a pool of melted lemon butter and capers. It melted in my mouth. It also had mostaciolli on the side which was perfectly cooked and had a tasty marinara with it. The lemon chicken also came in lemon butter (of course) and had melted mozarella and spinach on top of 2 chicken breasts. It was also very tender and delicious and came with pasta. My sister and I were using bread to sop up some of that butter since it was too good to waste. As if the veal and chicken weren't succulent enough, then came the steak vesuvio. It's a NY strip steak with a light sauce and of course potato wedges. I'd guess it was a 12 ounce steak. My mom ordered it medium well, which is ordinarily further cooked than I would like, but this was amazingly juicy and tasty. The three of us were blown away by both how tender all the meat was as well as how the flavors penetrated it as though everything had marinaded for at least a day. We all concurred that it was the best meal we had since our last trip to The Clubhouse close to a year ago, which is a far pricier place. Without the coupon my mom had, our whole bill for 3 entrees and 2 appetizers would have been around $80 including the tip. All the entrees are in the $13-$21 price range, and are well worth it. The final hint about how amazing the food was is that we didn't have any leftovers, which is very rare, especially considering the portions are quite generous. The service was outstanding as well. The place was pretty empty, so I don't know if that made a difference. I don't think I ever got more than three sips from my water before the waiter was there to refill it. The waitress was very friendly, and I heard her chatting with another table about their wine selection (my group is non-drinkers so I can't give you any tips there). She even offered them a free taste so they could decide what they wanted. We couldn't have had a better experience, and my sister even said we should eat there for Christmas. For three entrees to all be hit out of the park like that is very impressive. If you're within an hour's drive of Sam Buca's you need to go ASAP. I know I'm already thinking up an excuse to go back soon.
(5)Bobby O.
I enjoyed the evening here. The atmosphere was busy but good. Had a dirty martini for starters and followed it up with some calamari and baked clams. This is not Rome Italy but hey! Staff was friendly and there was an active bar with people coming and going. I would go again.
(4)Kristina P.
Giving 5 stars for a rooftop, what a diamond in a rough! I just wish I would've known about it sooner (before I moved from that area). If you driving main street (Harlem) you don't see any signs indicating outside area. Don't commenting about food just b/c haven't had any there in couple of years now, but all dishes that I saw on the tables looked delicious. Very nice "hide out" on the roof :)
(4)Jozef R.
Wow, I don't even know where to begin. I guess I'll start by saying this place is nothing short of spectacular! I had the baked clams for an appetizer. Not a seafood person by any stretch but WOW...delicious. I ordered the veal parmigiana for the main course, so tasty and tender nearly melted in my mouth. The staff was super friendly and inviting which added to the overall experience. Can't wait to go back!!!
(5)Melissa B.
This is mostly a review for the rooftop beer garden. I love it! I went last Summer on w weekend and couldn't get a seat. I left disappointed. I've come to realize weeknights are easier and the earlier the better. I spent an entire evening here with a friend and tried a little of everything. The service was great. She never let us sit long without checking in. We were all over the place as far as drinks are concerned. I wouldn't recommend the sangria. Everything else was really good though. We shared the bruschetta to start. I've had better if you want to get technical, but it was still good. My friend had a salad that looked great and I ordered the BBQ chicken sandwich with Italian fries. Delicious! I think I'll stick to week nights for the rooftop beer garden from now on. The inside seemed a bit dingy to me, but to be fair I wasn't in there long.
(4)Jim S.
Awesome rooftop. Charles the owner is awesome. Give it a try you won't be disappointed.
(5)Greg D.
Our family came here for a graduation party in the side room. I thought the service was very good. I was surprised at how nice the place was. There was a buffet at the graduation that had chicken, sausage, pasta and a salad. I had everything but the pasta and I thought all were good. After the graduation we went onto the rooftop to check it out and into the bar area for a couple of drinks and all were good.
(4)Kristen J.
Just left here after one drink. Would've left sooner had I not already ordered my drink because the manager came to our table and was SO RUDE I refused to stay even though we planned on staying for dinner and the Blackhawks game. Before I could even sit down at the table in the bar that was barely big enough to hold two plates, the manager came over and asked if we were staying for dinner as if to imply if we were not going to have dinner she wanted the table for someone else. I said that we did plan on staying for dinner and she said "well I'm probably going to have to take this chair from your table". Normally that would not bother me in the least if no one is using a chair at my table but it was the manner in which she was speaking to me and the fact that she felt the need to come make me feel like if I was not going to spend a good amount of money there then we were not welcome. So at this point I pointed to the two large tables of eight with NO ONE sitting at either one of them and said "so why when I called the other day and asked if I could make a reservation in the bar area was I told that you guys don't reserve tables in the bar area?" And she went on to tell me how those tables were reserved for their "loyal customers so they make an exception" and they wanted to "make sure their most loyal customers got exceptional service". This woman's manner was so appalling that it must've been obvious by my face that I couldn't believe she was standing here telling me they could give two shits about my business and they only make exceptions and provide exceptional service for their favorite customers because then she said "well not saying that we don't want to give you exceptional service as well". Our poor waitress was very nice so I felt bad for her that her manager was the one costing her money because I was not about to stay and give this place any more business as it was just made clear to me that if you're not a favorite there, they could care less. She apologized profusely for her manager and the way she spoke to me. Truth is I've been to Sam bucas plenty of times, it's not like this was my first time there, but I will not be returning after being spoken to like that. I hope that woman got a manager position by being a family member because I don't know who in their right mind would make someone who speaks like that to customers a manager. I was hoping to tell her she was the reason we were leaving on our way out, but she wasn't there. I talked to the owner's sister about the situation who apologized and said she'd speak with the manager but otherwise seemed uninterested. Needless to say Sam Bucas will never have to worry about me taking up a seat that one of their "most loyal" customers could be sitting in ever again.
(1)Melissa C.
Good Italian for the 'burbs. Service was great and the Veal was fantastic. My husband had the Pork Chop and said it was awesome.
(4)Mai A.
Been driving past this place for a few years now and been wanting to stop by. Finally, I was able to go this past weekend. Loved it! Of course the rooftop is closed due to the season, but my experience was great! We sat on the bar side to have drinks. The bartender made awesome drinks! I had a margarita on the rocks! Ordered stuff mushrooms that were delish!!! The manager, Diane was very professional, friendly, and very attentive!! She cares greatly about her customers. Its a great place for mature adults and I will def return. Probably eat dinner next time! Can't wait until the rooftop opens back up.
(4)Mark M.
Nice place and very friendly people. When we walked in they said they just changed their menu and we were excited to see what was good! The appetizers were good ...a little on the garlic side and I LOVE garlic. When the main entrée show up...I was a little disappointed. I order the pork chop dinner and it was ok...the only thing was that it was a small single chop that looked like it was lonely on the plate. The meal was also very garlicky as well and the chop was dry. I'll try them again and keep you guys posted.
(3)Jessica C.
I usually enjoy the amazing rooftop, but this past weekend I went to the inside bar. It was great!! Wonderful ambiance, great music, friendly staff and bar tender! I will for sure be back for the live music every Saturday!
(4)Mari C.
Best place in town to watch the Hawks game. Everyone who works there makes you feel like you're part of the family. You will not find a better place to watch a game and hang out with some of the biggest Blackhawks fans around. The roof top is great! Very cool experience to sit under the stars, have a great meal, nice cocktail and watch any sport on their outdoor big screen TV. You won't be disappointed!! I give it 5 stars!
(5)T.M. C.
I went here on a date. The bartender was attentive and so was the wait staff in the dining room. The artichoke crusted tilapia was probably frozen fish and was uncooked in the middle. Awful food. Chicken and Rice soup was mediocre. Would not repeat going back here for dinner but maybe for drinks again.
(2)Peter S.
We decided to try again. Four of us this time. And again the food was overall just ok with large portions. And the service and beer were good. We started with fried calamari and stuffed mushroom appetizers, which were both very good. The entrees came with salads which had a variety of leaf lettuce, sliced red onions, one cherry tomato, one slice of cucumber and one olive. Two of us ordered salads without onions and the server gave us an extra tomato and cucumber. The salad was fresh and all the dressings were good. So far so good. The best entree was chicken parmesian, which came with a huge boneless chicken breast. The cheese stuffed shells were good, but we ordered with bolognese sauce and it came with marinara. We let that go. The order of oil and garlic angel hair was very al dente. Our order of mussels came as pasta with clam sauce. We returned that but the mussels we got were tough and chewey--unedible. They did remove the mussels from the bill and were very apologetic, but we will not return.
(2)Darlene B.
Been here several times and really liked it. However last night my party and I felt TOTALLY scammed. Waitress comes around with a tray of tiny shots. Oh would you like a lemon drop a rasberry bomb blah blah. You think they are free like a promotion and as I mentioned they are small. Sure you say. O.k. That will be three bucks each and by the way it is cash only. Huh?????? How about mentioning this in the first place.
(2)Stina N.
Italian food ranks pretty low on my list of ideal eats, bu my parents (especially my dad) loves this place so I keep ending up here. The food is okay, but since Italian food isn't really my thing, I'm probably not a fair evaluator. The decor is cheesy, but that seems to be the case with most of the Italian restaurants on the south side. Service has never been much of an issue. It's slow, but it's never been so slow that you feel like you're waiting forever to get your food. The staff is all very nice and very friendly.
(3)Linda G.
Food was great...our server Tori was excellent...courteous....friendly...professional...very attentive..will definitely go back and recommend to others!
(5)Mandie P.
Loooooove Sam Buca's! We come here a lot and always have a good time. The food is great, the patio upstairs is awesome, and it's the best place around to watch Hawks games.
(5)Tony S.
The food here is very good and they have a decent amount of good craft beer on tap. The owners and staff members are very friendly. The bar area and rooftop are great! Highly recommended
(5)Jeannie A.
I've been here a few times, and I always swear that I will not be back. The food is just not good. Went the Wednesday before turkey day, for drinks. The Blue Moon on tap was flat. The grilled calamari smelled horrible and was extremely chewy, sent it back. The servers were friendly, but the food is just sub-par. With 3 Italian restaurants in the same strip mall, this is bar far the one to avoid.
(1)Sarah F.
Get the steak sandwich!!!! With italian fries!! They only serve it at lunch, which is why I'm giving them four stars.
(4)Lauren K.
Wish I could give zero stars as well. A group of us who come every year met in April for a nice get together. Our waitress was extremely rude and right off the bat denied our request for separate checks even though we have always been able to get them previously (The other times we were able to have 5 people per check, there was 15 of us and she would not do it.) She said, 'No it will be too confusing with the other tables I have in the restaurant.' If you asked her for anything she huffed and ran away. We were a complete bother to her night, and felt very disregarded. We were not looking to be treated like royalty, just as if we mattered. We watched her run around the main dining room (because we were in the party room) and work her shift. Meanwhile, our guests were not offered more drinks, and actually got up from our table to order from the bar. It was truly sad. Maybe she treated us horribly because she already knew she was getting her guaranteed gratuity from our party. She was short with black hair, Hispanic I believe. Anyway, she ran the place that night with a full section AND our party. Tell me, why would management give her a full section to take care of when our 15 guests were planned well in advance to reserve our time and money to dine? Poor management call. I really should have called and spoke to the management/owner about our night but I just did not have the energy. I wonder if they know how rude she is when she is overwhelmed and given too much to handle on a Saturday night? When the bill came it was horrific trying to throw in money for who had what and everyone knows what a hassle that can be. Could not even read her handwriting to know what items were on the bill. It was just a train wreck. Anyway, the food was a huge disappointment. The pasta was served with a side of pasta. I could have made better at home, and I barely cook. Oh did I mention she never asked us if we wanted refills or even offered a dessert menu? We will not be returning next year, and I will NEVER step foot in there again. Also, they need to get a diaper changing table in the women's restroom... it is a restaurant, and is necessary for someone in our group could not even change her baby. She has to use the sink counter. Ridiculous, get it together. yours truly!
(1)Scott G.
Very nice dinner, good service. Italian ny strip was perfect, juicy an delicious. Scallops were perfectly sautéed. Good value. Slow Saturday night, but weather was poor. We'll be back.
(4)Linda M.
Would not return Slow, in attentive service .... Lack of management oversight Served a Pinot Grigio in a plastic refill cup with the explanation that they had run short of wine glasses....again, management....buy some glasses! Bad service etiquette .... Management... Teach your servers to serve from the left and not expect guests to pass plates around and that its not acceptable to reach over guests. Limited menu...full dinner menu only after 5 pm Sub par experience...... My party of five spent $300....never again
(1)Denise M.
Two stars because our food was good. Stopped here on the way home from the airport since we were starving. Very disappointed by the service. I was expecting something more professional. Granted, we sat at a table in the bar during the bears game. Our server had 2 other tables besides our table of 3. She didn't seem to know the beers or offer my husband a beer list (is there one?). He ended up going to the bar himself to see the taps. Our food took awhile to come out. Kitchen? Server? Who knows. We were hungry! None of that was such a big deal until as we sat there with empty glasses, waiting, and I saw our server standing at the table next to us, EATING. She was eating off a plate at that table. The guy who's plate it seemed to be was also hugging her, kissing her cheek, and being cuddly. Once I noticed this that was all I could see. We were ignored for our server to spend time with her boyfriend and his friends. My husband comes in to eat at the bar I work at. Only during our slow hours and I don't ignore my customers for him. Disappointed with that treatment. I will be sticking to Italian restaurants closer to home where I'll receive good service for my money.
(2)Jon F.
My experience here was OK at best. My girlfriend and I came here on a wed night. We were surprised that there was a wait for a table. We found out later that it was the last night to use a Groupon. We waited for about 15 minutes before we asked to sit at the bar. Not ideal, but we were hungry.There are not a lot of tables in the place to begin with but it seemed like most were waiting to be cleared off. The bartender (I want to say her name was Liz) was an absolute sweetheart. Referred to everyone as either "honeyy" or "darling" You couldn't ask for a nicer person. If it wasn't for her we would still be waiting for a table. The food was decent but nothing I would drive out of my way for.Everything seemed like it was bland or missing something. Also, The kitchen was EXTREMELY SLOW. There was a solid 45 min to and hour in between out appetizer and our food. By the time we actually got our food we weren't hungry anymore. From start to finish we were there for almost 3 hours. While I understand they were busier than usual due to the Groupon they should have been better prepared for it. Like I said nothing too extraordinary. I might be back once or twice within the next year.
(3)Tina D.
So glad I didn't let some of these reviews keep me from trying Sam Buca's. I enjoyed dining on the roof top, service was beyond excellent, food was delicious and our bucket of Corona Lights was very cheap and so cold and refreshing. I'll be back for sure.
(4)Feisty D.
This is not an italian restaurant. If you're looking for real italian food don't go here (the menu has things in it like chicken tenders and chicken wings). Terrible fried calamari appetizer, hard and tasteless. Then they didn't have the bottle of wine we ordered. Really cheesy Christmas decorations adorn all the windows. And this place is located in a dark strip mall, so the ambiance factor is not there. They also didn't have a changing station in the bathroom, how family friendly is that? We paid a lot of money and could have gotten a great experience somewhere else, we will not be returning.
(1)Sarah T.
I would give zero stars if I could. Ambience: Tacky pseudo-Italian decor (with fake cracks in stucco along walls so as to appear ancient). Plain white tablecloths. Food: We ordered the following appetizers: The grilled calamari and Sam Bucca Salad. The calamari was chewy and tasteless. The Sam Bucca salad was just forgettable with romaine lettuce, low-quality salami and way too many cubes of jack cheese. The dressing was not special and to be fair, Kraft Italian dressing is more interesting and flavorful. Entrees: We ordered the Sausage and Peppers as well as the Angel Hair with Marinara. The Sausage from the sausage and peppers was served with little-to-no seasoning and the meat was mediocre in quality. I did not try the Angel Hair but was told that it was just kind of typical pasta (certainly not worth $14). Service: WORST SERVICE I HAVE EVER HAD AT ANY RESTAURANT EVER. After we ordered our appetizers, our server walked away from us. She never brought me the drink I ordered. After about an hour, we had to ask if we could order our Entrees. I mean what kind of service-based establishment relies on the customer to make the orders?!? After the entrees were ordered, it was another hour before we got our dinner. Seriously terrible service. No apologies. I mean if you're short a server or the kitchen is having problems, just fess up to it at the beginning. You would have to pay me to eat there again.
(1)Jason A.
Appetizers were great, bruschetta and stuffed mushrooms. It's the type of restaurant that wishes it was classy. Table cloths covered with white paper so they don't have to change the cloth. Very slow service. With very few people in the dining area it was still almost unbearably loud. Entrees were just okay. The bolonaise sauce was more like marinara. My wife ordered fettuccine alfredo, which they interpreted as "I want grilled chicken mixed in." So if you're a picky eater, I imagine they suck with special orders since they couldn't get a regular one correct. We had a restaurant.com gift certificate, but decided we wouldn't be coming back.
(2)carol h.
I was quite disappointed to read to the bad reviews about this place because we absolutely love it! The service is great, the food is delicious and it's clean. They treat us like family when we walk in up until we leave. They are always great to our children even when they are not the best. We have dined in many times and have ordered out and not one meal has ever been bad. Please do not let the other reviews keep you away. This place is definitely a family run restaurant with great food and service.
(5)Amy T.
Went here last Sunday for lunch. Never have been here so decided to give it a try. What a pleasant surprise. Walked in to a clean and nicely decorated bar with a very welcoming bartender. To the left there is an upper scale restaurant. We asked to be seated outside and were guided to the cutest rooftop. Service was awesome. Fast and friendly. Soaked up the sun and could have chilled out there all day. Great music and just a great feel. Started with baked clams and they were very good. I chose the chicken bacon ranch sandwich and it was awesome. Hot and cooked perfectly. Our waitress was so pleasant. Overall, it was a great time. Food, service and atmosphere deserve an A. I will be back with friends for sure.
(4)Kairo C.
i would not come back here. i came here with my mother right before we went to her honors ceremony in the same neighborhood. we came in at 430PM. the bar had some early drinkers. we went towards the restaurant where we were the first people to be seated for the evening. we mentioned we didn't mean to rush but had to make a ceremony so we had just short of an hour to kill for dinner. no problem the waitress said despite leaving for over 15 mins just to fetch 1 water and 1 white sangria. we ordered. we had to ask for a box immediately when our entree came out while we only had about 10 mins to eat before we had to leave. 50 mins and the only 2 people in the restaurant finally eating? i can eat downtown at a buzzing crowded place for less time (and for better quality food and service). A) penne alla salcicia (vodka cream sauce with sliced sausage over penne). BORING. the sauce was bland. penne was off as well as too much of it for the sauce present. sausage was meh. quality just wasn't there. they need to add some herbal spice as well as some cheese - asiago and oregano could go a long way for this dish. not even half the dish was eaten. B) veal picatta (thin veal cutlets sauteed with lemon butter and dressed with capers). TOOOOO lemony it was overbearing. and i could tell it was lemon juice (the bottled kind) not fresh. veal was SOGGY. quality of meat seemed lacking. capers would have been ok had it not been overpowered by the lemon butter drowning the veal in too much bitterness already. this plate came with 3 veal cutlets - i shared 2/3 of one and wrapped the others. b) which came with a side of plain penne with meat sauce. bland. what a joke. i am sorry but boxed mac and cheese is better. one bite and i wrapped the rest. it is still sitting in my fridge. NO one is touching it as it is unappealing which is appalling for a household of guys that usually clean up all leftovers in the vicinity. C) both of our dishes came with a soup and salad. for the soup i had fagioli and my mother the chicken noodle. chicken noodles were disintegrating once it was in your mouth - gross. fagioli so bland, i wondered if the kitchen was out of basic spices?! i took home all the leftovers although i had no interest in touching it. i couldnt even convince my boyfriend to eat it and it was veal, one of his favs. my roomie ended up eating some of it when i went out of town for a night (since i usually cook dinner). there still remains half the leftovers in the fridge in a house where we usually eat every last crumb in the fridge. it was a pricey meal not worth a dime of it! the service was friendly though aloof, slow, and negligent. a number of workers were just gabbing away at the bar. it's such a shame while the restaurant itself is cute - a pauper in prince clothing for this case! new management, new workers with some understanding on hospitality, and by far a new menu before this place would get another go!
(1)Shelly S.
I am thoroughly disappointed with S. Buca's! A group of 12 of us had made a reservation a month in advance to be seated on the rooftop. When we arrived last night, we were told that we had reserved a table in the dining room, that -- because of 2 large parties booked on the rooftop -- there was no room for us. We asked to speak with the Manager. When he arrived -- right from the get-go -- he was belligerent and at one point told us we could go elsewhere. We left and went across the street to Bon-A-Pit and had a fantastic time!!! The food was even less expensive at B-A-P! A win-win for us all!!!
(1)Mary E.
Sam Buca's is pretty good--so far we've only eaten there once, and I had the calimari. It was tasty, but not over-the-top; I'm not sure if I would order it again or perhaps try the chicken vesuvio. (For Chicago-area Italian restaurants, chicken vesuvio is the ultimate litmus test). We were one of only three parties at 6 pm on a weeknight. I hope that just means it was an exceptionally slow night, and not that business is bad, because I think it's a decent non-chain restaurant. That's a rarity these days. It was very clean and tastefully decorated, but I think the staff was watching a game in the back. Every once in a while, the bartender, hostess, waitress and busboy would rush out from the kitchen area and be very attentive, then they would ALL disappear. Strange ! It made me want to know what was going on in the back that was so compelling. The prices were also pretty reasonable--to the degree that I would suggest this as a destination for prom night for my kids. It won't break the bank but it's "fancy-schmancy" enough to be special. Give it a try, but if anyone finds out what's so interesting about The Back, please post...I'd love to know !!
(3)Kim R.
This place is deceiving from the outside. It looks small but the dining room is average size with a very nice fireplace. There are two bars. One on the restaurant side and a "sports" bar next door. The roof top deck is great in the summer. The food is very good, the service is exceptional, and the prices are reasonable. If you like Chicken Vesuvio, this is the place to go.
(5)Chrysa J.
I love this place. My friends and I usually just go to drink because the bartender Andrea is amazing and the rooftop is GORGEOUS. Last time I went, my friend and I ordered drinks and the grilled calamari. Phenomenal. I highly recommend going on the rooftop; if there's a long wait to sit up there on a nice day, wait! It will be very well worth it :) Will return again and again and again.
(5)tina l.
My husband and I have gone to this place many times over the years. Food was always good. We usually had good service to. We haven't been there in about 6 months. We just went this weekend the Friday of Mother's Day at 7:30 pm. The place was so dark we had to ask for the lights to be turned up. I mean DARK! The thing that bothered us was that no one was there. 5 tables the whole time we were there. Friday night and it felt like Monday. Our food was good but we both noticed something was missing in the flavor of our dinners. We both kept adding salt. My husband said he would rather send $50 somewhere with atmosphere. What happened to this place????
(3)Mary M.
I was part of an organized group of about twelve women and we had made a reservation to eat on the rooftop Friday. When we went there we were told that we didn't have a reservation for the rooftop. This is not true. Quite frankly the only reason I was interested was to eat on the rooftop. We asked to speak to the owner. We were not happy however as bad as not having or reservation honored was the poor attitude of the owner. He was very arrogant and basically said if we didn't like it to leave which we did. I wold not go back again. I believe they bumped us for a larger party. Too bad. By the way this is the first review I have ever done. The whole experience was very upsetting for our whole group and that is why I am taking the time to write this review. Thank you Yelp for the forum.
(1)Melissa L.
I love this place! Great food super awesome bar tender on the weekends! Sh makes the best sangria i have ever had! Well priced and beautiful roof top if the weather is nice. Everyone should check it out!
(5)Cathy M.
Great rooftop for outdoor dining, but do not go there with a group. We were there Saturday night with a party of 15, reservations for parties of 10 or more are accepted for the rooftop, so we made a reservation and a waitress was assigned to this table. The service was TERRIBLE. It is my opinion that there should have been 2 waitresses for a group this size or at least someone that was capable of handling a large group. It's not like we popped in with a group this size, they knew we were coming and assigned a specific waitress to this table. Nothing was cleared from the table all night until the end. The waitress brought out the first tray of food, put it down next to our table and left, next thing I know she is taking the order for one of her other tables. Luckily anothed waitress spotted this and stepped in and started serving us. The original waitress came back a couple minutes later and started serving from tray's 2 and 3. She handed me plate and warned me that it was hot, well that was an understatement, I had to drop the plate on my plate of pasta that was already in front of me because I couldn't hold on to it because it was dangerously hot. I had to put it on top of my dish as there was no where else on the table to put it as salad and appetizer plates were still on the table. Food was good, rooftop was nice. Just stinks that we spent so much money and had awful service with 18% gratutity added on to the bill.
(2)ELIZABETH P.
I've gone twice and both times I gotta say varied only by service. I had the same entree both times as I didn't find anything else on the menu that I wanted to try so I went with the safe choice. First time we went Maggie was our server and she was awesome! She was quick to give us refills when we hadn't asked for them, I liked that. I never once had a bad experience like the one below so it must have an off day for this server. We also had chicken orzo with our entrees and I thought it was delicious like your typical chicken soup, but I really love my chicken soup so I'm a fan. I must say the first time we were offered their special olive oil to try and that was really nice. It was offered by another server and that was pretty awesome. I don't think our server would have offered it to us since we had already placed all of our order with her. The second time we went we decided to ask for it because I noticed she was not having a good day, but she wasn't be rude, just not attentive. My husband had the shrimp fa diablo and he loved it and the shrimp we indeed big enough to fill you up even for just 5 of them. We would go back to this restaurant. I never thought the decor was tacky. Maybe it is a bit overpriced for the area, but we were treated like family by some staff and that was nice.
(4)ELIZABETH P.
I've gone twice and both times I gotta say varied only by service. I had the same entree both times as I didn't find anything else on the menu that I wanted to try so I went with the safe choice. First time we went Maggie was our server and she was awesome! She was quick to give us refills when we hadn't asked for them, I liked that. I never once had a bad experience like the one below so it must have an off day for this server. We also had chicken orzo with our entrees and I thought it was delicious like your typical chicken soup, but I really love my chicken soup so I'm a fan. I must say the first time we were offered their special olive oil to try and that was really nice. It was offered by another server and that was pretty awesome. I don't think our server would have offered it to us since we had already placed all of our order with her. The second time we went we decided to ask for it because I noticed she was not having a good day, but she wasn't be rude, just not attentive. My husband had the shrimp fa diablo and he loved it and the shrimp we indeed big enough to fill you up even for just 5 of them. We would go back to this restaurant. I never thought the decor was tacky. Maybe it is a bit overpriced for the area, but we were treated like family by some staff and that was nice.
(4)Jozef R.
Wow, I don't even know where to begin. I guess I'll start by saying this place is nothing short of spectacular! I had the baked clams for an appetizer. Not a seafood person by any stretch but WOW...delicious. I ordered the veal parmigiana for the main course, so tasty and tender nearly melted in my mouth. The staff was super friendly and inviting which added to the overall experience. Can't wait to go back!!!
(5)Kristina P.
Giving 5 stars for a rooftop, what a diamond in a rough! I just wish I would've known about it sooner (before I moved from that area). If you driving main street (Harlem) you don't see any signs indicating outside area. Don't commenting about food just b/c haven't had any there in couple of years now, but all dishes that I saw on the tables looked delicious. Very nice "hide out" on the roof :)
(4)Melissa B.
This is mostly a review for the rooftop beer garden. I love it! I went last Summer on w weekend and couldn't get a seat. I left disappointed. I've come to realize weeknights are easier and the earlier the better. I spent an entire evening here with a friend and tried a little of everything. The service was great. She never let us sit long without checking in. We were all over the place as far as drinks are concerned. I wouldn't recommend the sangria. Everything else was really good though. We shared the bruschetta to start. I've had better if you want to get technical, but it was still good. My friend had a salad that looked great and I ordered the BBQ chicken sandwich with Italian fries. Delicious! I think I'll stick to week nights for the rooftop beer garden from now on. The inside seemed a bit dingy to me, but to be fair I wasn't in there long.
(4)Jim S.
Awesome rooftop. Charles the owner is awesome. Give it a try you won't be disappointed.
(5)Greg D.
Our family came here for a graduation party in the side room. I thought the service was very good. I was surprised at how nice the place was. There was a buffet at the graduation that had chicken, sausage, pasta and a salad. I had everything but the pasta and I thought all were good. After the graduation we went onto the rooftop to check it out and into the bar area for a couple of drinks and all were good.
(4)Kristen J.
Just left here after one drink. Would've left sooner had I not already ordered my drink because the manager came to our table and was SO RUDE I refused to stay even though we planned on staying for dinner and the Blackhawks game. Before I could even sit down at the table in the bar that was barely big enough to hold two plates, the manager came over and asked if we were staying for dinner as if to imply if we were not going to have dinner she wanted the table for someone else. I said that we did plan on staying for dinner and she said "well I'm probably going to have to take this chair from your table". Normally that would not bother me in the least if no one is using a chair at my table but it was the manner in which she was speaking to me and the fact that she felt the need to come make me feel like if I was not going to spend a good amount of money there then we were not welcome. So at this point I pointed to the two large tables of eight with NO ONE sitting at either one of them and said "so why when I called the other day and asked if I could make a reservation in the bar area was I told that you guys don't reserve tables in the bar area?" And she went on to tell me how those tables were reserved for their "loyal customers so they make an exception" and they wanted to "make sure their most loyal customers got exceptional service". This woman's manner was so appalling that it must've been obvious by my face that I couldn't believe she was standing here telling me they could give two shits about my business and they only make exceptions and provide exceptional service for their favorite customers because then she said "well not saying that we don't want to give you exceptional service as well". Our poor waitress was very nice so I felt bad for her that her manager was the one costing her money because I was not about to stay and give this place any more business as it was just made clear to me that if you're not a favorite there, they could care less. She apologized profusely for her manager and the way she spoke to me. Truth is I've been to Sam bucas plenty of times, it's not like this was my first time there, but I will not be returning after being spoken to like that. I hope that woman got a manager position by being a family member because I don't know who in their right mind would make someone who speaks like that to customers a manager. I was hoping to tell her she was the reason we were leaving on our way out, but she wasn't there. I talked to the owner's sister about the situation who apologized and said she'd speak with the manager but otherwise seemed uninterested. Needless to say Sam Bucas will never have to worry about me taking up a seat that one of their "most loyal" customers could be sitting in ever again.
(1)Melissa C.
Good Italian for the 'burbs. Service was great and the Veal was fantastic. My husband had the Pork Chop and said it was awesome.
(4)Mai A.
Been driving past this place for a few years now and been wanting to stop by. Finally, I was able to go this past weekend. Loved it! Of course the rooftop is closed due to the season, but my experience was great! We sat on the bar side to have drinks. The bartender made awesome drinks! I had a margarita on the rocks! Ordered stuff mushrooms that were delish!!! The manager, Diane was very professional, friendly, and very attentive!! She cares greatly about her customers. Its a great place for mature adults and I will def return. Probably eat dinner next time! Can't wait until the rooftop opens back up.
(4)Mark M.
Nice place and very friendly people. When we walked in they said they just changed their menu and we were excited to see what was good! The appetizers were good ...a little on the garlic side and I LOVE garlic. When the main entrée show up...I was a little disappointed. I order the pork chop dinner and it was ok...the only thing was that it was a small single chop that looked like it was lonely on the plate. The meal was also very garlicky as well and the chop was dry. I'll try them again and keep you guys posted.
(3)Jessica C.
I usually enjoy the amazing rooftop, but this past weekend I went to the inside bar. It was great!! Wonderful ambiance, great music, friendly staff and bar tender! I will for sure be back for the live music every Saturday!
(4)Mari C.
Best place in town to watch the Hawks game. Everyone who works there makes you feel like you're part of the family. You will not find a better place to watch a game and hang out with some of the biggest Blackhawks fans around. The roof top is great! Very cool experience to sit under the stars, have a great meal, nice cocktail and watch any sport on their outdoor big screen TV. You won't be disappointed!! I give it 5 stars!
(5)T.M. C.
I went here on a date. The bartender was attentive and so was the wait staff in the dining room. The artichoke crusted tilapia was probably frozen fish and was uncooked in the middle. Awful food. Chicken and Rice soup was mediocre. Would not repeat going back here for dinner but maybe for drinks again.
(2)Peter S.
We decided to try again. Four of us this time. And again the food was overall just ok with large portions. And the service and beer were good. We started with fried calamari and stuffed mushroom appetizers, which were both very good. The entrees came with salads which had a variety of leaf lettuce, sliced red onions, one cherry tomato, one slice of cucumber and one olive. Two of us ordered salads without onions and the server gave us an extra tomato and cucumber. The salad was fresh and all the dressings were good. So far so good. The best entree was chicken parmesian, which came with a huge boneless chicken breast. The cheese stuffed shells were good, but we ordered with bolognese sauce and it came with marinara. We let that go. The order of oil and garlic angel hair was very al dente. Our order of mussels came as pasta with clam sauce. We returned that but the mussels we got were tough and chewey--unedible. They did remove the mussels from the bill and were very apologetic, but we will not return.
(2)Darlene B.
Been here several times and really liked it. However last night my party and I felt TOTALLY scammed. Waitress comes around with a tray of tiny shots. Oh would you like a lemon drop a rasberry bomb blah blah. You think they are free like a promotion and as I mentioned they are small. Sure you say. O.k. That will be three bucks each and by the way it is cash only. Huh?????? How about mentioning this in the first place.
(2)Lauren K.
Wish I could give zero stars as well. A group of us who come every year met in April for a nice get together. Our waitress was extremely rude and right off the bat denied our request for separate checks even though we have always been able to get them previously (The other times we were able to have 5 people per check, there was 15 of us and she would not do it.) She said, 'No it will be too confusing with the other tables I have in the restaurant.' If you asked her for anything she huffed and ran away. We were a complete bother to her night, and felt very disregarded. We were not looking to be treated like royalty, just as if we mattered. We watched her run around the main dining room (because we were in the party room) and work her shift. Meanwhile, our guests were not offered more drinks, and actually got up from our table to order from the bar. It was truly sad. Maybe she treated us horribly because she already knew she was getting her guaranteed gratuity from our party. She was short with black hair, Hispanic I believe. Anyway, she ran the place that night with a full section AND our party. Tell me, why would management give her a full section to take care of when our 15 guests were planned well in advance to reserve our time and money to dine? Poor management call. I really should have called and spoke to the management/owner about our night but I just did not have the energy. I wonder if they know how rude she is when she is overwhelmed and given too much to handle on a Saturday night? When the bill came it was horrific trying to throw in money for who had what and everyone knows what a hassle that can be. Could not even read her handwriting to know what items were on the bill. It was just a train wreck. Anyway, the food was a huge disappointment. The pasta was served with a side of pasta. I could have made better at home, and I barely cook. Oh did I mention she never asked us if we wanted refills or even offered a dessert menu? We will not be returning next year, and I will NEVER step foot in there again. Also, they need to get a diaper changing table in the women's restroom... it is a restaurant, and is necessary for someone in our group could not even change her baby. She has to use the sink counter. Ridiculous, get it together. yours truly!
(1)Scott G.
Very nice dinner, good service. Italian ny strip was perfect, juicy an delicious. Scallops were perfectly sautéed. Good value. Slow Saturday night, but weather was poor. We'll be back.
(4)Linda M.
Would not return Slow, in attentive service .... Lack of management oversight Served a Pinot Grigio in a plastic refill cup with the explanation that they had run short of wine glasses....again, management....buy some glasses! Bad service etiquette .... Management... Teach your servers to serve from the left and not expect guests to pass plates around and that its not acceptable to reach over guests. Limited menu...full dinner menu only after 5 pm Sub par experience...... My party of five spent $300....never again
(1)Denise M.
Two stars because our food was good. Stopped here on the way home from the airport since we were starving. Very disappointed by the service. I was expecting something more professional. Granted, we sat at a table in the bar during the bears game. Our server had 2 other tables besides our table of 3. She didn't seem to know the beers or offer my husband a beer list (is there one?). He ended up going to the bar himself to see the taps. Our food took awhile to come out. Kitchen? Server? Who knows. We were hungry! None of that was such a big deal until as we sat there with empty glasses, waiting, and I saw our server standing at the table next to us, EATING. She was eating off a plate at that table. The guy who's plate it seemed to be was also hugging her, kissing her cheek, and being cuddly. Once I noticed this that was all I could see. We were ignored for our server to spend time with her boyfriend and his friends. My husband comes in to eat at the bar I work at. Only during our slow hours and I don't ignore my customers for him. Disappointed with that treatment. I will be sticking to Italian restaurants closer to home where I'll receive good service for my money.
(2)Jon F.
My experience here was OK at best. My girlfriend and I came here on a wed night. We were surprised that there was a wait for a table. We found out later that it was the last night to use a Groupon. We waited for about 15 minutes before we asked to sit at the bar. Not ideal, but we were hungry.There are not a lot of tables in the place to begin with but it seemed like most were waiting to be cleared off. The bartender (I want to say her name was Liz) was an absolute sweetheart. Referred to everyone as either "honeyy" or "darling" You couldn't ask for a nicer person. If it wasn't for her we would still be waiting for a table. The food was decent but nothing I would drive out of my way for.Everything seemed like it was bland or missing something. Also, The kitchen was EXTREMELY SLOW. There was a solid 45 min to and hour in between out appetizer and our food. By the time we actually got our food we weren't hungry anymore. From start to finish we were there for almost 3 hours. While I understand they were busier than usual due to the Groupon they should have been better prepared for it. Like I said nothing too extraordinary. I might be back once or twice within the next year.
(3)Tina D.
So glad I didn't let some of these reviews keep me from trying Sam Buca's. I enjoyed dining on the roof top, service was beyond excellent, food was delicious and our bucket of Corona Lights was very cheap and so cold and refreshing. I'll be back for sure.
(4)Feisty D.
This is not an italian restaurant. If you're looking for real italian food don't go here (the menu has things in it like chicken tenders and chicken wings). Terrible fried calamari appetizer, hard and tasteless. Then they didn't have the bottle of wine we ordered. Really cheesy Christmas decorations adorn all the windows. And this place is located in a dark strip mall, so the ambiance factor is not there. They also didn't have a changing station in the bathroom, how family friendly is that? We paid a lot of money and could have gotten a great experience somewhere else, we will not be returning.
(1)Sarah T.
I would give zero stars if I could. Ambience: Tacky pseudo-Italian decor (with fake cracks in stucco along walls so as to appear ancient). Plain white tablecloths. Food: We ordered the following appetizers: The grilled calamari and Sam Bucca Salad. The calamari was chewy and tasteless. The Sam Bucca salad was just forgettable with romaine lettuce, low-quality salami and way too many cubes of jack cheese. The dressing was not special and to be fair, Kraft Italian dressing is more interesting and flavorful. Entrees: We ordered the Sausage and Peppers as well as the Angel Hair with Marinara. The Sausage from the sausage and peppers was served with little-to-no seasoning and the meat was mediocre in quality. I did not try the Angel Hair but was told that it was just kind of typical pasta (certainly not worth $14). Service: WORST SERVICE I HAVE EVER HAD AT ANY RESTAURANT EVER. After we ordered our appetizers, our server walked away from us. She never brought me the drink I ordered. After about an hour, we had to ask if we could order our Entrees. I mean what kind of service-based establishment relies on the customer to make the orders?!? After the entrees were ordered, it was another hour before we got our dinner. Seriously terrible service. No apologies. I mean if you're short a server or the kitchen is having problems, just fess up to it at the beginning. You would have to pay me to eat there again.
(1)Jason A.
Appetizers were great, bruschetta and stuffed mushrooms. It's the type of restaurant that wishes it was classy. Table cloths covered with white paper so they don't have to change the cloth. Very slow service. With very few people in the dining area it was still almost unbearably loud. Entrees were just okay. The bolonaise sauce was more like marinara. My wife ordered fettuccine alfredo, which they interpreted as "I want grilled chicken mixed in." So if you're a picky eater, I imagine they suck with special orders since they couldn't get a regular one correct. We had a restaurant.com gift certificate, but decided we wouldn't be coming back.
(2)carol h.
I was quite disappointed to read to the bad reviews about this place because we absolutely love it! The service is great, the food is delicious and it's clean. They treat us like family when we walk in up until we leave. They are always great to our children even when they are not the best. We have dined in many times and have ordered out and not one meal has ever been bad. Please do not let the other reviews keep you away. This place is definitely a family run restaurant with great food and service.
(5)Amy T.
Went here last Sunday for lunch. Never have been here so decided to give it a try. What a pleasant surprise. Walked in to a clean and nicely decorated bar with a very welcoming bartender. To the left there is an upper scale restaurant. We asked to be seated outside and were guided to the cutest rooftop. Service was awesome. Fast and friendly. Soaked up the sun and could have chilled out there all day. Great music and just a great feel. Started with baked clams and they were very good. I chose the chicken bacon ranch sandwich and it was awesome. Hot and cooked perfectly. Our waitress was so pleasant. Overall, it was a great time. Food, service and atmosphere deserve an A. I will be back with friends for sure.
(4)Kairo C.
i would not come back here. i came here with my mother right before we went to her honors ceremony in the same neighborhood. we came in at 430PM. the bar had some early drinkers. we went towards the restaurant where we were the first people to be seated for the evening. we mentioned we didn't mean to rush but had to make a ceremony so we had just short of an hour to kill for dinner. no problem the waitress said despite leaving for over 15 mins just to fetch 1 water and 1 white sangria. we ordered. we had to ask for a box immediately when our entree came out while we only had about 10 mins to eat before we had to leave. 50 mins and the only 2 people in the restaurant finally eating? i can eat downtown at a buzzing crowded place for less time (and for better quality food and service). A) penne alla salcicia (vodka cream sauce with sliced sausage over penne). BORING. the sauce was bland. penne was off as well as too much of it for the sauce present. sausage was meh. quality just wasn't there. they need to add some herbal spice as well as some cheese - asiago and oregano could go a long way for this dish. not even half the dish was eaten. B) veal picatta (thin veal cutlets sauteed with lemon butter and dressed with capers). TOOOOO lemony it was overbearing. and i could tell it was lemon juice (the bottled kind) not fresh. veal was SOGGY. quality of meat seemed lacking. capers would have been ok had it not been overpowered by the lemon butter drowning the veal in too much bitterness already. this plate came with 3 veal cutlets - i shared 2/3 of one and wrapped the others. b) which came with a side of plain penne with meat sauce. bland. what a joke. i am sorry but boxed mac and cheese is better. one bite and i wrapped the rest. it is still sitting in my fridge. NO one is touching it as it is unappealing which is appalling for a household of guys that usually clean up all leftovers in the vicinity. C) both of our dishes came with a soup and salad. for the soup i had fagioli and my mother the chicken noodle. chicken noodles were disintegrating once it was in your mouth - gross. fagioli so bland, i wondered if the kitchen was out of basic spices?! i took home all the leftovers although i had no interest in touching it. i couldnt even convince my boyfriend to eat it and it was veal, one of his favs. my roomie ended up eating some of it when i went out of town for a night (since i usually cook dinner). there still remains half the leftovers in the fridge in a house where we usually eat every last crumb in the fridge. it was a pricey meal not worth a dime of it! the service was friendly though aloof, slow, and negligent. a number of workers were just gabbing away at the bar. it's such a shame while the restaurant itself is cute - a pauper in prince clothing for this case! new management, new workers with some understanding on hospitality, and by far a new menu before this place would get another go!
(1)Shelly S.
I am thoroughly disappointed with S. Buca's! A group of 12 of us had made a reservation a month in advance to be seated on the rooftop. When we arrived last night, we were told that we had reserved a table in the dining room, that -- because of 2 large parties booked on the rooftop -- there was no room for us. We asked to speak with the Manager. When he arrived -- right from the get-go -- he was belligerent and at one point told us we could go elsewhere. We left and went across the street to Bon-A-Pit and had a fantastic time!!! The food was even less expensive at B-A-P! A win-win for us all!!!
(1)Stina N.
Italian food ranks pretty low on my list of ideal eats, bu my parents (especially my dad) loves this place so I keep ending up here. The food is okay, but since Italian food isn't really my thing, I'm probably not a fair evaluator. The decor is cheesy, but that seems to be the case with most of the Italian restaurants on the south side. Service has never been much of an issue. It's slow, but it's never been so slow that you feel like you're waiting forever to get your food. The staff is all very nice and very friendly.
(3)Linda G.
Food was great...our server Tori was excellent...courteous....friendly...professional...very attentive..will definitely go back and recommend to others!
(5)Mandie P.
Loooooove Sam Buca's! We come here a lot and always have a good time. The food is great, the patio upstairs is awesome, and it's the best place around to watch Hawks games.
(5)Tony S.
The food here is very good and they have a decent amount of good craft beer on tap. The owners and staff members are very friendly. The bar area and rooftop are great! Highly recommended
(5)Jeannie A.
I've been here a few times, and I always swear that I will not be back. The food is just not good. Went the Wednesday before turkey day, for drinks. The Blue Moon on tap was flat. The grilled calamari smelled horrible and was extremely chewy, sent it back. The servers were friendly, but the food is just sub-par. With 3 Italian restaurants in the same strip mall, this is bar far the one to avoid.
(1)Sarah F.
Get the steak sandwich!!!! With italian fries!! They only serve it at lunch, which is why I'm giving them four stars.
(4)Mary E.
Sam Buca's is pretty good--so far we've only eaten there once, and I had the calimari. It was tasty, but not over-the-top; I'm not sure if I would order it again or perhaps try the chicken vesuvio. (For Chicago-area Italian restaurants, chicken vesuvio is the ultimate litmus test). We were one of only three parties at 6 pm on a weeknight. I hope that just means it was an exceptionally slow night, and not that business is bad, because I think it's a decent non-chain restaurant. That's a rarity these days. It was very clean and tastefully decorated, but I think the staff was watching a game in the back. Every once in a while, the bartender, hostess, waitress and busboy would rush out from the kitchen area and be very attentive, then they would ALL disappear. Strange ! It made me want to know what was going on in the back that was so compelling. The prices were also pretty reasonable--to the degree that I would suggest this as a destination for prom night for my kids. It won't break the bank but it's "fancy-schmancy" enough to be special. Give it a try, but if anyone finds out what's so interesting about The Back, please post...I'd love to know !!
(3)Kim R.
This place is deceiving from the outside. It looks small but the dining room is average size with a very nice fireplace. There are two bars. One on the restaurant side and a "sports" bar next door. The roof top deck is great in the summer. The food is very good, the service is exceptional, and the prices are reasonable. If you like Chicken Vesuvio, this is the place to go.
(5)Chrysa J.
I love this place. My friends and I usually just go to drink because the bartender Andrea is amazing and the rooftop is GORGEOUS. Last time I went, my friend and I ordered drinks and the grilled calamari. Phenomenal. I highly recommend going on the rooftop; if there's a long wait to sit up there on a nice day, wait! It will be very well worth it :) Will return again and again and again.
(5)Jason M.
My family just took me here for my birthday and I have to rave about it. It is a very unassuming place from the outside, but slightly upscale inside. Casual Friday attire is appropriate here. For appetizers we got fried calamari, which was lightly battered and had a delicious, chunky dipping sauce. We also got stuffed mushrooms, which I could have passed on. There just wasn't much there for $8. For the main entrees we got veal picatta, lemon chicken, and steak vesuvio. Thankfully my mom and sister were in a mood to share so we each got to try everything. The veal picatta was very tender, and came as 3 cutlets in a pool of melted lemon butter and capers. It melted in my mouth. It also had mostaciolli on the side which was perfectly cooked and had a tasty marinara with it. The lemon chicken also came in lemon butter (of course) and had melted mozarella and spinach on top of 2 chicken breasts. It was also very tender and delicious and came with pasta. My sister and I were using bread to sop up some of that butter since it was too good to waste. As if the veal and chicken weren't succulent enough, then came the steak vesuvio. It's a NY strip steak with a light sauce and of course potato wedges. I'd guess it was a 12 ounce steak. My mom ordered it medium well, which is ordinarily further cooked than I would like, but this was amazingly juicy and tasty. The three of us were blown away by both how tender all the meat was as well as how the flavors penetrated it as though everything had marinaded for at least a day. We all concurred that it was the best meal we had since our last trip to The Clubhouse close to a year ago, which is a far pricier place. Without the coupon my mom had, our whole bill for 3 entrees and 2 appetizers would have been around $80 including the tip. All the entrees are in the $13-$21 price range, and are well worth it. The final hint about how amazing the food was is that we didn't have any leftovers, which is very rare, especially considering the portions are quite generous. The service was outstanding as well. The place was pretty empty, so I don't know if that made a difference. I don't think I ever got more than three sips from my water before the waiter was there to refill it. The waitress was very friendly, and I heard her chatting with another table about their wine selection (my group is non-drinkers so I can't give you any tips there). She even offered them a free taste so they could decide what they wanted. We couldn't have had a better experience, and my sister even said we should eat there for Christmas. For three entrees to all be hit out of the park like that is very impressive. If you're within an hour's drive of Sam Buca's you need to go ASAP. I know I'm already thinking up an excuse to go back soon.
(5)Bobby O.
I enjoyed the evening here. The atmosphere was busy but good. Had a dirty martini for starters and followed it up with some calamari and baked clams. This is not Rome Italy but hey! Staff was friendly and there was an active bar with people coming and going. I would go again.
(4)tina l.
My husband and I have gone to this place many times over the years. Food was always good. We usually had good service to. We haven't been there in about 6 months. We just went this weekend the Friday of Mother's Day at 7:30 pm. The place was so dark we had to ask for the lights to be turned up. I mean DARK! The thing that bothered us was that no one was there. 5 tables the whole time we were there. Friday night and it felt like Monday. Our food was good but we both noticed something was missing in the flavor of our dinners. We both kept adding salt. My husband said he would rather send $50 somewhere with atmosphere. What happened to this place????
(3)Mary M.
I was part of an organized group of about twelve women and we had made a reservation to eat on the rooftop Friday. When we went there we were told that we didn't have a reservation for the rooftop. This is not true. Quite frankly the only reason I was interested was to eat on the rooftop. We asked to speak to the owner. We were not happy however as bad as not having or reservation honored was the poor attitude of the owner. He was very arrogant and basically said if we didn't like it to leave which we did. I wold not go back again. I believe they bumped us for a larger party. Too bad. By the way this is the first review I have ever done. The whole experience was very upsetting for our whole group and that is why I am taking the time to write this review. Thank you Yelp for the forum.
(1)Melissa L.
I love this place! Great food super awesome bar tender on the weekends! Sh makes the best sangria i have ever had! Well priced and beautiful roof top if the weather is nice. Everyone should check it out!
(5)Cathy M.
Great rooftop for outdoor dining, but do not go there with a group. We were there Saturday night with a party of 15, reservations for parties of 10 or more are accepted for the rooftop, so we made a reservation and a waitress was assigned to this table. The service was TERRIBLE. It is my opinion that there should have been 2 waitresses for a group this size or at least someone that was capable of handling a large group. It's not like we popped in with a group this size, they knew we were coming and assigned a specific waitress to this table. Nothing was cleared from the table all night until the end. The waitress brought out the first tray of food, put it down next to our table and left, next thing I know she is taking the order for one of her other tables. Luckily anothed waitress spotted this and stepped in and started serving us. The original waitress came back a couple minutes later and started serving from tray's 2 and 3. She handed me plate and warned me that it was hot, well that was an understatement, I had to drop the plate on my plate of pasta that was already in front of me because I couldn't hold on to it because it was dangerously hot. I had to put it on top of my dish as there was no where else on the table to put it as salad and appetizer plates were still on the table. Food was good, rooftop was nice. Just stinks that we spent so much money and had awful service with 18% gratutity added on to the bill.
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