I am very impressed with my experience here. When you walk in you are given a 'tour' through al of the different rooms (and you could even sit at a table in the kitchen). There were three of us and we ordered three separate meals and an appetizer (WAY too much for us, we all went home with boxes). The food is served and eaten as a family dinner where you share the selections (which was fantastic since I usually do this kind of thing when I dine out anyway -I wish more places would do this) and all of it was super tasty. I ordered the salmon dish and was not disappointed. I am going back again whenever I get the chance, this place has a hold on me. Also: I recommend signing up for their Birthday/Anniversary thing- free appetizer!
(5)
Kelli A.
Love the Pope room and I'm not even Catholic! The garlic cheese bread, the chicken parm- both tasty and satisfying. Service is always great, the atmosphere fun and lively. One time, we had a (big) birthday boy in our party and the ENTIRE restaurant crowd came over and sang happy birthday. It was so *sniff* special. The tiramisu is seriously some of the best I've had. Kinda pricey, although you get a lot. I'm not a fan of chain restaurants but if someone suggests Buca, I can't say no.
(4)
Jen H.
One restaurant I've always wanted to try is Buca. I had been told they only had HUGE portions, so strayed from going. When I heard they had smaller portions now I decided to try it. I finally made it there today, and I was impressed. As someone else mentioned, you get a little tour and walk through the kitchen before you are seated. This place is HUGE! We had been debating between Olive Garden and Buca. Neither the people I was with, nor myself are huge pasta eaters. We like it once in a while and it has to be good. When we had called Olive Garden they had a half hour wait and people streaming through the door, quickly making the wait longer. At Buca we had no wait. Sometime that can mean bad food - but in this case it's just so BIG that there was room for many. We were seated and immediately visited by our waiter. He took our drink order and pointed out the other server in the room and told us her name. Shortly after he left, she stopped at our table, introduced herself and offered to take our drink orders. In the first 10 minutes we were there, we were asked probably 4 times if we had been there before, by different employees. Some may find that irritating, but I understand they were trying to give us a good experience. I run into a similar problem where I work, so I understood. I was with a (female) friend of mine and her 2 year old daughter. We debated getting a dish to share, but instead decided to get our own and bring home leftovers to our respective families. I got the Baked Rigatoni, and she the Penne San Rem. My food was delicious! I had gotten the small portion ($16.45) and barely made a dent. I brought it home and my 19 year old brother ate some of it and there is STILL a portion left. It may seem like a lot of ONE dish, but when you think about how many servings it makes (about 3 - $5 and some change per serving) it really is a good price. If you get the Entertainment Book they have a $10 off any $20+ purchase - that's a small dish and a drink or a large dish. I think that's a pretty good deal. It could be less than $20 for 2 people possibly with left overs. One thing that did irritate me, was the specials bulletin. When you walk in there is a bulletin on the hostess stand with specials for the day. One of the specials was a, "Pomegranate Margerita" That is not how you spell Margarita. Someone should have caught that.;
(5)
Sharon L.
We were very disappointed that this location doesn't offer anything special when celebrating birthdays. For the past 5 years we have celebrated my daughters birthday at the Livonia location. They've always sang to her and offered a slice of cake to make it special. We were on the east side this past weekend so we took our party of eight to this location. The waiter asked if we were celebrating anything and of course we said yes. The end of the meal came and nothing happened. We asked and the waiter acted as if we had two heads. Really? They can't spring for a piece of cake and sing to a kid celebrating her birthday? We won't return to this location and if this is a corporate decision, we'll find a new birthday restaurant to make it special.
(1)
Julianne W.
This place was awesome. The food was phenomenal and service was great. It is a fun family restaurant.
(5)
Kari S.
our family went here for valentines day dinner. the prices are high. the rib dish says it feeds 6 but only came with 4. the service was the absolute worst service i have ever had. we did not receive any bread other then what we ordered. we got our ravioli 20 minutes before getting any of our other food. the rib dish followed then the bread we ordered and FINALLY the salad. needless to say all of our food was cold when we finally got to eat. nothing came out at the same time and we were not even given real dinner plates to eat on. we only had the appetizer plates. had to chase down the waitress for the bill and was never asked how everything was. very disappointing. i would not recommend this place to a dog. really the worst service i have ever had in my life. difinitely will not ever be going back. not to mention the bill total was about $120.00
(1)
Carmen D.
My son wanted to take me out to dinner. I remember a co-worker mentioning Buca in the past and how good the food was. She also talked about the table set up in the kitchen where you can make reservations to eat in the kitchen. I went on line and printed a coupon for $10.00 of if you spend $20.00 and I also reviewed the on-line menu. As we pulled into the parking lot you could already smell the awesome aroma of food cooking. After taking a poll on Facebook and asking around work, we decided to get (1) small appetizer calamari, (1) small bruschetta , and (1) small Chicken Marcela, (1) pitcher of Bud Light. We were very very pleased with the service as well as with the food. I feel in love with the bruchetta (awesome fresh sweet tomatoes, fresh basil and a touch of garlic olive oil. After the coupon off and a $10.00 tip we left with a $60.00 bill. The chicken Marcela had 4 chicken breast halves; the bruschetta had 4 slices of garlic bread. We went home with no left-over's, perfect amount!!
(5)
Joe M.
While the food is good it is way too expensive for what you get. I hate the ala carte style menu. You want a Salad with that chicken, $20, potatoes $10... And don't ask for the chefs table in the kitchen unless you like a lot of noise while trying to eat/talk. Let me just remind you this place is priced like Ruth Chris and feels more like Friday's family style.
(2)
Shannon S.
First time here...' Not bad not bad.... This was the choice of friends for my birthday gathering..... I had never been so I went with it...as it wouldn't have been my choice, but that's neither her nor there...as I thought we were going for wine and apps.... We sat in the Pope room....a room with lot's of Pope memorabilia...and a colossal table that had a mammoth Lazy Susan in the center...it was way cool.. There were about 15 of us, so with that comes the ordering of a lot of food...expensive food... So the food was okay...I've had better, I've had worse... The service was fine...I've had better, I've had worse.... We had a couple of pasta dishes, some salads, some wine.. Chicken Saltimboca...that was really tasty.. It was different, and a bit confusing at first, the whole "Family Style" way of doing things.. My Mom, only wanted a Salad, and my sister and her son, wanted a only a few things too so....well, don't expect to go there and be like "Can we have separate checks please"? Cuz...that ain't happenin.. It was harder for those who were on a budget, to not be included in all of the offerings of the table. You all gotta be on the same page with this place...and pack your dough...cuz you'll need it! I'd go back though...I'd' like a second crack at it!
(3)
Alexandra B.
Well here is my updated review: Buca went from 2 stars in my opinion to 1. After being contacted from store management expressing their deepest apologies and wanting to win me back over. I decided to use their $25 gc offering and give it another shot. Our order for 3 was $86 dollars which isn't bad considering the amount of food you receive. When I went to pick it up, the hostess named breunna? Was not very helpful or nice and had no idea what she was doing. She also packed everything into one bag and it was about to bust through. Thankfully another hostess named Megan I believe came over and gave me another bag. She was kind and was very pleasant. We ordered the fried mozzarella, fettuccine, rigatoni and stuffed shells. NOT ONE DINNER HAD ANY FLAVOR WHATSOEVER. I swear to you that we threw out the ENTIRE order and I wasted $60 dollars. I am so mad that I was suckered back in and have wasted my time and money on this place. Stay away, far, far away.
(1)
Ron C.
My son is home on leave from the NAVY, and he loves this place, plus we had a $10 coupon !! Arrived & a fantastic hostess/Danielle sat us & gave us sweet booth to ourselves in the wine room, and assured us we had the best server, Nicole, . Nicole was very good & so was the pace of the meal We ordered Caesar salads & a small QUATTRO AL FORNO to split, which is a very nice baked Italian sampler. QUATTRO AL FORNO Four of our favorite baked pastas. Enjoy generous portions of Cheese Manicotti, Chicken Cannelloni, Baked Ravioli and Stuffed Shells. $19 by the way the $10 coupon is on the Bucca website until 12-9-12
(4)
Greg Y.
Came in with my Wife tonight for dinner. We were driving down M59 and there were literally 60 choices of restaurants within a mile or so of us but of course nothing sounded good. My wife really likes Italian and asked about Buca di Beppo. I warned her that I have only been once or twice years ago and all I remember is that it was family style portions. So we decided to give it a try. We were both really hungry and starting to get grumpy. I quickly looked over the menu and I have to admit I was annoyed by the prices right off the batt. I was ok with the chicken parmesan being slightly over $20, but it comes with nothing..... add a $17 salad or a $17 appetizer etc......or a $10 cocktail.... as you can see it added up quick. I understand it serves two people but when was the last time you spent $17 for two side salads? or $17 to split an appetizer? I guess I'm a little cheap. I realize that, but I value a "value". I told my wife everything sounded great and left the ordering to her, we got the artichoke dip and chicken parmesan. I was annoyed it didn't come with any side of pasta but I really didn't feel like buying $8 worth of it etc... The server said something about if we wanted bread or not and I said to bring it out just incase, knowing that we were starving and would devour that. btw the bread wasn't very good, I would much prefer a crusty baguette over a soft white. The artichoke dip was alright, I mean nobody makes it as good as I do, I just need to get over that.. Chicken parm was crispy and good, but the sauce was too sweet for our tastes.. The food was A-OK but nothing great. We even had a leftover piece of chicken to take home.
(3)
Rac C.
I love this place! There is never a wait for seating, the staff is wonderful and the food is good ! If you have never been here before I suggest you try their baked rigatoni, supreme alfredo or if you're in the mood something with a little kick try their spicy chicken rigatoni. If you would like to order something without meat, try their supreme alfredo without meat and add mushrooms. It's really hard to finish one "small" dish for two people so expect to have leftovers to take home. It is very reasonably priced for the food and portions. They have really great drinks. My favorite is the raspberry lemon drop martini. Oh yeah, one more thing, their chocolate cake with a scoop of ice cream on the side is to die for. Best cake I have ever had.
(4)
Pauly G.
Who doesn't love a walk threw the kitchen to see the place where your food is being prepared? We had the Antipasta salad, Garlic bread, Lasagna, Spicy Chicken Rigatoni, Chicken Parm, Spaghetti & Meatballs, & the Lemon Green Beans, enjoyed every last bite. Service was great!!! We will be back!!
(4)
Amanda G.
I would go 3.5 stars if possible. Buca is a great place to go if you're with a group because its fun! I came here with my boyfriend, we ordered the apple Gorgonzola salad with mozzarella bread which were both super tasty. For dinner I got pasta ala vodka which was disappointing :( The sauce was watery and didn't mix with the pasta at all. He ordered Baked ziti which was better but could have used a little more sauce, cheese and mixing! Next time I will try something else. For dessert ordered the cheesecake with raspberries which was delicious! Tab came to around 80$, our server Jordan was awesome and very personable, coming from a fellow server :) I left her 20, so 100 bucks for dinner and some leftovers.
(3)
Erin L.
Great food! Service was ok but their lack of knowledge or even really caring is a big turn off. I had cheese raviolis with meat sauce. I loved it and I will order it again. My boyfriend got the Parmesan chicken and it was very good! But there was a pic of his food and it came with pasta (just like normal) but it didn't come out with any and she said it was alacart. Weird. We asked about a blend red wine. She didn't have any recommendations bc she drinks only Cabernet. We ordered a bottle of Malbec. She couldn't find it but she had a manager helping her. So when we chose a different wine we asked him for a recommendation. He said I don't know I drink beer. Wtf? Service was good just very unhelpful and it seemed like we weren't wanted. Food rocked!
(3)
Tony S.
3.25 I suppose I'd rate this higher if I went in a group instead of just me and my girl, the place is definitely geared towards groups. When you first come in they take you on a tour through the kitchen (there is a special table in the kitchen a group can sit) when we went through there was some really good looking strawberry cheesecake being served and a big plate of Spaghetti and Meatballs being whisked out the kitchen. Pros: Fun for groups, big meatballs, pretty good sauce. Service is great. Cons: Bread is a sour dough mix? Really? Where's the real Italian bread? Kind of expensive for what you get, maybe there is more value in a group.
(3)
Jennifer H.
Service? * * * * * * (Yes, 6 stars, Nick was THAT great!) Food? * * * * So the 5-star rating stands. :) We went back to Buca because we had a coupon for a free small spaghetti marinara (thanks, ValuPak mailer). We were there for a late lunch/early dinner (lunner? dunch?) so the place was nearly empty. The host was nice, welcomed us, and took us to our seats. Then he tried to sit us at a table RIGHT NEXT TO the only other occupied table in the room. /rolleyes/ He asked if it was okay and I asked if we couldn't have a booth (on the opposite side of the room) and he said that was fine. I wondered why he didn't suggest that initially? Why seat us practically on top of another table? Anyway. Our waiter, Nick, was there almost immediately to take our drink order. I asked if the margaritas were good, saying I don't drink very often so I wanted to make sure it was good. I told him to be honest with me. He laughed and said he had never tasted one, but he could recommend another drink (I forget the name of it now, but it was some lemon raspberry thing) that was very popular. So I decided to splurge and get that. By the time he got back with our drinks, we were ready to order. We were debating between the small and large order of mozzarella garlic cheese bread and he suggested the large, because you get about twice the amount of bread for only $2 more. So we got the large. What a little upseller he is, right? :p Our salad came out quickly (the same salad we got before, the Warm Tomato & Spinach Salad) and again, it was soooooooo yummy. I think it might honestly be the best salad I've ever eaten. Or at least one of the very top five. The next time, I think we will get the Large. :) The bread came out shortly thereafter and...unfortunately, we were not pleased. It was definitely NOT what we were expecting--we expected chewy bread with hot stretchy cheese dripping with garlic butter...and we got a basket of very crusty bread with a few garlic slices under a handful of over-melted (i.e. brown/overcooked) store-bought (i.e. not fresh) shredded mozzarella. /EEK We both ate a piece and looked at each other like "Is this for real? Is this what it's supposed to taste like?" We decided to complain - something we RARELY do. Nick was great, offering to get another order made with special attention to more garlic and oil. Yes, it was brushed with olive oil - not butter - which is partially the problem (for us, anyway). So, we decided to try it again. And it was a little better - you could see the olive oil this time, and there was definitely more garlic, but the bread was still entirely too crusty for our liking, and the cheese didn't change (still too brown and not melty at all). We didn't send it back, but we would never order it again. Aside from that, everything else was great. The spaghetti marinara was good (I never order spaghetti because there are so many other great things to order, but since we got it free...) and we also added a meatball to it, and that was great! You would think a meatball that huge (a half pound, Nick said) it would be dried out, but it was perfectly moist. All in all, a solid experience - even including the bread incident. P.S. I have added pics, as well.
(5)
Corey D.
I've been going to this location for about four years now, and I've never had a bad experience. The staff is always welcoming and friendly and the management (Lisa) is always there to welcome us and always makes time to stop by and say hello. She takes extremely good care of me and my guests each and every time. We love going to Buca and will continue to do so. It's currently in my plans to have my wedding rehearsal dinner there as well because it's so much fun for everyone, especially first timers!
(5)
Aaron O.
Shortly after my review was posted I was contacted by management to try and make things right. They sent us a gift certificate for us to come and give them another shot. I spoke with the AGM initially, and was transferred to the GM, who presented me with the gift certificate. I hadn't heard anything on the delivery of the gift certificate, so I called and spoke with Jacquelyn (manager) after 3 days. It was emailed to me within 2 hours. She also had great followup and got us a reservation for that Saturday at 6pm. We (original group of 4) arrived and this time, to my enjoyment we were taken through the kitchen (we were not before - so ask for this if they don't take you that way from the start). The area was being covered by 2 servers at the time. We quickly put our orders in (4 for $40 again) and the ceasar salad was out in about 5-7 minutes, along with the garlic bread (which was not as good as last time, it lacked garlic and was moreso toasted bread with a garlic undertone). Again, no shaved parmesan on the ceasar (which the GM had mentioned it should have after reading my review). That's more of a personal preference, but the texture and taste you get from the shaved parmesan is much better in my opinion. After about another 7 minutes, our entree arrived. We decided to try the Baked Ziti this time around. It was an excellent choice, and was quite flavorful, no complaints. Our waiters were friendly and even joked with us a bit. I never had to ask once for refills. We were in and out of there in about 55 minutes. If the service continues to stay this way, all four of us agreed we would return in the future.
(5)
Anna S.
I ordered takeout for our family Sunday dinner. As I was looking at the prices online I couldn't help but notice that they were extremely high. I decided against my better judgement to order anyway and just try it out. I remember eating at the bucca di beppo in Birmingham a few years back and I had a lovely experience. I placed my order online. I walk into the restaurant and the individual running the take out desk was not at all welcoming. I felt as though I was annoying him by even asking for my pickup. It was really rude and cold. I understand you are a busy restaurant and you don't make nearly as much money on take-out as you do dine-in but still courteousness would have gone a long way. The pizza was average at best. The mozzarella wasn't fully melted. I ordered the Margherita pizza and some garlic bread. The bread wasn't good either. Overally, I was really disappointed. If you are looking for Italian food perhaps that is better here than the pizza. If you are looking for pizza go to one of the other better pizza places nearby.
(2)
Debbie Z.
Went here with my son and his wife for his birthday. First time at Buca di Beppo and was a little excited to go here because I've heard about this place and just hadn't had an opportunity to go. Parking lot is shared with another restaurant/bar - Champs, which is always busy. Walked in and the matre'd asked me if I had ever been there before and I said no. So, he took me for a tour of the place. Quite large - he even took me in the kitchen! Saw one person only in the kitchen who said hello and was quite nice. What can I say about the place? Well, it did seem a little outdated. Being on Hall Road near Schoenherr is a very busy and popular place. Lakeside Mall is right across the street and there are plenty, let me repeat that -- plenty, of restaurants in this area. So, if one would say there is competition they would be right! So, my recommendation would be to use some funds to update the restaurant. The waiter was good. Not exceptional, but good. I ordered a glass of cabernet, son and daughter--in-law ordered soft drinks. Then we ordered a small chopped antipasto salad - yum. Additionally, we ordered chicken parmigiana which a small order is usually for 2 people, but that's okay we ordered it anyway for the 3 of us, additionally we ordered pasta with marinara sauce and small meatballs! Oh, I forgot, we did order an appetizer Mozzarella Caprese - no one particularly liked this appetizer so we had it wrapped up to go (oh well I had a coupon for a free appetizer so we didn't have to pay for this!). The other people in the room (there were many rooms) had left and we were the only ones left -- on a Wednesday before the 4th of July around 6ish!!!???? Remember, this area is very popular and if anyone knows Hall Road, they know this place is popping!!!! Maybe my suggestion of updating the atmosphere would bring more people in, I don't know just a suggestion! Well anyway back to the review - the waiter came in and was fussing around with the tables, so I needed some boxes and said excuse me - he said in a minute. Well, I could see he was very very busy with the other empty tables, so I just shut my mouth! Finally, he came over to ask what I needed. That really didn't bother me too much because I was with some of my favorite people in the whole wide world - son and daughter-in-law who is going to have my grandbaby in a few months!!! YAY! The food was very good, but not the best Italian food I have ever had! If I were to give grades they would be: Cleanliness - C Atmosphere - C Food - B Service - C Would I go back, probably. For the 3 of us the bill was $82.00 and I gave the waiter an $18 tip so a cool $100 birthday dinner for my son, his wife, and his mother! Not too shabby.
(3)
David D.
I can't remember if I spent either $8 or $11 on some cheesy breadsticks, but if I'd have to value them, it'd be closer to $2.50. Seriously, there isn't a smaller, dinkier, or less impressive portion at any pizza place I can think of. The calamari was about as basic and plain as calamari gets. It was fresh, but still too basic. The chicken Parmesan was nothing to complain about at least. It wasn't the best I've had or really too close to it, but it was decent enough. Someone who isn't an Italian or much of an Italian food connoisseur could rave about it.
(3)
Erin S.
I threw a surprise 60th birthday party for my dad and couldn't be more thankful for the coordination and service of the team here. I worked with the banquet manager Danielle over email to plan everything (I live in California) and she replied to every email within 24 hours -- and I asked A LOT of questions ;) We had three servers for a party of ~40 guests, and they couldn't have been more accommodating and helpful. Mary, Patty and Brandon were great at suggesting when to bring out the next course, how to set up the room, etc. Food was great and very plentiful. They helped us pack up leftovers and make sure everyone knew to take them home. They were also really friendly and sweet. The GM and floor manager both checked in regularly, and helped us coordinate the surprise perfectly. It was great working with such pros! Thanks everyone!
(5)
DB J.
Wow! Wow! Wow! This place is a holy shit storm. I used to really enjoy it a few years ago when it seemed like they actually had their shit together, but now it is just a cluster of everything wrong you can think of! I would get the egg plant parm and every time I went there, it was always different. Or they would burn the hell out of it and then throw a bunch of sauce on top to try and cover it up. Ask for another one and that one is burned too! What the hell? I was with my father who got a chicken parm for the first time. He bit into his food and right off the bat there was a chicken bone in it! He figured it was okay and just a rare case so he continued to eat it not wanting to be a bother, but got another bone in it! When he told the waiter, they gave him a new meal and while it was nice that they didn't charge him for the meal, if he wouldn't have noticed the bone in his mouth, he seriously could have hurt himself! Not only that, the place comes off really dirty. I've seen one of their dish washers and I'm not quite so sure I would trust her in a sanitary place when she seems dirty herself. The waiters have always been nice, but for the amount of money that you spend here....I would definitely go somewhere else because it's not worth it. At all.
(1)
Kevin L.
This restaurant emphasizes on family style, hence the portions are huge. However service was extremely slow. The wait for the appetizer (Fried Calamari) to arrive took 15+ mins. And the wait in between appetizer and main course was extremely long (another 20 mins). I came in with 5 friends and ordered the following: 1) Fried Calamari The calamari was crispy and fresh. One thing I would complain about is the small jar of Mariana sauce they provided for the calamari. 2) Supremo Italiano The pizza was okay. However the spicy Italian sausage was not spicy at all. The taste of "ground meat" was so prevalent that I only tried one piece. 3) Shrimp Fra Diavolo This was one of my most favorite dish of the night. Wish there were more red peppers so the pasta would have a larger hint of spice taste in it. 4) Spaghetti with Meatballs Typical Spaghetti with Meatballs. The two meatballs that came with the pasta was huge. 5) Baked Ziti The baked Ziti was average - nothing memorable. I probably would not have ordered it if I was given the opportunity to choose. The food is good. However the service was extremely spotty.
(3)
Mike M.
So I don't review many chain restaurants, but this one I'll write a review of because our experience was so bad. We came here once last year, and it was a surprise, delicious and I couldn't wait to go back. We made reservations for Christmas Day this year. We came at 7pm. We ordered the eggplant parmigiana and a few other dishes. When our food came out, our server told us they were out of eggplant. Since my wife is a vegetarian, that was quite a disappointment and being told as everyone's dinner came out left her with no dinner. By the time something else was brought for her, everyone was done eating. Then we ordered tiramisu for dessert. They were also out of it. I understand it was Christmas Day, but the two things we really wanted were sold out of. The service was slow and we sat with a salad on our table and no silverware to eat it with for 10 minutes waiting for our server to come back. We won't be back here anytime soon.
(2)
L. E. N.
This place is one of my favs! Love the food, atmosphere, and chianti. The only thing that I don't like is that they stopped using raw garlic (apparently some thought it made the food too strong)... What the H - E -double hockey sticks!!! If you don't like garlic, don't go to an Italian restaurant and surely don't ruin it for the rest of us!
(5)
Chris L.
I love this place. Great food. Great atmosphere. Great Service. My favorite entrees are the Chicken Limone or the Prosciutto Stuffed Chicken. For desert make sure you try their Tiramisu!
(5)
Megan K.
I had a coupon for my birthday so my boyfriend and I decided to spend the day in the area and eat here for dinner since he had never been there and it had been about 6 years for me. The hostess was nice. They walk all of their guests through the kitchen, which is kind of neat. Basically shows they don't have anything to hide. Probably should be an option though. We were seated in a booth right outside of the kitchen. Through half of our meal we got to listen to the cooks arguing with each other and slamming things around. Somewhat entertaining...Didn't bother me too much, but it was a bit unprofessional considering I also heard a few swear words too. But again, it was like dinner and a show. I mean, I've paid to hear raunchy comedy and here I was getting it free. Our food was okay. Kind of bland. I liked it still but it was missing something. HUGE servings though. Portions are supposed to feed a few people, but it's for one. I'm always okay with that. It was still a bit pricey even with one entree being pretty much free. I didn't dislike it, but I didn't fall head over heels in love either.
(3)
Janelle S.
Went to this restaurant the day before Mother's Day with reservations for 20. My family and I waited two hours to get our food. I got the fettuccine Alfredo with chicken, the chicken was dry, noodles were over cooked not to mention there was no flavor. We spoke to the manager at the two hour mark because we hadn't received our food and he did not apologize, which is horrible customer service. I think the waitress did ok, but think she may have been too busy to attend to our table. My family and I've all decided we won't be returning.
(1)
Juan G.
Excellent service, food was decent but the sauce was sweeter than usual. Good spicy shrimp diavolo.
(4)
Heather W.
I love this place. We don't come here very often, so when we do, it's a fun treat! The atmosphere is fun, eccentric, and novel. The food is absolutely amazing. We try something different every time we come here, and haven't had a bad thing yet. All of the staff we encountered were friendly and genuinely happy to see us. Endrit was our server tonight and he was very attentive and helpful. Ask for his section! It was a pleasure.
(4)
Bill B.
I had long been curious about Buca di Beppo. Today, thanks to my wife and sister-in-law, I went there for the first time today. One of Buca's distinctive features is that all items are a la carte and sized for either 2 or 4 people. It promotes "family style" sharing. Since, as today, I'm often the only vegetarian in the party, I'm not wild about this. I'm not anti-social but the idea of negotiating dinner would probably take some practice. You'll probably do best if you're not picky and you have a large party with at least one other person like you. Undaunted, I ordered eggplant parmigiana and convinced my wife and sister-in-law to go for mozzarella bread and mixed green salad appetizers. The salad was a simple but good mix of romaine and iceberg lettuce with a zippy Italian dressing. The bread was pretty average, slightly seasoned with lumps of mozzarella on top. The lightly-breaded eggplant was not tasteless but was hampered by an overly-spiced marinara. The restaurant studiedly cultivates the atmosphere of an informal neighborhood joint. The walls are lined with pictures of Italian icons like Sophia Loren and scenes of Italian-American life. Wine bottles cover the ceiling in the bar area. Dean Martin, Louis Prima and Frank Sinatra music plays. It's more than a little over the top, making Buca more like an Italian restaurant theme park than an Italian restaurant. Service was strangely indifferent; we weren't even asked if we wanted dessert or coffee. As an Italian food lover, I wanted to like Buca di Beppo. While it wasn't as bad as my worst fears, it will be a place that I only know I can (not want to) go to.
(3)
Jake P.
Had a great dinner here last week! Our server, Suki, was incredible and the food was equally great.
(5)
Randy T.
Unbelievable service, and amazing food! Now, let me start with... you get what you pay for! With that in mind, my expectations were well exceeded on this visit. We have been here many times, and never a complaint. So, I made a reservation for my wife's birthday (which really wasn't necessary, but I was hoping for the table in the kitchen). On the reservation, I mentioned the birthday and the kitchen table, and when we came in, we were seated at the requested table. Fantastic. They also paid attention to the birthday note! The food was fantastic, from the bread to the salad to the chicken parmigiana (and veal parm for a couple in the group)... everything was as good as expected. We brought our own birthday cake, which they immediately offered to put in the fridge and hold for us, then when it was time for desert, out came our cake, beautifully presented on a cake stand with candles in a candelabra... fantastic presentation! A+ from start to finish!
(5)
Lorna D.
Visited again after a few years away. Gotta say-nice evening! Our server was very sweet and didn't lay on the hard sell, the food was good and plentiful though still pricey, and the decor was fun. A much better experience!
(4)
denise m.
Went here as a party of 9 on a Monday early evening. We have been here many times before. It is always roasting in this dining room. Regardless of this...I am a server for many years, can I say I expect a certain decency when it comes to this.... Not so this night... Being a Monday, lack of restaurant patrons, you would think the service would be top notch.. We waited for our first round of drinks for 15 plus minutes. The waiter never checked back, I had to physically get up and search him out for refills on drinks. We spent over 250. 00 this night, hello, pay us some attention! Never clearing dirty plates...I would have left over 20percent, which is my usual tip, never again! Food was good, but not sure if I would return based on crappy service!
Upon walking into this place, I discovered a ristorante with so much Italian flair, decor, and swag - I was literally in awe. First timers get a walk through the kitchen and their way to being sat. Smelled excellent. There is even a table to be seated at in the kitchen area (could be a unique first date idea). The restaurant is huge, but they disguise it by assigning different sections that have unique, heavily decorated themes (e.g. the wine room, the cardinal room, the family style Pope room, etc.) Your first visit here kind of feels like you're in a maze connecting a handful of small cafes together. Our waiter was friendly, though his co-worker took over for him early in the meal's process. When busy expect dinner here to be an Italian-style 2-hour process. Eat. Relax. Eat more. Have a drink, relax. Eat. Relax. Dessert. My fiancee and I ordered fried calamari appetizer and we are pretty sure we received the spicy breaded calamari. Not a huge deal since we like spicy food. It had quite a kick to it, and this is coming from an Indian. The house made marinara had a nice sour tomato bite to it, reminded me of the pizza sauce used at some good deep dish joints in Chi-Town. The calamari was a little over fried but not to the point where it was bad, just extra crispy. The offbeat spicy calamari had us expecting a bold entree. The way it works here is you get family style entrees in a big dish, and then diners get smaller dishes that they can scoop and put their food on. The Buca Small pastas will easily feed 3 appetized adults. We ordered a Buca Small size Chicken Fettuccine Alfredo. It was very bad. The sauce tasted like it was made from skim milk. It was not real homemade Alfredo sauce. It tasted like it was from a store brand sauce mix or something. The Alfredo did not taste rich and flavorful, but rather like a glorified frozen dinner. The bland flavor tasted like we weren't eating anything. We poured salt, pepper, shredded Parmesan, and olive oil in it. Isn't that sad? And still, it only tasted bearable. You are probably wondering why I still gave this place 3-stars? Well, admittedly, I chose the Fettuccine Alfredo against my better judgment. After tasting their better homemade marinara sauce, I should have played it safe and got a signature marinara dish (e.g. Baked Rigatoni), but instead I ordered an Alfredo dish. In my defense, I only expected it to live up to Olive Garden and Macaroni Grill's taste, and for a place that was decked out in all-Italy flair, those were modest expectations. In the end of the day, I commend the decor here and the pleasant customer service. The manager, Lisa, was kindly obliged to take the entree off our bill after I respectfully told her I was disappointed by it. I sincerely hope the kitchen heeds to my criticism. After our $10 off coupon was applied, this brought a potentially $30 tab down to $1.01! And yes, we still tipped on the full bill. She sympathized kindly and encouraged us to come back and try something else another visit. Though I don't foresee going back soon, I probably will at some point and try another marinara based dish. I recommend this place for groups, with coupon, and warn you to avoid the Alfredo. The flair, service, and best dishes they have combined with a group experience can still make for a decent dining experience. Though I would not call it anywhere near authentic Italian food by any means!
(3)
William V.
The service was very good. It was all down hill from there. The food was mediocre at best. We had the sausage stuffed shells, the filling looked like it went in the blender and the shells had freezer burn, sad. The chicken limone was ok but it just doesn't measure up to real italian food. This place is way, way over priced.
(2)
Maria W.
What a surprise and treat. We passed this restaurant several times over the last couple of years. Yesterday we decided to make a special trip there to see what it was about. To our surprise, we got a cute little tour of the entire restaurant, even through the Kitchen. Our server Jacqueline was even a treat. Funny and very attentive along with the rest of the staff, who were just full of joy and laughter while they were working. We were shocked at the quality and choices of a fairly large menu. This is definitely dinning for a couple or family. Portions are plenty! Prices are great for a couple/family budget. Small means portions for 2. Everything smelled so fresh and the food tasted superb! Even to smell the aroma of the dish that lies in front of other customers was a treat. What a delightful place to experience a wonderful home made Italian meal and great atmosphere!
(5)
Sarah B.
My husband took me here to celebrate my birthday and I was looking forward to a nice Italian meal because I was famished by the time we arrived. It's decidedly okay. I kind of have mixed feelings about Buca di Beppp. On one hand, I really wanted to like it a lot and upon first glance, it seemed really nice, like you could tell what it's aiming to be. On the other hand, I felt a little let down by whole experience. The service was rather slow and inattentive and by the time the appetizer arrived, our meals literally hit the table within the next couple of minutes. Did I mention that I was starving? Oh well. Anyway, we ordered the artichoke dip and it was good, not great. I've had better. I had one of my favorite Italian dishes, Cheese Manicotti, while my husband ordered Fettucine Alfredo, so we could eat some of each other's food. Mine was alright, a bit of a letdown. It was neither the best nor the worst manicotti that I've ever had. There was something about the texture that I didn't much care for and it was a tad bit burned on the edges, plus the sauce was a little off. Maybe I'm not a fan of their sauce? I don't know. Hubby's fettucine alfredo was good, but a bit bland, definitely in need of extra seasoning. Did they make their own pasta by hand? I'm not sure. Dessert was good and the wine selection, while not first-rate, was more than adequate. The atmosphere was nice and all, but there were too many loud children nearby to fully enjoy my meal. We wound up taking most of it home as leftovers because the din of whining children next to us was too much to bear. At that point, it started to feel more like an overblown Applebee's or something. Overall, I left a bit disappointed, but maybe my expectations were too high to begin with. My husband and I had both heard glowing things about Bucca di Beppo, so perhaps the bar was set too high? Will I try it again? Maybe, maybe not.
(3)
Robin S.
We had a great time here!!! This place is perfect for large groups because menu is family style!! We had 8 in our group and we ordered a large salad, large chicken parmigiana and a small prosciutto stuffed chicken. We also got a large spaghetti and meatballs to accompany the chicken!! Both chicken dishes were amazing!!!!! The spaghetti and meatballs was delicious as well. Our waiter Zachary was wonderful and was very attentive to our needs. He went above and beyond for us and helped get several group pictures for us. Thanks Zach!!
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : Yes Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : No Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : No Has TV : Yes 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.
Deborah R.
I am very impressed with my experience here. When you walk in you are given a 'tour' through al of the different rooms (and you could even sit at a table in the kitchen). There were three of us and we ordered three separate meals and an appetizer (WAY too much for us, we all went home with boxes). The food is served and eaten as a family dinner where you share the selections (which was fantastic since I usually do this kind of thing when I dine out anyway -I wish more places would do this) and all of it was super tasty. I ordered the salmon dish and was not disappointed. I am going back again whenever I get the chance, this place has a hold on me. Also: I recommend signing up for their Birthday/Anniversary thing- free appetizer!
(5)Kelli A.
Love the Pope room and I'm not even Catholic! The garlic cheese bread, the chicken parm- both tasty and satisfying. Service is always great, the atmosphere fun and lively. One time, we had a (big) birthday boy in our party and the ENTIRE restaurant crowd came over and sang happy birthday. It was so *sniff* special. The tiramisu is seriously some of the best I've had. Kinda pricey, although you get a lot. I'm not a fan of chain restaurants but if someone suggests Buca, I can't say no.
(4)Jen H.
One restaurant I've always wanted to try is Buca. I had been told they only had HUGE portions, so strayed from going. When I heard they had smaller portions now I decided to try it. I finally made it there today, and I was impressed. As someone else mentioned, you get a little tour and walk through the kitchen before you are seated. This place is HUGE! We had been debating between Olive Garden and Buca. Neither the people I was with, nor myself are huge pasta eaters. We like it once in a while and it has to be good. When we had called Olive Garden they had a half hour wait and people streaming through the door, quickly making the wait longer. At Buca we had no wait. Sometime that can mean bad food - but in this case it's just so BIG that there was room for many. We were seated and immediately visited by our waiter. He took our drink order and pointed out the other server in the room and told us her name. Shortly after he left, she stopped at our table, introduced herself and offered to take our drink orders. In the first 10 minutes we were there, we were asked probably 4 times if we had been there before, by different employees. Some may find that irritating, but I understand they were trying to give us a good experience. I run into a similar problem where I work, so I understood. I was with a (female) friend of mine and her 2 year old daughter. We debated getting a dish to share, but instead decided to get our own and bring home leftovers to our respective families. I got the Baked Rigatoni, and she the Penne San Rem. My food was delicious! I had gotten the small portion ($16.45) and barely made a dent. I brought it home and my 19 year old brother ate some of it and there is STILL a portion left. It may seem like a lot of ONE dish, but when you think about how many servings it makes (about 3 - $5 and some change per serving) it really is a good price. If you get the Entertainment Book they have a $10 off any $20+ purchase - that's a small dish and a drink or a large dish. I think that's a pretty good deal. It could be less than $20 for 2 people possibly with left overs. One thing that did irritate me, was the specials bulletin. When you walk in there is a bulletin on the hostess stand with specials for the day. One of the specials was a, "Pomegranate Margerita" That is not how you spell Margarita. Someone should have caught that.;
(5)Sharon L.
We were very disappointed that this location doesn't offer anything special when celebrating birthdays. For the past 5 years we have celebrated my daughters birthday at the Livonia location. They've always sang to her and offered a slice of cake to make it special. We were on the east side this past weekend so we took our party of eight to this location. The waiter asked if we were celebrating anything and of course we said yes. The end of the meal came and nothing happened. We asked and the waiter acted as if we had two heads. Really? They can't spring for a piece of cake and sing to a kid celebrating her birthday? We won't return to this location and if this is a corporate decision, we'll find a new birthday restaurant to make it special.
(1)Julianne W.
This place was awesome. The food was phenomenal and service was great. It is a fun family restaurant.
(5)Kari S.
our family went here for valentines day dinner. the prices are high. the rib dish says it feeds 6 but only came with 4. the service was the absolute worst service i have ever had. we did not receive any bread other then what we ordered. we got our ravioli 20 minutes before getting any of our other food. the rib dish followed then the bread we ordered and FINALLY the salad. needless to say all of our food was cold when we finally got to eat. nothing came out at the same time and we were not even given real dinner plates to eat on. we only had the appetizer plates. had to chase down the waitress for the bill and was never asked how everything was. very disappointing. i would not recommend this place to a dog. really the worst service i have ever had in my life. difinitely will not ever be going back. not to mention the bill total was about $120.00
(1)Carmen D.
My son wanted to take me out to dinner. I remember a co-worker mentioning Buca in the past and how good the food was. She also talked about the table set up in the kitchen where you can make reservations to eat in the kitchen. I went on line and printed a coupon for $10.00 of if you spend $20.00 and I also reviewed the on-line menu. As we pulled into the parking lot you could already smell the awesome aroma of food cooking. After taking a poll on Facebook and asking around work, we decided to get (1) small appetizer calamari, (1) small bruschetta , and (1) small Chicken Marcela, (1) pitcher of Bud Light. We were very very pleased with the service as well as with the food. I feel in love with the bruchetta (awesome fresh sweet tomatoes, fresh basil and a touch of garlic olive oil. After the coupon off and a $10.00 tip we left with a $60.00 bill. The chicken Marcela had 4 chicken breast halves; the bruschetta had 4 slices of garlic bread. We went home with no left-over's, perfect amount!!
(5)Joe M.
While the food is good it is way too expensive for what you get. I hate the ala carte style menu. You want a Salad with that chicken, $20, potatoes $10... And don't ask for the chefs table in the kitchen unless you like a lot of noise while trying to eat/talk. Let me just remind you this place is priced like Ruth Chris and feels more like Friday's family style.
(2)Shannon S.
First time here...' Not bad not bad.... This was the choice of friends for my birthday gathering..... I had never been so I went with it...as it wouldn't have been my choice, but that's neither her nor there...as I thought we were going for wine and apps.... We sat in the Pope room....a room with lot's of Pope memorabilia...and a colossal table that had a mammoth Lazy Susan in the center...it was way cool.. There were about 15 of us, so with that comes the ordering of a lot of food...expensive food... So the food was okay...I've had better, I've had worse... The service was fine...I've had better, I've had worse.... We had a couple of pasta dishes, some salads, some wine.. Chicken Saltimboca...that was really tasty.. It was different, and a bit confusing at first, the whole "Family Style" way of doing things.. My Mom, only wanted a Salad, and my sister and her son, wanted a only a few things too so....well, don't expect to go there and be like "Can we have separate checks please"? Cuz...that ain't happenin.. It was harder for those who were on a budget, to not be included in all of the offerings of the table. You all gotta be on the same page with this place...and pack your dough...cuz you'll need it! I'd go back though...I'd' like a second crack at it!
(3)Alexandra B.
Well here is my updated review: Buca went from 2 stars in my opinion to 1. After being contacted from store management expressing their deepest apologies and wanting to win me back over. I decided to use their $25 gc offering and give it another shot. Our order for 3 was $86 dollars which isn't bad considering the amount of food you receive. When I went to pick it up, the hostess named breunna? Was not very helpful or nice and had no idea what she was doing. She also packed everything into one bag and it was about to bust through. Thankfully another hostess named Megan I believe came over and gave me another bag. She was kind and was very pleasant. We ordered the fried mozzarella, fettuccine, rigatoni and stuffed shells. NOT ONE DINNER HAD ANY FLAVOR WHATSOEVER. I swear to you that we threw out the ENTIRE order and I wasted $60 dollars. I am so mad that I was suckered back in and have wasted my time and money on this place. Stay away, far, far away.
(1)Ron C.
My son is home on leave from the NAVY, and he loves this place, plus we had a $10 coupon !! Arrived & a fantastic hostess/Danielle sat us & gave us sweet booth to ourselves in the wine room, and assured us we had the best server, Nicole, . Nicole was very good & so was the pace of the meal We ordered Caesar salads & a small QUATTRO AL FORNO to split, which is a very nice baked Italian sampler. QUATTRO AL FORNO Four of our favorite baked pastas. Enjoy generous portions of Cheese Manicotti, Chicken Cannelloni, Baked Ravioli and Stuffed Shells. $19 by the way the $10 coupon is on the Bucca website until 12-9-12
(4)Greg Y.
Came in with my Wife tonight for dinner. We were driving down M59 and there were literally 60 choices of restaurants within a mile or so of us but of course nothing sounded good. My wife really likes Italian and asked about Buca di Beppo. I warned her that I have only been once or twice years ago and all I remember is that it was family style portions. So we decided to give it a try. We were both really hungry and starting to get grumpy. I quickly looked over the menu and I have to admit I was annoyed by the prices right off the batt. I was ok with the chicken parmesan being slightly over $20, but it comes with nothing..... add a $17 salad or a $17 appetizer etc......or a $10 cocktail.... as you can see it added up quick. I understand it serves two people but when was the last time you spent $17 for two side salads? or $17 to split an appetizer? I guess I'm a little cheap. I realize that, but I value a "value". I told my wife everything sounded great and left the ordering to her, we got the artichoke dip and chicken parmesan. I was annoyed it didn't come with any side of pasta but I really didn't feel like buying $8 worth of it etc... The server said something about if we wanted bread or not and I said to bring it out just incase, knowing that we were starving and would devour that. btw the bread wasn't very good, I would much prefer a crusty baguette over a soft white. The artichoke dip was alright, I mean nobody makes it as good as I do, I just need to get over that.. Chicken parm was crispy and good, but the sauce was too sweet for our tastes.. The food was A-OK but nothing great. We even had a leftover piece of chicken to take home.
(3)Rac C.
I love this place! There is never a wait for seating, the staff is wonderful and the food is good ! If you have never been here before I suggest you try their baked rigatoni, supreme alfredo or if you're in the mood something with a little kick try their spicy chicken rigatoni. If you would like to order something without meat, try their supreme alfredo without meat and add mushrooms. It's really hard to finish one "small" dish for two people so expect to have leftovers to take home. It is very reasonably priced for the food and portions. They have really great drinks. My favorite is the raspberry lemon drop martini. Oh yeah, one more thing, their chocolate cake with a scoop of ice cream on the side is to die for. Best cake I have ever had.
(4)Pauly G.
Who doesn't love a walk threw the kitchen to see the place where your food is being prepared? We had the Antipasta salad, Garlic bread, Lasagna, Spicy Chicken Rigatoni, Chicken Parm, Spaghetti & Meatballs, & the Lemon Green Beans, enjoyed every last bite. Service was great!!! We will be back!!
(4)Amanda G.
I would go 3.5 stars if possible. Buca is a great place to go if you're with a group because its fun! I came here with my boyfriend, we ordered the apple Gorgonzola salad with mozzarella bread which were both super tasty. For dinner I got pasta ala vodka which was disappointing :( The sauce was watery and didn't mix with the pasta at all. He ordered Baked ziti which was better but could have used a little more sauce, cheese and mixing! Next time I will try something else. For dessert ordered the cheesecake with raspberries which was delicious! Tab came to around 80$, our server Jordan was awesome and very personable, coming from a fellow server :) I left her 20, so 100 bucks for dinner and some leftovers.
(3)Erin L.
Great food! Service was ok but their lack of knowledge or even really caring is a big turn off. I had cheese raviolis with meat sauce. I loved it and I will order it again. My boyfriend got the Parmesan chicken and it was very good! But there was a pic of his food and it came with pasta (just like normal) but it didn't come out with any and she said it was alacart. Weird. We asked about a blend red wine. She didn't have any recommendations bc she drinks only Cabernet. We ordered a bottle of Malbec. She couldn't find it but she had a manager helping her. So when we chose a different wine we asked him for a recommendation. He said I don't know I drink beer. Wtf? Service was good just very unhelpful and it seemed like we weren't wanted. Food rocked!
(3)Tony S.
3.25 I suppose I'd rate this higher if I went in a group instead of just me and my girl, the place is definitely geared towards groups. When you first come in they take you on a tour through the kitchen (there is a special table in the kitchen a group can sit) when we went through there was some really good looking strawberry cheesecake being served and a big plate of Spaghetti and Meatballs being whisked out the kitchen. Pros: Fun for groups, big meatballs, pretty good sauce. Service is great. Cons: Bread is a sour dough mix? Really? Where's the real Italian bread? Kind of expensive for what you get, maybe there is more value in a group.
(3)Jennifer H.
Service? * * * * * * (Yes, 6 stars, Nick was THAT great!) Food? * * * * So the 5-star rating stands. :) We went back to Buca because we had a coupon for a free small spaghetti marinara (thanks, ValuPak mailer). We were there for a late lunch/early dinner (lunner? dunch?) so the place was nearly empty. The host was nice, welcomed us, and took us to our seats. Then he tried to sit us at a table RIGHT NEXT TO the only other occupied table in the room. /rolleyes/ He asked if it was okay and I asked if we couldn't have a booth (on the opposite side of the room) and he said that was fine. I wondered why he didn't suggest that initially? Why seat us practically on top of another table? Anyway. Our waiter, Nick, was there almost immediately to take our drink order. I asked if the margaritas were good, saying I don't drink very often so I wanted to make sure it was good. I told him to be honest with me. He laughed and said he had never tasted one, but he could recommend another drink (I forget the name of it now, but it was some lemon raspberry thing) that was very popular. So I decided to splurge and get that. By the time he got back with our drinks, we were ready to order. We were debating between the small and large order of mozzarella garlic cheese bread and he suggested the large, because you get about twice the amount of bread for only $2 more. So we got the large. What a little upseller he is, right? :p Our salad came out quickly (the same salad we got before, the Warm Tomato & Spinach Salad) and again, it was soooooooo yummy. I think it might honestly be the best salad I've ever eaten. Or at least one of the very top five. The next time, I think we will get the Large. :) The bread came out shortly thereafter and...unfortunately, we were not pleased. It was definitely NOT what we were expecting--we expected chewy bread with hot stretchy cheese dripping with garlic butter...and we got a basket of very crusty bread with a few garlic slices under a handful of over-melted (i.e. brown/overcooked) store-bought (i.e. not fresh) shredded mozzarella. /EEK We both ate a piece and looked at each other like "Is this for real? Is this what it's supposed to taste like?" We decided to complain - something we RARELY do. Nick was great, offering to get another order made with special attention to more garlic and oil. Yes, it was brushed with olive oil - not butter - which is partially the problem (for us, anyway). So, we decided to try it again. And it was a little better - you could see the olive oil this time, and there was definitely more garlic, but the bread was still entirely too crusty for our liking, and the cheese didn't change (still too brown and not melty at all). We didn't send it back, but we would never order it again. Aside from that, everything else was great. The spaghetti marinara was good (I never order spaghetti because there are so many other great things to order, but since we got it free...) and we also added a meatball to it, and that was great! You would think a meatball that huge (a half pound, Nick said) it would be dried out, but it was perfectly moist. All in all, a solid experience - even including the bread incident. P.S. I have added pics, as well.
(5)Corey D.
I've been going to this location for about four years now, and I've never had a bad experience. The staff is always welcoming and friendly and the management (Lisa) is always there to welcome us and always makes time to stop by and say hello. She takes extremely good care of me and my guests each and every time. We love going to Buca and will continue to do so. It's currently in my plans to have my wedding rehearsal dinner there as well because it's so much fun for everyone, especially first timers!
(5)Aaron O.
Shortly after my review was posted I was contacted by management to try and make things right. They sent us a gift certificate for us to come and give them another shot. I spoke with the AGM initially, and was transferred to the GM, who presented me with the gift certificate. I hadn't heard anything on the delivery of the gift certificate, so I called and spoke with Jacquelyn (manager) after 3 days. It was emailed to me within 2 hours. She also had great followup and got us a reservation for that Saturday at 6pm. We (original group of 4) arrived and this time, to my enjoyment we were taken through the kitchen (we were not before - so ask for this if they don't take you that way from the start). The area was being covered by 2 servers at the time. We quickly put our orders in (4 for $40 again) and the ceasar salad was out in about 5-7 minutes, along with the garlic bread (which was not as good as last time, it lacked garlic and was moreso toasted bread with a garlic undertone). Again, no shaved parmesan on the ceasar (which the GM had mentioned it should have after reading my review). That's more of a personal preference, but the texture and taste you get from the shaved parmesan is much better in my opinion. After about another 7 minutes, our entree arrived. We decided to try the Baked Ziti this time around. It was an excellent choice, and was quite flavorful, no complaints. Our waiters were friendly and even joked with us a bit. I never had to ask once for refills. We were in and out of there in about 55 minutes. If the service continues to stay this way, all four of us agreed we would return in the future.
(5)Anna S.
I ordered takeout for our family Sunday dinner. As I was looking at the prices online I couldn't help but notice that they were extremely high. I decided against my better judgement to order anyway and just try it out. I remember eating at the bucca di beppo in Birmingham a few years back and I had a lovely experience. I placed my order online. I walk into the restaurant and the individual running the take out desk was not at all welcoming. I felt as though I was annoying him by even asking for my pickup. It was really rude and cold. I understand you are a busy restaurant and you don't make nearly as much money on take-out as you do dine-in but still courteousness would have gone a long way. The pizza was average at best. The mozzarella wasn't fully melted. I ordered the Margherita pizza and some garlic bread. The bread wasn't good either. Overally, I was really disappointed. If you are looking for Italian food perhaps that is better here than the pizza. If you are looking for pizza go to one of the other better pizza places nearby.
(2)Debbie Z.
Went here with my son and his wife for his birthday. First time at Buca di Beppo and was a little excited to go here because I've heard about this place and just hadn't had an opportunity to go. Parking lot is shared with another restaurant/bar - Champs, which is always busy. Walked in and the matre'd asked me if I had ever been there before and I said no. So, he took me for a tour of the place. Quite large - he even took me in the kitchen! Saw one person only in the kitchen who said hello and was quite nice. What can I say about the place? Well, it did seem a little outdated. Being on Hall Road near Schoenherr is a very busy and popular place. Lakeside Mall is right across the street and there are plenty, let me repeat that -- plenty, of restaurants in this area. So, if one would say there is competition they would be right! So, my recommendation would be to use some funds to update the restaurant. The waiter was good. Not exceptional, but good. I ordered a glass of cabernet, son and daughter--in-law ordered soft drinks. Then we ordered a small chopped antipasto salad - yum. Additionally, we ordered chicken parmigiana which a small order is usually for 2 people, but that's okay we ordered it anyway for the 3 of us, additionally we ordered pasta with marinara sauce and small meatballs! Oh, I forgot, we did order an appetizer Mozzarella Caprese - no one particularly liked this appetizer so we had it wrapped up to go (oh well I had a coupon for a free appetizer so we didn't have to pay for this!). The other people in the room (there were many rooms) had left and we were the only ones left -- on a Wednesday before the 4th of July around 6ish!!!???? Remember, this area is very popular and if anyone knows Hall Road, they know this place is popping!!!! Maybe my suggestion of updating the atmosphere would bring more people in, I don't know just a suggestion! Well anyway back to the review - the waiter came in and was fussing around with the tables, so I needed some boxes and said excuse me - he said in a minute. Well, I could see he was very very busy with the other empty tables, so I just shut my mouth! Finally, he came over to ask what I needed. That really didn't bother me too much because I was with some of my favorite people in the whole wide world - son and daughter-in-law who is going to have my grandbaby in a few months!!! YAY! The food was very good, but not the best Italian food I have ever had! If I were to give grades they would be: Cleanliness - C Atmosphere - C Food - B Service - C Would I go back, probably. For the 3 of us the bill was $82.00 and I gave the waiter an $18 tip so a cool $100 birthday dinner for my son, his wife, and his mother! Not too shabby.
(3)David D.
I can't remember if I spent either $8 or $11 on some cheesy breadsticks, but if I'd have to value them, it'd be closer to $2.50. Seriously, there isn't a smaller, dinkier, or less impressive portion at any pizza place I can think of. The calamari was about as basic and plain as calamari gets. It was fresh, but still too basic. The chicken Parmesan was nothing to complain about at least. It wasn't the best I've had or really too close to it, but it was decent enough. Someone who isn't an Italian or much of an Italian food connoisseur could rave about it.
(3)Erin S.
I threw a surprise 60th birthday party for my dad and couldn't be more thankful for the coordination and service of the team here. I worked with the banquet manager Danielle over email to plan everything (I live in California) and she replied to every email within 24 hours -- and I asked A LOT of questions ;) We had three servers for a party of ~40 guests, and they couldn't have been more accommodating and helpful. Mary, Patty and Brandon were great at suggesting when to bring out the next course, how to set up the room, etc. Food was great and very plentiful. They helped us pack up leftovers and make sure everyone knew to take them home. They were also really friendly and sweet. The GM and floor manager both checked in regularly, and helped us coordinate the surprise perfectly. It was great working with such pros! Thanks everyone!
(5)DB J.
Wow! Wow! Wow! This place is a holy shit storm. I used to really enjoy it a few years ago when it seemed like they actually had their shit together, but now it is just a cluster of everything wrong you can think of! I would get the egg plant parm and every time I went there, it was always different. Or they would burn the hell out of it and then throw a bunch of sauce on top to try and cover it up. Ask for another one and that one is burned too! What the hell? I was with my father who got a chicken parm for the first time. He bit into his food and right off the bat there was a chicken bone in it! He figured it was okay and just a rare case so he continued to eat it not wanting to be a bother, but got another bone in it! When he told the waiter, they gave him a new meal and while it was nice that they didn't charge him for the meal, if he wouldn't have noticed the bone in his mouth, he seriously could have hurt himself! Not only that, the place comes off really dirty. I've seen one of their dish washers and I'm not quite so sure I would trust her in a sanitary place when she seems dirty herself. The waiters have always been nice, but for the amount of money that you spend here....I would definitely go somewhere else because it's not worth it. At all.
(1)Kevin L.
This restaurant emphasizes on family style, hence the portions are huge. However service was extremely slow. The wait for the appetizer (Fried Calamari) to arrive took 15+ mins. And the wait in between appetizer and main course was extremely long (another 20 mins). I came in with 5 friends and ordered the following: 1) Fried Calamari The calamari was crispy and fresh. One thing I would complain about is the small jar of Mariana sauce they provided for the calamari. 2) Supremo Italiano The pizza was okay. However the spicy Italian sausage was not spicy at all. The taste of "ground meat" was so prevalent that I only tried one piece. 3) Shrimp Fra Diavolo This was one of my most favorite dish of the night. Wish there were more red peppers so the pasta would have a larger hint of spice taste in it. 4) Spaghetti with Meatballs Typical Spaghetti with Meatballs. The two meatballs that came with the pasta was huge. 5) Baked Ziti The baked Ziti was average - nothing memorable. I probably would not have ordered it if I was given the opportunity to choose. The food is good. However the service was extremely spotty.
(3)Mike M.
So I don't review many chain restaurants, but this one I'll write a review of because our experience was so bad. We came here once last year, and it was a surprise, delicious and I couldn't wait to go back. We made reservations for Christmas Day this year. We came at 7pm. We ordered the eggplant parmigiana and a few other dishes. When our food came out, our server told us they were out of eggplant. Since my wife is a vegetarian, that was quite a disappointment and being told as everyone's dinner came out left her with no dinner. By the time something else was brought for her, everyone was done eating. Then we ordered tiramisu for dessert. They were also out of it. I understand it was Christmas Day, but the two things we really wanted were sold out of. The service was slow and we sat with a salad on our table and no silverware to eat it with for 10 minutes waiting for our server to come back. We won't be back here anytime soon.
(2)L. E. N.
This place is one of my favs! Love the food, atmosphere, and chianti. The only thing that I don't like is that they stopped using raw garlic (apparently some thought it made the food too strong)... What the H - E -double hockey sticks!!! If you don't like garlic, don't go to an Italian restaurant and surely don't ruin it for the rest of us!
(5)Chris L.
I love this place. Great food. Great atmosphere. Great Service. My favorite entrees are the Chicken Limone or the Prosciutto Stuffed Chicken. For desert make sure you try their Tiramisu!
(5)Megan K.
I had a coupon for my birthday so my boyfriend and I decided to spend the day in the area and eat here for dinner since he had never been there and it had been about 6 years for me. The hostess was nice. They walk all of their guests through the kitchen, which is kind of neat. Basically shows they don't have anything to hide. Probably should be an option though. We were seated in a booth right outside of the kitchen. Through half of our meal we got to listen to the cooks arguing with each other and slamming things around. Somewhat entertaining...Didn't bother me too much, but it was a bit unprofessional considering I also heard a few swear words too. But again, it was like dinner and a show. I mean, I've paid to hear raunchy comedy and here I was getting it free. Our food was okay. Kind of bland. I liked it still but it was missing something. HUGE servings though. Portions are supposed to feed a few people, but it's for one. I'm always okay with that. It was still a bit pricey even with one entree being pretty much free. I didn't dislike it, but I didn't fall head over heels in love either.
(3)Janelle S.
Went to this restaurant the day before Mother's Day with reservations for 20. My family and I waited two hours to get our food. I got the fettuccine Alfredo with chicken, the chicken was dry, noodles were over cooked not to mention there was no flavor. We spoke to the manager at the two hour mark because we hadn't received our food and he did not apologize, which is horrible customer service. I think the waitress did ok, but think she may have been too busy to attend to our table. My family and I've all decided we won't be returning.
(1)Juan G.
Excellent service, food was decent but the sauce was sweeter than usual. Good spicy shrimp diavolo.
(4)Heather W.
I love this place. We don't come here very often, so when we do, it's a fun treat! The atmosphere is fun, eccentric, and novel. The food is absolutely amazing. We try something different every time we come here, and haven't had a bad thing yet. All of the staff we encountered were friendly and genuinely happy to see us. Endrit was our server tonight and he was very attentive and helpful. Ask for his section! It was a pleasure.
(4)Bill B.
I had long been curious about Buca di Beppo. Today, thanks to my wife and sister-in-law, I went there for the first time today. One of Buca's distinctive features is that all items are a la carte and sized for either 2 or 4 people. It promotes "family style" sharing. Since, as today, I'm often the only vegetarian in the party, I'm not wild about this. I'm not anti-social but the idea of negotiating dinner would probably take some practice. You'll probably do best if you're not picky and you have a large party with at least one other person like you. Undaunted, I ordered eggplant parmigiana and convinced my wife and sister-in-law to go for mozzarella bread and mixed green salad appetizers. The salad was a simple but good mix of romaine and iceberg lettuce with a zippy Italian dressing. The bread was pretty average, slightly seasoned with lumps of mozzarella on top. The lightly-breaded eggplant was not tasteless but was hampered by an overly-spiced marinara. The restaurant studiedly cultivates the atmosphere of an informal neighborhood joint. The walls are lined with pictures of Italian icons like Sophia Loren and scenes of Italian-American life. Wine bottles cover the ceiling in the bar area. Dean Martin, Louis Prima and Frank Sinatra music plays. It's more than a little over the top, making Buca more like an Italian restaurant theme park than an Italian restaurant. Service was strangely indifferent; we weren't even asked if we wanted dessert or coffee. As an Italian food lover, I wanted to like Buca di Beppo. While it wasn't as bad as my worst fears, it will be a place that I only know I can (not want to) go to.
(3)Jake P.
Had a great dinner here last week! Our server, Suki, was incredible and the food was equally great.
(5)Randy T.
Unbelievable service, and amazing food! Now, let me start with... you get what you pay for! With that in mind, my expectations were well exceeded on this visit. We have been here many times, and never a complaint. So, I made a reservation for my wife's birthday (which really wasn't necessary, but I was hoping for the table in the kitchen). On the reservation, I mentioned the birthday and the kitchen table, and when we came in, we were seated at the requested table. Fantastic. They also paid attention to the birthday note! The food was fantastic, from the bread to the salad to the chicken parmigiana (and veal parm for a couple in the group)... everything was as good as expected. We brought our own birthday cake, which they immediately offered to put in the fridge and hold for us, then when it was time for desert, out came our cake, beautifully presented on a cake stand with candles in a candelabra... fantastic presentation! A+ from start to finish!
(5)Lorna D.
Visited again after a few years away. Gotta say-nice evening! Our server was very sweet and didn't lay on the hard sell, the food was good and plentiful though still pricey, and the decor was fun. A much better experience!
(4)denise m.
Went here as a party of 9 on a Monday early evening. We have been here many times before. It is always roasting in this dining room. Regardless of this...I am a server for many years, can I say I expect a certain decency when it comes to this.... Not so this night... Being a Monday, lack of restaurant patrons, you would think the service would be top notch.. We waited for our first round of drinks for 15 plus minutes. The waiter never checked back, I had to physically get up and search him out for refills on drinks. We spent over 250. 00 this night, hello, pay us some attention! Never clearing dirty plates...I would have left over 20percent, which is my usual tip, never again! Food was good, but not sure if I would return based on crappy service!
(3)Mr B.
Mom and I arrived about 12 noon, manager welcomed us with door open for us. she sat us, This was my moms first time here, Iv been here a handful of times ( first yelp review ) I had a copy of a email sent to me from Bucca for $10 off of $20 and Free garlic bread, Our waiter ( David ) was friendly and professional, he brought our drinks and Garlic bread. WOW, real garlic pieces on hot crunchy bread. Mom loved it so did I. I ordered the chicken parm ( first time ) and mom ordered the Lasagna. ( forgot to mechin that the section we were in was FREEZING, we asked if that could be fixed the manager said " right away" and 5 min later it was comfy...now that's service ) Mom ordered a small side salad, she said their was to much dressing and just wasn't that enjoyable, I aslo ordered a small side of sauce to dip the garlic bread in, They charged $1.50 for it, a little surprised but what ever. Finaly the meals came. I was a little disappointed by the size of the lunch size Lasagna, all the pictures That I have seen was a lot taller then it was, Mom said it was good, My cihicken parm was OUT OF SIGHT, chicken ...succulent, the pasta...right on point. sauce ratio...right on point. I couldn't beilive that I ate it all and mom had a little left to take home. With the discount the bill came to $17.19 + $7 tip ( without the Bucca e club email discount it would have been $32.02 ) On the recipt you can do a survey and get a free appetizer ( up to $14.99 with a purchase of a small entrée ) Cant waint to come back.
(4)Joe T.
Upon walking into this place, I discovered a ristorante with so much Italian flair, decor, and swag - I was literally in awe. First timers get a walk through the kitchen and their way to being sat. Smelled excellent. There is even a table to be seated at in the kitchen area (could be a unique first date idea). The restaurant is huge, but they disguise it by assigning different sections that have unique, heavily decorated themes (e.g. the wine room, the cardinal room, the family style Pope room, etc.) Your first visit here kind of feels like you're in a maze connecting a handful of small cafes together. Our waiter was friendly, though his co-worker took over for him early in the meal's process. When busy expect dinner here to be an Italian-style 2-hour process. Eat. Relax. Eat more. Have a drink, relax. Eat. Relax. Dessert. My fiancee and I ordered fried calamari appetizer and we are pretty sure we received the spicy breaded calamari. Not a huge deal since we like spicy food. It had quite a kick to it, and this is coming from an Indian. The house made marinara had a nice sour tomato bite to it, reminded me of the pizza sauce used at some good deep dish joints in Chi-Town. The calamari was a little over fried but not to the point where it was bad, just extra crispy. The offbeat spicy calamari had us expecting a bold entree. The way it works here is you get family style entrees in a big dish, and then diners get smaller dishes that they can scoop and put their food on. The Buca Small pastas will easily feed 3 appetized adults. We ordered a Buca Small size Chicken Fettuccine Alfredo. It was very bad. The sauce tasted like it was made from skim milk. It was not real homemade Alfredo sauce. It tasted like it was from a store brand sauce mix or something. The Alfredo did not taste rich and flavorful, but rather like a glorified frozen dinner. The bland flavor tasted like we weren't eating anything. We poured salt, pepper, shredded Parmesan, and olive oil in it. Isn't that sad? And still, it only tasted bearable. You are probably wondering why I still gave this place 3-stars? Well, admittedly, I chose the Fettuccine Alfredo against my better judgment. After tasting their better homemade marinara sauce, I should have played it safe and got a signature marinara dish (e.g. Baked Rigatoni), but instead I ordered an Alfredo dish. In my defense, I only expected it to live up to Olive Garden and Macaroni Grill's taste, and for a place that was decked out in all-Italy flair, those were modest expectations. In the end of the day, I commend the decor here and the pleasant customer service. The manager, Lisa, was kindly obliged to take the entree off our bill after I respectfully told her I was disappointed by it. I sincerely hope the kitchen heeds to my criticism. After our $10 off coupon was applied, this brought a potentially $30 tab down to $1.01! And yes, we still tipped on the full bill. She sympathized kindly and encouraged us to come back and try something else another visit. Though I don't foresee going back soon, I probably will at some point and try another marinara based dish. I recommend this place for groups, with coupon, and warn you to avoid the Alfredo. The flair, service, and best dishes they have combined with a group experience can still make for a decent dining experience. Though I would not call it anywhere near authentic Italian food by any means!
(3)William V.
The service was very good. It was all down hill from there. The food was mediocre at best. We had the sausage stuffed shells, the filling looked like it went in the blender and the shells had freezer burn, sad. The chicken limone was ok but it just doesn't measure up to real italian food. This place is way, way over priced.
(2)Maria W.
What a surprise and treat. We passed this restaurant several times over the last couple of years. Yesterday we decided to make a special trip there to see what it was about. To our surprise, we got a cute little tour of the entire restaurant, even through the Kitchen. Our server Jacqueline was even a treat. Funny and very attentive along with the rest of the staff, who were just full of joy and laughter while they were working. We were shocked at the quality and choices of a fairly large menu. This is definitely dinning for a couple or family. Portions are plenty! Prices are great for a couple/family budget. Small means portions for 2. Everything smelled so fresh and the food tasted superb! Even to smell the aroma of the dish that lies in front of other customers was a treat. What a delightful place to experience a wonderful home made Italian meal and great atmosphere!
(5)Sarah B.
My husband took me here to celebrate my birthday and I was looking forward to a nice Italian meal because I was famished by the time we arrived. It's decidedly okay. I kind of have mixed feelings about Buca di Beppp. On one hand, I really wanted to like it a lot and upon first glance, it seemed really nice, like you could tell what it's aiming to be. On the other hand, I felt a little let down by whole experience. The service was rather slow and inattentive and by the time the appetizer arrived, our meals literally hit the table within the next couple of minutes. Did I mention that I was starving? Oh well. Anyway, we ordered the artichoke dip and it was good, not great. I've had better. I had one of my favorite Italian dishes, Cheese Manicotti, while my husband ordered Fettucine Alfredo, so we could eat some of each other's food. Mine was alright, a bit of a letdown. It was neither the best nor the worst manicotti that I've ever had. There was something about the texture that I didn't much care for and it was a tad bit burned on the edges, plus the sauce was a little off. Maybe I'm not a fan of their sauce? I don't know. Hubby's fettucine alfredo was good, but a bit bland, definitely in need of extra seasoning. Did they make their own pasta by hand? I'm not sure. Dessert was good and the wine selection, while not first-rate, was more than adequate. The atmosphere was nice and all, but there were too many loud children nearby to fully enjoy my meal. We wound up taking most of it home as leftovers because the din of whining children next to us was too much to bear. At that point, it started to feel more like an overblown Applebee's or something. Overall, I left a bit disappointed, but maybe my expectations were too high to begin with. My husband and I had both heard glowing things about Bucca di Beppo, so perhaps the bar was set too high? Will I try it again? Maybe, maybe not.
(3)Robin S.
We had a great time here!!! This place is perfect for large groups because menu is family style!! We had 8 in our group and we ordered a large salad, large chicken parmigiana and a small prosciutto stuffed chicken. We also got a large spaghetti and meatballs to accompany the chicken!! Both chicken dishes were amazing!!!!! The spaghetti and meatballs was delicious as well. Our waiter Zachary was wonderful and was very attentive to our needs. He went above and beyond for us and helped get several group pictures for us. Thanks Zach!!
(5)