Buca di Beppo Italian Restaurant

I’ve eaten here several times and know that the food is good. This review is for the takeout service, two experiences.
It’s awful.
Five starts for the food. Zero stars for take out service. Thus… two stars.
First time: I was craving their meatballs and ordered a side of meatballs to pick up on my way home from work. They gave me an estimated time, and I arrived at that time, not early. Then I had to wait 20 minutes. Really? How long does it take to clear an order of a side of meatballs and put them in a container? At 6:00 pm they’re plating dinners. They’re not first making MY meatballs from scratch.
Second time: it was a snowy day and I wanted to bring in lunch for my staff. I called at 11:15 and asked if I could get a big pan of spaghetti and meatballs, or did that have to be ordered the night before. The reply was that I could get it because they were not busy with dine-​ins due to the snow and were working on take out orders. I could pick it up in 45 minutes to an hour. I gave them the benefit of the doubt and went to pick it up at the hour. When I got there I was surprised to find that the place was empty. And i don’t mean just a few customers. I mean not one table or booth was occupied. The snow kept everybody away. So my food should be coming right out. Uh… nope. First, the waitperson who had taken my order said «they’re working on it.» Then he said that I came earlier than he had told me to (wrong). Then he checked on the order 2 more times over 20 minutes and had no new information. Finally, 25 minutes later, I got my food. So their «45 minutes to an hour» turned out to be «an hour and 25 minutes.» And they weren’t serving any tables.
Don’t do takeout unless you have no concern for how long they’ll keep you waiting.

Their food is always delicious! The only thing I would add is more sauce but it’s not a problem asking for more once the food comes.

Ordered take-​out at 9:15pm when their hours state open until 10pm. The lady that took the order sounded extremely annoyed & said order will be ready in TEN minutes & repeated that at least 4 times in the 30 second conversation. I got there at 9:30pm & she seemed very annoyed that I ordered so late. Lights were pretty much out in the place. At least they didn’t forget the bread like the last couple times I’ve ordered from this place. The attitudes of employees in this place is definitely declining.
P. S. Food wasn’t even cooked properly, very under cooked… TEN minutes lol for $ 35 worth of pasta lol.

Well we had dinner here last night in maple grove what an experience it was
I doubt I will ever go back mediocre food
We had reservations and when we got there they sat everyone but us.
We waited and waited in the cold entryway…
Then I moved to the bar area much warmer… Then they finally called us and took us to a room far away that was cold and drafty with lots of noisy folks included.
So I then asked if we could sit in the bar bar area where there was a table available
The gal said NO! I asked why she said it was reserved and I said for who? Since they were closing soon she never answered me so I asked another wait staff about the reservation thing and I had told her we had reservations also so why can’t we sit at that table guess what, no response again!
Finally someone came and got us and let is sit there. Guess they had to work to clean the table ! however no one gave aus a menu bread or utensils! Then finally someone came and took are order but was only interested in what we were going to drink …
Never gave us the bread until we asked all because we ordered the garlic toast and we were starving!
The food finally came and boy have they cut down on portion sizes and the garlic bread was like warm at best probably sitting for awhile!!! and 6.99!
All I can say was either this place needs to close up or these people need to be re trained and our bill came to over 35.00 for 2 people sharing one meal ! Something wrong here and she expects a tip!!!

So, we ate at the «original» Buca recently and had a great experience. The ambience and vibe at this location is what started it all, and personally, I prefer it to many of the other locations. First, the photographs on the wall aren’t quite as trashy as what you’ll find elsewhere. Second, situated where it is, in the lower level of a building in downtown Minneapolis, it has a New York-​style feel.
We shared the Apple Gorgonzola Salad, which was to-​die-​for. Granny Smith apples, gorgonzola, mixed greens, cinnamoned walnuts, dried cranberries, and an Italian dressing. I could have eaten the entire salad myself. It was that good.
We followed this up with the Quattro al Forno, a great dish if you have trouble deciding what to order, because it’s actually four things in one — chicken manicotti, cheese ravioli, cheese manicotti, and sausagey stuffed shells. It was delicious, oozing with cheese with just the right amount of tomato sauce. There was enough to fill us up and bring home extras for a second meal.
For dessert we had the chocolate chip cannoli — three tubes filled with marscapone cheese and chocolate chips, drizzled with a chocolate sauce. It really was a perfect meal in so many ways. I thought I died and went to Italian heaven.
Our server, Jayme, was terrific. Positive, smiling, lots of positive energy. She was there when we needed her, and not when we didn’t. She really was a perfect server.
While Buca serves family-​style, this was my first outing for just two people. You’re able to order the smaller plate size and it still works great. Compared with our experience with one of the suburban Buca’s, this one was stellar!

We had a huge group of 42 people so Buca made sense. The food was plentiful but pretty bland. It was Thanksgiving and our sons opted for the turkey special. All had stomach issues the next day so stay away from that.

Try the mozzarella garlic bread. We had the chicken rigatoni. It was all delicious! Would recommend. Nice portion sizes. Small feeds two.

I gave it a 3 because the food is always good. The waitress (Michelle) on the other hand is way too slow. We were seated promptly. The drinks arrived 10 minutes later. Our order was finally taken after 20 more minutes. BTW, where’s the free bread and oil??? Our food finally arrived 50 minutes after being seated. Keep in mind it’s 7pm on a Wednesday with only 4 other parties in her section. Now I know why it’s been so long since my last visit. Must be the new corporate owners :((

We ordered delivery cheese manicotti, lasagna, Caesar salad, and garlic bread and cannoli for dessert. It was Sunday around noon, not a busy time for a restaurant.
Main dishes were okay not great but not horrible.
Cheese manicotti had no Alfredo. Cesar salad was Roman lettuce and four croutons with no dressing, garlic bread was uncooked French bread with melted butter garlic and want not even toasted. The cannoli was awful pick a different dessert.
I doubled checked how I ordered everything… When and check the online order that is sent to them… Didn’t say anything about no Alfredo, uncooked bread, and no dressing.
Will never eat or order from here again. I mean seriously how do you screw up garlic bread and a Cesar salad.

This is where I like to go when I want big portions of italian food in my belly. Everything here is made for group portions instead of individual size portions. Do you know what that means? Family style everything! When you eat here with a group, that means you get to taste everything that is ordered. The portions are HUGE. You won’t finish it, you’ll have to go it, even with a group. It’s nice because even though the prices look high on the menu, if you divide it by how many people are eating it, it’s waaaayyy cheap. & it fills everybody up. Bam. What more do you want? Ohhh kids menus are 5.99!
They keep a pointer finger at the birthday person the whole time too, but sadly, there is not complimentary birthday dessert. Laammmmeeeee.

The food was very good! The spinach artichoke dip was by far my favorite. However, our server, Haley, was sub-​par. She seemed to be rushing us the whole meal and kept trying to take our plates before we were even finished eating. Whenever she took glasses from us she snatched it away rather aggressively. What really irked me, though, was that we told her it was my friend’s birthday and he didn’t get the candles, birthday song, or anything. We know she heard because she wished him happy birthday but she didn’t give him the birthday treatment. The placemats on the table spoke of a birthday song and candles which we experienced none of. Then when we had just received our bill, the table next to us got the birthday song and candles! That is horrible customer service.

We planned ahead, for a party of 40.
For $ 35, each person got:
¹⁄₅ of a salad
³⁄₅ of an entrée
1 cannoli
1 soda
For $ 35, our gluten free party member got:
¹⁄₅ of a salad
½ a chicken breast
club soda
Everything arranged beforehand was forgotten… the prices, the children’s pricing, the GF options. We would have done better to come in without warning and ask for 10 tables of 4.

Very disappointing. 20 minutes to get a single appetizer after we ordered! Waitress was rude and never asked how meal was. Also gave us our bill without asking if we needed anything else. I guess we’ll go somewhere else for dessert. Will not cone back to this restaurant. Guaranteed!

My Favorite Italian Place.
Everything is homemade goodness. Can you believe they even grate their own cheese! The from scratch sauces and fresh ingredients and fun atmosphere. .. forgettaboutit!
Bring a big crowd for a celebration. Order away — the prices are so cheap and the family style portions are humungous! Just a great place. So tasty and fun and when the check arrives — no regrets!
The Fried Calamari is fabulously crunchy and chewy and served with amazing marinara for dipping. I just don’t know what to talk about since I’ve been going there for years and have tasted virtually every dish and not been disappointed. The menu does change so there is alway a surprise for me.
It seems like ridiculous advise — but save room for dessert! Huge portion — 1 dessert could feed 3 to 4 people. Crazy good New York Style Cheesecake.
Nice Chianti — inexpensive — to complete the experience.
Ciao!

One of waitress didn’t offer house of bread and even afraid to ask for vinegarette because I’m Deaf.

Great food. Never miss the opportunity to dine here when in MSP. ABIGAIL is a sweetheart.

mmm the smell of garlic, red and white and I believe green (pesto) sauces just make me wanna dance. Olive oil served with bread when you order portions as big as the table
I don’t come here much but when I do I get it in
They have coupons so make sure you check out specials or google Bucca Coupons
prices are a lil pricey but the portions are insane and you wonder why we are obese :-) and I never been disappointed
I love this downtown location has that under ground secret hide away feel
warning! food may cause sleepiness drive safe lol so good

So I’ll just be honest Buca was actually my third choice of places when choosing a spot to eat nearby. It was Easter and some places were closed, but Buca was open win! My friends and I just got done with a photo shoot and we were very hungry luckily it was not busy. We ordered a pitcher of sangria the red one. It was very fresh and flavorful. I just wish there was a bunch of fruit in it but I’m not complaining. Then we ordered a order of the Florentine bread. It was perfection and a flavor burst in your mouth I can’t even explain it just to get it. We also ordered chicken Parmesan that had prosciutto in the middle let’s just say epic. And then also ordered some baked ziti. I’m not a big noodle fan but I was kind of in the mood the noodles were firm but soft and the sauce and cheese was amazing. Our server and the rest of the staff were hilarious and we all definitely enjoyed our time there! Thanks buca I’ll be back!!!

I was wrong. I feel like a failure.
A failure to use a restaurant properly.
I didn’t ‘do’ the Buca di Beppo experience the way you’re supposed to, as a large group, family style eating. This meant that I felt the pain of trying to squeeze out of them something they weren’t adequately equipped to deliver.
After an invigorating afternoon concert by the Minnesota Sinfonia in the nearby Basilica St. Mary, I walked out hungry, looking for a restaurant. 4pm, not a good time to eat. I found Buca because of the wonderful smell wafting from the kitchen. Yummy!
The 2 people who take you to a seat were chatting. I waited.
Eventually I interrupted and asked if they were still serving food. Maybe they had ignored me because they were closed? They were open. I read the menu and realised that the smallest portions were for 2. Oops!
When the waitress eventually returned she took my drink order and skipped town before I could ask for the food. I played with my phone while I waited what seemed like ages for her to return. The restaurant was virtually empty, the waitress was clearly distracted, not thinking about serving me.
When she eventually took my order I experienced her as rude in that way teenagers engrossed in their phone are rude. She asked questions but didn’t engage with any answers other than precise directions.
Obviously, when I’d finished my meal the waitress didn’t notice. My phone batteries were almost dead from overuse while waiting for the waitress. Ironic! I got up and walked to the lobby staff, asking them how I should pay for the meal.
Maybe the staff need a big party to capture their attention, I think that’s what I did wrong, I was single. Shame on them for making me feel bad for being alone.
I wont be taking a party of people there based on the staff attitude to me as a lone diner. They showed no heart, none of the infamous Minnesota ‘nice’

For a fairly large chain restaurant, Buca surprisingly does a great job for making it feel more homestyle and less corporate. I usually don’t go here if I am craving Italian food, mainly because the portions (even the small) are just way too big. However, I do think this place is a great choice for celebrating special events with three or more people. The family-​style method of serving their meals makes it perfect for you to try a variety of hearty dishes in one sitting. The atmosphere and décor is similar to going to an old school mom & pop restaurant but has enough space to accommodate a lot of people and eliminate long waits. It’s like a well oiled machine. To me, pasta is one of the heaviest meals anyone can eat, from the sauce to the carbolicious noodles, it’s really easy to slip into a food coma if you just dig into one of Buca’s pasta dishes — which is where the magic of going in groups comes in. Being able to share a variety of items mixes up the meal and also saves some major $$$. Buca is on the pricier side, so I think anyone could appreciate this.
Anyways, here’s the actual review of notable items:
Food
1. Spaghetti carbonara is creamy and heavy but very flavorful with the awesome blend of salty prosciutto, sweet peas, and garlicy sauce. Sprinkle some crushed red pepper on your portion and there you have perfection at it’s finest.
2. Shrimp fra diavlo is hot and spicy and full of red sauce goodness. The shrimp is not overcooked and the extra large rigatoni noodles soak up that sauce like a sponge.
3. Fried calamari is probably the most generic appetizer anyone can order a restaurant, but Buca doesn’t overcook the squid so it’s a nice dining experience having squid so tender mixed with the light and crispy coating.
Service
Fast and efficient service and they are very energetic if it is your birthday. Could make anyone feel special.
Parking
Tricky since you are downtown so your only options are meter parking (fill up fast), valet, or the nearby $ 4 parking ramp.
Final verdict: Decent place to go with groups, huge portions, fast service, good quality for a chain.