Buca di Beppo Italian Restaurant — Restaurant in Claremont

We came here for our Anniversary and enjoyed the food and restaurant, after getting seated our waitress introduces herself and trainee to us, our waitress then brought some Olive oil & balsmaic but no bread, so 15 min before we were done with all of our food, our waitress finally brings our bread, but before that we had asked her twice about having the bread to dip into the olive oil, she replied "just wanted to make sure you guys are going to order food first" despite us ordering mixed drinks first. The second time we asked her about the bread she replied "it's being baked and will be right out" even though we recieved all our food including the Garlic Bread (we paid for, that was the same exact same bread as the complimentary except with garlic butter on it). Now how is it that we got our paid (appetizer bread) before our complimentary bread (theyre both the same breads) as she handed us our bill, she pointed out that theres a suggested $16 tip.. .we could not tip our waitress due to financial reasons, however we did spend over $100 for 2 people (our 6yr old shared our food) as I was signing the the receipt, our waitress was watching over me, and as I got up, she snatched the receipt from our table really fast before i could take 3 steps away from the table, she looked over it and stopped me from walking away only to cause a scene asking me loudly if everything was okay, I replied Yes, and proceeded to walk to the Exit, she continued to ask Are you sure? I replied Yes and continued to walk. And once again she asks "are you sure?" I reply Yes I'm sure! She replies "HAVE A GOOD SCHRISTMAS WITH YO KID"...Now my Fiance forgot his car keys and when he came back for them she caused another scene in front of the "waiting room people " she asked him if everything was okay and if he is sure about that, he told her that we forgot our keys and she says loudly "yes I tried to tell your woman but she stormed out the door as I grabbed the reciept"..as my fiance followed a fellow worker back to the table we were seated at to look for the keys, she stops my Fiance and says loudly "Sir, I told you your keys are here at the front." So he gets our keys and says "Thank you" she replies extra loudly "hope you have a great Halloween and Christmas!!!" She made me feel like I owed her a tip, like its required and I'm a bad person or cheap or broke for not being able to help her make a living! As my Fiance was walking out, we heard her talking bad about us and laughing with another waitress (she was really loud about it all) We are embarrassed because of this woman and will not be back! The food was delicious but the waitress humiliated us. Its September 24th (not halloween or christmas) and i felt this woman was trying to make me feel guilty for eating out with my Fiance and daughter but not being able to afford the "$16 tip she suggested!!" I'd give 5 stars if it weren't for that waitress. We spent $116.07 for 2 people (not including our 6yr old who we shared our food with. The food was 5 stars but the waitress...

I had the pleasure of dining at Buca di Beppo Italian Restaurant on Valentine's Day, and it was an unforgettable experience. Wanting to make the evening special for my better half, I opted for the unique option of reserving the kitchen's table, via a call. This special seat inside the kitchen offered us an up-close view of the chefs at work, adding an exclusive touch to our evening.

The culinary journey started with an appetizer of calamari, which was nothing short of extraordinary. Each bite was a dive into taste bud heaven, setting a high standard for the meal to follow. The main course, lasagna, was simply out of this world. It was evident that great care had been taken in its preparation, with flavors that transported us straight to Italy.

The kitchen table not only provided a unique dining experience but also served as the perfect backdrop for memorable photos, adding to the many highlights of our evening. The overall ambiance and service were superb, giving us that VIP feeling with attentive waitstaff and a prime location for those Instagram-worthy moments.

While the Chicken Parmigiana was average, it didn't detract from the overall excellence of the meal. In hindsight, booking through OpenTable for one of the cozy interior tables might offer a quieter atmosphere, as the hustle and bustle of the kitchen, along with the staff's constant motion, were quite prominent. However, this did little to diminish the night's enjoyment.

Our dining experience at Buca di Beppo was truly remarkable, blending impeccable service with authentic, flavorful Italian cuisine. The restaurant's atmosphere is inviting and warm, perfect for any occasion that calls for a touch of special. Next time, we plan to sit inside to enjoy the cozy ambiance, but one thing is for sure: we will definitely be returning for the high-quality, deliciously authentic Italian fare that left us...

We celebrated my friend's retirement here during the intermezzo hours of 3 to 4 pm. We walked in and no one was there to greet us for a few minutes. The restaurant was empty. There was one other party. Not very festive. I had not visited this spot in about four years. So, I was wary of that.

PROS: Friendly service from Red. She did an adequate job. Plates and silverware took a moment to get to us. Refills were infrequent, but present. Garlic cheese bread came out crispy and cheesy, but not very garlicky. The house bread arrived soft and warm with a decent quality olive oil. They dressed the gorgonzola and apple salad evenly, but needed more cheese. The world famous meatballs came out juicy, large, and pretty tasty. The marina sauce that accompanied it was good for dipping the garlic cheese bread. The spaghetti and meat possessed a rich and hearty flavor. The chicken cannoloni pasta seemed too firm and flavorless. The stuffed chicken with proscuitto won for best taste of the entrees. The crispy breaded breasts with salty proscuitto and mozzarella cheese with pesto sauce combined for a mouth watering flavor. Red made sure our cheesecake had the extra toasted hazelnuts which ended the meal nicely.

CONS: The ambiance with so few diners really surprised me and brought down the celebratory and festive atmosphere. The guy taking pictures and selling them to our table did not add anything and maybe hindered our vibe. Maybe, offer to take our pic with our own phones first or second. The price seemed to not be there for the value. Which lowers it down a star for me.I get more food in the family style for less money at Maggiano's which is where we will continue celebrating our special meals in an...