Buca di Beppo Italian Restaurant — Restaurant in Columbus

VERY underwhelming experience.

Went here for Valentines day and the food was unbelievably mid for the price. VERY under seasoned and lacking in any sort of flavor.

Thankfully, I have 10 days worth of leftovers.. (That I probably could’ve just made myself for 1/4 of the price and 10 times the flavor ☹️)

I have to ask 🤨… is there even a single ounce of garlic or onion used in the kitchen at all? And, if so, why are we not utilizing them in day -to-day recipes? I know times are hard in 2025…. but this is concerning for a restaurant that prides itself in classic Italian-American food. (Yes, I know garlic is used sparingly in true Italy based recipes…. But we talking Italian-American here🙄)

Thankfully, the sauce was decent, but they supplied only a few spoonfuls for my dish… It’s interesting how the one redeeming quality comes in such low quantity… I immediately had to request more sauce for my spaghetti and meatballs…. No sauce…. for the classic dish that they have tons of celebrities eating posted all over the walls. What are we doing here🤨 🤌? Why do I have 1/4th a cup of sauce for 2 pounds of family style plated spaghetti??? Is it because I’m not Shaquille O’Neal🏀? Why are we shorting customers here on the sauce? I shouldn’t have to request more sauce in an Italian restaurant. That’s unacceptable. 🤗

Gigantic meatballs, but by far the worst meatball I have ever eaten. Go to your local Trader Joes and you’ll find more flavor in the frozen meatballs. I guess size doesn’t matter…because they were big, thanks… I guess?? But, incredibly unflavored. Just the equivalent to cooked ground meat with nothing else… No flavors of fennel, onion, garlic, parmesan, etc… As an Italian who has had countless family style meals with amazing seasoned food, this was a disgrace to Italian-American cuisine..

Honestly, I was joking to my girlfriend that I could probably out-cook chef that concocted this and I cook delicious food as a side hobby…. My experience is literally just Youtube and Food Network… Genuinely concerning. 🫠

If someone actually went to school for this and THAT was the end product… oh boy, do I have some feedback for you….🤣 Laughable effort. Might be time to go work a warehouse job, buddy… It also might be time to hang up that apron… because this ain’t flying in the big 2025 and beyond.

You might fool these other folks, but not me. I see every place you’re cutting costs and it shows in the food you serve.🙂‍↔️

Anyone that’s actually looking for good food should immediately skip this place and go to any handful of Columbus based Cameron Mitchell restaurants instead. 🥳

I am utterly shocked that this place is still open. I have a feeling that the people that keep coming back for more are..

Can’t cook to save their life, and love having a week’s worth of leftovers on hand. Or Have lived in Columbus for 30 years, and are lying to themselves that food has stayed at the same standards since the 90s. Or The location is perfect for unsuspecting groups of customers, that go to the countless sports events nearby when they are 10 beers deep, and just want a bite to eat.

Either way, skip this joint and find literally anywhere else.

I’m not even kidding, Olive Garden might actually beat this place in quality in flavor.

I plan to never eat at this establishment again, and I truly hope they find some new management/update their recipes SOON.

I assume this place will go under within the next 3 to 5 years at this rate. Just like the Worthington one.

Hopefully something better will take over and supply customers with...

I recently had the pleasure of dining at a buca di beppo in Columbus, Ohio, where I encountered some of the best service I've ever experienced, thanks to our incredible waiter, Tyler. From the moment we walked in, Tyler's professionalism and warm demeanor set the stage for an unforgettable evening.

Tyler greeted us with a genuine smile and a friendly introduction, immediately making us feel welcome. His knowledge of the menu was impressive; he provided detailed descriptions of each dish and offered thoughtful recommendations based on our preferences. It was clear that Tyler was passionate about the food and the restaurant, and his enthusiasm was contagious.

Throughout the meal, Tyler's attentiveness was second to none. He was always there when we needed him, yet he managed to give us the space to enjoy our meal without feeling rushed. Our water glasses were never empty, and he frequently checked in to ensure everything was to our liking. His ability to anticipate our needs without being intrusive was truly remarkable.

One of the standout moments of the evening was Tyler's handling of a special dietary request. One of my friends has a severe nut allergy, and Tyler went above and beyond to ensure her meal was safe. He communicated directly with the kitchen staff and even spoke with the chef to confirm that her dish was prepared without any risk of cross-contamination. This level of care and attention to detail was incredibly reassuring and greatly appreciated.

In addition to his exceptional service, Tyler's friendly and engaging personality added an extra layer of enjoyment to our dining experience. He shared interesting stories about the restaurant and the local area, making us feel like valued guests rather than just customers. His positive attitude and genuine interest in our satisfaction were evident throughout the evening.

As our meal came to a close, Tyler's excellent service continued. He promptly brought us the check and handled the payment process with efficiency and professionalism. Before we left, Tyler took the time to thank us for dining at the restaurant and invited us to return, making us feel truly appreciated.

In conclusion, Tyler's outstanding service made our dining experience extraordinary. His warm and welcoming demeanor, extensive menu knowledge, attentiveness, and ability to handle special requests with care and precision set him apart as an exceptional waiter. I highly recommend dining at this restaurant and specifically requesting Tyler as your waiter. His dedication to providing top-notch service is commendable, and I look forward to returning for another...

TLDR version: Sticky floors, barely edible food, passable service at an exorbitant price. Drop an extra $100 and go to Hyde Park, or save $200 and go to Olive Garden.

This is a review I truly hate to write after years of loving Buca when visiting Columbus. This place has tanked so hard. Admittedly COVID eliminated some of the fun of things like entering through the kitchen, which I think gave the whole staff a feeling of ownership over your experience...but it's time for that excuse to die out.

To start, the floor was absolutely sticky...like, shoes stuck to it and peeling up as you walk sticky. Gross, but also, on-trend as the menus were also sticky. Ew. Our server was friendly, and when she made sure to tell us how frazzled and busy she was we assured her that we were not in a hurry and didn't mind being patient on a Saturday night when there were clearly large parties. First mistake, as she proceeded to forget drinks we had ordered and not time the food delivery at all, then end by leaving us with a table full of dirty dishes.

Antipasti salad was good. Mercifully because that and the bread were the only parts of the meal we didn't have to choke down. Spaghetti and meatballs: two dry af balls of meat (not the same as MEATBALLS) with no seasoning at all, and overcooked, plopped on a bowl of overcooked spaghetti, then drowned in what - as best we can tell - had to have been canned crushed tomatoes. Absolutely NO seasoning. No spices. No olive oil. Nothing at all to even indicate it was meant to be "Italian" food, other than the pasta...I guess.

Stuffed shells: overcooked shells with a dry stuffing, then more of the crushed tomatoes spooned on top.

Chicken parm: slightly more edible than the other two, if you stuck to the cheese and chicken or added a lot of salt to the unseasoned canned crushed tomatoes.

Four of us combined ate less than a quarter of each of those dishes, total, leaving so much food on the plates it was disgraceful. The server never once asked or commented, and even when I asked her to remove the food she said she was going to take dishes off empty tables first. There was no one else being seated.

Adding insult to injury, the bill for all that food plus two cocktails and two soft drinks came in just under what we paid at Hyde Park Steakhouse the night before. For a 5-star meal and service. Unbelievable. We filed out, hungry, feet sticking to the floor, and a few hundred dollars poorer, sad to know the Buca era has ended forever and hoping whatever opens in its place...