Buca di Beppo Italian Restaurant — Restaurant in Minneapolis

Buca di Beppo--affords this diner but a shadow of its former self back in its glory days as Minneapolis' Little Italy at 12th and Harmon. We visited the mother of all Buca's, on a Tuesday night this April. The stairs down to the little basement kitchen are the same as they were at the opening in '93, the kitschy, irreverent decor is still intact. The dining experience this evening was, as was it for our most recent trip prior, pedestrian, bland.

Our bill of fare was Pizza Margherita, chicken Parmesan, spaghetti marinara with meatball, and garlic bread. Service was slow and staffing was notably low. Our dining room had two or three other parties and was tended by one waiter, doubling as bartender, and host. One other person was bussing and helping bring orders. It might be unfair to judge Buca 2024 with Buca of the mid 1990's. But as they say, there's nothing like the Real Thing. On a high note, the Pizza Margherita was good, a bit light on toppings, but that is acceptable on a Margherita. The entre and pasta were unexceptional. Large portions? Of course!--this is Buca! Our spaghetti with marinara was served with meat sauce--and honest oversight of our waiter. They brought a meatball out after a few minutes to accompany the pasta. I would've had a Caesar. It was at Buca in 1993-94 when I had my first ever. They were served properly with anchovy fillets atop a large mound of dressed romaine and the fragrance of garlic in the dressing. Back when the restaurant was first opened, and for some years thereafter, Buca was a close approximation of an Italian kitchen. Garlic pretty much smacked you on the cheek walking in, and was prevalent in so many dishes. Look, don't get me wrong, our dinner was "fine". $150+ for a party of two, with two drinks--about what I expected knowing the prices on the menu. But the food quality and the service simply were lacking. I had to solicit my waiter for my check, getting up to ask about it after asking at the table, only to be advised, that they would get it for me in a minute and was motioned to go to my table. We had a performance to make and all our time for dinner was spent. We simply needed to pay and be on our way. Your take-home used to be taken back to the kitchen, packaged and brought back to your table bagged and ready. We had to ask several times for additional containers with only one being brought initially. Our dining experience was becoming a bit of a chore at this point.

That is as it has been the past two times we've dined at the original restaurant. I am afraid that what Buca di Beppo is now, and what what it was that made it such a phenomenal success in its pre-corporate years in business cannot be recussitated. I have resigned myself to the fact that we will have to pursue other, newer restaurant offerings in the downtown area when find ourselves in Minneapolis the next time. If you are seeking a safe, predictable, yet uninspired meal for a group or family with small ones, then by all means, make your way to one of the suburban stores and have fun with it. It will be fine, I'm certain of it--and forgettable, sadly.

And now...the social media team for the franchise will issue their regrets for my experience, etc, etc, etc. It's not really necessary. I'm writing to advise patrons not to expect too much, aside from a fun atmosphere, an a sizable bill for their evening out at this once...

You get what you pay for — and they make you pay for a lot.

If you’ve never been to a Buca di Beppo, they only do gigantic portions, meant to be shared among 4 or more people. (They say 3 for the small portions, but that’s absurd.)

The food is good, basic American-Italian comfort food. Nothing flashy, nothing delicate, nothing to raise the eyebrows. Just lots of heavy, flavorful, predictable fare. And there are times when that’s exactly what you want.

The space for this location is pretty charming — below street level, with lots of great brick. The bar area is wonderful and I always wish I’d planned time to hang out there for a drink or something.

However, every Buca di Beppo always feels rather chaotic and haphazard in terms of service — perhaps the result of mostly catering to large groups? — and this one is no better on that score. So at least half the time, I end up vaguely frustrated by my visit.

For example, this past week I place a to-go order. They said it would be ready in about 15–20 minutes. I gave it more like 25–30, thinking I could get in and out without having to pay for parking. Fah.

Although they wouldn’t admit to it, I don’t think they’d put the order in yet when I got there.

The hostess went to look for my order, and then was gone for a looooong time. I could see much frantic computer tapping and hushed discussion over in the prep station, and then the manager joined her too. He saw me watching, and came over to distract me with a long and unnecessary discussion about coupons.

Altogether, they endeavored to distract me with sleight of hand for about 20 minutes — and then, out came a distinctly fresh, hot bag of food.

Well it was good if not awesome, so that part was fine. But that sort of mildly annoying hassle just seems to happen a lot more often at this chain. I’m sure I’ll eat there again — but it’s a solid 3-star...

Yea dint think I’ll come back here place was dirty and dingy. Carpet walking from entrance to our table was disgusting. Upon arrival promptly greeted and sat at a table, asked if kitchen table was available and was ignored, put the menus down and walked away. Did not receive kids menus so I had to go up to front host stand and grab them myself. Server was prompt in taking orders and attentive. We asked for crayons for kids she forgot so I got up again to go get them Manager saw me looking around for them asks if she could help me being as she was just standing around. We Immediately ordered kids meals and 1 arrived before meals which was the point of ordering ahead of time, and others kids meal came AFTER we were half done with our main meals. Server admitted they made a mistake on kids meal and that’s why it took so long: ordered sausage rigatoni and there was no sausage, I literally saw two halves of a slice of sausage for the entire $35 dish! Check came I had a coupon, after 5 minutes server comes back say that it was not working and asks Manager who says nothing I can do about it they can go online and spin a wheel. By this time my kids weee falling asleep on the table bench so I said no worries and manager goes and hides in her office. Server apologized and not her fault completely but she could have asked the manager to do something especially since the kids meal delivery issue; who lets a kid sit and wait while others get their food. For the price and lack of meat and terrible customer service Ny manager I won’t be back...