Buca di Beppo: User Reviews

Cheap and bland food
By Reg from Bridgeport, December 30, 2007

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First, the few people in our group of 16 who ordered drinks all complained because the bartender apparently forgot to add the liquor!! The appetizers- the bruschetta and garlic cheese bread were decent, the fried calamari was dark brown rather than light golden. It was way overcooked and tasted like grease. The fried shrimp were also too crisp, brown and tasted like frozen stuff. We had to ask and then wait for appetizer plates and when they came, there were 5.... for 16 people!!! We then had to wait for him to strolI (literally) to get more plates. Most of us ate out of our hand or on a napkin. I got the fettucine supremo, and i know it's not an authentic italian dish, but rather an american creation, but thought i'd try it. I asked for shrimp instead of chicken. I got shrimp, but they were pretty much what you would get out of your grocer's freezer. I was missing an extra veggie that i requested be included and they must have forgotten to add cheese to the sauce and to add salt to the pasta water- basic tip for a chef. Tons of pasta but very little shrimp and veggies. My boyfriend got the shrimp & scallop diavlo that contained scallops and the same exact breaded shrimp as the appetizer! Who puts breaded shrimp in what is supposed to be italian food?? My guess is that they ran out of unbreaded shrimp?!? We didn't get dessert because they did not deserve more money from us. This is not italian food. Maybe some of their other dishes are, like the basic red sauce stuff, but there are too many better italian restaurants in this city. Try Gio's in Bridgeport, or Little italy or Taylor Street. This was like going to an italian version of McDonalds, but with a bigger price tag.

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Stopped in at Buca last...
By teelfros from Chicago, Il, February 3, 2007

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Stopped in at Buca last night and found it to be the warmest place in the city. All the emolyees were smiling and I think they all welcomed and thanked me personally. It's nice to sit in a restaurant where the help are happy to have you there. The food was Great. I found the small portions were the way to have variety and feed the two of us on my tight budget. We even have lunch for today. Thank you Buca for keeping Great Food and Great Service in one place for me to enjoy. I will be back.

My fellow co-reviewers don't quite...
By Amferny from Chicago, IL, July 8, 2006

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My fellow co-reviewers don't quite understand the Buca way...

I went there with a few friends and we had a fabulous time. Our host was hilarious, and our server juggled for us. The food was not only enormous, but amazing! I can't say enough.

So, my co-reviwers, you have no taste...so how can you taste the food. Buca's way is to be loud, crazy, tacky, and delicious!

I went there on a...
By Maria from Glendale Heights, IL, February 2, 2006

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I went there on a Saturday night with some friends. It was very busy, but the host gave us a surprise quick tour of the kitchen before he sat us. The lemon chicken was absolutely fabulous and the spicy penne with sausage was very good as well. I found the atmosphere to be loud and the seating was quite cozy. The wait staff was very friendly with lots of smiles. Overall, a very good dining experience.

Pushy wait service tryign to...
By Marion Fruvous from Chicago, IL, January 27, 2006

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Pushy wait service tryign to upsell (as cited in previous reviews), and they don't even pay attention to you even if you're the only patrons in the place. Food doesn't taste like ANYthing, previous review of the salad was dead-on, and the chicken parm was no better. If you need Italian in that neighborhood, make a reservation at Maggiano's instad. The space that this restaurant takes up would be better served by a grocery store or... well, anything except this place.

I think Buca is a...
By Martina from Chicago, IL, November 11, 2005

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I think Buca is a fun atmosphere where people can get loud and silly. It's a family restaurant, not fine Italian dining (not that that's an excuse if a mean is badly prepared). The portions are huge, but they're meant to be shared. I've always had attentive and patient service, and the I think the food is downright dandy. Great place for parties.

This is the worst place...
By Ankit from Chicago, IL, October 18, 2005

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This is the worst place I have ever eaten at and believe me that I have eaten out a lot.
Very large portions and very over priced. Am I here to take food for 4 days and eat stale and tasteless food for the rest of the week? Preparations are nasty and worthless. Wait staff is very pushy in the beginning to start with you with 4-course meal and then doesn't bother for hours even when you are done and waiting for check. There is usually no one there even though it is such a busy area. I will recommend that skip a meal or make the Chinese soup at home rather than going to this place. Do anything but avoid and help these people close the restaurant.

I knew I was in...
By Jennifer from Chicago, IL, July 26, 2005

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I knew I was in the wrong place when I walked in and saw a sign in the lobby about enemas. My, doesn't that whet your appetite! And what is with all the statues of women with red paint poured over them - more than a hint of hostility here, don't you think? And then the food - - dreary and bland. I almost had a laugh at the green "salad" - nothing but chopped lettuce with flavorless oil. The rest of the meal followed along those lines. The waitress was very nice and helpful; she did make the overall experience helpful, but I wouldn't go back.

I was impressed with the...
By Patty from Rockford, IL, August 28, 2004

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I was impressed with the fun attitude of our server. He was ultra-attentive, without being overbearing. He was very helpful with our menu selections, and suggested excellent dishes. I was there with a party of four, and we ordered the Chicken Saltimbocca and the Quatro al Forno, both of which were outstanding. We had no room for dessert, but next time we will save room for the chocolate cake, which looked unbelievable. The next time I visit Chicago, I will definitely go back.