02/21/09

I just don't get it!

by shibbel1

The high ratings this place is getting is mind boggling. Price is decent, portions are large, place has a nice old school Italian feel, but that's where it stops. The food is terrible, very poor taste, and service leaves a lot to be desired.

Skip this place.

• Pros: Fairly cheap, big portions
• Cons: Poor service. Just doesn't taste good.

05/10/08

Buca is like the Old Country

by TBert

Wow. I came to this place about four years ago and it was good. However, I don't know if the management or staff has changed, but it was AWESOME! The food was so original it reminded me of my Granmother's cooking form Calabria! I was in tears when the servers came to sing Happy Birthday to my daughter. Wow! They brought out some delicious Chocolate Cake, a candleabra and a chef hat from the kitchen. She was so happy. I can say that the Buca family treated me like family and we have some great photos and memories that will last a lifetime.

The staff seemed to really care. Our bruschetta was so fresh and perfectly seasoned. The pasta was perfect with a marinara sauce that had to have been made fresh. My son tried the 1/2 pound meatball and really tore into it! The special of the evening was soo good. Some kind of Penne Cardinal? Wow. I recomend this place. Chain or not, they know what they are doing at Buca di Beppo in Milwauke.

T Bertucci

• Pros: Service
• Cons: Long Wait - so popular

02/22/07

Middle of the road chain restaurant...

by 43north87west

Nice ambience and good downtown location,decent sized bar, off-street parking (while it lasts) are the good points of this restaurant. But in the end it is still an average Italian chain restaurant. Two occasions left me with a bad taste in my mouth, the last being a nasty assistant manager, the first being the exclusion of salad dressing from a $$$$$ enormous catering order. Usually when management is not up to par, the service of the whole staff reflects it. I always felt like the staff was doing me a favor, which is a turn off. But it seems to be a popular place and as such, I was invited many times to large gatherings of friends at this restaurant. Based on my experiences I would not choose this restaurant.

My S.O. and I spend a lot of time and money traveling and dining out here and elsewhere. As a frequent business traveler I also dine in many cities, mostly at upscale establishments, occasionally at chain restaurants... I'm experienced at dining out. If you like the chain restaurants, Maggiano's is superior for Italian food in a chain restaurant. That said, Milwaukee is a diner's dream come true... and if you're looking for Italian, a lot of places do it better without going to the chains.

• Pros: The ambience is cool and the location is very good
• Cons: Average chain restarurant, mediocre service