Buca di Beppo

Tasty Italian Comfort.
A lot of food, so if you’re very hungry and you want leftovers for tomorrow and the next day then come here.
I recommend spaghetti, eggplant Parmesan, and the Chicken Marsala.
Great atmosphere!
Go with a date, family, or a big group.

I haven’t been to Buca di Beppo in Tustin in over 5 years and my return experience was absolutely unacceptable.
I sat at the bar which was empty at the time and wasn’t greeted for about 5 minutes. Afterwards the male bartender approached me and asked for my I. D, but left before I could give him a drink order. About 5 minutes later with no other customers around me, he finally asked me what I want to drink.
It took another 15 minutes for him to take my order and was extremely rude about it. He made no attempt to make eye contact, which is a sure sign of annoyance and completely just avoided me after taking my order.
At this point I told him to make the order for takeout since I wasted half an hour sitting at a bar by myself without anything to show for it. And to add a cherry on top the bartender charged someones else’s order to the wrong credit card. This shows the ignorance and lack of professionalism of this place. Avoid at all cost.

I’m not thaat big of a buca fan (i’ve been to buca more than a couple times in my hometown) unless it’s their chicken parmesan. I came here the other night with two of my friends and we ordered a small calamari and a small penne pasta with chicken and broccoli in a pesto crème sauce. The waitress explained to us that the sauce was pesto mixed with alfredo which we thought was pretty innovative and sounded yummy.
The calamari was okay, I think the seasoning could’ve been better, but the marinara that came with it was pretty good. We found ourselves dipping bread from our bread basket into the marinara. The pasta we ordered was pretty good, in my opinion it wasn’t anything special because I feel as if I could recreate it at home. The chicken however was super tender and juicy and not dry at all, so I was impressed with that and they gave us more than a few pieces. The broccoli was average, but I felt as if they should’ve added more to balance the ratio of broccoli: pasta:chicken. As you all probably know the buca pasta portions are huge, and the three of us were struggling to finish it. Maybe it was because we finished a few bread baskets before though, lol!
Since we were celebrating my birthday on this night, my friends told them beforehand. At the end of the meal, they bring you three candles and sing to you haha. Don’t expect any free cake or brownie like at some other locations!

This is one cool Bucas haha. Came with 2 other people and made reservations, so when we got there we waiting less than 5 minutes for them to seat us. What the «cool» factor of this restaurant is the fact that when they seat you, they walk you through the kitchen as a bit of a tour before your meal. My friends and I were so confused with where they were taking us lol but it was fun to see something different.
My friends and I ordered Fried Calamari & a small Penne w/​chicken and broccoli and it was delicious! The calamari was just okay, nothing special, if anything it was a bit over priced for the amount you received, but the penne was delicious! The sauce was creamy, and we added more cheese into it to make it more cheesy, could definitely add a bit more chicken and broccoli, but this and the bread they give you filled all 3 of us up! (we got about 3 baskets of bread lol)
The service is okay, I know they’re trying to have good service by checking up on you, but I definitely do not need to be checked up on every 5 minutes to see how my food was. It’s probably the same it was the last time you asked lol. But they did come frequently to refill our waters and bread basket.

Really disappointing considering how much we spent for an appetizer and pasta. There was hair in our mushrooms and the manager just asked, «So what do you want?» As if she thought we put the hair there to get free food…
They also got our pasta order wrong. This location didn’t feel warm or welcoming at all. I would not recommend.

Easter lunch with the mighty Au.
They are serious when they tell you one serving is good for 2 – 3 people. Pasta doesn’t really cost much so load me up with carbs!
Parmesan bread is enough for 4 people. Nothing special.
Fettuccine with chicken… I can definitely make it at home and it will taste the same. Or even better.
Something else with shrimp… Not worth remembering.
Heard so much about this place being a great Italian restaurant. Could it be that I’m not a huge fan of pasta? But if this place was really awesome, even someone who doesn’t regularly eat pasta should be impressed. I’m not.
Very average. Not going back.

Mmm large portions of moderately priced generic Italian food, yum.
Good for large gatherings. Inexpensive. Fun environment for kids.
Food tastes pretty bland. Nothing really «pops» out at you.

If you mind the noise grab a seat in the bar and enjoy this wonderful view! Lol So, let me explain I am always skeptical of going here… just not a pasta fan, but the rest of the family wanted past and thought why not.
The place is a family dining place, and its suppose to be nice and cheesier with all the crazy decorations etc… and incredibly loud, I actually was very well aware of the environment. but last night there was three very loud parties going on with screaming teenagers!
We were sitting, and waiting, and I just couldn’t take it after the day I had. not anyone’s fault I get it. But we kindly asked if we could be moved. They ended up moving us to the bar area, it was nice and quiet and just what I wanted. The waitress was very helpful and friendly and took care of us.
But what was even better was Ariana at the bar as our waitress, I have never known a waitress more on point then what she was. Filled our drinks, very friendly, helpful, suggestive, and just the best attitude I’ve seen in a long time :)
It’s good to know that people like her still exist!
Thank you Buca for being so accomidating and hiring such a wonderful staff!

Just ate lunch here for my nephew’s birthday today for the fist time. I’m Giving this place 4 stars out of 5 for several reasons.
First off, the portions are ridiculous! Buca fits the American stereotype, go big or go home. The menu says the small plates feed 2 or more, emphasis on the more! Small plates can easily fit 4 especially if you’re ordering a salad or anything else. The food was pretty good, a bit heavy but our waitress was really accommodating to our needs. We ordered a carafe of white sangria and waited around 30 minutes for it, which was outrageous, we didn’t complain but the waitress did comp one of our pasta dishes for us.
The décor was a bit overwhelming at first, but it’s just one of those places that your eyes have to adjust to the various pictures, statues and just stuff on the walls. I think we were seated in the Pope John Paul II room, because he was staring at is while we ate (see picture).
All in all 4 stars for the accommodating staff and for the leftovers. Enjoy!

I had the tiramisu here for the first time and it was simply heaven! One of the best tiramisu I’ve ever had at an Italian place. Heaven! Divine! Simply Delicious! I know it has so much calories too. hm… Its time to hit the gym… tomorrow. haha
I also had the clam & mussel pasta, it was okay. I’ve had other dishes that I liked better there. It’s probably hard to cook this dish amazing because of the seafood had to be very fresh. They do put a lot of mussels & clams which is good.
Service is good. A lot of servers & managers come by to ask if we are okay. Don’t have the need to hunt down servers for anything.

Horrible, HORRIBLE service. Probably one of the worst dining service I have ever received.
We came here on a Friday evening with reservations for a party of 7. We were immediately seated in a room filled with large parties. There were already 3 large tables occupied and after we were seated, 2 additional large parties. Each table had over 10+ guests. There were 1 – 2 waiters (busboys not included) for the entire room. For a room with over 60 guests, there were only TWO servers. Absolutely ridiculous.
It got to the point where guests were getting up to refill their waters themselves. Someone other than our server brought us our check and after 10 minutes of not a single employee in the room, we brought our bill to the front of the restaurant. What’s even worse is that 10 minutes after that, we had to go back to the front to ask for our change/​credit card slips.
I don’t even feel the need to comment on the food because it was fine, but for the service we received, we will NEVER be coming back. Our waitress forgot our drink orders, messed up our entrée orders, and we only saw her 3 times during our entire meal. We kept having to ask the busboys to send our waitress over, yet no one came. DO NOT come here if you wish to be served like any normal restaurant, you’ll likely have to end up serving yourself.

Great place. Warm atmosphere. Great service and great taste.
We had a group table of 16 people for dinner. The wait staff did a great job accommodating our group and making us feel special. They handled everything in sync and food came out perfectly timed. Even when I had to order an extra large lasagna, they had that out in 10 minutes. Can’t say enough good about the wait staff.
Food was incredibly good. Great flavors, the freshness of ingredients, and sizes as well. We ordered large portions which feeds 6 people and it really did feed 6.
Ceasar salad: just ok. Flavorful.
Garlic bread: nice soft touch, balanced garlicky taste. I like the mozzarella Garrick bread better.
Calamari: very good. Love the marinara sauce. Great size. Crispy.
Lasagna. Awesome. One of he best lasganas I’ve tasted. Big big size. Lots of
Cheese and sauce. Well balanced.
Shrimp florentine: garlic butter sauce: yum. It was well cooked and shrimp were fresh.
Chicken Marsala: mushrooms were well cooked and chicken breasts were soft and tasty.
Chicken parmigiana; my fav dish. Very flavorful. And well prepared.
I ordered a pear iced tea. It was a great drink. And it kept on coming. I never had to ordered a refill, the waiter always brought me the refill just in time.
Overall it was a great experience. And will be going back!

We have done Thanksgiving at Bucca two years in a row now. We love it! The only thing was the turkey was a little dry. But that wasn’t a huge issue. The Italian sausage stuffing is my favorite! It is absolutely perfect! The mashed potatoes, cranberries, and green beans are good too! The service was pretty good! Except she almost forgot that it came with chocolate chip cannolis. We had to remind her and she didn’t know that was a part of the Thanksgiving meal. We also ordered spaghetti and meat sauce, which was amazing, and their antipasto salad, my favorite! It was great. We are definitely doing it again for a third time next year!

my favorite franchise restaurant! food is oh so yummy and the portions are HUGE! i love it here. perfect for big groups and family style! i usually come here with my family and get three entrees and we split it. so we get to try little bit of everything! one of my favorite things about this restaurant is when the host is leading your group to your table, you walk through the kitchen! one, kitchen is super clean so i feel comfortable eating my food. two, its pretty cool! i love the awkward pop dining room (circular table), this room is perfect for a big group!
they take reservations so take advantage of that!
my favooooorite dish is bake ziti. just CHUNKS of cheese goodness on my pasta! so cheesy, i love it

ARRIVAL/​RECEPTION: When we arrived at the restaurant we were greeted immediately and warmly by an employee at the reception, who told us that it would be a 10-​minute wait. It’s about 2PM on a Sunday so a short wait is not a problem. We were seated in just about 10 minutes. We were given a tour of the kitchen as we were led to our table, which is something that they customarily do, especially if you tell them you haven’t been there.
As we were walking to our table I saw that there were many tables available. The restaurant was not even half full. So I had to wonder why the 10-​minute wait?
PORTIONS/​SIZES/​VALUE: Portions here are family sized and are meant to be shared, which is probably the custom of Italy. We are very used to this as in Chinese meals, dishes are always shared, instead of each person ordering for themselves. A small order will amply serve 2 or maybe 3. A large order can server 4 — 6 people.
The downside for a party of 2 is that you are pretty much limited to ordering just one main entrée or pasta, unless you want to take a lot of food home. If you have a party of 6 or 8 or more, then you can share a lot of different varieties. We ordered a salad and a pasta to share. The larger your party, probably the better the value, as 4 small entrees can easily feed 8 — 10.
TIP: As of today you can access a $ 10 coupon off $ 20+ on your smart phone, and there is also a $ 15 off $ 30+ coupon from many mailers. With either coupon, you can see great values there! Without the coupons, food here is definitely on the pricey side, compared to similar Italian restaurants.
MIXED GREEN SALAD (Small, $ 12.99): It was tossed and served in a large bowl with salad tongs (almost like the Olive Garden format). Mixed lettuce was mixed with red onions, olives, peppers and tossed in an Italian vinaigrette which was delicious. The salad was fresh; the dressing was authentic Italian, and not too overly sweet or sour like others. The portion was large and we barely finished it.
PENNE BASICILA (Small, $ 20.99): Penne pasta was mixed with broccoli and chicken breast meat and served in a creamy pesto sauce. The pasta was perfectly al dente. Broccoli was just right. The chicken breast was thinly sliced and it was soft and juicy. Very well done and absolutely delicious. It was topped with parmesan cheese and served steaming hot, just like any good Italian pasta is supposed to be served. Portion was very large. After finishing the salad, we probably ate only half of the pasta.
SERVICE: Our server was cool and she has been attentive throughout. She checked on us several times throughout our meal to see if we needed anything. The person who led us to our table and gave us a tour of the kitchen was also nice, upbeat and friendly. Awesome!
AMBIENCE: This is a very nice Italian restaurant with a traditional feel. The Italian opera music further enhanced the atmosphere. There were many pictures and paintings on the walls and by the booths. They were all cool for us, but I have to say that some of the pictures/​graphics may not be suitable for young children. Yes, I know it’s art! Yes, I am conservative! But I still think young kids shouldn’t be looking at some of these paintings.
Overall it was a great lunch, although I would love this restaurant to offer smaller sized individual portions. I will certainly return, especially with a large group of friends. Under the «good for groups» category on Unilocal,this is a YES with 2 thumbs up!

Why, oh why do I even come to this place. The food pretty much all tastes the same and I either get diarrhea or feel super bloated like some pregnant lady and it’s not from overeating.
I only reason I go here is because I’m with a larger group and they want to eat here. The food here for the most part is very typical of a large (lower-​end) Italian restaurant chain and is swimming in grease and carbs. If Maggiano’s is one the top end of the spectrum (as far as Italian chain restaurants go) then Buca di Beppo is on the other end.
Service at this location was good but since the group was pretty big, I can understand the mayhem that can incur as the result of multiple requests.
This place can get really loud and rowdy. I think parents like to bring their kids and their other parent friends because here, kids can be loud, draw on tables, spit on each other and run around with no abandon. And the staff don’t do anything about it.
Do not come here for dates unless you want to convince your girlfriend or wife how terrible it’d be to have kids. I’ve seen some of the worst behaved children at Buca di Beppo. Worse than Chucky Cheese.
Be prepared to go on a colon cleanse after eating here because of what they serve.
Parking: Huge parking lot
Price: $ 20 per person
Wait: Better make reservations but why

I totally not understand why this place on Unilocal got only 3.5 stars. This place seriously perfect place for 5 stars. The best taste of Italian food, best services, fun place to have friends, family, or other people could have fulfill of joyfulness.
I had been to many Italian places, throughout San Diego, LA, San Francisco, and here, Orange county areas. But this place had the best taste. I highly recommend those people who wants their dish for Italian food. Even Asians, you guys do not worry since this Italian restaurant’s food aren’t buttery at all for you. I, myself is Asian too, but loved the taste of this place. Just remind, even they say it’s Small size, it’s like one small dish that 2 – 3 people could get full from a single dish. So even the price is just fit for its dish size.
Birthday party? Just gather at here. All those waitress and waiter singing joyful birthday song for you in ITALIAN! LOL
Every dishes at this place so good.
JUST GET YOUR BUTT OVER HERE AND TRY THE FOOD. YOU’LL BE FALL IN LOVE WITH THIS PLACE.
I see some negative reviews on ridiculous reasons that may be too personal but they blame onto this awesome wonderful restaurant. I find myself how ridiculous could people get. The most ridiculous one I’ve seen from here was about «I had food poisoning from this restaurant couple days after at Disney land.»
.WTF? Lady, by that time, your food you had been eaten from this restaurant should’ve got digested already since more than 32 hours ago. Stop making yourself look seriously ridiculous. Have a logic stand points up right before you confront with your claim. Jeez. I felt so sorry for Buca about these kind of ridiculous people making weird compliments that are not be blamed on someone else.
Just in addition, you do need to wait a quite time for your food.
But I can wait for that time since I knew already they have such a good food serves on this place. If you can’t stand on waiting a time for your food, then you should not hesitate to choose this place.

The portions here are pretty big as everything here is done family style — which means sharing! A few friends and I came for their $ 20 off promotion because it sounded like such a steal, and it definitely was (ended up being about ~$ 8 a person for 4 people sharing 2 small pastas!). We ordered the
Stuffed Shells — the small came with 6 shells. The last two were a little difficult to split but we made it work. The shells themselves were not as big as I had expected them to be (they’re about a little more than a mouthful each), but they were pretty good. You could definitely taste the spicy Italian sausage in the cheese stuffing mixture.
Shrimp Florentine — SO INCREDIBLY DELICIOUS. I highly recommend this pasta. The perfectly cooked linguine pasta to their flavorful garlic sauce ratio was impeccable and there were plenty of shrimp plus the spinach and tomatoes added a lovely balance of veggies into the dish. Simple, yet absolutely fantastic.
The complementary bread they give you before they bring your order was very mehh. Doesn’t come piping hot and fresh and was relatively flavorless in terms of taste. They give you a dish and fill it with olive oil and balsamic vinegar to dip but I’m not a fan of balsamic vinegar… No butter either (perhaps I should’ve asked) :(
Overall, though they definitely give you a lot, I think 2 small pastas aren’t exactly enough for 4 people (and it was 3 girls and a guy). Though I left satisfied, I definitely had room for more (man if only I had that entire serving of the Shrimp Florentine to myself…). The amount we ordered was probably enough for 2 people to completely finish without having to take home leftovers and feel really full, or maybe 3 people to finish comfortably. In the end I think it would have been better if we had ordered another pasta/​entrée or upgraded to their large size.
Service was wonderful. Our server was very friendly and patient with us. Décor is a little bizarre and over the top with all the excessive unorthodox photographs and miscellaneous pictures in my opinion. The place is COLD if they seat you towards the back. Bring a jacket!

I used to love this place for its hearty family style pastas and yummy food…
I loved it so much I brought 20 of my friends here to celebrate my birthday.
The result?
5 of us got food poisoning…
I was at Disneyland couple days later and started throwing up for no reason.
No, it wasn’t because of the rides, I’ve never thrown up from a ride in my life.
I started feeling quesy and I had to leave Disneyland early to get to bed.
I was sick for 4 days after (I continued throwing up and also started breaking out in cold sweat) and couldn’t eat solid food for a week.
Did I also mention this was during my spring break?!
Same goes for my other friends.
We predict it might have been because the seafood in one of our dishes had gone bad.
Did I also mention this was during my spring break?!
Ugh, I used to love this place but we shall never return again.

Family Style is the best way to celebrate a birthday. Buca di Beppo specializes in group dining, perfect for a special occasion.
We were celebrating my nieces 7^th birthday. For a big family like ours, it’s always a challenge to find a place that can accommodate 17 or more people during peek dinner hours. Usually we’re left with going to a Chinese restaurant, because its easier for us. This time it’s something different, Italian cuisine.
Here’s the rundown:
Calamari: it must be good. We were late (very late) so by the time we got there all the calamari had been consumed (they ordered 2 orders of it). Lol my brothers told me it was the best dish of the night.
Margherita pizza and a Pepperoni pizza both large pizzas yielded 18 pcs each. Big portions. Thin crust. Pepperoni was delicious and crunchy without being too well done. The pizza sauce for both pizzas were just ok.
Chianti short ribs: was one of my favorite dish of the night. It was not the best looking dish, it was not very appealing visually, but the taste was amazing. Meat was very tender and the chianti sauce was outstanding. Yummy. I would order this again.
Chicken Marsala & Veal Marsala: the veal was not as tender as I’ve had before. It was just okay. The star was the chicken marsala. That chicken soaked up all that flavor from the sauce, delicious.
Chicken & Sausage Ziti: The sausage was very delicious. Chicken was just okay.
Shrimp Florentine: this was served with linguine pasta. Shrimp was cooked perfectly and plentiful. Spinach & diced tomato completed this dish.
Spaghetti w/​meatballs & spaghetti marinara completed our meal. I was so stuff, I didn’t even get to taste them. I’ve had the spaghetti w/​meatballs before and the meatball is amazing. We always get the meatball. lol
Service was just okay. We had to flag down our waiter to request refills quite often.
I like that they have a variety of rooms for large parties. The night we were there, a bus full of graduates & a softball team was dinning at the same time we were and they didn’t have a problem putting each party in their own private rooms.
Food was good, the company was even better.
I’ll definitely be back.