Family style meals are the biggest struggle. I had never actually experienced one until I was driving home from a road trip and passed by a Buca di Beppo in Austin. That was the start to an interesting experience to say the least.
On my return back from Chicago, the large shimmering sign of the Italian restaurant really resonated with me, so I looked it up. It just so happens that there is a Bucca di Beppo near Chicago, so I decided to try it for myself and document my results by writing a Bucca di Beppo review.
I went alone thinking that… well I wasn’t really thinking. Anyways, when I arrived, I couldn’t tell if the waiter was more surprised when I said table for 1 or if I was more surprised when I saw that this was very clearly a group destination.
I would not be set back though, so I went all out and decided to try two dishes and a dessert off of the Bucci di Beppo menu, hoping to startle my waiter just a little more. After munching on some warm, fluffy bread, I ordered Chicken Marsala and Fettuccine Alfredo. It was an overwhelming dinner to say the least.
The Chicken Marsala included marinated chicken and mushrooms in a wine reduction. The chicken was nicely cooked, but to be honest, I didn't think it was anything special. Maybe it was because it had so many different plates of food in front of me at the time, but the magnitude of the chicken made me tired of it from the beginning.
Overall I’d say it was better than average, but not amazing (still way better than anything I could cook at home).
Next up was my favorite pasta dish, fettuccine alfredo. Now this one was incredible. The perfectly cooked pasta was beautifully coated in a creamy and flavorful wine sauce. To top it off, the pasta was deliciously sprinkled with parmesan.
Overall, the service was great. I can only imagine my waiter’s extraordinary capability in handling a large group, luckily he didn't have to utilize his skills with my singular order. The Buca di Beppo menu has great gluten-free options, which I think is becoming increasingly important for pasta restaurants.
After stuffing myself to the brim and packing up the leftovers, I knew there was still one thing I had to do. Try the cannoli. In the end, the Godfather was right, I couldn’t have left without trying it.
The crispy shell was stuffed with a delicious and sweet cream filling mixed with chocolate chips. I was too stuffed to eat too many, but I could see myself wanting to carry one of their cannolis around with me at all times. They are perfected with a light chocolate drizzle that really adds the final icing to the cake.
When I was finally done, I carried my boxes out the door proud and confident in my decision in going to Buca di Beppo. I'll definitely be returning back in the future, but this time with some friends and family to make the experience even better.
But if you do end up going by yourself like I did, I guarantee you'll have solid leftovers for a week. I'm definitely not complaining about eating my Fettuccine Alfredo three nights in a row.
Overall, I was super happy with my decision to go to Bucca Di Beppo. Big portions definitely keep me happy, and this place didn’t disappoint. It was just one of the many things that made my stop in Austin so great. The city did not disappoint and I loved my brief time there.
I definitely recommend stopping by the downtown area around the Texas capital. And if you happen to have a weekend night in the city, 6th Street has tons of great bars and restaurants. It can get a little rowdy later at night with all the UT Austin kids but that can be a lot of fun can’t it?
Of course, there’s always the third option of Buca di Beppo delivery as well. Thankfully, FoodBoss can help you get the most information possible when you order, saving you time and money in the process. I highly recommend all three options anytime you’re craving Italian food!