Good friends make good times. That's the attitude at Buca di Beppo, a cheesy spoof on an Italian bistro with an ambiance more flavorful than its dishes. Prepare to be amusingly overwhelmed by eight rooms covered with 3,500 pictures, portraying everything from scandalous sex shots to witty bathroom advice. Buca provides the whimsical magic and jugs of wine to make a night out special and trashy. What more can you ask?
As you enter, the hostess leads you on a brief tour, advertising the wine room, the cardinal room, the Pope room -- complete with a statue of the pontiff -- and even the kitchen. If you make a reservation, you can eat in any room you want. Unfortunately, our lackadaisical nonchalance landed us an oversized booth next to a Princeton Review party. While mildly disappointed at our inferior locale, I couldn't help but be thankful that we weren't eating in the kitchen.
| Buca di Beppo 258 S. 15th Street (215) 545-2818 |
Our waitress explained the complexities of Buca's family style dinners: big dishes to share. To start, we ordered a Di Beppo 1893 Salad topped with feta cheese, tomatoes, olives, peppers, and Mozzarella Caprese, an antipasto with tomatoes and roasted peppers. Based on personal recommendations, we followed up with Chicken Marsala, and Rigatoni Positano with chicken, eggplant, and mozzarella cheese. The food was hot, fresh, and satisfying, with a unique zest added to the traditional Italian favorites. The wine, however, was not quite up to par, tasting more like Franzia than a $36.95 bottle of Il Piaggione Bianco.
The crowd gets rowdier as the night goes on. Celebrants young and old fall victim to the jollity of good food, high spirits, and lots of booze. The bigger the group, the better--it's a battle over who can make the biggest spectacle, encouraged by the staff themselves.
Buca is guaranteed good old-fashioned fun. Word to the wise: pace yourself. Too much Buca di Beppo will definitely make you Puka di Beppo.
