Buca di Beppo Italian Restaurant

4.1 (2.3k reviews)

ModerateItalian

Closed • 11:00 am - 10:30 pm

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Buca di Beppo Italian Restaurant - Italian Near Me - Universal City, California

Buca di Beppo Italian Restaurant - Host Stand and Interior Waiting Area - Italian Near Me - Universal City, California

Buca di Beppo Italian Restaurant - Lasagna - Italian Near Me - Universal City, California

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Buca di Beppo Italian Restaurant - New Drinks - Italian Near Me - Universal City, California

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Buca di Beppo Italian Restaurant Popular Dishes

Lasagna

40 Photos85 Reviews

Baked Ziti

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Fettuccine Alfredo

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Buca di Beppo Italian Restaurant menu photos

Menu photo 1 Buca di Beppo Italian Restaurant Universal City, CA

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Menu photo 8 Buca di Beppo Italian Restaurant Universal City, CA

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BUCA DI BEPPO ITALIAN RESTAURANT ATMOSPHERE

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Inside

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Outside

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Casual

Touristy

Moderate noise

Good for groups

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Justin M.

A friend of mine & myself had tickets to see a movie in the rather elusive IMAX 70mm format, so we figured we'd grab a bite at a restaurant in CityWalk. I legitimately can't remember the last time that I dined inside a Buca di Beppo. It's definitely been at least a decade or 2. I just remember it being rather chaotic, a tour through their busy kitchen, & huge portions (I remember thinking to myself: Why are the portions so f'n huge? Like what it you want several dishes but these ridiculously huge portions prevent from exercising your variety?". Well, I'm happy to report that you're no longer restricted to these 3 specific things. Why? It was rather "dead" when we came in. There were at least 2 other tables with people. 1 or 2 parties definitely came in before we left. But "chaotic" would be the last word that I would use to describe how busy things were. Although my friend & I arrived rather promptly before our 3pm reservation on a Monday, our hostess seated us directly to our table. I guess "gone" are the days of their prideful kitchen tour. Lastly, doing my usual "due diligence" of looking at their menu days prior to my reservation, I was quite amused to see that they offer a "Buca for One" section for a majority of their standard family style entrées. This is kind of an important thing to note because we ended choosing dishes that are not offered in this "Buca for One" option. FOOD: Italian Bread - 6.9 / 10 Complimentary. soft, classic, nice chew. Pairs well with their olive oil + balsamic vinegar. Be careful with the balsamic vinegar, a little goes a long way. Frutti Di Mare - 3.2 / 10 Your typical seafood in tomato sauce dish. The calamari was rather chewy. The mussels were on the smaller side. I noticed that the red clam sauce was very watery when I reheated this in my oven the next day for leftovers. Although my friend ordered this dish, I didn't care for it much. I definitely wouldn't recommend ordering it nor would I order it again - at least not here. Prosciutto Stuffed Chicken - 7.6 / 10 One of my biggest "fears" of dining at an Italian restaurant is overloading on pasta / carbs & never feeling full. This dish obliterates that fear. 3 sizable chicken breasts stuffed with melty mozzarella + prosciutto. The prosciutto adds a nice fatty/porky contrast to a the blank canvas of chicken. The marinara + pesto cream sauces bring lovely flavors to this protein powerhouse of a dish. I'd say 1 chicken breast is good for 1 serving/person. I'm glad that I ordered this dish & I'd order this again. Pappardelle Bolognese - 9.0. / 10 GET THIS DISH. In fact, get the large option because you'll definitely want to take home leftovers. I won't lie, I was rather impressed with this dish, especially for coming from a chain. This slowed braised beef is the ultimate accompaniment to any pasta. It's hearty, satisfying, & beyond savory. If Buca di Beppo were to ever compete in a tournament to see which restaurant has the best dish, this would be my suggestion. I honestly wish that I could just eat an entire large portion for myself & pass out - but I have this thing called "dignity", unfortunately. I'm not surprised that this dish is not offered in their "Buca for One" section. Seriously, I would absolutely come back / order take out just for this specific dish. I forgot that Buca does this thing where they hire a photographer to take your group's photo. If you never, or rarely go, then this could make for a nice souvenir. I'm not surprised that they're pretty fast at getting you a print of your photo (within 20 minutes-ish) of taking it. My opinions aside, you have to respect the hustle. Huge thanks & shoutout to Moisés who was beyond accommodating & has a lovely sense of humor. He's so on top of his service game, that he has laminated info cards that include QR codes for reviewing him & Buca. I had to come through & show my appreciation + gratitude. There was some sizable time between finishing our meal + waiting for our bill. Granted Moisés likely had his hands full from juggling a number of tables, I'm glad that I had my reservation changed from 4pm to 3pm, or else we would had run it close to the movie's start time. That said, this was all-in-all a great + lovely return to a place that I hadn't been to in something like 22 years (I remember seeing the 2004 Scooby Doo film) after my previous visit.

Lisa T.

We were seated right away. All the portions are large for family style dining (regular size feeds 3-4 people). We got the shrimp scampi linguine and it was pretty good. I liked the charred lemon to squeeze over the dish. This was a decent dining spot in the Universal City Walk.

Wendy H.

First time at Bucca di Beppo and I must say I was blown away. Coming back from Universal Studios on a blazing hot day, we decided to stop by and have lunch here. First of all, the vibes and atmosphere inside were amazing! It's so cute inside and I loved the whole aesthetic of the restaurant. When we entered, the hostess was very kind and walked us upstairs where she led us to our table. The trip upstairs was nice. It was just as aesthetically pleasing and there were many pictures of celebrities that have visited the different restaurant locations. This is a family style dining, so we ordered the penne alla vodka and the mozzarella garlic bread. I could not get enough of the garlic bread. It was soooo delicious. The pasta was JUST as good. I would definitely come back here for more bread and pasta, I loved every bit of this place!

Deyma C.

I visited Buca di Beppo and, honestly, it felt a bit overhyped. Even though we had a reservation, the hosts seemed to forget about us we had to remind them multiple times before being seated. It was a busy night, so I definitely recommend making a reservation, otherwise you're looking at about a 45-minute wait. Getting to our table was an experience in itself we were taken through the kitchen and up three flights of stairs, only to be seated in a corner on the third floor. Unfortunately, the space felt very enclosed with poor ventilation. There were no windows, and the lack of airflow made the smells (food, body odor, etc.) really noticeable. To make matters worse, there was a fly hovering around our table, which made the experience feel a bit unsanitary. Another thing that threw me off staff came around taking pictures, but there was no explanation of why, what it was for, or if we'd even get the photos. It just felt random and honestly a bit questionable... very much "Ep.files" vibes. Service was inconsistent. A host initially came for drinks but disappeared, and our actual waiter didn't show up until about 10 minutes later. When our sodas finally arrived, they tasted watered down, which was disappointing. As for the food, pricing ranges from about $44-$70 per item, which makes sense since everything is served family-style. We ordered a kids' spaghetti and the spicy chicken rigatoni. The rigatoni had good flavor, but I wish it had more chicken. My daughter loved her meal, though, so that was a plus. Overall, it was just okay. Spending over $100 didn't feel worth it for the experience. I personally don't love being limited to large, shareable portions especially when everyone wants something different and I hate wasting food. I might give it another chance during lunch when they offer more individual portions and it's less crowded but for now, it's not really my cup of tea.

Mike M.

Really good food. I prefer it over Olive Garden; it tastes more authentic and real compared to other places where it can be obvious the food was microwaved. The place serves family-style meals, so everything you order comes as a huge portion, which is great but also can be expensive quickly if you don't watch out. Ordering that main dish with appetizers, a salad, and dessert can cost you big, and you may not even eat it all, so it is very important to look at the menu and only get what you can eat. Most small plates can feed a family of four. I and my wife with kids ordered the chicken carbonara, and between the 4 of us, we could not finish and still had leftovers to take to lunch the next day, so it is a big plate. They have a family meal promotion currently at $40 for pasta salad and breadsticks for 40 people. Remember, all family size is a lot of freaking food. We got that last time, and we had plenty left over, and I highly recommend it. My last visit was great, but for whatever reason we were put in the back with the bigger parties, and they were loud, which was odd because there were plenty of solo booths in front that were empty while there were other booths in the same area occupied. This annoyed me a bit, but overall our visit was great and service was fantastic. Loved the food!

Melody A.

I had a great time here for my birthday! Moises and Alberto were the best & made the experience great! Will becoming again for sure, the food was amazing!

ruth r.

Judy the bartender was very kind and attentive! Made a pit stop before going to Fan Fest & I was so glad I did. You can't come to Buca and not order the bread! Will be back when I go to Universal again.

Angel L.

This is inside Universal Studios in Los Angeles, CA. We arrived early weekday evening and surprisingly we were seated immediately. No lines no waiting. Inside is tight & elevated noise level. Food serving portions are family style which means it's a huge serving. The food quality & taste is not what it used to be. Even the price is much higher than before. Well, it's LA and it's inside Universal Studios lot! Parking will also set you back a few dollars.

Muichiro T.

The chicken was super dry and it lacked flavor. It used to be better. The spaghetti was fire. The service was super slow. I really like the Italian vibes here.

Lisa P.

Julio provided great service. The food was delicious and tasty. We sat at the table where we can see the chefs cooking each meal. The chicken fettuccine with broccoli was delicious and tasty. Perfect place for a birthday party. The vibe is alive. Perfect place to dine before or after a movie or visiting the park.

Spicy Chicken Rigatoni + Pepperoni Pizza

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Ashley D.

2 years ago

Amazing service by Alberto & his lovely female manager today! We ordered the baked rigatoni, mozzarella garlic bread & sangria. Everything came out quickly, the food was delicious, and Alberto was so very attentive and polite with our family. read more

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Albert James M.

2 years ago

Moises at the bar was very attentive, made out experience amazing. Gives out great recommendation! (:

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Angela W.

3 years ago

We visit Universal a few times a year and always try to check out a new restaurant each time. This time we decide to try Buca di Beppo. The first thing to know before you visit this restaurant is that the menu is family style - meaning each small size dish is enough to feed at least 3 people. Most of their entrees range from 33-38$ for a small and you upgrade to a large for ~16$. The ambience of this restaurant is very unique. Wall to wall old photos and I absolutely love it. I grew up visiting my Italian-American family in South Philly so some of the interior reminded me a lot of that! The restaurant is 2 stories and hats off to the staff who have to walk those stairs several times a day because it's a workout! Might be something to keep in mind if you have someone with mobility issues is to ask not to be sat upstairs. Our server was amazing! I feel bad because I can't remember his name but he was such a nice guy, super hospitable, and very attentive. He gave us a few recommendations, though I kind of already knew what I wanted. We were a party of 5 and ordered a large fettuccine Alfredo, and small chicken Parmesan, and prosciutto stuffed chicken. The 2 entrees were so yummy and filling. The chicken was crispy and seasoned well. We highly underestimated the size of the entrees due to experiences at other city walk restaurants. The fettuccine Alfredo was just ok, I like mine creamy and this was not creamy and just didn't taste homemade. I had high hopes for it so I was really disappointed with that so I do not recommend you get the fettuccine Alfredo. Overall: a nice place to check out with a large group if you like Italian food and don't mind family style service! read more

Buca di Beppo Italian Restaurant - Chicken Parmigiana, Fettuccine Alfredo w/broccoli, Prosciutto Stuffed Chicken - Italian Near Me - Universal City, California

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Constantina B.

We're thrilled to hear that you had such a positive experience with…

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Cymoen S.

2 years ago

We had a great experience at this location, so good that we actually visited two nights in a row! Both nights our servers were exceptionally friendly and attentive. On Friday night, Julio helped us and was very accommodating with some special requests that we made. Highly recommend that you visit if you're in the area. read more

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Constantina B.

Cymoen, thank you for sharing your wonderful experience with us!…

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Rito R.

3 years ago

Albert G was awesome and food was awesome Food tasted fresh and quick service Service was great read more

Buca di Beppo Italian Restaurant - Awesome dessert - Italian Near Me - Universal City, California

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Constantina B.

Thank you for your kind words about Albert! We strive to provide…

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Michelle M.

Elite 25

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3 years ago

I really wanted for this to be an experience where I would want to go back again but sadly that wasn't the case for me. I have never been to this location before and made a reservation online Incase it was busy. Upon check in my friend and I were not asked if we were comfortable doing stairs. I am 5 months pregnant so realizing that we were doing stairs to get to our table started the night off a little rougher than anticipated. There is no restroom upstairs so even though I needed to use the restroom throughout the meal I didn't so I could avoid the stairs. If stairs are an issue for anyone in your group mention it at check in. If you haven't been here before it is good to know that the food is served family style. Portions and prices are big due to that. We had the meatball appetizers which was our favorite part. We also had the Cesar salad with added chicken. Do not add the chicken it is very tough and not tasty. For our pasta we had the baked ziti. Overall it was a very average meal. read more

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Miguel G.

1 year ago

Moises is the best waiter I've ever had in my life! It's not the first time I had him but damn every time I come he treats me like an honored guest! Keeps checking on me to make sure all my needs are taken care of and met, I don't think I've ever been treated so good as this before and I will come many times only if Moises is serving me! Give this man a raise! read more

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Constantina B.

Miguel, it's delightful to hear about your exceptional experiences…

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Jessie L.

2 years ago

excelente servicio de Julio por el cumpleaños de mi papa. Comida agradable y bonito ambiente. read more

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Constantina B.

Hey Jessie! We're so happy to hear you loved Julio's amazing service…

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Margarita F.

2 years ago

Thank you for your service Julio!!!! Ask for him when u come. The food is always so bomb and the service has never been better

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Constantina B.

Thanks so much, Margarita! We're delighted to hear that Julio made…

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Ari S.

2 years ago

Julio was amazing!!! He was extremely welcoming and made my first experience here so memorable. We left with smiles and laughter!! He also recommended some amazing margaritas as it was a pretty hot day, definitely my new favorite drink. THANKS JULIO!! We will be back soon' read more

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Constantina B.

Thank you, Ari! It's wonderful to hear that Julio made your first…

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Charlie M.

1 year ago

It's been a long time since I've had a meal so bad that I need to write a review for it. Everything here is served shareable size, which is matched by the pricing. $40 for any dish basically. Which would be tolerable if the food were any good. Yes, it's bad, but don't worry there's huge portions! I'm not trying to be mean to anybody that works there, but those meatballs tasted like dog food. The two stars are for the atmosphere and the service. Maybe there's no reason to improve, because you have a captive audience, but my goodness there is so so so so much better Italian for the exact same price within a half mile in each direction. read more

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Constantina B.

Charlie, thank you for sharing your feedback. We're sorry to hear…

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Tiffany G.

1 year ago

Came on a Saturday with a reservation of 14 people at 6:45 we had asked for the Pope room when doing the reservation . We checked in 10 mins earlier to let them know we were all here they said they would sit us down in a few mins . It was 7:04 we asked the front host if we could get an estimate time on the table since we were waiting , she rudely said "I don't know I work in the front and all they told me was they're working on the table." When we asked if we were getting seated in the Pope room the host had said "someone is already sitting there." This was a disappointment as we have heard great things about this place . We didn't get seated until 7:20. We passed by the pope room to be seated to our table and there was NO ONE SITTING THERE. Service wise horrible. We then ordered our drinks someone ordered a lemonade and there was a fruit fly inside of the drink. The food was okay. read more

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Constantina B.

Tiffany, thank you for sharing your experience with us. We're sorry…

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Shellyy Q.

1 year ago

Horrible customer service. Went there for my daughter's birthday after visiting universal studios although I had a reservation we had to keep checking in to remind them we where still waiting they made us wait an extra 40min the hostess was not only rude but as I walked out to gather my stroller next to the hostess desk she was busy gossiping about a customer complaint and making fun of the situation. They also need to clean the soda machine as we got fruit flies in our lemonade. On the positive note food was ok. read more

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Constantina B.

Shellyy, we're sorry to hear about your recent experience. It's…

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Monica V.

2 years ago

Always a big fan of Buca de Peppo. Today we stopped to have lunch here @ Universal City Walk and had one of the nicest and most attentive waiters. Julio was super sweet and brought us what we needed for our meal with such a chipper attitude. He even gave us to go water cups after our meal since it was hot out today. Thank you Julio! Will be coming back! read more

Buca di Beppo Italian Restaurant - To-Go water cups to keep us hydrated in this heat. - Italian Near Me - Universal City, California

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Josie C.

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5 years ago

Pandemic review I haven't been back since high school. So it was very fitting to try this again during the pandemic, for old times sake. Say all you want about Buca, but they are a great spot for comfort food with leftover for daysssss. We had their meatloaf meatball (3 large meatballs) and it was very fulfilling. Ask for more serving bread for that bomb tomato sauce. Their Chicken rigatoni pasta (requested for non spicy) is one of their house specials. Tasted as great as I remembered it to be. The creamy sauce was fantastic. A great dish to share as it's quite big. Ended the night with a "slice" of tiramisu. It was basically a cake. Huge!! But very tasty!!! The meal was very satisfying and we had so much leftover. read more

Buca di Beppo Italian Restaurant - Chicken Rigatoni (requested non spicy) - Italian Near Me - Universal City, California

Buca di Beppo Italian Restaurant - Meatball - Italian Near Me - Universal City, California

Buca di Beppo Italian Restaurant - Tiramisu - Italian Near Me - Universal City, California

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Constantina B.

Thanks for reaching out to us, we always love feedback from our…

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Margel L.

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3 years ago

Came here yesterday after universals studio to celebrate my nephew's bday. It's been awhile since I went to Buca di Beppo. I had forgotten the sizes are huge! We got chicken carbonara, chicken parmigiana, and friend calamari for four people. I didn't realize I ordered all large sizes. The amount can feed us the next few days lol. I really enjoyed it here. The service was awesome. They sing for you when you're celebrating a birthday as well, which is a treat. This location had an upstairs and I thought it was pretty unique. read more

Buca di Beppo Italian Restaurant - Chicken carbonara - Italian Near Me - Universal City, California

Buca di Beppo Italian Restaurant - Friend calamari - Italian Near Me - Universal City, California

Buca di Beppo Italian Restaurant - Chicken parmigiana - Italian Near Me - Universal City, California

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Jan O.

1 year ago

amazing upbeat personality- knows menu impeccably so great!! really made us feel at home Enrique Rocks! read more

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Constantina B.

Jan, it's great to hear about your positive experience! Enrique will…

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Brenda S.

1 year ago

From start to end! Service was great! Food was amazing! Our server moises was ontop of everything and made sure we enjoyed our food & service! I will be coming back in the future! read more

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Constantina B.

Brenda, it's good to hear that you had such a fantastic experience…

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Alyssa A.

1 year ago

Moises had amazing service ! Came and checked on us to ensure our food was great , this made my fist time experience great , i definitely will be back read more

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Constantina B.

Alyssa, it's outstanding to hear that Moises made your first visit so…

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Nick Y.

Elite 23

178

3 years ago

The place was okay, the table we had was a little bit small, but I'm also thinking we ordered too much because we were hungry. The waiter seemed like he didn't really care much that we were there, we would ask him about condiments and he'd say "I got you" then end up not coming back and we'd call him again and he'd be like "oh we don't have that". He wasn't very people friendly is what we all noticed and didn't recommend anything on the menu when we asked him about certain things on the menu, hence we over ordered. Also the complimentary bread came right after we ate, we didn't even know there was complimentary bread until he served it after we were all full. The taste of the food was average, I wasn't a fan of the lasagna, the pizza didn't have much toppings it felt like we were just eating dough with a little bit of sauce. Honestly the only thing I did like about the food was the artichoke and the chicken Parmesan. I heard other branches of this place were a lot better, if I feel like trying it again I'd try another one of their branches but I wouldn't come back to the one at citywalk. read more

Buca di Beppo Italian Restaurant - a flatbread pizza - Italian Near Me - Universal City, California

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Constantina B.

We appreciate you for taking the time to write this review as our…

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David L.

1 year ago

Julio was very nice and professional. The food was also as good as ever. I had a very good time with my family.

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Constantina B.

Thanks, David! It's remarkable to hear that Julio's service and the…

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Jasmine A.

2 years ago

We had a great experience with Julio at the Buca in Hollywood! Our food was great and he was so friendly and helpful. It was a great start to our vacation. Thank you! read more

Buca di Beppo Italian Restaurant - chicken saltimbocca - Italian Near Me - Universal City, California

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Constantina B.

Thank you for sharing your wonderful experience with us! We're…

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Jai B.

3 years ago

Moises is great, attentive and friendly! Funny too! This place is always good with 2 or more people, it's family meals! Sharable! read more

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Constantina B.

Thank you for sharing your experience with us! We're thrilled to hear…

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Kelsey Y.

2 years ago

The Fettuccine Alfredo was not good at all. The sauce tasted like a bland cream sauce that was only sprinkled with a small amount of Parmesan. The chicken was dry. The lasagna tasted like something I would give my dogs to eat. The salad was really good though. read more

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Constantina B.

Kelsey, thank you for sharing your feedback with us. We're sorry to…

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Alexey B.

1 year ago

This was such an amazing time - great dinner, Alberto is the greatest possible server we could have asked for. Great service, I love the Italian kitsch everywhere - next time we're going to sit at the Pope Table read more

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Constantina B.

Alexey, it's incredible to hear you had an amazing time and enjoyed…

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Yesenia R.

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3 years ago

It was a birthday we were trying to celebrate and we had to been to Buca di Beppo @ Citywalk in a very long time. So we decided to make the drive. We showed up and the wait was not bad at all 15 min maybe less. We informed them we had a birthday celebration and if their famous birthday song can be performed they said yes. It did not look busy at all for a Tuesday night. So far so good. We placed our order and once it started coming to the table we were missing our boys pizza's . we gave them some time and we began to eat when we realized yeah they are not coming. We reminded our waitress , she said she will check on them. She returned a few minutes later to inform us they are going in the oven now. (great they forgot). shortly after they brought them over and my 10year old was like "the dough is not fully cooked!" . we left it as is. didn't want to bother or get anyone mad at this point. we finished eating and reminded our waitress of the birthday song. a few minutes later she brought the check and said have a good night. SO NO SONG?! okay fine. we began to check out and put our left overs away when the table next to us was also complaining about a few things missing from their order they never received. the waiter who was bringing them their food looked upset about the customers complaint. we were leaving and decided to stop by the restrooms that are near the kitchen. & all my family could hear is almost all the employees talking sh%t about the customers. very unprofessional and made us feel so awkward. manager should inform the staff. to keep things to themselves or at least look around before going off. & of course it was the waiter who had just gotten the complaint about from the table next to us. i started thinking i wonder what they said when we put in ours. Team meeting definitely needed in this facility. Food : Pizza was good Fettuccini was bland rigatoni was good chicken parmigiana was good mozzarella triangles was good read more

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Kimberly R.

134

3 years ago

My partner and I came in on a whim Wednesday night after buying candy from Sparky's, and were promptly seated! While the ladies at the front seemed a little tired, our server Julio was absolutely amazing! He made sure we were taken care of and didn't pressure us to add anything we didn't want to our order as some other servers would. We were in and out in around half an hour as we just wanted a quick bite and Julio was so accommodating even in the short time. 10/10 we'll be back next time! read more

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Constantina B.

That's what we love to hear, Kimberly! We will make sure to pass…

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Adriana And Steve B.

2 years ago

Julio our server was amazing! He was very attentive. Amazing food! We had the shrimp fra diavolo.

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Constantina B.

Adriana and Steve, it's fantastic to hear that Julio made the visit…

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Jessica M.

1 year ago

Party of 2 sat down right away, service was quick, food was delicious. Overall great dinner date! Julio our server was great! Definitely coming back! read more

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Constantina B.

Thanks, Jessica! It's fantastic to hear that you enjoyed a great…

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Desmond T.

304

4 years ago

Good food, fast and efficient Jon had great service!! Helped us order and made great recommendations read more

Buca di Beppo Italian Restaurant - Large pizza feeds 5 - Italian Near Me - Universal City, California

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Constantina B.

We pride ourselves in providing great food and service and are always…

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Gavin L.

1 year ago

Moises was very kind and had a great personality. The food was great as usual and he made the birthday Girl the star of the day!

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Joe A.

2 years ago

Moises is the best. If you go to Buca di Beppo, make sure you request him as your server. read more

Buca di Beppo Italian Restaurant - Speghetti and meat sauce for 2 - Italian Near Me - Universal City, California

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Constantina B.

Thanks, Joe! It's wonderful to hear that Moises made your visit…

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Andrea G.

2 years ago

Moises was an amazing server. He made our experience very delightful & we enjoyed dining in. The food came out quick & was cooked to perfection. read more

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Constantina B.

Andrea, it's wonderful to hear that Moises made your dining…

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Clifford B.

Elite 24

362

2 years ago

This place stopped caring. Maybe tourist drain the life force from a place. It is not good anymore. Most everything is par cooked. No chefing. Huge portion does not = delicious. read more

Buca di Beppo Italian Restaurant - Kitchen spot. - Italian Near Me - Universal City, California

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Constantina B.

We're sorry to hear about your recent experience. Your feedback is…

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Alex C.

2 years ago

Amazing food and superb service , Julio made our night , very helpful and kind . Thank you

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Constantina B.

Alex, we're so glad to hear you enjoyed your experience with us! It's…

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Ashley C.

2 years ago

Julio's is the best!! Great customer service! Very friendly and made our time at Buca enjoyable! read more

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Ruben H.

2 years ago

Had a lunch date with our friends Adam and lauro. Such an amazing experience, thank you so much Moises for the amazing service, the food was to die for, all the recommendations you recommend were amazing! I love the ambiance of this location. Thank you so much Daniela for having us read more

Buca di Beppo Italian Restaurant - AdamRayOkay happy birthday! - Italian Near Me - Universal City, California

Buca di Beppo Italian Restaurant - Friends date - Italian Near Me - Universal City, California

Buca di Beppo Italian Restaurant - Double date moment - Italian Near Me - Universal City, California

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Constantina B.

Thank you for sharing your wonderful experience with us! We are…

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Andy R.

2 years ago

As always the food doesn't disappoint. Enrique was so awesome. Took great care of us and made us feel at home. We are for sure coming back and asking for Enrique. We loved the pictures and the music. An amazing time with the family. read more

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Constantina B.

Thanks for the review, Andy! It's thrilling to hear that Enrique made…

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Allison S.

1 year ago

Food came out fast, hot, and delicious. Our waiter Moises is great! Really pulled through with the best service. Definitely asking for him when we come back, very professional and informative! read more

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Constantina B.

Allison, it's outstanding to hear that you enjoyed your meal and…

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Breanna T.

1 year ago

Thank you so Moises! You're the best server I've had in awhile. I don't get out much and it's my birthday and I'm such an introvert. You brought out some laughter and smiles for me today :) read more

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Constantina B.

Breanna, we're glad to hear that Moises made your birthday special…

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Page 8 of 58

1000 Universal Studios Blvd
Universal City, CA 91608
Directions
(818) 509-9463
Call Now
Visit Website
https://dineatbuca.com

Full menu

Hours

What time does Buca di Beppo Italian Restaurant open?

Buca di Beppo Italian Restaurant opens at 11:00 AM on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

What time does Buca di Beppo Italian Restaurant close?

Buca di Beppo Italian Restaurant closes at 9:30 PM on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.Buca di Beppo Italian Restaurant closes at 10:30 PM on Friday and Saturday.Buca di Beppo Italian Restaurant closes at 9:00 PM on Sunday.

Mon-Thu 11:00 AM - 9:30 PMFri-Sat 11:00 AM - 10:30 PMSun 11:00 AM - 9:00 PM

Payment methods

Does Buca di Beppo Italian Restaurant take credit cards?

Yes, Buca di Beppo Italian Restaurant takes credit cards.

Food & Alcohol

Does Buca di Beppo Italian Restaurant have catering options?

Yes, Buca di Beppo Italian Restaurant does have catering options.

Does Buca di Beppo Italian Restaurant have a drive thru?

No, Buca di Beppo Italian Restaurant does not have a drive thru.

Does Buca di Beppo Italian Restaurant serve alcohol?

Yes, Buca di Beppo Italian Restaurant serves alcohol. Full Bar

Indoor Amenities

Does Buca di Beppo Italian Restaurant allow dogs?

No, Buca di Beppo Italian Restaurant does not allow dogs.

Does Buca di Beppo Italian Restaurant have TVs?

No, Buca di Beppo Italian Restaurant does not have TVs.

Outdoor Amenities

Does Buca di Beppo Italian Restaurant have bike parking?

Yes, Buca di Beppo Italian Restaurant has bike parking.

Does Buca di Beppo Italian Restaurant have outdoor seating?

No, Buca di Beppo Italian Restaurant does not have outdoor seating options.

Does Buca di Beppo Italian Restaurant have parking?

Yes, Buca di Beppo Italian Restaurant has parking options. Garage Parking, Valet Parking, Validated Parking

Other Amenities

Does Buca di Beppo Italian Restaurant have free WiFi?

Yes, Buca di Beppo Italian Restaurant has free WiFi.

From the Business

Specialties

When you're in the mood for amazing Italian food in Universal City, CA you're in the mood for Buca. Just off the Hollywood Freeway (Highway 101) Buca di Beppo is serving up authentic Italian pastas, entrees, and pizzas for lunch and dinner every day.

More Info

Health Score

Buca di Beppo Italian Restaurant Reviews in Other Languages

Ask the Community - Buca di Beppo Italian Restaurant

Do they still have outdoor dinning?

I went in July and there was indoor dining only

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Can you bring a stroller?

I don't see why not. It is a little tight in there especially in the back but should be fine.

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Where to park?

Universal City Walk parking garage has plenty of space. Rates vary from $10-$50 depending on days or times you enter City Walk. You can get valet parking cheaper than general parking if you are only going to be there for a short period of time.…

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If it were possible, this establishment deserves 6 stars! Went to a charming real estate open…read morehouse, up the street around dusk. The hubby wanted to eat out Italian for a cozy Sunday, holiday evening. And have never ventured here in Toluca Lake; and what an elegant, delight! Jessica was our server. She made our experience delectable, truly! Noticed every detail, and with warm humor. She recommended my husband read the desert menu aloud, for the romance of it all. And it works and that's true! Hehe I ordered the 4-cheese Ravioli in tomatoe sauce, and it's unlike any I've EVER had. It's about 5 inches in diameter, round+ mostly flat, and not too salty. Absolutely delicious! Jessica offered to sprinkle Parmesan cheese on top, the service! Unmatched. The Italian seasoning added to the tomatoe sauce, makes it sweeter, aromatic. If you're familiar with my reviews, I'm always searching for vegetarian options. For desert we had the Panna Cotta with wild berries. Excellent, yummy! And we kept it cozy, with mint hot tea. Which is always a go-to around the Xmas holidays. The decor is northern Italian elegance: hand painted art, crystal chandeliers, and white linens abound. Reminds me of when we hiked the hills of Tuscany. With the holiday touch of twinkle lights and fresh winter floral bouquets. It seems most locals frequent here: Are known by name, and had the front door held open for them if elderly. What sweet, kindness and local vibes. We'll be back, to try perhaps the chicken the hubby says. :) Thank you all for an exceptional, romantic Sunday night dinner with my Hubby, during the holidays.

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My wife and I took our son to Universal Studios this weekend for his 10th birthday, and stayed at…read morethe Hilton Garden Inn in Burbank. We were looking for a mom and pop pizza joint we could sit down and eat in, and decided to try Reno's. We were the first to be seated inside, and then it got busier after we came. The staff was friendly and attentive, and the food was really good! We ordered Mozzarella sticks, garlic Parmesan bread, a small 10" cheese pizza, and a medium pizza with pepperoni and sausage. We live in Las Vegas, and like to try places we can't get back home. Parking can be a little tricky, but we parked one street over and just walked around the corner; no big deal! Bottom line next time we come back to Burbank we're definitely eating at Reno's again.

I ordered pizzas to be delivered to Providence Hospital where my father was being taken care of. I…read moreordered 5 XL pizzas for the staff and tried each one myself for 'quality control'. The pizzas were all a home run. Everyone loved the pizzas, especially the crust! I loved the sauce and quality of ingredients. My least favorite pizza was the mediterranean as it was very similar to a margarit pizza with olives and feta cheese. The Reno's Supreme was the most popular and favorite. Flavorful and packed with ingredients. The chicken alfredo was unique to me and very enjoyable, satisfying, and comforting. The BBQ chicken was sweet, with a well balances amount of sauce and topings. I can't wait to return and try their pastas, hoping that they will be as tasty as the pizzas.

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This place came up several times when I researched on great restaurants that have excellent vibes…read moreand great food. Although it didn't really necessarily show up as "the best food in LA area" but all the reviews were so good so I became curious to try. Mainly the reviews also raved about the vibes, services, and live music. Well, they were not wrong! It was fairly easy to make a reservation through Opentable, and I made a reservation for two people for my birthday dinner on Sunday night. I put on the notes that it's my bday so it'll be nice to get a nice table near the stage. I didn't have a high expectation, cos I'd never been to the place and I didn't make a call or anything. But wow, they definitely gave us a great table at the very front! As many reviewers had mentioned, the acoustic of the restaurant is really great. You can barely hear other people's conversations. There's a live jazz band playing, so you can really enjoy that. Although it made it slightly hard to hear what other nearby people say to you either, haha. Our server Dawson was a really great one! Very nice, very informative and just has a great vibe that made you feel comfortable to converse with him. We also asked if he could take a picture of us and he went above and beyond with taking our pictures haha. He took the table lamp as our additional "lighting". Such a great service! Dawson also made a few suggestions on food. We ordered the milk bun (so great!), the tiger prawns tostada (omg, my favorite of the night!), braised lamb pasta, pork belly risotto, and roasted broccolini. Everything was really good and really filled us up! We also got the "smokin old fashioned" and "Wake up and repeat" cocktails. It was plenty of food for us so we asked for a check. Dawson asked if we wanted a dessert but we were already full. He asked if it's ok to give us a lil treat for my bday. It was a really nice dessert :). Oh I forgot to mention that they also put a small bday card on the table for me. The prices of food and drinks are on the higher sides, but I feel like it's worth it due to the live music and the vibe. It easily covers the entertainment part. We definitely will go back and recommend this place for anyone who's looking into a nice date night or to celebrate something special. I was informed that Friday has more of a "party vibe" here, although it's still a jazz performance. Sunday feels more laid back :) Overall I'm really pleased by this place. I used to think that I don't care that much about excellent service as long as the food is great, but I was wrong. The excellent hospitality just made the night even better than expected. Thank you for making my bday dinner memorable.

This place was on my list and we happen to pop in at 5pm but reservations are highly recommended…read more It was a little difficult to find because it's just a door without any signs, but I saw the valet guy pop out so we figured it was the entrance. The usually have a live band after 7pm and the sound in the resturant is amazing. It's like a recording studio. The staff was very friendly! The decor and ambiance was also impressive. Definitely swanky but down to earth vibes. I got the rasberry beret cocktail and it was different but fabulous. Not sure how else to describe it. It was refreshing. We got the tiger prawns and it was presented as a toasta, which had a great flavor and texture. The apple salad was also refreshing and a good portion to share between 2 people. The broccolini was cooked perfectly and my favorite after the tiger prawns was the Dungeness crab pasta. It had uni on top! The uni elevated the dish, and honestly there were a good amount of crab meat in the dish. Overall well balanced and creamy. The 2 of us left full and satisfied. Highly recommend this place for a date night. There's also plenty of street parking when we went but there is also valet for $15.

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The Bottom Line 3.5 stars: Recommended for a chill dining experience in a nice neighborhood. Good…read morevibes and service but you will need to navigate the menu a bit. Location 3.5 stars: On the North side of Riverside Drive in Toluca Lake, between Cahuenga Blvd and N. Pass Ave. No Valet or parking structures. The Yelp profile says they have a parking lot but we could not find it. Metered parking which is hard to come by given the many restaurants in this area. The streets are quite and nice and walkable though and you see many people strolling along or walking their dogs, even in the evening. Venue 4 stars: Nicely decorated rustic venue. Indoor and outdoor seating. The inside however was uncomfortably cold when we visited (while outdoors was probably 80-85 degrees). Service 4 stars: Staff were friendly, polite, courteous and attentive. Food 3.5 stars: Primarily Argentinean food, including soups, appetizers, steaks, fish, chicken and pasta. We had the Tuna Tartare (Tartar de Atun, very good), Chicken Milanesa Napolitana (unfortunately very dry and tough), Salmon Con Tapenade (it had potential but ours was dry and overcooked), and Lomo a la Gorgonzola (beef tenderloin with Gorgonzola sauce; this one was very good!). I would highly recommend the Tuna Tartare and the Lomo a la Gorgonzola, but the Milanesa Napolitana and the Salmon Con Tapenade fell far short of our expectations. Drinks 3.5 stars: Beer (bottle and draft), wine, soft drinks, coffee and tea. No cocktails.

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Cascabel

4.3(1.3k reviews)

1.3 mi•Toluca Lake

•$$$

We went for a date night and this place was so so good! We actually came here after having a bad…read moreexperience somewhere else, and this made our night! The food was so delicious, every dish was so tasty and the service was great! We also loved the ambiance very cute place! We will be back.

Cascabel is such a cute hidden restaurant. As soon as you enter you can feel the good vibes. I felt…read morelike it was someone's house and I was a guest. From what I heard it used to be a house. Food was really unique and rich in different ways. My favorite was Mexican rice with beans,so good! Service was great

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Clarissa J.

9 years ago

We were celebrating a birthday party and I had made reservations for 15 in the Pope room for tonight at 7. Most of our party guests arrived 15 minutes prior to the reservation and were seated at 3 separate tables next to each other instead of the semi private Pope room. They were told that the room was reserved. When I arrived at 7 I explained to the hostess that the reservation was mine and that my party was seated at the wrong place. She told me that they don't do reservations and it's 1st come 1st serve and kept rolling her eyes at whatever I said. A manager approached me and said that he had a party of 11 and no where to sit them so they got the room instead of us, which is absurd because over 11 members of my party were there prior to them and they were told they could not have the room that we had already reserved days prior. The manager said well there's already people in that room and you can wait until they are done which won't be anytime soon and turned his back to me!!!! We were standing in the middle of the waiting area and no one even offered to show us the way to our party until I got mad and asked them to at least show us the way to our party. I would have walked out if it wasn't for the fact that we were there to celebrate a birthday and everyone was waiting on us. Instead of a celebration we were sitting at tables where we couldn't not even hear or see most of our other party members. Manager and greeting staff made us feel unwelcome right from the beginning and ruined our evening. Manager needs to take some lessons in providing customer service or get a different job because you don't turn your back on a customer, specially since I wasn't even yelling or using any profanities or anything of that sort. Never have I felt so disrespected! Shame on Bucca di Beppo for hiring such staff and managers. There's another review here a day before mine by a lady who was most likely serviced by the same rude hostess who just kept on saying, "WELL, I'm tell you we don't make reservations" and "WELL, that party had reservations before you", which again is ridiculous. How can they not take reservations and then have someone else make a reservation before me? I felt like I was talking to a 6 year old bratty child. Someone can and should review the cameras if there are any and train the staff accordingly. As for our food, it was delicious but 3 of the dishes we ordered never got served. We had to tell our waitress to remove it from our bill at the end of the evening when we were done with dessert already. ----- I did private message Bucca di Beppo as instructed by the person who read my review and someone contacted me saying that they were instructed by the corporate office to call and talk to me. I wish I had not received the call at all. He started out by saying that he's sorry about my bad experience but yelp reviews are not there for people to take "REVENGE" on businesses and that people think that that's what yelp is for but it's not. Then he explained to me what he thought what happened at the restaurant and I told him no that is not what happened to which he replied "Are you saying that I don't know what I'm talking about?" To which I relied "yes because you were not there and I was". And after that he said that I would not have known when the other party was seated which is absurd because the other was clearly visible to us. So I just told him that I really wish he would have not called me because right from the start when he called his approach was unapologetic and unacceptable for someone who's calling an upset customer who had a bad experience. Never ever will I go to this restaurant again and I will make sure to tell everyone about this experience in the future. It's not revenge when you tell the truth. No customer should ever feel the way I feel and I am making sure to warn them. read more

M M.

9 years ago

ATTENTION ROBERT EARL. I just opened this account because I would like to bring to light something that is occurring at this establishment. Last year I witnessed a member of the staff inappropriately touching one of the servers and whispering something to her. The young lady appeared traumatized. He was in his fifties, short white hair and wore glasses. I was told he was in charge of special events or something like that. I immediately wanted to say something, but my husband told me to let it go and mind my own business. We resumed dining here several more times and I tried to push the occurrence to the back of my mind, until I witnessed it again. This time to a different girl. Grabbing her behind on the crowded staircase. I had enough. I callled the corporate number and waited for a call. When I did not hear back, I tried numerous times to no avail. Never considering calling the store directly for fear he would answer. I never wanted to return, but agreed to for a friend's birthday. On that visit, I asked about him and learned his name, Sven Richnow. I was shocked to learn he is not in charge of events, but the actual Vice President of their Southern California locations. Now I know why my calls were ignored. Knowing that the corporate office does not care, I have no choice but to take it to social media in hopes that it will get back to the owner or someone higher up than Mr. Richnow. He thinks he can get away with it because he is a powerful man and these young ladies will keep his secret because they are scared. Scared of losing their jobs, scared of retaliation or worse. I don't feel comfortable taking my family here. I do not want to see this again. I won't stop until the owner himself is aware of what a vile monster he has representing his company. It is a family establishment and has been apart of our family since before my youngest were born. I can't sleep at night knowing that innocent girls are being sexaully harassed/assaulted by this man. If I do not speak for them, who will? I will not be silenced. Sincerly, M. Martin read more

Jimy Q.

3 years ago

The impeccable service at Buca di Beppo was further elevated by our exceptional server, Moises. With a warm smile and an extensive knowledge of the menu, Moises ensured that every aspect of our dining experience was nothing short of perfection. From the moment we were seated, Moises exuded professionalism and attentiveness, guiding us through the menu with expertise and offering insightful recommendations tailored to our preferences. His genuine passion for the cuisine was evident in the way he described each dish, adding an extra layer of excitement to our dining adventure. Throughout the meal, Moises anticipated our needs with grace and efficiency, seamlessly attending to every detail without ever being intrusive. From ensuring our glasses were never empty to promptly fulfilling any special requests, his dedication to providing exceptional service was truly commendable. Moreover, Moises' friendly demeanor and genuine hospitality created a welcoming atmosphere that enhanced our overall dining experience. His warm personality made us feel like valued guests, leaving a lasting impression that added to the joy of our meal. In the end, Moises was not just a server but a true ambassador of Buca di Beppo's commitment to excellence. His professionalism, knowledge, and genuine care for his guests exemplified the restaurant's dedication to providing an unforgettable dining experience. We left Buca di Beppo not only satisfied with the delicious food but also grateful for the exceptional service provided by Moises. read more

Nishant N.

Elite 26 All-Star

1175

1276

8114

3 years ago

Prior to attending the concert at Hollywood Bowl, my companions and I were in search of a nearby restaurant for dinner. We conducted a search and discovered that Buca Di Beppo Italian Restaurant was conveniently located just 10 minutes away from our hotel and situated in between Hollywood Bowl. The only downside was that we were unaware that the location was within Universal Studios. The parking situation can be a bit complicated, and on busy weekends, there may be a lengthy wait. On Saturday evening, my companion and I requested a table for two, and the staff kindly obliged by seating us promptly. Upon arrival, we were promptly directed to our booth by our server, Timothy, who kindly provided us with water and menus. The restaurant had a delightful ambiance, enhanced by the tasteful decor of photo frames, which added to its visual appeal. Timothy was an excellent server, friendly, courteous and attentive to our needs. He was knowledgeable and provided us with helpful suggestions on what dishes to order that would be served without long wait times. We perused the menu and ultimately opted for the Margherita Pizza and Spicy Chicken Rigatoni. The service was commendable, and our dishes arrived promptly. Initially, we indulged in the Margherita Pizza, which was delectable and boasted a savory crust. Following that, we savored the Spicy Chicken Rigatoni, which was also scrumptious, cooked to perfection, and packed with flavor. We had a delicious and tasty dinner that was the perfect start to our concert. read more

Lydia T.

9 years ago

The worst experience ever! My daughter had made reservations for a party of 13 for my grand daughter's birthday. When we arrived we were told there was a $15 fee for bringing in our own cake. My daughter asked why she wasn't informed about that over the phone when she made the reservation. It was not the $15 dollars she was happy to purchase one of their cakes but at the same cost of the cake she already bought plus added $15 charge, it did not make sense. We then were greeted by Michael who was the on duty manager that evening, very rude, condescending, and very un-cooperative. On top of all that they refused to waive the $15 fee. Then we were seated at our table "the pope table". They neglected to clean off the seats from previous guests, the plastic case on top of the table was splattered with old food it was disgusting look at. After being seated we waited over 15 minutes before anyone came to give us bread or water. When we received our plates my clam and linguini pasta had shells in it, they had not been rinsed off before being tossed. The chicken parmesan was soggy. The food was disgusting. The service was worse. Buca di Beppo needs to invest in trainer to teach there staff how to properly treat paying customers. We felt like we were entering someones home who didn't want us there and had to serve us. We will never eat here again! read more

Zacky W.

Elite 18

279

143

106

11 years ago

Buca di Beppo , The Chuckee Cheese of Italian Food I don't review chain restaurants usually but after being here regretfully 4 times, the case of Buca di Beppo needs to be addressed. This place just overall doesn't make sense to me. From the food to the silly floor plans it fails. I can see how the try hard nostalgic " good ol Sicilian Grandparents living room" feeling with the obscure decor, tight hallways, and photographs does have its touristy gimmicky appeal to some. Its just a bit off putting to me . Call me a hater. Pros: - Large portions with a LARGE prices ( I guess thats not really a pro) - Good for large parties -Service always seemed scripted but it is pleasant and the servers have always been helpful Cons: -Absolutley mediocore at best food , have had most menu items and just not a fan (desserts are good however) -Very loud with children's cries making an appearance at some point during the meal -Ridiculously small plates -A Difficult restaurant to navigate -Overall super cheesy vibe with a recycled concept that lacks any feeling of credibility as Italian food After hearing the meatball,pasta birthday anthem the staff sings to birthday guests for the 5th time and looking down at my plate of watered down tomato sauce and stale bread, I have associated this place with the likes of (gasp) CHILIS , TGIF , and APPLEBEES : 0 read more

Robert H.

Elite 21

6 years ago

We had not been to a Buca di Beppo in at least a year or two when we ended up here recently. We had to kill some time and decided to visit the sparsely-populated and partially-open Universal Citywalk for lunch. Normally Buca would be 4th or 5th on our list here, but at least half the restaurants in the area are still closed entirely for Covid-19. On the bright side, the food was better than we had remembered or appreciated, at least today. There were only 3-4 other parties present in the restaurant, and the warren-like layout facilitated social distancing by closing down alternating tables. As always I would have been more comfortable in an outdoor dining environment, but the distance felt OK here. The wait staff wore masks, face shields, and gloves and was attentive and careful. They were using single use menus (but nicely printed). There was hand sanitizer available and guests were wearing masks as required when not at their table. We knew portions were supersized, that's sort of the schtick, but despite this still ended up with another meal or two to take home. The deserts, which I'm not sure we had before, were quite good as well. All the food served was tasty and fresh. Probably won't become our go-to for Citywalk, but it was nice to get re-acquainted and I appreciate their careful approach to post-Covid dining at Buca. read more

Stephanie H.

5 years ago

Last night my family and I were celebrating my daughter's birthday. Being a Saturday night, it was packed and busy. We ordered the linguine and clams, however, it came out very spicy even though it did not mention any kind of spice on the menu. We let our server know. She apologized and had them make us a new dish telling them not to make it spicy. We got the new dish, however, it was still so spicy, we couldn't enjoy it. We were hungry and just decided to eat it anyway. Our server came to check on us, and we let her know that it was the same. Still spicy that we could not enjoy it. She was very apologetic and had the dish taken off our bill. The rest of the food was delicious! Our kids loved their pizza and pasta. The lasagna we had was so good! The only issue we had was with the linguine and clams. If that is how they make it, the spiciness should be mentioned on the menu. Despite the issue with one of our dishes, I decided to give a 5 star review because our server, Loan was so amazing! The room we were in was packed, and we knew the servers were busy, but she was patient, friendly and very understanding. The other server in the room, Don was so polite and friendly as well. Our daughter had a great experience and enjoyed every minute of her birthday! read more

Jimmy N.

104

4 years ago

I must say that I was pleasantly surprised by my recent dining experience at this Italian restaurant. From the moment I walked in, the family-friendly decor immediately caught my eye. The ambiance was cozy and inviting, with just the right level of noise to make it feel like a bustling Italian trattoria. Now, let's talk about the star of the show - the food! The menu offered a great selection of traditional Italian dishes, and everything we ordered was simply scrumptious. The portions were generous, and the family-style servings made us feel like we were dining in Mama's kitchen back in Italy. However, I must say that the wait was longer than expected. But I will admit that the wait was worth it. While waiting, we were able to enjoy the warm and friendly atmosphere and have a few laughs with our fellow hungry diners. Once our food arrived, the attentive service made up for any wait time we experienced. Overall, I would highly recommend this Italian restaurant to anyone looking for a delicious and enjoyable dining experience. The food was outstanding, the ambiance was welcoming, and the service was top-notch. So, if you're in the mood for some delicious Italian fare, come hungry and be prepared to wait a bit - it's well worth it! read more

Jesus M.

2 years ago

I recently had the pleasure of dining at Buca and I must say, the service provided by our server, Julio was exceptional. From the moment we were seated until the end of our meal, Julio went above and beyond to ensure our dining experience was nothing short of perfect. Not only was Julio attentive and friendly, but they also demonstrated an impressive knowledge of the menu, providing insightful recommendations and answering all of our questions with enthusiasm. Their professionalism and attention to detail were evident throughout the entire meal, as they anticipated our needs and ensured that everything was to our satisfaction. In addition to their exceptional service, Julio had a warm and welcoming demeanor that added to the overall enjoyment of our dining experience. They made us feel valued as guests, and their genuine passion for their work was truly commendable. Overall, I cannot praise Julio enough for their outstanding service. Their dedication to providing exceptional hospitality truly enhanced our dining experience, and I would highly recommend Buca di Bepo to anyone looking for a memorable culinary experience. Thank you, Julio for making our evening truly unforgettable. read more

Michael J. H.

867

8 years ago

Very unsatisfactory! The poor service comes from the senior management. We celebrated my birthday here with more than 20 friends. Despite the fact arrangements were made with management, gm Mario decided not to honor the agreement made with his daytime manager declaring "She doesn't have the authority to make thatvagreement." Then proceeded to charge us $15 for a cake we brought. They didn't even cut it. They only brought it out a d put it on the table. That's ok. Keep the $15. You'll need it, b/c I'll never be back. The waitress was inadequate, overworked, and didn't listen or clear the table of dirty dishes. 2 1/2 hrs we were there and dirty dishes and empty glasses sat on the table for the entire time. The food was mediocre. I e eaten at Bucca before in Encino and SD but this one is really low rent. We reserved the entire room for the party, and theceaitress kept asking me if she can put people not part of our party at some of our tables. Despite saying no several times, she did it any way. Universal City Walk is a super fun place, but Bucca is not a place that I'd recommend anyone to waste their time or money. Lots of better places to eat and enjoy. read more

Joey G.

4 years ago

Our server Iran did an AMAZING job keeping our drinks full and made sure we were taken care of all night although the restaurant was really busy on a Friday night. Knew all of the draft beer options even up in the second floor when the bar was nowhere in sight. He was bilingual and was able to speak our party in their native tongues which was also awesome. He was very well mannered and made great recommendations. The food came out a bit slow but it was definitely worth it. When they say their portions are meant to feed a family they were NOT lying. At the beginning of our dinner a photographer approached us on our date and asked to take a few photos of us and gave us a few poses to try which was fun! Amazing food, amazing service, atmosphere took me to Italy. I ordered the cheese raviolis and the margherita pizza and they looked and smelled so good I forgot to take a picture. They tasted just as good as they seemed. Very satisfied. Good job Iran! Gotta come try this spot on the Universal City Walk! read more

Laura T.

199

3 years ago

This location left a Bad Taste in my mouth. The food was good , but the problem is when I went to pay . The server asked us how we wanted to pay and we said split it down the middle . She took the cards and we thanked her . IMMEDIATELY, my phone got an alert for my bank saying that they charged me for the whole meal. I said okay I guess lunch is on me then to my friend . When she returned with our cards , it turned out that my friend had been charged FOR HALF of the meal , and I was charged for the full meal. If that doesn't scream suspicious I don't know what does . Mind you, I've been a server before and worked in the industry . I know when ppl are trying to run game , it didn't even look like an accident . So, I went straight to the manager and pointed everything out . Especially how my friend's receipt looked nothing like mine . I like Bucca , but I will NEVER grace this location again. And if I do , I'm bringing cash, because I don't even feel financially safe there . read more

Michelle C.

15 years ago

I had a few friends over from out of town, so what better place to go then universal right? After what seemed like an endless day, we decided we were in the mood for some italian and hit up Buca di Beppo. It was my first time here and I was a bit disappointed with the food. The waiters and the service were very friendly, and the restaurant was really cute. In the bathroom, there were naked photos covering the walls which I thought was pretty funny. We had a comedian waiter who came and sat with us and even tried some of my alfredo pasta. Funny guy ahha On to the pasta, it was ok. I have to get out of the habit of ordering chicken alfredo pasta, its really bad for you ;) I'll still most likely come back bec the environment was really fun and friendly - I just wont oder the alfredo! read more

Nick R.

2 months ago

We had such a wonderful experience at Buca di Beppo last week! The food was delicious (especially chicken Marsala and apple, Gorgonzola salad), the portions were generous, and the service was friendly and attentive. Our family really enjoyed the atmosphere and had a great time together. While we were there, we also purchased some family pictures but accidentally left them at the restaurant. We contacted Kate, the manager of the photo service, and she was incredibly kind and helpful. She mailed the physical photo directly to our home address and also sent us all of the digital pictures that were taken. We truly appreciated the excellent customer service and the extra effort Kate made to help us. Great food, great service, and such a caring team. We will definitely be back! read more

Jose P.

3 years ago

Tonight I came in with my family and friends, I have been to buca Di Beppo before but tonight was my friends first time dining at buca. To our surprise we had the best server there. Enrique, he made great suggestions and explained food items to my friends as they had more than a few questions regarding the portions and yummy sauces. Our favorite dish was the traditional fettuccini with the chicken parmigiana. Enrique made sure to take care of all our needs with a great attitude and smile along the way. My friends and family felt like we never left home, amazing experience by our server and had an unforgettable night. Thank you Buca di Beppo for making this night one that we will never forget and after tonight I will bring all my friends and ask for Enrique! read more

Brian R.

5 years ago

We went out for a family gathering and I decided to take them to this restaurant. We never ate at this place and wanted to try everything-we love pasta! Upon speaking to our waiter Joseph Mercado, he was informed that this was our first time here. He explained everything and told us what to order- the popular dishes. Must try the spicy shrimp dish. OMG my family love it, shocked by the huge plates, but enjoyed everything. To be honest Joseph was super friendly, amiable, and humble. It was an honor to have him be our waiter. My family was so excited because they had a wonderful experience and Joseph made it better. Very welcoming! He deserves a raise! Also have to give credit to all the other staff they all were nice too! read more

Engineergal C.

8 months ago

Moises at Buca di Beppo in Universal Hollywood Studios is hands down one of the most generous, best waiter and bartender ever. His service goes above and beyond every single time: attentive, friendly, and genuinely cares about making the experience amazing. This is our third time coming here in less than a month, and honestly, we keep coming back just because of the excellent service Moises provides. He makes us feel welcomed, remembered, and taken care of from start to finish. The food is also amazing! Good family ambience Too. If you're visiting Buca di Beppo at Universal Hollywood, ask for Moises! He's one of the reason this place deserves five stars and then some. We'll definitely keep coming back! read more

Monica B.

3 years ago

Walking through Universal Studio theme park and seeing the fast food offered within the park, and the heat at the outdoor tables, all I craved was a sit down meal at a restaurant with more than 4 options. Thankfully, Buca di Beppo was a short walk outside the theme park gates, away from the noise and heat outside. Our Penne San Remo was delicious, although a few chicken breast pieces were overcooked and tough. Our kids had meals from the children's menu, and Buca did not disappoint, their portions were generous as all Buca dishes are. Our serverAlbert was attentive and took great care of us. If you need a break away from standing in lines, make the walk out to Buca for a satisfying, relaxed meal. read more

Cyrus E.

3 years ago

Shout out to everyone that made tonight possible, we were seriously at a loss for where to go but when we checked out Buca, it was all very fast. They were swamped but everyone at the desk remained very friendly. The food was so good (specifically the salmon was so juicy and delectable!). A special thank you to Christian who was so patient with us and willing to explain any complications to us. The entire restaurant is like a maze! I was running all over the place looking for the restroom until another one of the staff (Oscar) found me and was able to direct me to the restroom. Thank you to everyone for being so sweet to my family and I hope everyone has a wonderful Christmas!! read more

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Buca di Beppo Italian Restaurant - italian - Updated September 2026

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4.4

(8 reviews)

Important tidbit: If you know you are coming here or any sit down restaurant and you don't intend…read moreto be at the walk for more than three hours, let the parking attendant know! You would get a special discounted rate with a validation. It is a difference between $10-$15 as opposed to $40 flat rate. With that said, I have been doing it all wrong! I rarely come to CityWalk and when I do, I normally grab something fast, which I find to be overpriced and mediocre. This was not the case with NBC Sports Grill and Brew. I was AMAZED! I was schooled! This sports bar had the normal big screens playing with multiple games. It is sleek and modern and casual and I can see how that this place can be good for family hangouts, casual dates and catching up with friends. Staff was amazing and attentive. They are very friendly and often checked up on us. For the food- With this being a tourist spot, I was not expecting much. I was nicely surprised when then food came out! The grilled chicken Ceasar salad was okay. It was refreshing and light but I would like a little bit more parmesan cheese or anchovies. The BBQ nachos were delicious! It came with shredded pork, beer-cheddar queso, monterey cheese, pico de gallo, sour cream, chives, BBQ sauce, bacon and I shared it with my sister. This and the salad were our main meals and we were satisfied. The chips were not my favorite kind but I was not bothered by it. The chips held up with the toppings. Now the star of the show was the Fried Chicken Cutlet. The breading was crispy and seasoned well and it was on top of a garlic mashed potato and grilled asparagus. Simple dish bit it was amazing! All the conditions lined up : good food, friendly service, great company on a Saturday afternoon. The vibe would be different if you come here at night.

I came with a party of 6 on a Thursday afternoon and it wasn't super crowded. Because it seemed a…read morelittle slower, I was expecting our server to come around more often, but I feel like we had to flag her down multiple times. I ordered the southwest salad and while it was decent, it had too many tortilla strips on it. It also came with a sweet dressing that did not complement the taste, so I'm glad I asked for that on the side and ranch instead. For being a sports bar/restaurant, I was also hoping I could have clear access to screens that displayed sports games but I did not have good access to any from my table. Portions were huge and mostly everyone in my party was satisfied with their food. I just wish service was a bit more attentive. Not sure if the automatic 18% gratuity made a difference in our service? Either way, I would give this place a 3/5 based off food being average, service being mediocre, and ambiance being subpar.

Pitfire Pizza

3.9

(1.8k reviews)

•$$

Had a great experience here. We loved the Honey Bear pizza and cheesey bread. Also had a nice crisp…read moreCali Creaming to go with my meal. Enjoyed everythinng by the nice big fire pit. Very attentive staff as well. Will be back to try the sausage pizza

After a sound bath Monday evening my friend and I wanted to hang out and catch up so we walked over…read moreto Pitfire pizza. I didn't know what to expect and I wasn't initially in the mood for pizza (but after the pizza came out I quickly changed my mind!). When we rounded the corner I was instantly struck by how awesome the outside seating is, I felt like we're in San Diego where everyone is having fun outside and the atmosphere is just happy! There's a large firepit and large bench tables. I ordered the Margherita pizza with added sausage. It took a while for our pizza to be ready because the restaurant was so busy but that's OK we were deep into our conversation. By the time our piping hot pizza arrived our appetites were in full flare. Immediately I could tell that this was an artisan type pizza, and my first bite was so delicious. The crust is light and fluffy, and all the toppings taste fresh! In the middle of the courtyard they have a little tower set up where you can grab red pepper, olive oil, napkins, and cutlery. I added some red pepper to mine and I loved the spicy kick. The crust was perfect which I dipped in olive oil. Initially I planned to only eat half and save the rest for lunch the next day, but before you know it I was finished with the pizza. Absolutely delicious I definitely recommend Pitfire pizza for both the atmosphere and the food! They also have some beers on tap and there's lots of people who bring their cute dogs!

Basecamp Kitchen

4.3

(17 reviews)

NBCUniversal Employees or lower lot guest only:…read more Yeah, it's a little pricey, but one bite and you'll understand why. My go-to is the Julio Burger, especially with an extra patty; it's an absolute monster, in the best way. Pair it with those crispy potato wedges, and you've got a full-on feast that really hits hard. Don't be surprised if you're ready for a nap afterward.

The good here is always a hit breakfast is delicious and lunch also the julio burger is yummy cant…read morego wrong here.

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