I have been getting food at the Buona Beef in Darien IL for many years and have zero complaints. The restaurant is always nice and clean with friendly, American employees. In my opinion, the customer service is consistently on the same level as Chick-Fil-A which is thought to be great by the vast majority of people. The food is always fresh and properly prepared. No stale cracking buns, limp vegetables, wilted lettuce, mushy and runny tomatoes, dark brown dried out fries, spongy ice cream cones, etc. Most days I think Buona's stuff is better than Portillo's. Buona has a generous customer loyalty program. It doesn't take many orders to start getting discounts and even free menu items. Of all the restaurants I know of in the area, Buona is one of the best in this regard. In almost 20 years I had but ONE order screwup where I ordered cheese fries and they forgot to put the cup of cheese sauce in the bag at the drive-thru. The mistake was quickly corrected via the restaurant giving me a credit for my next order. The Darien Buona gets 5 stars from me for being consistently great over many years. read more

Ordered a large Rainbow Cone and was very disappointed with what I received. The portion size was nowhere near what I expected for a large, or what I have received in the past. When I questioned the server about it, she was unwilling to do anything to address the issue or make it right. Customer service matters just as much as the product, and unfortunately this experience fell short on both. If you're looking for the authentic Rainbow Cone experience, I would recommend visiting the original standalone Rainbow Cone location instead. Very disappointing experience overall. read more

Buona - Disappointing serving size - Sandwiches Near Me - Darien, Illinois

This has become our go-to spot for a solid Italian beef. Everybody in the household loves it. The kids are especially happy with the kid's meal which comes with a free Rainbow Cone scoop. There is a meatless Italian beef sandwich which we find mediocre but it is a good option to have. Service is efficient and friendly. I encountered a few issues with using the app's promotional discounts but the staff was always helpful and quick to resolve it. The restaurant is clean and well-maintained. read more

We have Buona 2 or 3x per year, not often. It was this or Portillos. We both got hotdogs, fries, and a soda. Service was quick, and it wasn't too busy. The hotdogs were good. The restaurant was clean, and most of the kids were getting a rainbow cone. No complaints. read more

Typical great food and service from Buona Beef. Nice clean dining area. Service was spot on. This location also has a Rainbow Cone. read more

Buona - Pepper and egg sandwich for Lenten Friday. - Sandwiches Near Me - Darien, Illinois

I have a question, do we tip for everything now? I like Buona and am a fan of most of the menu. The crispy chicken salad is my jam. But, do I tip someone for bringing and removing a tray? This is not service. This is crazy, these folks are not waiters or waitresses - why am I tipping? It's uncomfortable and stupid. Putting the customer in an awkward situation is always good business. read more

Don't hate me - I think the Italian beef and sausage sandwiches here are on par with Portillo and The Patio. This was concluded following a blind taste test with my family on the combo Italian beef and sausage sandwich from all three restaurants. The drive-thru line here is generally shorter than the one at Portillo, though I would say both spots have inconsistent service. Staff often forget parts of the order. For example, they forgot our side of aus jus last time we were there. I suggest double-checking your order before leaving the premises to make sure everything got included. The ambiance is casual. I like that this location is conveniently located in the same building as a Rainbow Cone shop. It's a great setting for a quick meal followed by some tasty ice cream. read more

Maybe if the beef sandwiches form a union and picket, they wont be so dry. Charging extra for giardiniera? Shameful. Its part of the sandwich. read more

the general manger Jen is so amazing and made my night! I came in with a gift card seeing if i can get somthing and she helped me with that and gave me a drink and a sandwich loaded with beef, so definitely would recommend to anyone in the area and the atmosphere was awesome!! read more

Coulda sworn reviewed many moons ago. You get the readers digest version: bring your checkbook but not your appetite! Loz

My boyfriend and I ate here. He got the Italian beef with sauce and I think it was better than Panera. It was so saucy and very flavorful. I got a Cesar salad with chicken. The salad itself was good but the chicken was dry. So amazing for Italian beef, but wouldn't recommend the salad for what it costs. The place is clean. Service is good but you have to order over a computer screen. read more

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The food is good. It's called Buona Beef, so I definitely come for the beef sandwich. I had the beef with red sauce and mozzarella. It was really good. My girlfriend had a Cesar salad that was good but the chicken was a bit dry. The service is good with friendly staff. The tables are cleaned up for you after you're done eating. You also have the option of ordering at the kiosk or with someone behind the counter. The ambiance was good as well. The lighting isn't too bright or low and the place was nice and quiet. You can have a comfortable conversation and enjoy the food. 5 stars due to the food and service. read more

Buona - Fountain drink area. - Sandwiches Near Me - Darien, Illinois

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Came for the beef & stayed for the cone! Parking is plentiful for indoor dining and a lane for drive-thru is available. Inside you can order from a table (card payment) or at the register (cash). Menu offers beef, pasta, and pizza choices - rigatoni with chicken is my all-time go-to. Our order is always fresh and timely. Finish off a delicious meal with a tasty ice cream treat! read more

Buona - Sandwiches Near Me - Darien, Illinois

Great food poor service I go 3 4 times a week today at the restaurant they took a catering order they took 20 minutes the manager saw me in line twice and never took my order so I left Nick from woodridge being going to Buona for 30 years read more

What do you feed the Drake University Softball team when in town for a 3 game series? BUONA BEEF of course! What better way to 'taste Chicago'? They LOVED it! I just feel bad they're heading back to Iowa so it'll be awhile before they can eat like that again. Ordering, pickup and setup couldn't have been more effortless. Everything was included and easy to follow for catering setup. Taste? - full bodied perfection just like our family is used to in the restaurant. 24 thumbs up from the athletes and coaches! Drake Softball thanks you for their full bellies! read more

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New updated review available via the elite event It was held at this location that was very good and I very much enjoyed myself the food and service was really good too So not going to sit there and put the same thing up again but have upgraded the Stars to the full five bar across the board. read more

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Of all my years living in the city of Chicago and now in the burbs, this was my first time eating at Buona beef. Wild times. I loved this location and the food. It's shares space with a rainbow cone place and has a decent sized parking lot. The staff were quite friendly and the food was delish. I ordered the original beef with hot peppers, fries and a drink and my hubs got the saucy beef. I was honestly, like for real, surprised at how good the Italian beef was. I grew up in a neighborhood in Chicago , KNOWN, for Italian beef and this was a close win. The bread was just juiced enough, beef was tender and the peppers spicy. YUM. I enjoyed the sandwich way more than expected. Fries were crispy and they have a large selection of drinks and iced drinks in their fountain area. The menu is also surprising with a wide array of food as well as serving wine and beer. Im surprised I never came here before and now that I've been, I for sure will be back. read more

Buona beef is always a good choice. The food quality is always good and you get a lot for your dollar. Even better since they added an ice cream place next to it . A winning combination. read more

Yesterday I drove up here to get me a meatball sub and I thought it was gonna be normal like every other weekly buona feast. But I'd be dammed when I saw what I think his name was Alex he was so god damn charming and nice gah damn ! I will definitely be coming only when he works woowee read more

Being from California, Italian Beef sandwiches are kind of foreign to me. My boyfriend ordered me the standard sandwich with hot peppers as well as a chopped salad and a side order of chips. The sandwich was so tasty! The meat is really lean and not super salty, and because it's sliced so thinly the whole sandwich is really light and has a good texture when you bite into it. The bread is very lightly toasted and the gravy is nicely soaked so you get a tasty soaked bread in the middle. The addition of the hot peppers gives it a little texture and kick, but I only wish they included more. I definitely wish they had this in California because the sandwich is under 400 calories and you get awesome lean protein. Chopped salad was pretty good too! Nothing mindblowing but the sweeter dressing and textures helped contrast with the sandwich. Chips were sprinkled with some cheese powder or something but nothing special. read more

Buona - Sandwiches Near Me - Darien, Illinois

Great food but they are starting to cut down so amount of beef on sandwiches . One of the best places for fast food or ice cream

**NOT SAFE FOR FOOD ALLERGIES** MAJOR FOOD SAFETY CONCERNS My 2 year old toddler with a severe anaphylactic egg allergy ordered chicken fingers which claimed to be Egg Free. After noticing that the crispy chicken on the adult menu was not listed egg free, we got suspicious and called the store when we got home before letting him eat it. The employee we talked to told us that they were the same chicken, despite allergens listed as different. He also told us that they DO contain Egg, which is not disclosed on the allergen menu. I'm thankful my wife caught this and convinced me to double check, as it could have ended up in an ER visit at minimum and injury or death for my toddler at worst. I later followed up with an email asking them to make the update but have gotten absolutely no response. This is a major food safety concern and unfortunately there have probably already been injuries that have resulted from kids unknowingly consuming food allergens they can't have. Unbelievable that of all places, they neglect to get right the KIDS allergen menu. read more

Buona - Salad add ons shows chicken tenders contain egg when kids menu does not disclose this allergen - Sandwiches Near Me - Darien, Illinois

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It has been a million years since I have visited Buona! Yet, when I heard they had a vegan sandwich I was all in! Since I was on my way to work I had to do a drive through option. I wanted to enjoy the "beef" in all of its fabulousness at a table, but had no option but to devour it in my vehicle. And devour it I did! Upon ordering, you have the option if adding hot or mild giardinere or sweet peppers. I went with the hot, for this experience. The peppers added the proper amount of zing without overpowering the actual flavor of the seitan "beef.". I ordered it dipped, but was told that option wasn't available for the vegan sandwich. However, it was wet enough and to the point I had to eat it over my work iPad, ha ha! (Hey, it cleans off just fine!). The staff there are incredibly nice and oh so professional! The sandwich and staff were so awesome I stopped there for another for the husband on my way home from work. Ha! Highly recommend! read more

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I've had their beefs before, but I was intrigued by their Italian beefless sandwich. My husband got a regular beef with giardiniera with cheese fries and I got the beefless sandwich and fries. The regular beef is always good. Fries are crispy and their cheese sauce is good. Their plant-based sandwich was just okay. I guess if you couldn't eat meat, this is a great alternative. But I wouldn't choose the plant-based version over the real beef. The texture reminded me of very soft processed gyro meat. Not horrible, just an observation. But it was definitely missing the meaty satisfaction of the regular beef. Also, they have an attached Rainbow Cone counter! Can't say no to ice cream! read more

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the last few salads I have gotten from Buona in Darien have had brown and slimy lettuce they look pre made and not fresh. This is disgusting and cannot even be eaten. I had to throw this one out. It's very sad when you spend so much money and the quality of food is bad. read more

Buona - Sandwiches Near Me - Darien, Illinois

I stopped by this location for the first time a few years ago when they first opened and I thought it was so weird to have an Original Rainbow Cone inside. I took my mom here over the weekend and she thought it was a south siders dream come true. We spent 2hrs here while she ordered a burger AND Italian beef (baptized of course!). She said the food was fresher and hotter than other locations. The manager came around to tables to check on people which I thought was a nice touch. They also sell beer and wine at this location, which I hadn't seen before. We then went across the room to rainbow cone which is my moms favorite ice cream. We were already stuffed but sat outside on the beautiful, colorful patio to enjoy some ice cream. We will definitely be back, obviously this is my moms version of Disney World lol. read more

Buona food is good There's something about this place that makes you come back. You can finish it of with rainbow cone now since now they're essentially the same place read more

So I only come here every now and then, today was the "FREE" sandwich they couldn't find it under my number ( been coming here for 8+ years...no worries) got my sandwich home no cheese! Not going back bc they're 15 min away...but to not get the free sandwich and to spend $19 I'm good! Shame onBB read more

Food very good had pizza, combo (great as always) and split a meatball sandwich for the first time. Meatballs were excellent!!! Great flavor and nice and juicy. Marinara sauce was really good for a chain restaurant. This will make our choices when going there even harder now. This establishment has now just risen a star more than Portillo's for me. My husband probably still likes the competitor a little more cause their chocolate cake. That makes the difference to him but I like it more as I feel the au jus for the beef at Buona is more tastier. Love their beef because it just melts in your mouth cause it's so slow roasted which is the only way I like Italian beef. They do beef right!!! read more

Waited a long time in the drive thru waiting area. But then I get home and they forgot my French fries. Ugh. I had such a craving for them. And I'm way too tired to drive all the back. These kids are getting at least $18 an hour. I seen the "we're hiring" sign. Surely they can double check receipt & bag. It's not that complicated. I can call and complain and maybe they'll give me a credit but I'm not ever going back, so what's the point? read more

Always eat here at least once a week. We have inflation now we have shrinkflation. WHERE'S the BEEF!!?? Talked with Daniel T. The manager and he assured me that they weighed the beef. I watched the whole process because of the mess up on my order. They never weighed it. Hate to stop coming for some of the best beef around. Oh well. read more

Buona - Sandwiches Near Me - Darien, Illinois

I've been going to Buona since the original in Berwyn opened up. We had a taste for a beef sandwich and this is what I got. Hardly any beef on the sandwich, no wonder Portillo's consistently outperforms read more

Buona - Sandwiches Near Me - Darien, Illinois

Food and service was yummy. Next time please put in the cheese we paid for. We came in the drive thru and was given our food very quick.

During my visit to the Darien IL BB, I ordered the beef, fries + drink combo. The sandwich was good but slightly dry. Manager Derrick brought some gravy w a smile. Kudos on doing what it takes to keep customers coming back. read more

Buona - Menu Sept 2021 - Sandwiches Near Me - Darien, Illinois

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They still take cash in drive through and food is just as good as Portillos. No more Portillos.

I'm not one to leave poor reviews unless something extreme happens, but I feel like a warning has to be issued. My husband and I are dealing with our second round of food poisoning after eating Buona Beef--& both instances were only a couple weeks apart. A couple weeks ago I went through the drive-thru & ordered two sandwiches and fries. I was told to pull up, so I did, and our order was out in 30 seconds. Awesome! (Or so I thought). Got home and saw all that was in the bag was an order of mostaccioli. My husband brought it back and they replaced our order and gave us cards for 2 free beefs. We both had tummy issues the rest of the day and for the next day too. Then the other day my husband went to redeem the 2 free beefs. Again, for the rest of the day and now ever 2 days later we both had stomach issues. I should have proceeded with caution after the first round messed us up, but I thought maybe it was a fluke. But now dealing with the same thing again I know it wasn't. Our son is a picky eater & didn't have Buona either time, and he's been fine. Just proceed with caution when going here. The food tasted fine, but our tummies are paying a horrible price. read more

Nikki helped me recently when my order went astray. She couldn't have been nicer and quickly expedited getting my food ready during a busy lunch hour rush. Very service oriented and professional. Generally very nice employees at this location but Nikki really went out of her way to problem solve and make things right! Thanks! read more

I used to really enjoy eating at Buona, but not so much anymore. Their prices have gone up, and the quality of food has gone down. I tried their Buona beef, which is their specialty, it was terrible. We tried the Quattro pizza, it was the worst pizza I've ever had. Disappointed. Don't think I'll be back. Oh, and Joe said, "They committed a crime and should be arrested." read more

Food is great. Love the beef. BBQ chicken pizza with tomatoes is tasty. However, the online order process leaves room for improvement. Stood there and waited 5 minutes before someone even addressed me. I had no idea of the status of my order. They should have a TV screen or monitor to queue status of online orders. I noticed customers inside were also frustrated with lack of interaction. read more

Had a great experience here last week ! The place is more family friendly than I would have expected . There is bench seating outside, individual tables and a large ice cream area that is super cute for kids. I got a sandwich and side to go and they were very quick with the order and everything was made how I asked it to be . They also had a drive through which looked super efficient and fast. This was my first time at Buona beef and I will definitely be back ! It was great read more