The service here was phenomenal. Either the previous reviewers were just bratty or the management took what they had said to heart, which means even more in my book. Service was extremely attentive. Water class was always full. The server would constantly keep up updated on our food status without us even asking. Perhaps their meals take longer than average because they use fresh ingredients because their dishes do taste very fresh. The calamari would be a solid starter, as well was the wedding soup. Soup was a bit expensive for its size, but it was still delicious. The seafood appetizer (mussels and clams) were great. All shells were open and all the meat was there. I got the sword fish which was cooked to perfection and came with a generous steamed broccoli stalk that had that perfect crisp. My boyfriend had a pasta dish that was also very good called the Pappardelle ai Funghi e Mascarpone. I really do highly recommend this place regardless the previous negative reviews. Even if those reviews were true to an extent, the restaurant took it as constructive criticism and made a change. Give them a chance. P.S. When I ordered the soup, the waiter brought out an extra spoon "I case I decided to be nice and share" which I thought to be very thoughtful.
(5)
Lisa P.
My parents and I had dinner here yesterday after I saw my doctor at Penn Hospital earlier. We made friendly conversation with Abraham who greeted us and he comforted me about my pending spine surgery. He offered to get me a pillow for my back. It was the most thoughtful and friendly service we have ever had! The staff was extremely attentive and we all LOVED OUR FOOD! The atmosphere does have that classic feeling. Yes, this restaurant has been around for almost 40 years and I can see why. They made a perfect dry gin martini to start. I loved my salad raddichio, shitake mushrooms and bacon, so delicious! For my dinner I ordered the scallops, seared to perfection, with savory swiss chard and creamy escalloped potatoes. For desert we shared the Italian rum cake, fabulous! Then they offered us an extra dish of it just to be kind! As we were leaving Abraham asked when my surgery was, I told him it was scheduled for next week. He told us they would be happy to make us all some soup during my stay at Penn Hospital!!! They are angels from heaven. This was the BEST ATTENTIVE SERVICE EVER. When I left I wanted to hug them all!! They even offered to open the door for me knowing I have back pain. I love the staff for how they treated us and I love the real Italian food!!!
(5)
Loren C.
First, the good; Excellent bruschetta - very fresh and clean. Added celery to it for some reason but was good. Very limited wine menu but the chianti was good. And the pasta was tasty. Even the location had its charm if you enjoy OLD SCHOOL (note the caps, thinks 50s-70s) building and dining style. So why am I giving this a single star? This was the worst service I've ever experienced in 30 years of living (and trust me that's included alot of restaurants). After it took me a little extra to decide on my dining selection my wife and I were ignored (as in the waiter repeatedly!) as he walked past out table and refused to stop even when asked on numerous occasions. The manager Abraham swung by on occasion but gave us sarcastic half assed service. Upon asking why it took 30 minutes to make bruschetta he said it was made fresh and that he had checked so no worries. After that he barely came to us except at the end of the meal thinking maybe he deserved a tip. The waiter only spoke to us at the end of the meal thanking me for coming. Beyond that he didn't refill out water or check on us one time in the entire meal. We had tabled of older regulars or just older clientele go through multiple courses with numerous checks on them before we even got bruschetta - and I don't care how fresh it is it should never take 30 minutes. I don't ever plan on patronizing this restaurant again. Nor do I recommend anyone else do it.
(1)
Cathy W.
We had a wonderful experience last night at Ristorante La Buca. Our waiter was very attentive, and our meal was delicious! We enjoyed Chicken Picatta and Chicken Parmesan with potatoes and broccoli...excellent! The desserts were terrific, too...cheesecake and strawberries with whipped cream. Thanks for a memorable meal...we will be back! :)
(5)
David A.
Great little spot in the basement on Washington Square. Takes you back a few decades. Traditional and fresh Italian... Many dishes homemade. I recommend sitting at the bar area unless you are looking to order the whole branzino ( which is delicious). Don't expect fast service, but do expect God people watching and tasty food. They also have a Gluten Free pasta option! Love the Broccoli Rab e here
(4)
Steve R.
Update on previous reviews. I went back today for lunch after a 2 month period since mty last visit. I was surprised to see the LUNCH menu prices had increased about 30%. The Panninis, which were $9.95 in February were now $12.95. The Pasta Sishest that were $6 (half) and $11 (full) are now $15-$16. The meat entrees (chicken dishes) which were $12.95 are now $15.95-$16.50 and desserts were formerly $5. and are now $7.00 the food is still excellent and portions substantial but it is not the "great lunch find" it was before as the prices are nearing dinner prices at nearby restaurants. I'm posting this because I previously called this a "bargain". I can't say it is such anymore. But the food IS good, and I'll back - just not as often.
(4)
Nico L.
I was in Italy a few months ago and this place offers genuine Italian American cuisine. The ingredients may not be 100% from Italy, but the ambiance and the cuisine certainly are. We had a lovely server who was as proper as could be. Her presentation shows that she was taught very well. This place is perfect for a date or family gathering. In addition, the pricing on this is very easy to deal with. This is one of those small details that makes it much easier when there are so many different variations of pasta, chicken, veal, beef, etc. The only reason why it is not getting a perfect 5 is because the bread was not fresh and a bit stale. I will certainly come back here again in the future. Even though Yelp says it is not wheelchair accessible, it is! There is an elevator down
(4)
Norm W.
Ristorante La Buca is my favorite restaurant. I especially enjoy the spinach with oil and garlic and the broccoli rabe with oil and garlic as appetizers. Then I usually select either sword fish or salmon from the cart. My wife loves the langastinos which are usually always offered from the cart, and a side of spaghetti with oil and garlic is a perfect complement. We always ask that Tom Daley be our server, the only Irish waiter in this fantastic Italian restaurant. We have never been disappointed with the food and service at this wonderful dining spot! We highly recommend Ristorante La Buca!
(5)
Carrie R.
I went here with a group of five for dinner. First of all, the wine list was outdated & the wine we asked for wasn't available. Not a big deal, but I don't know why they haven't taken the time to update the menu. Anyway, we all agreed our food was delicious, but the staff was rude-- sighing and complaining about our questions & our payment (we were using a coupon & a credit card...it's not that difficult). Our group works in food service so we weren't being picky or rude. We're in our mid-twenties and the other parties were all much older, so maybe that was it, I don't know. If you make me feel unwelcome, fine, but I won't be going back or recommending the place.
(3)
Lauren B.
This place is....in a time warp. That's probably the best way to describe it. If you want to be transported back in time to the era of Godfather (not when the movie came out, but the time the movie was taking place), then have a seat at La Buca. The waiters wear tuxedos and have accents (real or fake- not sure?) and use a cart with a plethora of fish to explain the daily specials (which I'm betting don't change). I had the Four Cheese with mushrooms papardelle and my friend had the linguine and meat sauce. I liked hers better than mine, but both were good. As for the true Godfather feel, there were 2 gentlemen in the corner quietly discussing backing the new casino Revel...not sure who they were but I thought it added to the gangster feel. lol.
(4)
Douglas H.
We went there to have basic pasta the night before the Philadelphia Marathon. Big mistake. They were incredibly slow (almost 2 hours) and the food was either cold or burnt when it did arrive. The service was non-existent, even though we had reservations and they were not even close to being full. The waitor was slow and rude. The manager finally stepped in and gave us a 10% discount and apologized profusely.
(3)
Paul B.
Went to this place with a group of people for restaurant week. It was a very uncomfortable experience. When we sat down, we asked for the wine list. The waiter instead of bringing it to us, listed the varieties of wine that they have there. After persistence in asking for the wine list, the waiter finally brought it out. (I have never heard of a restaurant that has a wine list refusing to bring one out to a table!) The food was ok, but nothing special. The appetizer I got was a spinach gnocchi. It was four pieces and not particularly good. I also tried someone else's minestrone soup appetizer. It was not very flavorful at all. It tasted like vegetables and beans just put into broth. For dinner I split a chicken stewed with wine and vegetables which was actually pretty delicious (the flavors really , with some else who chose the veal with mushrooms (wasn't good at all). When it came to paying for the check, the waiter yelled at us for only tipping 15%. When he gave us our money back so we could recount it, one of my friends threw in another $20 to give him a more acceptable tip. He hovered over us while we tried to resolve the bill (completely inappropriate in my opinion). As it turns out when we recounted the bill, there were two $20 bills stuck together and he was complaining over nothing. We ended up tipping 30% for a middling meal because the waiter made us feel uncomfortable. The food was decent, but the service by the waitstaff was so bad I would never go back to here.
(2)
David B.
We are spoiled by the preponderance of good Italian American food here in eastern Massachusetts. I know Philly has some good stuff, too. La Buca is fair to middling. As other Yelpers have said, La Buca is a throw back to 20th century dining, decor and all, to decent but not spectacular Italian American food. I attended an evening business function with a fixed menu of Cesar Salad, pasta, and the choice of a protein. I was pleased that they abided my love of anchovies on my salad...thank you. The tri-color pasta was decent, a small taste of three pasta shapes in three sauces. Whatever I had for protein must have been unforgettable for I can't, for the life of me remember what it was! I appreciate the fact that the dinner was paid for but this is not a place I would go back to.
(2)
Stephen A.
I am pretty forgiving and don't review much, but I the experience here deserves a warning to those who read the other reviews and need to know what they're getting into. I have to say that there wasn't any one major item that was terribly wrong, but the cumulative little things combined to make this a dinner I'd just rather just forget. First, the setting and ambiance. The other reviewer was right, it is stuck in a time warp, but not from the 40's or 50's as I'd imagined, more like the 70's, and not in a good way. It is below grade ("La Buca" translates to "the hole" or "pit," i.e., basement), with ceiling tiles and it is generally kind of shabby. Also, the lighting in the dining room is way too bright. The coatroom had hangers with tickets on them, but it was self-serve. No big deal. There is a bar up front, where the drinks looked generous, but we went straight to the table. The service is SLOW, from the moment we walked in we waited to have our reservation checked, and when seated it just took a long time to get everything. It seemed the servers did a lot of walking back and forth, sometimes with carts to deliver food, but often they seemed to be scampering around with nothing to do. The bread would have been good if it were fresh, and when I asked the server for olive oil, he told me all the bottles were being used and they didn't have any others. This in spite of the two tables nearby whose diners were clearly finished with them, he didn't have the sense to retrieve one. Ok. We ordered a bottle of wine, a nice Gavi for $40, and it was fine. The food, when it finally arrived, was just ok. I ordered one of the specials, which included choices. I had the Caesar salad, penne arrabbiata, and breaded chicken breast topped with prosciutto and mozzarella. The salad was ok, the penne was not spicy at all, but the chicken was actually pretty good. By the time it got to that course, though, it was too late. My companion ordered the pasta with mushrooms, and the sauce was really bland and not very appetizing. We left without even waiting for dessert, which was included with the meal. Just not worth the time, and if you've ever been in a situation like this, you know there's no way a dessert can redeem the meal. Best to cut your losses and run. As my dining companion observed, this place is for people who don't know any better, and I can't agree more, especially with all the terrific other options for Italian food in Philadelphia.
(1)
Moe W.
As much as I don't want to write this, I find it necessary for 'caveat emptor.' I have been recommending this place for a long time. I have eaten there a few times a year. Most of the times it has been enjoyable. But on the times it hasn't, it REALLY hasn't. Once the bartender overcharged us for drinks - purposely. The last time - and this is the last time I'll eat there: We ordered a salad to be split between us 2. I SAW the waiter - WITH his bare hands - literally split the salad...right down to the nuts on top - THEN handle money and everything else. Since I was being treated, I didn't complain directly to the server, but told my friend. She decided to avoid a confrontation - just accepted the salad and didn't eat it. I know that most restaurants have occasional stories like this - - - but this was my CLINCHER for never to go back there. I'm sad, too - I liked it there. Update---- COCKROACH infestation!!!! Walk by the corner of 8/Locust above the restaurant ANY EVENING - - - guess where these cockroaches must live...
(2)
Boting L.
The worst food I've had ever! I ordered medium rare filet and it was all burnt outside. The dessert was a disaster. I ordered chocolate mousse. It tastes like chocolate whipped cream. Not mousse at all! Never going back again!
(1)
Susan S.
Ristorante La Buca met the needs of our large business group. However, as much as I wanted to embrace the decor as old school charming, it just seemed tired and past its prime. The separate room for where we were seated felt like someone's do-it-yourself basement redo from decades gone by. That said, the staff was very attentive, engaging, and professional which made up, to some degree, for the lackluster surroundings. I had the bronzino, grilled simply and was able to substitute penne arrabiata for the potato and veg. I loved my dinner. The spinach and fennel salad was a little ho-hum---the spinach was tough and fennel a little difficult to manage without lots of intervention from a knife and fork. Could you find better Italian in Philly? Probably.
(3)
Josh K.
Ristorante La Buca is a wonderful throwback to the Italian restaurants of the 1950s. Regrettably, it is 2011. The decor of the restaurant itself is terribly dated, and the lighting is either non-existent or entirely too stark. The furniture could be found at a yard sale or, perhaps, a Long John Silvers and is ill-matched for the prices on the menu. Regarding the menu, the specials looked delicious, and the offerings are incredibly classic and refreshing in their traditionalism. I tried the Penne Arrabiata which was acceptable, but it certainly was not something I'd rave about. La Buca's shining star is its dedicated, warm, professional, and well-spoken staff. Our waiter was attentive, knew the menu and specials inside and out, and carted out desserts and specials for our perusal. This was a delightful, classic touch to the standard dining out experience. I would recommend La Buca with a cautionary note about not expecting to be thrilled with the decor or atmopshere but to be quite happy with the wonderful staff.
(2)
Mina N.
It's regrettably located in a basement which can make you feel like you stumbled on a treasure. Afterwards, it feels like just a few silver coins though. The food is the best part of the experience with authentic dishes that don't rely on the safety net of heavy butter or ton oil. Meals came out fresh with just the right amount of sauce. The waitstaff is understaffed and clearly not trained. Decor is old and a bit run down. All in all though, go for a great meal and forget everything else about the place.
(3)
Joe D.
This place has the potential to be good but seems to be past its prime. My wife and I waited for over an hour from the time we ordered our entrees to when they were brought out to us (granted we had an appetizer, but still). The cart of seafood they roll out to show you the specials of the day was kind of weird, and the service was slow and inattentive. Our pastas were good but by that point we both wanted to get out of there as fast we we could. After a "leisurely" two hour dinner I can say with certainty that we won't be back.
(2)
Dominic C.
We had a similar experience to Douglas H. We also went there the night before the Philadelphia Marathon and had reservations for 6pm for a party of 7. When we arrived the restaurant was at best 25% full with maybe 2 parties of 6+ people, one which was done with dinner and ordering dessert. Like Paul B. we had difficulty ordering a bottle of wine because the waitress had to track down their single wine menu. Took a little long to take our order, but not excruciating. After ordering, took at least an hour and 15 minutes to serve the soup and salad. Our waitress told us the kitchen staff is having difficulties but the food will be out soon. After the soup and salads were served, it took about another hour to serve the entrees. In the meantime, other tables were served that arrived after us. (Maybe they called in their order.) Our waitress was apologetic and gave us a 10% discount. She was also visibly frazzled and maybe a bit embarrassed for a situation apparently out of her control. The manager did not come to our table. When we approached him, while he was tending to things at the bar and a single costumer, he was also apologetic. The food was good, but the quality of the in-house pasta varied. The orecchiette was good but the spaghetti did not have the quality of fresh pasta. Wouldn't recommend this restaurant if there is an event in Philadelphia, so that probably rules out a lot of dates.
(2)
David C.
We bought some gift cards from restaurant.com for this place. It's a quiet little underground (physically) eatery right off of Washington Square. The waiter was dressed in a tuxedo, which was at some times uncomfortable for us, as we were dressed casual...in t shirts and shorts. It seems that on a weekday, later in the evening, this place is dead. There was one middle aged couple dining, and maybe 4 people at the bar. Perhaps it's the economy, but hey, you could've bought 80% coupons like us! The waiter was very Italian, so perhaps the mannerisms that occasionally seemed rude were just the missing bridge in culture? The food was the best part of the experience... we ordered clams & linguine, the sushi quality tuna, and a chicken & peppers dish. All three were delicious. (We ate family style, which seemed strange to the server, but we did ask ahead of time, and he said he would "put the dishes in the middle of the table" but then made some comment about "each person" orders a dish and "that's how we do here." Confused by his choice of words occasionally, we brushed it off once the food arrived. Three dishes split among 4 people was plenty of food, and we didn't have space for dessert. Perhaps we'll visit again with 5 people and 3 dishes, and we'll confuse the server some more and then order dessert.
(3)
Julia T.
I was here with a large group for work and we were off in our own room. In fact, I have been there with this large group every 2 years for the past 6 or 8 years. It's sort of a tradition. I think that the food here is solid. I wouldn't rave about it but it is good. The fish cart freaks me out a little bit. I have seen cheese carts and dessert carts, but never a fish cart. I had a penne arrabbiata and it was really good. Spicy without being overwhelming and very fresh tasting. Salad and bread good. Really, all around good but nothing special kind of sums up how I feel about this place.
(3)
Elisabeth E.
Hands down the best northern Italian restaurant in the city. The fresh seafood cart holds delicious gems from the sea - steamers, branzino done PERFECTLY, there's a pasta misto course that is not on the menu, but ask for it by name and you'll taste spinach gnocchi that rivals vetri. veal is also a specialty of the house. they keep beautiful bottles of italian red win in their cellar. and the price is so sweet for the quality of food. AND, you can actually hear the conversation going on at your table without yelling. This place can be romantic, can be the site for your parents' visit, can be the place to have exsquisite gourmet food with a group of 10. Leave room for cheescake or tiramisu or chocolate mousse or italian rum cake or just some beautiful fresh strawberries and cream. ENJOY!
(5)
Harry W.
Had a great dinner with my wife and friends. Yes the decor is old and needs updating but the food was very good, we all enjoyed it and the prices are decent. One of the better Italian dinners we have had in some time and was a great beginning before seeing Jersey Boys at the Forest. We will be back!
(4)
Chris S.
Wasn't very impressed. Had a multi-course dinner here, so let me take you through each one. 1) Salad -- Actually pretty good. Big solid hunk of goat cheese made my day, and lack of lettuce! 2) Pasta w/ shittake mushrooms -- The best part of the meal, and even this wasn't absolutely great. It's probably because I like mushrooms. The pasta was cooked al dente. 3) Chicken cutlet -- Chicken was on the dry side and the sauce wasn't great. It was....so-so. I've had better chicken dishes at home. 4) Something that was between ice cream and whipped cream. Had to stop 1/3 of the way because it was just way too sweet, and not that great. So, overall...great service, great atmosphere, but the food wasn't much better than what you could throw together at home.
(2)
Adam P.
I found a coupon for La Buca on Restaurant.com . Unfortunately, I forgot to use Google Translate to determine what "la buca" means beforehand. It turns out that "la buca" means "the pit," which would be a good description for this subterranian restaurant. Although it had no windows, its walls were covered in imitations of famous Italian frescos, including Botticelli's "The Birth of Venus". The space also had some tacky gray carpeting. Students beware; this place caters to the AARP crowd. For dinner, I went for the filet mignon. While I admit that I'm not exactly much of a meat person, I have to say that it wasn't particularly flavorful. The meat was complemented by two small potato slices and about two ounces of vegetable medley in some sort of cream sauce. A dinner I could have done without. Nonetheless, this is a "fancy" place that you can go to if you are in the mood for going to a fancy place.
(3)
C K.
really random and not obvious from the outside. Everything we tried (steak, fish, shrimp, dessert) was excellent. Would definitely go back again.
(4)
Rachel U.
There are times when you are left waiting what seems like forever for your food, but when it arrives the quality of the food makes up for the wait. This was not one of those times. It took them almost an hour to take our order, and seemed disheartened when we didn't order any drinks, despite never being given drink menus. They had a whole tray displaying the night's specials, which was never brought over, and once taking our orders it was another 45 minutes before we were served. The food was fine, large servings of (slightly over cooked) pasta and meats in each of our dishes, and probably would have seemed better had we not had to wait so long for it. The waiter never again came back to the table, to ask how the food was or if we needed anything else. Yes, we were the youngest ones there, and yes we were dressed like we'd been walking around in the 100 degree heat all day (because we had been), but I heard other patrons complaining about the absense of waitstaff as well, so go figure. The most attentive of the staff was the guy refilling the waters, who also brought us more bread without us asking, the vinegar, fresh parmesan and pepper, and the bill as soon as we asked for it, since we weren't sure if we'd ever see our waiter again. I'd be tempted to give them another star just for him, but...
(2)
David S.
Good traditional Italian restaurant. Menu emphasizes seafood, but really everything is excellent. Appreciate the quiet elegance, but definitely not the first choice for a trendy menu or the see and be seen scene.
(4)
Jessica H.
Maybe I should have had fish or maybe they just aren't good with groups? There were about 20 of us. They served a very sad looking Caesar salad that was doused in dressing, and the gnocchi was overcooked, as was my filet mignon. The staff were clueless and inattentive. Sorry, just telling it like it is. I definitely wouldn't suggest this restaurant for groups, but perhaps as single tables from the regular menu the experience is different. It is also windowless and in the basement, so not suggested for beautiful spring days.
(1)
Amber D.
This place is a wonderful restaurant! It has authentic Italian feel. The food is excellent. The service is typical European style of casual but attentive service. Don't come to this place unless you are looking for a 2-3 hour experience, but you will be impressed by the food.
(5)
Debra L.
I made reservations a week before. When I arrived, they would not let me in the restaurant -- said it was reserved for a private party. They never called to cancel my reservation. The one person on staff there when I arrived was quite rude and told me to go some place else to eat. She refused to make a phone call to inquire as to what had happened to our reservation. I called the next day and talked to the manager. He said he would get back to me. He never called back. Are these people so independent that they don't care about their reputation?
(1)
Frank Z.
La Buca is a throw back to the heydays of traditional dining, Italian style, with an emphasis on fresh fish and shellfish. The restaurant can still lay claim to some of the freshest seafood in the city. Everyday the menu changes based on its availability. While that is certainly a main attraction, their pasta dishes are all of equal or even better quality. Fresh, homemade ingredients and skill accentuate even the traditional dishes such as linguine and clams. The dining rooms are spacious and low key, the service is gracious and friendly. They even have a very reasonable bar menu. For those of us living in the Washington Square area, this is certainly a local place to call your own or share with others.
(4)
Rob S.
We came here before our show at the a Walnut Theatre and wish we had more time to enjoy the ambiance. We had mentioned that we only had an hour until the show and our guy in "the white shirt" was very attentive to our timing. Our bread and water refilled nonstop. Our meals were out to us very quickly. I would recommend to any theatre goer before any show. We will be back again.
I love every single part of our meal from start to finish. The olive oil alone would make me come back to this restaurant. The staff was so friendly. Everyone had a thick accent which added to the charm. My sister absolutely ADORED the fact that you had to walk down those brick steps to get into the place. It was a bit dark for my liking, but no amount of light would have changed the experience we had. They sang happy birthday to my sister, and the other guests in the restaurant joined in. It was just food after food after food after food. Our table was never empty. The mozzarella is made in the kitchen!!! So blown away by the fresh cheese. And the tomatoes...OH EM GEE. Seriously hands down the best tomato I've ever had. Crab meat was perfect. Veal was overcooked, but still pretty tasty. Definitely old school. Basic, simple flavors. All put together extremely well. And the tiramisu, MIND BLOWING. I've never had it made the way it was made here. And I'm pretty positive it was layered with ice cream (could have been frozen whip, which was also homemade and amazing. The carts for the fish and deserts try to give it an upscale feel, but all the furniture and fixtures are pretty old. Definitely reminiscent of my grandparents home. Got to meet the chef / owner. Overall a great time. Price wise, a little expensive...$200 for 3 people. But worth every penny.
(5)
Lou M.
Expect tuxedoed waiters with white gloves in this cool subterranean venue. Fish cart is off the hook but a tired schtick, no one under 60 orders Dover Sole. With jimmy's Milan gone this is the last place to go in center city for REAL old school Italian. All Peurto Sr. clients (the ones who's cases he beat) all ate here back in the day. Good for a date when you wanted to be treated like a don
(4)
Kendrah R.
The decor of this place is a hoot and one should experience if for that alone. It is refreshing to eat in Center City in a place that is not loud and trendy. But, the food is really inconsistent. I have been twice to this restaurant. The first time I wanted to lick the sauce off my plate. I had fantastic swordfish that was cooked and seasoned perfectly. Super fresh. 5-star experience. The second visit I ordered the same item and it tasted like something my grandma would have made: canned olives and a sauce that tasted like a McCormick jar sauce. Not good. Tasted institutional.
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Street Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : No Good for Kids : No Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Dressy Ambience : Intimate Noise Level : Quiet Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : No Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
The immense popularity of Italian cuisine globally isn't unknown. You can find an Italian Pizzeria around every corner of almost every city in the United States. Not to forget that in every house, people enjoy mac and cheese as comfort food. But it would be wrong to believe that Italian food starts with pizza and ends with good pasta as this Mediterranean country has much more to offer other than these two dishes. In Italian Cuisine, there is a high use of fresh tomatoes, all kinds of herbs, great quality of cheese, all types of meat, seafood and fresh handmade pasta. Many find it hard to believe that Italians have been making noodles long back.
Italian and Greek cuisines are always mistaken to be same, but they are poles apart. The primary difference between the two cuisines is the use of cheese in most of the Italian dishes. Italians love to cultivate their own cheese and process them as per their food requirement. It is believed that some cheese is so expensive that cheese producers secure them in lockers.
If you are bored eating the same old pasta or pizza, you can try some of the authentic Italian dishes like Risotto, Polenta, Ribollita, Lasagna, Fiorentina Steak, Bottarga, Ossobuco, Carbonara, Focaccia, Arancini and Supplì. Another item which Italians love to relish every morning is a good cup of Italian Coffee. Once you taste a freshly brewed cup of Italian Coffee, you might not visit Starbucks ever again. Authentic Italian food is made with heart and soul, so go find a restaurant where you can relish Italian cuisine in your city.
Justine J.
The service here was phenomenal. Either the previous reviewers were just bratty or the management took what they had said to heart, which means even more in my book. Service was extremely attentive. Water class was always full. The server would constantly keep up updated on our food status without us even asking. Perhaps their meals take longer than average because they use fresh ingredients because their dishes do taste very fresh. The calamari would be a solid starter, as well was the wedding soup. Soup was a bit expensive for its size, but it was still delicious. The seafood appetizer (mussels and clams) were great. All shells were open and all the meat was there. I got the sword fish which was cooked to perfection and came with a generous steamed broccoli stalk that had that perfect crisp. My boyfriend had a pasta dish that was also very good called the Pappardelle ai Funghi e Mascarpone. I really do highly recommend this place regardless the previous negative reviews. Even if those reviews were true to an extent, the restaurant took it as constructive criticism and made a change. Give them a chance. P.S. When I ordered the soup, the waiter brought out an extra spoon "I case I decided to be nice and share" which I thought to be very thoughtful.
(5)Lisa P.
My parents and I had dinner here yesterday after I saw my doctor at Penn Hospital earlier. We made friendly conversation with Abraham who greeted us and he comforted me about my pending spine surgery. He offered to get me a pillow for my back. It was the most thoughtful and friendly service we have ever had! The staff was extremely attentive and we all LOVED OUR FOOD! The atmosphere does have that classic feeling. Yes, this restaurant has been around for almost 40 years and I can see why. They made a perfect dry gin martini to start. I loved my salad raddichio, shitake mushrooms and bacon, so delicious! For my dinner I ordered the scallops, seared to perfection, with savory swiss chard and creamy escalloped potatoes. For desert we shared the Italian rum cake, fabulous! Then they offered us an extra dish of it just to be kind! As we were leaving Abraham asked when my surgery was, I told him it was scheduled for next week. He told us they would be happy to make us all some soup during my stay at Penn Hospital!!! They are angels from heaven. This was the BEST ATTENTIVE SERVICE EVER. When I left I wanted to hug them all!! They even offered to open the door for me knowing I have back pain. I love the staff for how they treated us and I love the real Italian food!!!
(5)Loren C.
First, the good; Excellent bruschetta - very fresh and clean. Added celery to it for some reason but was good. Very limited wine menu but the chianti was good. And the pasta was tasty. Even the location had its charm if you enjoy OLD SCHOOL (note the caps, thinks 50s-70s) building and dining style. So why am I giving this a single star? This was the worst service I've ever experienced in 30 years of living (and trust me that's included alot of restaurants). After it took me a little extra to decide on my dining selection my wife and I were ignored (as in the waiter repeatedly!) as he walked past out table and refused to stop even when asked on numerous occasions. The manager Abraham swung by on occasion but gave us sarcastic half assed service. Upon asking why it took 30 minutes to make bruschetta he said it was made fresh and that he had checked so no worries. After that he barely came to us except at the end of the meal thinking maybe he deserved a tip. The waiter only spoke to us at the end of the meal thanking me for coming. Beyond that he didn't refill out water or check on us one time in the entire meal. We had tabled of older regulars or just older clientele go through multiple courses with numerous checks on them before we even got bruschetta - and I don't care how fresh it is it should never take 30 minutes. I don't ever plan on patronizing this restaurant again. Nor do I recommend anyone else do it.
(1)Cathy W.
We had a wonderful experience last night at Ristorante La Buca. Our waiter was very attentive, and our meal was delicious! We enjoyed Chicken Picatta and Chicken Parmesan with potatoes and broccoli...excellent! The desserts were terrific, too...cheesecake and strawberries with whipped cream. Thanks for a memorable meal...we will be back! :)
(5)David A.
Great little spot in the basement on Washington Square. Takes you back a few decades. Traditional and fresh Italian... Many dishes homemade. I recommend sitting at the bar area unless you are looking to order the whole branzino ( which is delicious). Don't expect fast service, but do expect God people watching and tasty food. They also have a Gluten Free pasta option! Love the Broccoli Rab e here
(4)Steve R.
Update on previous reviews. I went back today for lunch after a 2 month period since mty last visit. I was surprised to see the LUNCH menu prices had increased about 30%. The Panninis, which were $9.95 in February were now $12.95. The Pasta Sishest that were $6 (half) and $11 (full) are now $15-$16. The meat entrees (chicken dishes) which were $12.95 are now $15.95-$16.50 and desserts were formerly $5. and are now $7.00 the food is still excellent and portions substantial but it is not the "great lunch find" it was before as the prices are nearing dinner prices at nearby restaurants. I'm posting this because I previously called this a "bargain". I can't say it is such anymore. But the food IS good, and I'll back - just not as often.
(4)Nico L.
I was in Italy a few months ago and this place offers genuine Italian American cuisine. The ingredients may not be 100% from Italy, but the ambiance and the cuisine certainly are. We had a lovely server who was as proper as could be. Her presentation shows that she was taught very well. This place is perfect for a date or family gathering. In addition, the pricing on this is very easy to deal with. This is one of those small details that makes it much easier when there are so many different variations of pasta, chicken, veal, beef, etc. The only reason why it is not getting a perfect 5 is because the bread was not fresh and a bit stale. I will certainly come back here again in the future. Even though Yelp says it is not wheelchair accessible, it is! There is an elevator down
(4)Norm W.
Ristorante La Buca is my favorite restaurant. I especially enjoy the spinach with oil and garlic and the broccoli rabe with oil and garlic as appetizers. Then I usually select either sword fish or salmon from the cart. My wife loves the langastinos which are usually always offered from the cart, and a side of spaghetti with oil and garlic is a perfect complement. We always ask that Tom Daley be our server, the only Irish waiter in this fantastic Italian restaurant. We have never been disappointed with the food and service at this wonderful dining spot! We highly recommend Ristorante La Buca!
(5)Carrie R.
I went here with a group of five for dinner. First of all, the wine list was outdated & the wine we asked for wasn't available. Not a big deal, but I don't know why they haven't taken the time to update the menu. Anyway, we all agreed our food was delicious, but the staff was rude-- sighing and complaining about our questions & our payment (we were using a coupon & a credit card...it's not that difficult). Our group works in food service so we weren't being picky or rude. We're in our mid-twenties and the other parties were all much older, so maybe that was it, I don't know. If you make me feel unwelcome, fine, but I won't be going back or recommending the place.
(3)Lauren B.
This place is....in a time warp. That's probably the best way to describe it. If you want to be transported back in time to the era of Godfather (not when the movie came out, but the time the movie was taking place), then have a seat at La Buca. The waiters wear tuxedos and have accents (real or fake- not sure?) and use a cart with a plethora of fish to explain the daily specials (which I'm betting don't change). I had the Four Cheese with mushrooms papardelle and my friend had the linguine and meat sauce. I liked hers better than mine, but both were good. As for the true Godfather feel, there were 2 gentlemen in the corner quietly discussing backing the new casino Revel...not sure who they were but I thought it added to the gangster feel. lol.
(4)Douglas H.
We went there to have basic pasta the night before the Philadelphia Marathon. Big mistake. They were incredibly slow (almost 2 hours) and the food was either cold or burnt when it did arrive. The service was non-existent, even though we had reservations and they were not even close to being full. The waitor was slow and rude. The manager finally stepped in and gave us a 10% discount and apologized profusely.
(3)Paul B.
Went to this place with a group of people for restaurant week. It was a very uncomfortable experience. When we sat down, we asked for the wine list. The waiter instead of bringing it to us, listed the varieties of wine that they have there. After persistence in asking for the wine list, the waiter finally brought it out. (I have never heard of a restaurant that has a wine list refusing to bring one out to a table!) The food was ok, but nothing special. The appetizer I got was a spinach gnocchi. It was four pieces and not particularly good. I also tried someone else's minestrone soup appetizer. It was not very flavorful at all. It tasted like vegetables and beans just put into broth. For dinner I split a chicken stewed with wine and vegetables which was actually pretty delicious (the flavors really , with some else who chose the veal with mushrooms (wasn't good at all). When it came to paying for the check, the waiter yelled at us for only tipping 15%. When he gave us our money back so we could recount it, one of my friends threw in another $20 to give him a more acceptable tip. He hovered over us while we tried to resolve the bill (completely inappropriate in my opinion). As it turns out when we recounted the bill, there were two $20 bills stuck together and he was complaining over nothing. We ended up tipping 30% for a middling meal because the waiter made us feel uncomfortable. The food was decent, but the service by the waitstaff was so bad I would never go back to here.
(2)David B.
We are spoiled by the preponderance of good Italian American food here in eastern Massachusetts. I know Philly has some good stuff, too. La Buca is fair to middling. As other Yelpers have said, La Buca is a throw back to 20th century dining, decor and all, to decent but not spectacular Italian American food. I attended an evening business function with a fixed menu of Cesar Salad, pasta, and the choice of a protein. I was pleased that they abided my love of anchovies on my salad...thank you. The tri-color pasta was decent, a small taste of three pasta shapes in three sauces. Whatever I had for protein must have been unforgettable for I can't, for the life of me remember what it was! I appreciate the fact that the dinner was paid for but this is not a place I would go back to.
(2)Stephen A.
I am pretty forgiving and don't review much, but I the experience here deserves a warning to those who read the other reviews and need to know what they're getting into. I have to say that there wasn't any one major item that was terribly wrong, but the cumulative little things combined to make this a dinner I'd just rather just forget. First, the setting and ambiance. The other reviewer was right, it is stuck in a time warp, but not from the 40's or 50's as I'd imagined, more like the 70's, and not in a good way. It is below grade ("La Buca" translates to "the hole" or "pit," i.e., basement), with ceiling tiles and it is generally kind of shabby. Also, the lighting in the dining room is way too bright. The coatroom had hangers with tickets on them, but it was self-serve. No big deal. There is a bar up front, where the drinks looked generous, but we went straight to the table. The service is SLOW, from the moment we walked in we waited to have our reservation checked, and when seated it just took a long time to get everything. It seemed the servers did a lot of walking back and forth, sometimes with carts to deliver food, but often they seemed to be scampering around with nothing to do. The bread would have been good if it were fresh, and when I asked the server for olive oil, he told me all the bottles were being used and they didn't have any others. This in spite of the two tables nearby whose diners were clearly finished with them, he didn't have the sense to retrieve one. Ok. We ordered a bottle of wine, a nice Gavi for $40, and it was fine. The food, when it finally arrived, was just ok. I ordered one of the specials, which included choices. I had the Caesar salad, penne arrabbiata, and breaded chicken breast topped with prosciutto and mozzarella. The salad was ok, the penne was not spicy at all, but the chicken was actually pretty good. By the time it got to that course, though, it was too late. My companion ordered the pasta with mushrooms, and the sauce was really bland and not very appetizing. We left without even waiting for dessert, which was included with the meal. Just not worth the time, and if you've ever been in a situation like this, you know there's no way a dessert can redeem the meal. Best to cut your losses and run. As my dining companion observed, this place is for people who don't know any better, and I can't agree more, especially with all the terrific other options for Italian food in Philadelphia.
(1)Moe W.
As much as I don't want to write this, I find it necessary for 'caveat emptor.' I have been recommending this place for a long time. I have eaten there a few times a year. Most of the times it has been enjoyable. But on the times it hasn't, it REALLY hasn't. Once the bartender overcharged us for drinks - purposely. The last time - and this is the last time I'll eat there: We ordered a salad to be split between us 2. I SAW the waiter - WITH his bare hands - literally split the salad...right down to the nuts on top - THEN handle money and everything else. Since I was being treated, I didn't complain directly to the server, but told my friend. She decided to avoid a confrontation - just accepted the salad and didn't eat it. I know that most restaurants have occasional stories like this - - - but this was my CLINCHER for never to go back there. I'm sad, too - I liked it there. Update---- COCKROACH infestation!!!! Walk by the corner of 8/Locust above the restaurant ANY EVENING - - - guess where these cockroaches must live...
(2)Boting L.
The worst food I've had ever! I ordered medium rare filet and it was all burnt outside. The dessert was a disaster. I ordered chocolate mousse. It tastes like chocolate whipped cream. Not mousse at all! Never going back again!
(1)Susan S.
Ristorante La Buca met the needs of our large business group. However, as much as I wanted to embrace the decor as old school charming, it just seemed tired and past its prime. The separate room for where we were seated felt like someone's do-it-yourself basement redo from decades gone by. That said, the staff was very attentive, engaging, and professional which made up, to some degree, for the lackluster surroundings. I had the bronzino, grilled simply and was able to substitute penne arrabiata for the potato and veg. I loved my dinner. The spinach and fennel salad was a little ho-hum---the spinach was tough and fennel a little difficult to manage without lots of intervention from a knife and fork. Could you find better Italian in Philly? Probably.
(3)Josh K.
Ristorante La Buca is a wonderful throwback to the Italian restaurants of the 1950s. Regrettably, it is 2011. The decor of the restaurant itself is terribly dated, and the lighting is either non-existent or entirely too stark. The furniture could be found at a yard sale or, perhaps, a Long John Silvers and is ill-matched for the prices on the menu. Regarding the menu, the specials looked delicious, and the offerings are incredibly classic and refreshing in their traditionalism. I tried the Penne Arrabiata which was acceptable, but it certainly was not something I'd rave about. La Buca's shining star is its dedicated, warm, professional, and well-spoken staff. Our waiter was attentive, knew the menu and specials inside and out, and carted out desserts and specials for our perusal. This was a delightful, classic touch to the standard dining out experience. I would recommend La Buca with a cautionary note about not expecting to be thrilled with the decor or atmopshere but to be quite happy with the wonderful staff.
(2)Mina N.
It's regrettably located in a basement which can make you feel like you stumbled on a treasure. Afterwards, it feels like just a few silver coins though. The food is the best part of the experience with authentic dishes that don't rely on the safety net of heavy butter or ton oil. Meals came out fresh with just the right amount of sauce. The waitstaff is understaffed and clearly not trained. Decor is old and a bit run down. All in all though, go for a great meal and forget everything else about the place.
(3)Joe D.
This place has the potential to be good but seems to be past its prime. My wife and I waited for over an hour from the time we ordered our entrees to when they were brought out to us (granted we had an appetizer, but still). The cart of seafood they roll out to show you the specials of the day was kind of weird, and the service was slow and inattentive. Our pastas were good but by that point we both wanted to get out of there as fast we we could. After a "leisurely" two hour dinner I can say with certainty that we won't be back.
(2)Dominic C.
We had a similar experience to Douglas H. We also went there the night before the Philadelphia Marathon and had reservations for 6pm for a party of 7. When we arrived the restaurant was at best 25% full with maybe 2 parties of 6+ people, one which was done with dinner and ordering dessert. Like Paul B. we had difficulty ordering a bottle of wine because the waitress had to track down their single wine menu. Took a little long to take our order, but not excruciating. After ordering, took at least an hour and 15 minutes to serve the soup and salad. Our waitress told us the kitchen staff is having difficulties but the food will be out soon. After the soup and salads were served, it took about another hour to serve the entrees. In the meantime, other tables were served that arrived after us. (Maybe they called in their order.) Our waitress was apologetic and gave us a 10% discount. She was also visibly frazzled and maybe a bit embarrassed for a situation apparently out of her control. The manager did not come to our table. When we approached him, while he was tending to things at the bar and a single costumer, he was also apologetic. The food was good, but the quality of the in-house pasta varied. The orecchiette was good but the spaghetti did not have the quality of fresh pasta. Wouldn't recommend this restaurant if there is an event in Philadelphia, so that probably rules out a lot of dates.
(2)David C.
We bought some gift cards from restaurant.com for this place. It's a quiet little underground (physically) eatery right off of Washington Square. The waiter was dressed in a tuxedo, which was at some times uncomfortable for us, as we were dressed casual...in t shirts and shorts. It seems that on a weekday, later in the evening, this place is dead. There was one middle aged couple dining, and maybe 4 people at the bar. Perhaps it's the economy, but hey, you could've bought 80% coupons like us! The waiter was very Italian, so perhaps the mannerisms that occasionally seemed rude were just the missing bridge in culture? The food was the best part of the experience... we ordered clams & linguine, the sushi quality tuna, and a chicken & peppers dish. All three were delicious. (We ate family style, which seemed strange to the server, but we did ask ahead of time, and he said he would "put the dishes in the middle of the table" but then made some comment about "each person" orders a dish and "that's how we do here." Confused by his choice of words occasionally, we brushed it off once the food arrived. Three dishes split among 4 people was plenty of food, and we didn't have space for dessert. Perhaps we'll visit again with 5 people and 3 dishes, and we'll confuse the server some more and then order dessert.
(3)Julia T.
I was here with a large group for work and we were off in our own room. In fact, I have been there with this large group every 2 years for the past 6 or 8 years. It's sort of a tradition. I think that the food here is solid. I wouldn't rave about it but it is good. The fish cart freaks me out a little bit. I have seen cheese carts and dessert carts, but never a fish cart. I had a penne arrabbiata and it was really good. Spicy without being overwhelming and very fresh tasting. Salad and bread good. Really, all around good but nothing special kind of sums up how I feel about this place.
(3)Elisabeth E.
Hands down the best northern Italian restaurant in the city. The fresh seafood cart holds delicious gems from the sea - steamers, branzino done PERFECTLY, there's a pasta misto course that is not on the menu, but ask for it by name and you'll taste spinach gnocchi that rivals vetri. veal is also a specialty of the house. they keep beautiful bottles of italian red win in their cellar. and the price is so sweet for the quality of food. AND, you can actually hear the conversation going on at your table without yelling. This place can be romantic, can be the site for your parents' visit, can be the place to have exsquisite gourmet food with a group of 10. Leave room for cheescake or tiramisu or chocolate mousse or italian rum cake or just some beautiful fresh strawberries and cream. ENJOY!
(5)Harry W.
Had a great dinner with my wife and friends. Yes the decor is old and needs updating but the food was very good, we all enjoyed it and the prices are decent. One of the better Italian dinners we have had in some time and was a great beginning before seeing Jersey Boys at the Forest. We will be back!
(4)Chris S.
Wasn't very impressed. Had a multi-course dinner here, so let me take you through each one. 1) Salad -- Actually pretty good. Big solid hunk of goat cheese made my day, and lack of lettuce! 2) Pasta w/ shittake mushrooms -- The best part of the meal, and even this wasn't absolutely great. It's probably because I like mushrooms. The pasta was cooked al dente. 3) Chicken cutlet -- Chicken was on the dry side and the sauce wasn't great. It was....so-so. I've had better chicken dishes at home. 4) Something that was between ice cream and whipped cream. Had to stop 1/3 of the way because it was just way too sweet, and not that great. So, overall...great service, great atmosphere, but the food wasn't much better than what you could throw together at home.
(2)Adam P.
I found a coupon for La Buca on Restaurant.com . Unfortunately, I forgot to use Google Translate to determine what "la buca" means beforehand. It turns out that "la buca" means "the pit," which would be a good description for this subterranian restaurant. Although it had no windows, its walls were covered in imitations of famous Italian frescos, including Botticelli's "The Birth of Venus". The space also had some tacky gray carpeting. Students beware; this place caters to the AARP crowd. For dinner, I went for the filet mignon. While I admit that I'm not exactly much of a meat person, I have to say that it wasn't particularly flavorful. The meat was complemented by two small potato slices and about two ounces of vegetable medley in some sort of cream sauce. A dinner I could have done without. Nonetheless, this is a "fancy" place that you can go to if you are in the mood for going to a fancy place.
(3)C K.
really random and not obvious from the outside. Everything we tried (steak, fish, shrimp, dessert) was excellent. Would definitely go back again.
(4)Rachel U.
There are times when you are left waiting what seems like forever for your food, but when it arrives the quality of the food makes up for the wait. This was not one of those times. It took them almost an hour to take our order, and seemed disheartened when we didn't order any drinks, despite never being given drink menus. They had a whole tray displaying the night's specials, which was never brought over, and once taking our orders it was another 45 minutes before we were served. The food was fine, large servings of (slightly over cooked) pasta and meats in each of our dishes, and probably would have seemed better had we not had to wait so long for it. The waiter never again came back to the table, to ask how the food was or if we needed anything else. Yes, we were the youngest ones there, and yes we were dressed like we'd been walking around in the 100 degree heat all day (because we had been), but I heard other patrons complaining about the absense of waitstaff as well, so go figure. The most attentive of the staff was the guy refilling the waters, who also brought us more bread without us asking, the vinegar, fresh parmesan and pepper, and the bill as soon as we asked for it, since we weren't sure if we'd ever see our waiter again. I'd be tempted to give them another star just for him, but...
(2)David S.
Good traditional Italian restaurant. Menu emphasizes seafood, but really everything is excellent. Appreciate the quiet elegance, but definitely not the first choice for a trendy menu or the see and be seen scene.
(4)Jessica H.
Maybe I should have had fish or maybe they just aren't good with groups? There were about 20 of us. They served a very sad looking Caesar salad that was doused in dressing, and the gnocchi was overcooked, as was my filet mignon. The staff were clueless and inattentive. Sorry, just telling it like it is. I definitely wouldn't suggest this restaurant for groups, but perhaps as single tables from the regular menu the experience is different. It is also windowless and in the basement, so not suggested for beautiful spring days.
(1)Amber D.
This place is a wonderful restaurant! It has authentic Italian feel. The food is excellent. The service is typical European style of casual but attentive service. Don't come to this place unless you are looking for a 2-3 hour experience, but you will be impressed by the food.
(5)Debra L.
I made reservations a week before. When I arrived, they would not let me in the restaurant -- said it was reserved for a private party. They never called to cancel my reservation. The one person on staff there when I arrived was quite rude and told me to go some place else to eat. She refused to make a phone call to inquire as to what had happened to our reservation. I called the next day and talked to the manager. He said he would get back to me. He never called back. Are these people so independent that they don't care about their reputation?
(1)Frank Z.
La Buca is a throw back to the heydays of traditional dining, Italian style, with an emphasis on fresh fish and shellfish. The restaurant can still lay claim to some of the freshest seafood in the city. Everyday the menu changes based on its availability. While that is certainly a main attraction, their pasta dishes are all of equal or even better quality. Fresh, homemade ingredients and skill accentuate even the traditional dishes such as linguine and clams. The dining rooms are spacious and low key, the service is gracious and friendly. They even have a very reasonable bar menu. For those of us living in the Washington Square area, this is certainly a local place to call your own or share with others.
(4)Rob S.
We came here before our show at the a Walnut Theatre and wish we had more time to enjoy the ambiance. We had mentioned that we only had an hour until the show and our guy in "the white shirt" was very attentive to our timing. Our bread and water refilled nonstop. Our meals were out to us very quickly. I would recommend to any theatre goer before any show. We will be back again.
(5)Jeff H.
La Buca is a classic. This subterranean old-school Italian restaurant is almost the last of its generation in Philadelphia. But it is so awesome to have a spot which I can step into and see how my parents and grandparents dined once upon a time. And fortunately the food is excellent - it actually is. The meatballs with red gravy were very tasty and then we came to the amazing pasta. The Augustus Caesar of all pasta dishes originates from Rome (or more specifically to the east of Rome in the province of Lazio.) It is Pasta all'Amatriciana! The sauce with its mouth-watering combination of guanciale, pecorino, onion, and tomato is the favorite of so many of my Italian friends. Yet in Philadelphia only a very select few restaurants have this concoction on their menu. La Buca is one of them and their Rigatoni all'Amatriciana was perfect! Also of note here - the hot pepper flakes were actually hot and the grated cheese 'cheesy'. Service is by a friendly well-dressed older gentleman whose sole aim is to serve you in a professional yet friendly manner. The décor is replete with colorful murals and paintings. Walk around and view them. Tables at La Buca should be in heavy demand. A historic city like Philadelphia needs to keep the doors open of some restaurants from past generations. Go to La Buca and enjoy the tasty Rigatoni all'Amatriciana!!
(5)PA19124 0.
I love every single part of our meal from start to finish. The olive oil alone would make me come back to this restaurant. The staff was so friendly. Everyone had a thick accent which added to the charm. My sister absolutely ADORED the fact that you had to walk down those brick steps to get into the place. It was a bit dark for my liking, but no amount of light would have changed the experience we had. They sang happy birthday to my sister, and the other guests in the restaurant joined in. It was just food after food after food after food. Our table was never empty. The mozzarella is made in the kitchen!!! So blown away by the fresh cheese. And the tomatoes...OH EM GEE. Seriously hands down the best tomato I've ever had. Crab meat was perfect. Veal was overcooked, but still pretty tasty. Definitely old school. Basic, simple flavors. All put together extremely well. And the tiramisu, MIND BLOWING. I've never had it made the way it was made here. And I'm pretty positive it was layered with ice cream (could have been frozen whip, which was also homemade and amazing. The carts for the fish and deserts try to give it an upscale feel, but all the furniture and fixtures are pretty old. Definitely reminiscent of my grandparents home. Got to meet the chef / owner. Overall a great time. Price wise, a little expensive...$200 for 3 people. But worth every penny.
(5)Lou M.
Expect tuxedoed waiters with white gloves in this cool subterranean venue. Fish cart is off the hook but a tired schtick, no one under 60 orders Dover Sole. With jimmy's Milan gone this is the last place to go in center city for REAL old school Italian. All Peurto Sr. clients (the ones who's cases he beat) all ate here back in the day. Good for a date when you wanted to be treated like a don
(4)Kendrah R.
The decor of this place is a hoot and one should experience if for that alone. It is refreshing to eat in Center City in a place that is not loud and trendy. But, the food is really inconsistent. I have been twice to this restaurant. The first time I wanted to lick the sauce off my plate. I had fantastic swordfish that was cooked and seasoned perfectly. Super fresh. 5-star experience. The second visit I ordered the same item and it tasted like something my grandma would have made: canned olives and a sauce that tasted like a McCormick jar sauce. Not good. Tasted institutional.
(3)