Buca di Beppo Awards

Buca di Beppo Restaurant Review:

Big, big meals geared for the whole family---maybe the whole neighborhood---are the big hits at Buca di Beppo, a casual Italian eatery whose name translates as Joe’s basement. All this implies is the informality of food, service, and décor---the last being rather kitschy, folksy, and eclectic with strings of Christmas lights brightening the scene. To get its full impact, feel free to wander around the maze-like restaurant, though you may need a scout to help you find your way back to your table. Be sure to include an order of garlic bread, especially with mozzarella, to start, and if you add on a salad, realize that there’s so much lettuce that it will overflow the bowl. Pizzas by one estimate are two-feet round, though that may be exaggerated, but pastas, even those marked small, will feed several people, probably for several meals. And as for dessert, don’t pass up the tiramisu, which here is a giant hunk of cake dusted with chocolate and layered with triple-cream cheese. Yum!