Yesterday my sister invited us to go out for dinner. Before I even thought about asking where, I answered with an enthusiastic “yes”. Then he told me that he was going to dine at Buca di Beppo. Buca di Beppo?, I asked, “What is it?”. Little did I know that I had experienced homemade Italian in the best food.
We arrived a little early for our reservation, but it was totally ok, as the pictorial wall of the restaurant was delightful. Fake pictures, chachkis and signs adorn almost every inch of wall space throughout the restaurant. There are portraits of the famous and the unknown, but I think my favorites are portraits of saints and priests and Catholics in general. You probably had to grow up attending Catholic schools to get to know them fully, and if you do, they are priceless.
When it was time to sit down, we were actually led through the kitchen to our table. Also in Buca di Beppo, reserve a table in the kitchen. As we walked to the table, the hostess pointed to a room they call “the pope’s table”. The table seated about ten diners and its centerpiece featured a portrait of the current Pope, Pope Benedict XVI.
A little while after we were seated, our waiter came to the table and asked if we had dined in the restaurant before. He grabbed a chair, sat down next to us, and began to explain the choices and portions to us. At Bucam, all family style wings are served and can be ordered either small or large. The menu included everything one could hope for in an Italian restaurant. Ravioli, spaghetti, lasagna, mastacholli and pizza are all listed. But there are also many surprises, like lemon and garlic mashed potatoes. Garlic mashed potatoes that you have probably never experienced before in your life. Spaghetti with half a pound of meatballs the size of a softball, no kidding. Some of the freshest tasting pasta I’ve ever had the pleasure of eating. garlic bread garlic cloves embedded inside bread, soups and salads that are not easily improved and the best tiramisu in the world.
I have to say exactly what I used to be the best part of my Buca di Beppo. The unusual food, the impeccable service and the decor attracted me. But since this is a restaurant, I guess it should be the food that wins the show the most. I will never look at mashed potatoes the same way again. Buca di Beppo definitely has the best garlic mashed potatoes I’ve ever eaten and the tiramisu is worth a trip to the restaurant in itself.
