You can get anything you want...

A doorway leading to a
world of culinary imagination.

Bucca di Beppo’s interior is perhaps the largest restaurant space I’ve ever had the pleasure of exploring. The place is a cavernous maze of hallways, rooms, niches, and intimate corner nooks. Each space has been customized with a unique theme. You can dine with the pope, sit in a room sporting a ceiling of classic movie posters or enjoy lunch in a Bacchanalian celebration of wine.

Whenever Felicia and I are visiting Columbus, Ohio we make it a point to visit this establishment. The dishes are served family style, which simply means that food is served on large platters just like your mom would bring to the dinner table at home. Sharing is the order of the day at Buca di Beppo’s. You can take a group of friends to this restaurant, have everyone order a different dish and wind up enjoying a feast lasting for hours. (Trust me; this is not a dinning experience you’ll want to hurry.)

A cornucopia of color and
humorous treats for the eyes.

One of my favorite anti-pastas is the pan fried fresh mozzarella. Generous thick cuts of Mozzarella are lightly breaded and then fried quickly to preserve the texture of the cheese inside. The marinara sauce that accompanies the appetizer is garden fresh and adds a zesty kick to an already tasty dish. Follow this up with their Caesar salad and you have the perfect combination for a light lunch. I hope you are like Felicia and I when it comes to taste buds because the anchovy paste in this salad is wonderful.

The Penne Arrabbiata is one of my favorite entrees. This dish is spicy without searing the tongue. Crushed red peppers are served over pasta in a marinara sauce and topped with a spicy sausage. Tears may spring forth from your eyes but only in happiness and not as a result of overpowering heat.

Every room is unique and unusual.

A trip to Buca di Beppo’s would not be complete without a slice of their homemade cheesecake. I always order a cup of coffee and a slice after dinner even if I plan on boxing it up and taking it home for later. This is a dessert you may want to plan on sharing because they sure do serve you up a heaping helping of generosity when you order this tasty treat. Picture if you will the largest single serving of cheesecake you’ve ever seen swimming in raspberry sauce and topped with crushed hazelnuts. This is heaven on a plate with a side order of ecstasy.

If you are ever in Columbus, Ohio and looking for a superb dinning experience in an atmosphere of genuine Italian surroundings this is the place to go. This establishment is as much a feast for the eyes as it is for the belly. From start to finish Buca di Beppo's truly provides a quality culinary adventure. I would strongly recommend this fine eatery to anyone looking for a place to entertain friends or simply celebrate a special occasion like my wife and I did on our wedding anniversary.

Bon appetite!