Buca di Beppo

Buca di Beppo Restaurant Review:

When the moon hits your eye like a big pizza pie, that’s Buca di Beppo for you. Picture Frank Sinatra crooning over the sound system, black-and-white photos of JFK adorning the walls and the tables swathed in red-and-white checked tablecloths. At this, the original---and best---Buca, it feels like some guy’s basement restaurant in Little Italy. Family-style portions have everyone leaving after their meal (discreetly) loosening their belt buckles, smiling and carrying big bags of leftovers. Even the "small" sizes of menu items serve two or three, ostensibly in hopes of luring couples into this madcap, group-oriented dining experience. We recommend the chicken Marsala with its wine-sweetened mushrooms, tender chicken and garlic mashed potatoes. Or sample the pastas---we’re partial to the chicken cannelloni and the baked manicotti---both perfect for warding off the infamous Minnesota chill. Tiramisu gets decent marks for its liberal dose of espresso and dark rum; like everything else, it’s served in a portion large enough to impress even a diehard dessert connoisseur.