Buca di Beppo on Harmon Place is where the national Italian-American chain began. It opened in 1993 in this downtown Minneapolis building near Loring Park, and the name refers to the restaurant’s below-street-level dining room (“buca” means basement in Italian). Diners come for platters built for sharing, big portions and a deliberately over-the-top room.
Dishes arrive family-style in two sizes: Small feeds one to two people and Large feeds three to four (source: Menupedia). Regulars order the spaghetti with a single oversized meatball, chicken parmigiana and baked ziti, along with salads loaded with salami, pepperoni, provolone, feta and Gorgonzola (source: Buca di Beppo). The walls are covered with vintage photos, Catholic kitsch and celebrity portraits, and the tables wear red-and-white checkered cloths. Larger parties can ask for special rooms like the Pope Room, which centers on a papal bust.
Visitor Highlights & Practical Info
The chain has shrunk to about 40 U.S. locations and changed ownership after leaving Planet Hollywood in 2024 (source: Wikipedia). Check current hours on the official locations page before you go. Reserve ahead for groups, especially on weekend evenings and before concerts at nearby Orchestra Hall. Weekday early dinners are calmer. Order fewer platters than you think you need, since leftovers are common. The Walker Art Center, the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden and Loring Park are within walking distance, and Metro Transit buses run along nearby Hennepin Avenue.
