Buca di Beppo may have bulge out as a small , family - dash eating place in Minneapolis , but the eclectic Italian strand now has nearly 100 locations in the U.S. and UK . Grab some friends and mob and savour these facts about what makes them a kinsperson - sized success .
1. THE FIRST BUCA DI BEPPO OPENED IN THE BASEMENT OF A MINNEAPOLIS APARTMENT BUILDING.
In 1993 , Twin Cities restaurateur Phil Roberts teamed up with restaurant manager Joseph Micatrotto to open Buca Little Italy . They expanded their approximation to create an " unchained chain " restaurant in multiple localization . Roberts envisioned his novel , family - flair Italian joint as an choice to what he saw as biscuit - cutter restaurants .
2. THE NAME TRANSLATES TO ‘JOE’S BASEMENT.’
Though " buca " technically read from Italian as " hole , " it is ordinarily used as a terminus for a cellar . Combining that with " Beppo"—a moniker for Giuseppe ( the Italian version of " Joseph")—loosely translates to " Joe ’s Basement , " which was quite appropriate , considering their first emplacement .
3. ALL THE FOOD IS SERVED IN LARGE, FAMILY-STYLE PORTIONS.
the 3786 cups of water via Flickr//CC BY - NC - ND 2.0
sweetheart at the eating house can be enjoy in two sizes , small and big , which are intended to feed at least two people , or as many as 20 if you opt for a genus Pan of pasta . Their meatball , weighing in at a half - Cypriot pound , has its own online gallery offamous fanslike Shaquille O’Neal and Jenny McCarthy .
4. THE DECOR IS MEANT TO RESEMBLE A POST-WORLD WAR II ITALIAN NEIGHBORHOOD.
The walls of Buca di Beppo are describe with photos of Italian immigrant and artifacts from the post - war long time . Multiple roomsare themed : The walls and ceiling of the Poster Room are covered with vintage Italian bill poster , and in the Wine Room , wine bottles , vine , and twinkle lights decorate the cap .
5. ITS DECOR IS INTENTIONALLY HIDEOUS.
Purple Slog via Flickr//CC BY 2.0
" When we started Buca , all the Italian eatery were sleek and slick , with marble and chamfer chalk and granite and all that , " its founding father , Phil Robertsonce said . " So I said , ‘ You know ? I desire a sleeves - up restaurant where the guest feel ranking to the restaurant , rather than being depend down on . ’ That ’s why the interiors of Buca are so tasteless . " Once , Roberts overhear a cleaning lady say her husband that " some god - awful " statue in the restaurant was so tacky that she ’d never allow it in her home . Roberts was thrilled : " I thought , ' Yes ! Yes ! Yes ! We did it ! ' "
6. YOU CAN DINE WITH THE POPE AT EVERY BUCA DI BEPPO LOCATION.
Kevin Dooley via Flickr//CC BY 2.0
In addition to the Poster and Wine rooms , large party of 12 - 18 can reserve the " Pope Room . " It ’s adorn with statues , pic , and memorabilia from Vicar of Christ past in addition to a large round table in the nub of which sit a bust of the pope on a Lazy Susan , to help you divvy up boodle and salad .
7. A RELIGIOUS FIGURE HAS BLESSED THE OPENING OF EVERY LOCATION.
While some Catholic officialsare less than amusedat the more or less godless aspect of Buca di Beppo ’s decor ( which include a photographic print ofThe Creation of Adamfrom the Sistine Chapel that has a speech house of cards of God saying " Pull my fingerbreadth " ) , the company enounce it ’s all in practiced sport and that the spiritual artifacts are all part of respect the Italian immigrant experience . And while the company traditionallyhas a priest issue forth to bless the openingof each new location , they ’ve been known to havea local rabbido the honors before .
8. ACTOR JASON SCHWARTZMAN ONCE GOT FIRED FROM A BUCA DI BEPPO—IN A MOVIE.
In a scene from last year ’s indie comedy7 Chinese Brothers , Schwartzman ’s character gets fired from a Buca di Beppo for allegedly stealing $ 5 out of a $ 10 backsheesh . His fictional character order goodbye to the kitchen faculty and steals a bottle of liquor on the means out . marvel what the pope would think about that ?
