Il Buco

10/05/08

The best Italian food hands down!!!!!!!!

by nickyoung at Citysearch

I've even had the luxury of living in Rome, Italy when I was growing up and going to the best restaurants with my folks..and this place is the best Italian food i've ever had. The owner is always extremely personable and gracious. I love taking my girlfriend here for a romantic evening. Try the Lasagna Della Nona or their pumpkin Ravioli...Pizza is incredible too!!!!

• Pros: incredible food and intimate atmosphere
• Cons: wish i could eat there every night

09/03/07

Going downhill

by leonalip at Citysearch

At one time, I used to enjoy going to this place, but I won't be going back again. It's an Italian restaurant but nobody who works there is Italian. I get a sense the staff lack proper training, like maybe the owner is too busy with his other restaurants. Too many times I've gone here and sent food back. The time before last I ordered chicken and was served a charred, overcooked piece of meat. Last night I ordered a salad with a calamari steak and the calamari tasted like it had been cooked on a dirty grill. It tasted like old charred grease. Someone came around and asked how my meal was. I told them the calamari wasn't right. He said, "Okay, I'll go check with the cook," but that was the last I saw of him. My waiter was friendly but unpolished. When it was time for desert, he just came over and tossed desert menus at us and walked away, never asking if we wanted desert or not -- we didn't. Anyhow, I can't go back there again and pay good money for terrible food and lousy service. This restaurant is going downhill. The owner has several successful restaurants in Beverly Hills, and it's clear he is just standing back and collecting a check on this one.

• Pros: Convenient location, friendly staff
• Cons: Subpar food

06/15/07

Good Italian doesn't make up for nightmarish wait and negligent service.

by babystrange at Citysearch

I went to Il Buco for the first time with my parents recently. We were seated promptly and placed our orders within a few minutes, so initially I would have ranked the service at average or above. After enjoying some of their seasoned bread and a glass of delicious Prosecco, I was eager to experience what else this simple, casual establishment had to offer cuisine-wise. My enthusiasm would dissipate with time. LOTS of time. Ninety minutes to be exact before our food arrived (apparently they were harvesting the semolina to make our pasta dishes?). Our server also neglected to apologize or even ask us if we wanted our drinks refreshed. Upon the eventual arrival of my food, I discovered they'd used the wrong kind of pasta in my pesto (The menu promised lasagnette, which is hard to find so I was excited. What did I get but run of the mill linguini.). The food was good enough I am open to going back but I'll obviously block out a whole evening.