Former Buca di Beppo Location

lonnie · Post by **lonnie** » Wed Nov 09, 2005 4:18 pm

I noticed today that "Buca di Beppo" on Oak View Drive has closed.

The windows are boarded-up with plywood...

Great location, question is if another restaurant will take its place.

Lonnie

Bellevue Kid · Post by **Bellevue Kid** » Wed Nov 09, 2005 4:23 pm

That was a good place. I've eaten there 5-6 times and I had to wait every single time. Strange. Like lonnie said it is a good location, and something will have to take that space.

loyalomahan · Post by **loyalomahan** » Wed Nov 09, 2005 4:55 pm

The website would suggest that the one in Des Moines closed as well.

lonnie · Post by **lonnie** » Wed Nov 09, 2005 8:59 pm

Things aren't great in BUCA land:

BUCA, Inc. Announces Delay in Filing Third Quarter 2005 Results
http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/051104/20051104005663.html?.v=2

"The company also announced that it is closing promptly three of the company's lower performing Buca di Beppo restaurants."

Lonnie

Ingersoll1978 · Post by **Ingersoll1978** » Wed Nov 09, 2005 10:44 pm

That's news to us in DM! I'll have to drive by there tomorrow. Both of our markets have been unundated with chain restaurants.

OmahaRules · Post by **OmahaRules** » Wed Nov 09, 2005 10:56 pm

Well their marketing sucked and honestly who wants to eat at a restaruant when they cant even pronounce the name of it? Me for one I am maybe a little picky when it comes to going out but my theory is "There are so many places to eat in this town you have to stand out and if you don't I wont eat there"

eomaha · Post by **eomaha** » Wed Nov 09, 2005 11:01 pm

Who needs Buca Di Beppo when you've got Lo Sole Mio!

(another one of those local gems which 80% of the suburbanites don't even know about)

Post by **Omaha Cowboy** » Wed Nov 09, 2005 11:03 pm

They continue to advertise in the City-Weekly and The Reader..

Are we completely sure the place has closed???

..Ciao..LiO....Peace

Ingersoll1978 · Post by **Ingersoll1978** » Wed Nov 09, 2005 11:19 pm

If its boarded up, I would assume it is. Unless they are doing a remodel or something? The phone number in Des Moines hasn't been disconnected, but there was no answer. I ate there once. I didn't like the "family" style eating porportions...so I never went back.

eomaha · Post by **eomaha** » Wed Nov 09, 2005 11:24 pm

On their website if you click on Nebraska and Iowa... an error comes up! I'd say they're definitely closed.

I didn't like the family oriented portion menu either. For the past few months I did notice a 'new menu' sign outside... but we never took the time to check it out (and we had a $10 off card that came in the mail... oh well).

adam186 · Post by **adam186** » Wed Nov 09, 2005 11:25 pm

Ingersoll1978 wrote:If its boarded up, I would assume it is. Unless they are doing a remodel or something? The phone number in Des Moines hasn't been disconnected, but there was no answer. I ate there once. I didn't like the "family" style eating porportions...so I never went back.

They should've expanded their "target market". Not everybody eats w/ a large family. I think each menu item served 4 people, not exactly a place to go on date...unless you haven't eaten in a couple of days or like leftovers.

nebport5 · Post by **nebport5** » Thu Nov 10, 2005 12:55 am

I ate at one in Chicago for the first time and got sick. Some friends of mine ate at the one in Omaha when it open and they got sick.

needless to say we've never been back.

Even if the food was descent, "family style" was a rediculous marketing concept.

For a chain Italian restaurant you have to be pretty d*mn good to survive in Omaha with all of the great locally owned places...Lo Sole Mio(like Jeff mentioned) Vincenzo's and etc.

Didn't care much for Macaroni Grill, never been to Carraba's, Grsanti's seems to have slipped but I still love their bread.

Has anyone ever gone to Spezia's, is it still around?

Post by **Omaha Cowboy** » Thu Nov 10, 2005 1:18 am

Carraba's is a pretty good place..

Yeah, when you click on Nebraska and Iowa, this is what you get off Buca's web site:

http://www.bucadibeppo.com/loc_index.as ... ID=NE#List

Looks like Buca may very well be a done deal in Nebraska and Iowa..

..Ciao..LiO....Peace

Swift · Post by **Swift** » Thu Nov 10, 2005 1:41 am

Where is Le Sole Mio?

Post by **Omaha Cowboy** » Thu Nov 10, 2005 3:08 am

Swift wrote:Where is Le Sole Mio?

32nd and Pacific..

..Ciao..LiO....Peace

zedmib · Post by **zedmib** » Thu Nov 10, 2005 7:40 am

Are we talking about the Lo Sole Mio at 32nd and Oak?
http://www.dexonline.com/servlet/Action ... Form=BASIC

If so, its a classy place with fine food. A little dark inside. The last time we went I had to give my father my mini mag lite so he could read the menu.

icejammer · Post by **icejammer** » Thu Nov 10, 2005 8:20 am

Even if the food was descent, "family style" was a rediculous marketing concept.

Never having ate there, I'm not sure what their concept of "family style" was, but it's worked very well in other places (usually Mom & Pop joints, not a chain though).

joeglow · Post by **joeglow** » Thu Nov 10, 2005 8:57 am

Swift wrote:Where is Le Sole Mio?

Holy cow. You NEED to go there TODAY. WHEN THEY OPEN. I cannot eat Italian anywher in this town because of Lo Sole Mio. They have by far the best food and the portions could feed a small town.

Finn · Post by **Finn** » Thu Nov 10, 2005 9:41 am

Buca has great Italian food and the "family portion" makes it a fun event as an eating experience. They have done very well in larger markets and continue to do so. It is a great place to take a group of friends and the atmosphere is loud and friendly. It is pretty casual and they usually have several dining rooms in the restaurant to prevent the open feel of the chain restaurants. I'm not surprised that it did not survive in the suburbs as it is more of an urban element and probably needs a larger market.

jsheets · Post by **jsheets** » Thu Nov 10, 2005 9:50 am

How about Malara's? Another classic Omaha Italian restaurant. They are near 21st and Pierce, if memory serves me.

Oh, and how about the Son's of Italy lunches? Great food, with a little mafia undertones :-)

icejammer · Post by **icejammer** » Thu Nov 10, 2005 10:58 am

jsheets wrote:Oh, and how about the Son's of Italy lunches? Great food, with a little mafia undertones :-)

Heard more than a few stories along those lines from my father-in-law....

Post by **Brad** » Thu Nov 10, 2005 6:22 pm

Holy cow. You NEED to go there TODAY. WHEN THEY OPEN. I cannot eat Italian anywher in this town because of Lo Sole Mio. They have by far the best food and the portions could feed a small town.

I would say there is a huge portion of omaha that has never been there or even knows it exists.

Hal Dawg · Post by **Hal Dawg** » Fri Nov 11, 2005 9:48 am

Spezia is very, very good.

Big E · Post by **Big E** » Fri Nov 11, 2005 10:22 am

Lo Sole Mio's is fantastic, but it is very "home style". Don't expect "cuisine" when you go (and I can't stress enough that you SHOULD GO).

We ate at Nicola's in the Old Market (12th and Jackson?) a week or so ago. It's a little higher end style of food in my book. They are both great Italian, but very different styles.

I can't recommend against Vivace's enough. Talk about expensive Chef Boy-R-Dee. I have no idea how the folks responsible for other great restaurants can kick out Italian that bad. It's a shame, because the atmosphere is exceptional.

-Big E

Richard · Post by **Richard** » Wed Nov 16, 2005 7:11 pm

I ate at the Buca in Houston when they opened and got sick. As for Lo Sole whatever it is quite possibly the worst immitation of Italian food I've ever tasted in my life. It is a mystery to me how this place always gets best of in Omaha. We ate there with friends and everyone hated their food...as I recall the bread and dip was fair.
For great italian in Omaha (which is hard to find) try Carrabba's and Vivace. For those travelers in the crowd if you're ever near a Maggiano's it's a must, and in little italy in NYC you've gotta go to Angelo's

eomaha · Post by **eomaha** » Wed Nov 16, 2005 10:36 pm

Yep, doesn't matter how much someone loves something... you'll always find another who hates that same something just as much.

bbinks · Post by **bbinks** » Fri Feb 16, 2007 4:11 pm

I had an out-of-town friend come in and they wanted Bucca's. Upon driving to where they used to be, we discovered they were gone. I admit I did not frequent the place, but when I did go there it was busy. The food quality and portions were okay, for the price you paid.

Bob from Omaha · Post by **Bob from Omaha** » Sun Jan 13, 2008 3:31 pm

Was in town today and while driving around Oakview I saw a sign next to the Buca Di Beppo building. I didnt get a pic or anything but it looks like a little strip of some kind.

NDizona · Post by **NDizona** » Sun Jan 13, 2008 4:24 pm

it will be retail strip.

Asten · Post by **Asten** » Sun Jan 13, 2008 7:34 pm

NDizona wrote:it will be retail strip.

*sigh* That sucks.

Coyote · Post by **Coyote** » Mon Jan 21, 2008 11:02 pm

It will be called Tuscan Oaks

Big E · Post by **Big E** » Tue Jan 22, 2008 9:23 am

Anyone ever been to Tuscany? See any oaks there?

-Big E

Post by **Brad** » Tue Jan 22, 2008 9:28 am

Big E wrote:Anyone ever been to Tuscany? See any oaks there?

-Big E

Only when you turn an Italian restaurant in to a strip mall at a mall called oakview... :;):

Uffda · Post by **Uffda** » Tue Jan 22, 2008 10:10 am

Never been there but it looks like they do have Oak trees

http://www.123rf.com/photo_2237040.html

Big E · Post by **Big E** » Tue Jan 22, 2008 11:13 am

THE oak tree in Tuscany, apparently.

-Big E

Uffda · Post by **Uffda** » Tue Jan 22, 2008 1:11 pm

I found you some more :lol:

Sorry for the large photo -- I am at work and can't access photobucket to store a smaller size up there.

also I learned this

Cork Oak Savannah- An increasingly rare ecosystem in Tuscany is the cork oak savannah. These magnificent oaks (Quercus suber) with incredibly thick bark are stripped every seven to fourteen years to make cork for wine bottles. Cork oaks are obvious because they are stripped up to 4 meters above the ground. Where they are found, cork oak grow widely spaced in exposed dry areas with a grassy understory.

http://tinyurl.com/ytxkr6

So maybe there is a plan for a wine bar :yes:

omaja · Post by **omaja** » Tue Jan 22, 2008 5:21 pm

Naming a strip mall is almost as worthless as naming a West Omaha subdivision, especially when the name has nothing to do with anything. There won't be any Tuscan oaks present. There is nothing Tuscan about the architecture. It is not in Tuscany. I can see it now: "Meet me at Tuscan Oaks." "Where the heck is that?" "It's in Oak View's parking lot." "Oh, that new strip mall?" "Yeah."

annad · Post by **annad** » Tue Jan 22, 2008 9:42 pm

Has anyone ever gone to Spezia's, is it still around?

Spezia (72nd between Grover & Center) is very much still around, and I heartily second the "very, very good" comment. They are always busy at lunch, and do a decent happy hour. I know the owners, so I may be a little biased, but I'd absolutely recommend it without hesitation.

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