We got the calamari appetizer which came with a nice, spicy sauce. We both opted for the smaller Mio meals since we couldn't agree on a family dish. My dining partner's eggplant parmesan was tasty but not exceptional while my lasagna just left me wishing I'd made my mom's old tried-and-true recipe. I wish some bread had come with the meal since there was a large amount of sauce left which could have been dredged. We both got Caesar side salads which were good and fresh and the huge lemon wedges that came on the side were a fantastic addition. Speaking of the lemon wedges, our waiter brought me a few at the start of the meal so my iced tea would never go without. Our drinks stayed full, which can be a challenge since I can drink a lot of tea! We were too stuffed for dessert, but have tried various offerings at other times and enjoyed them all.

Buca di Beppo is a chain restaurant, but its friendly staff give it home-town flavor. The kitschy decor (don't miss the hysterical ads, photos and audio recordings in the restrooms) and nostalgic Italian music make you feel like you are in Joe's basement in the 1950s-'60s. In the last few years, the chain has greatly improved their wine list and do maintain a full bar. Buca allows you to order your meals to be served family style or, with the new Buca Mio menu, as individual entrees. If you like leftovers, ordering the large platters is really a good value. For starters, we ordered the Caesar Salad - very fresh romaine, toasted croutons, anchovies on the side and delicious garlicky dressing. Buca includes lemon wedges with many dishes and the fresh lemon juice really makes the food taste very fresh. For our entrees, we ordered the Chicken Saltimboca and the Quattro Al Forno. The chicken was tender and mixed well with the fresh lemon, artichoke and prosciutto sauce. The Quattro platter is a sampling of four baked pasta specialties and features the chicken sausage cannelloni, stuffed shells with spicy sausage, baked ravioli and cheese manicotti, in a well seasoned tomato sauce that included fresh tomatoes and basil. We added a side dish of roasted vegetables, but found them to be a bit al dente. You can't go wrong with any of the desserts - all are huge and really delicious. We opted for the outstanding cheesecake with fresh raspberry sauce and toasted hazelnuts. This cheesecake is all about the cheese - not the graham cracker crust. This is one of the best cheesecakes we have ever tasted. Overall, this was a lovely dining experience in a clean and friendly environment. Although dinner was not inexpensive, we will definitely go back again and again.