Went to Buco Doro Ristorante on the last day of Restaurant Week 1/31/26 in Center City Philly. Had a delicious lunch. We started with bread served with butter and the option of olive oil, which was already on the table. The Caesar salad was very good, with fresh greens and a peppery Caesar dressing. For lunch, I had the penne alla vodka with prosciutto. I really liked the vodka sauce and the prosciutto cubes. The cappuccino was perfect as well, especially on a cold day. The wait staff was friendly. The restaurant's walls were painted with scenes of Italy, along with additional artwork. Will definitely be back. read more

We were invited to a surprise birthday dinner here and Buca D'oro did a tremendous job hosting! Upon arriving, guests walk down a flight of stairs into the restaurant. Very unique and immediately set the mood for the rest of the night. The restaurant feels homey and historic. Lots of brickwork and beautiful artwork covers much of the walls. The bar is large with plenty of seats to accommodate numerous guests if you'd like to enjoy a cocktail prior to or after dinner. We arrived around 6pm on a Saturday night and despite the bar being somewhat empty, the rest of the restaurant was filled with patrons. We were shown to our private room by wonderful staff, who went above and beyond the entire night to ensure all ~40 of the guests at our party had an enjoyable experience. Prior to arriving, my wife and I looked through the menu and pictures to get an idea of what we would have liked to eat. The bone-in veal chop, lamb chops, chicken parm all looked like things I would love but we figured the hosts would pick a prefix menu with the party being as large as it was. We started with drinks at the bar: Espresso Martini & Rye Manhattan. The drinks were very reasonably priced especially for being in the city (to be honest they're even reasonable for around my hometown in South Jersey as well) ranging from $13-15 dollars on the cocktail list. After the first round of drinks, I decided to switch up from the Manhattan to an Old Fashioned. We enjoyed all of the drinks we ordered (although I would recommend the Rye Manhattan over the Old Fashioned) and I loved the martini glasses. They were sleek, elegant, and felt great in my hand. The young woman who spent much of her time tending to our party also worked behind the bar, relayed the menu and entree options, took orders, and helped serve. She was phenomenal. There were plates of the most delicious and soft bread spaced out on the tables with many bottles of olive oil scattered throughout for dipping. Everything was served family style aside from the entrees. We were started with Fried Calamari and an antipasto spread with cured meats, olives, cheese. LOVED both! Then came a classic Caesar salad and an arugula salad with balsamic dressing. Both very good, but the Caesar was great! Then we were served two different pasta dishes, Gnocchi Gorgonzola and a Penne in marinara. Again, both good but I would 100% recommend the gnocchi as would my wife. All of this food was served prior to us receiving our entrees. We had 3 options to choose from between the following: Veal Saltimbocca, Chicken Parm, and Salmon over Spinach. I decided on the Veal Saltimbocca and couldn't have been happier with my selection. The veal was pounded extremely thin, was cooked to perfection, and served in a delicious and refreshing white wine sauce. My wife went with the Chicken Parm which she was incredibly pleased with as well. We tried each other's entrees and agreed you can't go wrong with either. Our friends ordered the Salmon (which they also loved) and while I never eat salmon, I know I would have enjoyed that as well just by the looks and how it was cooked. After we were finished with our meals, we were served 3 different slices of cakes. A chocolate mousse (which was my favorite!), a blueberry cheesecake, and some kind of pistachio cake. I'm not much of a dessert person but I thoroughly enjoyed all 3 cakes we were served and feel most would enjoy them if ordered. After dinner I sent my mom (who lives in NJ) pictures of the restaurant and the food who then sent the pictures to her brother (who lives in the city) and they've already started discussing plans on visiting La Buca D'oro soon! Dinner and service exceeded our expectations. The menu prices, in my opinion, were very low for the quality of food/drinks we were served. On top of the food being spectacular, the atmosphere was cozy, romantic, and one of a kind. read more

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Every time the staff are amazing. Seafood fresh & well prepared. Interesting pasta options. Best if all, you are eating inside of a virtual Italian garden. read more

My bf and I had dinner here for Valentine's Day and had an okay experience. The restaurant is very big inside with plenty of seating and bar seating. It was a very cute spot. We had 3-4 waiter/waitresses so it was a bit confusing. We had one person introduce himself and pour us water, another person introduce himself and took our drink order and brought it to the table, another person take our food order, and a different lady who handled desserts. We ordered the grilled octopus, tomato basil fettuccini, baramundi and tiramisu. The grilled octopus and baramundi were both excellent. I wouldn't change a single thing and would highly recommend ordering it. Very flavorful, tender and delicious! There were only 2 fettuccini dishes on the vday menu and my bf ordered the one that was packed with seafood. He received the vegetarian pasta. We eventually got the attention of one of our many waiters and he apologized for giving us the wrong dish. He offered to get the right one, but mentioned it would take some time because the restaurant was getting busy. We decided to just stick with it. Delicious pasta but went from seafood filled pasta to straight vegetarian. Dessert came and we ordered the tiramisu which was just okay. We did not receive a small discount for the pasta confusion or anything, but overall the food was all good. Out of everything, I would recommend the octopus and my delicious baramundi! read more

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I expected better, based on reviews I'd seen. Nothing stood out as a reason to go back again. I had the fish special of barramundi over spinach. Nothing was seasoned. I expected the spinach to have some garlic in it. Nothing was salted and nothing had any seasoning. Nothing special about anything at all. The bread was terrible, very dry and my sister asked if it was fresh. Service was terrible. Every single time we had to flag down our waiter, Gesti. We got more service flagging down other servers. My sister had a veal chop, that was OK, but when I asked if she would order it again, she said no. No one even offered if we wanted dessert, and by that point we were getting antsy to get our check to leave for the theater. All in all, it was close to the Walnut Street Theatre, so that was a plus. But that's a one and done for me on this restaurant. read more

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4.5 Stars. Dropped in after flight from San Diego and felt the Italian vibe of comfort coming our way. Had a cocktail and then a bottle of wine, reasonably priced. Had Veal Saltimbocca and Veal Medallions (Vitello d'Oro), both of which were prepared very well and enjoyed. Homey feel, would definitely return. read more

Arrived in Philly last night and craved good Italian food. Our hotel recommended this restaurant, and after reading a few reviews, I was apprehensive. I am glad that my husband and I gave this place a shot. It may not be terribly fancy, like some comments I read, but the food is what matters. We both ate the Penne Bella for dinner, and the red cream sauce was delightful. Prior to the meal, they served brucheta, which was nice. For desert, we enjoyed their lemon chello cake, very yummy. I am a picky Italian food eater, and this place was a nice surprise and hit my hungry for Italian spot. read more

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Food was delicious and plentiful , the service professional and responsive. The ambience was that of a cafe once you are seated. Parking is easy and ample. My only negative was that I had to carry an unknown amount of of cash to pay the bill. Cash only . Yes they have an ATM machine but we don't use them.. read more

My restaurant pet peeve-a disengaged server not focusing. Not paying attention to special requests or dietary requirements. On autopilot so to speak. On this evening, my Pescatore entree was unacceptable. Pasta undercooked, undercooked clams of totally different sizes were rubbery. The sauce choice I substituted for was not substituted. The others in our party were content with their selections. I happen to like a lot about the restaurant. Ambiance, selection choice, and fair prices. It's a shame because I might not return. read more

Food was excellent. My daughter says the Bolognese had a bad ratio of pasta to sauce (too much sauce), but that might be a consequence of the pasta shape (paccheri). Fettucine with shrimp, scallops, and asparagus was delicious. The crowd was older and very Washington Square West, so, while most tables were full, it still felt intimate and quiet. My sister can't eat gluten, so the fact that they offered gluten-free pasta (a fact that isn't well-advertised) was a huge bonus. The wine list was decent, the wine cellar that is visible from the dining room looked well-stocked. Service was friendly but slow. This was a great place to have a relaxed meal, but I can see why the pacing of table touches would annoy other reviewers. The place was still decorated for Christmas in late January; for most in my party, this was a plus, but it made me think for a second about what else there that might be past its expiration date. read more

Buca has a very nice design on the inside and feels very romantic. We came here for restaurant week for lunch and left a bit disappointed. The lunch menu was just salads and soup with a selection of one entree out of a list of three. I really wish they had mixed it up a bit more and given us more variety, especially considering that many of the entrees were less than $20. The soup and the main entree had a reheated sort of taste. As if they reheated frozen food and threw some sauce on it to spice it up. The service was quite inattentive and brought us no water until we asked after being seated for almost 10 minutes. I would not come back to be quite honest. I am not a picky eater, but I found myself not really wanting to continue eating my meal, or even try my friends read more

La Buca - Entrance to the restaurant - Italian Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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Came at 2:45p even though they close at 3:30p. Wouldn't serve me and my friend. Really disappointed! read more

Fresh food cooked perfectly! We walked right in on a Friday evening, and were well taken care of. read more

La Buca - Seared tuna with mango salsa - Italian Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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Have you ever been to a restaurant before and momentarily forget what city you're in? Well that's what happened to me multiple times eating at Buca D'Oro - I felt like I was eating at an Italian restaurant in Italy. The ambiance really makes you feel like you're not in Philly and it felt great. I came here for 1 during restaurant week and was truly able to just take in the wonderful experience of eating here. Before I even got my 1st course, I was given bruschetta which was refreshing and bread with olive oil that was good. Then every single thing I ordered tasted just so authentically Italian - Burrata, Salmone Alla Fagiolini, and the Chocolate Mousse Cake. There was a lot of food, but it didn't leave me disgustingly full either! I also ordered the Manhattan, the speciality cocktail on their restaurant week menu which was good as well. This may be my new favorite restaurant in Philly. I look forward to coming back in the near future! read more

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Ate here recently. Food was okay, though my pasta was too chewy and the sauce was bland, the bread just meh. Decor is kitch, and you are in a basement. The murals gave me nightmares. On my way out I decided to never go back when I saw a cockroach wandering around in the men's room. Basement, Philly, cockroach. Yuck. Stay away. read more

While visiting in Philly I had the pleasure of dining here. First and foremost the ambiance was great. The bartender name Dustin was awesome and very personable. The food was amazing. I kept saying I wanted a great meal from somewhere and this restaurant did not disappoint. Everything is authentic and fresh just delicious. All in all a ten. We messed up on the parking because they do offer discounted parking. However we parked in the wrong lot. I explained and was given $10 back. I appreciated that. Everyone there seem to be have a great time, I will definitely be back soon. read more

Basing this review on terrible service. This restaurant over-booked its reservations for a Saturday night. Of course, many people like us planned to eat dinner here before the theater. Our reservation was set for 6:30. The hostess came back every five minutes and told us "just five more minutes..." Finally, she told us that if they weren't able to seat us by 7:00, we should go somewhere else!!!! Sure. She suggested that we should go somewhere else when we have one hour to show time and no other reservations! Anyway, we were seated after 7:00 pm, we were able to order promptly and the food came out pretty quickly. I have to say the food was delicious, although I didn't have time to finish my dinner or to order apps or dessert. All in all, I probably would return for the food whenever I'm in no hurry whatsoever. read more

Very convenient for walnut street theater theater. Authentic. Full with guests and good ambient noise but not so loud you can't have a conversation. Very good value. 15% discount for theater. Pretty tasty food. 6oclock res for 8oclock show and there's no stress or rush. read more

Really cool spot off Washington Square. Tucked away to the side, you walk down steps to get in and are greeted by beautiful murals and a surprisingly large space. The service was good and food was better - we had an appetizer and two pasta dishes and really enjoyed everything. Really recommend the squid ink pasta special!! read more

La Buca - Burrata - Italian Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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Stopped in for lunch and ordered veal scallopini. The paper-thin veal was barely existent and the pasta in white wine garlic sauce was nothing special. Not sure if other dishes are much better, but this was pretty disappointing, especially for a high-end, traditional italian restaurant in center city. Service was fine, unremarkable. read more

Great traditional Italian spot, the vibe was very authentic neighborhood. Service was active and friendly Food: 7.6 Wine: 8.3 A must for Italian food fans read more

La Buca - Italian Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

There were 6 of us for lunch It's really like stepping back in time. There are murals on the walls and a somewhat old-time feeling about the place. On the other hand, all the staff are young, fun and interesting to talk to. But disappointedly, the food was just OK. The Fried calamari rings with a side of marinara sauce and basil aioli was very good. Frutti di Mare alla Griglia (Grilled shrimp and scallops with balsamic vinaigrette and lemon juice served with sauteed broccoli and tomatoes) was good but not all that exciting flavor-wise. The shared Rigatoni pasta in a traditional meat sauce was again just good. The Special Pasta, Pappardelle with walnuts and mushrooms in an oil garlic sauce, was ok but needed a kick by maybe adding more spices and cutting back on the Olive Oil. For the above, with a bottle of wine and some soft drinks, the bill before tip was around $150. Don't think we'll be rushing back. read more

The service was poor. The server never returned to see if the orders were satisfactory or to see if we wanted more drinks. The bread was cold as were the meatballs ordered as an appetizer. The rest of the food was mediocre. This was a big disappointment. read more

This was one of the best meals of my life. My partner and I found this place by absolute chance and decided to get dinner. The restaurant itself feels like stepping into Italy. The clientele are so clearly majority people who have been coming here for decades. Our server was enigmatic and excellent. Service was maybe a little slow but we were there during their last hour open for the night so they were probably all working on closing up. My meal, the Pollo Parmigania was outstanding. The chicken was so tender and delicious. I got pappardelle noodles with my meal and they were so freaking good. My partner had the Vitello Saltimbocca and it too was delicious. The veal was so well cooked and flavorful. The broccoli and carrots were so yummy, the only "let down" was the mashed potatoes but who cares. We also had the Melanzane Margarita and I would highly recommend you try it. Eggplant is so underrated. The bread and bruschetta were both very tasty and I wish I could eat the bread every single day. We also had the German chocolate mouse cake that was so light but flavorful and rich without being heavy. I can't wait to come back. Amazing. read more

La Buca - Vitello Saltimbocca - Italian Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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To start with the good stuff- the service was amazing. They were well staffed and everyone was attentive and super friendly. Our water glasses never went empty. They were also very patient with us as we were slow to decide on food. The complimentary bread and bruschetta were a nice touch. I had eggplant appetizer and it was really good but a lot more greasy and less fresh than I would except. Maybe it's my fault for ordering a steak at an Italian restaurant but it was quite literally inedible. It looked just as bad as it tasted. I was shocked when it came with a side of vegetables that were very clearly out of a frozen bag of veggie medleys then thrown on the fryer. It is important to note that the prices were not high so I guess we kind of got what we paid for? But I was just confused because the advertising put me under the assumption it was a nicer restaurant. My entree tasted like diner food :( I would possibly try them again just because the service was so above and beyond. I'd definitely try the pasta instead though! read more

the gnocchi's where pretty good in the blush sauce. It was creamy and filling. The service was very nice and fast also. The ambiance is painted walls with authentic Italian murals. read more

La Buca - Gnocchi in a blush sauce - Italian Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Food: 6.5/10 Decor: 8.3/10 Service: 8.5/10 Bang for your buck: 6.9/10 Entrance/ambiance was beautiful - feels like an upscale restaurant. However, food is not on par. To some degree lacking in taste. Small things can go long way- serve your bread warm, not cold. Line your margarita glass with salt/sugar, etc. Overall, it was a miss for me. read more

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Penne Bella was amazing. Chicken parm was decent. Basil aioli that came with calamari was amazing, calamari itself ok. Good Caesar. Great service and atmosphere. read more

La Buca - Italian Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

What I shall never forget is the sight of a ginormous waterbug ambling its way towards me in this subterranean grotto-like trattoria. My husband convinced me to let it get away but it did dampen my appetite. He (hubby) enjoyed the saltimbocca (not the potato side, however) and our friends loved the fusilli with mushroom sauce. I had the piadina Verona, tasty but too much for one human. Portions are generous and the bruschetta is a nice touch. My dermatologist's office is upstairs so I will retain this haunting image of the giant bugs that scurry below whenever I visit. read more

The menu, the service, the atmosphere and decor, and most of all the food were excellent. My biggest fear is that this off the beaten path ristorante will become so popular that its appeal would be gone. Descending the steps is like entering a worm hole and believing that you are in one of the best ristorantes in Salerno. It's that good! No need to say more, you've got to experience it for yourself. Buon apetito read more

I've been here twice and I have to tell you the chef here is the best ! I've come with parties of 5 and a party of three and we all share and everything we ordered both times was excellent! Love this place! read more

Let's first talk about the ambiance. The aesthetic in this place was on point. You are immediately transported to Italy from the time you descended the steps to setting foot in the restaurant. The murals on the walls are breathtaking. They have a bar area when you enter, and a front dining room and a back dining room. We had reservations for 6:30 Sunday evening, but when we arrived there were only 2 other guests present. We were served bread and bruschetta as an appetizer. I love bruschetta and it was was quite tasty. We had an appetizer that was a special of the day. I can't remember what it was called but it was like a lemony shrimp stew with cannoli beans and arugula on the side. This was the highlight of my meal. The Ink seafood pasta had an ample amount of seafood, but not much flavor. This was a special of the day, but there was really nothing special about it. Our next dish was the Penne al Mare with penne pasta, jumbo shrimp, seafood scallops, cherry tomatoes and arugula in a garlic white wine sauce. This wasn't bad, but once my daughter squeezed some lemon on it the flavor was really lifted. This restaurant had its positives, but as an out of towner I don't think this would be a stop on my next trip to Philly. read more

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Cool setting being underground and I liked the big mural on the wall. Server was kind and helpful. Food was good, I had the black linguine special and limoncello cake. Would go back. read more

One day Hubby and I were searching for something to eat during our travels down center city. Buca D'Ora popped up on the app and we decided to try it that day but parking was terrible in the area so we scratched it that day. Fast forward til yesterday, we were looking for food again during lunch. I suggested we try this place because I wanted pasta and it appeared to be authentic via pictures previous viewed on the app. So, we decided to try. Parking was still a headache but we lucked up. Boy, aren't we glad we did because the food was amazing!!! The decor is very pretty. It gives me authentic Italy. The service was great. They were very attentive and accommodating. I wanted something that wasn't on the lunch menu (I created in my head lol) chef was very accommodating and made exactly what I wanted. I ordered shrimp Alfredo with fettuccine pasta, peas and mushrooms and it was DELICIOUS! My hubs ordered Pollo alla Nonna and raved about it. He loved it so much I had to try his & it was very flavorful. They prepare their dishes with lots of fresh ingredients the best ingredient of all, GARLIC garlic really holds a special place in my heart so when I find restaurants that cook with it, I'm sold and they have loyal customer(s). We also had calamari. It was the best calamari I've had in a very long time. It was fresh, tender and cooked to perfection. The sauces they include with the calamari were amazing. One was a fresh white sauce with fresh basil and mint. The other was their classic marinara but it was different. The marina was loaded with flavor, not saucy (loose in texture) but thicker than usual with a garlic and fresh Italian blend flavor. I was truly blown away by this hidden gem. I love finding restaurants that are small, intimate and attentive. It makes the experience more enjoyable. We will definitely return and frequent regularly because we enjoyed it that much. Con: with my pasta they gave me 3 shrimp. I would suggest 5/6 but I still have them 5 stars because the food was outstanding. read more

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The food the service the ambiance; everything about last night was perfect! Definitely recommend!

Our overall experience was awful. The bartender/server (Gesti-?) acted like she really didn't want to be there & we were a bother. Never once did we see even a hint of a smile, more like a scowl. We were the only ones sitting at the bar, so I guess she had nothing better to do. My Melanzane Margarita had Zero flavor ($15). We ordered our dinners, which were not even mediocre. Of all the time we were there she spent less then a minute total with us. It was a shame because the atmosphere was beautiful, had a classy feel. My husband & I have over 60 years experience in the hospitality industry. We dine out often & we always tip very well (30%-35%). It is extremely rare for us to leave a poor review, normally we compliment the establishment. In this case we thought others should be "warned" (for lack of a better phrase). read more

My friends and I decided to try this restaurant for dinner after attending "The Elf" at the Walnut Street Theater. They accommodated us ahead of time of our reservation. However, service at the table was lacking. No one came by to ask for drink refills. We ordered appetizers and the meatballs were cold. The waiter was not attentive and it seems we were a bother. Some of the dishes we ordered were dry, salty or not tasteful. We left the restaurant feeling that we should have gone somewhere else. Not ever returning. read more

Appetizer was cold, food wasn't very good either, service was horrible!! Will never return/recommend!!

Great food! Friendly and attentive service! Perfect place for a quiet dinner with friends and family. Everything tasted excellent. read more

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Very good Italian food, standard selection and similar to the Philadelphia Italian restaurant scene, well done and well prepared and enjoyable. We came just after it transitioned from the old La Buca to the new Buca D'Oro which I believe is under completely new ownership. Service was great, food was excellent, and at the time we came it was BYOB because they were waiting for their liquor license. The interior decor is unchanged from the previous iteration, which I think had not changed in many decades, sort of like 1970s faux grotto / suburban basement rec room. It could use a little refreshing, would be my suggestion. The diners seemed to be a range of normal people from young to old, and didn't seem to be filled with the old-time Philadelphia mafia lawyers that used to hang out there at the bar. Good luck to the new owners with the new start! read more