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Ristorante La BucaReservations
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Italian Restaurant Reviews
Ristorante La Buca Reviews List
Ristorante La Buca
The name translates as 'the cave' with rooms decidedly 'dark,. La Buca offers excellent, fresh fare (especially the outstanding grilled fish & other traditional Italian seafood!) & experienced old-world service. La Buca is located below street level on Washington Square.
See more Ristorante La Buca details
50 Current Reviews
Summary of Diner Ratings & Reviews
Overall
(Outstanding)
4.1
/
5
Rating Breakdown 50 reviews
5 stars
(20)
4 stars
(17)
3 stars
(11)
2 stars
(1)
1 star
(1)
Food
(Outstanding)
4.1
/
5
Service
(Outstanding)
4.3
/
5
Ambiance
(Very Good)
3.7
/
5
Noise Level
Moderate
Filter Reviews By:
Diners classify this restaurant as:
- neighborhood gem(21)
- fit for foodies(18)
- romantic(15)
- special occasion(15)
- good for groups(10)
- great for lunch(4)
Ristorante La Buca Reviews List
Review 1 for Ristorante La Buca
Overall rating
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Food
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Service
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Ambiance
(Good)
3
/
5
Noise Level
Quiet
"Great food and service; finally added an elevator so that getting to the downstairs restaurant isn't so precarious for diners."
Dined on 3/05/2013
Special Features: neighborhood gem
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Review 2 for Ristorante La Buca
Overall rating
(Very Good)
4
/
5
had not been here for years
Food
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Service
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Ambiance
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Noise Level
Moderate
"had not been here for years but was as good as I remembered"
Dined on 04/27/2013
2004
Special Features: romantic, special occasion
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Review 3 for Ristorante La Buca
Overall rating
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
This is just a great, underrated
Food
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Service
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Ambiance
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Noise Level
Quiet
"This is just a great, underrated restaurant. The Dover Sole is the best in the city."
Dined on 04/24/2013
2004
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Review 4 for Ristorante La Buca
Overall rating
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
The service was great and
Food
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Service
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Ambiance
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Noise Level
Moderate
"The service was great and the food is always excellent."
Dined on 04/25/2013
2011
Special Features: fit for foodies, good for groups, late-night find, neighborhood gem, romantic, special occasion, great for lunch, hot spot
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Review 5 for Ristorante La Buca
Overall rating
(Good)
3
/
5
I've been to La Buca several
Food
(Good)
3
/
5
Service
(Good)
3
/
5
Ambiance
(Fair)
2
/
5
Noise Level
Quiet
"I've been to La Buca several times due to its proximity to the Walnut Street Theater and the fact that they offer a discount to theater goers. I've never had a bad meal there, but can't say I've had an incredible one either. This time, I got a filet which was good but not great; should have stuck with traditional Italian. My mom got Branzino which she really liked. Our server was very attentive, but it seemed like our entree could have come out earlier than it did."
Dined on 04/19/2013
2011
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Review 6 for Ristorante La Buca
Overall rating
(Fair)
2
/
5
The space, and the menu, need
Food
(Good)
3
/
5
Service
(Fair)
2
/
5
Ambiance
(Poor)
1
/
5
Noise Level
Moderate
"The space, and the menu, need updating. It feels like something out of the 80's that hasn't been touched since. Probably very popular with the early bird special crowd."
Dined on 04/20/2013
2010
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Review 7 for Ristorante La Buca
Overall rating
(Poor)
1
/
5
Probably the worse food in
Food
(Poor)
1
/
5
Service
(Fair)
2
/
5
Ambiance
(Fair)
2
/
5
Noise Level
Quiet
"Probably the worse food in Philadelphia."
Dined on 04/13/2013
2012
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Review 8 for Ristorante La Buca
Overall rating
(Good)
3
/
5
The food was amazing! Our
Food
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Service
(Fair)
2
/
5
Ambiance
(Good)
3
/
5
Noise Level
Moderate
"The food was amazing! Our service was very delayed, we didn't receive our entrees for an hour or more. We wouldn't have mind, except our server avoided us and didn't inform us our food was delayed due to the large party they had until he brought us our food. A little frustrating, but overall the food was worth the wait."
Dined on 04/13/2013
2013
Special Features: fit for foodies
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Review 9 for Ristorante La Buca
Overall rating
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Everything was great
Food
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Service
(Good)
3
/
5
Ambiance
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Noise Level
Moderate
"I had swordfish and it was top notch."
Dined on 04/05/2013
2007
Special Features: vibrant bar scene, fit for foodies, good for groups, neighborhood gem, romantic
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Review 10 for Ristorante La Buca
Overall rating
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
This restaurant has always
Food
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Service
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Ambiance
(Good)
3
/
5
Noise Level
Moderate
"This restaurant has always been reliably good."
Dined on 04/05/2013
2010
Special Features: neighborhood gem
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Review 11 for Ristorante La Buca
Overall rating
(Very Good)
4
/
5
The perfect pre=theater place.
Food
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Service
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Ambiance
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Noise Level
Quiet
"Very pleased. Selections were varied and delicious. Decor was excellent and very Italian. I felt that I was in true gormet restaurant."
Dined on 04/04/2013
2009
Special Features: fit for foodies, neighborhood gem, romantic, special occasion
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Review 12 for Ristorante La Buca
Overall rating
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
From the moment you walk in
Food
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Service
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Ambiance
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Noise Level
Moderate
"From the moment you walk in the door until you leave you are treated like a regular. Great food with a wide variety to fit the taste of all. Service is A+ all the servers work together."
Dined on 03/29/2013
2012
Special Features: fit for foodies, neighborhood gem, romantic, special occasion
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Review 13 for Ristorante La Buca
Overall rating
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Nice, Really Nice!
Food
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Service
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Ambiance
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Noise Level
Moderate
"The food was excellent. The ambiance just right, we loved the murals depicting scenes. The service was also very good. You felt "at home" and one can never pay enough money for that!!!"
Dined on 03/23/2013
2010
Special Features: neighborhood gem, romantic, special occasion
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Review 14 for Ristorante La Buca
Overall rating
(Good)
3
/
5
Not what it used to be....
Food
(Good)
3
/
5
Service
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Ambiance
(Good)
3
/
5
Noise Level
Quiet
"I always thought of La Buca as a great classic Italian restaurant. I now think it is past its prime and I'd rather eat somewhere else."
Dined on 03/16/2013
2011
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Review 15 for Ristorante La Buca
Overall rating
(Good)
3
/
5
I went to Ristorante La Buca
Food
(Good)
3
/
5
Service
(Good)
3
/
5
Ambiance
(Good)
3
/
5
Noise Level
Quiet
"I went to Ristorante La Buca on a Saturday night when it was too late to get reservations for 6 anywhere else. It is below street level, and the walls are covered with Italian-style murals. The food was average, and with so many great Italian restaurants in the city, I probably wouldn't go out of my way to dine there again. However, for having a large-ish party (with parents) who wanted to be able to talk comfortably, the setting worked. It is very reasonably priced."
Dined on 02/16/2013
2011
Special Features: good for groups
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Review 16 for Ristorante La Buca
Overall rating
(Very Good)
4
/
5
The best Dover Sole in the
Food
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Service
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Ambiance
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Noise Level
Quiet
"The best Dover Sole in the City"
Dined on 02/13/2013
2004
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Review 17 for Ristorante La Buca
Overall rating
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Everything was very good...the
Food
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Service
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Ambiance
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Noise Level
Quiet
"Everything was very good...the service, the food, the ambiance and the noise level was very good. We really enjoyed the experience"
Dined on 02/07/2013
2006
Special Features: fit for foodies, romantic
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Review 18 for Ristorante La Buca
Overall rating
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
My wife and I have been going
Food
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Service
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Ambiance
(Good)
3
/
5
Noise Level
Energetic
"My wife and I have been going to La Buca from the week it opened. You could not ask for a better restuarnt in our neiborhood.T"
Dined on 02/02/2013
2010
Special Features: vibrant bar scene, fit for foodies, good for groups, great for brunch, neighborhood gem, notable wine list, romantic, special occasion, great for lunch
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Review 19 for Ristorante La Buca
Overall rating
(Very Good)
4
/
5
A Classic !
Food
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Service
(Good)
3
/
5
Ambiance
(Good)
3
/
5
Noise Level
Quiet
"I remember dining at la Buca years ago....and it's still the same today - extensive menu, excellent/delicious food, attentive waitstaff, pleasant venue (and tables are well separated) ...all at a reasonable price! They must be doing something right all these years...."
Dined on 02/01/2013
2011
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Review 20 for Ristorante La Buca
Overall rating
(Good)
3
/
5
First time back in 2 years.
Food
(Fair)
2
/
5
Service
(Good)
3
/
5
Ambiance
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Noise Level
Quiet
"First time back in 2 years. It is not the restaurant that it was. Potato was serve cold 7 although larege the veal buca was extremly thin and excessively fried"
Dined on 02/01/2013
2013
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Review 21 for Ristorante La Buca
Overall rating
(Good)
3
/
5
Nothing to write home about.
Food
(Good)
3
/
5
Service
(Very Good)
4
/
5
Ambiance
(Fair)
2
/
5
Noise Level
Quiet
"Food and service were good, but the place was empty and dark. Decor was dated and there was no energy in the room. Could have just been a slow day."
Dined on 01/23/2013
2013
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Review 22 for Ristorante La Buca
Overall rating
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Give your review a title (optional)
Food
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Service
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Ambiance
(Outstanding)
5
/
5
Noise Level
Quiet
"Excellent service and our food was cooked perfecty- best steak I've had in a long time!Prices were very reasonable as well. Also conveniently located in the historic district and right around the corner from our hotel. Would definitely recommend-"
Dined on 01/25/2013
2006
Special Features: romantic, special occasion
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Ratings-Only Reviews for Ristorante La Buca
Based on the average of (28) ratings-only reviews
Overall
(Outstanding)
4.3
/
5
4 out of 4 recommend this product
Food
(Outstanding)
4.3
/
5
Service
(Outstanding)
4.5
/
5
Ambiance
(Very Good)
3.8
/
5
Noise Level
Moderate