Business & Tech

Buca Opens Doors to Hungry Families

A new Italian restaurant opened last week and serves up family-style portions.

Going out to dinner just got a bit closer to home.

, a family-style Italian restaurant, opened last week to hungry mouths – very hungry ones. The Minnesota-based chain serves up family-portion plates that feed upward of six people.

"It's a sign of celebration – that's what Buca is – celebrate every day," restaurant manager Enzo Raggiani said.

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The restaurant serves smaller entrees with pasta sides for lunch, and will find individual plates for customers who prefer not eat with their party.

"But we usually think we can find something everyone can share. Really what we are about is sharing the family-style portions, and it enhances the experience when you are digging in together like you would at home," said Chase Romero, a division vice president for Buca.

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The Planet Hollywood-owned restaurant opened Nov. 22, on Elm Street in Dedham, its fourth Massachusetts location.

All four establishments opened in the Commonwealth in the past couple months, and is the furthest northeast the chain goes.

The 313-seat main dining area offers unique locations in Buca. An eye-popping "Pope's Room" is the centerpiece to the entire restaurant. The room seats 16 people at a round table as portraits of Roman Catholic popes hang on the wall watching over patrons.

"The atmosphere is a bit over the top – everything we do is a bit over the top," Romero said.

With pictures of nuns and famous Italians plastering the walls, another table in the back of the dining area mimics a "godfather-like" table, said Raggiani. Near the serving area are two "in-the-kitchen" tables that are legendary within Buca, he said.

"It's about the experience. It's about the music. It's about the pictures on the wall. It's about the passion for food that Eddy [Suarez] and his team have," Romero said.

Each of the 47 menu items are made from scratch daily, said Eddy Suarez, a Buca culinary manager based in San Francisco.

Suarez and Romero spent time training servers, cooks and chefs at the restaurant to perfect Buca's dishes.

But the Boston-area restaurants offer up a unique local menu that the other 84 Buca restaurants don't have.

"There's a lot more seafood – with flare," Suarez said.

Romero said the restaurant should fare well in Dedham as it's next to Legacy Place, but the open-air mall doesn't currently have an Italian restaurant.

"It's missing that Italian piece," Romero said. "We have something to offer that other people don't."

Buca wanted to come to the Boston market and surround the area, giving restaurant-goers several places to go and none too far from the city, Romero said.

"It's a great location with the families and the businesses in the area," Suarez said.

Raggiani said he's seen repeat customers already that have come back, and others who have come because of word-of-mouth.

The unique and fun atmosphere doesn't interfere with dinner, one employee said.

"You feel like you're by yourself. You have your family and friends and are celebrating something," said Shelia Porrino, an assistant manager.


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