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Buca di Beppo, America’s Most Postmodern Red Sauce Chain

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Re: Buca di Beppo, America’s Most Postmodern Red Sauce Chain

#41

Post by Shebanator »

mc32 wrote: post #6
djcapelis wrote: post #3

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> What are some other examples of American restaurants that followed this playbook? I would argue Panda Express is spiritually similar in some ways.

On some ways, but I think PF Chang’s is perhaps a better example because it’s more sit down like BdB, whereas PX is more fast food and it also goes a bit over the top with regards to iconography and imaging. For Americana, probably Armadillo Willy’s.

Armadillo Willy's is an awfully local reference. They only have a few locations relative to the other chains mentioned in this thread, and the furthest from the South Bay is in Dublin.

Re: Buca di Beppo, America’s Most Postmodern Red Sauce Chain

#42

Post by tschwimmer »

bpolverini wrote: post #15

As an Italian-American, this explains why every time I go to a Buca di Beppo, I feel like I'm in some kind of merger between a mediocre Italian restaurant and a minstrel show. To those of us who grew up in this culture, it's ridiculous (almost bordering on offensive). Thankfully, I grew up in communities where the Italian's could proudly go to other restaurants that were more respectful of a 3,000 year old culture. I…

I'm glad I found someone that feels that same way. I used to walk by a BdB on my way to work and I couldn't help but notice the horribly stereotypical cartoon they use as their mascot.[0] My thought experiment for this image is: Imagine how this type of caricature looks like for pretty much any other genre of restaurant (Chinese food, sushi, burritos, etc). It's probably super offensive. To me, that's a good indicator that this caricature is offensive too.

[0] https://media-cdn.tripadvisor.com/media/photo-s/06/d7/fd/30/...

Re: Buca di Beppo, America’s Most Postmodern Red Sauce Chain

#44

Post by ng12 »

ocdtrekkie wrote: post #34
cowmoo728 wrote: post #4

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Cheesecake Factory? They're famous for having terrible decor, service, and food, yet somehow being an essential part of the American high school prom experience. https://www.barstoolsports.com/barstoolu/dude-goes-viral-for...

I get so peeved by the treatment of chain restaurants like this as "poor" or "terrible". Because you know what, Cheesecake Factory, Olive Garden, Red Lobster, Outback Steakhouse? These are some of the nicest restaurants the average citizen can hope to afford to go to more than once in their lifetime. It isn't going to impress folks who have a personal chef at home, but the food is pretty darn good , and you don't hav…

The value proposition really isn't that great. It's not any cheaper than food from a local Italian joint. What you're paying for is that Olive Garden experience, whatever that is worth to you.

A good example is the Olive Garden in Times Square. It's _always_ packed despite there being better Italian places a few blocks away. Not to mention, if you're willing to hop on the subway there's significantly better Italian food available in the outer boroughs for much cheaper. Olive Garden isn't that cheap, that nice, or that tasty which makes it a mystery to a lot of people.

Re: Buca di Beppo, America’s Most Postmodern Red Sauce Chain

#45

Post by kjdndisneinj »

bpolverini wrote: post #15

As an Italian-American, this explains why every time I go to a Buca di Beppo, I feel like I'm in some kind of merger between a mediocre Italian restaurant and a minstrel show. To those of us who grew up in this culture, it's ridiculous (almost bordering on offensive). Thankfully, I grew up in communities where the Italian's could proudly go to other restaurants that were more respectful of a 3,000 year old culture. I…

It's cultural appropriation, and it's understandable you feel it's silly or offensive. Part of what makes it uncomfortable is the appropriation of culture for little more than vapid monetary gain. Like you said, it's not contributing to Americans' understanding of Italian culture---if anything it's hurting it with silly stereotypes.

Interestingly, if someone was criticizing the appropriation of an indigenous or asian culture, there is little chance it would be this highly upvoted on HN. I think this is a worthwhile lesson for the community.

Re: Buca di Beppo, America’s Most Postmodern Red Sauce Chain

#46

Post by chc »

ocdtrekkie wrote: post #34
cowmoo728 wrote: post #4

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Cheesecake Factory? They're famous for having terrible decor, service, and food, yet somehow being an essential part of the American high school prom experience. https://www.barstoolsports.com/barstoolu/dude-goes-viral-for...

I get so peeved by the treatment of chain restaurants like this as "poor" or "terrible". Because you know what, Cheesecake Factory, Olive Garden, Red Lobster, Outback Steakhouse? These are some of the nicest restaurants the average citizen can hope to afford to go to more than once in their lifetime. It isn't going to impress folks who have a personal chef at home, but the food is pretty darn good , and you don't hav…

I don't think it's really price snobbery. I've been to much nicer restaurants with average plate prices in the $10–$20 dollar range that those places fall into. There are even a lot of "foodie" places in that range.

Re: Buca di Beppo, America’s Most Postmodern Red Sauce Chain

#47

Post by cowmoo728 »

ocdtrekkie wrote: post #34
cowmoo728 wrote: post #4

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Cheesecake Factory? They're famous for having terrible decor, service, and food, yet somehow being an essential part of the American high school prom experience. https://www.barstoolsports.com/barstoolu/dude-goes-viral-for...

I get so peeved by the treatment of chain restaurants like this as "poor" or "terrible". Because you know what, Cheesecake Factory, Olive Garden, Red Lobster, Outback Steakhouse? These are some of the nicest restaurants the average citizen can hope to afford to go to more than once in their lifetime. It isn't going to impress folks who have a personal chef at home, but the food is pretty darn good , and you don't hav…

Many local diners have a better steak for the same price as an Outback. The chains definitely win on always-good-enough consistency, since you know exactly what you're going to get at what price.

Re: Buca di Beppo, America’s Most Postmodern Red Sauce Chain

#48

Post by jpatokal »

ng12 wrote: post #44
ocdtrekkie wrote: post #34

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I get so peeved by the treatment of chain restaurants like this as "poor" or "terrible". Because you know what, Cheesecake Factory, Olive Garden, Red Lobster, Outback Steakhouse? These are some of the nicest restaurants the average citizen can hope to afford to go to more than once in their lifetime. It isn't going to impress folks who have a personal chef at home, but the food is pretty darn good , and you don't hav…

The value proposition really isn't that great. It's not any cheaper than food from a local Italian joint. What you're paying for is that Olive Garden experience, whatever that is worth to you. A good example is the Olive Garden in Times Square. It's _always_ packed despite there being better Italian places a few blocks away. Not to mention, if you're willing to hop on the subway there's significantly better Italian f…

Part of that value prop is predictability. There are a lot of people who like to know exactly what they'll get, even when (especially when) travelling, and this is also why highway rest areas and airports so often have national fast food & coffee chains.

Re: Buca di Beppo, America’s Most Postmodern Red Sauce Chain

#49

Post by ocdtrekkie »

ng12 wrote: post #44
ocdtrekkie wrote: post #34

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I get so peeved by the treatment of chain restaurants like this as "poor" or "terrible". Because you know what, Cheesecake Factory, Olive Garden, Red Lobster, Outback Steakhouse? These are some of the nicest restaurants the average citizen can hope to afford to go to more than once in their lifetime. It isn't going to impress folks who have a personal chef at home, but the food is pretty darn good , and you don't hav…

The value proposition really isn't that great. It's not any cheaper than food from a local Italian joint. What you're paying for is that Olive Garden experience, whatever that is worth to you. A good example is the Olive Garden in Times Square. It's _always_ packed despite there being better Italian places a few blocks away. Not to mention, if you're willing to hop on the subway there's significantly better Italian f…

I would argue the cost is not much higher than fast food, but the quality is arguably still a large step up. Obviously these places get a lot of points for their excellent choice of bread (be they sticks, biscuits, etc.), and there's arguably something to be said for going to a restaurant and knowing they have food you like.

If you go to these restaurants a little more regularly, you also can stack up the rewards benefits, sometimes you can get discounted gift cards, etc. All of which you will not find at a non-chain restaurant.

Which is to say, if I can get a sirloin for the cost of a Whopper, it isn't much of a mystery why people go there.

Re: Buca di Beppo, America’s Most Postmodern Red Sauce Chain

#50

Post by United857 »

Konryan wrote: post #40

As someone who lives in Italy, a lot of what seems to be considered "Italian" in the US sometimes feels like little more than a caricature. It does trouble me slightly, because it feels like an impersonation of Italian culture. On the other hand, it's probably just culture diverging and developing in different ways after migration, which is to be expected. So the problem is mostly one of identity: the same label - it…

Same can probably be said of any country's cuisine in America.

E.g. many staples of Chinese restaurants in America (General Tso's chicken, chop suey, sweet and sour whatever) are not found in China except at super touristy places.

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