By Molly Snyder Senior Writer Published Oct 17, 2007 at 5:13 AM

 The votes are in, and the winners have been selected for OnMilwaukee's Best: Eat & Drink, 2007. The results of this readers' poll, including an editors' pick, are available in this series of articles that run throughout October during Dining Month on OnMilwaukee.com.

When it comes to dining out with the kids, OnMilwaukee.com readers say Buca di Beppo is the best place to do it. The crazy décor, tolerance for loud noise (thanks to the incessant Italian-American songs booming through the speakers) and energetic staff make it the perfect place for families to have fun without getting vibed by childless diners. Plus, with a menu dominated by pizza and noodles, what kid wouldn’t love to scarf at the super-spirited Buca?

The first Buca di Beppo opened in 1993 in the basement of a Minneapolis apartment building (hence the name; buca is Italian for hole that sometimes slangily describes a basement), and today, has 93 locations nationwide.

Seating is half the fun of being at Buca, with tables ranging from “the pope’s table” (a massive round table with a Lazy Susan in the middle) to a table smack-dab in the kitchen. The Italian entrees are served “family style” and are infamous for being exceptionally large.

Finally, the extra-tall beer and wine glasses have lots of moms and dads saying, “Now that’s amore!”

OnMilwaukee.com editor’s choice: Red Robin

Runners-up:
2. The Chancery
3. StoneFire Pizza Co.
4. Organ Piper Pizza
5. Lakefront Palm Garden
6. Red Robin
7. Fuddrucker’s
8. Conejito’s
9. La Fuente
10. Champps Americana
11. Highland House
12. Silver Spring House
13. Charcoal Grill & Rotisserie
14. Pizza Shuttle


Molly Snyder started writing and publishing her work at the age 10, when her community newspaper printed her poem, "The Unicorn.” Since then, she's expanded beyond the subject of mythical creatures and written in many different mediums but, nearest and dearest to her heart, thousands of articles for OnMilwaukee.

Molly is a regular contributor to FOX6 News and numerous radio stations as well as the co-host of "Dandelions: A Podcast For Women.” She's received five Milwaukee Press Club Awards, served as the Pfister Narrator and is the Wisconsin State Fair’s Celebrity Cream Puff Eating Champion of 2019.