Buona Vita

After waiting 45 minutes past our reservation time, frozen and stiff from standing in a doorway the whole time because they can't offer a seat to someone on crutches, the food was terrible and the service was, needless to say, completely awful. The prices were outrageous on top of it all. Don't ruin your night by spending time in this place. more

Get Gordon, quick! Cons: food more

Get Gordon, quick! Nope. We are not going back. The food was awful. We are not foodies, don’t have attitude, always polite, with reasonable expectations. But on a recent Saturday night at 7 PM, this was a waste of money. The Ceasar salad was dry and if you really want the promised anchovies you have to ask for them. The veal scaloppini with fungi was completely tasteless, the sauce was visibly separating into oil and watery ugh on the plate, and the veal itself some kind of low-end rubbery cut. They were out of the sea bass on a Saturday night, and the “special” fish (described as a “filet” of red snapper) actually looked like an oval of frozen breaded chicken from Shaws freezer section. It was overcooked, dry and tasteless, possibly previously frozen ($25). We arrived on time with reservations and waited for half an hour at the small 4-seat bar in back, keeping an eye on the turnover and arrivals. We asked for a chardonnay from one waitress there, but she said they didn’t have any. Another waitress next to her said yes they did, and pointed to the menu, which, I had to point out, actually described a Soive. A third woman then joined them and said they really DID have a chardonnay, and found it from somewhere. The manager approached us to say our table was ready, and while his back was turned the bus boy seated a walk-in couple at the table. He turned and saw this, and rushed off to de-seat them, then ran back to us. If you have ever seen John Cleese waiting tables in Faulty Towers, this was it. This restaurant was originally very good, but the owner got tired and the food and patronage declined. Late last year the current owner-chef took over under the same name. We waited for him to get it right before we returned. Won’t be back. Cons: food more

inDec 8 th 09 Bouna Vita reopened its doors under a new ownership. Try it ,You will be impressed. The best food at the lowest price. Pros: the new owner is a chef from italy more

inDec 8 th 09 Bouna Vita reopened its doors under a new ownership. Try it ,You will be impressed. The best food at the lowest price. Pros: the new owner is a chef from italy Cons: none more

I wondered about this place, read that it was family run which usually means it will be a good bet. It looks a little down in the dumps, sort of run down but that can always be overlooked if the food is good. The owner was a very nice man, and so I wish I could say that I had a terrific meal at a good price. Maybe it was just an off night? I don't know, but the prices seemed high for what we were served, and so I do not think that we will try it again. Pros: friendly owner Cons: the food was jsut so-so & the prices were high more

I wondered about this place, read that it was family run which usually means it will be a good bet. It looks a little down in the dumps, sort of run down but that can always be overlooked if the food is good. The owner was a very nice man, and so I wish I could say that I had a terrific meal at a good price. Maybe it was just an off night? I don't know, but the prices seemed high for what we were served, and so I do not think that we will try it again. Pros: friendly owner Cons: the food was jsut so-so & the prices were high more

I have been a regular to La Buona Vita since 1998. I always look forward to what the specials are and the freshness of their food. I find the staff to be extremely delightful and this is definately the kind of place I can go alone and not feel out of place. Someone is always starting small talk and are extremely interested to your needs. I have tried there pasta dishes to their seafood dished to their Bistecca dish. If you are not satisfied then it is for sure that Angelo (Owner) will make it up to you some how!! This restaurnant is not your typical italian restaurant, it is better. This is definately not imitation or wanna be Italian Restaurnat like you see out there. It is true family recipes and family run business. Everyone should try it for themselves. Unfortunately like the last person who wrote the one and only bad review, some people are just hard to satisfy!! Pros: True Italian Dishes at great prices Cons: Parking more

I have been a regular to La Buona Vita since 1998. I always look forward to what the specials are and the freshness of their food. I find the staff to be extremely delightful and this is definately the kind of place I can go alone and not feel out of place. Someone is always starting small talk and are extremely interested to your needs. I have tried there pasta dishes to their seafood dished to their Bistecca dish. If you are not satisfied then it is for sure that Angelo (Owner) will make it up to you some how!! This restaurnant is not your typical italian restaurant, it is better. This is definately not imitation or wanna be Italian Restaurnat like you see out there. It is true family recipes and family run business. Everyone should try it for themselves. Unfortunately like the last person who wrote the one and only bad review, some people are just hard to satisfy!! Pros: True Italian Dishes at great prices Cons: Parking more

Took my son and friend there (11 years old) Carbonara, pasta with sauce, pasta with butter, 2 dinner salads,.. more

Took my son and friend there (11 years old) Carbonara, pasta with sauce, pasta with butter, 2 dinner salads, 2 sodas and it was $49. When I got ho... more

Took my son and friend there (11 years old) Carbonara, pasta with sauce, pasta with butter, 2 dinner salads, 2 sodas and it was $49. When I got ho... more

Took my son and friend there (11 years old) Carbonara, pasta with sauce, pasta with butter, 2 dinner salads, 2 sodas and it was $49. When I got ho... more

I've been to this restaurant a couple of times. I'm a single mom and I take my 11year old there. I get the carbonara, he gets spaghetti with sauce. In March our bill for this, with a single salad and 2 sodas was around $23. We went there last night, brought a friend who had spaghetti with butter and no drink and the bill was $49!!!! I didn't say anything at the time, but called about an hour later. I asked for the manager and I was told by a woman that he was not there. I'm pretty sure the person I was talking to was the waitress we had, who may or may not be related to the owner. Pros: Nothing Cons: Rude staff, ripoff. more

I've been to this restaurant a couple of times. I'm a single mom and I take my 11year old there. I get the carbonara, he gets spaghetti with sauce. In March our bill for this, with a single salad and 2 sodas was around $23. We went there last night, brought a friend who had spaghetti with butter and no drink and the bill was $49!!!! I didn't say anything at the time, but called about an hour later. I asked for the manager and I was told by a woman that he was not there. I'm pretty sure the person I was talking to was the waitress we had, who may or may not be related to the owner. She was incredibly rude. I've worked in a number of restaurants and you always try to please the customer. $10.95 for spagetti with a splash of sauce. NO WAY. $6.95 for spaghetti with butter.... on the high side, I think. These were salad size bowls. Not platters, like mine. I thought the price was outrageous. Shame on this woman. We will not be going back there. No garlic bread, no bruchetta...... No wonder why there were 5 customers in the place. DON'T WASTE YOUR MONEY. Pros: Nothing Cons: Rude staff, ripoff. more

I admit that it looks like a hole in the wall from the outside, but the food makes up for it 10 times! The inside is decorated plentifully with photos and furnishings from the owner's homeland. The interior is nothing fancy but the food is magnificent. My mother could not stop raving about how she has never had such amazing calamari since she lived in Winthrop, where the seafood is the freshest. I ordered the Siciliana and the sauce was incredibly flavorful. Most everything is homemade and it tastes that way too. To top it all off, the prices were extremely reasonable if not a little cheap compared to other restaurants in the Arlington area. Great alternative to the overwhelming Harvard Square and Boston. The service was great. It seems like a place where lots of regulars know about it. I recommend it to anyone who enjoys great cooking without the snobbery. Pros: Food, Service, Price Cons: Simple Interior more

I admit that it looks like a hole in the wall from the outside, but the food makes up for it 10 times! The inside is decorated plentifully with photos and furnishings from the owner's homeland. The interior is nothing fancy but the food is magnificent. My mother could not stop raving about how she has never had such amazing calamari since she lived in Winthrop, where the seafood is the freshest. I ordered the Siciliana and the sauce was incredibly flavorful. Most everything is homemade and it tastes that way too. To top it all off, the prices were extremely reasonable if not a little cheap compared to other restaurants in the Arlington area. Great alternative to the overwhelming Harvard Square and Boston. The service was great. It seems like a place where lots of regulars know about it. I recommend it to anyone who enjoys great cooking without the snobbery. Pros: Food, Service, Price Cons: Simple Interior more

soulful italian food--the real thing. great family atmosphere. a real find. more

soulful italian food--the real thing. great family atmosphere. a real find. more

Delicious food both times I've been there. Cozy, comfortable atmoshere. Service is good. Great value for the price!! Pros: Great location, good service more