Buca Di Beppo   

Price Per Person: $10-$20* Kid-Friendly Perks: Diaper changing station, kids' menu, high chairs Blue Plate Special: Giant pizzas, giant pastas, giant garlic bread and giant salads. The Dish: Bigger is better at Buca di Beppo. The first Buca Di Beppo opened in 1993 in a Minneapolis basement (the name literally means "Joe's Basement") and quickly became known for its overflowing platters of Italian standards served in a boisterous atmosphere. Small Caesar salads serve four, and heaping bowls of pasta are smothered in marinara and three-pound (no kidding) meatballs. The Atmosphere: A 1950s Italian family motif plays out in the dining room, filled to the hilt with black and white photographs, Christmas lights, Roman Catholic paraphernalia and reminders of the mother country. The restaurant draws a wide range of patrons who are looking for a big meal and a birthday party atmosphere. -- Laura Sprague and Kay Hersheberger *Price Per Person includes entree, drink and dessert.