Buona Terra Ristorante
Stephanie Polakowski · 253 Google reviewsBuona Terra Ristorante — Albany Park italian that sets the standard. Order the Pasta. Worth ordering a drink, because the bar holds its own. Dulce Ramos: "Perfectly seasoned, juicy and tender" [$$, patio]
What 784 diners keep saying
What 784 diners keep saying
verbatim, from Google
“I have dined at Pizza Terra many, many times. It is always excellent. We have ordered take out multiple times as well. The pasta / pizza / salads and desserts are fantastic. A couple of things to note: the first is that it gets really crowded and the wait lines can really be long. There are no reservations. Secondly, there is a limited staff so you may have to call several times to place your takeout order. Third, definitely do not order the calamari for take out. It is delicious when you order at the restaurant, it is a rubbery, tasteless mess. Also - the specials are consistently terrific.”
“Ok, I lived in Italy for a year and the food here truly reminded me of that experience, with a twist. Soooo, soooo good!”
“Buona gives local vibes! The food was amazing and you could tell it was super fresh and came out hot and ready! The team was extremely friendly and you got the vibe that they have a lot of regulars. Decent prices for the portions. Will be going back!”
“Never disappoints. One of our favorite neighborhood gems.”
“This place is probably THE best Italian food I’ve ever had. The service is always fast and friendly and I like how they have daily specials which change frequently. Not to mention, their garlic spread is to die for. We got the calamari to start and as our entree, we got the butternut squash ravioli and spicy tomato pasta with chicken. If you’re looking for a place to eat, look no further!”
“The food is delicious, fresh & hot. Service was proficient. The manager visited tables & she was kind. All around lovely experience. In the picture I have the bucatini Cacio E Pepe with grilled chicken 🤌 the pennies Al' Arrabbiata👌 the margarita pizza tasted dare I say refreshing. I didn't take pictures of the desert but if you love the strong taste of coffee, get the tiramisu. Its creamy & yummy. The cannoli is just as a cannoli should taste. Its not my favorite place to get it at but it's still pretty darn good.”
“What a lovely experience. Francisco provided excellent service. He paced out our courses and didn’t rush us through our meal. My friend and I hadn’t seen each other in some time and we spent 3 1/2 hours catching up. We ordered the arancini, H&C salad, rotini al a Nonna, the Gorganzola pork chop, tiramisu and gelato. Everything was superbly delicious. The restaurant was busy, but not packed. There were families with small children when we first arrived. As the evening progressed it was more couples and small groups of adults. The restaurant is clean and understated. It’s a really nice neighborhood spot for a really great meal.”
“Love spending money here! The food is exquisite, as well as the atmosphere, Drinks are also poured appropriately! Good job!”
“Great Italian spot! I had the Vitello Cerafino and my boyfriend had the Rigatoni Buona Terra. The veal was tender and flavorful and the Rigatoni was cooked perfectly was an extremely flavorful creamy sauce! Place is small and packs in quick, definitely recommend getting a reservation!”
Sounds like your kind of place?
Star it — your hit list is where dinner decisions get made.
One email a month — new openings, hidden gems, and where locals are actually eating.
More Italian in Uptown & North Side
See the ranking →
In the same lane · Italian, mid-range
If it's packed, walk to…
More good rooms in Albany Park, minutes away.