[citation needed] Phil Roberts founded Buca di Beppo in 1993 as an imitation of "red sauce joints", Italian-American family restaurants in the northeast United States.

He hired Vittorio Renda, a Milanese chef, and Roberts's architect son decorated the restaurant with Italians' family photographs from flea markets.

In 1996, a new CEO, Joseph Micatrotto, brought less exaggerated Italian-American cultural depictions, based on his family's history, to the chain as it prepared to go public.

[14] Three Buca di Beppo sites were closed and the Vinny T's chain was listed as "discontinued operations" in the company's fourth quarter 2005 earnings statement.

[17] On June 7, 2006, the SEC filed securities fraud charges against Micatrotto, former CFO Greg Gadel, and former Controller Daniel J. Skrypek for stealing more than $200,000 from the company.

[7] In 2011, Buca moved its headquarters from Minneapolis to Orlando, Florida, home of its parent company, citing financial incentives.

[23][24] On August 1, 2024, Buca di Beppo abruptly closed 13 underperforming restaurants nationwide, blaming impact caused by the COVID-19 pandemic as part of the decision.