Philadelphia spoils me. Italian is a whole different animal there--adventurous, charismatic, but still very palatable. Bona Cucina? Plays it safe, does it pretty well, at a good price. If you are in Lansdown, this place passes--but not worth travelling to.
I love the family feel of the joint, but the food just isn't dynamite. My crab and lobster bisque was good, my veal was oddly breaded and a bit too lemony (lump crabmeat on top was good). Long wait for food is OK because we are forewarned about it in the menu.
This classic establishment has room for improvement, but doesn't need to do it. Regulars love it and it has a reputation that precedes it; just not the spot for me.
This was my first visit to Bona. Lately we have been going to many Italian restaurants in the area:
Portabello's
Fellini's
Guiseppes
etc...
The write ups on Bona are very good so we gave it a try. This is a quaint little neighborhood Italian restaurant...which I like. The main room as some ambiance while the upstairs room is just a plain room.
We shared an appetizer special of Portabello mushroom with crab. It was VERY big but the flavor was lacking. No big deal.
My friend had a special called Chicken Genovese which was also bland in flavor. It looked good but taste was mediocre.
I had the Seafood Pasquale which was very good. It had the largest shrimp I had ever seen...and lots of it.
All in all it was good but not great. I will definitely give it another try since it just could have been an off night.
I haven't been here since before Yelp existed, and it's only because I forget it's there. Â
I took my Fiancee to the unassuming, charming little restaurant for our 1 year engagement anniversary.  I always forget this place is there.  If you look at the front of it, you'd never know it was even open.  Going in, I was absolutely amazed at how busy it was.  The food is old fashioned, like Nonna made it, and took me back to when I was a kid, sitting in her kitchen.  The  Veal San Remo was fantastic, and white (not grey or red).  You can tell that every dish is made with care and the chef is on the mark with everything.
As an added bonus, Bona Cucina is a BYOB, and I highly recommend that you do. Â It's well established that service is a little on the slow side, but everything is absolutely worth the wait, and since you brought a bottle, you have time to uncork it and socialize. Â For myself, uncorking a bottle and socializing is absolutely an integral portion of the experience.
Don't go if you're in a rush, but to take the time for a romantic dinner with your better half, there is nothing better. Â Leave the cell phones put away, and enjoy the experience.
Be still my heart! Â My brilliant husband plucked this place from the web. Â We got the last open table in the otherwise completely booked tiny dining room. Â I was excited and hopeful...and THEN! I heard a familiar voice from the kitchen...I knew right away it was the voice of a cook that I worked with MANY years ago as a waitress at another wonderful Italian restaurant. Â I knew I was home. Â
The spinach and cheese ravioli were pillowy heaven and the alfredo I chose to go on top was out of this world. Â A little sharper than other alfredos which was superb. Â My husband had the tortellini, which were so tender and served super hot, as was all of our food. Â
The service was warm , friendly, and confident (rightfully so: they know what they're putting out) . Â Service was not slow, but paced well, because (as their menu says), they make everything to order. Â
Do yourself a favor, make a reservation, don't eat lunch, and then GO!
One of our local favorites. The food is delicious and the menu fairly extensive. Service is usually quite good and the staff friendly. Â The restaurant interior is cramped and parking is a challenge. Wish they would move to a more hospitable space! Â Prices are reasonable and it is BYOB. Â You generally need a reservation on the weekends, unless you want to eat very early.
Review Source:This is a definite Delaware County gem! Â Thanks to YELP for helping us to find this excellent BYOB Italian restaurant. Â The food is spot-on and the staff is great! Â We had mussels in white wine and the portabella mushroom appetizer stuffed with sausage, mozz and spinach which was EXCELLENT!! Â I had the veal Oscar (gave it a 10) overflowing with crabmeat. Â The dish was seasoned just right and there was an abundance of crab and it was served with a side of rigatoni with marinara. Â Pulling out of the parking lot was a bit tricky, as I had to back out. Â I can't wait to go back again to try a pasta dish! Â You should definitely check out Bona Cucina!!
Review Source:What a fabulous place!  Even if you have the address, it's easy to miss, but it's well worth finding.  Classic, old fashioned Italian, everything is made in house.  The service is warm and friendly and the food is terrific.  Mussels in white wine, garlic bread the way no one makes it any more, a giant Caprese  with perfect tomatoes, big enough to share, linguini with shrimp and crabmeat (yum!), spinach ravioli in blush red sauce, four of us shared and had lots of leftovers.  My only regret is that i couldn't manage the raspberry limoncello sponge cake, but will hope to try it next time.  This is a gem, and on top of everything else, very reasonably priced.
Review Source:Can you bottle the friendly people and good food from Bona Cucina and make sure other places are equally good?
I love the place and the people. Every time I've been there, 20 or more times, the food is good and the staff is friendly. The vitello saltimbocca is a favourite of mine and they do it well but everything I've eaten there was quite good.
The only downside to the restaurant would be the building. There are quite a few tables squeezed into the space and they don't seem all that well organised. The food is so good, I can't say that I've ever regretted being in one area or another. If it still stands, the restaurant doesn't have a liquor licence, but you're allowed to bring a bottle, if that's your desire.
This is a hidden gem in Lansdowne with quality food. Â I've been to the place 3-4 times, and I've definitely sensed that the spot is full of locals who love it. Â Their Caesar salad and steak are really good. Â Unless the policy has changed, make sure to bring cash; the establishment doesn't accept credit cards. Â And make sure to call ahead.
Review Source:Oh my goodness. Been wanting to try this place ever since noticing it on my Yelp mobile app as a nearby hot spot. Finally did last week.
EVERYTHING. SO GOOD.
From the soups (crab bisque for the husband, cream of broccoli for me) to the bread to the phenomenal main courses, everything lived up to the hype.
I can see why everyone says the chicken dishes are the stand-outs - my husband's was incredible, and I don't normally like Italian chicken dishes - but I have to give a shout-out to the pasta dishes as well. I had gnocchi and my friend had spinach ravioli and OH. MY GOODNESS.
My friend said the alfredo sauce on his ravioli was the best he's ever had, and he's had a lot of alfredo sauce.
Cannot believe this unassuming BYO is so good, but it really and truly is. COME HERE. Now.
Bona Cucina is my long lost Italian Nona with a touch of Sopranos!
I like my Italian AUTHENTIC, OLD SCHOOL, FAMILY OWNED & MAFIA-TIZED!
This little Italian restaurant in the middle of Lansdowne/Upper Darby PA really brought the heat when it comes to Classic & Authentic Italian Food!
Who would have thought? This is for sure one of those places that a friend must tell you about to really even come across or consider. Not exactly a "charming" neighborhood or a place anyone would casually drive by. From the outside, this place is no looker...but as you step inside you know you've found a hidden gem!
- Family Owned and run Restaurant (Mother/Daughter were working the tables Friday night). The mother made me feel like she was my sweet Italian mother in law from Long Island (Yet born and raised in Italy).
- They are very loyal to their regulars... and Friday night that regular happened to be a "Bobby 'Bacala' Baccalieri" look-a-like in full on velour jogging suit with his freshly french tipped wife.
- The restaurant is small and has a very cozy and rustic feel to it. Very "Old School" decor with a bit of Nona's living room style thrown into it.
- BYOB and PERFECT for a laid back DATE NIGHT! I wouldn't suggest this as a great place to bring kids... they would kinda kill the mood in this joint. Great spot to bring your Parents to dinner when they are in town though!
- The food here is simply DELIZIOSO! Perfected Italian Entrees! I would highly suggest you stick with the Chicken & Veal dishes.. but by all means try it all, including their specials! They have an addictive Cream of Asparagus Soup and I'm sure all of their creamy soups are out of this world. After reading Kaitlin L. and another food bloggers review of Boca Cucina I decided to order the CHICKEN CELESTE (breast of chicken topped with imported proscuitto, roasted red peppers, smoked provolone cheese and white wine sauce). My dish was amazing and I look forward to trying many many more here!
My husband and I want to be apart of this Bona Cucina Family and aim to be treated like a regular Soprano. Next time we return it's matching volour joggin suits and a big bottle of Pino!
Ciao Baby!
Went to Bona Cucina for New Years Eve 2011 dinner. It was recommended to my bf and I by my best friend. 4 of us went there for dinner, and it was awesome.
Because of the holiday, they had a smaller menu to choose from, but it was great. I had the roasted peppers as an appetizer, then had crab stuffed scallops as a main meal. I topped it off with a fresh cannoli for dessert and it was to die for.
The fact that it's a BYO makes it even better. The atmosphere was great - friendly staff, table cloths, everything was really nice. I am definitely looking forward to the next time I go back. I don't think any Italian food will be able to compare now that I've experienced Bona Cucina!!
My favorite italian restuarant in the burbs of Philly. Casual BYOB with fantastic cook to order dinners. I go there once or twice a year and it never dissapoints. Friendly local wait staff and very informal. It's like eating at a friends house in South Philly. Â Neighborhood getting a little seedy. That just adds to it's out of the way charm. You would never think a place that good would be located there. A must try in Delaware County,Pa.
Review Source:Bona Cucina is most definitely the best Italian restaurant ever to be located between a crime scene cleanup outfit and a bus turnaround. Â Ate here a couple of weeks ago for my dad's birthday. Â We had a reservation and strolled right up to our table. Â We brought two bottles of wine, which the server opened for us right away (my lone real complaint was that they didn' t bring an ice bucket for the white wine, and I forgot to ask). Â Unfortunately, they also didn't turn on the air conditioner until we got there, which was INCREDIBLY LOUD. Â Once the temperature got down to normal, it was mostly like eating at home with our own moderately loud air conditioner, but for those ten minutes, we were practically yelling across the table.
Appetizers were tasty, especially the specials - cream of asparagus soup and portabella mushroom stuffed with sausage, spinach and feta. Â Main courses were also delicious, but reeeeaaallly slow. Don't come to this restaurant if you don't have a lot to talk about and definitely get an appetizer, because it's going to be a while before you see the main course. Â The meat dishes were delicious and tender. Â If you want leftovers, get the tortellini - my cousin's entree could have fed a family of four. Also get the rosa sauce, it's fantastic.
We didn't order dessert because we brought along our own ice cream cake, but they also served that beautifully. Â Overall, it's a good experience, but I definitely prefer it in the non-A/C season.
Delicious hole-in-the-wall Italian spot. Â Garlic bread is spot on, ambience is personal and the space is cozy. Â The wait is long, but the food is made to order so hasn't been sitting in a freezer for days on end. Â Well worth the wait - the portions are generous and the quality is solid, service is friendly.
Went here with a few friends and was pleasantly surprised. Â The door is unmarked, and it is a bit tight and dark inside. Â Would totally come back the next time I'm in town.
Whenever I go to any other Italian restaurant, I almost always end up saying "that was good, but it was no Bona Cucina."
I have been coming here for years upon years and have never had a bad meal (granted, I got veal marsala for about 6 years straight).
Best appetizers: Stuffed portabella mushroom, steamed mussels in white wine broth, and basically any of the cream soups/bisques.
Best meals: any meat. It is so tender, you rarely need a knife to cut it! The pasta is ok, but their chicken and veal dishes are what really sing.
Frankie, the waitress (and wife of the owner/chef Pat) is sassy but a fabulous waitress. The place is small and usually quite loud on weekends, but that is exactly the way a good BYO Italian restaurant should be.
If you are ever in the suburbs of Philadelphia, Bona Cucina is a MUST.
Note: It is cash only.
Don't blink or you'll miss this place, seriously. I must have driven past it hundreds of times without realizing that it was there, thankfully that has all changed. Bona Cucina is a hidden gem that serves some of the area's best food. Its intimate setting makes you feel like you are having a meal at your grandmother's house surrounded by your family. I cannot say it enough, but the food is excellent, I wish that I could try everything on the menu multiple times. Aside from the delicacies coming out of the kitchen, the atmosphere at Bona Cucina is phenomenal, unassuming and anti-elitist. Â The only drawback is the parking, but that is only a minor afterthought that should not prohibit you from getting there.
Review Source:This is indeed Landsdowne's best kept secret. We have been going here for years and it is a one of a kind dining experience. The service is slow for a reason. it gives you time to sit down with a bottle of wine and catch up on old stories. The appetizers and bread are delicious. I recommend the mussels with white sauce or tomato Bruciette.
The entrees are all home made and whether you go with pasta, steak or seafood you ill not be disappointed.
I recommend the Spinach Ravioli with Rosa sauce and a side of meatballs. every time I eat the meatballs I get a tear in my eye thinking about my old Italian grandmother and I am Irish so you figure it out.
Anyway if you are looking for an old Italian BYOB dining experience with delicious food and a long night out this is the place. Tell Frankie that you were recommended by Joe and Kim and she will take care of you.
This is an authentic, true Philly experience.
Definitely nothing fancy but you feel like you are having dinner in someone's home. The food is delicious, atmosphere is warm and cozy. Did I mention that the food is unbelievable? It can take quite some time to get your entree, so make sure to eat the delicious bread and order appetizers.
The service is one of a kind. Â The only downfall is that parking is at a minimum with a small lot in back and some spaces on the street in front.
But still remains one of the western suburb's best kept secrets.
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