Buca di Beppo is a chain restaurant that has been experiencing rave reviews in all the culinary magazines for a number of years. So, when I heard that one was coming to The Woodlands, I thought that a review would be of the utmost interest to the local students.I mean, lets face it, we are a suitcase college. At least half of the population goes home on the weekend, and most of those head home to Houston.First off, this your not basic Italian restaurant. Buca di Beppo is true southern Italian cooking, and it bares little resemblance to any other Italian restaurant you may have eaten in. Gone are the cream sauces that drench alfredos. There are more traditional marina sauces packed with so many flavors you wonder why other restaurants arent like this.This being our first visit to the restaurant, we were a little overwhelmed by the grandeur of the place. The staff was so gracious and friendly that they put us immediately at ease. After a short tour through the kitchen we were led to our table in the poster room. There is also dining available in special booths in the kitchen for those who desire to watch their food prepared firsthand. I love this place. Everything is seasoned powerfully; the spices and flavors is a rush. After eating cafeteria food for way to long, it was like a swift kick to the head. That is the best way to describe these delectable creations. The other thing is that this is a meal that cries out for a wine, and this is something that Buca di Beppo most certainly has plenty of. There is a wide selection of various red wines that can be purchased either by the glass or the bottle. If in a large group, it would be worthwhile to try several different bottles that could be recommend by the very knowledgeable wait staff. A perfect example would be our waitress, Beth. She was absolutely incredible, even though she said it was one of her first nights on the job. Beth handled our questions and guided us through the eclectic menu like a pro.Now everything here is ala carte. For those not familiar with the term, it means that each item on the menu is purchased individually. Oh, and by the way, all the menus are posted on the walls. If you havent figured out by now this is not the place for a first date; this is the place to take either a huge appetite or at least three friends. The servings are so large that they can overwhelm you. All the dining is family style, so that means most items on the menu are designed to be an item for three to four people. If you were to go here by yourself, no way would this place be considered cheap, but when you bring friends along everything becomes much more affordable. However, this will still be a little more expensive than your average dining out meal, but when you consider the high quality of the food this meal will like a bargain.Personally, I had yet to find true Italian food that meets my demanding standards, but Bucca di Beppo exceeds my requirements. It definitely fits the bill as a perfect Italian restaurant.