Buona Sera Ristorante & Bar

This place is fantastic. I had the roast duck with a currant sauce and risotto while my wife had a spinach with along with risotto also. The owners have a passion for food and wine and add a personal touch. If you’re lucky the waitress Clare will be there and she’ll sing for you, she has an incredible voice.

After a long day’s ride on the motorcycle my friend and I stumbled upon this little out-​of-​the-​way Italian restaurant quite by accident.
At first I thought Buona Sera might be a little too upscale for the way we were dressed, however the owner greeted us with such welcome and handed us the menu to look at, that I was intrigued.
We chose to split the unusual spaghetti entrée and I asked for the owner’s suggestion as to an accompanying wine. He suggested a Barbera and it was the perfect wine for my meal!
I selected a salad with grapes, gouda cheese, slivered nuts and a light minted dressing as an afterthought and I’m so glad I did — it was one of the best salads I’ve had in a long time. At a time when restaurants are serving the same salad fare, this one is a refreshing difference demonstrating ingenuity and the knowledge of how foods go together.
Splitting was an excellent idea because it left room for dessert. I’m not a Tiramasu fan however when I spotted Buona Sera’s Tiramasu and asked the owner about it, it was a no-​brainer to try it. Whether you like tiramisu or not — this dessert is a must!
At Buona Sera, everything is hand-​picked, selected and cooked to perfection. This is no overstatement!
One other plus is this wonderful restaurant is within an easy walking distance of the Quality Inn, where we are staying.
I cannot recommend this place enough for the price, the service, the food, and the over all ambience.

My husband and I needed a night out and in our new community of Minden, with my gluten allergy, we are always very cautious. My husband made the phone call. Yes, reservations are nice. What is nicer is a very gluten aware answer when asked if they can accommodate my dietary requirements.
The place is small and intimate. The décor makes you feel as though you are about to experience something wonderful. And yes, you are. The cocktail menu is full of fun choices. I had a lovely cocktail to start and had the appetizer special. This night it was rabbit and rattlesnake sausage. Yes, you read that right. We enjoyed this very much. I was eyeballing the duck liver for next time. For dinner I had the salmon with an olive tapenade. It was perfection. The owner helped up with a wine pairing.
They try to source locally and Northern Nevada is fortunate to have Starbucks, Blind Dog and Alpine Sierra roasting coffee here. They came up with a nice Starbucks served in a French Press. My husband had the tiramisu for dessert. I had Absinthe. Absinthe dripped over a sugar cube as is should be. To top it off, our waitress, Claire, did a little opera. What a great voice and what a nice treat. After dinner when we walked outside, I was almost surprised to find myself 10 minutes from home. We had been transported.

This was one of the best italian restaurants i have eaten in. What a surprise! i had the mushroom ravioli and my husband had a greek style lasagne. i would make a special stop again just to eat here. it just doesn’t get much better!

our 2^nd visit to this gem in Minden. Some might think this restaurant a bit pricey, (and 9 dollars for the dinner salad, or a cup (not bowl but cup) of soup… see correction below, my bad on the pricing of the soup — it was worth it regardless!!!), however the ingredients are super fresh and the preparation and presentation top shelf — so really, the prices are similar to high end dining in a major metropolitan area — that this restaurant is in Minden — a miracle! (and yes, the quality of fare compares).
We started with carpaccio, which, while not the traditional paper thin beef, was well cured and tasty. Also had the daily special soup, which was a creamy tomato basil with toasted croutons — excellent.
For main courses we tried the chicken saltimbocca — which, again, was not the traditional preparation, but better!!! Our waiter paired this with a wonderful Italian white that complemented the chicken dish perfectly.
We also tried the filet steak served on a bed of gnocci (how inventive!) with a gorgonzola sauce. Heavenly, especially with a glass of good sangiovese.
for desert, we shared their warm chocolate torta — which was like a flattened soufflé‘, served with a dollop of home made vanilla bean ice cream. Again a bit pricey, but tasty.
As the restaurant was not even close to full, we were encouraged to linger, and our waiter even brought us some lemoncello to sip as we chatted.
In all a wonderful night out — and of course we enjoyed the live harp music (got a chuckle out of In-​A-​Gadda-​Da Vida played on harp.

The best Osso Bucco I’ve ever had.
The service was very good.
By the look of the restaurant from the outside, I wasn’t expecting much, but I was pleasantly surprised.
If you like Italian food, you will not be disappointed.

A hidden treasure. The owners are undeniably friendly, the service was superb, and the food was truly delicious. The façade is not impressive. Some of my party were a little wary about the location, but once you step inside, you are reassured. The menu is impressive, the pasta is all fresh, everything is local as much as possible, and no one was even slightly disappointed.
I started with the beef carpaccio and it wasn’t kidding around. Most places at which I’ve had beef carpaccio have sliced the beef so thinly, one can’t appreciate its richness and fullness, but this dish was melt-​in-​your-​mouth, hearty, clean, and beautiful. The greens were so fresh and the fennel, mushroom, and parmigiano were graceful and tasty accoutrements.
I also sampled the fried calimari and there’s really nothing I can say but that it delicious and tender.
I finished with the artichoke heart ravioli and I’m glad I ordered the smaller plate because the portions are really generous. The sauce was light and elegant and the ravioli seriously tender and well made.
This place knows what they’re doing.

Nice find in a small town. A little upscale with great food for the special occasion. Good place for couples to enjoy a romantic dinner in a quite setting. A little on the spendy side.

I went to Buona Sera on a Wednesday night, so none of the famous opera and harp music for me, although I did see the harp sitting in the corner. If anything, it makes a beautiful decoration when not in use!
I had never heard of this restaurant before stepping foot into it, so I literally had NO expectations. The first thing that struck me was how well decorated the small restaurant was once you stepped inside. Someone put a lot of work into creating great ambiance.
My husband and I were greeted by the owner, which was a nice touch. We felt welcomed immediately. We started off with the cheese and fruit plate and two of their specialty cocktails. The cocktails were good and creative and used top shelf liquor.
I consider myself an amateur cheese expert and I was a little disappointed in the cheese plate. It wasn’t bad, but it wasn’t what I would expect at a high end restaurant. There were three cheeses: a standard brie, gorgonzola and a plain goat cheese. Our fruits were mango slices, figs and raspberries. While it was neat to see someone serving figs, they weren’t that flavorful. We also weren’t given any sort of crackers on the side to spread our cheese onto, so we used our bread that came out as a starter. We didn’t mind using the bread, it was very good, but we kept having to ask for more, which was a little frustrating given that the restaurant wasn’t very busy when we came in.
There are a few little things that could have been done to take the cheese plate up a step. First, they could include some crunchy texture of a cracker or provide more bread especially since most of the cheeses were spreading cheeses. Second, it would have been neat to see some more exciting cheeses on the plate. A suggestion to the owners– put a wine pairing with the cheese plate on the menu. It would be a nice touch!
For our entrees, I had the chicken saltimbocca and my husband had the artichoke heart ravioli. I thought the flavors in my chicken were very well developed, the zucchini on the side was perfectly cooked. However, the risotto was just plain. I didn’t finish it. It needed something to make it pop a little more.
I had a bite of my husband’s ravioli and it was also very good. It wasn’t drowning in sauce and had a lot of flavor. He seemed to like it.
After we were finished, the owners wife came over to see how we were doing. Again, I really appreciate that they are invested in the satisfaction of their guests.
Additionally, I noticed on their menu that they make every effort to use local, organic meat and produce. Lots of bonus points for that. I wish more restaurants would follow suit.
I will probably return and I think anyone who visited this restaurant wouldn’t be disappointed, but for the niche market they are trying to attract, I think that a few small improvements could make a big difference.
When I go to a restaurant and pay $ 30 for my entrée, I want to be spoiled just a little more. At this price point, it’s truly the little things that make the biggest differences.

I’ve been wanting to try Buona Sera for years, so we stopped by for lunch. Food is amazing, so much flavor in such simple ingredients, there’s no special sauces here just good, quality cooking with knowledge to bring out each ingredients best flavors. There was one server and she seemed overwhelmed. I ordered a sandwich and salad and bread with olive oil and balsamic vinegar for an appetizer. The sandwich and salad came out long before the bread… I wish the waitress would have seen this and asked if I still wanted the bread. Watching other tables numerous others were receiving their entrees before their salads. Timing needs some work but the food is amazing, will be back for sure.

**Update — my now husband and I had come back here a year later and got engaged on New Year’s Eve. Cindi, her husband and the staff were all in on it; it was a moment I’ll never forget. We are so sad to hear that this restaurant has been closed!
This lovely restaurant was the setting of where my boyfriend and I had our most romantic night ever. It was NYE and we didn’t have a reservation and were calling around for anything that was open. Thanks to Unilocal we found this amazing gem. From the moment we walked in to our drive home, we felt transplanted to a little cocoon of our own filled with amazing jazz/soul/r&b music, food, drinks, and people. It truly was an amazing night that is hard to put in words. We chose to forego our NYE party plans to stay with everyone there. It felt like we were with family in our living room at home. We are already talking about coming back next year to celebrate. See you soon Buona Sera!

Best food I’ve had in Northern Nevada, hands down. Rivals some of the best food I’ve enjoyed in San Francisco, as well!
Lovely space, cozy, and quiet (until their talented staff erupts in an enthusiastic aria). Sadly, there was no one on the harp the night we dined. The lights were set at a very comfortable, somewhat dim setting. The décor is elegant and stylish. The bar was beautiful, and almost made me wish I were drinking that night.
The owners were in the restaurant while I was there, and they were absolutely overflowing with kindness and warmth. Service was impeccable!
I had their «award winning» pork dish with apples, and it was absolutely splendid. The bread was a big hit at the table, and there wasn’t a trace of the crème brûlée left on the table by the time we left. Absolutely beautiful dinner. I drank water, but my companions raved about the wine selections, which were recommended personally by the owners, who had hand-​selected them from their travels to various wineries.
I hear the chef is from Milan. The food was truly exquisite.
Absolutely worth the drive and the prices if you’re looking for an elegant meal in a family-​friendly environment without the noise of Reno.

great food, kids enjoyed it and Barbara Baxter sang for us. It was a great visit.

Buona Sera’s is a great little restaurant for a night of fine dining. The owners take great care in their food, wine, and creating a comfortable environment. The food was fantastic, and as we came for a bit of wine tasting, the owners were very knowledgeable and helpful in this process. Lovely place to eat for a special dinner.

In January, my coworkers and I were in Bridgeport for work and Unilocaled nearby restaurants. Buona Sera was highly recommended.
We extremely enjoyed our meal. I was hoping to order the seafood clams on a bed of noodles but found out is was part of their Winter Specials. We had dinned at Buona Sera on June 21^st, the first day they started serving their Summer menu.
Dissappointed but not upset, I ordered the lobster with scallop and asparagus rissotto sans the butter sauce. It was delicious. Their rosemary bread is wonderful and crunchy on the outside and soft on the inside.
We received complimentary champagne and met the owners who were divine. I was shocked our waitress remembered us from January. I guess when you live in a small town, you tend to know everyone, even out of town guests.

What a surprise.
The only place open after 8:00 on a Sunday evening and it was a delight.
Food was delicious and the young operetta vocalist, named Claire — is a joy!
If you are in Tahoe — it’s worth the drive to Minden.

This restaurant is the best kept secret in the Carson Valley. The atmosphere and owner’s attention to detail is what makes this place so special. The food is fantastic & the music is extraordinary.

The restaurant is small, intimate and classy with white linen and tablecloth. Walked in just in time to listen to the waitress’s rendition of Puccini’s o mio babbino caro. This opera piece set the mood and pace for a relaxing and laid back evening. What a great way to start an evening with Italian arias followed by an Italian meal! It brought back fond memories of my younger days in NYC where Italian trattoria were well known for their fine wine, food and music.
I started the evening with CAPESANTE (seared scallops in a butter orange sauce). Five pieces of scallop were seared to perfection with a thin layer of lightly burnt crispy crust and the inside were kept moist and tender. Just the way I like them as some other restaurants often overcook the scallops and they become chewy and rubbery. My personal preference though would be larger sized scallops and maybe fewer pieces. To accompany the scallops, I had the INSALATA BUONA SERA, a green salad with shaved fennel, toasted almonds and Fuji apple in a slightly sweet apple Dijon vinaigrette dressing. Very refreshing!
I have been here twice before and was drooling about the duck entrée all along the way. Bummer! The duck was no longer in the menu. I picked OSSO BOCO ALLA MILANESE which I thought was a good substitute. The veal shank was braised in white wine and served over a bed of polenta. I haven’t had osso boco in awhile. So what the hell, an extra lipitor at the end of dinner should do the trick since I didn’t want to worry about cholesterol for at least the duration of this evening. The meat was tender, yummy and not too fatty at all.
This restaurant is a 3 to 4 stars restaurant if located in NYC or San Francisco but gets a well deserved 5 stars for being in Minden. Cindy (the owner) is a good schmoozer and she makes sure that every customer feels welcomed.

I was unimpressed and had really been looking forward to going to Buona Sera for my first wedding anniversary with my husband, parents and in-​laws.
The food was mediocre at best. The Lemon Meringue dessert was the highlight.
The added-​on tip was B.S. for a party of six (and I saw nothing that said anything about that on the menu or anywhere else).
The harpist was nice but the waitress (who was very friendly and talented — reason for two of the stars) suddenly belting out songs was just too loud in such a small space).
Not bad but not enough to bring us back.

We have NEVER had anything less than a fabulous evening at Buona Sera!
The owners attend to you from the moment you walk in. We have eaten at the bar as well as at a table in the dining room. Food is always fresh and some great flavors. Caprese is one of many great tasting appetizers and we have had great risotto with mushrooms, filet mignon, veal scaloppini and much more.
The chef and owners keep the menu fresh by changing thru the seasons and using fresh herbs from their garden. My wife loves the sexy sarah martini and I enjoy their red wine list. Claire and Luke are great waitstaff who always remember you. The owners really want you to have a great dinner and overall evening out without ever feeling rushed and they accomplish the task. They frequently host live musicians and waitress Clair will often break into an operatic vignette with or without harpist Mary.
We have been going back more and more and have every intention to continue to be regulars.