Original Berwyn Location, 1981
Original Berwyn Location, 1981
Original Berwyn Location, 1981
Original Berwyn Location, 1981
Original Berwyn Location, 1981
Original Berwyn Location, 1981
Original Berwyn Location, 1981
Original Berwyn Location, 1981
Original Berwyn Location, 1981
Original Berwyn Location, 1981

a family foundation

Four decades, three generations and several dozen restaurants ago, Joe and Peggy Buonavolanto opened the first Buona Beef restaurant in Berwyn, IL, which specialized in their authentic recipe for Italian Beef Sandwiches. The year was 1981, and the dream location was half a mile from the family’s home. Joe & Peggy made the hard decision to take out a $10,000 second mortgage on the house to start the business.

Their dream was to have their kids work side by side to create a business that could someday support their own families. The plan was simple, take a classic Chicago street food and elevate it with fresh ingredients, all-natural beef, a family recipe and a friendly atmosphere that could be enjoyed by all. Their 5 sons, Carlo, John, Joe Jr, Jimmy and Donny immediately took to the business and helped make the family dream come together.

The founding sons, Carlo, John, Joe Jr, Jimmy and Don have been involved full-time since they were teenagers, working their way through every possible job in the Buona restaurants. From washing floors, to serving customers, they believe that hard work pays off. Through it all, the brothers have continued to be united in the Buona growth plans and vision. The family legacy doesn’t stop with the founders, Buona is made up of multiple 3rd generation Buonavolanto’s and hard-working dedicated employees who continue to serve Buona customers and surrounding communities. Today, as a result, Buona is the largest family-owned Italian Beef restaurant group and Italian Beef Producer in the country.

a family foundation

Four decades, three generations and several dozen restaurants ago, Joe and Peggy Buonavolanto opened the first Buona Beef restaurant in Berwyn, IL, which specialized in their authentic recipe for Italian Beef Sandwiches. The year was 1981, and the dream location was half a mile from the family’s home. Joe & Peggy made the hard decision to take out a $10,000 second mortgage on the house to start the business.

Their dream was to have their kids work side by side to create a business that could someday support their own families. The plan was simple, take a classic Chicago street food and elevate it with fresh ingredients, all-natural beef, a family recipe and a friendly atmosphere that could be enjoyed by all. Their 5 sons, Carlo, John, Joe Jr, Jimmy and Donny immediately took to the business and helped make the family dream come together.

Original Berwyn Location, 1981
Original Berwyn Location, 1981

a family foundation

The founding sons, Carlo, John, Joe Jr, Jimmy and Don have been involved full-time since they were teenagers, working their way through every possible job in the Buona restaurants. From washing floors, to serving customers, they believe that hard work pays off. Through it all, the brothers have continued to be united in the Buona growth plans and vision. The family legacy doesn’t stop with the founders, Buona is made up of multiple 3rd generation Buonavolanto’s and hard-working dedicated employees who continue to serve Buona customers and surrounding communities. Today, as a result, Buona is the largest family-owned Italian Beef restaurant group and Italian Beef Producer in the country.

Buona Founding brothers, Carlo, John, Joe Jr, Jim and Don
Buona Founding brothers, Carlo, John, Joe Jr, Jim and Don

the rest is
just gravy

With multiple locations throughout the Chicagoland area, Buona has expanded quickly over the last 20 years thanks to their dedicated employees and a quality standard that is never compromised. The expanded menu is inspired by family recipes
also passed down like fresh pastas, pizzas, salads and burgers.

The family didn’t stop there. The Buona Catering expansion was created to ensure customers could enjoy a Chicago-style meal in the comfort of their homes with their families or workplaces. Buona also launched a signature Buona at Home retail line that can be found at multiple retail partners in Illinois but also the surrounding states. This product line includes their signature Beef and Gravy, Meatballs, Giardiniera, pastas and much more.

Thanks to their dedicated team members and a firm family foundation, the roadmap for further expansion beyond Chicagoland and Illinois is close to becoming a reality. Their vision is to bring authentic family recipes and the Original Chicago Italian Beef Sandwich to every community in Chicago and beyond.

The other mission is to continue building a legacy for future generations of Buonavolantos. All signs are that family members will carry the Buona banner for years to come, doing founders Joe Sr. and Peggy proud.

Buona Founding brothers , Carlo, John, Joe Jr, Jim, and Don
Buona Founding brothers , Carlo, John, Joe Jr, Jim, and Don

With multiple locations throughout the Chicagoland area, Buona has expanded quickly over the last 20 years thanks to their dedicated employees and a quality standard that is never compromised. The expanded menu is inspired by family recipes also passed down like fresh pastas, pizzas, salads and burgers.

The family didn’t stop there. The Buona Catering expansion was created to ensure customers could enjoy a Chicago-style meal in the comfort of their homes with their families or workplaces. Buona also launched a signature Buona at Home retail line that can be found at multiple retail partners in Illinois but also the surrounding states. This product line includes their signature Beef and Gravy, Meatballs, Giardiniera, pastas and much more.

the rest is just gravy

the rest is
just gravy

Thanks to their dedicated team members and a firm family foundation, the roadmap for further expansion beyond Chicagoland and Illinois is close to becoming a reality. Their vision is to bring authentic family recipes and the Original Chicago Italian Beef Sandwich to every community in Chicago and beyond.

The other mission is to continue building a legacy for future generations of Buonavolantos. All signs are that family members will carry the Buona banner for years to come, doing founders Joe Sr. and Peggy proud.

The Buonavolanto Family

Today the founding brothers and multiple 3rd generation
Buonavolantos help build the brand

Joe & peggy
buonavolanto

Carlo Buonavolanto

Carlo
Buonavolanto

John Buonavolanto

john
Buonavolanto

Joe Buonavolanto

joe jr.
Buonavolanto

Jim Buonavolanto

jim
Buonavolanto

Don Buonavolanto

don
Buonavolanto

Beef dripping
with history

Legend has it that the Italian beef sandwich was invented in Chicago during the Depression. The thinly sliced beef and homemade gravy provided an economical way to feed crowds at Italian-American weddings and banquets at a time when few could afford more.

Italian beef food stands followed, eventually including Carl Buonavolanto’s Mr, Beef. Carl was Joe’s brother, and created the signature Buona recipe which he shared with Joe and his family. Joe and Peggy used that exact recipe when they opened Buona Beef in 1981, launching a legacy that is still going strong more than 40 years later. Today the founding brothers, third-generation Buonavolantos and an amazing team, help keep the Buona Beef Sandwich as the one and only: Authentic Original Italian Beef of Chicago. Preservative -and additive-free, and marinated in gravy made from the beef drippings that are released as the meat is slow-roasted, which is the same painstaking process used for four decades. This is truly what makes the Buona Beef so good.