Bene's Pizza & Pasta

The pizza here is actually pretty good - I guess if you go at the right time. It can be hit or miss, but usually I stick to the pasta. Pasta station wasn't open when I went in, so I opted for two slices of pizza (Pepperoni, sausage). Cheese was perfectly melted on both, toppings were plentiful and the pizza looked fresh. The crust - and this is where a pizza place either "gets it" or doesn't - was delicious. It was just the right bit of doughyness, crispyness and had a light buttery taste to it. The pizza also wasn't that oily compared to other pizzas I've had. Prices are a bit steep, but again, you're paying for the convenience of eating on campus.

These Irvine students are picky! Bene's is good stuff...either that, or I'm on crack. I come here about once every 2 weeks or so, and I have tried their pizza, pasta, salad, and special rolls (asiago, foccacccia). All good, all at good prices - example~4.50 for soup of the day in a bread bowl. The pizza is tasty and not oily with fresh ingredients, the minestrone is yummy, and the special rolls hit the spot (andd they come with marinara dipping sauce). I wish they had oyster crackers for the soup, or butter for the rolls that come with salad or pasta though.Salads and pastas are all Create Your Own, which I love--if it tastes weird you can blame yourself. My pasta was okay--I probably could have gone with a creamy sauce instead. I loved my salad though: spinach and romaine with marinated steak, Parmesan cheese, Croutons, tomatoes, cucumbers, artichokes, and carrots, tossed with Caesar dressing...fancy :) You can also go with shrimp, chicken, or even tofu! Yum.

While I prefer Ray's to this place any day, Bene's pizza is okay. The crust is really interesting, it's like swirled up and lathered in oil. It's also pretty filling too since it's fairly thick. I always felt like the pasta and salad was a bit overpriced though...for a couple bucks more I could go to Souplantation and get all-you-can-eat salad and soups (and even pasta). Come on Aramark, we're broke college students!If you're looking for good thin-crust pizza, Ray's in the University Center is your place. But if you're just looking for something quick to pick up between classes, Bene's will do.

Haven't tried the pizza yet, but the pasta is just mediocre. I have to try to make the pasta tastier by adding a lot of the seasoning and taking the red pepper flakes where the pizza is to hand it to the student cooking my pasta. They really need to get new containers because after a few minutes the pasta leaks through the container, which makes it so messy when I'm trying to study and eat on campus.

I don't know what's so good about this place. Honestly, I've only eaten here twice and each time, my experience gets worse and worse. It's overpriced, it's not that great of a portion, and they need to take into consideration that we, as students, are cheap & low in funds!So this place is ran by student workers and they make your pasta for you. You got the usual pesto, alfredo, marinara sauce (all vegetarian-friendly). Then you got your choice of pastas. You get to choose 3 vegetables if you're getting the non-premium package and 4 vegetables + a meat if you're getting premium. Prices vary from $6-7 dollars. FOR A PLATE OF PASTA THAT SUCKS!? NO THANKS.However, their salad is okay. Just go over to the Greens-To-Go section. Delicious salad and much healthier!

Bene's has existed since the grand opening of the UCI Student Center, located on campus. Their pizza is the WORST pizza imaginable. I would say my elementary school cafeteria pizza or a store-brand expired frozen pizza with toppings I didn't like are better than Bene's. You actually could not pay me to eat a slice. At nearly $5 a slice, I'd have to be insane to pay them to eat it. Their pizza is a puffed up loaf of flavorless bread with some bought in bulk sauce and cheese sprinkled over it. Why, UCI, WHY is it so difficult for you to bring tasty, affordable food to the Student Center? I'd settle for one or the other even. Bene's belongs in the graveyard of failed eateries supplied by Aramark, Tortilla Express and Rice Garden. It currently stays in business because of mere volume, there are thousands of hungry students at UCI everyday. Please replace Bene's with a real pizza place!

I never really went here until my senior year. I wish I discovered it sooner. I always go here for the salads. You build your own salad. You can choose between a small or large. I usually get a large half spring mix, half spinach with chicken, feta cheese, mandarin oranges, grapes, tomatoes, cranberries, and half a scoop of honey mustard. Mmmm mmmm mmm, delicious! You can choose to add a protein for an extra $1They also have pizza & pasta here, but I've never gotten either of those.

Bene's alright. It's one of two places I'll go to if I'm ever starving on campus.I been here maybe three times in my college career and for the most part, I just remember thinking: man, I could be saving this $8 for something else and make exactly this back at my apartment with less oil and more vegetables. The sauce is also quite heavy. I always feel like sleeping after eating at Bene's.Good: on campus diningBad: not enough vegetables in each serving, heavy sauce, oily, oily, oily!

Custom made pasta made by your fellow students! They have 2 sizes: small or large and 2 options: protein or no protein.With protein is $1 extra, and I usually get it without because the pasta is filling enough without it.Small = 3 veggie choicesLarge = 4 veggie choices. For me the small is usually big enough. They tend to give you a lot. Sometimes I share the large with a friend.It's usually fun to order because you get to make small talk with the people making your food. Do not come if you do not like small talk. kidding.Bene's is the go to place if you are sick of fast food.

My experience started a bit unfulfilled. Three ingredients on my lunch was missing. Luckily Clark had exceptionally great customer service and creatively modified my unsavory meal. Recommend you ask for Clark to make your food.Clark gets 5 stars. Good save!