Bufala is an independent restaurant born out of a passion for pizza and beautiful design, and the belief that all neighbourhoods need a great restaurant.
When James Iranzad and Josh Pape, the co-owners of Wildebeest, one of Vancouver’s most critically acclaimed restaurants announced that they were opening up a new restaurant in Kerrisdale, expectations for a Wildebeest 2 were high. However, Josh and James surprised everyone and launched Bufala instead: an Italian-inspired restaurant with great pizzas and small plates to share. “We love pizza!” laughs James, “And it didn’t make sense to do another Wildebeest,” says Josh, “so we did something new.”
The pair has strong links to the area. James grew up in Kerrisdale and Josh attended high school nearby, so when an opportunity arose to take over the space on West Boulevard, they jumped at the chance.
This Kerrisdale gem might be off the beaten path, but that hasn’t stopped in-the-know foodies from making the trek to the ’hood – especially after it received a Best Pizza nod at the 2016 Vancouver Magazine Awards. The community-centric pizzeria is offering two Dine Out lunchtime menu options: $20 for two courses or $25 for three. To start, opt for salad (Bufala’s infamous kale Caesar is a must-try) or bison carpaccio and then move on to your choice of one of 10 Napolitana-style pizzas topped with artisanal ingredients like fennel sausage and Castelvetrano olives or English peas and truffle oil.
Serving crowd-pleasing thin-crust pizzas with creative toppings, this 55-seat pizzeria in Kerrisdale is a bright, family friendly spot that’s made it a neighbourhood fave and a must-try destination among local foodies. And while kale Caesar salads are increasingly ubiquitous on Vancouver restaurant menus, Bufala’s inventive take is anything but ordinary. Brightly coloured green and purple kale leaves keep things fresh, while fresh anchovies and bacon rashers add a meaty depth. The sharp salad is topped off with shaved Parmesan and a salt-cured egg yolk.
Many eastside foodies make regular pilgrimage to this stylish pizzeria, where authentic Italian pies are light on crust, and heavy on meaty toppings like braised oxtail or fennel sausage. Seated at a rustic wood table beneath modern lighting, you and your date will enjoy creative cocktails (the lavender sour is a particularly refreshing citrusy delight) and a sharing-style menu of more than just pizza: the kale salad, beef carpaccio, and house-made meatballs are all excellent, too. But the best thing about Bufala? Each dish is a conversation piece, ideal for breaking the ice on a first date.