Bufalina Pizza

"A lot of desserts have come and gone at Bufalina, but an OG that stands the test of time is the ice cream and sherry. It’s exactly what it sounds like. A bowl of vanilla ice cream that looks like a frosty little volcano arrives at your table, then a server pours a glass of sherry into the crater and all around the outside. It’s creamy and sweet, but the sherry adds a tangy nuttiness that works as an excellent closer to a meal made up of pasta and Neapolitan pizza." - nicolai mccrary

"At Bufalina, a pizzeria and natural wine spot in East Austin, the pizzas are classically Neapolitan, with options like marinaras and margheritas, but we can’t help but order the spicy red pie with double garlic, double parmesan, and chili flakes. If you’re in the mood for something a little less traditional, there are delicious options like a creamy white taleggio pie with sausage and scallions. This is one of the most fun dinner spots in town, and there’s even a second location, Bufalina Due, farther north in Brentwood with a similar menu." - nicolai mccrary, raphael brion

"The Deal: Half off all pizzas; half off all bottles of wine under $100 Any day of the week, the line to get into Bufalina typically starts forming around 3:45pm. Bufalina is home to some of the best pizza in the city, and you can get it for half price from 4-5:30pm, along with half off their extensive list of natural and low-intervention wines. If you're not there early, there's a good chance you won't get seated in time for Happy Hour. Plan ahead next time, or go to their second location on Burnet Road, where you can get the same deal with a much shorter wait." - nicolai mccrary, raphael brion

"The original Bufalina on the East Side was the OG trailblazer in Austin for natural wine, and like moths to a light, we are drawn here for the Neapolitan-style pizza and one of the city’s most interesting wine selections. You’ll find bottles from all over, including cult French producers and new-school Texan wineries. Maybe they’ll even change your mind about California chardonnay. The staff here is just as likely to chat with you about everything from the new Catalonian wine they're digging to the merits of Jimmy Buffett. Occasionally they’ll have special (if pricey) Coravin pours." - nicolai mccrary, raphael brion

"For over a decade, Bufalina has been one of Austin’s go-tos for Neapolitan pizza. Then there are fantastic house-made pastas such as short rib lasagna rotolo, gnocchi in vodka arrabbiata, and orecchiette with sausage and preserved lemons. Sip a glass of natural wine from the extensive list outside while waiting (and on weekends, there will almost certainly be a wait) for a table inside to watch the wood-fire oven in action. There is this location in East Austin and a second one up in Brentwood, which has fewer pasta options. Both locations (East Austin, Brentwood) offer limited takeout orders." - Erin Russell