My friends and I visiting from SF over the long weekend came to Abbott Square Market for dinner after our day at the beach before driving back to the city. I spent a while circling the market trying to decide what looked good. I finally decided Pizzeria la Bufala was the best choice, and when the pizza arrived fresh out of the oven, it was confirmed. The D'A Calabria pizza was quite savory, and the crust wasn't floppy at all. Some of my friends wished they got the pizza too. read more

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A veggie pizza featuring Brussel sprouts? I happened to be at the Santa Cruz History museum for a conference so I decided to check out the Abbot Market Square. There's plenty of options but nothing beats a great slice of freshly made pizza. The traditional offerings smelled and looked amazing but I'm a sucker for a vegetarian pizza. I was pleasantly surprised at how well it all came together. The crust was so good I ate every last bite. This location is a hip, busy food hall so there are lots of small tables as well as roomy outdoor booths. read more

Pizzeria La Bufala - A slice of veggie goodness - Pizza Near Me - Santa Cruz, California

Stopped by to grab a bite when I was visiting the area. The prices were great and the service was fast and friendly. This is inside of a food haul, so theres ample seating indoor and outdoor. I ordered the eggplant parmigiano and it was amazing! It was packed full of flavor and unique with the cheese choices. read more

Pizzeria La Bufala - Eggplant - Pizza Near Me - Santa Cruz, California

Stopped by Pizzeria La Bufala on the Fourth of July and ordered the Quattro Formaggi with Italian sausage. The dough was the best part. It was super soft and light. Unfortunately, the rest of the pizza didn't quite live up to the crust. The sausage was barely there, unevenly spread, and lacked flavor. The goat cheese had a very harsh flavor. With all the cheese and oil, it ended up feeling a bit heavy and greasy. Service was friendly and efficient, even with the chaos of the live band playing nearby. It was pretty loud, which made it hard to hear the guy at the counter, but since it's in a food hall, that's not really on them. read more

Pizzeria La Bufala - Quattro Formaggi with Italian Sausage - Pizza Near Me - Santa Cruz, California

Fantastic pizza spot in Abbott's Square Market. Super friendly and we got our pizzas quick! Even on a busy Friday night. We got the Margherita and the Diavola and both were delicious! Perfect amount of sauce, cheese and toppings. I think my only complaint was that my crust was a little more cooked than I'd liked (a few burnt spots), but not enough to dock a point. read more

Pizzeria La Bufala - Diavola - Pizza Near Me - Santa Cruz, California

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I ordered a Diablo pizza for pickup, and it was ready right on time. I'm not a big fan of Neopolitan pizza, I find that quickly cooking the crust leaves it softer than I'd like. That said, the toppings were great, and I enjoyed it later in the day for a second round. read more

Pizzeria La Bufala - Diavola - Pizza Near Me - Santa Cruz, California

Literally, the best pizza we've ever had. Coming from someone who's Italian and loves pizza, that says a lot. I come here at least once a month now! read more

Got the prosciutto and mushroom pizza by a slice ($7) and it's pretty good! The crust looks like it should be crispy since it's a little burnt but it's more flakey and dry. Lots of mushroom, nice cheese pull, and prosciutto. Food came pretty slowly, but they give you a little buzzer so you can wander around or sit. read more

Pizzeria La Bufala - Prosciutto and Funghi - Pizza Near Me - Santa Cruz, California

Probably the best pizza in the Santa Cruz area. Del Capo and Di Campo, this is what I order, most excellent. Try it and see. Over the counter service and in door or outside seating. YOWZER! read more

A solid four stars! Located in Abbott Square Market; this place offers up some Neopolitan style pizza, whole or single servings, Italian classics like lasagna, gnocchi and meatballs, salads, and desserts! Although they aren't recognized by the VPN as a true Neopolitan pizza; they still do a decent job. The pizza is undoubtedly good. The first time I ate there, I had a prosciutto and funghi pizza. It lacked flavor. There was very little tomato sauce on the pizza and what little there was on the pizza was bland. I don't think San Marzano tomatoes are used because San Marzano's are notably sweet. Another thing I noticed was the prosciutto was bland and it looked like ham. Oh, technically prosciutto is a ham. Lol! Prosciutto I'm used to has a little saltiness, is streaked with fat, and has a little chewiness. Maybe they used a cheaper version. Don't try reheating the pizza in a microwave. It totally ruins it! Try reheating in a 250° oven instead for 25-30 minutes or a covered frying pan on low heat. My daughter brought home a Del Capo pizza from there and it was excellent. It was full of flavor and I wanted more. The chili oil that came with it was fire! I thought it would diminish the flavor profile of the pizza, but it only enhanced it! .They definitely go together. I would definitely order it again! In fact, they have single servings of pizza. I just may order single servings of each to see if there are any other standouts! read more

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- magerehita - proscuito and funghi Yummy!!! The magherita slice was juicy! So delicious, so acidic, and cheesy. I love. The proscuito and funghi was also pretty good, but I think I got a crust/edge piece so there was just more crust than I'd prefer. I got two slices of the pizza and it was so good! I thought that the pieces were going to be small (I didn't read the reviews before), but they're decently sized! Two "slices" were more than enough for me. I'd definitely come back for a magherita slice as a lil pick me up. read more

Pizzeria La Bufala - Pizza Near Me - Santa Cruz, California

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walked over here from the Hyatt..... nice little walk. pizza was way above par, the margarita pizza was nicely thin and crispy crusted,,, just the way we like it. friendly service too. sooo glad we had to walk back..... read more

Delicious pizza! Always fresh and yummy, different types that makes them standout for sure

This is easily one of the worst pizza spots I've been to. The prices are high, and the service is even worse. I've been here twice, and both experiences were disappointing. The first time, I asked if I could add olives to my slice. The employee seemed confused and didn't understand me, even after I repeated myself. I eventually said it in Spanish ("aceitunas"), and he finally understood. However, when I got my slice, it didn't have olives at all it was just drenched in olive oil instead. The second time wasn't any better. I asked if it would be cheaper to order a whole pizza instead of slices, and the employee responded rudely, telling me to look at the menu since "the prices are right there." Between the poor communication, lack of attention to orders, and rude service, I won't be coming back. read more

It's okay, but a little underwhelming. I wanted it to be saucier or cheesier or crisper... You know, more pizzaer. Honestly I'd rather eat a slice from Costco (at a third of the cost) even if it meant eating it on a concrete block near traffic among unsupervised brats as carts full of 200 count tampons rattled by. read more

Pizzeria La Bufala - Even Mario himself wouldn't say let'sa go. - Pizza Near Me - Santa Cruz, California

A thick foccacia like crust, with not a lot of sauce on pizza, making it somewhat dry but for $7 a slice I guess it was ok. Service was good. I probably wouldn't go back. read more

Pizzeria La Bufala - pepperoni - Pizza Near Me - Santa Cruz, California

We have been coming here for years and still think this is the BEST place to get really good pizza in Santa Cruz. Whenever we crave pizza, we come here!!! read more

We had this pizza delivered to us in the mountains after a long day of festivities. We ordered a Vegetariana with chicken and let me tell you, one of the best pizzas I've ever had. The next time I eat their pizza it will be at the restaurant, will return and eat their food again! read more

I've only had it to go and the crust is amazing. It's thin crust but it's still really light, airy, and crispy.

Great spot for quick bite! Their dough is pure perfection! There isn't much ambiance since it's in a food court, but service is quick and friendly. read more

Delicious pie in a cute little food hall. Absolutely love that you can get pie by the slice here - very rare for Neapolitan style pizza. The prosciutto funghi is extra cheesy and just plain bomb. The slice comes in two pieces, enough to share if you're not a big eater. read more

We have been here twice and will definitely come back. The pizzas seem to be cooked in a wood fire oven and are tasty with just the right amount of chewiness. We have tried about three flavors, the Margherita is our favorite. Tonight we tried the gnocchi, it was pillowy and soft, topped with a creamy pesto sauce. Three of us shared the pizza, and gnocchi none was left. The people at the counter are respectful, answer questions and always pleasant. The place is in a shared dining space with various other restaurants. So it can get crowded, loud and tables may be limited. read more

Excellent pizza. 5 star. Service is good. Fast and fresh. It is located inside the market eatery area in downtown. Common area table. No sodas offered. Limited drink choices. If you are looking for a quick, fresh meal then this is a great choice. read more

Had a slice of margarita pizza. It has barely any tomatoe sauce and a ton of cheese. Tasted more like a expensive cheese pizza.

I LOVE their dough, tomato sauce and cheese. The margherita is exactly how an authentic neopolitan pizza should taste. My only complaint is the prices in person vs online. HUGE difference for the same exact product. For 1 pizza - online: $30 - $37 In person: $21- $25 Because of this specifically, I haven't had their pizza in months despite it being my favorite pizza place. Since the harbor bridge closure, downtown is now 20 minutes away instead of 5. Delivery from downtown is now more cost effective, since driving there & back is at least 30-60 round trip and is worse on gas because of stop lights & signs. However, delivery from this restaurant specifically is out of the question when there's a $20 increase for the same product and not even fresh out of the oven. Other than the outrageous online vs in person prices, their pizza IS worth a try if you enjoy authenticity. read more

I finally got to try Pizzaeria La Bufala after exploring some spots for a dinner event I was having with my company. Since my event wouldn't start until half an hour later, I asked if they could prepare my food then and they happily obliged. When I went back to pick up my orders, both my pizzas were just leaving the oven, fresh, and ready to be consumed. I went with their Vegetariana ($26) with no cheese (since they were out of vegan cheese) and the classic Margherita ($23). I can only speak on the former since I don't consume dairy, but the pizza was okay overall. There wasn't a lot of tomato sauce so it felt a bit dry, but overall still a good pizza. For the toppings and the price point, I kind of expected a bit more. Their large 24" pizza I would say is more-so a super medium, but it's definitely enough for 4 people to enjoy with two slices. If you're really hungry, I'd definitely order another smaller size. Out of all the options inside Abbott Square, I'd say you can't go wrong with ordering a pizza here to share with the table. read more

Pizzeria La Bufala - Vegetariana (bottom) with no cheese - Pizza Near Me - Santa Cruz, California

I had a slice of the vegetariano and it was just average to me. Sauce wasn't great. I don't think the brussel sprouts quite fit in especially since they were a bit undercooked. Service was quick, though. read more

Located in a food court with lots of options, my kid said this pizza had the best crust he's ever had. He's pretty snooty about pizza, so likely it's pretty good read more

We were walking around shopping and we saw this wood fire pizza which is inside the market food area . When inside they have multiple food options and outside they have alot of tables to enjoy your meal . The vibe is really chill and relax . The pizza we got was super delicious we got half Del Capo and the other half was a specialty pizza with peach . My fave was the Del Capo so good . My boys also got pepperoni pizza they loved it . The two men working that night were super friendly and attentive. Overall I loved the area for some eating and shopping the pizza was delicious highly recommend. read more

Delicious pizza. Not too many places can do crust well and this was perfect. Just the right amount of sauce and toppings are great. Can't miss this!! read more

Pizzeria La Bufala - Prosciutto and fungi. - Pizza Near Me - Santa Cruz, California

Located within Abbott Square Market, this pizza spot serves up pizzas whole or by the slice. They have two full sized pizza options and are able to do half and half. I ordered at 12" half capricciosa and half prosciutto & funghi. Pizza was big enough for two and could've possibly had some leftover depending on your hunger level...I was starving so there were no leftovers. I ate the capricciosa half and really liked it. It was pretty loaded on toppings, mostly the olives, but I liked that it was a mixture of green and black. Could've gone with a little more meat, but it was still good. Mom liked her prosciutto & funghi half. Pizza came up in about 12 minutes, perfect time for us to go pickup cocktails from the bar in the market! Would eat here again and excited to try another pizza on the menu next time! read more

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10/10. This place makes excellent pies. Beyond that, we had a situation where there could have been a negative outcome, but the business owner immediately stepped in and did everything imaginable to fix the situation. In my opinion, businesses distinguish themselves in difficult situations, and this one excelled under duress. I will be back. Also great pies! read more

After a day of walking around the boardwalk, beach, and wharf, we wandered through downtown around dinnertime. The nice people at the bookstore encouraged us to check out Abbott Square, and we were immediately drawn to the wood-fired oven at Pizzeria La Buffalo. We placed our order and found a table outdoors under a heat lamp. It felt like a safe dining experience, and there was a clean public bathroom inside. The food came out quickly from the oven. We had the Capricciosa and Margherita pizzas, along with an order of lasagna. The crust was perfect in its texture and bubbliness, and the sauce and toppings were tasty as well. My only regret is not getting a piece of tiramisu to go since we knew we were going to get some ice cream for dessert. Definitely an enjoyable dining experience! read more

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I did a painting class with some moms at Abbott Square yesterday and dined here. I had the chicken Caesar salad and a slice of the Gorgonzola pizza. The Caesar is made with truffle oil and so tasty. The pizza was cooked perfectly with just the right amount of cheese. It was super busy downtown. But the line moved fast and the food came out in a reasonable amount of time. read more

Hard for me to give less than 4 stars if the customer service was great and the food was good. We ordered a Del Capo (see pic) and we enjoyed it. 2nd stop of our 2 pizzeria tour. Lol This is located in a newer sectional of downtown SC. VERY COOL and we'd definitely come back. read more

Pizzeria La Bufala - Del Capo....yummmm! - Pizza Near Me - Santa Cruz, California

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This place's pizza is SO GOOD. really stretchy good quality cheese and ingredients, and the crust is thin and oven toasted. My go to downtown! read more

Solid Pizza Place. Food: the pizza cannot get more hot and ready like this. The dough is very delicious and the ingredients are fresh. Quality pizza here Service: fast pace. Literally took them 7 mins to cook our pizza read more

Pizzeria La Bufala - Pizza Near Me - Santa Cruz, California

Wish they had more flavors ,but love the authentic flavors, they currently have in the taste of the fire char on the crust.

The pizza was...okay. It was fine. At 6:50 a slice I expect it to be better than (cheaper) Pizza My Heart, which it wasn't. The tiramisu however was offensively expensive for the portion size and not even a good recipe (7.50, see pic). Even the server gave a sheepish look like he knew I was being scammed. Never again. read more

Pizzeria La Bufala - Not good tiramisu. Notice how it doesn't even come up to the of the container. - Pizza Near Me - Santa Cruz, California

This is the best pizza in Santa Cruz. Really, it's the best pizza I've ever had, and I've been to Italy. Sandro, the owner/chef makes perfect crust. It's chewy, not too thin and not too bread-y. The toppings are really creative , and the ingredients are top quality. La Pizzeria Bufala is in a fun food court in Abbot Square, downtown, next to the art museum. At the kiosk next to the Pizzeria, is craft beer and wines by the glass. What a delicious treat! read more

Pizzeria La Bufala - Sandro - Pizza Near Me - Santa Cruz, California

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