Bistro di Bufala

We had a very nice experience at Bistro di Bufala. Even without a reservation on a Friday night, we were seated quickly, which we really appreciated. The food was very good, with some vegetarian options available. It would be great if the menu clearly identified vegetarian and, if available, vegan and/or gluten-free dishes with a small symbol. Parking is a bit limited, but the upstairs area seems accessible for wheelchairs, which is a positive point. The only real downside for us was the service. Our server was polite and professional, but the experience lacked the attentiveness and personalized touch that make a meal truly memorable. For example, she offered us dessert to take home in the middle of our meal (a thoughtful idea), but then brought the check before we had even finished eating, assumed a single bill without asking, and didn’t check if we wanted dessert, coffee, or separate checks. It wasn’t a bad experience at all, but there is room for improvement in making the service feel more attentive and personalized. Overall, considering that the experience was good, I do recommend this restaurant.

Stopped by on a Tuesday right at opening—place filled up faster than my plate! Sat outside (thankfully they had fans or I’d have melted like mozzarella). The hand-cut pasta was chef’s kiss and the sauce? Flavor fireworks. Cozy, welcoming vibe with great service and even better food. You can tell they care about the details. Pro tip: sit outside, arrive early, and come hungry. You’ll leave happy, full, and already planning your next visit. Trust me—your taste buds will thank you!

Food is delicious, drinks are very good and atmosphere is very inviting! It can get a little loud if the tables are full, but you’ll just to get cozy and close for your conversation!

James made our lunch experience entertaining. Great personality. The spaghetti and meatballs are excellent. Loved it. Not the best picture but it's a common dish so you get the gist.

I was visiting my parents for their anniversary and wanted to treat them to a nice dinner at The Bistro. Unfortunately, it was a complete disappointment from start to finish. Upon arrival, the table wasn’t clean, and the sticky surface made for an uncomfortable dining experience. To make matters worse, we were swarmed by mosquitoes throughout our meal. We ordered cocktails based on enticing photos from their website, but what we received looked nothing like the promised drinks. For dinner, we tried the deep-fried artichoke, pasta, and pizza. The artichoke tasted like something out of a can, soaked in oil, while the pasta was undercooked and chewy. I specifically asked the waiter to confirm that my pizza would have fresh tomatoes and basil, as shown on the website. When it arrived, it was a soggy mess topped with canned tomatoes—no basil in sight. To add insult to injury, we were charged extra for the basil and "fresh tomatoes" that were promised but not delivered. After paying the check, we decided not to voice our complaints, but I can confidently say we will never return. This experience was not what we hoped for on a special occasion. Save your time and money and look elsewhere!

We were visiting the national park and stopped by here for early lunch. They have different menu for morning for breakfast so plan accordingly. We ordered white devil pizza and steak flatbread sandwich. I absolutely loved this place. Food was great. Service and ambience were good too. Orders came pretty quick. I would definitely recommend this place for good meal. You can park on the roadside for free. They do offer outdoor sitting. They do have bar as well. They have reasonable vegetarian options as well.

Noisy as hell...however people were having a good time. Adults loud noise not collge frat kids loud. We did dine downstairs. It's a very friendly place offers some well made cocktails. I tried several items to get a feel of the chefs talents. I'm honestly undecided. Pizza was great. Appetizers were prepared well but lacking in flavor. My chicken marsala was not good. Maybe I caught them with that one dish that just didn't come out right. I would return and try some different food.

We were not having luck with finding our regular spots open on a Tuesday night. We headed to Bistro by default and so glad we did! My picky 14 year old was so impressed with his pizza. My husband and I both had seafood pasta and it was amazing! The goat cheese appetizer was so so good. The atmosphere was wonderful! The service was perfect (don't remember his name but he's from Florida)! We are already talking about the next time we can go back!

Finally! i got to visit this place that has been on my list forever. We came on a sunday , they offered their regular lunch menu and they have a brunch menu as well. Since it was my first time i wanted to try the regular menu and ordered the alfredo pasta and shared a cesar salad. Both were amazing! The pasta did not need any protein it was delicious as is. My friend ordered the angel hair pasta which she enjoyed. She also ordered a club soda which was delicious. The service was amazing! our waiter i didn't get his name but he was on it! great customer service. The ambiance was nice had indoor and outdoor seating. a little on the small side but it was nice. Will def be back and hope to get the same waiter .

We had an eventful morning and were starving for lunch. Not here in Visalia often, but stumbled upon Bistro Di Bufala. We walked in on a Saturday around 11:30am and since we didn't have reservations, we were told to be seated outside. Good thing the patio area where we were seated had a fan to cool us down since it was in the triple digits that day. The order: I have been on a pasta run lately, so I ordered the spaghetti with meatballs, no parm cheese sub mozzarella. It was such a delicious meal. The sauce was great, my noodles were Al dente, and my meatballs were a great size, not dry at all. It was splendid. My husband opt for something healthy and hearty so he got a beets salad and added beef to it. The salad was a nice blend of Smokey flavor from the beef, it has caramelized walnuts that's was a nice added texture and sweetness to the plate, and the beets were so good. Loved his meal, I kept forking for some. I got the kids the Margherita pizza and they loved it. It's more of a thin crust, flatbread style pizza and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Service was great, our server checked on us just the right amount of times making sure we have water and brought our extra plates for us all. Great food here and would come back if I am in the area.

James was my server and he was excellent. I ordered exactly what he recommended, Alfredo pasta with salmon--loved it! To wash that down I had the Farmers Only cocktail which had a delicious spicy kick and I highly recommend it. I share 4/5 Stars for the reason my Salmon was fresh hot while the Alfredo pasta was room temp and the dish itself is $34... which is pricey to not receive perfection.

We were Ready for a date night ; craving some Italian so we decided to try here. Heads up if you want to eat inside the dinning room make a reservation; walk ins have to sit at the bar . We decided to sit at the bar downstairs; what a good decision that was . Nice ; dark; intimate ambiance with great service. We both ordered spaghetti with meatballs; yummy. Meatballs were tender; portions were a good size. If they offered complimentary bread; I would have cleaned the plate entirely.

Alfredo sauce was close to what i loved in the Bay Area. Quite yummy! Wait person was very nice. Thank you!

A nice little Italian bistro in downtown Visalia. Food was good; I got the Spaghetti & Meatballs and could definitely taste the difference with the hand cut noodles and house made meatballs. Service was a little slow, but the server was very friendly and nice.

We stopped in on a Wednesday night at 5:00 without a reservation and were promptly seated. Our server Lisa V was delightful. The wine list here sucks. The cocktail The Cats Pajamas also sucks. Look at the picture of the Caesar salad. If I were incharge of the kitchen that salad would not leave the kitchen. I also believe they use packaged pregrated cheese. Yuck! The pizza was just ok. Look at the picture of how skimpy they are on the ingrediants. Been there done that.

My husband and I love coming here to have a nice dinner/brunch. Excellent food, excellent service, and while it can be a little loud sometimes the restaurant itself is super cozy and cute. 100% recommend

We arrived for an early-ish dinner on Saturday without a reservation and were (thankfully) seated at the bar straightaway. Great bustling vibe, everyone working efficiently for the packed room. Our server (Cassidy?) was wonderful! She was vivacious, gave advice about a cocktail pairing and even created a vodka martini that would pair with our meal. We had a basic Alfredo and the summer pasta special. Both delicious and ample to share among three. Highly recommended!

Got the diavola pizza and Alfredo di bufala with chicken. Delicious. What I want to express is how delicious the Cookies and Cream Cake was. My wife got it and she said that she would come eat at this place just to get that. Service was amazing. Our server was extremely nice and natural. This place is always busy because of how good their food is. I would say it's one of the best places to visit when you're in Visalia. You will like the ambiance and how cordial the servers always are.

This is an adorable place for a pretty authentic Italian meal! The ambience is beautiful, and upstairs has a lighter feel while the basement has a darker, speakeasy feel. I started with an amaretto sour. I have had this drink here before and they made it with the egg white and it was so smooth. This time the egg white was missing so it was missing that smoothness and frothiness, but it still tasted good and had a good sized pour. We tried the fried artichokes and they were delicious, the sauce that came with them was so good we got a second cup of it! Finally I had the Capelli D'Angelo pasta. It was delicious and light, but it did need salt and there was none on the table. I didn't read the menu close enough so I didn't realize there was no protein on this pasta, but it was delicious and filling regardless. The servers were really nice, it took a while to be greeted and get our drink order in but after that they were more attentive. Overall a great meal and I will definitely come back!

We came here on a Saturday evening for dinner around 6. The place was busy and since we did not have a reservation, the only choices to sit was at the bar or the outside patio. With outside temperatures being over 100 degrees, we chose the bar seating. It was okay for the four of us. So if you can, make a reservation for this place! We ordered the pasta Alfredo with chicken, beet salad with chicken, mushroom and sausage pizza, and pepperoni and jalapeño pizza. The names of the pizza were something fancier but I can't remember what they were. The pizzas were okay. The pasta was delicious. And the salad was good. Service was also good. Overall, we enjoyed our dinner there. Wish we made a reservation so we could be at a table.

Love this place, the drinks, the food, the service. It's always exceptional. Even on a busy night, the staff are friendly and nothing short of amazing. Love going here on a date night

Amazing place, good food, good service, what more can you ask for, highly recommend, friendly workers here and I love the small business vibe too

Stopped by for a quick bite after a work event. Ordered the grilled steak sandwich, which was flavorful, generous portions. Service was prompt and friendly. Ambiance is casual and inviting. Would definitely visit again!

We ate here at 10/19/24 approximately between 8:10pm to 9:35pm. My friend and I had the worst experience here. We waited over 40mins for our food. My friend order a pasta with chicken and I ordered a vinaigrette salad with goat cheese. Other people that arrived later got their food before us. When we asked our server Hannah S where our food was, she said there was an evening rush of people. It was a busy evening, though from the moment sat down to the moment we left, there was not very many people there. My friend would constantly try to make contact with any of the staff so we could get help, and no one came. Our server Hannah S. made this excuse that her chicken was needing to be defrosted and it took 15 mins to defrost and it is almost an hour before we got our food. And that is why it is taking long. She said that my salad was done and all she was waiting for was my friend's pasta and chicken. First off, as a customer I would not want to know my chicken is frozen and being defrosted. Shortly after, we spoke to our server again about the delay, our food magically appeared. My friend's pasta was not really warm. It tasted like it had been sitting there for a bit. My salad obviously looked like it was just made. We didn't get our silverware till right before our food came. This makes it seem like our order was not placed or they were discriminating toward us especially since we were the only Asians there. At this point of us waiting for so long for our food, it should have been at least comped for the inconvenience. As guests of visiting the city of Visalia, we are disappointed at the quality of food and customer service. This is not a good representation of the restaurants here. Not sure why there is this many positive yelp reviews. And don't get me wrong I seldom post bad reviews, but this was one I had to share.

While the cocktails were good, the service was extremely slow and lackluster. The food was priced a bit too high and didn't always match the description. I came in for dinner and was seated in the darker underground dining area. The vibes were on the louder side and it took forever for our server to get us waters and our order. There was an incident where the rowdy table next to us dropped glassware and we weren't address or helped. *James & The Giant Peach: a light and fruity cocktail. The elderflower was subtle and the peach was prominent. Refreshing and summery. *Bruschetta: while I liked the crusty bread, I didn't like how the tomatoes were just piled on top on two of the slices. The bread was toasted well but I wanted more flavor from the tomatoes. As the grape tomatoes were only cut into halves, it didn't absorb the oil or garlic very well. *Caesar Salad: opted for the larger version for another $6. The portion was rather small as it felt insufficient for two. The lettuce was crisp and although I prefer croutons, the toasted bread was still good. *Gamberetti: interesting pizza topped with shrimp and lemons. Strangely it was missing jalapeños and instead of lemon zest, mine had lemon slices. The shrimp were on the salty side so I appreciated the heavy handed lemon flavor. The menu mentioned crushed red pepper but I didn't see or taste any. The flavors weren't bad but it would have been a better experience had I received better service. Although I wanted to fix my pizza, my server never came back until we finished the meal. While others like the ambiance, I'd only come back for takeout given the poor service.

Girl's Night Out for a friend's Birthday and what an amazing time we had. The service was top notch - ALL staff were friendly, attentative, and gave great recommendations. The food was amazing as usual. We all had different appetizers and entrees and shared bites. I'm not sure we could pick a favorite...maybe the brussel sprouts appetizer or the ravioli fritti appetizer with goat cheese, honey, pear, and a walnut. All the pasta dishes are delicious. The pizza is wood fired and the Diablo pizza is almost addictive with is sweet and spicy combination of flavors. The atmosphere was great we were in a little alcove. You could here the background noise of other parties enjoying themselves while still enjoying and celebrating at our table . I highly recommend!

Walking into this place is deceiving because at first you don't expect the restaurant to be as magnificent as it is. We were able to have dinner in the speakeasy below. We had the pleasure of having Derrick and one of the managers serving us. They were absolutely phenomenal, between their personalities and abilities to describe food and cocktails. We couldn't have asked for better service. The appetizers were tasty and perfect proportions, the entrees we had were delicious and fulfilling, the pistachio cake was perfection. This is my favorite place in Visalia, I would recommend for a date night or if you're craving a unique and delicious restaurant. Can't wait to try the lunch menu.

Love dining here! The food is always delicious and the staff attentive and thorough. Lauren is the best!

As a local Visalian, I've worked downtown on Main Street for 10+ years. I know restaurant's and what makes them special. This place is on the top of my list as a personal favorite and a #1 recommendation! This is one of the only places in town that is making Homemade pastas and homemade pizzas with the classic pizza oven. This restaurant offers a charming and cozy atmosphere that blends rustic, old-world Italian charm with a relaxed, inviting vibe. The decor features a rustic aesthetic with dim lighting, creating a warm and romantic ambiance ideal for date nights or casual gatherings with friends and family. The dining room is described as having an old-world style, with a focus on comfort and authenticity, complemented by a wine and aperitif bar that adds to the convivial atmosphere. The space is dog-friendly and offers outdoor seating when weather permits, adding a casual, community-oriented touch.

The food was delicious. It was a bit busy but our waiter did an amazing job keeping up with everyone. I will definitely be going back.

The food and ambiance is on point. Everything made fresh to your table with excellent service. Our server, Toni, was very pleasant and attentive to our needs. The drinks were excellent. Will request Toni to be our server again 10/10 service

Food was great in taste, but there was mold in the blueberries. It was a separate side of them. I told the waiter, he did not apologize or comp anything. He just said "well we threw them away." I brought it up a second time kindly when we got the check and he dismissed it. To have mold on your food is completely unacceptable, clearly their kitchen is not maintained. Tasty meal - but might make you sick! Side note- they auto add 20% tip for parties over six and purposely don't tell you aside from tiny print on the receipt.

Great time at Bufala!! Cassidy really took care of me. The Margarita pizza with pepperoni really good. Quick with a smile. Moscow mules not bad either

We were supposed to go around to different bars but we stayed open to close cause the bartender Cassidy was AMAZING!! She made the best drinks and was so nice and we had so much fun! Will definitely be back. The atmosphere was great and the food was delicious !

This place is in the brick and mortar building that gives it a retro vibe which we loved. Tables might be closer together than we preferred but it was okay. The food was to die for, the alfredo is one of the best flavored dish I've had. Our server Miguel was super busy yet very attentive to us.

One of the best places to eat in downtown Visalia! Amazing pizza and salad, great wine selection, and full cocktail menu. Service is fast, sitting both at the bar and at tables. I love their spicy pepperoni pizza (can't remember the exact name) and their salads. Good prices on everything, too!

Food was amazing. And Lauren Foley that works there is the absolute best. Best service, and even playfully teamed up with my wife to make fun of me. 10/10.

Always a vibe here. Definitely recommend the De Angelo pasta WITH blackened Salmon. *chef's kiss Service is always a joy. Go down stairs for a special experience.

5 stars for their lunch and dinner. 3 for the brunch. I have to say I've been so excited to try this. The burger didn't have much flavor and the berry French toast was especially swimming in a compote or the juices of some sort and there was WAY too much whipped cream. Definitely wish there was less whipped cream and more berries. I ordered a side of potatoes that was good. Also hoped for fresh squeezed orange juice and was surprised they didn't offer it. I would like to see their take on chilaquiles and huevos rancheros or maybe a breakfast croissant.

A very quaint restaurant and a staff that gives you that family feeling. The chicken Marcella is a must try!!

First time trying this restaurant while visiting my parents and man was this delicious. Had great service by the bartender who made some delicious seasonal cocktails. Being that it's fall both cocktails had lovely flavor one with a warm spiced cider flavor. We ordered multiple pizzas to go and everything was fresh, hot, and great flavor. Ordered Dunbar, Triple Salami, Carbonara, and side Cesar Salad.

5/10. Let me explain: This was our first time trying this place. We initially made a reservation for inside, but were seated outside. They were extremely busy, but our waitress was very kind and did what she could while the kitchen tried to keep up. We ordered an app that took 45 minutes to come out, and our entrees came out 20 minutes later. For an Italian restaurant the burger & fries were pretty good. I think if it weren't so busy, and we were seated where we requested it may have been a better experience for us.

So, we had a reservation for 7pm but didn't get seated until 7:25pm. We did talk to the staff there about why we were waiting so long even with a reservation. Now everything that happens after I'm not sure if it's them not being good at their jobs or if they were being petty. It took about 30-40 minutes just to get the drink we ordered, the drinks barely beat the food to the table. My food got to the table quicker than the beer that I ordered. Everyone's pasta seemed undercooked and chewy, and the chicken and lobster were over cooked. The lobster felt like I was chewing into a well done steak. Again I'm not sure if they were just too busy that they were not able to handle that amount of people or they wanted to retaliate against us for telling them something in the beginning.

I called today and Kayla answered the phone and she was very rude as she spoked with me. I asked if we can do a walk in for four people and she said no the wait is two hours. We arrived to the place and it was busy but she was still rude we got on the wait list. But it made us feel uncomfortable because of the way we were treated. I would definitely appreciate if the Buisness talked to this individual on being a little more polite and professional with customers.

First time dinning here-Gals night out. Let's start with the cons... -For whatever reason my navigation had us one block over circling a few times. -We had reservations and were seated in the basement which was cool BUT is was pretty dark. Hard to read the menu without using your cell phone light. -The basement is not a great place if you want to hear your own conversations. The basement was very loud. -Our waitress was slammed running back and forth like a chicken with her head cut off...we had to flag her down just to get our bill. -Bummed that the only desserts on the menu were cake. Now for the pros... -Reservations were easy to make and same day reservations were available. -Drinks were so good! Super impressed! -Food was very flavorful, wanted to lick my plate...LOL, it was that good! -Bathrooms were clean and well stocked.

Love it The experience, food super delicious. Only the customer service needs a little bit the improvement.

I came here 2x in about a 2 week period. So this is a review of both of visits. They have a small indoor and outdoor space. We sat both inside and out during our 2 visits. Personally I preferred the outdoor sitting. The location is awesome. I will say the restaurant is clean. The staff are very friendly and nice. The kitchen is fast getting the food out. The reason for the 3 stars: the food. I really wanted to love it. I liked it. It's average. We ordered a pizza and a salad the first time. The pizza dough lacked flavor. The toppings were skimpy. I was disappointed. On the second visit we tried pastas. I had the Calamari with pasta. My spouse had the Alfred with shrimp. The calamari steak was on the smaller side. I had seen other pictures on yelp and my calamari was 1/2 the size of some of those. My wife added prawns to her pasta. Up charge was $10 for 4 prawns. Someone at the table ordered a few appetizers. The lemon sauce for the calamari and the Alfredo sauce were tasty. The servings were also skimpy for the cost. Not sure we will be back.

Just visited this spot again for a late night drink and snack, we ordered a side of fries. They were well seasoned, but could've been crunchier. We ordered one drink, spicy margarita and a recommendation mocktail of ginger pineapple. We wanted to check out the downstairs bar area we heard about but it had been reserved for a party, maybe next time! Overall, food and drinks did not disappoint! Would recommend this place as a cute date night spot. Reservations required for a table, we usually have luck finding an empty spot at the bar top for two.

Paid 86 bucks for some microwaved chicken Alfredo and a mediocre salad. I've seen rats in movies cook better food.

The place is comfortable and the service is super friendly!the food is fresh, well portioned, and pleasing to the palate. I would definitely come back here!

Ok the pizza here is definately a 10/10. The crust is perfectly crispy with just the right amount of sauce, cheese and toppings. I love the side of what I think was a basil pesto ranch: We also got the seafood pasta which was also sooooooo good. Definately would come back here for the great food and service.

Food was amazing. Fresh and quality ingredients that are locally sourced with specials that are definitely worth trying. The bar is excellent, and drink specials are top tier. The ambiance is not pretentious, but fitting for the over all vibe. The service was so attentive and welcoming from beginning to end. Will definitely be going again soon. Side note, definitely make a reservation days ahead. Their Friday and Saturday night slots fill up fast.

Favorite date night spot. We split a pizza and a salad and a cocktail or two. The bar and wait staff are always great

Good food. Better drinks. Nice cool environment for impressing a date. It's a nice place but you will pay for it. Prices are a little high for what you get but it delivers what you would expect. Worst part is the long walk to the bathroom.

Good drinks, good food, good service, cool atmosphere and culture. The crust on the pizzas are phenomenal. Burgers on point.

A beautiful restaurant off the Main Street, with indoor and outdoor seatings. I was greeted immediately by the bar tender and was served quickly. I was impulsive and orders the Seafood Pascatore, the price was $46. The food came within 10 minutes, its fresh, thick hand cut pasta in a delightful rose sauce. The sauce has chucks of fish swimming in it, topped with grilled shrimp and grilled lobster. I absolutely enjoyed every bite of it. I will be back. I hope they rotate in some Carbonara pasta dish.

We love this spot for so many reasons. The staff is so friendly and fun. The cocktails are always special and the food never disappoints! Tried a house special tonight of braised rabbit over polenta, delicious My wife had the eggplant parmigiana and said it was one of the best around.