Don’t get me wrong. There is no bigger fan of pizza than this Jersey girl. But even I can’t live on bread, tomato sauce and mozzarella alone (Trust me, I have pictures from college and it ain’t pretty.) That’s why Mozzarella Di Bufala is such a gem. Hidden inside this unassuming neighborhood pizza place is some serious Brazilian cuisine that’s not exactly easy to find elsewhere in the Bay Area.
Owned and operated by West Portal local of Brazilian heritage Pedro Galletti, Mozzarella di Buffala pumps out pizzas, Italian food and Brazilian specialties that don’t exactly roll off your tongue, but taste like heaven. Classicly prepared Feijoada is a meat-lovers dream come true. Teaming with fork tender pulled pork and spicy smoked sausage served with sautéed greens, toasted yucca and black beans; consider carving out a little nap time if you expect to polish off the order yourself. No joke, I was sufficiently full after eating about a third of the dish. On the lighter (sort of) and more colorful side, Moqueca de Camarao is a crazy good combo of shrimp, coconut milk, peppers and tomatoes served on a bed of rice. Bliss.
OK, so maybe for you a pizza place is a pizza place. I get that. And they do too. Eat in, delivery or take out, they’re on it. They’re also completely prepared to take on big groups like the end of season soccer party or your 10-year old’s birthday extravaganza with unknowns around every corner. Yes, it’s still a restaurant, but this family-run establishment understands how kids behave and welcomes them with open arms. Whether you rent out the party room or just show up with a family of four, you’ll eat in a more relaxed state just knowing that they do this all the time.
Offering the ideal combination of low-key dining and authentically prepared entrees that you seldom find in this city, Mozzarella di Buffalo is an adult outing with a kid-friendly vibe.
Mozzarella di Buffala 69 West Portal Ave., San Francisco, CA 94127 415-661-8900
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