Plenty of foods play a role in Buffalo’s heritage, thanks to the diverse group of nationalities that cluster in the city. Wings, sponge candy, beef on weck and loganberry soda are just a few of the interesting food variations that have become delicacies in Buffalo.
With the city’s unique food culture, is it any surprise that Buffalo has its own version of pizza too? Thick, chewy crust; tiny, flavorful cups of pepperoni – is your mouth watering yet?
Even if you’re not in the mood for the traditional Buffalo style of pizza, the city has a wide variety of excellent pizza options available for all types of diners.
If you’re in the mood for fancy and elegant, there are pizza places with gourmet versions perfect for an epicure’s feast or an upscale date night. And, if you’re in the mood for comfort food, there’s probably an excellent Buffalo pizza place right in your neighborhood. We’ve highlighted our top favorites here.
1. JT’s Restaurant
Located in trendy Elmwood, JT’s offers sophisticated and fun dining selections. It’s a perfect spot to be your neighborhood favorite, because the menu has plenty of variety. Even better, if you’re lucky enough to live in the on-site apartments at 905 Elmwood, you can conveniently drop in for an appetizer and some wine or settling in for a wood-fired pie.
Classic favorites on the menu include the meatball and the Italian sausage. More inventive options include the fig, with a perfect combination of prosciutto, fig and mozzarella, and the chicken caesar (yes, lettuce comes on your pizza, but we promise it’s both healthy and delicious!).
2. Bocce Club Pizza
Bocce Club Pizza is recognized for its authentically Buffalo pizza options. The restaurant has been a local institution for more than 50 years, and makes its pizza options available for delivery almost anywhere – not just in Buffalo, but around the world.
What makes Bocce Club special? The pizzas are made from scratch and the dough is hand-stretched daily.
While the traditional pepperoni option is a popular option, Bocce is also well-known for its white pizzas. One of the top favorite white pizza options is the traditional margherita.
Visitors to the city may also want to combine two popular local flavors into one savory dish by ordering Terri’s chicken pie (of course, the pizza includes both white sauce on the crust and wing sauce with the chicken!).
3. Hearth and Press
Pizza and vegetarianism don’t seem like a natural pair; however, when you think about it, vegetarians who eat dairy are able to enjoy plenty of delectable pizza combinations. Hearth and Press offers a wide variety of inventive pizzas that will please the palates of carnivores, herbivores and everyone in between.
Almost any option is good on the hearth-fired crust, with goat cheese and arugula as a common favorite. Make sure you save room for dessert, because there’s a banana and nutella option that you absolutely have to try.
As an added bonus, Hearth and Press’s downtown location is easily walkable from multiple hotels and office buildings, as well as from The Belesario apartments.
4. Osteria 166
Everything at Osteria 166 is delicious, and the pizza is no exception.
The unique flavor profiles and combinations make their pizzas interesting, unusual and delightful. A popular favorite is the Sunrise, which combines the savory (speck and fried eggs) with the zesty brightness of fresh herbs and red pepper flakes.
For those living at or visiting 500 Pearl, the restaurant is only a short walk away – the perfect distance to burn off a few calories and enjoy your meal guilt-free.
5. Pizza Plant
If a pizza craving hits you while you’re exploring Canalside, Pizza Plant is the place to go. Their menu includes so many variations on pizza, they actually call their regular options a “flat” to distinguish them from the pod and stuffed options they’re also well-known for.
Favorites on the menu include the chicken souvlaki, a Mediterranean-inspired stuffed pizza option, and the steak and bacon. The restaurant’s a short walk from The Fairmont and just another hop, skip and a jump to the waterfront.
While these hot spots are just a few of the local places that we favor to satisfy our cravings, there are dozens of pizza places all around Buffalo. Everyone has their favorite, and every neighborhood has a new pizza parlor to discover and to make your “regular” spot.
