Mimmo La Bufala

I have been going to this restaurant for many years and have enjoyed every meal and always found the food fresh, good quality and good value for money. The pizza's are to die for and the staff are warm and welcoming. Esp Mimmo who always remembers you and makes a fuss of you.

Recently I recommended fretelli la buffala to a friend but when she looked it up it said it had closed down, i just wanted to make clear to everyone that is is thankfully very much open and has just had a change of name to Mimmo la bufala.

Please pay it a visit it will be worth it.
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Eileen
9 Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 9
Monday, July 30, 2012

I wondered how it would be after it changed its name though not ownership, but i was pleasantly surprised. more Italian staff including the manager, the owner Mimmo was there that evening which also makes it more atmospheric. the choice of food, i have eaten a lot of italian over the years was, i have to say, authentic and beyond my expectations. i like the wine list - caters for all tases and the full specials shos some extent of the the talent of the chef. i also took a pizza away for my family and there were more than delighted - beats any other take away pizza i have ever experienced. we will certainly go there again. Thank you!
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Juliana
9 Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 9
Wednesday, June 27, 2012

where do I start?????!!!! I am Italian and I've been working in the food and catering business for 15 years, I am ashamed that such people represents the rest of us Italian with such poor behavior, personality, professionalism and lack of care about our heritage.

Just visited today for a mistake actually: pleasant view at the entrance, nice products, pizzas, pastries and paninis. The staff is rude and with a clear tone of carelessness that don't belong on the public service. These are people that lack any kind of social skills and that are given an apron and a place to work and they are still thinking that saying "ciao" is gonna open them doors.

I had an awful experience; after visiting a place like this I always have to explain my girlfriend that not all Italians are that bad.

The best part was, what I assumed it was, the manager: completely absent, completely unaware of the complete lack of brain signs among his staff and complete unawareness of all the customers coming in, and walking out with their mouth dropped open.

Way to go!!!! Keep making a name for the Italian people........
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Massimo Scavo
2 Overall rating
Food 7 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 0 | Value for money 0
Friday, May 25, 2012

We revisited Bufala on Saturday, thinking that the bad reviews must be an abberation. They are not. Admittedly 8pm on Saturday is a busy time, but we had to wait ages even to order drinks. The staff are smart and pleasant , but we felt ignored. The food was very slow in coming: no-one around us seemed to be eating either. Starters of “grilled cheese sandwich” and crostini were OK, but the “focaccia” was more like soggy pizza base. There was another endless wait for mains, and then none were up to scratch: expensive grilled fish (tiny portion, over-done and oily at the same time); pizza (too much cheese, soggy base) and pasta (adequate , but for £13, overpriced for such an average and small portion). Only the (starter) aubergine parmigiana was really pleasant.

They obviously consider themselves to be a posh Italian restaurant , with prices to match , but in our opinion, you’d get better food at Pizza Express. It is clearly a strong favourite with the “Hampstead set”, and was certainly buzzing and full, but we thought it a poor deal overall.
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Alan
3 Overall rating
Food 2 | Service 2 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 2
Sunday, November 20, 2011

Just got back from this 'restaurant'. Where do I start. Took forever to order and when we finally did (drinks only as he didn't have his notepad) he spilt 1/3 Cokes down my girlfriends jacket. I must say the waiter (turns out was the barman but they were short staffed) was very apologetic and despite dropping cuttlery on at least three separate occasions was very friendly.

Another 10 minutes went past (we had been there 50 at this point) and my friend went to politely complain we wanted to order. The Head Waiter apologised and said he would give us 50% off the bill and came over to take our order (starters only). At this point the OWNER started arguing with the head waiter in Italian. Little did he know my friend speaks Italian and said he had no authority to give us 50% off and we could leave.

I could go on, escalopes overlooked, prawns over done, pizza soggy but the best is saved to last. The bill came over and all they took off was the 10% 'optional' service charge. The owner then blamed my girlfriend for the experience and threatened to call the police if we didn't pay. This is the first negative review of any restaurant I have ever written. I urge you to not go. Give your £50 per couple minimum to charity instead, I wouldn't go back if it was free.
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Dan
0 Overall rating
Food 1 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 0 | Value for money 0
Wednesday, November 09, 2011

Very expensive indeed! Good pizza but terrible service.
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Marco
4 Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 1 | Atmosphere 4 | Value for money 2
Thursday, October 27, 2011

A very disappointing experience overall. Booked here for a Friday night, after hearing good things about the food, especially the pizza.

The night started off badly, as we were led through an empty restaurant to the very stuffy back room, where we were seated 3inches away from the only other occupied table, facing a corner.

We ordered the antipasti plate - La Bufalata - and it was a complete rip-off. At close to £20 it consisted of 2 balls of mozzarella, some grilled vegetables and rather a lot of cheap chorizo - a completely random, and quite frankly, inedible, addition.

Main courses were a pasta special and a pizza. The pasta was nothing spectacular by Italian standards but tasty. However, the pizza, despite being wood-fired (apparently) was doughy, pale and soggy - sparse on ingredients but overloaded with a thick layer of tasteless white cheese. When we requested for the dish to be baked for longer, the waiter refused and argued that the clear liquid slopping about the plate was an unavoidable result of the cheese. Sure.

Average food could have been saved by good service, but unfortunately the service we received was indifferent at best, and arrogant at the worst. When we tried to raise the issue of the sub-standard food we were dismissed and told it was because we came at the end of a busy service.

After experiencing an overpriced and miserable dinner, I have no idea how this restaurant has managed to get good reviews, especially in London’s competitive Italian restaurant marketplace. Go somewhere else.
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dk-ct
1 Overall rating
Food 2 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 0 | Value for money 0
Monday, October 03, 2011

Basically, you are cheated.

You pay for the Italian style theatrics and rather indifferent food. If you have plenty of cash and they see you building up a hefty bill, then you can indulge in your private memories of Italy, but if it's the food you are after and a relaxing evening... don't bother.

There is pressure for you to leave rather too quickly and fake exchanges in Italian. Grazie, prego, ciao.

I felt so cheated at the con that the only reason I will return is to take samples of the food with me, pictures of the dishes and expose them in the local paper.
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Ken D
2 Overall rating
Food 1 | Service 2 | Atmosphere 2 | Value for money 1
Thursday, June 09, 2011

This place is simply awful.

The interior is nice enough, with comfortable space that is larger than would be expected from outside. However, the food is kind of what you would expect sitting in a tourist trap of an Italian restaurant on the Piazza Navona.

When ordering Limonata (and what could be more Italian than SAN PELLEGRINO Limonata Italian Lemon Sodas), yes, you got a glass of 7-UP (or sprite).

The anti-pasta starter just shy of GBP20 hardly had any anti-pasti, but was a sparing portion of olives, mozarella, tomato, grilled aubergine, and bulk category spicy chorizo on a very large bed of plain salad lettuce. This was an insult given how nice such a dish should be. It wasn't worth half the price.

The calzone still had cubes of unmelted cheese inside. What a let down.

The pastas were edible, with Italian sausage of good quality, but everything was simply drenched in too much oil, in a way reminiscent of fast food chains ensuring you don't leave hungry.

Overall, this place is very expensive for very mediocre quality. You'd be better off picking up a fresh bread at the bakery next door, and some fruit at the fruit stand across the street.
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4 Overall rating
Food 1 | Service 5 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 1
Sunday, April 17, 2011

What a hidden gem! This is a beautiful restaurant just in front of Hampstead Heath overground station. After a day of shopping I was planning to meet a friend and stumbled upon the building housing this Fratelli la Bufala. I arrived to find italian music that was absolutely brilliant. I ended up having a proper night out in London and one of the best Pizza's I've ever had - so spicy, thin and big - I'm converted to the Mugnanese Pizza and will be back.The service was briliant they are relaxt and focused on customers go as it's a great night out and I want to go back again with girlfriend for a romantic diner.
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nick the pizzaboy - View all reviews by this user
10 Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Saturday, December 18, 2010