Bufalina is the 'Best Neapolitan in the City;' Michi Ramen is a Contender

Matthew Odam says Bufalina is turning out the best Neapolitan pizza in the city. "The gorgeous pies at Bufalina have an excellent balance of yeast and dough, making for an evenly cooked pie with gentle rise and charred, bubbled edges. The pliant pizzas are slightly chewy and evenly cooked throughout, holding up under the weight of their fresh ingredients." He's an especial fan of the calabrese and fresca pizzas, and points out Bufalina also offers "flavorful but simple" salads. He warns that the space is crowded and often packed, but the critic talked sausage and the Icelandic language at the communal table. Odam rates the restaurant a 9 out 10, one of his highest.

Rachel Feit thinks Michi Ramen "competes admirably against Austin's other ramen contenders," even if their refurbished Quonset hut space could use a polish. On the food, "I loved the Sapporo Ramen ($9.50), topped with sweet buttered corn that contrasts nicely with the clean, almost bready flavor of the miso broth. We added an exceptionally tasty marinated soft-boiled egg ($1) and garlic chili oil (50 cents) for diversity. Thrill seekers may go for the spicy Jungle Ramen ($9.50), flavored with lemongrass and accompanied by crisp bean sprouts. It is attention grabbing, though ultimately the lemongrass dilutes the uniformity of the miso broth. In the final comparison, it was hard to beat the Michi Ramen ($8.50), made with stout ton­kotsu broth. " The aesthetics leave something to be desired, but Feit says the humble space fits with ramen's comfort food vibe.

The Chronicle also posted a roundup of semi-sorta-recently opened taco establishments in the North Loop/Airport Boulevard area. Brandon Watson enjoys Taco 'Bout It's playful tacos, though hours seem to be "random." The Vegan Nom also pleases with their "deft" meat substitutes and their "glistening" sweet potato taco. Tyson's Tacos offers solid takes on "taqueria classics," as well as tasty elote. They should drop the burgers, however.

In other food critic news, Rob Balon almost wasn't able to find Qui. He remarks, "open in a plain white building with no signage or address? You gotta love this guy."
· Bufalina Has Set a New Bar for Neopolitan Pizza in Austin [Statesman]
· Michi Ramen Inflames the Ramen Wars [Chronicle]
· The Tortilla Strip [Chronicle]
· Looking for Qui? Double Check the Address [Dining Out]
· All Reviews Coverage [EATX]