Revered Neapolitan Pizzeria Bufalina Is Closing Its Original East Austin Location

One of Austin’s best restaurants, Neapolitan pizzeria Bufalina, is sadly closing its original location on East Cesar Chavez. Its last day at 1519 East Cesar Chavez Street will be Sunday, February 28 for patio dine-in and takeout services.

Bufalina is known for its classic Neapolitan pizzas as well as an enviable selection of natural wine curated by Rania Zayyat. The pizzeria’s other location, Bufalina Due on Burnet Road, will remain open, and the wine club (which started in March of 2020) will continue.

Owner Steven Dilley told Eater that the East Austin location of Bufalina is closing because the building (which also houses Peacock Salon) is being demolished to make way for a new development.

According to the demolition permitting for the address, the application was billed to a 1500 CC LLC, which is based in Georgetown and is registered to Samuel Austin Pfiester. The LLC also purchased next-door space at 1501 East Cesar Chavez in 2017.

The restaurant closed its dining room in March due to the COVID-19 pandemic and shifted to takeout-only. Bufalina then closed entirely for April, resumed takeout in May and opened for patio dining in September, taking advantage of new laws allowing restaurants to convert parking lot space to patio. Bufalina also partnered with Wright Bros. Brew & Brew to create a lunch menu of sandwiches, although that partnership is now over.

This is another step in the changing face of East Austin, which has also included Korean restaurant Oseyo demolishing taco shop Los Huaraches in 2018 and Eastside Tavern building over Top Dawgs Bar & Grill in 2016.

Dilley, an Eater Young Gun in 2014, opened Bufalina on Cesar Chavez in 2013, followed by Bufalina Due on Burnet Road in 2016.

• All Coverage of Bufalina [EATX]
• All Coverage of Bufalina Due [EATX]