This was my first time trying this restaurant, and I was honestly really excited because I had seen it on TikTok. When we walked in, no one greeted us or approached us, and there was no sign explaining what to do. I assumed it was a “seat yourself” place, so we sat down. I noticed a couple of servers looking at us but not saying anything. After about five minutes, a woman with a very unpleasant tone finally came over and said, “That’s not how it works here, let me get you the hostess.”
The whole situation felt unorganized and unprofessional. In the short time I was there, I also noticed dusty areas and awkward seating arrangements. Overall, I was disappointed with the interaction and how messy everything looked.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
Pamela Wiest
Good service and food. Affordable prices as well
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 4
Ngoc Huong Loan
Hot, cheesy, and absolutely delicious every time!
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 4
tom gorrell
Thank you to whole staff at Bistro Di Bufala in particular Erica and Kai. The food was amazing and the group room allowed our team to stay together.
Erica is the general manager and she helped me set everything up during siesta time between lunch and dinner. When the team came in at 7 pm Kai had water on the table and the food came with perfect timing.
Our team from Fullerton College hopes to be back to Visalia again and we will make sure we have another team meal here. And in a more general note - thank you to Visalia for your hospitality. From the college of Sequoias, to the Marriott and to everyone we came in contact with- what a friendly and classy city.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Laura Oden
Nice place, 2 bars and a lot of seating. As a vegan I was able to get a cheese less pizza and a salad.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 3
Service: 5
elizabeth godinez
Great food and service.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 4
Sandra Godinez
Long wait even though there was an open table. Once seated, waited another 5 minutes for the menu…the staff was nice and food was nice and hot.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 3
Service: 5
Temp
Good food, atmosphere and service
Carter Lee
My Fiancé took me here for my 30th birthday, and it was amazing. From the food, to the drinks, service and so many more things I could list. We got to decide if we wanted to sit in the basement area or up in the actual dining area, but we chose the basement bc we had it all to ourselves since we went right when it opened. The vibes down there are so calming and relaxed, and I love the dimmed lighting. Made me feel so calm and relaxed and made me enjoy every bite and sip WAY more worth it. We will definitely be back!!
What a delightful experience! The food was delicious, presented well. Treat yourself to one of the 3-layer cakes ... you'll thank me later. I also loved our very personable waitress. So glad we found this spot.
Alfredo pasta is the best pasta that I’ve ever had in my life🤩
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Gina Martin-Young
The atmosphere and food were absolutely amazing. My husband and I look forward to eating there again.
Lucy
First time here was excited to try it out but was let down after attending. I called the restaurant since I was skeptical about the 8:30pm reservation they offered since the restaurant closes at 9pm so I called and even joked about us being rushed out but why would you offer an 8:30pm reservation right and the lady laughed and said I assure you we will not. First impression it was so loud in there I wanted to leave. The noise was so unbearable and unattractive. The waitress could not even hear us when taking our order that’s pretty bad. The service was terrible the young lady was lovely not rude but very much felt rushed and that’s what I was trying to avoid. She only came to our table twice could not even get a second drink in by the time she came to ask us if we needed anything and I asked for my second drink I was told the bar was closed so very disappointed with her serving didn’t check on her table. The food was amazing very flavorful but it does not match the atmosphere and not recommended for a date. Most restaurants that we try we let them know we are new. Since the conversation came up due to the host asking where we would like to seated so We are usually greeted with a welcome so and I let the host know it was our first time and she sat us down and was very flat with her people skills. She didn’t welcome us or say anything for that matter. I will not be returning. Sadly disappointed I had bigger expectations for this place since I had heard good things about them.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 5
Service: 2
Micheal Castro
Worst experience I’ve ever had at a restaurant. I’ve been to this place a few times and will never go back. I called a day in advance to reserve a table for 6:45 pm. As I waited in line I saw my table swooped up by a couple the waiter must of known. I was then told my table was being occupied by another group that hadn’t left yet. The group in question barely had drinks so it looked like they had just ordered. I was then told to wait until a table was open. 7:05 I approach a server and tell him I had a reservation and what happened? They then find a table downstairs and almost completely forget about us(yes us, my date suffered through this whole ordeal too). Waited for probably 15-20 mins just for water. Then another 15-20 mins to place our order. When the food arrived you could tell that the plates had sat there finished and unattended. The Alfredo sauce had already cooled and thickened almost hardened over the pasta. The marsala sauce looked thick and the consistency of KFC gravy. The pasta was stuck together(like when you over cook pasta and let it dry) but the chicken was ok, probably the saving grace of the dish. Finally when we were done I had to look for a server to pay. Despite how I was treated and the horrific service I still tipped 20% but I will never go back to this place again.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
Yoan Bourgoin
We had a very nice experience at Bistro di Bufala. Even without a reservation on a Friday night, we were seated quickly, which we really appreciated. The food was very good, with some vegetarian options available. It would be great if the menu clearly identified vegetarian and, if available, vegan and/or gluten-free dishes with a small symbol. Parking is a bit limited, but the upstairs area seems accessible for wheelchairs, which is a positive point.
The only real downside for us was the service. Our server was polite and professional, but the experience lacked the attentiveness and personalized touch that make a meal truly memorable. For example, she offered us dessert to take home in the middle of our meal (a thoughtful idea), but then brought the check before we had even finished eating, assumed a single bill without asking, and didn’t check if we wanted dessert, coffee, or separate checks. It wasn’t a bad experience at all, but there is room for improvement in making the service feel more attentive and personalized.
Overall, considering that the experience was good, I do recommend this restaurant.
This was my first time trying this restaurant, and I was honestly really excited because I had seen it on TikTok. When we walked in, no one greeted us or approached us, and there was no sign explaining what to do. I assumed it was a “seat yourself” place, so we sat down. I noticed a couple of servers looking at us but not saying anything. After about five minutes, a woman with a very unpleasant tone finally came over and said, “That’s not how it works here, let me get you the hostess.”
The whole situation felt unorganized and unprofessional. In the short time I was there, I also noticed dusty areas and awkward seating arrangements. Overall, I was disappointed with the interaction and how messy everything looked.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
Good service and food. Affordable prices as well
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 4
Hot, cheesy, and absolutely delicious every time!
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 4
Thank you to whole staff at Bistro Di Bufala in particular Erica and Kai. The food was amazing and the group room allowed our team to stay together.
Erica is the general manager and she helped me set everything up during siesta time between lunch and dinner. When the team came in at 7 pm Kai had water on the table and the food came with perfect timing.
Our team from Fullerton College hopes to be back to Visalia again and we will make sure we have another team meal here. And in a more general note - thank you to Visalia for your hospitality. From the college of Sequoias, to the Marriott and to everyone we came in contact with- what a friendly and classy city.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Nice place, 2 bars and a lot of seating. As a vegan I was able to get a cheese less pizza and a salad.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 3
Service: 5
Great food and service.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 4
Long wait even though there was an open table. Once seated, waited another 5 minutes for the menu…the staff was nice and food was nice and hot.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 3
Service: 5
Good food, atmosphere and service
My Fiancé took me here for my 30th birthday, and it was amazing. From the food, to the drinks, service and so many more things I could list. We got to decide if we wanted to sit in the basement area or up in the actual dining area, but we chose the basement bc we had it all to ourselves since we went right when it opened. The vibes down there are so calming and relaxed, and I love the dimmed lighting. Made me feel so calm and relaxed and made me enjoy every bite and sip WAY more worth it. We will definitely be back!!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Bruschetta, Carbonara Pizza, Alfredo, Caesar Salad, Calamari Steak, Chicken Marsala, Diavola Pizza, Spaghetti \u0026 Meatballs, Bianco Pizza, Braised Short Ribs, Sausage Pizza, Chicken Parmesan, Pepperoni Pizza, Bruno Benedicto, Avocado Caprese Flatbread, Bistro Club, Chicken Bacon Flatbread Wraps, Insalata Mista lg, Pizza Margherita, Bistro Club Sandwich
What a delightful experience! The food was delicious, presented well. Treat yourself to one of the 3-layer cakes ... you'll thank me later. I also loved our very personable waitress. So glad we found this spot.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Restaurantji Recommends
Alfredo pasta is the best pasta that I’ve ever had in my life🤩
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
The atmosphere and food were absolutely amazing. My husband and I look forward to eating there again.
First time here was excited to try it out but was let down after attending. I called the restaurant since I was skeptical about the 8:30pm reservation they offered since the restaurant closes at 9pm so I called and even joked about us being rushed out but why would you offer an 8:30pm reservation right and the lady laughed and said I assure you we will not. First impression it was so loud in there I wanted to leave. The noise was so unbearable and unattractive. The waitress could not even hear us when taking our order that’s pretty bad. The service was terrible the young lady was lovely not rude but very much felt rushed and that’s what I was trying to avoid. She only came to our table twice could not even get a second drink in by the time she came to ask us if we needed anything and I asked for my second drink I was told the bar was closed so very disappointed with her serving didn’t check on her table. The food was amazing very flavorful but it does not match the atmosphere and not recommended for a date. Most restaurants that we try we let them know we are new. Since the conversation came up due to the host asking where we would like to seated so We are usually greeted with a welcome so and I let the host know it was our first time and she sat us down and was very flat with her people skills. She didn’t welcome us or say anything for that matter. I will not be returning. Sadly disappointed I had bigger expectations for this place since I had heard good things about them.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 5
Service: 2
Worst experience I’ve ever had at a restaurant. I’ve been to this place a few times and will never go back. I called a day in advance to reserve a table for 6:45 pm. As I waited in line I saw my table swooped up by a couple the waiter must of known. I was then told my table was being occupied by another group that hadn’t left yet. The group in question barely had drinks so it looked like they had just ordered. I was then told to wait until a table was open. 7:05 I approach a server and tell him I had a reservation and what happened? They then find a table downstairs and almost completely forget about us(yes us, my date suffered through this whole ordeal too). Waited for probably 15-20 mins just for water. Then another 15-20 mins to place our order. When the food arrived you could tell that the plates had sat there finished and unattended. The Alfredo sauce had already cooled and thickened almost hardened over the pasta. The marsala sauce looked thick and the consistency of KFC gravy. The pasta was stuck together(like when you over cook pasta and let it dry) but the chicken was ok, probably the saving grace of the dish. Finally when we were done I had to look for a server to pay. Despite how I was treated and the horrific service I still tipped 20% but I will never go back to this place again.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
We had a very nice experience at Bistro di Bufala. Even without a reservation on a Friday night, we were seated quickly, which we really appreciated. The food was very good, with some vegetarian options available. It would be great if the menu clearly identified vegetarian and, if available, vegan and/or gluten-free dishes with a small symbol. Parking is a bit limited, but the upstairs area seems accessible for wheelchairs, which is a positive point.
The only real downside for us was the service. Our server was polite and professional, but the experience lacked the attentiveness and personalized touch that make a meal truly memorable. For example, she offered us dessert to take home in the middle of our meal (a thoughtful idea), but then brought the check before we had even finished eating, assumed a single bill without asking, and didn’t check if we wanted dessert, coffee, or separate checks. It wasn’t a bad experience at all, but there is room for improvement in making the service feel more attentive and personalized.
Overall, considering that the experience was good, I do recommend this restaurant.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 3
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