(5/6 stars)

Pizza and fine dining don’t tend to go together- but when the entrance is Levent’s fancy residence Loft, it’s a different story. Napoli’s famous Fratelli La Bufala is heavy on black decorations; white tablecloths, minimalist light fixtures hanging from the ceiling, and black leather chairs add a fancy flair. The entrance has a glass shelf filled with wine bottles. FLB is so popular with businessmen and women in the surrounding area that you’ll be hard-pressed to find a table, even during the week! Fratelli means ‘brothers’ in Italian, and the story of La Bufala brothers is an inspiring one. The oldest brother Giuseppe, known as ‘Pippo’, moved to New York and started working in a pizza parlour. Soon after, Antonio ‘Toto’ ventured to Madrid to try his luck, and finally Gennaro did so in Milan. They got the ball rolling quickly and after opening many, many pizza restaurants in cities as far ranging and diverse as Rome, Miami and Rio de Janeiro, they’ve opened their 86th (!) branch in Istanbul. The restaurant’s speciality, ‘Neapolitan pizza’, is made right before your eyes. The dough is made with natural yeast; and the exact same dough is used at each location, which is why you’ll find the flawless perfection wherever you dine. The menu features over 20 pizza varieties: the Neapolitan style is characterized by a thick and crispy crust and an almost paper-thin centre, thus making it impossible to eat without folding the slice in half. The standard size is close to 32 cm., which satisfied us perfectly without leaving a heavy feeling afterwards. There are appetizers specific to Naples, including caprese, gateaux and lo zuccotto di melanzane. They also have risottos, soups, pastas, hamburgers, salads and meat varieties. Finally, between the hours of 12.00-14.00 you can try fresh specialities unique to the Campania region of Italy. The wine menu features Turkish and Italian selections. As for the artwork on the walls? All were created by the youngest brother Gennaro La Bufala in one day, the day before the restaurant opening!
Menu:
La bufalata 20 TL
Gli gnocchi 27 TL
La supersalad 22 TL
Pizza capricciosa 27 TL
Tiramisu 13 TL
Wine (by the bottle) 50- 250 TL
Fratelli La Bufala
(0212) 325 54 11
Levent Loft, Büyükdere Caddesi 201, Levent
www.fratellilabufalaistanbul.com
Open everyday from 12.00-15.00; 19.00-23.30. Credit cards accepted.