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Buffy’s Restaurant. {Photo by Han Okukuoglu}
Let’s talk about the specials at Baffi’s.
Baffi’s is our favorite family-owned authentic Italian restaurant. I can’t say enough about the family that runs this place and how we leave with hugs and laughs every time. Recipes are great and are our go-to when we’re happy, sad, celebratory, or just hungry.
Owned by Camillo DI Benedetto and Jacqueline De Abreu, Baffi’s is technically located in Boca Raton, but it’s located just off 441st Street near the Wawa in Parkland.
We started with a large imperial salad ($22.40). It’s a simple salad of diced arugula and fresh tomatoes, with two large chunks of burrata in the middle, drizzled with lemon juice and a homemade balsamic reduction, and surrounded by thinly sliced prosciutto.
Even if you order the large size, it’s still very filling.
imperial salad
Ravioli alla Zingara ($26.80, zingara also means gypsy) is a different story. Homemade ravioli filled with shredded and seasoned ossobuco beef. It’s delicate and light, with creamy chunks and bits of burrata mixed into a salty Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese sauce. A welcome touch was that I found it sprinkled with crunchy toasted almond pieces. It’s fun, thoughtful, and flavorful.
Ravioli alla Zingara
The cartoccio ($32.40) is hearty, but never filling. Tender beef tenderloin cooked in a delicious mushroom sauce with sliced mushrooms and a touch of pepper. It’s similar to Marsala sauce, but not quite. On the other side of the plate is homemade fettuccine topped with cheese sauce. Shaved Parmigiana cheese can be grated tableside if you wish (of course we will!). The steak is very well-balanced and has a strong mushroom flavor, and you can cut it without using too much force.
Cartoccio
“Fettuccine Mare e Monte” ($27.80) is another fettuccine dish that boasts creamy marinara sauce. There are plenty of chunks of beef, chicken, and shrimp mixed together. Typical red sauce does not have an acidic reaction. Everything ties together wonderfully.
Fettuccine Mare e Monte
The only main dish we ordered on the regular menu was the Gorgonzola Gnocchi ($19.90). Because it was so delicious. I still enjoy taking people to Buffy’s who despise gorgonzola cheese as much as I do. They look very skeptical about my strong opinion that this is the only gorgonzola dish I have.
Gorgonzola gnocchi
And the moment they take their first bite, they realize how incredible it is to learn how a gorgonzola dish can turn into a dangerously intense and pungent mess of gorgonzola. Good or understanding.
Combine this with the texture of the gnocchi, which I previously described as being “made of clouds,” and you get a unique dish that I’ve rarely seen in other Italian restaurant attempts. (Hint: Don’t order that dish for delivery, only eat it inside. Because the proportion of gorgonzola changes depending on how long you wait for the dish to be delivered.
Our trip would not be complete without trying matriarch Jacqueline’s homemade desserts. Milhoya ($9.95) is a light, flaky pastry her cake with a layer of creamy custard topped with powdered sugar. It had just the right amount of crunchy texture and layers. Pavlova has its own layers of cream and crust, crunch and dulce de leche, and strawberries.
Milhoya
pavlova
The family that runs this place is always absolutely wonderful.
Buffy’s Restaurant
23269 FL-7 #112
Boca Raton, FL 33428
(561) 218-4979
business hours
Monday: Closed
Tuesday to Thursday: 4pm to 8:30pm
Friday: 4pm – 9:30pm
Saturday: Noon – 9:30pm
Sun: Noon – 7:30pm
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Author profile
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Han Okcuoglu is a curious foodie, Turkish-American, and has lived in South Florida for over 35 years. He graduated from his FAU with a degree in Information Systems Management. He also writes food reviews on various of his websites and social media groups. He loves seeing new restaurants and mom friends’ businesses gain attention and thrive.
