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Buddha Pie
Categories: Restaurants Pizza Restaurants Sandwiches Pizza, Sandwiches [Edit]
514 Annette RdToronto, ON M6P 1S3
Neighbourhood: Bloor-West Village
(416) 628-8337
- Hours:
Tue-Sun 5 pm - 9 pm
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- No
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- Yes
- Take Away:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- No
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Has TV:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
11 reviews for Buddha Pie
11 reviews in English
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Review from Fern H.
10/18/2011
I was shocked to find that such great pizza comes from this small shop on Annette St.
We ordered 2 pizzas for pick up and were told that they would be ready in about 40 min. We got the Zen Margherita ($13.99) and the Presto Pesto with goat cheese ($14.99).
Both pizzas were great. Sizing is a bit on the small size. The Margherita pizza came with a bunch of fresh pesto that we could add to the top. I actually found the cold leftovers of the Margherita tasted even better than the fresh pie.
Mostly a take out place but there are 1-2 tables inside for seating.
Worth checking out and better than Pizza Pizza and Dominos. -
Review from Kristy T.
Toronto, ON
7/8/2011
Delicious!!!
The Zen Margherita pizza was fantastic and the owners are super awesome and really friendly.
Im a fan :) -
Review from Candice E.
Toronto, ON
7/15/2011
Amazing!
We called in an order tonight, a busy Friday night. We ordered one vegan pizza on a gluten-free crust and the Zen Margarita.
When my husband went to pick it up, the person told him that they'd accidentally made the vegan pizza with cheese. They'd already remade it without the cheese, but would we like to take the cheese one too? Of course he took it - who passes up free, tasty pizza, after all?
So delicious. My husband raved about the crust, and the gluten-free crust they use is really good.
Highly recommended if you're looking for more gourmet pizza! -
Review from Lauren L.
Toronto, ON
3/3/2011
Maybe I'm biased because I live close enough to go home and relax while my pizza is being made, but I'd say Buddha Pie is some of the best pizza in the city.
The BBQ Chicken is tangy and, unlike lots of barbecue pizzas, doesn't taste like store-bought barbecue sauce. The Presto Pesto is a delicious option for people with an irrational dislike of tomatoes. On all the pizzas, the sauce is great and isn't slathered on excessively.
And the owner is infectiously enthusiastic and happy about his food. He's given me a taste of the cheese before he's put it on the pizza, just to show how good it is. And when they ran out of containers, he gave me an actual plate to take my sandwich home on, since he trusted me to bring it back. That kind of little touch goes a long way.
Also, they sell Pop Shoppe pops, which are awesome.
So yeah, I am recommending Buddha Pie, for sure. -
Review from Leslie-anne W.
Toronto, ON
10/28/2010 2 photos
Buddha Pie is better than many other pizza options in this area but I do not think it is one of the best pizzas in the city. One of the biggest downfalls to the Buddha Pie pizza is the crust, it just does not seem right. I have eaten pizzas all over Italy and in Toronto and just don't think this crust is up to snuff. It's better than, say, Pizza Pizza, or one of the chains, but it is not as good as it could easily be. The canned tomatoes, although imported from Italy, are a big problem for me, especially when used when fresh tomatoes are available. The tomatoes, to me, taste like canned tomatoes, a bit tinny and acidic, not fresh. If they were made into a sauce, this might bring out some of the sweetness in them. They also make the pizza a bit soggy, letting them drain a bit before using them may help this problem too.
Buddha Pie has its issues, but the owner seems extraordinarily pleasant, and the pizza, although not perfect, is better than the average take-out, especially in High Park, which often feels like the bermuda triangle of take-out options. -
Review from R H.
Etobicoke, ON
11/20/2011
Blech! Ordered 4 pizzas. The "Good Karma" was inedible... Piled high with spinach gone bad. The special of the day "Mexican" pizza was WAY too cheddary. The "Buddha Bomb" was OK and the "Presto Pesto" was the best of the bunch. The crust was the worst we've ever had. Pics online show a wood-oven type thin chewy crust but in reality the crust on my 4 pizzas was an unleavened, cracker-type crust with visible fork holes. The worst meal we've had in the city since moving here 1.5 years ago.
-
Review from Christine C.
Etobicoke, ON
11/19/2009
First off they've got a Blues music streamed in from some internet station. That alone is good for one star. This tiny little hub of a pizza place on Annette St. is a neighbourhood gold mine for absolutely delicious pizza and stand that spoon straight up in your organic, fair trade coffee. I'm a funny girl when it comes to the 'za. I either love it or I hate it. At Buddha Pie it was an absolute love affair from first bite.
It is a super thin crust pizza (and I think gluten free) with a big crunch factor and I really dig that. The thing that sets Buddha Pie's pizzas apart I believe is the tomato sauce. I ain't tasted sauce like it here at any other pizzeria in the city, not even Libretto, and that is saying something. They use a brand of tomatoes called Valaroso and this is where their magic starts. The only place I've tasted tomatoes akin to these was in the Tuscan region in Italy. Add another star!
Buddha Pie also sources their cheese from the Cheese Boutique so tally up another star for that smart move. Not only using premium cheese but sourcing it from a local business. I like these guys more and more. The fresh basil hadn't been obliterated into pulp so it was a real treat to taste it against that gorgeous tomato sauce. Tomatoes and fresh basil, one of life's most simple yet most savoured pleasures.
The pizza menu is small, offering up 5 choices (three of them are meatless, two all cheese types, one vegetarian), then your traditional pepperoni & a BBQ chicken option. All pizzas are prices $12.99-$13.99 and are perfect for sharing for two. The menu also offers up four sandwiches all prices at $7.00. Can't speak to the quality of the sandwiches but I'll definitely be back to BP to check them out.
I took my girlie pal Barb for lunch and she loved it. Pizza and two lattes set us back $20.50. My only complaint would be that it would be handy if they gave us a little plate to eat our pizza off. The pizza got put down on the table and they gave us some napkins. With that being said we managed but I know this would be a sticking point for some people. It's a tiny spot, seating for about 10 people so BP is really geared to the take out crowd.
Finally the fourth star for the really cool couple behind the counter who really show their customers the love with such great pizza and make you feel just like an old friend dropping in. When they put the pizza down on the table he asked us..."this your first pizza with us?". They cared and it showed. I've made some new friends on Annette. I'll be back to Buddha Pie. The 'za awaits. -
Review from Steph L.
6/10/2010
What exactly is a Buddha Pie?
It's a delicious, thin-crust pizza loaded with toppings and eating it makes you feel so good that you want another.
This place took me by surprise. It used to be a coffee shop. They still serve great coffee, but now you can get pizza, sandwiches, and a fun soda from the pop menu.
It's very small place. Three small tables inside and one table outside.
Buddha Pie appears to be the talk of the neighborhood. There was a steady stream of new customers who ended up there because they have heard good things about the place.
Even though the menu may not be large, they have something for everyone.
I tried the pesto pizza with goat cheese, fresh tomatoes, onions.
It was fantastic...and with a grape soda, even better!
The owners are incredibly warm and friendly.
This place is going to be the go-to pizza place in the neighborhood. -
Review from Matthew S.
Toronto, ON
2/23/2010
I've been delaying reviewing Buddha Pie for some time. I really want to like this place and I feel bad giving it an average review given how awesome the owner is and how much potential there is. But, the bottom line is that despite the amazing reviews here and elsewhere (e.g. BlogTO) the pizza here isn't that amazing.
The owner and operator of this small pizza shop is awesome. The minute you walk in the door he starts chatting with you like you're an old friend. He's very proud of his pizza and will explain all the ingredients to you and walk you through the process of making a pizza.
The dedication to top quality ingredients and craftsmanship is impressive. Buddha Pie's flagship pie, the Zen Margherita, uses Mozzarella di Bufala and Valoroso tomatoes imported from Italy; tasty, locally-sourced basil; and high end flour. The owner is genuinely interested in what his customers think about his pizzas and is continually improving his method.
The pizza is a decent imitation of a traditional Neapolitan pie but nothing more. It could be so much better considering the high quality ingredients. Unfortunately, I think the fact that the owner has no prior experience cooking professionally is working against him here.
First, the tomatoes are excellent but should be pureed or at least crushed up rather than left whole. The basil is put on fresh after cooking. An interesting idea but it fails to bring out the full flavour of the herb. It's hard to go wrong with Mozzarella di Bufala but it doesn't seem to melt quite right; I think the oven needs to be hotter.
The dough is in serious need of improvement. Buddha Pie makes their dough fresh every night but they don't seem to understand the delicate art of breadmaking. They use Fleischmann's yeast rather than a nice, natural live yeast. And, while I'm not a bread expert, I believe the process they use for making their dough needs improvement. The dough tastes too much like pre-made grocery store dough to me. If they want a proper traditional pizza they'll also need to get a hotter oven to get a nice texture to their crust as well.
The end result is a good pizza but it tastes like something you'd make yourself at home not a traditional Neapolitan pizza. My theory for all the amazing reviews is that people are swayed by the owners friendly personality and his talking up the ingredients. I was even raving about how good the pizza was until a couple hours later when I started to evaluate it critically. But, who knows, maybe some are just into this style of pizza.
I don't want to sound like I'm trashing Buddha Pie too hard. I like this place and it has massive potential due to the impressive commitment to quality and self improvement. Over time the pizza will certainly improve. I think they would especially benefit if they temporarily brought in a proper pizza maker or baker to show them the ropes. -
Review from Sophie D.
Toronto, ON
12/13/2010
A few major blips--mostly in service--detract from good food and good intentions at this west side pizzeria.
I had to go way over and out to this neighbourhood at lunchtime recently, so I popped in. I've heard the pizza's good, but I've been hankering for AGES for a real-deal Philly Cheesesteak sandwich, so I was excited about trying theirs.
The first disappointment was that apparently they were out of these. At 2.30 in the afternoon? But yes, it happens, so no big deal, although already my disappointment was tainting the experience. I didn't want to get a whole pizza to myself, and the server encouraged me (with a free taste--excellent sales strategy) to order the homemade black bean chili.
What actually convinced me, though, was the description of the chill on the board, which stated it came with a side of jalapeno cornbread. That clinched it for me--what better on a cold day than a slab of warm, homemade cornbread?
So my second major disappointment was that the chili arrived without the cornbread, and a chunk of ciabatta instead. The bread was fresh and chewy, but it wasn't the cornbread I wanted. Worse, I wasn't told when I ordered that there would be no cornbread--and I may well have ordered something else had this been the case. Instead, when I mentioned the missing cornbread upon paying, the server said, "That's because I haven't made it yet." Okay, first of all, if you managed to get to 2.30pm without having time to cook a featured item on your daily menu, maybe reassess your scheduling.
Second of all, and more fundamentally, if you don't have it, don't put it on your menu. Simple. This subtle deceptiveness is all over menus and the restaurant industry, and it means customers trust menus and restos less and less. When I order a meal, I expect to receive it as described, and when you're dealing with a chalkboard (as at Buddha Pie) rather than a printed menu, it's even easier to make the necessary alterations to the menu--and there's no excuse for not doing so.
In their defence, the chili itself was excellent: rich, thick, with complex but balanced spicing, and a generous dollop of sour cream; liquidy enough but not watery, with pleasant crunch from corn kernels and heft from beans. (But then again--I also make a great chili. Chili is not hard, and I could have made it at home.) The music was great too, though, and the staff seemed cheerful and nice enough. The styrofoam bowl the chili was served in was a bit of a turn-off, but again no biggie--it is a takeout joint after all. However, the final problem came when I paid the bill.
The meal I ordered was advertised as $7.95, and I ordered no drinks or extras. Yet my bill came to $10.12. Even with 13% HST added, the total should have only come to just under $9. So where did the extra dollar and twelve(ish) cents come from? The bill I was handed wasn't itemised so I have no way of knowing. Again, this kind of thing comes down to trust. They may seem like small things, but the fact that a) I didn't get the meal I ordered and b) I was apparently overcharged for it are enough to make me really skeptical about whether I would go back (especially if the same inconsistency that means they hadn't got to the cornbread yet also means I can't be guaranteed that I'll get the sandwich I actually wanted in the first place). I won't be back until I happen to be in the neighbourhood again, when I'll be happy to give them another chance, but if the same problems resurface, no more Buddha Pie for me. -
Review from ian i.
Toronto, ON
10/21/2009 3 photos
serving up gluten free thin crust pizza and sandwich's with the best ingredients, plus great coffee!
