Il Buco

Great place to grab pizza by the slice. There is an excellent selection of meat and vegetarian (and gluten free) pizzas. The crust is thin with a nice crunch, while the cheese is melted into the toppings. Also the staff is super friendly and helpful. Yum all around.

Finally visited Il Buco — I can’t believe I haven’t been here sooner! I came here for lunch and couldn’t decide which slice to get, so I opted for two: the primavera (caramelized onion, asparagus, mozzarella, and brie) and the boscaiola (mushroom, mozzarella, italian sausage, and capsicum). I had every intention of saving half for later, really I did! But it was sooo good. The sauce must have a little sugar in it because both slices had a hint of sweetness to them, which offset the savoury flavours quite well. Also had a takeaway flat white.
The wait staff was so friendly! The employees were talking to patrons by name & asking if they wanted «the regular,» a good sign. They apologised for the delay in taking my order, which didn’t actually matter because there were so many amazing looking slices to choose from I could have pondered my order forever. The slices came out piping hot and quickly, and the flat white was nice.
There isn’t heaps of seating, but they did have the heaters cranking so if you want to get your outdoor seating fix during winter, you can certainly do that here. The other patrons were enjoying piping hot bowls of soup with breadsticks, and chatting away happily with staff.
I am already planning a return for this weekend to try more slices, specifically the vittoria (pumpkin, spinach, caramelized onion, blue cheese) and some of the soups. Definitely my favorite pizza in Auckland thus far!

I finally got around to going here and it was well worth it.
Pizza is delicious, has a great crispy base, and a good variety of toppings. Only thing was it seemed a bit under seasoned to me.
Also the person working was one of the most awkward ever.
Great for takeaway or you can sit and watch the world go by on Ponsonby Road on a nice day.

Il Buco is a great for a casual mid-​afternoon snack, light lunch or a larger, scrumptious dinner.
Everything is fresh; the pizza (by the slice) is partially cooked and heated to piping hot on order. Toppings are simple but plentiful and so flavoursome. It’s authentically Roman. There must be over two dozen varieties, including vegan and gluten-​free options.
If you feel like a little extra with your slice (s), they have on offer stuffed mushrooms and potato croquettes. The hot chocolate… ahhh! It’s so indulgent and decadently rich.
Dine-​in or take out although a slice is hardly likely to make the trip home and temptation will prevail. And this is in the heart of Ponsonby Road — why cede sitting down to enjoy pizza al trancio and watch the world go by?
Staff are super; a great combination of familiar service and reliably delicious fare!

Great pizza by the slice with many options to choose from. The slices are warmed while you wait and then delivered to you where you can watch the world go by on Ponsonby Road. Gluten-​free options available plus a small selection of other eats such a salad, soup, croquettes and sweets.

If you want to know what’s going on in town, saunter into IlBuco for a coffee or a Roman slice and get the local gossip. Open early and late, it’s the watering hole for Chefs, Winemakers & Foodies alike. And lots of slice options for the gluten free and Veg peeps.

These guys can do no wrong! The soups in the winter are TDF and come with these wee soldiers of freshly baked focacia. With flavours like thai kumara, chicken and corn chowder, creamy broccoli and cheese, mushroom marsala and my favorite is the plain old tomato, capsicum and basil — SUCH good flavours.
Best Pizza and only place that does it in this style — huge range of flavours to choose from and delectable wee croquettes and mushroom morsels. Coffee is brilliant and most of all really amazing service. Johnny is so lovely and always so happy!
I heart Il Buco!

When I suggested to Dad we go to Il Bucco for lunch this week he was chuffed. It’s been one of his favourites for over 6years now. In fact, he’s frequents it so much that he has become ‘mates’ with the owner, Johnny. Although, to be honest, so has half of Ponsonby — Johnny seems to be one of those guys that everyone loves.
At Il Bucco you buy the pizza by the slice (pizza al taglio), just like in Rome. It is cooked in big rectangles and sliced to order. I love the array of toppings they have. This week I went vego and had one slice of spinach and feta and one that had capsicum, courgette and onion. The pizza here is chocca with toppings (in a good way) and not overly cheesy so if you get one with veges in my mind it’s kind of healthy.
Il Bucco is an ideal spot for a quick lunch — the pizzas are already cooked so it only takes a couple of mins to heat them up plus they have a couple of table and chairs outside, which are perfect for people watching. Best of all, as Katherine L mentioned, they don’t close during that awkward 3 — 6pm period so if your after a late lunch, this is your spot.

This place has a following for a reason. They deliver the most amazing pizzas every time. It is the type of pizza that makes you feel like its authentic. They do it the original style of thin bases with all the drama of flavour on top. They have a massive range of choices for toppings too. And importantly they cater really well to the vegetarians out there. Really impressed. They are also known for their coffees. They really do do a great coffee. Its the italian thing I think. They just get it.
So this place is great for brunch, lunch, coffee stops or a full blown dining experience. Topper.

There’s this lull between 3pm and 6pm in Auckland. If you’re like me, and you dine at odd hours of the day, you’ll have faced many a ‘Kitchen Closed’ sign between these hours.
Over the years, I have built up a fine little list of places to eat during siesta time, and in the top three spot is Il Buco. We have been coming here for years. The pizza is good — crisp bases and interesting toppings. My favourites? Potato (it may sound odd to have carbs on carbs, but trust me, it’s delicious) and anything with spinach on it because it feels kind of like your’e being healthy when you eat it. Buy it by the slice — a couple will do you just fine — eat at one of the outside benches with a coffee and you’re good to go ’til dinnertime.
In related news, this is a good place to spot good looking people. Il Buco brings in many attractive patrons. Take note.

Johnny Ruddock is one of my favourite people on the Ponsonby Road strip. I met him just shy of il buco pizza’s tenth birthday, right before Ponsonby Central was opening across the road. He wasn’t worried that the new development would kill his business, and he shouldn’t — his pizza is just that good.
Johnny has built his simple business on the idea that food should be locally sourced, with seasonal ingredients that are of good quality. His wee pizzeria is also a very attractive place to go — with its bright interior and tiny ordering area, you’ll want to go inside and see what’s on offer.
Vegetarians — try the fake pepperoni pizza. Holy crap, it is amazing. Also try the melanzane — tomato, mozzarella, eggplant, tomato and parmesan. Johnny serves his pieces on little blocks with love hearts emblazoned on them, just to show a bit of love around Ponsonby.
When you’re done with pizza, try and stomach one of his pure chocolate hot chocolates. Beautiful!