Baffi sits on Haven Road, the spine of Canford Cliffs, a village parade of small shops and restaurants set among the pines above Poole Bay. Somewhere along that parade an oven runs at a temperature no home kitchen will reach, and everything at Baffi is arranged around it.
The pizza
This is Neapolitan pizza made by pizzaioli from Naples. The dough gets most of the attention: a sourdough recipe handed down through the family, mixed and kneaded by hand, then given a long, slow rise so the flavour can develop. It bakes in a wood fired oven at around 500 degrees and is out in roughly ninety seconds, which is what keeps the base thin and pliable while the rim swells into a soft, charred crust.
Toppings are deliberately few. Fior di latte, San Marzano tomatoes, fresh basil and organic olive oil are the foundation, and the kitchen avoids piling on more. Italian small plates and salads are made for sharing, seasonal specials change through the year, and there are desserts to close, with vegan options throughout the menu. The drinks list leans Italian as well, with wines and beers chosen to complement the food rather than fight it. Menus are on the Baffi website, so look there before visiting.
The room
Baffi is a neighbourhood restaurant rather than a destination dining room, and it acts like one. The family has run the business since the first pizzeria opened in 2014, and it has grown into a small group of sites across Dorset and Hampshire, of which Canford Cliffs is one of the best known. Service is friendly and informal, tables turn over steadily on busy nights, and takeaway boxes stream out of the door while plates head to the tables. Couples, groups of friends and families all fit in, and it works equally well for a quick supper midweek or a longer evening with wine.
Location
The address is 44 Haven Road, BH13 7LP, at the centre of Canford Cliffs. It's one of the leafier, quieter parts of Poole, a few minutes from Canford Cliffs Chine and the clifftop path down to the beach, with Branksome Chine to the east and the Sandbanks peninsula to the west. It pairs well with a late afternoon on the sand, and there are plenty more options within reach in our food and drink guide.
Practical details
Baffi does not open every day, and its hours change between the quieter months and the summer, so consult the website before you travel. Booking online is the easiest way to get a table, particularly on Friday and Saturday evenings. The same menu is available to take away, and delivery has been offered through third party apps. For questions about access, dogs, high chairs, dietary needs or private hire, contact the restaurant directly; the team will give you an up-to-date answer rather than a guess.