Buffalo Chips Pizza occupies a genuine piece of Westwood history—the building used to be a bunkhouse for the Red River Lumber Company back when logging defined the region. Sitting in downtown Westwood, it’s only about 6 miles from Lake Almanor, so you could easily combine a meal here with time at the water.

The pizza is made with hand-thrown dough they do fresh daily, topped with their own sauce and cheese blend, then finished in an old-fashioned brick oven. They’re particular about ingredients—the meats are among the leanest available, and they use garden-fresh vegetables. You can watch the kitchen work while you wait for your order. Beyond pizza, they run a salad bar with fresh produce, make soup from scratch each day, and turn out solid sandwiches. The wings are popular with regulars. For dessert, they partner with Cheesecake Factory for options that go beyond what you’d typically find in a small-town restaurant.

The main draw for traveling with your dog is the outside patio, where dogs are welcome to sit with you while you eat. Westwood itself is quiet and woodsy, the kind of place where people move at a slower pace. The patio overlooks the street rather than being tucked away, so there’s some activity to watch. Summer weather is ideal for dining outside here—the elevation keeps things cool even when nearby areas heat up.

If you’re heading to or from Lake Almanor, this is a solid stop for a real meal rather than drive-through food. The brick oven gives the pizza a different character than chain places, and knowing the building has actual history to it adds something to the experience. The fact they make their own soup and sauce daily suggests they’re not cutting corners, which matters when you’re eating in a small community where your options are limited.