Collegeville Bakery Pizzeria Napoletana is the Destination for Stars and Center of Community
Italian Bakery Offers Expansive Menu With Its Own Unique Twists That Has Something For Everyone
Collegeville Italian Bakery Pizzeria Napoletana in Collegeville, Pennsylvania has been in business since 1994 and has been expanding its operation from a small bakery to full service pizzeria and restaurant with an expansive menu and something for everyone. The Italian Bakery is a destination for sports superstars and celebrities alike. If you follow their social media accounts, you’ll find a local celeb seems to stop by just about every week! Well known sports figures like Joel Embiid, Larry Bowa, Charlie Manuel, and Rhys Hoskins stopped by in recent months! Having followed Collegeville Bakery for some time now, I’ve always wondered why so many superstars made the place a destination to visit. After taking a road trip and spending some time with the owners, staff, and customers it was obvious as to why this place is so special.
Driving up the place, you get a lively and welcoming feel before you even pull into the parking lot. It’s bustling with cars moving in and out and through the drive through which in an obvious indicator that it’s a busy establishment, but there was something more interesting I noticed as I prepared to enter. The people I observed walking out the doors weren’t just exiting with their purchases, they were finishing conversations with staff and other customers inside while leaving and greeting others that were walking in to pick up their orders. Everyone seemed to know everyone else and there was a tangible and sincere connection among those in the bakery. It was like one huge and happy and continuous conversation going on with hungry customers continually rotating in and out!
Ownership at the Center of the Operation and Community
Then I met owners Steve and Patrizia who were clearly at the center of this community of customers and staff who create an inclusive and inviting environment for all to enjoy. Steve greeted me right away and gave me a tour and told me about the history and the story behind the bakery all while greeting every guest at their table and in line seamlessly moving from conversation to conversation while also manning an earpiece attached to a radio that I presume other staff members were also chatting on.
It was quite an act of hospitality and multitasking at its peak! To add to the hospitality, Steve walked me outside to show me my name had been placed on the big sign just like some of the actual celebrities who I had seen on it just weeks before! That was a pretty cool gesture for a D-/F+ celebrity like myself! I also had the opportunity to grab a photo by the wood fired pizza oven in the “Pizzaoli of the Day” pose which was a pretty cool honor standing next to that super hot wood fired oven.
Bakery Setup
The Bakery is organized into three sections. If you start on the right hand side of the building, you’re in the Bakery/Deli/Market section filled with fresh-baked Italian bread, rolls, pastries and cookies all made on the premises daily. They also offer homemade Boardwalk Mini Donuts, carry Italian specialty items from South Philly and so much more. From there, you can head into the middle section of the building which is a dining room adorned with hundreds of photos of famous sports figures, celebrities, prominent community members, and all around special people on the walls.
I paused for a moment to admire a photo of Charlie Manuel, former manager of the 2008 World Series Champion Philadelphia Phillies, as we walked through the dining area to the Pizzeria Napoletana and Nutella Bar section of the facility. There is so much going on, but the thoughtful organization of it all was so logical that it wasn’t overwhelming at all. There’s a certain flow to the three sections that just makes sense.
Local Perspective
While visiting, I met Charles “Chisel” Carfagno, one of the Bakery’s longtime customers and founder of Chisel’s In-Your-Kitchen Italian Experience. Chisel, originally from the Norristown area, has been a long-time Collegeville area resident. He had this to say about:
“The Bakery has its roots just outside of Naples, Italy but also in the greater Norristown area ~ the third-largest settlement of Italian immigrants in America (just behind Brooklyn and Boston). The hearts and character of Norristown’s Italian-American families are second-to-none ~ truly unsurpassed … The Della Polla’s largely embody Norristown’s Italian-American experience. Their work ethic, passion for family, people and standard of excellence reminded me so much of my parents and grandparents. It compelled me. I quickly became a loyal customer, fan and promoter of the bakery. I vividly remember when it was just a full-service deli with a bakery in the back. It was about 1/3 the size it is now. As a foodie myself, it’s been especially fun to watch them grow at close-range. Steve would tell me “We’re serious, Charles” (back in 1997), giving a hint of things to come. Knowing and being deeply connected with their customer base enables their creativity and innovative marketing excellence to hit home run after home run. Above all, Steve, Patrizia and Collegeville Italian Bakery are genuine asset at the heart of our local community.”
After reflecting on the experience and scrolling through Collegeville’s Bakery’s facebook feed, it occurred to me that Philadelphia sports legends and local celebrities go to the bakery for a reason. It also occurred to me that everyone else comes here for the same reasons and the excellent food and service are only a part of it.
When you look at the iconic sign that is changed daily to celebrate a community member’s birthday, to congratulate a local athlete for being drafted, to express sorrow for a special person who passed away or any other important event that is important to the community at large – it says so much more than just a name. It shows a deep understanding of what is important, a connection with the public, and a way to make every single person feel special and a part of the bakery – not just A-listers! It’s really a civic engagement that captures the spirit and imagination of the community. I think that is what is special about Collegeville Italian Bakery Pizzeria Napoletana.
The Pizza Ratings
Restaurant: Collegeville Italian Bakery Pizzeria Napoletana
Location: 3846 Ridge Pike, Collegeville, PA 19426Date: July 2022
Eat In/Take Out: Eat In
Detroit Style Pizza with Buratta
For me, the Detroit Pizza with Buratta was the headliner and showstopper of the numerous pizzas I tasted for a few reasons. First, I mean just look at this pizza, it’s so visually appealing and just draws you right in. The raised frico edge composed of caramelized cheese was crispy and delicious, and as I always like to say – Detroit frico is the most delicious bite of pizza there is. The attribute that of the pizza that really stood out to me was the incredibly flavorful sauce that was bursting with so much taste that my taste buds were both excited and confused at the same time! A special pizza that’s worth a road trip for sure.
Pizza Ordered: Detroit Style Pizza w/Buratta
Crust: 8.2
Sauce: 9.4
Cheese: 8.8
Overall Taste: 9.3Crispy/Cooked Properly: 8.8
Overall Value: 7.2
OVERALL RATING: 8.9
Similar to: Jimmy Hank Pizza
Cracker Crust Pizza with Cup N Char Pepperoni
The neat thing about Collegeville is they seem to have a unique twist on everything they do. Some might glance at the photo above and call this a New York Style Pizza, but it isn’t. It’s an extra large, extra thin cracker crust pizza, which is something you don’t see often locally. The dough is stretched thin, docked, smothered in sauce, cheese, and pepperoni and baked in their rotating brick oven.
Pizza Ordered: Cracker Crust Pizza w/Cup n Char Pepperoni
Crust: 8.3
Sauce: 8.8
Cheese: 8.2
Overall Taste: 9.1Crispy/Cooked Properly: 8.4
Overall Value: 7.7
OVERALL RATING: 8.5
Sea Shore Pizza
The sea shore pizza is a new addition to the Collegeville Bakery menu. It features a thin crust, blend of cheeses, sliced fresh tomato, and seasonings that all balance to create a vibrant, fresh pizza that is great to enjoy in the summertime or really anytime throughout the year.
Pizza Ordered: Sea Shore Pizza w/ Fresh Tomato
Crust: 8.2
Sauce: N/A
Cheese: 8.5
Overall Taste: 8.6Crispy/Cooked Properly: 8.5
Overall Value: 7.7
OVERALL RATING: 8.3
Norristown Red Top
The Norristown Red Top Pizza is made with the same cracker crust as the cup n char pizza above, but features cheddar cheese on the bottom and a sweet and flavorful sauce swirled on top. It has some “grotto pizza vibes” with some Chicago Cracker thin attitude!
Pizza Ordered: Norristown Red Top Pizza
Crust: 8.2
Sauce: 8.8
Cheese: 8.2
Overall Taste: 8.7Crispy/Cooked Properly: 8.3
Overall Value: 7.8
OVERALL RATING: 8.4
Breakfast Pizza
Collegeville Bakery is open early in the mornings, so they figured why not offer a breakfast pizza? This is the type of pizza that I get a lot of questions about regularly, and frankly not many local spots offer it, let alone a wood-fired version of it! I can’t even describe to you how nicely this pizza comes together with its soft crust, creamy melty gooey cheese, smoky bacon, and perfectly cooked eggs. I’m not usually one for this type of gourmet pizza, but it is a special and unique pizza that also fits in the “must try” category. Very impressive.
Pizza Ordered: Breakfast Bacon Egg and Cheese Wood-Fired Pizza
Crust: 8.5
Sauce: N/A
Cheese: 8.5
Overall Taste: 8.8Crispy/Cooked Properly: 7.8
Overall Value: 7.4
OVERALL RATING: 8.2
Philly Tomato Pie
What would a bakery in the Philly suburbs be without a boxed Philly Tomato Sheet Pizza? Collegeville has an excellent version with a soft, tender crust, complex and delicious sauce, and a sprinkling of parmesan cheese. Great to take on day trips or the office lunch room.
Pizza Ordered: Bakery Philly Tomato Pie
Crust: 7.4
Sauce: 7.9
Cheese: N/A
Overall Taste: 7.8Crispy/Cooked Properly: 7.2
Overall Value: 7.6
OVERALL RATING: 7.6Similar to: Conshohoken Bakery, Corropolese, Altamonte’s Italian Market
