Welcome to Napolitani Pizzeria, your new favorite place to get Italian pizza!
Pizza, the only love triangle anyone wants.
Italian pizza is a timeless dish that’s hard to say no to. Whether you’re getting one for yourself or sharing it with loved ones, you’re sure to have a delightful experience with pizza, especially if it’s authentic Italian pizza.
What’s great about Cebu is that there are many places where you can get pizza for take-out or delivery.
It’s very easy to eat and you can have it any time of the day.
Cebuanos have their own favorite pizza place. But if you haven’t tried the one located along Molave Street, now’s your chance to give it a visit.
Napolitani Pizzeria is known for serving authentic neapolitan pizzas and other famous Italian dishes.
It’s open from 11:00 AM – 10:00 PM on Mondays to Thursdays, and 11:00 AM – 11:00 PM on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays.
The pizza place stands out for its colorful and impressive interiors, not to mention the live performances from local artists that complement the fun, carefree nature of the Molave Street community.
Aside from their Italian pizza, the food at Napolitani has become an instant favorite among many.
YOUR NEW FAVORITE ITALIAN PIZZA PLACE
Napolitani serves neapolitan pizza, known for its simplicity and quality taste.
(Photo courtesy of Napolitani Pizzeria FB Page)
Neapolitan pizza is also referred to as “Naples-style pizza,” a traditional Italian pizza. Naples is believed to be the birthplace of pizza.
When tomatoes were first brought to Europe from Peru in the 16th century, most European countries believed it was poisonous, until poor peasants from Naples started putting them on top of flatbread.
This earlier iteration was called “Pizza Marinara” because it was traditionally prepared by the wives of seafarers (locally called “La Marinara”) after they returned from fishing trips.
This version (which originally did not have cheese) became so popular that many locals would go all the way to Naples to try it. This then spawned other versions of the dish, including the iconic round pizza that we all recognize today.
One of the most famous versions of pizza is the Margherita, originally prepared by Baker Raffaele Esposito for Queen Margherita (thus the name) of Savoy, when she visited Naples.
This iconic pizza uses simple ingredients that mirror the Italian flag, using red tomatoes, white cheese, and green basil leaves.
Many believe that this is the best pizza to ever exist, especially the head chef at Napolitani Pizzeria, Jeremy Tsesemeli.
HOW NAPOLITANI PIZZERIA STARTED
Napolitani started as a pop-up store at the Community Marketplace along Molave Street.
(Photos courtesy of Napolitani Pizzeria FB Page)
Jeremy first learned about neapolitan pizza when he visited a small pizzeria in Camiguin called Paradiso, which many believe makes some of the best pizzas in the country.
As a young father looking to start a business to provide for his family, Jeremy quit his job as a home-based virtual assistant to focus on making pizza. He started online and worked from his parents’ house.
Soon, customers asked if they could have their pizza fresh from the oven, so Jeremy decided to become part of the pop-up stores at Molave Community Marketplace.
This exposure gave him the inspiration to open his first physical store on March 28, 2023.
As mentioned, Jeremy believed that neapolitan pizzas are the best to ever exist. According to him, the light airy crust and rich Italian toppings make it a pizza devouring experience!
Their Classic Margherita has been their main offering since their days as an online business, using the same timeless recipe, but adding parmesan to the mozzarella.
(Photo courtesy of Napolitani Pizzeria FB Page)
At Napolitani, they cook their pizzas the traditional way: hand pressing the dough and cooking it in a makeshift brick and wood stove.
This allows the pizza to cook at high temperatures, making the cooking time much shorter. This also makes the crust crispy, with a soft and chewy center.
All pizzas sold as Napolitani come in traditional 12-inch servings. Each one is good for two to three people.
Aside from their classic Margherita, they also offer specialty pizzas, with their Arugula Speck being a crowd favorite. For this they use Italian ham, fresh arugula, and grated parmesan cheese.
Other than that, the restaurant has a selection of irresistible pasta dishes. Among their most famous is the Chicken Parmigiana, which is pesto linguine topped with a hefty chicken breast.
(Photo courtesy of Napolitani Pizzeria FB Page)
Napolitani is also one of the few places in Cebu where you can try antipasto, the traditional Italian appetizer.
This consists of a platter filled with cured or smoked meats, cheeses, vegetables, and bread, which is said to stimulate your appetite before getting to the main course.
Their most expensive non-pizza entrée is the Mussels Picante, which consists of imported black mussels, white wine, chorizo, and cream. This includes a side of French fries to complement the spice and creaminess.
MORE AT MOLAVE STREET
You can still visit the Molave Community Marketplace on the weekends to try out the many other pop-ups selling a variety of food and beverages.
Some pop-ups also sell streetwear products and souvenirs that you can get for yourself or as a gift for loved ones.
You can expect a lively crowd with customers strolling the street as they try out the different food and drinks sold.
There are also music events from time to time to entertain everyone present.
The marketplace is open on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays at 4:00 PM.
After exploring Molave Street, head on over to Napolitani for some delicious Italian pizza. It’s just a walking distance from the Molave Community Marketplace, which is right outside Wworkshop Studio.
