Dennis C.
Yelp
The Bakehouse at Chelsea first opened in May of 2014, specializing in Neapolitan style pizzas and a wide variety of fresh baked pastries.
It is located adjacent to The Birch, which was Norfolk's first craft beer bar and which preceded it by opening in January of 2011.
My first visit was made during a snowy day during the winter of 2015. I continued to come back about once or twice a year through 2019, but I never could seem to get myself together to write a review.
I decided this year to put it off no longer. This review is based upon my most recent visits, all of which were made during the current pandemic period.
As you enter their cinder block building, the pleasant odors of freshly baked artisan bread and various spices waft through the air. The interior sports a spartan industrial vibe.
There are six tables inside, which were not in use during Phase I of the pandemic. There are three picnic tables outside.
Two hand-built wood fired brick ovens are in the rear, which use a mixture of white oak, red oak, and hickory wood. One oven is left open with the bread and pizza together, and the other one is left closed for their bread and pastries.
It has been written that wood fired brick ovens hold their heat more efficiently than conventional gas or electric ovens. You can open and close them often with little or no loss of heat.
My first experience with tasting food cooked in a wood fired oven took place in a hippie commune I stayed at one summer during the 70s, located in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia.
The oven was fired with wood we chopped ourselves, and the food that came out exhibited a depth of flavor that I had never experienced before.
The pizzas and pastries I have enjoyed at the Bakehouse strike my taste buds with a most reminiscent depth of flavor.
Each of their pizzas begin with naturally leavened dough, made with organic flour, and shaped by hand. The wood-fired brick oven gives their pizzas a crispy charred crust I find most pleasant.
Too many pizzas I have tried elsewhere are overly gummy, gooey, and greasy for my tastes. The pizzas I have tried here are just right for me, striking a beautiful balance between their crispy yet chewy textures.
As a result, their pizzas have become my favorite in the area, and I have enjoyed the following so far.
CHORIZO POBLANO PIZZA: Beef Chorizo, Poblano Peppers, Fresh Mozzarella, and Tomato Sauce.
This was the one I tried during my first visit during the winter of 2015 when it was offered as a special addition. It quickly became my favorite, and it was the one I always ordered during my subsequent visits whenever it was offered.
It has only recently been added as a permanent item on their pizza menu. I love its smoky earthy flavors, resulting in a taste combination that is off the charts delicious.
The beef for their chorizo is sourced from River Road Farms in Franklin, VA. This one is still my favorite: My Rating: 5-Plus Stars.
MARGHERITA PIZZA: Tomato Sauce, Fresh Mozzarella, Basil Leaves, and Extra Virgin Olive Oil. This was my first time trying a Margherita Pizza, and the flavors of this one were truly sublime. My Rating: 5 Stars.
BBQ CHICKEN PIZZA: Roasted and Seasoned Chicken with Spicy Hot BBQ Sauce, Fontina, Mozzarella, Green Onions, and Pickled Red Onions. This one was a recent special addition.
I loved its unusual combination of flavors. I would have liked just a little more heat to the spicy BBQ sauce to satisfy my hot tooth.
Fortunately, I had some hot sauce at home to fire it up. I am hoping to see this one become a permanent item. My Rating: 4.5 Stars.
I have also enjoyed the following pastries:
CHOCOLATE MONKEY BREAD: This is one I had never heard of this before, and the slice I ordered was delightfully crunchy, chocolaty, and delicious.
It was slightly dry on the inside, perhaps because I ordered it in the afternoon instead of in the morning. My Rating: 4 Stars.
ALMOND CROISSANT: The one was sweet, tender, flaky, and awesomely delicious. I have no other words. My Rating: 5 Stars.
STRAWBERRY BASIL GALETTE: The strawberries came from a fresh picking, and their combination with the basil paired beautifully. This one was tender, flaky, and delicious. My Rating: 5 Stars.
STRAWBERRY DANISH: Also made with freshly picked strawberries, this one was another winner. It was not quite as tender as the galette as described above, but it was still a tasty delight. My Rating: 4.5 Stars.
One detail I need to mention is that their breakfast sandwiches have been discontinued. Whether this is temporary or permanent remains to be seen.
In any event, I will definitely be stopping in here more often. It is my pleasure to award this wonderful bakery with a slam dunk 5-star rating.