Bambino’s Pizza Takes the Crown!
Wake News and Events 2026 Readers’ Choice Award for Best Pizza
An 9-year friendship, a shared dream, family recipes, and community support are helping make Bambino’s Pizza a local success story.
Sometimes, the best recipes for success have little to do with ingredients. They begin with friendship, hard work, a shared vision, and two guys that believe in a dream.
For Alec Dauphinee and Richard Sanchez, owners of Bambino’s Pizza, that recipe is proving to be a winning combination. Just four months after opening their doors, they have a tremendous reason to celebrate!
Wake News and Events proudly congratulates Bambino’s Pizza on receiving the 2026 Readers’ Choice Award for Best Pizza!
This recognition celebrates not only great pizza but also the dedication of two longtime friends, the culinary talents of their head chef, Jesus Rodriguez, and the community that has helped their young business grow.
A Friendship That Became a Business
Alec and Rich first worked together approximately 11 years ago. Both entered the food service industry at a young age, developing the experience that would eventually help them build a business of their own.
Although life took them in different directions, their friendship endured. They stayed in touch and continued sharing a dream of working for themselves.
Rich developed his background in bartending, waiting tables, and customer service. He describes himself as the “front man,” making sure customers feel welcome and enjoy their experience. He knows that great food matters, but so does taking care of the people who walk through the door.
Alec developed his own reputation in the pizza business through his love of tossing dough, earning him the nickname “Bambino.” It’s a nickname that has stuck with Alec ever since. This is where the name of the business came from!
And then there is the Doughboy! Alec proudly displays that nickname on his apron. Watch him toss the dough, and you will understand why.
Behind the nicknames and good humor is a serious commitment to their dream. After years of friendship and searching for the right opportunity, Alec and Rich finally found the place to turn that dream into reality.
Family Recipes and the Perfect Slice
Family has played an important role in Bambino’s success, providing business guidance, strategic advice, and cherished family recipes.
The restaurant's food is made from scratch, reflecting the owners’ commitment to quality.
While Bambino’s offers other menu items, pizza is unquestionably the star.
The restaurant specializes in New York-style pizza, featuring a beautiful, thin crust. Rich has a simple way of describing what makes a proper slice: it should not flop over when you pick it up.
The owners are especially proud when visitors from New York stop in, taste their pizza, and tell them it is the best New York-style pizza they have ever had. For a new business, that is quite a compliment!
For Alec and Rich, it is about delivering the flavor, quality, and experience that give customers a reason to return.
The Team Behind the Pizza
Head chef Jesus Rodriguez is an important asset to the Bambino’s team. When he heard Alec and Rich were opening their own business, he was excited about the opportunity to join them.
For all three, quality is not a one-time achievement. It is an ongoing commitment to serving food they can be proud of and giving customers a consistent experience with every visit.
Four Months In — and Already Making Their Mark
Opening a business takes determination, perseverance, and time to build a loyal customer base. Yet in just four months, Bambino’s Pizza has already reached some exciting milestones.
One highlight was the restaurant’s ribbon-cutting ceremony with the City of Morrisville, marking an important moment in its journey.
Even more meaningful has been the community’s response. Local residents have embraced Bambino’s, helping spread the word and introducing new customers to the restaurant.
The owners are quick to acknowledge that community support has helped their business grow faster than they could have hoped.
Every visit, order, and recommendation has made a difference.
Receiving the Wake News and Events 2026 Readers’ Choice Award for Best Pizza gives the team another reason to celebrate and recognizes the enthusiasm that has helped them establish their place in the community.
For a business only four months into its journey, it is an exciting achievement and motivation to keep earning customers’ trust.
Grateful for Their Blessings and Looking Ahead
Alec and Rich do not take their success for granted. They are grateful for their progress, the community that has supported them, and the opportunities they have received.
Alec acknowledged a strong faith and expressed how blessed he feels for God’s continued success and how quickly their dream has grown.
Their story reflects the values behind Bambino’s Pizza: friendship, family, faith, hard work, and appreciation for the people who make a local business possible.
As Alec and Rich look to the future, their focus remains on maintaining quality, improving their products, and giving customers a reason to return.
Address: 4129 Davis Drive, Morrisville, NC Located in the McCrimmon Corners Shopping Center
Phone orders: 919-378-9100
Congratulations to owners Alec Dauphinee and Richard Sanchez and the entire Bambino’s Pizza team on receiving the Wake News and Events 2026 Readers’ Choice Award for Best Pizza!
An 11-year friendship has become a business with a bright future. The dough is flying, the community is showing up, and Bambino’s has every reason to be proud.
Sometimes, the best things in life really do come together one slice at a time.
