Crust Restaurant Group that operates Crust Simply Italian and Crust Pizzeria has announced plans to open a new Simply Italian restaurant with an attached speakeasy cocktail lounge and gelato and donut shop in Mesa this year. Plus, a new craft cocktail bar in Scottsdale, bringing its portfolio to eleven sites.
The Mesa location of Crust Simply Italian located at The Grid (233 E. Main St.) will be the largest of the four at 8,000 square-feet plus a 2,000 square-foot patio. The restaurant will feature a private dining room, central bar and serve the same menu as the others which includes scratch-made pastas, pizzas, sandwiches and classic, East Coast Italian entrees like Chicken Parmesan and lasagna. The Nightingale, an attached speakeasy, will serve craft cocktails in an enchanting lounge that will give diners the option for a unique experience.
The Goose, located next to the Crust Simply Italian in Scottsdale at 8300 N. Hayden Rd. is also expected to open in early 2024. It will be an intimate cocktail lounge with a menu that will include specialty whiskey flights, hand-crafted cocktails, and beautifully designed seating areas.
In the fall of 2023, Crust Restaurant Group opened a new concept, Crust Pizzeria which took over two former Artichoke pizza locations in Tempe and north Phoenix. These are modern, neighborhood pizzerias serving a menu of mainly pizzas, wings, sandwiches and drinks.
“Since opening the first Crust restaurant in 2007, we’ve learned so much over the years and as we’ve grow, I’ve had a goal to open 10 locations,” said Michael Merendino founder and owner of Crust Restaurant Group. “Things have changed and moved quickly over the last few months, and we’re excited for what this first quarter will bring.”
Beyond the Scottsdale and Mesa developments, Crust Restaurant Group is looking at expanding into the west Valley and launching new concepts outside of Italian food.
