Crust Restaurant Group, the force behind Crust Simply Italian and Crust Pizzeria, is gearing up for substantial growth in 2024 with the addition of two new locations in Mesa and Scottsdale. The strategic move will elevate the group’s portfolio to a total of 11 locations.
In Mesa, the highly anticipated Crust Simply Italian at The Grind is set to become the largest of the restaurant’s four locations (currently, there are locales in Scottsdale, Chandler and Gilbert), with an expansive 8,000 square feet and an additional 2,000-sq.-ft. patio. The new venue will feature a private dining room, a central bar and an identical menu to its counterparts, offering a selection of handmade pastas, pizzas, sandwiches and classic East Coast Italian entrees such as chicken parmesan and lasagna. The establishment will also introduce a unique experience with The Nightingale, an attached speakeasy cocktail lounge, providing guests with an enchanting ambiance to savor craft cocktails.
Meanwhile, in Scottsdale, The Goose, a craft cocktail bar located next to Crust Simply Italian, is expected to open its doors early in 2024. This intimate cocktail lounge will have a carefully curated menu featuring specialty whiskey flights and hand-crafted cocktails.
“Since opening the first Crust restaurant in 2007, we’ve learned so much over the years, and as we’ve grown, I’ve had a goal to open 10 locations,” says Michael Merendino, founder and owner of Crust Restaurant Group, in a recent press release. “Things have changed and moved quickly over the last few months, and we’re excited for what this first quarter will bring.”
Notably, Crust Restaurant Group expanded its offerings in the fall of 2023 with the introduction of Crust Pizzeria. Taking over a pair of former Artichoke Pizza locations in Tempe and North Phoenix, these modern neighborhood pizzerias have quickly become local favorites, serving up a menu focused on pizzas, wings, sandwiches and refreshing drinks.
For more information, visit crustrestaurants.com.
Crust Simply Italian
233 E. Main St.
Mesa, AZ 85201
The Goose
8300 N. Hayden Rd.
Scottsdale, AZ 85258