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DINING OUT
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The Unique Pizza Experience
G
rowing quietly for the
last four and a half years
on the border of Upper
St. Clair and Mt. Lebanon, Crust
has become a hidden favorite for
locals looking for something more
from their pizza shops.
Started by owner Jim
Hochendoner, who has spent his
life in the restaurant business,
Crust not only offers a quaint,
BYOB dine-in experience, but has
one of the freshest take-out pizzas
around — so fresh you can even
cook it yourself.
“We’re the only pizzeria in the
area that does real take-and-bake, that is, a raw product that
you bake at home,” Hochendoner said. “People try it and find
that there’s nothing better than having a piping-hot, fresh pizza
straight from the oven. That keeps them coming back and they
spread the word about how delicious our pizza is.”
For those who simply want to open the box and eat their
pizza when they get home, Crust does that as well, not to
mention 15 different sandwiches, salads, wings and more.
Everything you see on the menu at Crust is tweaked to be a
notch above the competition with class and panache.
“We do everything a little bit differently,” Hochendoner
explained. “We have mini Italian loaves made specially for us by
Cibrone & Son’s Bakery for our sandwiches. Everything is made
in house from scratch, especially our dough. We put a lot of work
into our dough, which is aged until it’s ready to bake.
And while you’ll see items like
sandwiches, calzones and wedgies
on the menu, Hochendoner said
that’s where the similarities end
between Crust and other pizza
shops: “I purposely keep the menu
pretty simple. My philosophy is do
less great than a lot average, and
that’s what we do here.”
When you put all of the
ingredients together: the
homemade sauce, house-roasted
meats and vegetables, and top-
of-the line cheeses, the end result
is a dining experience that’s hard
to beat.
And if you’re not the kind of person who wants to commit
to a whole pizza, Crust lets customers dip their toes into the
experience with a slice special. Paired with a soup or salad and a
drink for $5.99 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Those who have wheat allergies or are vegetarians will love
the fact that Crust offers veggie sandwiches and pizzas, and has
gluten-free pizzas to eat in or take out. There is also a soup of the
day and chili.
For more information on Crust, or to see the full menu, go to
crustcafeandpizzeria.com. It’s located at 509 Painters Run Road,
Upper St. Clair (15228), and has plenty of free, onsite parking if
you decide to dine in. Call 412.564.5748 to order today. Crust is
open Tuesday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., Friday
and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., and Sunday from 12 to
8 p.m.
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