Krust

Krust has quickly become one of my favorite cocktail spots in CT. The bartenders truly know their stuff and love to experiment if you ask. I’ve never been disappointed.
The pizza is good, and I’m a New Haven pizza purist so that says a lot.
Krust has a casual vibe without having the grimey feel of some other local bars, which is nice. You can show up in jeans and a hoodie or a suit and tie and you’d fit in either way.

Man! I’m not sure what took me so long to try Krust but I am glad I finally did. First thing first… Krust has an extensive bar menu. They have everything from Beer to Bourbon. In addition to the standards they have some really well crafted cocktails. Each drink sounding better than the next. I mean it’s not every day you see Sazerac on a menu. So now let’s talk pizza. We went with the traditional Margarita for our first pie and opted for the popular Brussel Sprout pizza for our second. First let me start by saying the pizza was fantastic. This isn’t your typical New Haven style pizza made with hard bread flour (Not that that’s bad). Instead, I suspect they use a softer 00 flour often found in more traditional Neapolitan pizza. The result is a soft chewy crust with just the right amount of oven char. Everything from the dough, sauce, and toppings were on point. This is easily going to be a place I frequent. Fantastic drinks, nice atmosphere, and amazing pizza… sign me up

We must have passed it a thousand times, but it’s so inconspicious we never thought to go in until it was highly recommended by a friend. It’s easily the best pizza in Middletown. Nothing can beat the wood fired taste. The sunny side immediately got my attention, eggs on a pizza? I want to kiss the guy who created this concoction. Heavenly!

Totally enjoy Krust. Again they have remodeled since the last time we were here. The bar area is extended, open and inviting. However, some bar seats right in front of the brick oven, which is great if it is a cold night, but I needed to move away.
We had a 30 minute wait, but they were right on with that estimate. The pizza here is so good. I had a special, which was basically a white pie with tomatoes, basil and a cheese called Melville. I loved it and ate the entire pie. My husband had a classic pepperoni and also ate the whole pie. Krust is a great pizza destination in Middletown.
My only sort of complaint was that the bar service was a little slow while waiting for our table. Additionally, I ordered a beer at my table that I thought was the same that I had at the bar and when the bill came it was $ 10.00! I am not really a $ 10.00 beer sort of girl!

Growing up in town, I never realized Middletown had a hipster community. They’ve all been hiding at Krust! This place is hipster paradise. The last time I saw that many gathered in one place was when I was in the Williamsburg section of BK a few years ago.
But anyways. Came on a Saturday night. Super crowded and incredibly loud, as its a fairly small space. HOUR & A HALF WAIT?! We were about to leave but figured we’d try our chances at snagging a seat at the bar. We ordered a local beer on draft «Kittens & Canoes» and a Sierra Nevada Tropical. They’ve got a great selection of unique beers. We’re not bourbon drinkers so I can’t speak on that. Half way through our beers & they told us our table was ready. We waited maybe a half hour. #score
I ordered a Brussel, onion, garlic, arugula pie with sauce as well as a Meat. Pizza is solid. Would it have been worth an hour & a half wait? Probably not. If you’re set on trying this place & not wanting to wait, I’d try hitting it at an off peak time. Service is good. Prices are fair. Cool vibe.

This was my second visit to Krust. It definitely has a hipster vibe. Very casual and laid-​back. We decided to eat at the bar again. There was a 30 minute wait for the restaurant and we only had to stand for a short but before a couple of seats opened up at the large bar. We ordered two pizzas, the White Pie, and the Roni. Both were excellent. They were this crust and clearly made with very fresh ingredients.
Drinks and service were good, even with a big crowd. I’ll be back.

Delicious pizza, great drinks, and hip atmosphere. I’ve had their take-​out pizza before and thoroughly enjoyed it, so decided to go for their 3-​year anniversary dinner this month.
We started with the pickled eggs (which were surprisingly tasty) and the burrata (enough to share as an appetizer for 2). My favorite was the specialty Red Melville! The sauce alone made the pizza. The Huevos Rancheros pizza was a close second though with tons of toppings. Also tried their shroom pizza with the gluten free crust. I have to say, they have one of the best gluten free pizzas I’ve tried. It’s a little sweet, but that tastes even better with their shroom pizza (mushrooms and truffle oil). They have tons of beers and whiskey to choose from, you really can’t go wrong. There’s also NoRA Cupcakes served for dessert if you can save some room.
I haven’t seen the interior before the renovations, but it looks great now. Very comfortable atmosphere that provides a great space for dinner conversation. Dim lights and exposed wooden panels will make you feel right at home.
I’m not sure if it’s only because of the anniversary party, but the place was packed. People at the bar were overflowing into the dining area around our dinner table. The service was also mediocre. Even though it was busy, I was very disappointed that our waiter seemed to get all of our drink orders wrong throughout the night. The bar was also «back-​up» and running out of different beers that night.
I would definitely come back, hopefully when it’s a bit less crowded. The pizza will have you coming back for more too!

One word — Smoked
The smoked pizza is my absolute favorite. It is so simple; a white pizza topped with roasted garlic and smoked mozz. It is a must-​try if you go to Krust! We love coming here and typically choose to sit at the bar if it isn’t crowded. My boyfriend and I always get two pies and bring home leftovers for later. Shroom is our second favorite and is also great every time!

Eat in, take-​out — Krust is great!
I am NEVER in the area, but when the opportunity arises I have no trouble making the hike to Krust. Haven’t had the small plates or desserts, I mean — you come here for the pizza and the drink. With that, my favorites are the «sunny side, shroom, smoked, meat, veg, or red pizzas». The perfect balance of crust/​toppings/​crispiness — I love them all!
Their whiskey scotch and bourbon selection is very impressive. With over 200 whiskeys available, I always end up trying something new! If you’re not quite ready for all that, the micro and local beers on hand are pretty damn good.
Pricing is reasonable and seating can be tricky. The place is divided into a bar and dining room and both spaces are a bit cozy. The service though has been hit or miss, it’s either really good or really meh.

I was drawn to Krust when I discovered they made a roasted Brussels pizza. Delicious! Have been back 2. Crusts not consistent, cramped, loud and noisy was hard to hear friends talking. Bourbon bar impressive.
I wrote that back in 2013 with 2 stars and decided to hold off until they were more established. I have been here now 9x and improvements have been made. Pizza is consistent quality top notch I’m very happy with this place they’re doing a great job

I really like the concept that Krust has goin’ on, with their pizza and bourbon. The interior is super cool, not anything I have seen before. The interior design is quite resourceful. You can tell a lot of time and effort when into piecing the interior together.
The staff is young and hip, I give them a lot of credit. The waits tend to be on the longer side, with no system to gauge how long of a wait before a table. The take your name and put it on a typical wait list. I like to go sit at the bar while waiting for my table (if you can find a seat). The bar area is small and gets crowded quickly. I loved the fact that I was able to watch the staff formulate all of their different dishes. Only downside, it only made me hungrier.
They have really interesting topping combinations that you would not expect sometimes, but they work and are incredibly delicious. They post their daily menu on social media, i.e. Facebook and Instagram.
If you a bourbon drinker or craft beer alike, they have both bases covered. They take their concept really seriously and it shows. Even though they are the new kids on the block, being wedged next to Nora Cupcakes and across the street from Eli’s, they can definitely hang.

This place is pretty great. Remind me a lot of the thin Brooklyn style pizza (kind of reminds me of Roberta’s). Also, if you like whiskey scotch and bourbon, they have one hell of a selection. Its most of the menu. They have other drinks as well, including some good micro brews.
They can have a pretty long wait sometimes but if you’re looking for a pizza and in the area it’s worth it. And for dessert you can get Nora cupcakes (which you can also buy from the bakery next door directly).
My only negative comment would be about the hostess the last time, who seemed generally disinterested in doing her job. Taking people’s names in a different order than they walk in (when you’re looking straight at them) is annoying, and the overall waitlist process and how long it would take was just generally confusing. Oh, and they also forgot one of our 3 pieces initially. but it eventually came out.

We started off with drinks. He got a glass of Onyx aged moonshine krust barrell, which he loved… I had the fareweel Lisa which was so delicious.
we started with the meatball sliders and honestly almost battled for the remaining slider and cut it in half. The pesto ricotta on the meatball sliders was so delicious.
We shared a shroom pizza which was so good. Their sauce is just unbelievable, no too sweet, just he right amount of salt. The cheese they use is perfect, not greasy, not low sodium, actual real mozzarella. The crust was nice and crispy the way I like it and not lacking at all.
Had a NORA cupcake for desert because he didn’t want to split the nutella pizza they offer but next time… :)
Service was great and friendly. It did take a little while to be acknowledged when we came in even though it wasn’t busy but sometimes your staff is busy and not watching the door. That means they’re working and I won’t hold that against a place.
will be back, drink and food were awesome.

So many of my friends have raved about Krust. Apparently it’s a must when in Middletown. I decided to give this place a try when I was in Middletown this week (mostly because of peer pressure). Overall, I was impressed.
The vibe is very cool. The restaurant it divided into two parts – the entry side is mostly occupied by the bar, and on the other side is a large dining area. The dining area was cool; I especially liked the décor and the architecture.
The food was good. I know why it’s called what it is because I thought their crust was superb. I had the burger pizza and it was very unique. I was hesitant but, man oh man, was it delicious. I am also obsessed with the meatball sliders. I got it on the recommendation of my friend and I was not disappointed.
Service was on par. Things came out in a timely manner. Our server was friendly – nothing to complain or rave about.
I will definitely be coming back to Krust whenever I’m in Middletown!

Krust is wonderful, the pizza and aps are unbelievable, cooked to perfection. I always order the sunny side pizza with eggs, and the basic red, annnd at least three of four other pizzas while I’m there laughing as I eat them all in pure amazement at the perfect crust, melty cheese, and a sauce that needs its own trademark. The drinks are like no other, I just went in there recently and they had spicy margaritas as a special that were indeed the best margs I’ve ever had, I wish I could somehow get on a newsletter every time these were featured. However, now I must admit that space there is limited and the bar needs to be extended! You’re cramped and only able to turn your head and require a crowbar to get to the bathroom or leave. I’ve recently updated to five stars from four because the food is soooo good… Can’t deny them what they earn.
When it is busy, it is very difficult to get a drink but Neil is the man and he works his butt off to get people what they need!
***UPDATE UPDATE UPDATE***
They knocked down the Krust wall of restriction and now the main bar area is an open world of wood fired pizza and fun! Nice job Krust!

The whisky selection is slowly expanding and incorporating more Scotch, which is cool because, let’s face it, Bourbon doesn’t vary much brand to brand. Single malt has a lot more variety to it.
The prices have become much more bearable, too.
So how’s the pizza? Well, it’s still not amazing but the pies have grown to a normal size, slightly justifying the price. The toppings actually came to the edge, too. The menu has also expanded to include more than pizza, which is cool.

I struggle with Krust, because of the inconsistency. Every time I go, I have a completely different experience, which is not a good thing.
We decided to go on a Tuesday night for a late dinner around 8 pm, but Krust was lively as they were having a Back East Brewing tap takeover as well as some sort of Glenfiddich tasting event. We were able to get a table in the new room, and I am definitely glad to see they’ve expanded. I did find it curious that the new room is mostly comprised of tables for large groups, I would have thought they’d have put in smaller tables that could be moved together when needed, but could also accommodate smaller parties.
I was very happy to see Not Your Father’s Root Beer on the specials menu, as I had heard good things about it, and it was great! My husband had a couple of specialty cocktails that were okay, but not great. Our pizzas, as usual, were the epitome of inconsistency. The burger pie we had on our last visit (as a special) is now permanently on the menu. When it arrived, it was clearly undercooked. It was very doughy and white looking. A waitress (not ours) dropped it on our table and walked away without speaking a word… but even if we wanted it more well done, I’m not sure how they would do it, since it has a cold aioli on top. The meat was bland and honestly the only thing that had any flavor was the aioli. Very different from the last time we ordered this, and just not good.
We also tried a meatball and bacon pizza from the specials menu. First off, this pizza was delivered to a different table two tables down. It sat there for a few minutes and then they decided to redeliver it to us. I shot down that idea — you do not re-​serve something that has been at another table for several minutes. I objected so he said he’d have them make us a new one, but then walked away with the pizza and came back 2 minutes later, claiming they had a new one already made but it was suspect. This pizza was more well cooked than the first, but was similarly bland. It tasted like unseasoned ground beef on a red pizza. I did not taste any seasoning that would have qualified it for meatball, and I did not taste or see any bacon on the pizza.
Krust has a cool vibe, and it’s a cool place to get a drink and hang out… but as far as the pizza goes, I just can’t keep paying $ 16+ for these pizzas that half the time are just not good. We’ve tried it 4 or 5 times and all I’ve learned is that I can’t rely on anything. A pizza I love one time, I hate the next time. They have such a limited menu, they should be able to perfect it and repeat it without so many issues.

Popped in for drinks the other night — another wonderful experience! If you follow Krust on Instagram, you can see all of the new whiskies they are brining in on almost a daily basis. Last week I noticed they posted about a Japanese whisky that I wanted to try (Hibiki 17 year old) and I’m glad I stopped in to try it!
In addition to the whisky, I had a bourbon whiskey smash with some fresh oranges and strawberries. It was super refreshing and tasty. My friend order the Spice of Life cocktail, featuring Onyx Moonshine, fresh bitters, and fresh fruit, and loved it.
No food this time around, but I always have a hard time saying no to their burrata plate! Yum.

I kind of love this place. Initially, I didn’t think it was all that great, but subsequent visits have made a fan out of me.
I LOVE the Smoked Pie. LOVE. I actually didn’t think I much cared for smoked things, but that mozzarella is so nice, combined with roasted garlic and ricotta. YUM. The Arugala salad is simple and delightful. And the beer… Oh the beer. So many local and craft options.
I also appreciate what the expansion has done for the atmosphere. We were recently seated in the expanded dining area and it’s super cool. It kind of feels like a barn interior, with pressed wooden benches that even resemble haystacks. Whoever designed the lighting is really clever and creative.
It’s not cheap; a pie, salad, and a few beers cost over $ 40 and there were no leftovers. But when I’m in the mood for an interesting and yummy specialty pie, and did I mention good beer, Krust is a good place to indulge.
Pro tip: Hit up NoRA Cupcake next door for dessert!

I have had a few people tell me I just had to try Krust! As we were in Middletown tonight we decided to give it a shot.
My husband and I went in, and were greeted by a lovely waitress that was very accommodating and gave us terrific service. I ordered an arugula salad which was absolutely PERFECT. We also ordered a Meat and a ‘Shroom pizza, which according to reviews were supposed to be phenomenal. Well, they were both okay, but for a pizza purist (I just can’t resist a perfect NY Slice, preferably from somewhere in the Bronx), this pizza left me… wanting for more, and just wishing it was much, much simpler.
If you are a hipster, like weird kitschy toppings, LOVE bourbon or enjoy being in a place filled with industrial-​style chip board décor, then this is the place for you, BUT as for me, I will enjoy my PERFECT salad at Krust while dreaming of a NY slice from a slightly seedy place someone near Lafayette Avenue.
DO NOT let my review scare you off. This place was great, just not for me… but I would definitely go back for that perfect salad and the smiling, accommodating service.