I absolutely adore this place. I have only been twice but both times were so good. I love that they offer vegan cheese and a number of original pies like the one with Brussels sprouts! It is small and loud but fun. Owners and bartenders are friendly and kind. Great selection of beers, wines, and bourbon. Expect to wait and for it to be a bit loud, but the pizza is amazing. read more

What kan we say about Krust Pizza Bar? Some kall it life altering. Others, "so good!" We must say, at first The Middletown Dining Klub was skeptical that such a new establishment kould have nearly all five star reviews. But oh, dear reader, how surprised were we. Let's start with the less than stellar aspects. The service, while friendly, was slow. But I guess that is the price you have to pay when you're krafting art like this. The bar selection is incredible, and don't worry, if you're having any trouble deciding, Kevin will help you out. We recommend the Southern Yellow. On to the main event. The pizza may have been the best pizza we have ever had. The krust was absolutely melt in your mouth and there was something for everyone on the menu. We were planning to come again before we left. Seriously though, go to Krust. You will not be disappointed. Sincerely yours, The MDK read more

Wow! What an amazing team and pizza. I highly recommend sitting at the bar and watching the magic happen. read more

Krust Pizza & Bourbon Bar - Pizza Near Me - Middletown, Connecticut

Had a great experience hosting a holiday party for my team in the newly expanded private room at Krust tonight. Hats off to Neil, John and the crew that took great care of us and our group of 20 or so for some of the best rustic pizza in the state. With a big group you get to try quite a few pies at one time. It was all amazing but I say the stand outs for me were the shroom pie covered in arugula and the Sunnyside toped with an egg and pancheta. I am from NY and have been to Italy and I know pizza. This place deserves all the praise it gets. You would need to go to Tuscany to get a comparable pie with ingredients as fresh and a perfectly charred crust as is found here. Beer selection on tap was vast and the salads were on point. If you are anywhere near this spot be sure to stop by - it's so worth the trip. read more

Nothing makes my little heart happier than a place that somehow has it all - food, drink, service, ambiance - and Krust does just that! The only reason I am giving them 4 stars is for a poor service experience I recently had with one of the bartenders. Otherwise, every other experience has been phenomenal! Where to start? Atmosphere is rustic, simplistic and casual. Lighting is low but really pretty and welcoming, especially with the way they light up the bar with a soft glow. Their gourmet pizza is pretty fantastic - up there on my top 5 list for sure! On one visit, my friend and I were sitting close to the beautiful brick oven they use and one of the pizza chefs was kind enough to tell us a bit about it and their pizza making process. They also offer a good amount of salads and appetizers if pizza isn't what you're craving! ...and now I get to rave about their drink selection. Let's start with the fact that they have potentially the largest bourbon/whiskey/scotch selection I have ever seen. Dozens of my favs on the menu including Blanton's, Booker's, Eagle Rare, Hudson.. I could go on, but I digress.. I have never been disappointed with what they have on tap; always a great selection and they have at least 10 or more draft lines. First time I was there they managed to get Ithaca Flower Power (!!!) and you can bet your butt I had two pints! Yum yum! They also recently did a Dogfish tap takeover. Triple yum! And let's not overlook their cocktail menu - tons of delicious craft cocktail options, but they do a great job with the classics - I particularly loved their old fashioned. I will be back, that's for sure - over and over and over again! I wish they would open a location in the Hartford area sometime in the future if they continue to grow, but for now, I am happy to make the trip to Middletown - it is absolutely worth it! read more

Not what it used to be! Not worth it anymore. Great bourbon selection but the food quality and customer service just gets poorer and poorer. The menu hasn't changed but what you get when you order certainly has. No consistency anymore. It's also disheartening to order simple specific plates and have them come out mixed up. Perhaps the servers should go back to writing down their orders. It wasn't even a busy time (4:30-5:30 on a Tuesday)! I can think of many better places to pay these prices for food. Servers and bartenders need to be retrained in "how to be social" and truly serve their customers. I'm bummed. read more

Maybe I made the mistake of setting my expectations a little too high for Krust after hearing so many rave reviews. Maybe it was an off night. Maybe they just really weren't that good.....I really, really can't decide on this one. We came around 5:30 on a Saturday night. I was hoping that coming on the earlier side would help avoid the crowd...it didn't. That's ok, we waited about 20 minutes for a table (I heard other larger parties were being told an hour and half so 20 didn't seem that bad). We sat right next to the door and the problem with that is the giant crowd of people who are waiting for a table that are forced to hover over your table while you eat because of lack of space. The waitstaff also constantly passes through the front foyer, trying to navigate through the crowd. It just seems like a poor set up, especially for those who are seated there. The pizza here is truly more of an artisan pie. If you're looking for a NY style pizza, this is not your place. They do personal/sharable brick oven pies with fresh ingredients. We ordered three pizzas, which was a ton for the two of us, but we had planned to take some home and wanted to try as many as we reasonably could. We got the Smoked, the Meatball, and the Sausage and Hipster Lettuce (kale). The smoked and the meatball were the clear favorites. The sausage and kale wasn't bad, but I would have one recommendation. They throw fresh kale on the top of the pizza and put it in the oven. This cause the kale to char and basically disintegrate. It's just burned kale on top. Not much flavor. It would be way better if they sautéed the kale a little beforehand (maybe with the sautéed onions that are also on there) and then put it on. Then it wouldn't burn and you'd actually be able to enjoy the taste a bit more. I thought the prices were reasonable, for being so busy the waitstaff was great and the beer list is better than most. I don't know if I'll make the 25 minute trek to Middletown again for it though. Just seems like too much of a process for an ok meal. I'm sad typing that and I know others really love it....it just didn't blow me away. read more

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Good "fancy" pizza although the crust isn't always consistent. I would say it depends on who's running the oven that night, but we once had three pies on the same night come out with varying crusts. One was over-charred, one was almost perfect and the other on the doughy side, but still good. Be warned that the menu is strictly pizza and salad so if you're looking to munch on an appetizer while you wait it's not happening. I've been here a handful of times and every time the wait staff has been a bit over-the-top. I usually don't complain about attentive service, but even for me it can be a little overbearing. The staff are very nice, but the waitresses come back to check up just too many times to the point where you start to notice your conversation being interrupted so much you've restarted your story about five times. They have a decent craft beer selection and a pretty hipster cocktail menu. The drinks are a little pricey and look good on paper, but just don't deliver the wow factor in taste or punch for the money. One other peeve of mine is that the menu is printed in such tiny text. I get the whole fashionable font and minimalist vibe they're going for, but between that and the dim lighting it's almost impossible to read the menu without holding it to your face. In general a pleasant dining experience and I will go back, but with a few tweaks this place has the potential to be amazing. read more

I'm kind of not sure where to stand on this one. My initial reaction to the place wasn't great... the place has terrible signage, is super loud, has a strange layout and no hostess. On a Saturday night the bar's way too densely packed (spillover from the Eli's sardine can?). Once you get past the interior it's pretty decent. Service is good - quick and attentive. And sure the menu only has a few choices but at least they're focused. Their pizzas are wood-fired, which I like. The smoked mozz pizza is pretty damn good - it's loaded with some stellar cheeses and whole cloves of garlic. As far as the drinks go - great selection, but when your average craft beer price is $10 and the pizza only costs $12 that's a bit of a stretch for me. I'd expect it in Manhattan but not Middletown. read more

After you walk through the plywood threshold and mutter to yourself "nice paint job"... You'll be swept away to a land of gourmet wood-fired pizza and bourbon. Bourbon selection and cocktails are excellent. I'm a pizza snob like most of us this state, and I truly enjoy this thin, crisp "Krust". Excellent array of toppings. Now with rotating taps of craft beer, and expanded dining room, Krust is a fantastic night out! read more

Fun place to get hammered and the pizza is amazing. Will be returning soon. Waiters and waitresses are super friendly.

This is a hot point of contention with CT peeps but I'll put up Krust's pizza with Pepe's any day. Delicious thin bubbly crust with fresh meat toppings. Oh and the bourbon selection... Still learning about bourbon but this is a great place to start. They have around 100 to choose from! My only gripe is the bar gets super crowded during the week due to proximity to Wesleyan. read more

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! read more

Great pizza and bartenders. My wife is a vegan and they provide an excellent cheese alternative (daiya, probably. I didn't ask) and I get the Gluten free which is cooked perfect I'd say 95% of the time. Occasionally it's under-cooked and falls apart like wet sand. Great whiskey selection and my wife's favorite IPAs and my favorite Cider, Downeast. Admittedly we've only eaten-in a handful of times and mostly pick up. But pound for pound the best pizza in an area with really bad pizza. read more

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. read more

Twice I've been here lately, and twice our pizza has been soggy. I'm really rooting for these guys, and the flavor a are great- but they need to strain the liquid out of their sauce and cheese more I think. Wood fired ovens should not produce soggy Krust. read more

Great romantic early Birthday treat with my Love and the kids. Great pizza, we tried four different kinds all Great flavors. Large beer selection and the staff was attentive with a Cool vibe. Nutella pizza was really good and ask for the fresh in house yogurt sauce on the side!! read more

Great atmosphere. Near the bar was loud, but in the dining area it wasn't as bad. We had the Brussels and the veg, both with the vegan cheese option. They were both delicious!! I also loved the text system for waiting for your table. It allowed us to venture out while we waited. read more

What can I say about Krust in Middletown? It's like an upscale culinary/libation oasis in an otherwise desert of mediocrity. A hip, Lower East Side bar vibe without the pretentiousness. The friendly staff makes a welcoming impression, while the cozy interior emanates a great neighborhood bar feel. Over a dozen pizzas - all refined - exploit every ingredient to their fullest potential. I dare you to order just one. (You'll be sorry.) The bourbon selection is second to none and their take on classic cocktails makes them contemporary and relevant all over again, while their house drink creations are adventurous and eye-opening. I highly recommend the Southern Yellow! Run - don't walk to Krust before the public discovers it! read more

Let me just start off by saying that the pizza and drinks are absolutely fantastic. That wasn't the issue here at all. I also specifically joined Yelp just to write about this experience. The issue here was the service. I came with a party of 8 and the server let us know that it would be a long wait (an hour to an hour 45). We'd heard great things about this place, so we decided to stay. We also understood that it would be awhile for such a large party to get a table. The bar was absolutely packed, so we had to sit on a little bench in their waiting area. We were packed in like sardines at the bar! We ended up waiting nearly 2 and a half hours for a table, with little acknowledgement from management. We would try to catch the hostess's eye and she would literally just look away. The table before us waited 45 minutes before receiving their check and cashing out, after they were clearly done eating! While I was waiting at the bar, i saw the two bartenders take shots of bourbon before serving customers! It took forever to get drinks, both at the bar and at the table. We seriously would have ordered tons more drinks with faster service! read more

Pizza was delicious and the crust was amazing! The drinks were very tasty. They have do many bourbons. I recommend this place to anyone! read more

Krust Pizza & Bourbon Bar - The bar - Pizza Near Me - Middletown, Connecticut

Before I ended up in Lyme, I was lucky to live in some uber-hip neighborhoods: Harvard Square, Northampton, MA and Boston's South End. And while I love it here, we lean fuddy duddy, not fashionable. If you, like me, yearn for a dose of youth, head straight to Krust in Middletown. Here, it's all about bourbon, beards, and my favorite food, PIZZA. Cozy up to the bar lined with hundreds of small batch bourbons and order a wood-fired pie or two. I'm a purist (Red pie with San Marzano tomatoes, fresh mozzarella, basil and sea salt), my daughter lives for Meat (delicate chunks of pepperoni, pancetta and salami) and we were hard-pressed to save any leftovers for my husband. Next time, I'm having Sunny Side which, in the French style, features an egg cracked on top. And for dessert? Cupcakes from NoRa, of course, right next door. krustpizzabar.com read more

Krust Pizza & Bourbon Bar - Pizza Near Me - Middletown, Connecticut

What I really wanted was ketchup on my burger they had no ketchup to give me (but never told me they don't do ketchup until my food came out) the beer was good! Pizza was great!!! But ketchup lovers beware, none here ! read more

Krust Pizza & Bourbon Bar - Pizza Near Me - Middletown, Connecticut

First of all - I've been in the Middletown area most of my life and I never looked twice at this restaurant! From the street you wouldn't even know what it was. There is only a very small sign on the door telling you it was Krust. The wood panneling on the outside with red trim is very intriguing, however. Went on a Friday night around 6pm and did not have to wait - however they sat us very close to the door and a VERY small little rickety wooden table with far too many nick nacks on it for the size. I would say it was about 3 x 2 feet. The service was okay, nothing to complain about but nothing to rave about. Outside of the decor, the food and drinks were very good. Very fast service. I had the pizza with brussel sprouts which was delicious and it was a combination I had never had! My boyfriend had the spicy Hawaiian pizza - and it was EXTREMELY spicy - but delicious! So just a caution to those who do not like it hot! Overall I give it an A for food, but around a C for decor, ambiance, and comfort. read more

Krust is a staple in the small Main Street bar crawl in Middletown. You will find fantastic brick oven pizza made with fresh ingredients and that rustic brick oven taste. That bar is very extensive and there are some delicious cocktails on the menu as well. This is a very busy restaurant. If you're looking for an intimate atmosphere, better to go a few blocks down to one of the Italian bistros. It is loud and tightly packed at Krust due to the great food and the novelty that is constantly drawing new people in. read more

Krust is very unique in its pizza dishes. My boyfriend and I tried their breakfast pizza it's all fresh and you can see it being made in front of you! Yes you have to be patient while the pizza is being made and being cooked right in front of your eyes In an authentic brick oven. Krust is also open late so it's a cozy place to go when every where else seems closed. Want to go back and try more soon. read more

Upscale take on New Haven style pizza. Not for everyone but my wife and I enjoyed it. Very busy when we got there on a Saturday night around 6:30. Unfortunately they don't take reservations, so we had to wait about 30-45 minutes for a table. The food was worth it though. Veggie and cheeseburger pizzas were both on point. They also feature an extensive list of craft beer and booze read more

As far as food goes, I love Krust. Their burrata is amazing. Their pizza selection satisfactory, including vegan and gluten free options. Sadly, every time I enter Krust I am blasted with cold air. It is wayyy to cold for a dining experience. I will definitely reconsider next time I am craving pizza. read more

Pizza was good very high end, but parts were either burnt or soggie. We had the shroom and red without basil. I wish I knew it wasn't kid friendly... No lemonade or juice, and the cheese was mozzarella balls not shredded, which was not good for our kid, not to say he didn't eat it, but would have rather had his "normal" pizza from the other end of Main Street. That's fine we could come with out him, just would have been better to know before hand. Parking... That has to be part of this review it SUCKS!! When we missed the spots in front of the restaurant we had to go on 9 south, then back up and around!! Horrible!! I would go back but maybe only for lunch on a weekday... read more

Bomb pizza. I like how it's slowly expanding. Service was a little slow, but Nutella pizza made up for it. Really, it's everything you could ask for. read more

I was so, so excited about Krust from what I read on here and on their facebook. Not sure if it was a one time event, but service and food was really lacking. Took a long time to be seated and for our order to be taken. Really loved the beer specials they had, many draughts were just $5. Ordered an argula salad, which although was good was a little overdressed. We did a custom pie which included egg, but the egg white itself wasn't cooked all the way so it was sent back to cook longer but when we got the egg cooked a little more we saw we also were missing the sausage we requested. Krust did refire a whole new pizza for us at no cost, so they handled this situation well. Pizza was ok, but didn't hold up well with toppings and I felt like it needed salt in the sauce etc. Not sure if this day was an isolated event with food or quality of service, but not sure how quickly we will return. read more

I finally made it to krust after it's been on my bookmarks list for months! Honestly, it was just okay to me. Maybe I'm spoiled but I need more variety... Not just in alcoholic beverages of which there are plenty to choose from. I'm talking food. If you're going to strictly have pizza, it better be either really really good(krusts' was merely good) or there better be some imaginative stuff and plenty to choose from. Sorry but I would rather go down the street to Thai gardens. read more

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 decor 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! read more

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. read more

Best pizza bar!!! This is a local favorite pizza restaurant that we frequent allot. Our favorite part is sitting at the bar watching the many different types of pizzas made in a very cool wood fire place. The fire place has a large open mouth, kind of oval like and the pizzas cook in just a few minutes because of the intense heat. The many flavors that are created are awesome, you can choose from making your own or one of the specialty flavors. The pizza sizes are good for two people and are the right size so that you can order a couple of different flavored pizzas and share. The appetizers are very good and i would recommend the daily Burrata plate, which is usually a different type of bread and cheese plate. They serve local beers and different flavors, with a style that always accommodates everyone; i prefer a darker heavier beer and there is always 2 options on tap. Krust is always known for their mixed drinks and whiskey; I would recommend asking the bartender to try something; it is definitely a treat. Try to go outside your pizza comfort zone and try something new and different; such as a pizza with egg on top or brussel sprouts; you'll be happy that you did. You do have the option of taking the pizza home though you will miss out on all of the people watching! Krust does offer the sweet deserts of Nora Cupcake if you don't make it to Nora Cupcake next door before they close. Krust recently renovated and removed the wall in the bar area and installed additional tables and they expanded on the other side and now offers allot more room for dinning. This is a must place to try and worth the travel!!! Order the Sunny Side Pizza!! read more

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When we came here around 5:00 on a weeknight, it was almost empty and we got great, fast service. So, based on some other reviews, it may be worthwhile to get here early. We had the smoked pizza, the sliders as an appetizer, and a bourbon flight. Although I don't usually drink bourbon, I could tell it was good quality (the bartender gave us his recommendations based on what we normally drink). Doing a tasting was definitely the way to go for us...always fun trying something new. The pizza was delicious---I loved the smoked mozzarella and didn't find the roasted garlic to be too overpowering. The "krust" was cool, certainly different than most pizza crusts in that it was charred but somehow still soft. It actually wasn't my favorite crust ever but it was interesting. Finally, the sliders were very good as well. The burgers themselves were a little overdone for my taste but the aioli and pickled red onions on it were so good. For the two of us, one pizza and the sliders were enough to fill us up, although for the price I expected more sliders. The pizza is on the pricier side ($14) but seems fair given the high quality of the ingredients (I love how they locally source). The "wood" feel of the restaurant was also unique and fit in well with the woodfired pizza theme. Worth checking out! read more

I went here based on a review that I read from our amazing Community Manager, Emily C. Reading her review I went in with very high expectations. Krust is a indeed a place I would return to. I ordered pizza and a few drinks for my friends and I. The staff were very friendly and more importantly, the pizza was very good. When it was delivered to our table the pizza was crisp, and I could tell that the toppings were fresh and not frozen. Let me just be fair and say that the pizza is not Pepe's or Bar in New Haven good, but it is by far the best pizza in Middlesex County. My friends and I were also impressed with their selection of beers and other selections of alcoholic beverages. I would certainly come back here whenever I am in the area. read more

Will start this review with the note that I am a self-confessed pizza lover, and a bit of a pizza snob. My favorite style is New Haven thin and charred. We went to Krust as we are working our way through the "50 top pizza places in greater Hartford" published a while back in the Courant (we had already hit 20 of them when the list came out). The space itself is either overly-trendy, or just cheap - we were in the side room, and most of the decor was particle board. It's also very, very loud. The service was really spotty, I felt fairly invisible, perhaps because we weren't drinking alcohol, as most of the tables near us seemed to get fairly good service, and we were always having to flag someone down. Started with the arugula salad, with strawberries, walnuts, and red onion - really lovely, and fresh, not overdressed. We ordered two pies off the specials menu - pizzas are only available in one size. The "classic pepperoni" was very, very good - a nice spice to the pepperoni, not overly saucy. The "krust" was slighly flimsy, nice and thin in the center, but serious thick crust handles. I found myself wanting some olive oil or something to finish off the crust with, as the toppings ran out long before the crust did. We also ordered the "ragu" pizza special, basically a bolognese sauce - very nice, but we decided it would better on pasta than on the pizza. The pizza was nicely charred on the bottom, but some of the top areas bubbled into ash, and left a bad burnt taste (there is a difference between nicely charred pizza and burnt). I'd go back and try other pies, the homemade sausage would definitely be on my next trip list. The price point felt slightly high but it's obvious these were quality ingredients. Not sure I would make this a destination place - the food was good but the service and space left a lot to be desired. read more

Krust Pizza & Bourbon Bar - "Classic Pepperoni" daily special - Pizza Near Me - Middletown, Connecticut

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Never met a pizza I didn't love here. Can't wait for this place to get the recognition it deserves. Try the white pizza and, if you have a sweet tooth, the nutella pizza...you won't be disappointed. read more

It was my first time here and I was very disappointed. I had high expectations but this was one of the worst pizzas I've had in Connecticut. Very mediocre pizza and very small portion sizes. For what you pay, it is not worth it. Waitress was very nice and quick service. read more