Crust Bros Pizza Waterloo — Restaurant in London

If you are familiar with my predilication towards pizza, you knew there would be an obligatory London pizza taste test.

I looked into a variety of pizza parlors, but nothing brings on more of a sense of hygge or warmth like a Neapolitan pizza. Luckily, there was one fairly close to us off Bankside in the Waterloo area.

As we approached the restaurant we were blown away by the Waterloo area. This reminded me of trendy little inner city village. There are plenty of eating spots, the area felt safe, and Waterloo Station is here if you want to jet off to another part of London.

As we approached Crust Bros we noticed that it was a full house. We put our name down, and with a 15min wait we decided to explore the area a little more. Also, they will take your phone number, put it in the system, and they text you that you are on the waiting list, and they will also text you when your table is ready. It did take slightly longer than the initial estimate of 15min, but this is because they were shutting down the patio seating and relied solely on the interior to slowly clear out.

The exterior does has a lovely patio with good seating and great people watching. The interior definitely has a pizza parlor vibe with some contemporary aspects. For one, the pizza oven is shaped to look like a Lego chef head.

The menu is not overly complicated. There is a core listing of tried and true pizza options, build your own options, starters, and salads. The drink menu is also relatively small, but has great choices like local brews, house wines, and Italian beer.

Like most brick oven/wood fired pizza establishments, you won't have to wait long for your food. And each pizza comes out looking like the perfect little Neapolitan pizza.

Some tips:

Use the oil that they have placed on the table. This is a spicy infused olive oil. The flavor and heat is subtle, but it definitely adds to your eating experience. If you are looking to try the cocktails there is a "buy 2 for $12" option that will save you some money. These pizzas are not heaving like other pizza styles. If you are thinking of sharing but you are hungry, definitely consider getting your own pizza. You can always take it to you. Also, the Old Vic can is located here and can actually be seen from the patio of Crust Bros. If you get a chance, take in a show at this historic no-for-profit theater.

While I have now officially tried some of the best pizza London has to offer, I may have to try another pizza spot... just to see if this is a one off, or if London really does knows their...

A Slice of Italy at Crust Bros in Waterloo!

As an Italian national, I’ll admit I’m fussy when it comes to pizza. So believe me when I say: ‘Crust Bros completely exceeded my expectations.’

On Saturday, I indulged in a pizza topped with anchovies, Parmigiano, and olives —classic and bold flavours that require balance and quality to shine. And shine they did! The crust was light yet satisfying, perfectly blistered, and the ingredients were genuinely top quality and fresh, full of flavour, and clearly chosen with care - exceptional! And most importantly—they use a real wood-fired oven. Yes, wood! And you can taste the difference! It adds that unmistakable smoky flavour and beautifully charred texture that just can't be faked. It’s the real deal!

I usually struggle to finish a full pizza, but this time? Not a crumb left behind! And let’s not forget the tiramisu—delicately layered, rich but not heavy, and authentic. A perfect finale, accompanied by a good ‘espresso’.

Finally, I nearly forgot to mention another important ingredient that contributed to this memorable experience - the fantastic team. Warm, welcoming, friendly and clearly passionate about what they do. There’s a sense of pride and attention to detail that runs through the whole place. Great leadership.

If you’re after a pizza experience that respects Italian tradition while delivering it with flair and heart, Crust Bros is the real deal. Highly, highly recommend ‘Bravo...

Been excited to visit this place for a while, and finally got around to it last night. Sadly, it didn’t live up to review expectations. There’s lots to like. It’s quirky, small, cosy and you can watch the world go by outside. Service was swift and friendly. Good selection of pizzas. And as the name suggests, the crust was great. But, a very soggy bottom. We were four, and all were the same, as were our neighbours. Seems that’s their thing. Whilst filling was good, an uncooked soggy dough bottom isn’t that nice. And whilst the service was good at the start, the standard didn’t last. Firstly, our waitress took a break during service and sat next to us smoking a cigarette. We were outside, and so no issue with a smoker, but I can’t remember the last time I saw a server sitting outside smoking alongside customers. And secondly, when she had finished, and we got the bill, no questions on how our meal was at all. Just a there you go, beep the card and gone.

Possibly an off night, but based on this experience we won’t be going back. If you’re USP is pizza, it’s gotta be bang on. This is ok, but nothing to write home about. And the service - well it’s the small things that make a difference, and tonight it was pretty poor.

Worth a punt, hopefully you’ll have a better experience, but don’t get...