The Crust Pizza - ParkTowne Village — Restaurant in Charlotte

We are from Boston and have in laws here in Charlotte. One of the principals of this chain is moving in next door..and I thought we should try it eventhough it's a bit of a distance, there are 100 pizza and sub places closer...and inlaws have an established favorite pizza place..and a different favorite sub place. We went on a whim to get out of the house. I originally thought Chic FIL A would be a good idea...never been.. and then my wife remembered that The Crust was in our travel path. We arrived at 1130 and we were the only patrons. There was one waitress and the very pleasant and accommodating manager in the seating area. There were employees making pizza in the very visible rear of the restaurant also. We were directed to "anyplace you want to sit." We chose a booth that was comfortable and SPARKLING clean...as was the rest of the establishment. I have had dust allergies from HVAC dust...and I have learned to check the ducts and ceilings. It was as clean as a dentist office..not a speck of dust ANYWHERE...thats a good start and I am not a germophobe..actually an RN. Very pleasant waitress came immediately and asked about drinks. We have a cookout tonight and we wanted to eat fairly light. We had plain water...and it was good. Shortly after we ordered a 10 inch cheese pizza, a GARDEN salad, one meatball, and the special creamy parmesan dressing. BIG salad in a bowl loaded with olives, tomatoes and very fresh lettuce. It was plenty for 2 people. We split the meatball in marinara. Meatballs are the best indicator of an Italian style restaurant. LOTS of very high end and famous restaurants have LOUSY meatballs and marinara. This was excellent. Full rich sauce that you eat with a fork. The meatball was not overly spicy...or bready....it was actually very good. I would be happy to return for a meatball sub. The "Midwestern " style pizza came next...it presented overflowing with thick cheese and fully red sauce. Crust is thin but the pie is thicker than an east coast bar room pizza...but not as thick as a Chicago style. A nice middle of the road style. The cheese was stringy and tasty..just what I like. The sauce was bright red and tasted homemade...not overly spicy or bland. It had a tanginess that I like. The edges did not have a separate crust...which is unusual...it was browned more around the outside so you got melted AND browned cheese. We both thought it was excellent. We would probably have eaten it all but we really wanted to bring about 1/3 home for others to try...its that good. My wife used the bathroom and she said it was spotless. Our bill was $22 and I left $35. Waitresses and food workers work hard...I have been there. There was a separate bar area with lots of taps. I bet its hopping later in the day and evening. I couldnt find a thing to change other than maybe some decoration which I don't care about anyway. I am really happy that we chose this spot. I hope that others like it as much as we did. There is a world of toppings and sandwiches that we didn't sample..yet. We will visit next time we return in a few months. I honestly couldn't imagine giving this establishment other than a perfect score.. as many others have. It is an absolute must try for pizza and sandwiches...you...

This is one of the best pizza shops in the Queen City! Spacious, clean, modern and casual, this restaurant specializes in delicious, thin, crispy, Midwest-style pizza created from house-made dough, oven-baked subs, and fresh salads.

Midwest-style pizza features a thin crust, edge-to-edge sauce, cheese, toppings and is sliced into squares or rectangles. While there are specialty pizzas on the menu, there is also a Build Your Own option for those who like to customize.

I had my first visit last weekend and fell in love. The staff was very hospitable and open to answering any questions that me and my party had.

Below are items we tried:

PEPPERONI PIZZA– Delicious perfection and if you want to turn up the heat and sweetness, request a side of hot honey – MUST TRY.

BACON PESTO PIZZA - Pesto, Provolone, Gorgonzola, Sliced Tomato, Red Onion, Bacon – Excellent combination of flavors and ingredients. Loads of bacon make this perfect for bacon lovers – MUST TRY.

CHOPPED WEDGE - Chopped Iceberg Lettuce, Grape Tomatoes, Bacon, Gorgonzola, Creamy Parmesan Dressing – Fresh, flavorful and tons of bacon make this a knockout – MUST TRY.

MIXED GREENS - Mixed Greens, Red Onion, Dried Cherries, Candied Pecans, Gorgonzola, Dijon Balsamic Vinaigrette – I did not get a chance to sample this salad, but my friends said the gorgonzola in it is amazing. I will try this salad on my next visit.

ITALIAN SUB - Ham, Salami, Pepperoni, Provolone, Sliced Tomato, Red Onion, Banana Pepper, Lettuce, Champagne Vinaigrette – The flavor combination makes this dynamic – MUST TRY.

CHRIS’S MEATBALL SUB - Family Recipe 100% Beef Meatballs, Marinara, Provolone, Parmesan – The perfect mix of meatballs, marinara, and provolone. The meatballs are a good size, too – HIGHLY...

Let me preface by saying that I cannot review the food. This review may be helpful for those who are vegan or have a dairy allergy.

I called weeks prior to inquire about the type of vegan cheese they used. Needless to say, I’d been eyeing this place.

I finally placed an order for a “vegan pizza”’ based on other reviews. I asked the representative what came on the pizza and what kind of crust, he replied. I later picked up my pizza, went to the car, and proceeded to taste it. I took a tiny bite and realized the cheese tasted different from plant-based cheese. I immediately called in to confirm that it was vegan; the cashier stated it was veggie not vegan. I specifically ordered a vegan pizza. I understand that usually means vegan cheese and crust, along with additional toppings. He implied that I called in a veggie pizza. That was inaccurate.

From my call and visit, I know that it gets busy there and when busy, checking out people and answering the phone can be a bit much for one person at times. I understand completely. Thus, he could have heard veggie even though I said vegan. However, it’s a very costly mistake.

In the future, it may be helpful to repeat each order back to the customer. If one is busy checking customers out and feels that they cannot receive the call-in order fully, it’s okay to place a customer on a brief hold. Multitasking can...