“Come hungry, leave happy. We promise we’re worth the hype.”
Such is a promise from CRUST Kitchen & Bar, a break-out eatery in Rome’s arts district on West Dominick Street since opening in 2021 that is grand opening their new Utica location on May 11.
Building on a foundation of fans in the Copper City, CRUST is expanding to Utica’s re-emerging historic Bagg’s Square neighborhood, repopulating the empty Bagg’s Square Brewery space across from the Utica Train Station at 330 Main Street.
Owner Chris DeStito promises CRUST fans can expect a similar experience in Utica, same menu, same bar, same hours, but…
“Everything is just bigger and better in Utica,” DeStito declared, boasting a longer bar, enhanced dining space, just a bigger footprint.
“My wife joked that it’s kind of like ‘CRUST grown up,” DeStito shared.
Bringing CRUST to Utica
Owners DeStito and partner Frank Belmont, both born and bred Romans, bring a background of Rome restaurant royalty to Utica, with DeStito’s family owning Beeches Manor, where he learned the ropes before moving on to manage the once iconic Savoy. Belmont, also a career hospitality pro, worked for Destito family dining spots before following Chris to the Savoy.
Colleague conversations about dreams of hanging their own shingle came to life on West Dominick Street when they partnered to open the CRUST flagship locale in 2021 to a fantastic reception from the community.
As for the expansion into Utica, DeStito said the partners started with the decision to expand into downtown Utica. And their wish list was almost wide open.
“My partner wanted a place with a clean basement,” DeStito offered with a grin. “It was a dealbreaker for him.”
Other than its clean basement, 330 Main Street, situated in the heart of the reemerging Bagg’s Square District, reflected the industrial decor at the Rome restaurant.
In Rome, though, theirs was a new build intentionally designed to manifest the brick-and-mortar decor. In Utica, the venue populates an authentic, industrial-era building, adding to the authenticity.
Concluded DeStito on CRUST’s new home in Utica, “It just felt right.”
‘We’re a sandwich place’
In summing up how best to describe CRUST to first-timers, DeStito downplayed the punch-up.
“We’re a sandwich place,” DeStito said,” with a bar.”
When anticipating crowds around Utica Comets games, hungry train travelers, and Nexus Center youth sports families, DeStito quipped…
“You can’t really go wrong with sandwiches.”
A look at the CRUST menu
The eclectic deli fare features kooky names for sandwiches, salads, and drinks, sandwich bios, and words of wisdom to guide the team, mottos, mission statements, credos, and a few curse words to liven it all up.
The CRUST menu features handhelds such as “Go Home, You’re Drunk” – House slaw, smoked bacon & house Jim Beam Black bourbon BBQ glaze, on a toasted ciabatta (choice of protein: fried chicken cutlet or pulled pork) – “Screw the Chase” – a BLT with avocado and caramelized onion on sourdough toast – “4 am in Buffalo” – House roast beef, fried chicken, buffalo sauce, lettuce, tomato, mayo & provolone cheese on toasted ciabatta – and “One Night Stand” – Prosciutto di Parma, chicken tender, tomato, fresh mozzarella, pesto, Calabrian chili pepper and balsamic glaze on toasted baguette. Entree salads include “When Pigs Fly” and “Bad Bobby.”
Other bites include uniquely composed “bowls,” a CRUST board with pickled vegetables, Crust’s spicy tomato oil, pickle, white wine Dijon, mortadella (contains nuts), soppresata, provolone & crusty baguette, munchies to share such as “Rip & Dip” fresh bread and red sauce and “Hella Good” house chips and dip. Add traditional deli sides including soups, pasta salad, slaw, house chips, and pickle slices.
The venue features a full bar with a bend toward bourbon.
This article originally appeared on Observer-Dispatch: CRUST Kitchen & Bar opens new location in Utica
Reporting by Cara Dolan Berry, Utica Observer Dispatch / Observer-Dispatch
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
