News Summary
Crust Pizzeria will reopen in Lexington at the Beaumont Center on March 25, 2025, following its closure in 2020 due to the pandemic. The restaurant, renowned for its artisan pizzas and expanding menu, will introduce a full-service dining experience at its new location, featuring significant renovations and an inviting outdoor patio. Guests can look forward to a diverse menu and special events, marking a heartfelt return of the beloved eatery to the Lexington community.
Lexington – Crust Pizzeria is set to reopen its doors on March 25, 2025, at the Beaumont Center, taking over the former locations of Whiskey Bear and Addie’s Stone-Fired Pizza. This new chapter marks a significant shift for the beloved eatery, which previously operated in the French Quarter Square shopping center from 2014 until its closure in 2020.
The original closure was part of the broader impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, which ultimately led the Bella Notte Restaurant Group, the parent company of Crust, to not renew its lease. Just before this closure, the restaurant had briefly rebranded itself as Bella Forno. The reopening comes as a heartfelt restoration of the Crust brand, a decision made after acknowledging the loss felt by both the restaurant group and the community during the pandemic.
The new location features significant renovations, including fresh paint and new flooring, all contributing to a light, West Coast ambiance. A standout feature of the restaurant is its large outdoor patio, which is beautifully adorned with greenery, creating an inviting atmosphere for diners. This outdoor area includes a sitting space complete with a fireplace and is partially covered with the capability of being enclosed with automated dividers, ensuring its usability throughout the seasons.
Dining Experience and Menu Offerings
Unlike its sister restaurant, Smashing Tomato, which operates on a quick-service basis, Crust will provide a full-service dining experience. This shift includes the addition of cloth napkins at tables, enhancing the overall dining experience as guests enjoy their meals in a comfortable setting.
The menu at Crust will be expansive, featuring a variety of appetizers, artisan pizzas cooked in an Italian stone oven, and fresh pasta made in collaboration with Lexington Pasta. Among the highlighted pizzas are specialty options such as the spicy Nemesis adorned with nduja pork and fior di latte cheese, the umami-rich Funkhi topped with three types of mushrooms and ricotta cheese, and the uniquely crafted Grape Ape pizza combined with crema sauce, roasted grapes, pancetta, and Gorgonzola.
Crust will also debut five pasta dishes, some incorporating gourmet ingredients like squid ink. Notable menu items include the spicy Scampi and d’Abruzzo. In addition to pizzas and pastas, the appetizer selection includes options like Burrata, Meatballs, and Garlic Knots, as well as an array of salads and sandwiches, including a spicy Salumi sandwich. For dessert, diners can look forward to doughnuts and coffee gelato, alongside traditional Italian pastries known as zeppoli.
Features and Specials
In a first for the Bella Notte Restaurant Group, Crust will serve draft beer, complemented by a full-service bar offering a diverse range of bourbons, wines, and cocktails. Reservations can be conveniently made online via OpenTable.
Located at 3195 Beaumont Centre Circle, Suite #100, the restaurant will operate from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. every Sunday through Thursday and from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. Specials offered will include half-price bottles of wine on Thursdays, with additional Happy Hour promotions expected to be introduced shortly.
Future Expansion Plans
The Bella Notte Restaurant Group is not resting on its laurels; future expansions are being explored, with plans to announce a new restaurant location in the near future. The reopening of Crust Pizzeria marks an exciting development for both the company and patrons eager for a return to quality dining experiences in Lexington.
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Additional Resources
- Kentucky.com: Crust Pizzeria Reopening
- Wikipedia: Restaurant
- Lex18: How the Pandemic Changed Lexington Restaurants
- Google Search: Lexington restaurants
- Kentucky.com: Local Restaurant Insights
- Google Scholar: Restaurant Management
- VisitLex: Top Local Pizza Spots
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Pizza
- Kentucky.com: Know Your Kentucky
- Google News: Restaurant News 2023
