NEW PIZZAS, SHARING PLATES AND A WHOLE LOT OF DOUGHY GOODNESS

By Tanya Howard | Founder, The Live Review London · @glamglitzlondon | Press Invite

When an invitation lands in your inbox promising pizza, cocktails and a first look at a brand-new menu, there’s only one acceptable answer… YES! Crust Bros gave us the chance to try a selection of their new dishes, sample a few drinks, and meet founder Joe Moore. One thing that immediately stood out was just how passionate Joe is about the brand. You can tell Crust Bros isn’t just another pizza restaurant to him. Every dish has clearly been thought through, tweaked and refined, and that enthusiasm carries through into the food itself.

COME FOR THE PIZZA… GET DISTRACTED BY THE SHARING PLATES

We began with trying a selection of sharing plates. The Permagena Crackers & Garlic Whipped Feta were an immediate winner. The crackers were wonderfully crisp while still feeling light, and the whipped feta added a creamy, tangy contrast that worked beautifully. It’s exactly the sort of thing I’d happily order while pretending I’m “just having a few nibbles” before inevitably ordering far more food.

Their Cold Cuts & Cheese selection featured Wild Boar Salami, Salami Contadino, Spianata Picante, Gorgonzola and House Pickles. As someone who loves picky bits and will almost always be tempted by a charcuterie board, this was right up my street. A great mix of flavours, plenty of variety and the kind of sharing plate that mysteriously disappears very quickly.

We also tried the Crispy Crushed Potatoes with Whipped Garlic Feta & Crispy Leeks. Comforting, moreish and packed with flavour, they made a brilliant side dish and were repeatedly picked at throughout the evening. By no means was this the full sharing plates offering, just a few we sampled. I would have happily kept making my way through them, but I had to leave enough room for the pizzas to come.

THE PIZZA THAT HAD ME INSTANTLY PLOTTING A RETURN VISIT

Now, I know you’re all wondering, which pizza stole the show for me, and it was… Carbo. Inspired by carbonara and reimagined as a pizza, it combines Béchamel, Mozzarella, Parmesan, Confit Egg Yolk and Guanciale. First of all, it looks absolutely stunning when it arrives. That perfectly golden egg yolk sitting proudly in the middle makes it instantly Instagram-worthy before you’ve even taken a bite.

More importantly, though, it tastes incredible. The rich, creamy base works beautifully with the salty guanciale, while the egg yolk adds an extra layer of indulgence once broken across the pizza. Any yolk left on the plate also creates the perfect excuse to mop everything up with the crusts afterwards. I’ve been telling anyone who’ll listen about this pizza and would order it again in a heartbeat. It’s also available as a vegetarian option with Trifolati Mushrooms, which is a nice touch.

MORE PIZZA, MORE OPINIONS, ONE PINEAPPLE DEBATE

We also tried PEP, featuring Tomato, Mozzarella, Pepperoni, Spianata Piccante, Oregano and Hot Honey. I’ve become slightly obsessed with hot honey recently, so this was always likely to be a winner. The sweetness works brilliantly against the spice and salty cured meats. If you’re a pepperoni pizza fan looking for something a little elevated, this one delivers. And do give honey on more dishes a go at home too.

The Reigning Champ was another pizza getting a lot of attention around the room. Topped with Harissa Tomato, Mozzarella, Spiced Lamb, Whipped Feta, Pistachios, Pomegranate Seeds and Zhoug, it’s certainly one of the more adventurous options on the menu. While I didn’t personally try it, my friend Trisha absolutely loved it and made a point of telling Joe how much she enjoyed it.

Then there’s Da Kine, featuring Burnt Pineapple and Chilli Relish alongside Speck. Now, I appreciate this may divide opinion. Pineapple on pizza is one of those debates people seem willing to end friendships over. Unfortunately, despite giving it a chance, I remain firmly in the “pineapple does not belong on pizza” camp. However, Trisha thoroughly enjoyed it, proving once again that pizza preferences are deeply personal.

A COCKTAIL COMBO THAT HAS NO RIGHT BEING THAT GOOD

While I largely stuck to Prosecco throughout the evening, I did make an exception for one cocktail. The Piña Colada Margarita combines Tequila, Cointreau, Coconut Cream, Pineapple Syrup, Lime and Salt. On paper, it sounds slightly chaotic. In reality, it works surprisingly well. I’m not usually a huge margarita drinker, and I’d rarely choose a Piña Colada either. Somehow, combining the two creates something that feels far more delicious than it has any right to be.

The drinks were flowing all evening, and the atmosphere throughout the venue felt relaxed, and everyone was clearly enjoying themselves. Everywhere you looked, people were diving back in for another slice, trying different dishes and comparing favourites. With options available for meat lovers, vegetarians, and vegans, there was something for everyone. Safe to say nobody was leaving hungry.

ONE FINAL SLICE OF THOUGHTS

Crust Bros already has a strong reputation for pizza, but this menu feels like a really confident step forward. There are enough new additions to keep things exciting, while still staying true to what people already love about the brand. For me, the Carbo alone is worth a visit, but the sharing plates and cocktails help turn it into a full dining experience rather than simply somewhere to grab a pizza.

Whether you’re already a Crust Bros fan or looking for a new pizza spot to add to your London list, I’d definitely recommend stopping by. After spending an evening working my way through the new menu, I can safely say I’ll be back. And yes, I’ll be ordering the Carbo again… and maybe a PEP too.

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