Here’s the vision of the upcoming Crust pizzeria, from owner Brett Gurowitz: “It’s basically a real, authentic New York pizzeria, with an Italian flair and Italian food. A New York type of presence, a New York scene, with big slices of New York-style pizza…it’ll have a nice, fun, New York atmosphere.”
Sounds very New York, except that it’ll be in Rockville.
As you might guess, Gurowitz is originally from New York, and his wife, Debbie Mizrahi, grew up in Bowie, but her parents and extended family are all from the Big Apple.
“I’m a Marylander, but I know good New York pizza, and that is what we’re missing here,” Mizrahi said.
So the two decided to get into the restaurant business, and will be opening Crust in about three weeks, at 12303 Twinbrook Parkway, in the former El Patio space.
The couple also own Bethesda Motors, a used car dealership right around the corner from the restaurant on Wilkins Avenue. Debbie Mizrahi has been a make-up artist for years—working at fashion shows and for Lancome cosmetics—but will now be working full time at Crust.
To execute their New York pizza vision, they’ve hired Manhattan-raised chef Richard Tassiello, a L’Academie de Cuisine graduate whose local cooking resume includes stints at Pomegranate Bistro, Flanagan’s Harp & Fiddle, and personal chef to Redskins’ owner Dan Synder.
Aside from New York-style street pizza, available by the 20-inch pie or the foldable slice, the kitchen will be turning out “every kind of pasta you can imagine,” according to Gurowitz, as well as Italian dishes such as veal parmesan.
A photograph of the Brooklyn and Verrazano Bridges has been turned into wallpaper for one side of the dining room, and a photographic mural of old Times Square flanks an opposite wall. The casual seating area can accommodate 60 diners; with an additional 40 on the outdoor patio. The place will have counter service at lunch and wait staff at dinner.
And hopefully, New Yorkers will feel right at home.
