Top 10 Sarasota

3800 S. Tamiami Trail - (941) 366-3100 | map | website

We’ve been dying to find more good pizza places in Sarasota. So we took a coupon from our 2007 Entertainment Book for Crusty’s Pizza. Crusty’s is a ‘genuine’ hole-in-the-wall sort of place. It’s located on the desolate southside of Paradise Plaza on 41 and Bee Ridge (in the Border’s shopping center– it’s around the south corner of the CVS). Stepping inside, we were transported to a 70s-style Chicago pizzeria, complete with red vinyl seats, duct-taped vinyl booths, and mirrored walls. There’s even a three-seater bar. We cozied up in a booth and ordered the nachos to start. They were definitely homemade style– nothing fancy, just genuinely tasty and piled high with chili, olives, and mounds of melted cheese. We then ordered a large Chicago-style thin crust pizza. We opted for the monthly special, the Buffalo Chicken Pizza– an unusual combination of cheddar and gorgonzola cheeses, chunks of Buffalo sauce-drenched chicken chunks, bits of celery, all drizzled with Ranch dressing. The pizza was cut into squares, Chicago-style, and was truly delicious. The menu is full of typical fare such as sandwiches, salads, and a few Italian dishes. But Crusty’s is a pizza place, and we’re going to recommend it for the Top 10 in the pizza category.
Key words: Italian food, pizza, mid-town Sarasota, bar, family-friendly