Whether it’s the beer or the pizza, Upper Crust Pizza & Pasta is the place where people meet with friends and family to enjoy wonderful food, a casual atmosphere and relaxing accommodations.
Upper Crust Pizza & Pasta in Soquel first opened at 2501 Soquel Dr., Santa Cruz in 1992 as a second location to the original restaurant at 2415 Mission Street in Santa Cruz. Birthed from a passion for true Sicilian food, Sharon and Joe Carollo established their success on authentic homemade sauces for the variety of dishes found in their restaurant.
When Ernesto Chavez purchased the Soquel location from the Carollo’s in 2004, it was like a story straight from the pages of American history. Ernesto first started with the restaurant over two decades ago as a dishwasher. His strong work ethic led him through every position available to him, until the greatest opportunity, the greatest challenge, opened for his future.
“Without question, the greatest invention in the history of mankind is beer. Oh, I grant you that the wheel was also a fine invention, but the wheel does not go nearly as well with pizza.” — Dave Barry, writer
Ernesto bought the Soquel restaurant from the Carollo’s and he’s been working hard and enjoying his customers ever since, one square at a time.
So, why is the pizza square? Although it fits quite nicely in the typical pizza box, the reason their pizza is square is because it’s prepared the authentic Sicilian way
To truly make a Sicilian style pizza, the square pie begins with dough that is over an inch thick. At Upper Crust Pizza & Pasta, the dough is homemade from scratch. Then the pie is layered with a variety of fine meats and vegetables built upon authentic sauces from the old country. The final layer creates a blanket of creamy cheeses, a variety of sharp, mild and somewhat distinct. Baked in a brick oven and sold by the pie or by the slice, this pizza is a delight.
In addition to the square pizza, they also have a thin crust round pizza that is crispy and laden with rich toppings. Their full traditional Italian menu includes such things as lasagna, ravioli, spaghetti and rigatoni. Their sandwiches, including an authentic muffaletta, are hearty with quality meats, veggies and cheeses.
Their signature dishes include the Pizza Bianchi and the Sicilian Muffaletta. The Pizza Bianchi is based on a white sauce rather than the traditional red and layered with a variety of mouth-watering toppings. The Sicilian Muffaletta originated in New Orleans from Italian immigrants. They are layered with a marinated olive condiment and then an assortment from meats and cheeses such as capicola, mortadella, salami, pepperoni, ham, Swiss cheese and provolone.
At Upper Crust Pizza & Pasta, the casual, yet cozy environment makes it the perfect place for families and groups. A number of sport teams, consisting of young and old, rely on the location to enjoy good food and plenty of hospitality. Students appreciate the affordability of the restaurant and its delivery service and on a Monday night you’ll find a great group of men watching football, enjoying Buffalo Wings, pizza and beer from a wide assortment. Check their website at www.uppercrustsc.com for weekly specials such as baby back ribs or all-you-can-eat pasta night.
Vegetarians enjoy the Upper Crust Pizza & Pasta menu as well. There is a vegetarian version of almost everything on the menu, making this restaurant the perfect place for friends with a wide variety of tastes and preferences.
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Upper Crust Pizza & Pasta in Soquel is located at 2501 Soquel Drive open Sunday through Thursday from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., and Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. until 11 p.m. Call (831) 476-2333 for phone orders, delivery information or about their weekly specials