At first glance, this charming street seems familiar. It reminds me of walking through the side streets of Greenwich Village in New York City. But Kenilworth Ave. is in our very own backyard, in the character-filled neighborhood of Tremont. Residing on this street is a very unassuming storefront, with large vertical letters on the window spelling out the word CRUST.
Upon entering, I can see that this quaint take-out spot is serious about its pizza. Located in an old dry cleaning shop, it has just two tables with a total of eight seats. But owners Mike Griffin and Jeff Fisher, the chef, are not aiming to be a fancy sit-down restaurant. With its “on stage” kitchen and high ceilings, CRUST reminds you of a family-run business with an industrial chic feel. Which is not far off; Griffin’s cousin is the owner of Visible Voice bookstore across the street.
This is not Griffin’s first rodeo. He has been in the food business most of his life, working in his family’s Italian restaurants. And the family connection does not end there. Griffin was introduced to Fisher, his soon-to-be partner, by a family member. Once they started talking, they quickly realized that they are in reality distant cousins. So by sheer fate, CRUST really is a family business.
