Crust Simply Italian finally opens long-delayed Mesa location

🍕 After years of delays tied to construction setbacks at The Grid, Crust Simply Italian has opened its fifth Valley location – a long-awaited downtown Mesa outpost.

The East Coast-style Italian concept, founded by Michael Merendino in 2007, has landed near the southwest corner of Main and Mesa, joining sister locations in Scottsdale, Chandler, Gilbert, and Peoria.

As with Crust’s other spots, this one comes with a bird-themed speakeasy: The Nightingale sits next door. The Mesa location also debuts Bombolino, a dessert shop selling gelato and Italian doughnuts – Crust’s first standalone sweets concept.

Expect the brand’s usual East Coast comfort food: hearty pastas, farm-fresh salads, time-honored specialties, and New York-style pizzas, including favorites like chicken parmesan, lobster ravioli, and rigatoni alla vodka.

Crust is open 3-9 p.m. Monday-Thursday, 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Friday-Saturday, and 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Sunday. The Nightingale is open 5-10 p.m. Wednesday-Thursday, 5 p.m.-midnight Friday-Saturday, and 5-10 p.m. Sunday.

More restaurant openings

🌮 Midnight Taco, which began as a downtown Gilbert taco cart in 2017 before operating a brick & mortar location at Val Vista and Warner from 2020 to 2025, has come full circle. Husband and wife Juan Gutierrez and Carolina Pulido have opened a new downtown brick & mortar spot next to Culinary Dropout on the northeast corner of Gilbert and Vaughn.

🍋 Happy Lemon has opened its second Valley spot tucked inside the Walmart on the southeast corner of U.S. 60 and Stapley in Mesa. It follows a Walmart location at Chandler and Dobson in Chandler that debuted in 2024. Expect the Taiwanese chain’s signature rock salt cheese teas, along with boba teas and smoothies.

New olive oil

🌶️ Queen Creek Olive Mill is turning up the heat with a new 5 Chile Olive Oil. Built on an extra virgin base and infused with cayenne, chile de árbol, habanero, Calabrian, and ghost chiles, it delivers a smoky, savory blend with real staying-power heat.

Drizzle it over pizza, tacos, eggs, or grilled meats, or stir it into marinades and vinaigrettes. Grab an 8.5-ounce bottle for $19 at Queen Creek Olive Mill’s marketplace or online.