Crust Artisan Bakery, located on Highway 98 in Santa Rosa Beach, Florida, has become a beloved spot for locals and visitors alike. This charming eatery offers artisan bread, pastries, Neapolitan-style wood-fired pizzas, traditional Italian pasta, seafood, and salads. But what makes Crust stand out is its commitment to sourcing the freshest possible ingredients, many of which are sourced from local producers and distributors.
Owners Kim and Mark Fressell are dedicated to incorporating artisan techniques and equipment into their bread-making process, ensuring that their baked goods are one-of-a-kind. Kim, who has worked in the restaurant industry for well over two decades and studied artisan bread baking at the San Francisco Baking Institute, and Mark, who was raised in a passionate Italian family, are proud to bring authentic Italian flavors to the Gulf Coast.
The restaurant has an old-world charm, and the menu is presented on a chalkboard as well as printed. The aroma of fresh-baked bread fills the air, and a glass case full of sweet pastries is overly tempting to passersby.
Mark’s great-grandmother immigrated to the United States from Italy in 1902 and handed down the meatball recipe, which has become a customer favorite.
The pizzas, with their thin hand-tossed wood-fired crust, are the most sought-after menu item. Customers rave about the Neapolitan pizza, baguettes, meatballs, and pasta, all of which have deep family origins.
Crust Artisan Bakery serves a unique selection of specialty sodas and beverages and allows customers to bring in their own wine for a nominal corkage fee. Crust is also a bottle club, so you can bring the wine, beer, or other libation of your choice to enjoy with your entree. Reservations are preferred, and the restaurant opens at 5 pm.
Not only does Crust Artisan Bakery provide delicious food and baked goods, but it is also committed to buying from local producers and distributors whenever possible.
The Fressells produce bread using organic spring wheat flour, and they are even experimenting with fava bean and garbanzo bean flour to accommodate customers with dietary restrictions.
After opening in 2012, Kim and Mark soon expanded their cafe, retail, and wholesale operations selling to area restaurants, and added an exterior deck. Crust Artisan Bakery has been featured on Food Network, further solidifying its reputation as a must-visit spot near Scenic Highway 30A.
Crust Artisan Bakery is located in the Shoppes of South Haven at 4821 Hwy 98 W, Santa Rosa Beach, Florida 32459. They are open Tuesday through Saturday from 5:30 p.m. – 9 p.m.
