Queen City Crust, known for Detroit-style pizza, finds new home on LBI

Queen City Crust, a pizza shop that brought Detroit-style pizza to LBI, has found a new home on the island.

After operating last summer as pick-up only out of the Beach Haven Fire Department's kitchen, Troy Sambalino is baking his deep dish, cheese-crusted pies in the restaurant space previously occupied by Lomito and El Swell on Long Beach Boulevard in Beach Haven Gardens.

Sambalino opened Queen City Crust in summer 2022 on North Bay Avenue in Beach Haven and quickly became known for his pizzas. Baked in a special tall-edged pan, the pies have a crispy cheddar crust and come in three flavors: burrata with fresh basil, pepperoni with hot honey, and plain cheese.

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"We were the first ones here (to do Detroit)," Troy said in a past interview, explaining that his style of pizza differs from Sicilian and grandma pizza because of the crust. "We put a little olive oil in then drop the dough in and bake the dough, and (it gets) nice and crispy and light.

"We use regular mozzarella on top. It's just like a regular pizza once you get past the cheddar cheese crust," he said.

At the new restaurant, "I'm doing the same exact pizza, and I'm also doing smash burgers," said Sambalino, who offers single or double burgers with lettuce, pickles, onions and special sauce.

The restaurant has a larger kitchen then Sambalino's prior locations, so his menu will grow to include more pizzas, like Buffalo chicken, Korean barbecue, and clams, and possibly additional items as summer goes on.

"I'm going to add some more things slowly," he said.

Queen City Crust is open 4:30 to 9 p.m. Thursdays, 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Fridays through Sundays, and 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Mondays.

Go: 13504 Long Beach Blvd., Beach Haven Gardens; 609-661-7769, queencitycrust.com.

Sarah Griesemer joined the USA TODAY NETWORK New Jersey in 2003 and has been writing all things food since 2014. Send restaurant tips to [email protected].

This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Queen City Crust making pizza in new spot on Long Beach Island