About Upper Crust Pizza & Pasta
Family Tradition, Sicilian Flavor, and a Whole Lot of Heart
At Upper Crust Pizza & Pasta, we believe great food should feel familiar, generous, and worth coming back for. Since 2004, our family has proudly served Soquel and the surrounding community with authentic Thick Crust Sicilian square pizza, fresh ingredients, hearty sandwiches, wings, pasta, salads, and more. We make our dough daily, prepare our pizza sauce in-house from a family recipe, blend our cheeses ourselves, and treat every customer like family. What started as an opportunity to continue a long-standing pizza tradition has become a place where neighbors gather, teams celebrate, and regulars know they are always welcome.
Our Story Began Long Before We Took Ownership
Upper Crust Pizza & Pasta became part of our family’s story in 2004, but Ernesto’s experience with the business began much earlier. Before taking ownership of the Soquel location, Ernesto spent more than two decades working at the Mission Street location alongside Joe and Sharon Carollo, learning the day-to-day work behind a successful pizza restaurant and building the experience that would eventually prepare him for ownership.
When the opportunity came to take over the Soquel restaurant, it was a big decision, but it also felt like the right one. Ernesto had spent years learning the business from the inside, and taking ownership allowed our family to continue the Sicilian tradition of operating a family-run restaurant built around hard work, consistency, and genuine hospitality.
The early years came with plenty of challenges, especially when it came to learning the administrative side of running a business. Finding the right banking, payroll, and insurance support was not always easy, but firsthand experience taught us how to work through those obstacles and keep moving forward. Those lessons helped shape the practical, hands-on way we still run the restaurant today.
Thick Crust Sicilian Pizza Is What We’re Known For
Our Thick Crust Sicilian square pizza is at the center of what makes Upper Crust Pizza & Pasta different. The crust is thicker than a standard pizza crust, but it still develops the crispy, light texture that our customers have come to love.
We believe that kind of pizza starts with what happens before it ever reaches the oven. We make and prepare our dough daily, cut and blend our cheese in-house, and prepare our pizza sauce from a family recipe right here in the restaurant. We also prepare our vegetables fresh each day so every pizza starts with ingredients we feel good about serving.
For customers who prefer something different, we also offer thin round pizza, along with plenty of options to build your own combination. Whether you are ordering a classic pepperoni slice, our Original Combination, a Meat Lovers pizza, Sweet and Spicy, BBQ Ranch Chicken, or something completely your own, we want every bite to feel fresh, satisfying, and made with care.
More Than Pizza Is Made In-House
Pizza may be what brings many people through the door, but it is far from the only thing we put care into. We make our ranch, blue cheese, and jalapeño ranch dressings in-house, and we cook meats such as roast beef and turkey in our ovens for our sandwiches. Our house-made meatballs are another customer favorite and have earned plenty of compliments over the years.
That hands-on preparation reflects the way we have always wanted to operate. We do not want food to feel generic or rushed, so we make what we can ourselves and pay attention to the details that give each menu item its character. From a hot meatball sandwich to spicy buffalo wings or a freshly made pizza slice, we want people to taste the effort that goes into what we serve.
A Family Restaurant in Every Sense
Upper Crust Pizza & Pasta is a family-based restaurant, and each family member has a role in keeping the business moving. Over the years, we have expanded that family by bringing in team members we are proud to work alongside, creating a restaurant culture centered on reliability, respect, and taking care of customers.
We look for people who can communicate clearly, handle orders accurately, work the register, answer phone calls, and treat every customer with friendliness and professionalism. We also value team members who are part of the local community and understand the importance of making people feel comfortable when they walk through the door.
Some of our coworkers speak Spanish as well, which helps us connect with customers who are more comfortable communicating in Spanish. That kind of accessibility matters to us because our goal is simple: everyone should feel welcome here.
Serving Soquel Since 2004
We have been serving the local community since 2004, and over that time, we have welcomed just about every kind of customer through our doors. We serve families, students, local schools, Cabrillo College, hospital employees, auto shop teams, nearby businesses, sports groups, and plenty of people who simply want a good slice of pizza and a comfortable place to sit down.
Our restaurant also has space for youth soccer teams, birthday parties, and larger social groups, which has made Upper Crust a gathering place for more than everyday meals. We love seeing tables filled with people sharing pizza after a game, celebrating a birthday, or catching up with friends over lunch.
That community connection extends beyond the restaurant itself. We’re proud to support local organizations through school fundraisers, high school sports, and youth soccer programs because being part of the community means showing up for the people who support us too.
The Menu Favorites Our Customers Keep Coming Back For
Some menu items have become clear favorites over the years. Our pepperoni slices and meat combination slices are especially popular, while our Philly cheesesteak sandwich, spicy buffalo wings, house-made meatball sandwich, and specialty pizzas are frequent choices for regulars.
Customers also love having the freedom to create their own pizza, especially when a group has different tastes. With pizza, pasta, sandwiches, salads, and wings available, there is usually something for everyone at the table.
If you’re visiting for the first time, we often recommend starting with a classic pepperoni pizza, the fan-favorite Original Combination, or our house-made meatball sandwich. Sometimes the best way to understand what makes a local restaurant special is to start with the dishes people have loved for years.
What Keeps Us Motivated
One of the best parts of this business is seeing the reaction when someone takes a bite and genuinely enjoys what we made. Ernesto has always been motivated by those moments, especially when customers tell us, “Best pizza,” say how much they enjoyed a slice, or tell us they just had the best meatball sandwich.
Those comments matter because they remind us why consistency matters. Making dough every day, preparing ingredients carefully, keeping the restaurant welcoming, and staying involved in the community all add up to something bigger than a single meal. They build relationships with the people who choose to come back again and again.
We want customers to leave remembering more than what they ordered. We want them to remember spending time with friends or family, enjoying the food, and feeling comfortable enough to return the next time pizza sounds like the right idea.
Our Promise Is Fresh Food and Respectful Service
Consistency starts with preparation, and that is why we continue to make so much of our food by hand. Our dough, pizza sauce, and ingredients are prepared with care so customers can expect the same quality from one visit to the next.
We also understand that sometimes an order may not go exactly as expected. When a concern comes up, we do our best to listen, understand what happened, and reach a fair and respectful solution that leaves the customer satisfied.
That same respect guides how we train our team and how we treat people at the counter, on the phone, and throughout their visit. Our goal has always been to treat customers like family so they feel comfortable coming back.
Frequently Asked Questions
We are especially known for our Thick Crust Sicilian square pizza, which has a thicker crust with a crispy, light texture. We also offer thin round pizza for customers who prefer a different style.
Yes. We make our dough daily, prepare our pizza sauce in-house from a family recipe, and cut and blend our cheese ourselves. We also prepare our vegetables fresh each day.
We recommend trying our classic pepperoni pizza, Original Combination pizza, or house-made meatball sandwich. Our individual slices and spicy buffalo wings are also popular choices.
Yes. Our menu includes pasta, sandwiches, salads, wings, specialty pizzas, and other options. We also prepare several house-made items, including dressings, meatballs, roast beef, and turkey.
Yes. We welcome families, sports teams, birthday groups, schools, and larger social gatherings. Our restaurant has hosted youth soccer teams and other community groups over the years.
Yes. We have supported local school fundraisers, high school sports, and youth soccer programs. Being involved in the community is an important part of who we are.
We listen to the concern and work toward a fair, respectful solution. Our goal is to make sure customers feel heard and leave satisfied with the way the situation was handled.
You can order online through our Soquel website or call the restaurant and speak with someone directly. We are open daily from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Come Hungry, Grab a Slice, and Stay a While
Upper Crust Pizza & Pasta has been part of the Soquel community since 2004, and we’re still motivated by the same thing that has kept us going from the beginning: seeing people enjoy the food we make. From our Thick Crust Sicilian square pizza and house-made meatballs to our sandwiches, wings, pasta, and family-style hospitality, we put care into every order. So we hope you stop in for a daily lunch special, bring the family, gather your work team, or grab a slice on the go. We’re always here every day from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., ready and willing to serve you.