Credit Carl and Nancy McConnell of Stone Soup Cottage for putting the town of Cottleville on the fine dining radar. VB Chocolate Bar upped the ante with its artisanal chocolates and hand-brewed coffee. And Exit 6 Brewery got us excited about our beer options way west. Need more reasons to head to burgeoning Cottleville? Try Plank Road Pizza.
Plank Road, slated to open mid-June, is a pizzeria located in the former Crumb Bakery & Cafe space, at 5212 Highway N. The restaurant will specialize in thin-crust, hand-tossed pizza. “It’s a mix between New York and Neapolitan,” said owner Andrew Brewer.
{Plank Road Pizza owner Andrew Brewer}
The menu will be fairly small, limited to pizzas and salads. Look for classic pies like a Margherita made with tomatoes and herbs grown at the restaurant, a meat lover’s pie, and unusual toppings like pulled pork. Plank Road will also offer a dessert pizza. On the beverage side, bottled craft beer will be available.
According to Brewer, Plank Road makes it’s home in the oldest standing building in Cottleville, built in 1841. The restaurant’s name references the road that once led into town, and the names of Plank Road signature pizzas will also pay homage to the city.
When Plank Road opens, former Crumbs patrons will notice interior changes to the 33-seat, two-room dining area, including a new vaulted ceiling with wood beams and accent pieces of barn wood sourced from Brewer’s grandfather’s farm. The pizzeria will also offer outdoor seating on its brick-lined patio with a shade-giving pergola and a newly constructed side patio. Brewer hopes to convert an old smokehouse on the patio into an outdoor bar outfitted with beer tap handles.
This article appears in June 2014.