Railroad Pub & Pizza

Railroad Pub & Pizza in downtown Burlington opened in August of 2016. The owner, Nick Crandall, originally rented the space for his coffee business. When he decided he no longer wanted to participate in the highly competitive coffee industry, he bought the building and transformed it. Now, the space is full of beautiful hardwood, like tall bar tables and the live-edge native wood bar top. A large fireplace in the center of the room, even when unlit, creates a cozy space perfect for eating some great artisan pizza, salads, or sandwiches, and enjoying a pint of local beer. Railroad features 13 rotating craft on-tap options, such as Menace Brewing Co. or Boundary Bay, depending on the day. On an unseasonably warm spring afternoon, the two of us took a little road trip south from Bellingham to give Railroad a try.

ATMOSPHERE

Lindsey I’ve been to Railroad twice now, each in wildly different settings. The first was in the middle of a storm in December, and the second was on a brilliant sunny day in March. Both were absolutely delightful. On the cold December day, the warm wood of the restaurant was cozy and cabin-like. In March, the open garage-door-style windows brought in sunlight, warmth, and fresh air. If I lived closer to Burlington, I’d probably frequent this place just for how nice it is to sit inside. Instead, I’ll just make sure I stop by when I’m in the area, even if it’s just for a pint.

Kelly Having never been to Railroad before, but having plenty of other pizza pub visits under my belt, I was unsure of what could surprise me about this location in Burlington. Unlike so many places where I’ve grabbed a slice, this building seemed open, airy and could comfortably seat whomever wanted to come watch a game on the large TV in the center of the room. The open windows provided a cool breeze and it felt like spring was finally coming to the Pacific Northwest.

FOOD

Lindsey I ordered the Train Wreck pizza ($14), named for the bar down the street, also owned by Crandall. It’s topped with red sauce, fresh mozzarella, Parmesan, red onion, pepperoni, green bell peppers, black olives (I don’t care for olives, so I ordered without), Jack Mountain Meats ham, and Italian sausage from the same label. These toppings all combined beautifully and were delicious, but the real showstopper was the crust. The 24-hour-aged dough is sweetened with malt from Skagit Valley Malting. I’m going to stop writing about it so you can get out and try it that much faster.

Kelly I picked the Wild Funguy Formagio ($14) for my pizza choice that day, even though I’m usually a plain-cheese kind of girl. Packed with veggies, it features fresh ingredients like roasted wild mushrooms, mozzarella, red pepper, herbed ricotta, Reggiano Parmesan, extra virgin olive oil and a dash of parsley. If you’re not fully on board with a typical meat-lovers style, but you still want a full, savory taste, this is the option for you. The gorgeous crust aside, this satisfied my love of cheese and my craving for vegetables.

EXPERIENCE

Lindsey Construction was going on in the kitchen, with some tools and supplies on the sidewalk. While vehicles took up some spots, parking in downtown Burlington is superb. Street parking abounds, but if you can’t find that, Railroad has its own adjacent lot. Kelly and I arrived and sat next to an open window, which was lovely. I ordered a pint of Fremont Brewing Company’s Universale ($6), and let me tell you, sitting in the sunshine sipping a 16-ounce of a local favorite is one of the best experiences you can have.

Kelly Having never stepped foot in Burlington before, I think we came at one of the best times. The sun was out, which meant a lot of people were parked along the main streets, but we still found a close parking spot. The pub was spacious, and the few parties already eating were being helped by a friendly server who made sure we had water and menus right away. Though we learned that the owner was working on construction for the pub’s kitchen, I could barely hear any noise from the main area. Lindsey and I were able to take our time ordering, chatting, and enjoying our meals.

OVERALL

Railroad Pizza is a must-hit spot in Burlington, whether you’ve lived there all your life or you’re passing through for the day. It has all the charm of a rustic pub, complete with a large TV to watch games, and quality food and drinks to boot. The friendly wait staff invites you in, and the delicious pizza makes you want to stay longer to enjoy a beer or two. Family, friends, coworkers, and first dates could all congregate at this mellow pub and have a great time chowing down on some Burlington food fare.

122 S. Spruce St., Burlington
360.982.2133 | railroadpizza.com

For more content like this, check out our Restaurant Reviews section here.