Unearth The Voyage
There is a small brick-accented restaurant in downtown DeLand, Florida, that has been quietly building one of the most loyal followings in Volusia County. The menu reads like a love letter to Italian cooking, but with enough creative twists to keep things genuinely exciting.
Wood-fired crusts, house-made pasta, and unexpected flavor combinations elevate this modest-sized eatery into a standout dining destination. Keep reading, because what this place is doing with a pizza oven and fresh ingredients is worth every word.
Where It All Happens: The Address and Setting
Right in the heart of downtown DeLand, at 112 N Woodland Blvd, DeLand, Urban Brick sits like a well-kept secret that locals have clearly already discovered.
The building has that warm, brick-accented character that makes you slow down when you walk past it. A patio out front invites guests to eat al fresco, while the interior stays compact and cozy, with an open kitchen that lets you watch the action unfold in real time.
DeLand itself is one of Central Florida’s most charming small cities, full of historic architecture and independent businesses. Urban Brick fits right into that spirit.
You can reach them by phone at 386-337-7040, and their website is urbanbrick.com, where you can check the current menu before your visit.
The Story Behind the Kitchen
Urban Brick describes itself as a modern Italian kitchen, which is a pretty accurate two-word summary of what owner Rose M has built here over the years.
The concept centers on doing Italian food with care and creativity rather than just tradition for tradition’s sake. That means wood-fired crusts, house-made components, and a rotating list of specials that keeps even regular customers curious about what is new.
Rose M is clearly hands-on. Owner responses to customer reviews are personal and warm, always signed by name, which tells you something about the level of investment behind the scenes.
The staff reflects that same culture: attentive, friendly, and genuinely knowledgeable about the menu. This is not a chain operation running on autopilot.
Every visit feels like someone actually cares about the food landing well on your table.
The Pizza Crust That Gets People Talking
The crust at Urban Brick has its own fan base, and once you try it, that makes complete sense. It is chewy in the middle, with just enough char on the edges to remind you it spent time in a real oven.
The bottom gets a dusting of cornmeal before baking, which adds a subtle crunch and a slightly nutty flavor that sets it apart from the average pizza base. The dough goes through a 24-hour cold ferment followed by a warm proof, a process that builds depth of flavor most fast-casual spots simply skip.
Each pizza comes out as a 12-inch personal pie, which is just the right size for one hungry person or two people sharing with an appetizer on the side. The crust alone is a reason to come back.
Tuscan Sausage Pizza: A Crowd Favorite
The Tuscan Sausage pizza is one of those dishes that earns its reputation one bite at a time. It starts with a base of tomato sauce and olive oil, then gets layered with Grande mozzarella, sliced Italian sausage, black olives, and basil pesto.
A finish of Parmigiano Reggiano and fresh basil pulls everything together into something that tastes carefully assembled rather than just thrown together. The sausage links are cooked fresh and sliced to order, which keeps the texture better than anything pre-cooked and stored.
Fresh garlic adds a punch that you notice without it being overpowering. The combination of salty, herby, and savory notes makes this one of the most complete pizzas on the menu.
First-time visitors who ask the staff for a recommendation almost always get pointed in this direction, and it is easy to see why.
Sweet and Salty Pizza: The One That Surprises Everyone
Not every pizza needs to stay inside the lines, and the Sweet and Salty pie at Urban Brick is proof that bold combinations can work beautifully. It brings together figs, prosciutto, and roasted garlic on a chewy crust with melted mozzarella holding everything in place.
The result is a pizza that swings between savory and subtly sweet in a way that keeps your palate genuinely engaged. Some people order it out of curiosity and end up calling it their favorite thing on the menu.
It is the kind of dish that works well for a date night or any occasion where you want to try something a little outside your comfort zone. The balance of flavors is thoughtful rather than gimmicky, which is what separates a clever menu item from a forgettable one.
This one stays with you well after the last slice.
Butternut Squash Ravioli: Pasta Done Right
Urban Brick is not just a pizza restaurant, even if the pies get most of the attention. The pasta menu holds its own, and the Butternut Squash Ravioli is one of the strongest examples of what the kitchen can do beyond the pizza oven.
The ravioli arrives in a sauce that is rich and creamy without feeling heavy, with a filling that has a natural sweetness from the squash balanced by savory seasoning. Every element on the plate feels considered rather than assembled from shortcuts.
House-made pasta has a texture that store-bought versions simply cannot replicate, and you notice the difference immediately. This dish works especially well as a main course during cooler months when something warm and hearty is exactly what you are looking for.
It is the kind of pasta that makes you slow down and actually pay attention to what you are eating.
Spaghetti Bolognese and Classic Italian Dishes
The Spaghetti Bolognese at Urban Brick is one of those dishes that earns high praise even from people with very high standards for Italian food. The sauce is slow-built and full of flavor, coating every strand of pasta in a way that feels both familiar and elevated.
Homemade meatballs also appear on the menu as an appetizer, and they arrive tasting exactly like something made from scratch rather than reheated from a bag. The Caesar salad rounds out the classic Italian-American side of the menu with fresh greens and just the right amount of dressing.
Having both wood-fired pizza and solid pasta on the same menu is a balancing act that not every restaurant pulls off well. Urban Brick manages it by treating both sides of the menu with equal care.
The classics here are not afterthoughts; they are genuinely worth ordering.
Truffle Fries and Starters Worth Ordering
The truffle fries with garlic aioli have developed a reputation at Urban Brick that rivals some of the pizzas. They come out golden, crispy, and generously coated in truffle oil, with the aioli providing a creamy contrast that makes them almost impossible to stop eating.
The house-made pizza bread is another starter that earns consistent praise. It arrives steamy hot and fresh from the oven, simple in the best possible way, with a texture that sets up your appetite perfectly for whatever comes next.
Blue Chips are another popular shared starter, and the spinach dip and mussels have shown up on enough tables to suggest they are more than just filler items. Starting a meal at Urban Brick with one of these appetizers before your main course arrives is a strategy that pays off every single time.
The kitchen clearly does not treat starters as an afterthought.
Gluten-Free Options and Allergy Awareness
Finding a restaurant that takes dietary restrictions seriously without making guests feel like an inconvenience is rarer than it should be. Urban Brick stands out in this area with a genuine commitment to accommodating gluten-free diners and other allergy concerns.
The staff is trained to work through allergy questions carefully and professionally, which makes the experience feel safe rather than stressful for guests who need to be cautious. Several menu items are naturally gluten-free or can be adapted, and the team communicates those options clearly without needing to be pushed.
For guests with celiac disease or gluten sensitivity, this level of awareness can be the deciding factor between a restaurant they trust and one they avoid. The fact that Urban Brick has built a reputation for handling these situations well speaks to the overall culture of care that runs through the entire operation from kitchen to table.
The Atmosphere Inside and Out
The interior of Urban Brick is small, which actually works in its favor. Compact spaces tend to feel more alive when they fill up, and this one gets warm and buzzy in the best way during peak hours.
The open kitchen adds to the energy, letting you catch glimpses of the cooking process as you eat.
Brick accents on the walls give the space a grounded, rustic quality without feeling dated. The patio out front is a great option when the Florida weather cooperates, offering a front-row seat to the character of downtown DeLand.
By around 6 PM on busy evenings, a line can form outside, which is both a testament to the food and a useful reminder to arrive a little early or plan accordingly. The tight seating is the one trade-off for the cozy atmosphere, but most guests find it adds to the charm rather than detracting from it.
Service That Matches the Food
Good food can carry a restaurant for a while, but consistent service is what turns first-time visitors into regulars. The team at Urban Brick seems to understand that balance well.
Servers are described across dozens of reviews as attentive, warm, and genuinely knowledgeable about the menu.
Staff members take time to explain dishes, walk guests through specials, and check in without hovering, which is a harder balance to strike than most people realize. New team members are guided by more experienced colleagues, which keeps the quality of service steady even as the staff evolves.
The owner’s visible presence in the business, including personal responses to online reviews, sets a tone that clearly filters through to the front-of-house team. When a restaurant’s leadership is engaged and accountable, that attitude tends to show up in every interaction a guest has from the moment they walk through the door.
Hours, Pricing, and Planning Your Visit
Urban Brick keeps a focused schedule that is worth checking before you make the drive. The restaurant is open Thursday and Friday from 11:30 AM to 2:30 PM, Saturday from 12 PM to 9 PM, and Monday from 11:30 AM to 2:30 PM.
It is closed on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Sunday.
Saturday is the big day, running from midday through the evening, which makes it the best option if you want a relaxed dinner experience rather than a quick lunch. Arriving before 6 PM on Saturday is a smart move if you want to avoid waiting for a table.
Pricing falls in the moderate range, with two people typically able to enjoy a full meal including starters for a reasonable amount. Urban Brick also partners with DoorDash for delivery, so you can bring the experience home on days when dining in is not an option.
The phone number is 386-337-7040.
