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Mellow Mushroom is a fabulous pizza chain that has the best pizza you will ever eat. While it definitely has a college hangout vibe to it, it is as awesome for families as it is for college kids. Keep reading to find out why this is one restaurant that should definitely be on your list of must-eat places!
The first Mellow Mushroom opened in Atlanta, Georgia. It was started by two college students from Georgia Tech and one from the University of Georgia. Now, they have locations in 19 states.
Their fun-loving spirit can be felt through all of their locations. And this spirit is what makes it such a great place for families with kids.
We have eaten at four different Mellow Mushroom locations in three different states. It is one of my son’s favorite restaurants. Whenever we travel, he always checks to see if there is one near where we will be.
Location
Most of the Mellow Mushroom restaurants are located throughout the south and Midwest. There are, however, two locations in Arizona and one in Colorado. You will also find them in Texas, Louisiana, Arkansas, Alabama, Georgia, Florida, North and South Carolina, Virginia, Mississippi, Tennessee, Kentucky, Ohio, Iowa, Nebraska, Indiana, and Missouri.
Generally speaking, you will find them near college campuses.
Being located near college campuses is not surprising, since Mellow Mushroom has always been geared towards college students. But, don’t be fooled by this college focus. Mellow Mushroom is a great place for kids and people of all ages.
This is the type of place that your kids will think is cool because of the college feel. And it will make you feel comfortable knowing your kids are completely welcome.
Food
Mellow Mushroom is a pizza joint. But this isn’t just any ordinary pizza! It is the most delicious pizza I’ve ever eaten! The dough is unique and flavorful on its own. And the choices of toppings will blow you away.
The secret to their amazing pizzas is in the dough. They use spring water in it, which gives it a delicious flavor. It is so good! They use this same dough for their pretzels, which are also amazing!
The pretzels come in either a half order of 3 or a full order of 6. You can choose between garlic butter and Parmesan, butter and salt, or cinnamon and honey. We prefer the garlic butter and Parmesan ones as an appetizer. Yummy!
They have your traditional pizza flavors on the menu, but they also have some more creative options too.
For instance, you can get a pizza with broccoli, feta cheese, bleu cheese, spinach, or tofu on it. Their specialty pizzas include one with barbeque chicken, cheddar, mozzarella, onions, bacon, and bbq sauce. They also feature a Thai-inspired pizza.
Our favorite one is the Pacific Rim, which has pineapple, ham, and bacon.
I would recommend if you are dining here with kids to ask them to double cut your pizza. This will make the slices smaller and easier to handle for the kids.
Also on the menu, you will see sandwiches, salads, burgers, calzones, soup, wings, and stuffed mushrooms. You can find the full menu on their website.
Decor
Mellow Mushroom is the most unique pizza place you will ever step foot in. Funky is the best word to describe this place. While each location looks different, they all have a similar vibe to them.
When you first walk in, you will feel as if you somehow stepped back in time to the 1970’s. You will see the restaurant’s mascots, mushroom-like men, throughout the restaurant in various forms.
In all of the locations we have visited, they have a mushroom man statue either inside the restaurant or near the front door.
There is also a lot of tie-dye and other psychodelic color combinations going on. This is an eccentric kid-friendly version of funk.
Cost
Mellow Mushroom is as budget-friendly as it is family-friendly. Pizzas will cost you anywhere from $8-28, depending on size and ingredients. Everything else on their menu is also reasonably priced.
Our family of three can eat here for around $30. This is one of the many reasons why it is a good choice for families. If you are looking for a fun place to take your family for a night out without breaking the bank, Mellow Mushroom is a great choice.
Drawbacks
The main drawback to Mellow Mushroom is that the wait for your food is sometimes kinda long. It is not unusual to have to wait for 45 minutes or longer for your meal. This is because of the methods in preparing the fabulous dough. It is worth the wait though!
The other negative of this restaurant is that, because it is so popular, if you get there on a Friday or Saturday night after 6:00 pm or so, you will probably have to wait for a table. To avoid the wait, get there a little early or try it for lunch or on a week night.
Conclusion
Mellow Mushroom is a funky pizza place located throughout the south and Midwest. It is a great place to take your kids to eat. The prices are reasonable, especially for families. The decor is fun and funky and will appeal to your children.
It tends to get loud at times in here, which is perfect if you have kids with you. (This is one reason why it is on our list of the best places to eat in Fort Worth with kids.) This is a very laid-back place that appeals to families and college students alike.
I highly recommend trying Mellow Mushroom with your family or if you want a funky place to hang out with friends, if you are in a city that has one.
For other great places to eat in Ft. Worth, Texas, check out Babe’s and Taco Diner.
Happy travels!
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The Mellow Mushroom in Macon really sucks, management is extremely rude and the pizza is mediocre at best. Not worth the trip. Amicis in Macon is far better!
Roger,
I am so bummed to hear that! While I haven’t been to the Macon Mellow Mushroom, I have eaten at Mellow Mushroom in several different cities. And they have all been excellent. It makes me think this is an anomaly. I recommend trying Mushroom in another city and see if you agree. Thanks for leaving a comment! -Christy