Mellow Mushroom, a pizza chain with stores in at least 16 states, is supposedly opening a store in Portland’s Pearl District. Mellow opened it’s first location in 1974. Today they have over 100 restaurants. Food seems to be along the salads/pizza/calzones/hoagies lines. I’d tell you more, but the over-the-top flash website is so bad, I gave up digging. It’s in my top ten bad websites.
No word on the exact location at this time.
Kernel says
Ate at one in Baton Rouge many years ago. Essentially . . . terrible.
Phillip Houston says
We have these in the Carolinas where I grew up. The pizza is darn good good and the atmosphere is really laid back like a local pizza joint. It doesn’t compare to Side Street Pizza in Tryon, NC but few things do. It should do good in the Pearl where getting a decent slice is not an easy task.
Hunter says
For those of us from the deep south (save kernel) this is good news. Used to love the shroom in college.
bananadan says
Their site (yes, really Flashed out to the extreme) mentions franchise opportunities. Not sure if that’s necessarily a bad thing, but makes me wary. I suppose the real proof is ordering a pizza after they open, and eating it.
Anne H says
Mellow mushroom instantly takes me back to my college age self living in the South. Not sure if I’d like it now, but it was sooo good then. And I agree, Phillip, Side Street Pizza in Tryon, NC is still my go to pizza place. Well worth the drive from Greenville SC where I used to live…
Phillip Houston says
Right on Anne…I grew up in Boiling Springs and it was 20 short minutes to pizza heaven. Still love to go there and to the CaroMi when I’m back home.
ElGordo says
It’s about the only place I’ll eat when I visit my parents in Georgia (that speaks more to the quality of the competition than to the Shroom’s greatness, though). Still, the Kosmic Karma pizza is freakin delicious. The salads and subs, however, are pretty low-end. Not sure how this will fare in the Pearl, most of the chain’s locations are definitely geared towards the college crowd.
DinahDavis says
Heavens I’ve seen MUCH worse in the way of websites. Can’t speak to the quality of the pizza, since the chain is new to this area…
shawn says
I spent many years in Atlanta. The ‘Shroom has pretty good pizza. Thinnish crust, but not super crispy. Good toppings. Competition to Hot Lips and that ilk of pizza place. I, for one, am looking forward to it. Oh yeah, they have these honey slathered pretzels with cinnamon that are great for dessert. And they’re calzones are good. YAY!!!
shawn says
Weird. Their schtick used to be psychedlic mushroom murals – a very laid-back, hippie feel. Now it looks more…..corporate. It looks like some marketing guy drained all the personality out of them. Ugh. I’m starting to get a not-so-good feeling about this….
Food Dude says
It seems that if you put “mellow mushroom” in a comment, it gets picked up by the spam filter every time. I can’t imagine why!
I’ll keep an eye on it.
Phillip Houston says
The one in Sparkleburg is pretty much psychedelically clad. VERY non-corporate feeling to me. I actually had no idea they were as large as they are.
Jim says
The pizza is edible…the frat boy type crowd they attract is the real deal breaker. Not the last place I’d go to eat but far, far down the list.
Rachelle says
My husband and I used to eat here consistently for good pizza when we lived in Savannah, GA. They make their crust with spring water and I’m not sure what that does but it is AMAZING! They also sprinkle some parmesan cheese and garlic butter on the crust– YUM! I’m very excited for Mellow to arrive in Portland and I think if they maintain the mellow, hippie vibe they had in Savnanah, they’ll succeed in Portland.
Brent says
Mellow Mushroom is one of the best pizza places in Atlanta. It’s become somewhat of a food institution there. It has good food and a nice atmosphere. Portland has a mix of bad pizza and pretentious places that limit your toppings, have strange sauces, and cost too much. Escape from NY is good, but not the best and doesn’t take credit card and lacks atmosphere. You can take your family to Mellow Mushroom and have a nice meal. It will fit it in with Portland’s weird culture. They also have good salads and some of them have trivia night.
CO says
limit my toppings I can put up with….so long as you limit my dealings with people that think pizza should cost no more than $12 for an 18″ pie.
Food Dude says
It’s pretty much a moot point now; as I recall, the plans fell through.
CO says
not so moot, it seems: http://portland.craigslist.org/mlt/fbh/2587591041.html
Food Dude says
Wow. I hadn’t heard anything about the project in ages. I stand corrected!
kevin says
they have a permit at 1417 NW Flanders, and there seems to have been recent inspections…west of Rogue across 14th.
Deborah O'Dwyer says
Corporate? Whoever said that doesn’t have a clue… No 2 Mellow mushrooms are the same …The Pizza is great and the atmosphere is always filled with original art. Good times!
Huh? says
Just like McMenamin’s!
themick says
If 100 restaurants in 16 states is not “corporate” is it “Mom and Pop”?
Hunter says
Ah, Portland – if there’s a whiff of “corporate”, it must be evil. How bout you actually try it before condemning it.
Eva says
Mellow Mushroom was some of the only decent pizza to be had in Atlanta in the early 90’s when I lived there (along with Fellini’s).
No idea how it holds up to today’s standards, but since I live close to their proposed location, I’ll definitely check it out for old time’s sake.
Hank Williams says
http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Mellow-Mushroom-Portland/159314860789635
I will try again.
Deborah O'Dwyer says
Move over Portland, Mellow Mushroom is in the hoooouuuuuuse! Can’t wait for it to open!!!!!!
pete Za says
food dude. i think everything you have proffered about this business is either wrong or inaccurate. honestly, does anyone even care about your sorry ass reviews about restaurants in a chic lumber town. but, gee, way to go rhyming food with dude. grow up and move back to boise. leave portland alone and retire your urban attention seeker B.S. critics are usually lacking in their own originality and you seem no exception.