Editor’s Note:
Our regular lunch reviewer, Wes Hennings, is taking a few weeks of paternity leave. While we assume he is still eating something, somewhere, he won’t be writing about it while he’s off duty. Meanwhile, ABD editor, Gary Kauffman will pinch-hit with the reviews of his lunches with a colleague, as a way to advise our business community on the good, the bad, and the tasty across the CSRA. He doesn’t let the restaurant know where he is going; his opinions are his own. He grades the restaurants he visits on a 1-5 scale with “5” being outstanding. We call this our “Real Business Lunch Review.”
Food Quality: 5
Service: 5
Business Meeting: 5
Value: 4
Overall Rating: 4.75 out of 5
It’s unusual to visit a well-established restaurant but say you’re going someplace new, yet that’s the case with the downtown Mellow Mushroom. After many years as a fixture at the corner of Broad and 12th streets, the business packed up and moved across the street and one block east to the corner of Broad and 11th. They opened a new location this week, so my lunch companion and I decided to check it out.
The first thing you notice is the change in the vibe of the place. Gone is most of the hippie motif, replaced by modern architectural themes and wall art paying homage to James Brown and Augusta’s golf heritage. It also feels lighter and airier.
We were seated in the front room, which feels separate from the rest of the restaurant even though all that separates it is a low wall with a couple of brick pillars. It was relatively quiet, allowing us to converse in a normal voice, perfect for any business discussion. The front room has two half-garage doors facing the sidewalk that I assume will be opened during more temperate weather, so street noise could hamper some of the ability to carry on a conversation during those times.
Our server was bright and cheery and attended to us regularly without straying into being annoying.
We ordered the pretzel bites with spicy beer cheese as an appetizer. My companion ordered the avocado hoagie and added chicken to it. I chose the veggie calzone and, since I’m not a vegetarian, I added pepperoni to it.
The pace of service was nearly perfect. We had plenty of time to enjoy the pretzel bites – the cheese dip had just enough zing without being overpowering – before the entrees arrived.
When our waitress brought the food to the table, I promptly asked for a take-home box because my calzone was roughly the size of my head. When I cut into it, cheese oozed out, always a great sign in my book. The taste was everything I expected it to be. And, as anticipated, I took half of it home in a box.
I would advise that if you plan to get a calzone or any other delicious doughy creations, you might opt for a different appetizer. While the pretzel bites were delicious, by the end of the meal I felt like I’d been eating a lot of bread.
Meanwhile, my companion proclaimed the hoagie to be “sloppy good” and added that there was no skimping on the chicken that had been added to the sandwich.
We were able to enjoy our meal at a leisurely pace and still get in and out right at an hour. The only thing that kept the review from that elusive perfect score was the price. The appetizer and tip came out to $25 each, a bit pricey for a business lunch unless you have a generous expense account.
Otherwise, Mellow Mushroom still has the right vibe for a good downtown business lunch.
