The Joy of Food: Mellow Mushroom

by Serenity Joy Miller

mellow-mushroom-franklinWhen I moved to Franklin about 12 years ago, the Mellow Mushroom was just opening up. It quickly became one of my favorite places to eat, drink, hangout with friends, and meet new people. With a fun atmosphere, friendly staff, creative interior, refreshing beverages, delicious and unique food options (including vegan, gluten-free, and “skinny” menu items), and live entertainment from music to trivia, the Mellow Mushroom provides something for everyone.

Mellow Mushroom has always offered a wide variety of beer, including a nice selection of local brews. Nowadays, with so many new breweries opening in Middle Tennessee, they usually feature 7-10 local beers out of the 30 beers on tap. On Sunday, Mellow’s local taps included craft brews from Yazoo, TailGate, Mayday, Tennessee Brew Works, Jackalope, and Turtle Anarchy. I enjoyed a Turtle Anarchy Scarlet Harlot, which is a tasty Amber/Red Ale with flavors of fruit, nuts, coffee, and caramel.

The Mellow Mushroom uses fresh, high quality ingredients, which make everything taste healthy and unprocessed. After perusing the menu, I decided to build my own pizza with my favorite toppings: zesty Artichoke Hearts; savory Black Olives; earthy Mushrooms; sun-ripened fresh Roma Tomatoes; and well-seasoned, tender Meatballs. The spring water crust was light but not too thin, and the red sauce was tangy and flavorful. The creamy mozzarella cheese was melted perfectly, and it brought all of the flavors together to create a delectable pizza experience.mellow-mushroom-pizza

I would like to recommend the following dishes, as well: Hippie Dippy Trio, Pretzels, Drunken Fun Guys, Oven Roasted Wings, Greek Salad, Caesar Salad, Build Your Own Salads, Calzones, Hoagies (Meatball, Avocado, Italian, etc.), and the scrumptious Bruschetta. Even though I chose all of the toppings on my pizza this time, I also love their specialty pies from the Kosmic Karma, the White Rabbit, the Mega-Veggie, the Holy Shiitake, and the Red Skin Potato Pie to the Mighty Meaty, the Bayou Bleu, the Freshies, the Buffalo Chicken, and the Philosopher’s Pie.

Mellow Mushroom Franklin is located at 317 Main Street in downtown Franklin on the square. Visit them online at www.mellowmushroom.com to review their menu and upcoming events. Mellow Mushroom also delivers through Delivery Dudes. Mellow Mushroom offers catering through Delivery Dudes, as well.

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