Since I was diagnosed with Celiac Disease, an autoimmune reaction to the wheat protein gluten, I’ve had to look for new ways to enjoy my old favorite foods. Other than the obvious offenders- pizza, bread, pasta- gluten hides in many unexpected places. This can make eating at home a challenge, but it especially makes dining out a challenge. Even the smallest bit of cross-contamination can cause permanent damage to my stomach and small intestine. But I’m a normal young adult, and I want to go out to eat with friends. I want to enjoy my favorite foods, and most importantly, I don’t want to get sick.
When Mellow Mushroom offered us the chance to try their new and improved gluten free pizza, I was all over it. Mellow Mushroom has partnered with Smart Flour Foods, an Austin-based business dedicated to providing “exceptional gluten free products.” Their pizza crust is made with ancient grains, giving it the texture of a whole grain crust. Not only is the crust gluten free, it’s also dairy and casein free, along with being free of eggs, soy, and rice. If you’re gluten-free, vegan, or have other common allergies, this is the pizza crust for you. Along with providing their new and improved gluten-free pizza, Mellow Mushroom has educated the cooks and staff on preventing cross-contamination. The cooks change their gloves and apron, wash their hands, and use dedicated cooking utensils and ingredients. Plus, they have a dedicated oven. Awesome! The gluten-free pizzas are 12”, sized somewhere between a small and medium “glutened” pizza. They cost the same as a medium pizza, which may seem pricey to those of you who aren’t used to a gluten-free diet. If you are gluten-free, then the price is about average.
The pizza, however, is totally not average. We ordered four pizzas, because my family has large appetites: the Kosmic Karma, the House Special, the Gourmet White, and the Mighty Meaty. The Kosmic Karma has a red sauce base, mozzarella, sun-dried tomatoes, spinach, feta, Roma tomatoes, and a pesto swirl. The Gourmet White is a white pizza, with olive oil, garlic, sundried tomatoes, provolone, feta, Roma tomatoes, and onions. The Mighty Meaty was a red base pizza topped with a variety of meats, and the House Special was Mellow Mushroom’s version of a Supreme pizza. Since I was tasked with writing this review, I obviously had to try a slice of each pizza. You know, totally for review purposes only.
The first thing I noticed was that the pizza did not taste gluten-free. Those of you who are gluten-free out there probably know how much of a compliment that is. Seriously. Even my gluten-loving brother agreed that the pizza “wasn’t bad,” and judging by how much he complained when I took a slice of his pizza, that’s an understatement. Now, I’m a veggie lover, so my favorite pizzas were the Kosmic Karma and the Gourmet White. However, I still enjoyed the Mighty Meaty and the House Special, and would definitely order them again.
While we ate, we were treated to some cool dough tricks by a member of the National Pizza Team, Bradley Jackson, who worked at the restaurant. From our booth, you could see him throwing the dough into the air, slinging it around, and catching it flawlessly. The manager informed us that although he couldn’t do that with the gluten-free dough, he had just returned from a competition where he had won a prize. Along with the eclectic décor and attentive staff, our experience at Mellow Mushroom had me excited to come back. There was just one question that would determine if the pizza place made it into my permanent repertoire: Did I get sick?
The answer is no! I did get a bit queasy from over-eating, but I survived a pizza parlor without getting glutened! The Chattanooga Mellow Mushroom has now been added to my permanent list of places to grab a bite in downtown Chattanooga.
Good to know about Mellow Mushroom! Seems so many more restaurants are doing GF options now, which is good since so many people are finding they have issues with gluten even if not to the degree those with Celiac do!
It’s great that this is now an option when you dine out! Those pizzas look amazing!
Wow. My son would be able to eat pizza without getting sick
I’d really love to know what those taste like! Very nice! And the place looks great too! I could definitely like it there!
Pizza looks delicious! I can’t imagine having to watch everything I put in my mouth. With so many people having to be on gluten free diet, it is good to know that many places are starting to serve gluten free food.
My Great Uncle has Celiac’s Disease. I’m glad that there are so many meal options for him that didn’t exist years ago.
I think it is fantastic that more and more restaurants are offering gluten free on the menu!
Those pizzas look amazing! I am so glad that you have so many more food options now. And yummy options too. I’d love to try those pizzas!
I am loving all the tomatoes on that pizza! That looks just the way I like it.
that sounds great – gluten free pizza! I am so happy that these options do exist now more than ever
Those pizzas look amazing!
That is wonderful! I know a few people that are gluten free and I know that it can be difficult to find everything you need when eating out. Maybe more pizza places will follow along and offer something like this on their menu.
I had no idea there were gluten-free options there. I don’t need them but that’s so good to know for friends! We have one of those in town. 🙂
Wow, never tried gluten-free pizza. Doesn’t really look much different!!
I have never tried a gluten free pizza and have to say that those pizzas do look delish!
How awesome! I tried going gluten free many years ago for my ulcerative colitis and I was so relieved when it didn’t help; there weren’t any offerings like this, that’s for sure.
Mellow Mushroom is my favorite! Their pizza is the best, good to know that they have GF options!
I know exactly what you mean when you say “it doesn’t taste gluten free”. Some are a win and others well, are not. So glad you’ve found a winner!
I can’t have tomatoes and the Mighty White sounds like just the Pizza for me. I would have ordered it with bbq chicken pineapple and ham. I think the crust looks great for it being gluten free. I bet it tasted good as it looks. Most gluten free things I’ve tried to make never rises. I can have gluten I usually have to eat mostly vegan though do to health issues so this would be a place I would love close to me in Otsego Mi.
I have so many friends that have to eat gluten free now; that I love seeing restaurants now catering to those who need gluten free foods! That pizza looks fantastic!
I have been craving pizza for so many days now and this surely did not help; I want pizza now! 😀
Wow those pizza look amazing I’m trying to figure out how to make a pizza gluten version free for my son.
That gourmet white looks right up my alley. I love pizza, and how weird is it that my kids don’t?
Oh my gosh, I want to live here. There is a great need for gluten free foods that look and smell so incredibly good. My son would love it here.
Oh my goodness, we have a Mellow Mushroom here in San Antonio that opened just about a year ago. I love, love, love them… It takes a bit for the pizza since they do it all from scratch but so worth it. Thanks for sharing about the gluten-free, I had no clue
I feel your pain! It is so hard to find a good gluten free pizza product!! These pizzas look really delicious though!
That is amazing. I am so glad to hear you have such wonderful options. It is not easy being restricted but it is wonderful to know there is a great pizza out there for you.
While I don’t have Celiac and I am able to indulge in gluten foods now and again I’ve noticed a considerable difference when they’re cut out of my diet completely! You just feel better but that doesn’t mean I don’t miss the ‘good stuff’. I’ve never heard of Mellow Mushroom before but they sound fantastic and those pizzas look amazing 🙂
LOVE Mellow Mushroom, I have been to the one near us 1X and we loved their pizza! What a fun place to eat too!
This is such a great post. I have an autoimmune disease and issues with starch (which means pizza is usually out) and I am always looking for alternative foods to eat. These pizzas look amazing.
Those look so good. I love Mellow Mushrooms.
This place sounds fantastic and that pizza looks real tasty.
We don’t have one of those here in Oklahoma 🙁 but I have an entire summer kid free so I may take some trips and check some places out.
That’s so awesome they are offering gluten-free items on their menu. I hope more restaurants follow their lead.
That looks amazing. I wish we had one in Vermont. My daughter is gluten intolerant and I’d love to try them.
Those pizzas look so good, wish we had that place here. YUM!
Wow, That pizza look great, I’m hungry now!
Oh man, I wish I lived near by I would love this place!
That pizza looks yummy! I love tat restaurants are offering gluten free options.
Well dang it i’m hungry fro pizza now. These look amazing.
Those look AMAZING!! I love when restaurants really work hard to cater to people with food allergies and intolerances.
That looks so good. I am so happy to see pizza places starting to do a gluten free version – I have missed pizza. I have been making my own but it is not the same.
I know it! My husband and child miss regular pizza so much!
This looks so delicious. I eat Paleo but do cheat now and then next time I cheat I will have to try this!
That’s awesome that they have gluten free options!
We don’t have a Mellow Mushroom around here but we see them when traveling down south. I think it’s awesome that they have gluten-free options!
This looks really good! We try to eat low gluten or when we do eat it we try to make sure its whole wheat or whole grains. Thanks for sharing, I would love to try this place out!
That looks delicious and it’s nice to know that you can find yummy gluten free food options!
Mmm pizza! So glad they have gluten free pizza options, these look absolutely amazing! I would definitely eat one of each slice.. if not two 😉 I can’t wait to try their goods!
I could easily eat the entire thing 🙂 In one sitting……
Mmmmm I LOVE mellow mushroom! That is so awesome they offer a GF menu now, too!
It’s really good to know that eating gluten free doesn’t mean you can’t still have awesome food. I also love that so many restaurants are recognizing people that can’t have gluten and are accommodating them and their diets 🙂