This little NE Minneapolis spot used to be a hidden gem that most people could simply drive by without noticing. The pizzas were consistently delicious, the staff was always friendly, and the whole experience would be positive.

What I found during my visit on 8/5/18 was that the cheese had changed, and definitely for the better. During past visits, the pizzas at Element always had a delicious and light form of mozzarella. There are many people in the Twin Cities who love Punch Pizza. The cheese was very similar at Element, but one could definitely argue that Element was often superior to Punch.

Yesterday's pizzas no longer had such a high quality mozzarella used in a light but consistent manner. What we were given yesterday had a thick layer of pre-shredded mozzarella that was truly similar to something you would expect from Pizza Hut. It was thick, almost gelatinous, and devoid of any real flavor. The basic margherita pizza was really nothing more than a substandard cheese pizza. Basil was in very tiny pieces and added nothing whatsoever to the flavor of the pizza. While the sauce and crust were still phenomenal, the awful cheese left me feeling that I had wasted my money.

I am hoping that this was just an anomaly, but I worry that Element has cut some corners to their production while not reducing the price at all. All three pizzas we ordered were simply caked in low-quality mozzarella. Though I am in the area regularly, this latest experience left me never wanting to visit again.