Mellow Mushroom — Restaurant in Paducah

Holy Shittake

This place was a complete and total fantastic experience. The atmosphere that some are calling "too loud" I, myself, call "alive". The roar of people was completely expected when going into such an open space, and I felt the life that was breathed back into an old building that had been forgotten for so long. The ambiance was nothing short of amazing. I remember feeling saddened when I saw the old building but seeing construction materials, through the windows, when I explored my new home town just a short year ago. I wondered what could possibly be put there that could do it justice. I never expected this end result. It has a modern, yet, hippy feel with a strong coca cola presence still incorporated into the atmosphere. There is, what appears to be, local paintings, and an enormous 70's style full wall mural. My husband, and I, simply had to leave our table to explore the place because everything was like eye candy. No attention to detail was missed. There was a partition with lit up coke bottles and even a robot statue that informed you to find your way to the front counter to be seated.

We were greeted by a server named Moe. She was bubbly and extremely knowledgeable when explaining to us what we should expect, being as that it was our first time there. She had a great friendly attitude and her presence there was an amazing bonus to the fantastic building. Her service was phenomenal and I simply had to add her to this review because she deserves the highest of kudos.

As I mentioned already, it was the first time ever being there but the menu was very clear on what each item was. It was simple figuring out that we wanted to try the Holy Shittake pizza as it sounded too good to be true. Moe had explained that it would take approximately 30 minutes to complete the masterpiece pizza and even came back to tell us it had been put in the oven. While we waited we watched one cook actually tossing the crust. It has always been something that has always intrigued me, so I completely enjoyed it. It was so much so, I had my husband come sit on my side of the booth so he too could experience this fellas art.

After less than 30 minutes the most delicious looking pizza was placed before us. I'd never seen such a perfect specimen in the form of a pizza. It was clear that it wasn't just the crust tosser who took pride in their work. With one bite, we immediately understood what my neighbor had been raving about. It tasted even better than it looked, which was a wonder in its self.

To summarize, this experience was one that left us in complete and total awe. This was what Paducah needed... And this was the life that building screamed to have back in it. This is an extreme "Rikki Recommends" establishment to take your family...

Our first visit on a Sunday afternoon was great. Wonderful service, food, and beverages. Our next visit about 2 weeks later brought us the same great cider we had before, however the pretzel bites were soggy and undercooked as well as the pizza. The service wasn't terrible so we decided to give it another shot a couple of days ago. When I went to open the door i noticed the mandatory rating from the health department was now a C. Working in the food industry over 12 years, I knew what it took to get that so I read the description of the issues they were having. Food that was not prepared or served at the correct temperature, dented cans, fruit flies, and chemicals near food production stations. I about turned and left then but the company I was with wanted some pretzel bites very badly. Our service was lacking in many ways and apparently we weren't the only ones judging by the tables around us that asked for their food to go once it was brought to them and left. This time the pretzel bites were overcooked, hard and burnt. The 3 pizzas we received were greasy, soggy, and not quality in the slightest. The cider we normally get was removed from the menu but being a bartender I can understand switching it up and making room for new products. By the time we got our food we took a few bites, asked for to go boxes and left. Especially since before we got our food our server and a bus boy started closing down the section we were sitting in and pushing all the tables around us against the wall along with the chairs. In my experience as a restaurant server, bartender, and manager previously, you do not start shutting down a section fully until all of your customers have left. So feeling like the server did not want us there, we left and took our food with us. Which after a couple of bites at home was thrown in the trash. We will not return until the C has been amended to an A and even then, unless management puts a fire under the staff's behind then I expect it to probably be shut down within about 2 to 3 months if not by the health department. Get with the program...

First time going to Mellow Mushroom so we wanted to try a small variety. My mother and I got a large camelized onion, ground beef, and mushroom trio pizza. My neice ordered a pan pineapple (yes it belongs on pizza), olive and . . . (I forget the last topping). My wife ordered the All American Burger with tots and a pan cheese (since she wanted to try the pizza as well but doesnt like onions so wasn't wanting to try ours.)

Our waitress (who's name eludes me at the moment at the moment as I do these reviews in bulk when I remember to/get a chance) was very friendly she was attentive and her first night closing (we got there at 9 with them closing at 10 [last minute idea / late night craving]). She refilled our drinks and took our order and was patient when my mother and I debated our last topping.

The only reissue that arrose would be my wife found a short black hair in the middle of her burger (which the manager kindly removed from the check), but the bite she and (also myself as she offered) sort of left us lacking anyways as it was "just a burger." It sort of tasted well. . . Like a bog standard no frills burger no (if any seasoning just. . . Ground beef and fixings) luckily she got the pan cheese pizza which she very much enjoyed. My mother and I loved our shared pizza with leftovers as well did my neice.

As a side note my mother ordered a twisted bite (a holloween inspire cocktail) and with the drink I had we both found it very smooth and refreshing.

P.S. Was REALLY looking forwards to trying the "Mellow Mushroom" pizza as it had like 7 variety of mushrooms however it seems as though I missed my chance as it was discontinued and replaced with the "Holy...