Who is the Czar of the Za? Revolution vs. The Pizza Peel

The Mellow Mushroom used to be a little slice of heaven in Charlotte … my second favorite pizza place in fact (right behind Brixx).

However, The Pizza Peel took over the Mellow Mushroom in Costwold… and well, as for the NoDa location … there was some drama over it when Moon Dog Pizza tried to come in and use the same menu and signage. But now it’s Revolution Pizza, not to be confused with the retail store.

In the battle of pizza places replacing Mellow Mushroom … in this corner we have the Pizza Peel … and in this corner we have Revolution.

BEER

The Pizza Peel: 42 beers on tap

Revolution: 44 beers on tap

… 2 points for Revolution

ENTERTAINMENT

The Pizza Peel: Trivia night on Wednesday and live music on Thursday

Revolution: Also has trivia night on Wednesdays, date night on Tuesdays, Pint Night Thursdays and live music on Saturdays

But The Pizza Peel has Beer Poker.

… 2 points for The Pizza Peel.

Beer Poker is a game in which the bartender spreads out a deck of cards, and you pick one. Then depending on what you draw the bartender will reach into the beer cooler and pulls out a bottle: 2-6 he pulls from the bottom shelf, 7-10 the middle and face cards are top shelf. But the catch is … anything under an Ace the bartender will pick for you, that’s why it’s a gamble. Sean, the bartender, chose for me a Dogfish Head Pumpkin Ale. It was like a liquid alcoholic pumpkin pie.

AMBIANCE

Both were aesthetically appetizing and had a fun and friendly staff – It’s a tie.

MENU

The Pizza Peel: Pizza and wings

Revolution: Pizza and Italian type selections, and a pizza lunch buffet.

But, I went to Revolution one night, late night, and the only thing they had was pepperoni and cheese pizza, that looked about as appetizing as Fuel Pizza.

Meanwhile, I had the “Teriyaffalo” wings – half Terriyaki, half Buffalo

Why would I order wings from a pizza place you’re probably wondering? …well because I’m obsessed with anything slathered in buffalo sauce. In fact, I love the buffalo wings so much, when I had the All-You-Can-Jet pass from JetBlue I flew to Buffalo, NY, for the day … to see Niagra Falls and eat at the Anchor Bar, home of the original buffalo wing.

And the winner is …

Well, you have to go and be the judge of that yourself. In my opinion, I like The Pizza Peel best. It has the same owners of Mama Fu’s and Flying Biscuit – and p.s., they’re opening up a Flying Biscuit in Park Road Shopping Center … that should excite you Myers Park.

And on another note, one night at the EpiCentre I went and got pizza at Libretto’s … $20 for 4 pieces of pizza … now that’s reasonable.

This article appears in Dec 22-28, 2009.