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Barley's Taproom & Pizzeria
- Hours:
Mon-Sat 11:30 am - 2 am
Sun 12 pm - 2 am
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Lunch, Dinner
- Music:
- Live
- Best Nights:
- Fri, Thu, Sat
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Smoking:
- No
- Coat Check:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Loud
- Good For Dancing:
- No
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
62 reviews for Barley's Taproom & Pizzeria
Review Highlights
"The selection of brews (mostly local) was amazing."
(in 10 reviews)
"A busy restaurant and a great atmosphere."
(in 4 reviews)
"You just can't go a lot at Barley's."
(in 3 reviews)
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62 reviews in English
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Review from Bruce K.
This will be a very short review because there doesn't need to be anything more to say except:
1. Really great draft and bottled beer selections. Lots of local choices!
2. Fantastic pizza. Simply awesome.
3. Other options were good. Voodoo Chicken received great reviews and the burger too.
4. Attentive staff who easily split up the check 10 ways.
Just a really great place! -
Review from Brett G.
Atlanta, GA
1/10/2012
I was driving from NYC to ATL and decided to stop in Asheville for the night. The hotel clerk suggested Barley's for great pizza and beer. He couldn't have been more spot on!
I ordered two custom topped, huge, hearty slices of pizza and sampled a few of NC's finest brews.
Great spot! -
Review from Scott S.
Asheville, NC
1/9/2012 1 Check-in Here
Definitely good for having pizza by the slice at all hours. That's rare around here, so I was already impressed.
The pizza is alright, not the best I've had, but definitely not bad. The appetizers are awesome, though. We've gotten black bean dip, hummus, something called fiddlesticks which are addicting if only because you can't figure out if you like them or not. (That sounds weird, but go try them. You'll see what I'm talking about. They're like bread covered in some kind of sweet, hot sauce, and then served with dipping sauce. You cannot stop eating them because you keep thinking you're going to figure out what they taste like.)
We go on Wednesday nights for a great trivia game with a hilarious quizmaster. I'm not a huge beer fan, but the people I've gone with are never disappointed by the selection. Doesn't seem like they have many drink specials, but clearly they don't have to. -
Review from Elizabeth S.
Bristol, VA
2/7/2012 2 photos
If you're looking for a bar/restaurant where you can enjoy great, local microbrews, comfort food, and live music in Asheville, look no further than Barley's. It's a casual, fun hangout, perfect for get-togethers with friends and family. I visited Barley's for a birthday party on February 4, 2012. I had two North Carolina beers, Duck Rabbit Amber Ale and French Broad IPA, accompanied by their Voodoo Pasta plate. Both food and drink were inexpensive and delicious. I would definitely return!
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Review from Brian F.
10/20/2011
This is actually named "Barley's Taproom and Pizzeria."
On our most recent trip to Beer City USA, we stopped at the original Asheville Pizza and Brewing Company. It was a bit too early for dinner, so we just got a flight of beer there. After perusing the window menus of some downtown establishments, we decided on Barley's for dinner before heading back home to Charlotte.
We didn't get pizza having just had some the previous night, but it looked very good at the table next to ours. I got a chick parm sub which was delicious - and actually made with grilled chicked. My side of homemade potatop salad was also tasty. The significant other got vegetable primavera and that was very good and fresh too.
I got a flight of four local beers (the Beer City USA flight). Four for $4 was a fair price; however one of them tasted like the tap needed to be changed. She got a local pumpkin beer, which was probably the best pumpkin beer I've had (yes, it was way better than Dogfish Head's Punkin Ale).
The prices were reasonable, the food was decent, and they had a lot of fresh local beer. I would definitely return here. -
Review from Keiko C.
10/11/2011 2 Check-ins Here
My first visit to Barleys was while we were running late to see Explosions in the Sky a few weeks ago and this place with packed. We put our names in with the host at the front and like I imagine most pretentious girls to be, she did it with a fake smile and a better than thou attitude.
We shrugged her off and made our way upstairs for a drink... The beer selection is on point. They were out of a few taps but I got my paws on a few good brews and ended up scoring a spot a the bar downstairs.
From there we shared the bean dip- fantastic and spicy and I ordered a tofu sandwich/burger thing... It'd been so long since I'd done the veg thing and I was more than impressed.
While the service lacked the food was impressive. -
Review from Bridget B.
North Hollywood, CA
2/19/2011
Fantastic beer, music, food and people.
I will say that the atmosphere isn't my exact dive but I really can't hold that against the place.
If you enjoy chamber music or the fiddle I HIGHLY suggest coming here,.particularly on the weekends. Also, Make sure to order a locally hand crafted beer too.
And by all means, dance.Listed in: Bars
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Review from Johnny M.
Stopped in for a late lunch Saturday, and absolutely loved it!
The place was quite busy, but my girlfriend and I promptly got one of the few tables left-and it was the best one of all- right next to the window with a clear view of the beautiful day outside!
Our server wasted no time taking our drink order, and was really patient when I couldn't decide on a beer because the beer list was FREAKIN' HUGE!!!!!!! I finally decided on a Sierra Nevada Hoptimum on tap. (And later, a bottled Delirium Tremens)
Even though pizza is their thing, I'd eaten pizza the day before, so I didn't really want any. There was a lot on the menu that looked really good (sandwiches, subs, salads, pitas, pasta, calzones, etc.) I ended up ordering Pasta Primavera. It was very quick to be served, and tasted exactly as I'd expected (kinda hard to ruin it).
Our server was quick, patient and attentive, and always smiling. She really helped the already awesome experience.
I can't wait to get back here and have a brew or five. Awesome establishment if you're in the area and in need of a place to kick back and have a great beer! -
Review from Alicia W.
Belmont, WV
10/31/2011
The service was kind of a bummer, but I didn't feel particularly neglected - it WAS dinnertime on a weekend during a festival. The atmosphere was great and the prices were right on, especially for the food quality. I had the jerk tofu sandwich with potato salad. The veggies tasted fresh and the tofu was seasoned to perfection and well-cooked. The potato salad was excellent. I'll definitely come back if I'm in Asheville again.
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Review from Roy K.
Alpharetta, GA
4/8/2011
If you like good beer for cheap + good pizza this is your place. Great selection of local craft + other small brewers around the country.
Most pints are under $4.
Other menu food items are just okay but I am not knocking stars off for that since they claim beer and pizza. -
Review from Michelle V.
Cary, NC
6/18/2011 1 Check-in Here
There's not much that's more appealing on a rainy Saturday afternoon than pizza and beer. So, I stopped in at Barley's and left nothing short of satisfied. The atmosphere was completely laid back and friendly. The beer selection was absolutely fantastic and I would go back again for that alone. The food wasn't out of this world, but definitely good. I loved that I could order a single slice of pizza with any and as many toppings I wanted. The slices, by the way, are huge! When I got my bill I was almost shocked at how inexpensive the entire meal (and three beers) was. One last comment in response to something else I read about this place....there WAS a lot of facial hair in that bar! :)
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Review from carrie b.
Charlotte, NC
10/1/2011
This is a great place to go to sample some local beers. I tried Pisgah, Catawba Valley, French Broad and RJ Rockers (SC) to name a few. RJ Rockers had a fantastic peach beer that blew my mind! Barley's does flights for $4 or $5. The bartenders are knowledgeable and friendly. Disregard the bland decor, the staff makes up the character of this place. Thursday night, we stumbled upon a jazz jam with no cover charge.
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Review from Sean O.
Cambridge, MA
2/25/2011
Stopped in as i was passing through Asheville. Stopped again on the way back through. Great old space, super high celings and nicely spaced tables on hardwood floors in an great open floor plan. Super friendly staff at the bar pouring superb local micro-brews from around NC. Pizza is yummy and can be ordered by the slice with whatever you want on it. Slice size is very generous. Two will satisfy.
If I lived in Asheville this would likely be my watering hole.
Looks like all are comfortable here - from couples to families. -
Review from Jennifer M.
Miami, FL
1/4/2011 1 photo
I love going to Barley's when I am in Asheville. And it has become the traditional starting point for the Asheville birthday beer crawl for us.
Let's start with beer list.
This can be a bit overwhelming. But the beer list here is amazing! A lot of great local and regional craft beers. Honestly if you are overwhelmed go for anything made by local Asheville Breweries. You can't go wrong with that. I love a basic Gaelic Ale or a Pisgah Pale. Also check out the local breweries seasonal brews. The also are doing a local mead list as well. Mead is a fermented alcohol made from honey. If you have never tried mead before, gotta try some local mead for sure. It is a different and unique beverage.
Food:
The garlic knots here are so yummy, soft and doughy and served with hot marinara sauce. I haven't really tried any of the other appetizers due to the fact that we mostly eat pizza and drink beer when we come here. Gotta save room somewhere.
The pizza here is so good. The Greek is one of our group's favorites or we just build a pizza. But the important thing is to spring for the spent beer grain crust. Highland's Brewery, which started out in the basement of Barley's, donates some of their spent beer grains that they then use to make pizza dough out of. The pizza is so freakin good with this crust and really I can't go back to normal dough at Barley's now. Mostly the spent grain is from the Gaelic Ale, which gives the pizza a sweet malty taste and goes great with their sauce. Also my favorite beer with their pizza is the Gaelic Ale. It is a simple yet wonderful combination.
The service is great and always super friendly. It can get crowded here especially for dinner after there is some kind of event downtown, but wait it out. Totally worth it.
This is a great beer and pizza spot in Asheville and is a must stop to get some local Asheville flavor! -
Review from Walter K.
5/9/2011 2 photos
Barley's is a great place to hangout. The prices here, especially for the quality of beer are great. The selection is fantastic. Upstairs, there is plenty of room to hang out and play darts or pool. This is a great place to check out some of the local brews and hang out with friends. If I lived in Asheville, I'd be here quite often.
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Review from Derek E.
Asheville, NC
11/7/2011
Went here to grab a beer with my friend. It was kinda busy but the 2 bartenders upstairs were not slammed. One was busy cleaning. My friend and I sat there for 5 minutes and were not acknowledged at all. The other bartender was chatting with some outdoorsy hippie sitting RIGHT next to me (who already had a beer). We obviously were waiting for service and I started tapping a coaster impatiently. The kinda-hippie-guy was talking about the bartenders necklace (some new age swirly thing) and handed him some business cards. They kept talking and he continued to ignore us. Obviously the bartender thought talking about his necklace was more important than getting us drinks. It was very rude of the bartender not to say "hang on" and then ask what we wanted first. Maybe if we had dreads and looked like we were new age hippies that didn't have jobs we would have gotten service? We just left. I love supporting local, but you have to not suck first.
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Review from Kyle H.
North Hollywood, CA
9/14/2010
This place is amazing! I visited Asheville for the first time in December of 2009 and this restaurant will not be forgotten. I'm glad that my wife is from the area, insuring repeat visits in the future.
The beer tap lineup is amazing, serving the quintessential, familiar craft brews in addition to a multitude of incredible local offerings. What stands above the beer selection for me was the pizza. We had a veggie pizza made with the Gaelic Ale mash from a nearby brewery. UH-MAY-ZING! I bought a shirt. -
Review from Jon L.
6/28/2010
Go here for beer!
I'm not going to add much more than what you've read from my fellow Yelpers other than to say...it really is all about the beer.
We didn't try any food because we arrived 'pre-dinner' time and were scoping 'Freak City' for a place to watch the World Cup. This place was clearly not it, only one small plasma viewable from the bar.
We had a couple of local Highland brews, which were aight.
I asked for Chips & Salsa, I swear it was Chi Chi's salsa right out of the jar and the chips were right from a doritos bag.
The staff was nice and attentive, but it was 5p...and we were about the only ones there.
I did like the small sampler glasses so you can get a decent enough taste of whatever.
The place is huge inside, rustic and wood, very open floor plan and a long bar with swivel backed bar stools.
You MIGHT find meter street parking but more than likely you'll need to find a pay lot and walk a few blocks. -
Review from Mike E.
Austin, TX
8/18/2011
Skip the visitors bureau!!!! Drive straight here... Jonathon and the crew were amazing.. Their knowledge of the beers and local attractions made our trip to asheville the first of many... The pizza was great but it is hard to beat the local friendly service... Raise a tall one to jonathon and the crew at barley's.
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Review from April M.
Pacific Grove, CA
6/13/2010 1 photo
Incredible beer selection, amazing pizza, great service.
Kids love it, adults love it. I truly can't think of anything bad to say. They even have a clean bathroom! -
Review from Jessica E.
Key West, FL
7/17/2011
Great selection of beers. The waitress recommended an outstanding peach beer. Pizza was delicious and great side salad.
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Review from Mandy D.
Louisville, KY
Stopped in for lunch. Ordered the garlic knots and nachos with jalapeños & jerk chicken as apps. The garlic knots were tender, and the marinara was hot -- a good point, but we thought it needed a touch more sugar and salt.
I ordered a large pepperoni pizza for the table, and by the lack of pizza screen marks, I'd say they're using a deck oven to bake in, which is a plus in my book. The cheese had just the right about of pull without being stringy. The dough definitely isn't considered "New York style" but a traditional hand-tossed. The pepperoni was only mildly spicy.
My husband ordered the jerk chicken sandwich and it was plump and juicy but VERY spicy. I couldn't handle the seasoning but he liked it. He also enjoyed a glass of ginger mead, which was very nice.
We'd definitely try Barley's again! -
Review from CD K.
New Orleans, LA
7/11/2011
As the other reviews attest, the list of beers here is ridiculously impressive. The pizza, not so much. I think maybe it just depends on the kind of pizza you like. Very family-oriented downstairs, many of the tables had folding metal chairs at seats (?!). I didn't go upstairs. This seems like a good place to make a drinking destination but I would not eat there again.
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Review from Taylor S.
Swannanoa, NC
7/6/2011 1 Check-in Here
Great beer and great pizza
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Review from Tony L.
7/21/2009
Food: 2 Stars, at best
Beer Selection: 5 Stars
The bar upstairs is great for small gatherings or just relaxing with a pint. The selection is great. The only drawback is how horribly smokey it gets. You will smell horrid when you leave.
For great selection and a great atmosphere go to Jack of the Wood.
If you must play Pool or Darts...then head to Barley's. -
Review from Michael S.
Pasadena, CA
8/23/2007
Barley's has been a post hiking staple for us when we are in Asheville. About a year and half ago I drug some friends of mine on a 20+ miles death march through the Shining Rock Wilderness. After hiking a ride back to our cars, we ended up here for dinner. With it's great selection of beer and very tasty pizza (especially after a hike like that), it hit the spot. It's a large space, with a bar upstairs. It was crowded that night and it took about 20 minutes for our large group to get a table - not bad on a Saturday night. Service was prompt but I do remember the appetizers being...forgettable, if not bad. Still the pizza was great and they were happy to accommodate all of our atypical requests (no cheese, extra sauce for my lactose intolerant gf)
We been back since that night and will admit that its not quite as great when you aren't exhausted and starving, but still...it's good, and surely you can find a beer to compensate. -
Review from Jenni F.
Mt Pleasant, SC
1/4/2010
We vacationed in Asheville for the week of New Year's Eve (actually, in the mountains near Lake Lure). We had heard that this restaurant had great pizza and an awesome beer selection. We decided to stop in for a late lunch, more for the cold beer then the pizza (although, I'm not sure why as it was only 13 degrees outside). There were 8 of us and with 55 beers on tap everyone was able to get what they like. The Highland Brewery (in Asheville) produces my favorite beer in the universe (Highland Galeic Ale), so I was super stoked to see that they had 7 Highland varieties on the menu!! Everyone was happy with their beer choices and we found the prices to be much cheaper then a big city or even what we're used to in Charleston.
Now, for the pizza. We ordered a meat lovers for the meat lovers and a veggie for me (which everyone nibbled on). They have a choice of 3 doughs: regular, whole wheat and a beer mash. I wanted to try the beer mash but was voted down, we got the whole wheat instead. It was wonderful. Everyone agreed that the pizza was cooked perfectly (and the perfect thickness), and the dough was very tender (probably because they make and pull it every morning). Everyone was happy, and that's a hard feat to achieve with 8 family members!!
I would definitely go back and would recommend this for others! On a side note, we were there for a late lunch (3:30ish) and so there was no band. We had no trouble hearing each other (as some other reviewers have noted) and our server was awesome. She was super friendly and we tiped her extra based on her great attitude! -
Review from Austin D.
5/27/2008
After a long day of bombing down the trails of DuPont Forest, my posse and I rolled into Barley's. We had mistakenly entered there the previous night while looking for Ed Boudreaux's (next door).
This is a fantastic local pizza joint. The night we were there, Johnson's Crossroad (http://www.myspace.com...) played a set of great bluegrass.
We ordered some thick style (not the NY style) pies which were delicious-- kind of doughy, but in a good way. The selection of brews (mostly local) was amazing.
Great, friendly service.
We didn't make it to the upstairs this time around.
Spinach salad and garlic knots were... meh (only reason they lost a star).
I'm falling in love with you, Asheville. One more great restaurant like Barley's and I just may have to move to you. -
Review from Ben H.
Atlanta, GA
1/27/2009
Service was ok. There was a band playing that was WAY too loud (even though the place was fairly empty). I mean, it was really hard to sit and enjoy the meal because they were so loud.
This place has a pretty respectable list of beers so kudos for that. I would definitely recommend this as a place to go and get beer and snacks - but not pizza! I'm really surprised to see all the love for the pizza - I really am not picky at all when it comes to pizza, but I thought their pizza here was a bit lousy. I didn't really care for the flavors and it was too greasy. The cheese wasn't cooked well either. We had leftovers and didn't even want to take it. I'm sure it tastes awesome if you are drunk though.
2.5 -
Review from Michael B.
Lake Hiawatha, NJ
11/2/2010 1 Check-in Here
Great spot. Tons of beer to choose from, and really good beer at that. I had the pizza, and it was surprisingly good for not being pizza from New York. The crust was thin, but crunchy, and the sauce was a bit on the sweet side, but overall not bad.
This spot is a must for beer lovers. -
Review from Leslie B.
Asheville, NC
6/21/2006
I really like Barley's. They have excellent beers on tap, their food is amazing and their staff is the best in Asheville.
They have an upstairs and a downstairs bar. The upstairs bar is 21 or older. Downstairs usually has live music on Friday and Saturday. The only problem with the music is it's too loud. I've never really enjoyed a meal there because of the music.
The bathrooms are tiny. I personally thing bars should have larger bathrooms. Lots of drinking=going to the bathroom a lot. You just can't go a lot at Barley's.
Overall, Barley's is a great find. The Pisgah Pale Ale is a must. -
Review from Nancy R.
Milwaukee, WI
5/1/2011 4 Check-ins Here
Barley's is a good place for beer and to have a good time with friends, but I would eat somewhere else. If you're hungry for pizza and beer, go to Asheville Brewing Company or Mellow Mushroom. I would totally avoid the sandwiches and hit Packs Tavern if you want something other than pizza.
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Review from Missy M.
Charleston, WV
7/16/2009
55 beers on tap automatically awards this place 4 stars. Service was good; pizza was lousy (it is billed as NY style and that is so far from the truth unless it's not the NY I'm thinking of when people say "NY Style Pizza").
Would def go back here to drink the brew on a return visit to A-ville. -
Review from G R.
Monongalia, WV
5/30/2011
I eat here everytime i'm in town (about 1x per year)
The pizza and beer choice are amazing.
Agree that its hit or miss with service, but you come to expect that in Asheville. In fact, on this visit, our first server sucked. Luckily, it turned out that another server took over our table, and was super friendly, prompt and responsible. Most of the servers are pretty young, and sure, it's just a job, but this young lady was really good at her current job and took good care of us.
If you like pizza and local beer, don't let the on/off service scare you off. It's worth a visit. -
Review from Samantha E.
Alexandria, VA
2/2/2011
A busy restaurant and a great atmosphere. Busy and bustling and everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves. The pizza was pretty delicious and the beer selection looked pretty good. Good location and service.
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Review from Matthew M.
Denver, CO
2/15/2006 1 photo
I like Barley's more every time I go there. The staff is real friendly and the atmosphere is great, even when the place is filled to capacity. The bar seems kinda 'old world' in fact, the whole place feels like an American version of a german bierhaus.
Plus, Highland Brewing Company is around the back, and this is the place for beers on tap. Awesome pizza, tasty veggie burgers, and good times... -
Review from Liza P.
Haslett, MI
1/11/2009
A must-stop whenever we are in Asheville. Delicious pizzas with all sorts of gourmet toppings and an excellent array of beers on tap. I love the selection of microbrews, and the servers are knowledgeable about their beers.
Kid friendly, too. -
Review from Jen C.
8/23/2010
I was craving pizza like a mad crazy pregnant banshee woman last Friday night and moseyed over to Barley's. I was pretty excited when I saw the signs for their "New York" style pizza! Call me a snobby New Yorker, but gah! You are NOT New York-style pizza! New York style has a crispy blackened crust and is medium-thin doughy crust with lots of sauce. I knew I wasn't in for real New York style pizza when I saw the stark white fluffy crusts on my neighbors pizza. Sigh.
The dough wasn't very good. The toppings, on the other hand, we're delish. My seasoned tofu was spicy and I wish I had gotten a plate of just that! The sauce was pretty decent. The biggest problem with the pizza was that the crust didn't hold up to the toppings whatsoever so it kind of mushed/ gooed in your hands. This is the kind of pizza you have to eat with a fork.
Atmosphere-wise the place was decent. It was pretty hoppin' at 9pm on a Friday night (we even had to wait about 10 minutes for a table for 2 even though I expected the dinner rush to be long over). The bar has an awesome beer selection. I'd like to come here to hang for just the beers and skip the food next time. -
Review from Justin P.
Asheville, NC
12/30/2006
Good pizza! The pizza combinations offered and that you can come up with on your own is better than at Asheville Pizza & Brewing, although the atmosphere is obviously completely different. Barley's is woody and dark. It is also a chain (Asheville, Greenville, Knoxville.)
The appetizers are good as well. I ordered Fiddlesticks... which are a totally bizzare batch of sourdough bread sticks cooked with hot sauce that you dip into either a house or a bleu cheese dressing. They are counterintuitively good.
Obviously the beer selection is superb. They have a large number on tap and a large number of bottles, including local brews. The very best part is that the beer menu comes with detailed descriptions of each beer... like a paragraph! It also tells you the alcohol content of each beer.
Barley's has darts, pool tables, and another bar upstairs... and they often feature music downstairs. However, the stage set-up leaves a lot to be desired and is ultimately background noise. -
Review from Nicole B.
Greenville, SC
2/13/2010 1 photo
After a day at Biltmore House, we went to Barley's to get some dinner/drinks and watch the Olympics.
Drinks: Great beer selection.
Appetizers: Salads and garlic bread were tasty but way too much garlic on the bread, even for someone who loves garlic. We scraped 3/4 of it off the bread, just wasteful how much was on the toast.
Dinner: Single slice pizza choices are nice but it's obviously pre-made then reheated once you order because it was not hot throughout the slice and it didn't fully melt the cheese.
We left pleased but this Chicago girl has had much better pizza elsewhere.
