I was visiting family in Virginia when I came across MOD Pizza, which also has locations in my hometown of Atlanta (exciting). Having never been before but knowing of its roots in Seattle, I stopped by for dinner, looking for something healthy, light, and tasty. I wasn't expecting much from a DIY-pizza chain stop, but MOD Pizza met all my expectations and exceeded some. I presume mod to stand for modular, which means customizable 'mod'ules or units, and that's exactly what makes MOD Pizza shine.
Food: 5/5
Again, I was looking for something healthy, light, yet tasty, and with zero expectations of finding that at a pizza shop, I was surprised by how delicious my pizza was. MOD lets you choose from different sizes, mini (6"), mod (11"), and mega (double 11"). I paid attention to the calorie counts, and the mini (@300-400 calories) was what I was looking for in a dinner portion that night. Since I had a big lunch, I opted for the veggie option, and the closest one on the menu was the Tristan. It came with mozzarella, asiago, roasted red peppers, mushrooms, and pesto. The crust was thin and delightful - while the toppings used were fresh and well seasoned. I've been to a number of DIY pizza spots in both MOD's hometown (Seattle) and in Atlanta, and MOD's pizza had the best taste of them all.
Service: 5/5
The staff here explained the menu options fairly well - when I initially ordered the mini, they warned me that it was small. I actually thought it was a decent size for around 300 calories (I felt full after eating it). I also told the staff I was looking for something with more vegetables, and they let me customize it to make it happen. Some of their team members were having a team meeting in the main dining area and they all acknowledged me as I sat down waiting for my food. This shop is well-run.
Environment: 4/5
I can't really recall much about the decor, other than that it was well lit, clean, and resembling that of a Chipotle. Nothing really stood out, and being a chain, they all have a cookie-cutter approach to aesthetics.
Bottom Line:
Call it the Chipotle for pizzas, but this chain actually served up the best tasting pizzas in the DIY, fast-casual pizza category. Pricing is extremely reasonable - $5.25 for a mini 6" pizza with fresh ingredients makes it in the Subway category for a good deal. The healthy options and carb counts also make it a great lunch/dinner stop for those on a diet plan. The days of eating large, greasy cheese pizzas and ending up with leftovers in a box are over. I'm looking forward to trying MOD when I get back to Atlanta. read more