Page 14 - Fall/Winter Taste Magazine

Owner’s Profile • Karen Atwood of Mellow Mushroom Pizza Bakers
Mellow Mushroom Pizza Bakers is a pizza restaurant in Sarasota which has a reputation for unique and creative pizzas, as well as its fun and eclectic atmosphere. Mellow Mushroom located at 6727 S. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota (941-388-7504) has a cult-like following and is best
known for their fresh ingredients, handmade crusts, and unique topping combinations, including vegetarian and gluten-free options. In addition to pizzas, the restaurant also serves salads, sandwiches, calzones, and a variety of appetizers. They have a wide selection of beers, a full bar and delicious specialty drinks with and without alcohol.
share of mistakes but, honestly, pushing through the Pandemic was the worst. Not knowing what was next, how long it would last or if we'd have the sales/revenue to make payroll and pay bills was super stressful. Certainly, the worst experience.
The restaurant's decor and atmosphere is
described as "groovy" and "psychedelic," featuring
bright colors, funky artwork, and classic rock music.
Mellow Mushroom is often a popular destination for
families, students, and groups of friends looking for a
fun and casual dining experience.
What is your background?
I've had a bit of a gypsy life with many starts and stops. I grew up in and around Salt Lake City, Utah. I went to 6 Junior Highs and 5 High Schools so putting down roots was difficult. As a freshman in high school I started bussing tables at a local diner. That was my start in the hospitality business. I worked all Front Of House positions, including Management, at a variety of concepts for the next 10 -12 years. At the age of 27 I left hospitality and joined AT&T as a customer service representative. I transferred with AT&T from Utah to Florida and grew my technology career from there. This included traveling all over the US and Western Europe performing large scale software implementation proj- ects for global financial services companies. After a couple of decades in the technology space, I was itching to do something different. That's when we took the leap, and joined the Mellow Mushroom family.
What do you like about your restaurant career?
I love people. I love watching the guest's "WOW" reaction when one of our giant salads hit the table! Or when they take the first bite of their favorite pizza. Speaking of pizza, have you tried our Holy Shiitake Pie? It's ridiculous and peo- ple drive for MILES for this pie! Owning and operating a restaurant is seriously hard work. A satisfied guest makes it all worth it.
Dislikes?
Unhappy guests, unkind people, refrigeration units and grease traps, and of course, all the back-office administration work.
What do you see for the future in the restaurant industry and your restaurants?
I don't see the basics changing: Exceptional product, high quality service and a great guest experience. The economics of running a restaurant are very challeng- ing with labor cost being the biggest concern. We expect continued technology evolution to drive revenue increases with a variety of automated processes such as multi-channel ordering, SEO, Geo Fencing and AI. Revenue solves all prob- lems!
Can you share with us your worst restaurant experience?
Ha! Oh gosh, where to start? There are a lot of stories because we've made our
The best?
The best was winning the Best Pizza category in Sarasota Magazine in 2019! Next is the ongoing relationships with our guests. I love chatting with them and hearing their Mellow Mushroom stories that go back 30, 40 and even 50 years. I also love it when they say our Mellow is the best!
Outside of the restaurant, what do you like to do for fun?
The beach, of course! And most anything outside when the temperature is reasonable whether it's exploring our local state parks, hitting some golf balls or just grabbing a drink at a tiki bar. When we can, we love to travel and
Owner Karen Atwood (left) of Mellow Mushroom with wife Keo Sarang
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Taste Dining & Travel • Fall/Winter
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to spend time with friends and family. We often plan trips around a major con- cert, a festival or sporting event. Otherwise, we tend to stick close to home, read and watch the latest streaming series and hang out with our dog, Fenway. Favorite restaurants?
Not a fair question. There are so many good ones to choose from and the landscape is continuously changing! We enjoy most cuisines and try to support the restaurants who support us and the community.
Food and drink?
On a lazy weekend morning, there is nothing better than sitting outside with a cup of Columbian coffee and a great scone. For dinner, we love a good branzi- no shared with friends. I also make a mean 2-day short rib. These, coupled with a nice glass of wine, frame up some of our best food and drink memories. What was your best dining experience?
Several years ago, we attended the Charleston Wine and Food Festival. The per- sonal dining experiences were beyond amazing, the Culinary Village offered tra- ditional and modern fare. But the experience that stands out the most was the Oyster Roast on Kiawah Island. It was oyster heaven where they do the shuck- ing for you! We STILL talk about the festival and can't wait to go back.
Any celebrity sightings at your restaurant?
This is a funny question. We have a "built-in" celebrity status for being the address where the late Paul Rubin (Pee-wee Herman) had his famous run -in with the law at the movie theater on this site. We don't spend a lot of time talk- ing about or proactively offering the info up as Paul's body of work, and legacy, are so much more than this single event. Other than that, celebrities of note are Nik Wallenda and his family, and some Siesta Key and MTV reality stars have dined with us.
What is your philosophy of owning a restaurant?
Our mission is to provide delicious food in a fun and creative environment. Mellow Mushroom began in 1974, from humble roots and born out of the free-wheelin’ hippy culture of the Seventies. The idea back then was the same as it is now, to make the most delicious, craveable pizza on the planet!
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