There are plenty of pizza places in Atlanta — even a few that offer organic, vegan or gluten-free ingredients. But Pizza Fusion — a national fast-casual franchise operation based in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. — stakes its claim to the same niche market as Whole Foods or Wild Oats. In fact, Atlanta franchisee Jeff Melnick says he has plans to open five more Pizza Fusion restaurants in the metro area, pretty much "wherever there's a Whole Foods, Trader Joe's or Fresh Market."
On a recent Saturday night, that demographic target was apparent at Melnick's first Pizza Fusion on Peachtree Road in south Buckhead — where a middle-aged man wearing loose cotton clothing and Birkenstocks and carrying a Sierra Club backpack was seated at a table with his family. There were several similar groups, noshing on organic salads and pizzas and sipping organic beer and wine.
Sustainability
Green is the primary color of the Pizza Fusion concept. That means the company-owned pizza delivery cars are hybrids, and the restaurant's power consumption is 100 percent renewable, complete with Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design certificates. Green design shows up in the energy-saving lighting, building materials and decor made from renewable resources such as bamboo. Overall, the atmosphere is purposefully clean and simple without being austere. A cadre of young, enthusiastic servers adds to the positive energy, even if some are a little hazy on menu details.
Mostly organic
Among its touted awards from 2008, Pizza Fusion was named a "world changing business" by Plenty magazine and ranked among PETA's Top 10 vegan-friendly restaurants. When it comes to the food, the menu is 75 percent organic, with a host of choices for vegetarians, vegans and even people who want to consume humanely raised meats.
Pizzas come in oblong-shaped personal (6-inch-by-9-inch) or large (9-inch-by-18-inch) sizes. You can build your own by choosing from organic white, multigrain or gluten-free crust, then adding a variety of sauces, cheeses and toppings. Over a dozen specialty pizzas run the gamut from Very Vegan (soy cheese, crimini mushrooms, roasted garlic and tomato sauce) to Bill's Steak (steak, roasted peppers and red onions, tomato sauce, and gorgonzola, mozzarella, provolone and parmesan cheese).
One of the tastiest combos, Organic Pepperoni, is also one of the most basic. Its retro pleasures and admirable attributes include a thin, hand-stretched organic white crust, which comes out with crispy edges, topped with tasty organic red sauce, bubbly mozzarella, provolone and parmesan, and oversized rounds of spicy pepperoni.
Gluten-free
The arrival of gluten-free dishes at many more restaurants has been a boon for those who suffer from celiac disease or try to eat a wheat-free diet. The gluten-free crust at Pizza Fusion is a pre-made commercial product, prepared with bean and rice flour.
Tiffany Janes, who organizes gluten-free restaurant events around Atlanta (Gluten Free Promotions, www.glutenfree promotions.com), says, "The gluten-free crust is decent, but taste is relative, and I've had other gluten-free crusts I prefer." Janes recommends brushing the crust with olive oil, which she says improves both the taste and texture, and is a trick she uses at home with leftover gluten-free pizza. But she's happy that Pizza Fusion is now offering personal size gluten-free pizzas, along with Green's Quest gluten-free beer.
AT A GLANCE
• Where: 2233 Peachtree Road, Atlanta. 404-351-9334
• Signature dish
:
Organic, vegan and gluten-free pizza
• Entree prices: $7-$24
• Hours: 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Sundays-Saturdays.
• Reservations: No
• Credit cards: Yes
• Online
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