I agree with your assessment .... up to a point. The 3 or 4 Mellow Mushrooms I have patronized had good pizza (something I no longer indulge in) and a decent beer selection. However, management, especially in the kitchen appears quite weak. I've seen too many mistakes and delays to be impressed. I think most of them are franchises - the local in Oxford, AL was owned by a couple doctors' wives that didn't know the first thing about hiring compentent help or running a restaurant. After a huge opening, they drove off customers one by one and it's hard to find many cars in the lot a few years later. One of these days, I'll try the original, which I think in in Auburn?