Brixx (Birkdale)

I love pizza. It is quite possibly the most perfect food ever invented. Really. Just think about it, where else can you get all the food groups in one slice of yummy deliciousness? Breads? Crust, check. Dairy? Cheese, check. Vegetables? Tomato sauce, check. Meats? Pepperoni, check. And for gourmet-style wood-oven pizzas, Brixx is a great choice.

If you enter the Birkdale Brixx on a Friday night, consider yourself lucky to get a table within 20 minutes. This place gets absolutely packed, there isn't an empty chair at the bar, and they even seat people on the heated patio. The place looks very chaotic, with children running around, parents trying to keep up with their children, and waiters and waitresses who are carrying large trays of food. But somehow it all works out. The food arrives within a reasonable amount of time, and no children are run-over.

This restaurant gets loud inside, and I prefer it in the summer when I can sit on the patio, eat, drink, and relax. But during the winter, expect the inside to be loud during the busiest hours, and conversation can be difficult at times.

But lets face it, if I wanted conversation, I'd choose a small and quiet restaurant -- I'm here for the pizza! So, I order a pepperoni pizza, with a bruschetta appetizer to be served at the same time. The pizzas at Brixx come in only one size. I'll call it an individual plus. It's slightly too big for one person (though I've eaten a whole one before), but not quite big enough for two people to share. Hence, the bruschetta. Combine the two, and you've got a great two person meal.

The food arrives, and my mouth is watering. We've ordered a Cabernet Sauvignon, and it's only whetted my appetite. The pizza crust is crisp along the edges, though the middle of the crust is somewhat soggy. The sauce tastes homemade, and tonight's pizza seems to have more cheese than usual -- EXCELLENT.

I take my first bite, and the flavors of the cheese, pepperoni, sauce, and crust, all accentuate each other. After my first slice, I reach for the bruschetta, but I don't put it on the toasted bread that comes with the dish. I instead put it on the pizza and take a bite. Absolute Perfection. Combine that with the wine and while I'm eating that bite, I'm in heaven.

Score:
Atmosphere: 3/5 (This score would be higher if I was eating on the patio in the summer)
Food: 4/5
Service: 3/5
Total: 10/15
Price: $ (Most pizzas and sandwiches under $10)

Conclusion: I'm rather partial to the Brixx in Birkdale, it's laid back atmosphere and good pizza are the reasons I go there often. However, their service can be spotty at times. If you're looking for a quieter venue on a Friday night, I suggest you pick up your order to go. That way you can have the same great food, but a little more conversation.

Restaurant Info:
Brixx Pizza (Birkdale)
16915 Birkdale Commons Parkway
Huntersville, NC 28078
704-894-0044