Charleston Edition: Pies & Pints

I took a trip to Charleston this weekend to see good friends Brittany and Melanie. I left directly after work on Friday, so as soon as I arrived in Charleston, I was starving. I already knew which places was No. 1 on my list to try: Pies & Pints.

This place is a known landmark in Charleston. I believe it started in Fayetteville, and Charleston is their second location. As the name states, this place specializes in brews and pizzas. Their slogan "Handcrafted West Virginia pizza" says why they're the best - the crust is handmade, the ingredients are fresh, and the flavors are unique. I've heard tons of great things about this place, so I was really excited to try. The outside of the building is a vibrant green color.

When you walk in, the bar is directly in front, and you walk along a narrow way with barstools to the right, to get back to the dining area. There is a long, comfy bench that wraps around with a chair on the opposite side. When we sat down, I instantly felt a very cool vibe. The restaurant is filled with cool, bold colors, like black, red and green. When I looked up, there was exposed piping, which lent itself to this relaxing industrial environment. The host was very pleasant as he showed us to our seats. The waiter soon followed with menus.

The pizzas are unlike anything I've seen before. They aren't the typical cheese, pepperoni pies you'd see in a typical Morgantown establishment. No, these pizzas boast shrimp, kalamata olives, coconut and black beans. Small pizzas were 10", so we each ordered our own. I chose the "Chicken Gouda Pie," which had marinated grilled chicken, bacon, smoked gouda, red onions, chipotle crema and scallions. It was simply delicious. The ingredients were super fresh and good quality. The chipotle sauce had just the perfect amount of kick to accent the delicious, creamy gouda cheese and salty bacon. I ate the entire pie. And, I didn't regret it one bit.

Brittany asked the waiter if the "Mediterranean Shrimp Pie," (shrimp, artichoke hearts, kalamata olives, fresh garlic, lemon & herbs) was good. He said he wasn't a fan, but she ordered it anyway. When it came out, she told the waiter it was too salty. He actually gave her a menu to order a different one, and remade her an entire pizza himself. She chose the "Margherita Pie" with fresh mozzarella, tomato sauce, fresh basil, parmesan and fresh garlic this time. She was pleased. I had a slice as well, and I was also happy. It tasted like an authentic Italian pizza.The ingredients were fresh and were given room to shine. It was a tasty pie.

I am not the type of person to ever send back a meal. I simply wasn't raised that way. But the waiter was more than accommodating to Brittany's tastes, and he earned major points by being so gracious. The customer service here is some of the best I've ever seen, and the pizzas were amazing. I can't wait to go back, and maybe I'll get to try the Fayetteville location at some point. For $13 for a delicious pie, you can't go wrong. 

Grade: A