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| - I'm originally from this area and remember fondly my childhood days when my parents would make the 45 minute drive to Charlotte to eat at the Open Kitchen. This of course only happened on rare and special occasions and the OK and the Gondola were the only places to get a pizza! The food was really great back then! So, I wanted to have a great experience but when I recently dined there, I was seriously disappointed. The same charming ambiance is still there -- the college pennants on the wall/ceiling, photos of old Charlotte, etc. But sadly, they have lost the art of making great food. The pizza was horrible! (Any frozen pizza from the local grocery store would have been it's superior.) The edges of the thin pre-molded crust were burnt, the slightly warm toppings were bland, sitting in a thin, rubbery cheese. The bread was cold, with all the taste of a day old hot dog bun. The salad? Not much more than a chunk of lettuce drenched in Italian dressing. This latest generation either failed to learn how to cook or has lost interest in doing so. Chef Ramsey, where are you when we need you? My recommendation: Go there for the really warm and nostalgic atmosphere, order up a cold beer or nice glass of wine and enjoy the memories. If you want good Italian or Greek food look elsewhere.
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