This location has gone, in my book, from five star best pizza in CLT only a few years ago, to three star pretty mediocre very quickly, I am sad to report. Why? Pizza itself seems different; namely, the crust. Have they started using different ingredients in the crust? Not sure, but it is starting to taste a bit off - you can taste that problem even more easily when you reheat the pizza. Noticed it for the first time perhaps a year ago.
Other issues? Some staff at this location are very friendly; others look at groups with little kids (to wit, us) and seem to overtly groan- and then aren't that friendly to deal with. But, I guess if you're a waiter, kids are a pain: they can be noisy, make a mess, and don't usually spend a lot ok booze. However, since it seems to hold itself out as kid friendly, they could prepare their staff better for the possibility of families showing up.
And, in a town with some pricey pizza places (yes Wolfman, I am looking at you), Hawthorne's seems a little costly for what it is (regular NY pizza).
Still, we continue to eat here often and I hope they sort out whatever that issue is with the crust - it would start to creep back to four stars if they did!
And it would be great if they delivered.