Bites Nearby: Care for a Mint?

It was raining and cold and I had been driving around without food in my stomach for a good while.  I kept thinking about pizza as it was supposed to be on the menu the night before.  Needless to say, I did not get my pizza and I was on a critical mission to conquer my own piece of heaven.  I heard that in downtown Enumclaw was the best place to get killer homemade “Zah” (slang for pizza) and a brew.  I didn’t hesitate long and soon found myself walking into this recommended dining zone.

I made my way to the back by the cozy fireplace where I could be alone and read the paper and warm up.  I soon found myself overwhelmingly warm and when my waitress showed up, I was already in motion to another spot.  I chose this comfortable little table by the window and set up shop with menu in hand.

Although the Mint has an amazing selection of 28 handcrafted beers on tap, I chose a glass of nicely chilled chardonnay along with a side salad.  I opted for one of the house favorites which is the Greek pizza and calmly sat back in extreme anticipation of my treat.  I sipped my wine and found myself going down memory lane with the 80s music that played in the background.

One of the features of The Mint I liked was that it is just plain comfortable.  It definitely is a favorite for local residents from blue and white collar to young and old alike.  Conversations can be had, laughter shared and rounds of beer can be toasted and cheered.  To add to this ambiance is the old brick interior which gives it a very authentic and aged pub feel.  The brick walls are also adorned with various pieces of art from local artists which are for sale. I applaud any business that supports other community entrepreneurs—“Go Local!”

So back to why I was here:  the food.  When the salad came out I have to admit I wanted to nickname it 'Tiny.’  It really was a small salad for my overly hungry appetite but of course I dove in.  I did not complain once I tasted the fresh crisp lettuce and tomatoes, shredded cheese and homemade garlic croutons.  

The croutons were enormous and made fresh in the kitchen.  They were garlicky, crunchy, fresh and they were baked from an assortment of bread flavors such as sourdough and rye.  I decided that even though the salad was good, next time I will order the same, minus the salad and add extra croutons.  I know this sounds like just a bowl of croutons and you are right—it is.

Now for the piece de resistance: the pizza.  I have to admit I was a little shocked when it came out because it was not like any Greek pizza I had ever seen.  I thought at first it was a cheese pizza and they had given me the wrong one.  It smelled right and really I was so hungry that I decided even if it wasn’t the right pizza, I was going to eat.  Needless to say, I am glad I did.

It appears that looks can be deceiving as this was the Greek I ordered.  Where I expected kalamata olives, I saw black olives and where I thought I would see spinach, crumbled feta and an assortment of fresh herbs, there was none to be seen.  However, magic in this new style of Greek pizza was to be discovered.  The tangy feta was hiding underneath the thick layer of bubbling mozzarella and instead of spinach, flavorful pine nuts gave a distinguished and nutty flavor.

The white sauce was unlike any I had tasted as it had undertones of wine and was slightly sweet.  The sweetness was well complimented with fresh garlic and more fresh zesty garlic and....oh, did I mention the fresh garlic?  Yes, here at The Mint, garlic is added for free and as much as you want for overindulgence. Thank goodness that it went so well with the thin light crust; it truly was a match made in Enumclaw.

As this pizza choice may not be the choice for meat lovers, it doesn’t really matter as there are many varieties to choose from on the menu.  And for those who wonder, there are many more items on the menu such as signature sandwiches, burgers and salads.  The average cost for lunch is around $9 (not including pizza). 

In my opinion, the pizza is a little on the high side in price but I did happen to come in on a Friday when all pizzas were $5 off.  My 16-inch pizza, normally priced at $21.95 , came to a much more affordable $16.95—a price I would definitely pay for homemade tasty goodness.  As far as the garlic is concerned, I am a fan and I always will be a fan of this fabulous tangy bulb in any dish I consume.  Sometimes I can overdo it at places like The Mint where I can only leave full, satisfied and will gladly accept when someone says, “Care for a mint?”