Food and Drink

This tiny pizza shack in Matthews pairs its pies with cold beer, good company

By Tristan Graziano and Jamie Graziano
Key Takeaways
Key Takeaways

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  • The Exchange Pizza Depot delivers standout pies alongside Seaboard Brewing traffic.
  • Neapolitan-style pizzas feature creative toppings like pickles and balsamic glaze.
  • Compact setup leverages electric ovens to serve steady flow of brewery patrons.

Most people know how well beer and pizza go together, so it’s no surprise that tucked beside Seaboard Brewing in downtown Matthews is The Exchange Pizza Depot.

This small but mighty pizza shed turns out solid Neapolitan-style pies. It’s casual and unfussy, making the most of its compact space and serving as the perfect complement to the brewery next door.

A first-person view of an open pizza box on a wooden picnic table. Inside is an uncut pizza with a white sauce base, topped with cheese and a large amount of sliced pickles. In the background is the brick entrance to the pizzeria with a chalkboard sign that reads “BYE BYE PIE.”
The Exchange Pizza Depot’s Pickle-ickle-ickle pizza features dill pickles over mozzarella with Southwestern sauce and a ”super-secret pickle seasoning.” Jamie Graziano CharlotteFive

This is our third brewery pizza we’ve tried in the Charlotte area, and it might just be the highest-rated one yet. Despite its small footprint, The Exchange runs an impressively efficient operation. Four electric ovens quickly churn out pies to keep pace with the steady stream of beer drinkers, frozen cocktail sippers and wine lovers coming through Seaboard.

The pizzeria also has a second location in Monroe and recently partnered with NoDa Brewing to bring pizza into its North End taproom, too.

A close-up action shot from a pizzeria kitchen shows a cook using long tongs to place an uncooked tomato and cheese pizza into a specialized black oven. The pizza slides off a round mesh screen into the oven’s opening. The oven’s digital control panel is visible below.
Inside the kitchen at The Exchange Pizza Depot. Jamie Graziano CharlotteFive

In Mathews, the menu features pizzas, quesadillas and a couple of dessert options. This isn’t your typical slice joint. Instead, it offers a few creative, beer-friendly surprises.

We started with the Maddie-Rita, which had great visual appeal: a nicely puffed golden crust, just the right amount of char and a solid sauce-to-cheese ratio.

An overhead shot captures a sliced, artisanal Margherita pizza. The high-temperature bake is evident in the blistered and charred puffy crust. The pizza is topped with a simple red sauce, large ovals of melted fresh mozzarella, and garnished with fresh basil. The pizza rests on checkered paper inside a takeout box.
The Maddie-Rita pizza at The Exchange Pizza Depot has a good sauce-to-cheese ratio. Jamie Graziano CharlotteFive

The crust delivered a satisfying crunch and a soft, chewy interior. Our one complaint was that the cheese was cut a bit too thick and didn’t melt fully. When we took a bite, the whole piece pulled off the slice, but it was still a tasty pie.

Next up was The Caprese Pizza. It starts with a base cheese pie, topped with fresh tomatoes before baking and finished with basil and a drizzle of balsamic glaze after it comes out of the oven. This pizza is a great-looking option with pops of color and a vibrant flavor profile to match.

A freshly baked pizza, sliced into eight pieces, is presented on a stainless steel counter. It is a Caprese-style pizza with a hand-tossed crust, tomato sauce, mozzarella, sliced fresh tomatoes, and basil, all drizzled generously with a thick balsamic glaze.
The eye-catching Caprese pizza at The Exchange Pizza Depot. Jamie Graziano CharlotteFive

The surprise standout was the Pickle-ickle-ickle pizza. Yes, you read that right. Tangy pickles, melty cheese, and a salty bite make it an oddly perfect pairing with a cold beer. It may not be traditional, but it’s become a must-order every time we go.

An overhead shot shows a whole pizza with a thick, hand-formed crust inside a takeout box with checkered paper. The pizza has a white sauce base and is topped with melted cheese and an abundance of sliced dill pickles, with a sprinkle of herbs.
The Exchange Pizza Depot’s Pickle-ickle-ickle pizza. Jamie Graziano CharlotteFive
Read Next

Craving Chick-fil-A on a Sunday? The Exchange’s “Sunday Special” Chicken pizza special scratches that itch with shredded chicken, pickles and even a drizzle of special sauce. It’s quirky, it’s comforting and it just works.

The Exchange Pizza Depot is not your typical pizza place, but that’s exactly the point. With a laid-back vibe, picnic tables out front, and a menu full of creative hits, it’s one of our favorite brewery pizza spots in the area. Whenever we’re in Matthews, we find ourselves gravitating back.

A detailed shot of a small brick building features a weathered gable with peeling white paint, a green awning, a screen door, and a service window. A neon pizza sign, a chalkboard menu, and other handwritten signs contribute to its quirky, local character.
The Exchange Pizza Depot sits inside a former telephone exchange building on the patio of Seaboard Brewing in Mathews. Jamie Graziano CharlotteFive

The Exchange Pizza Depot

Location: 213 N Trade St, Matthews, NC 28105

Location: 109 N Hayne St Unit 122, Monroe, NC 28112

Menu

Cuisine: Pizza

Instagram: @exchangepizzadepot

A wide shot of a pizzeria, which operates out of a small, standalone brick building with a screen door and a takeout window. In front of the building is a spacious patio with rows of light-colored wooden picnic tables. The scene is set under an overcast sky with trees in the background.
Outside The Exchange Pizza Depot’s Matthews location. Jamie Graziano CharlotteFive

Tristan Graziano, a Weddington High School student, enjoys golfing in his free time and hanging with his friends. He can be reached on Instagram @tristan_graz03. Jamie Graziano, aka The GrazFather, is a graduate of the University of Florida, an employee of a Fortune 500 company and dad who dreams of starting his food review and travel website TheGrazFather.com. He can be reached at jamie@thegrazfather.com or on Instagram @thegrazfather.

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