From cool burrowing owl statues to delicious stuffed portobellos full of garlic, Cape Coral’s new Mellow Mushrooms are one of a kind.
The reality is that all of the 170+ space restaurant locations are not exactly the same as each other.
“Each (Mellow Mushroom) location has its own unique vibe and look,” says Justin McMiller, corporate training operations manager. “The artwork, unique lighting and murals are all centered around Cape Coral. Some of the food and beverage items are also exclusive to this location and were selected by the owners (husband and wife team, Chris and Carol Scuderi).”
So what sets this eye-catching store that just opened next to Gator Mike’s on Pine Island Road apart from the rest of the Mellowverse locations?
Let’s take a quick look…
Decoration
The first thing you’ll want to see is the 5,800-square-foot restaurant’s exterior, decorated in muted purple and blue hues. The unique, futuristic building, with looming dinosaurs and a roaring volcano at Gator Mike’s mini-golf course across the parking lot, lends an otherworldly feel. The hippie vibe is present throughout the restaurant, but the Cape Coral theme created by the Scuderis and their corporate designers is sprinkled throughout. It starts with a paint-splattered burrowing owl statue perched at the entrance and spreads from there. A 1950s mural of this waterfront wonderland’s early days is the focal point of the dining room. The city’s waterways are represented by rippling neon lights above the bar and floating fish in a colorful, neon-flashy mural above the bar area.
food
In addition to the usual fun and funky pizzas, snacks, wings, burgers, hoagies and salads, there will also be four specialty dishes, the highlight being the Stuffed Portobello ($8.99), filled with artichoke hearts, sheep’s milk feta, roasted tomatoes, spinach and mozzarella, baked and drizzled with a balsamic glaze.
Buffalo Chicken Salad ($14.99) and Tempeh Hoagie ($9.99 half, $14.99 whole) are also local specials. We tried the Jerk Chicken Hoagie ($9.99 half, $14.99 whole), which was generously stuffed and perfectly flavored. Grilled pineapple chunks, sliced Roma tomatoes and mayonnaise nicely offset the subtle heat of the tender jerk chicken. Along with mushrooms, onions, bell peppers, provolone cheese and lettuce, we unashamedly took to our forks and knives.
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drink
Like the food, the cocktail menu features four specialty locally made drinks, all priced at $11, including the gin-based Hendrick’s Refresher, Liquid Marijuana made with Captain Morgan spiced rum and Malibu coconut rum, and the Tiki Time with Don Q Reserve 7 rum, Aperol, peach puree, orange juice, lime juice and bitters. The cold and refreshing Grateful Dead, based on vodka, white rum and gin, was a big hit.
Cheers to Cape Coral.
Mellow Mushroom, 53 NE Pine Island Road, Cape Coral. Open Sunday through Thursday 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., Friday and Saturday 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. (239) 539-2099. mellowmushroom.com
Robin George is a food and beverage reporter for The News-Press. He can be reached at rhgeorge@fortmyers.gannett.com.
