New Mellow Mushroom in Cape Coral is unlike any other in popular chain

Fort Myers News-Press

From a groovy burrowing owl statue to a tasty order of garlic-blasted stuffed portobello, the new Mellow Mushroom in Cape Coral is one of a kind.

As a matter of fact, all 170-plus cosmic restaurant locations aren’t carbon copies of one another.

“Each (Mellow Mushroom) has its own look and feel,” corporate training operations manager Justin McMiller said. “The artwork, unique lighting, murals all center around Cape Coral. Some food and beverages are only at this one too. The owners (Chris and Carol Scuderi) chose them.”

So what exactly separates the just-opened, eye-catching location next to Gator Mike’s on Pine Island Road from the rest of the Mellowverse?

Let’s take a quick look …

Cape Coral is well represented in the artwork at the new Mellow Mushroom.

The decor

The first thing you can’t miss is the exterior of the 5,800-square-foot restaurant decked out with soothing shades of purple and blue. The unique futuristic building with dinosaurs looming and a volcano rumbling at Gator Mike’s mini golf course across the parking lot sets the otherworldy tone. While the hippie-style vibes can be found at all inside locations, the Cape Coral theme — created by the Scuderis and corporate designers ― is scattered about. It starts with that paint-splattered burrowing owl statue perched in the entryway and flows out from there. A 1950s mural from the early days of this waterfront wonderland is a focal point in the dining room. The city’s waterways are represented in the wavy neon lights above the bar and in the fish floating in the colorful neon-tastic mural above the bar area.

The jerk chicken hoagie is on the menu at Mellow Mushroom in Cape Coral.

The food

Customers will find four exclusive items among the usual fun and funky pizzas, munchies, wings, burgers, hoagies, and salads. Leading the way is the stuffed portobello ($8.99) with artichoke hearts, sheep’s milk feta, roasted tomatoes, spinach and mozzarella cheese is baked and drizzled with a balsamic glaze.

Buffalo chicken salad ($14.99) and a tempeh hoagie ($9.99 half or $14.99 whole) are on the local-only menu too. We tried the generously stuffed and perfectly flavored jerk chicken hoagie ($9.99 half or $14.99 whole). The grilled pineapple chunks, sliced Roma tomato and mayo nicely offset the subtle heat from the tender jerk chicken. With mushrooms, onion, green peppers, provolone and lettuce, we unabashedly broke out the forks and knives.

'Weird' pizza toppings:We found grasshoppers, Peeps, waffle fries and more on SWFL menus

The Grateful Dead is one of four cocktails created just for the Mellow Mushroom in Cape Coral.

The drinks

Like the food, four exclusive local drinks are on the cocktail menu. All cost $11 and include the gin-based Hendrick’s Refresher, Liquid Marijuana with Captain Morgan’s spiced & Malibu coconut rums and Tiki Time with Don Q Reserve 7 rum, Aperol, peach puree, orange and lime juices and bitters. The cool and refreshing vodka-white rum-and-gin-based Grateful Dead was a winner.

Cheers to Cape Coral.

Mellow Mushroom, 53 NE Pine Island Road, Cape Coral; open 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday to Thursday and 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday; (239) 539-2099; mellowmushroom.com

Robyn George is a food and dining reporter for The News-Press. Connect at rhgeorge@fortmyers.gannett.com