A monkey riding a bicycle while drinking from a steaming cup is not the safest way to enjoy a warm beverage, but it is the perfect logo for Mello Velo Bicycle Shop & Café.

A place where customers can satiate their hunger and satisfy their biking needs, Mello Velo is exactly what it sounds like: a bicycle shop and a café. Bicycle photographs hang on the walls and bicycle-centric art decorations are scattered throughout the café, located at 556 Westcott St.

Walking into the café, I was struck by how quiet it was. While this calmness would be nice for studying or relaxing, I like my dining establishment with a little more pizzazz. Thankfully, some music was turned on halfway through our meal.

The cashier made up for the lack of noise with her cheerful attitude and attentiveness. She greeted us with a smile and waited patiently while we decided what to order.

Mello Velo serves breakfast all day, as well as wraps, paninis, soups, salads, smoothies and a plethora of coffee drinks. They also offer both house and locally made baked goods, with everything from muffins to biscotti.

The menu boasts that all of their food is made with organic and locally sourced ingredients whenever possible, and all of the meat-centered dishes can be made vegetarian by subbing the meat for tempeh, a protein made from soybeans.

Most of the tables and chairs, as well as the plates, silverware and mugs, are mismatched, adding to the kitschy and eclectic feel of the café. Mixing and matching adds an unexpected dimension of quirkiness, and livens up the meal.

We waited a fairly long time for our food to arrive, but this was expected, as there is no designated cook at Mello Velo. The cashier is a jack-of-all-trades — she is the waitress and cook. Although it took longer to get our food, I appreciate the café’s effort to be a one-person store.

I have high expectations for cappuccino. There should be a proper ratio of milk-to-espresso-to-foam. Ultimately, there should be less milk, intense espresso and more foam. However, Mello Velo’s version fell short. The cappuccino we ordered for $3 came out before the food, and while the espresso was strong, there was too much milk and barely any foam. The cappuccino was a latte — a lattachino, if you will.

For my main meal, I had the Tempeh Wrap, $6.50, and a side of Asian-style Slaw, $2.25. The wrap was made with tempeh, cucumber, pear, avocado, slaw and vegan garlic squash dressing. When the wrap first arrived, the roasted red bell pepper tortilla was an attractive, vibrant, bright red, and there seemed to be a plentiful amount of filling.

If not cooked properly, tempeh can be bitter, but thankfully this tempeh was tender, sweet and smoky from the grill. I enjoyed the interplay of the sweet pear and the rich avocado. However, the dressing was a major downfall. I could see it, but I couldn’t taste it. The dressing had no flavor and only added a gummy texture to the wrap. The side of Asian-style Slaw, with cabbage, carrots and bell pepper, was doused in an obscene amount of citrus dressing, making it overly sweet.

My dining companion ordered the Mediterranean Wrap, $5.25. The wrap was made with house-made hummus, couscous salad, spinach, cucumber, feta and red onion. I liked the idea of the wrap more than the wrap itself. The couscous was dry and needed to be dressed more. I did enjoy the hummus, which was creamy and delightful.

While the food was mediocre and I probably wouldn’t come back to the café to eat, I would come for the fun, distinctive atmosphere and, of course, if I want to buy a bike.

Published on February 20, 2013 at 12:25 am

Contact Riddley: rsgemper@syr.edu