Melo Coffee & Kitchen

Melo’s a solid go-to spot. The avocado toast and sandwiches are always really good, and their lattes are consistently great, always smooth and well made every time I’ve been. It’s a nice place to hang out for a bit, whether you’re getting some work done or just reading a book. The vibe is calm and not too loud, and there’s usually plenty of space to sit. Definitely one of my favorite low-key spots for coffee and a bite.

Melo is one of my favorite cafes in Rochester. Their coffee is always spot on and the sandwiches will make you drool. Not only are they full of flavor, but they're filling too! It's a great place to catch up with friends or to study. The Breakfast Burrito is my favorite thing on the menu. I think I get it every time I go there. If you don't know what sandwich to get, get the Breakfast Burrito. You won't be disappointed. Convenient location on University Ave. Great coffee. Fantastic sandwiches. Lots of indoor and outdoor seating.

Breakfast sandwich was delicious and a generous portion. Also, loved the iced latte! Friendly staff, great service, fun decor, and nice outdoor seating. Loved the painting in the restroom as well!

Great coffee and the best breakfast sandwich I've had in a long time. Their carrot cake latte was surprisingly delicious. Melo seems like a great place for a coffee date with friends or a relaxed study session. The staff were friendly and helpful. I'll be back next time I'm passing through Rochester.

I recently visited this coffee shop and was thoroughly impressed with the exceptional quality of their avocado toast. However, I found the cappuccino to be merely satisfactory. Overall, a great experience, but room for improvement in the coffee department.

Nice spot on the traverse of University Avenue. Very good sandwiches and basic chips. Nice spot to sit on the corner in the neighborhood of the arts. Loved the place it used to be and this one is good too.

Really busy on the Sunday I came. They closed their kitchen right after I ordered. The salmon toast was pretty good although the cream cheese was a bit salty. Hot chocolate was pretty good too!

I love there Spicy BLT on sourdough! And peach blossom Yea is the best when you’ve had enough coffee! Clean, crisp surroundings! LGBTQ friendly, people friendly and dog friendly. Great location in the Park Ave area.

Cozy and upbeat little cafe in NOTA, Melo is a great spot to grab some food and drinks to chill or get some work done. They have plenty of seating, outlets, and wifi. Street parking and a small lot are available. Drinks were pretty standard for a cafe, and they do have a seasonal flavors such as lavender honey. The baristas were pretty busy but very nice. One thing I want to highlight is their bathroom that had tampons/pads and mouthwash, which I've never seen in a coffee shop. It just shows how they go the extra mile for their customers!

Dropped in for a quick to go coffee and it was delicious. Service was really nice and the ambiance here is the perfect place to work if you need to get out of your apartment!

I came looking for a quick, tasty lunch and some good coffee in NOTA, and I got almost all of that at Melo. It was lunch time on a Saturday, so I should have expected it to be busy, but they were positively swamped. I placed my order at the counter after 20-30 minutes, and was told there was a further 20-30 minute wait for my sandwich (the kitchen space, tucked behind the coffee counter, is quite small). There's plenty of seating between the cozy, eclectic inside and the sidewalk tables outside, so I posted up with my buzzer to wait and sip on my coffee. My buzzer went off, and I collected my food before settling back in to eat as it started to rain outside. The banh mi was delicious and obviously very fresh--the guys behind the counter are cooking everything to order, which is spectacular. I'll certainly be coming back, but hopefully at a less busy time!

Stopped here for lunch with a friend on a nice fall Saturday and I'm so glad we did. Melo is so cute on the inside. Bright and beautiful with a friendly lineup of staff. Oh yeah, and their menu is killer whether you want breakfast or lunch. I opted for their breakfast sandwich with bacon and an iced tea, elderberry hibiscus per the recommendation of the cashier. The tea was delicious and I'm currently on the hunt for something similar to make at home. But the breakfast sandwich is what stole the show. Not sure if their English muffins are house-made, but mine made a perfect vehicle for the sandwich. The egg/cheese/bacon combo was perfectly done. If I lived in Rochester, I think I'd be here quite often. The iced tea alone is a reason to keep on coming back!

Love visiting Melo on a Saturday, as it's always busy and filled with vibrant energy.The cafe features artwork from local artists, which gives you something to look at while waiting on your order or dining in. Love the drinks. I have ordered The Matcha Lemonade and Iced Tea & Lemonade. Both drinks were delicious and refreshing. The Breakfast Sandwich is tasty but I do not feel it is worth $10 dollars. You only get one slice of bacon on the sandwich. The bacon slice was cut in half to fit across the width of the sandwich. For the price I would like more than what is offered here. I will continue to come to Melo for the drinks and atmosphere. I am open to trying an additional food item but hope to get more bang for my buck.

Even though I also got a great cup of coffee here, this review is mostly for their burrata toast. It is the thing that keeps my friend going, and I tried it for the first time this weekend and was similarly blown away. They use incredibly fresh, local bread, toasted perfectly, for the base, and top that with a generous serving of creamy burrata, a seasonal fruit (this time it was pear), a drizzle of honey, and just a sprinkling of salt to really bring out the flavors. It's the perfect serving size for breakfast and kept me full until my late lunch. Now, about the other aspects of the cafe - It is located in NOTA, with plenty of parking and cute shops nearby, and itself is very inviting with large windows, plenty of seating (which does fill up fast on a busy day), and cool artwork. The staff are nice and food and drinks are made quickly. The salted caramel latte is a great pick-me-up and not too sweet, which pairs well with the food. Overall, I'd definitely recommend coming here, and if you order nothing else, get the burrata toast!

Of all of my dining experiences in Rochester, this was the worst. The place is pretty cool and features some great art, but the food and service were sub-par. Apparently, the person working the counter expects only regulars to come in and know where to stand and how to pay, so tourists beware. If this person had been a doctor, they'd win for "Worst Bedside Manner". Not a nice human being by any stretch of the imagination. The breakfast burrito was decent but not for the price they charged. The coffee wasn't even worth remembering. Though this part of Rochester seemed to not have much to offer in the breakfast department, I learned my lesson and held out for lunch at far better establishments.

I came in after a hair appointment. I remember when it was starry nights. I liked that place, I guess this place had another name than changed it to Melo? I guess. The inside is all light and bright and more seating, they have food and lots of coffee and non coffee drinks. When they put outside tables and chairs I would come back. I got a Iced Tea Lemonade and I got to pick my tea a nice touch. It was nice and not too sweet. This place has an interesting vibe, kind of hipster in a way.. Staff is helpful and friendly. I'll give them another go. Street parking or if you live in the area walk over.

Some of the best vegetarian options for breakfast. And One of the best breakfasts I have ever had. Breakfast burritos is A+. Pancakes amazing flavor combination and the tofu bahmi sandwich is great even eating it after several hours to go. if I'm ever in Rochester, I will make a point to stop here and you should too.

Pretty good place overall. The food is tasty, but a bit on the pricey side for the amount of food you get. I know everything is getting pricier these days, but $14 for a smallish sandwich still feels a bit excessive. Same with $6 for something like a chai or matcha latte. Everything I've had was good, don't get me wrong, just out of my price range. The inside of the place is really cute and comfy. Great little indie cafe and casual lunch spot. If you get there at the right time, it can even be a nice place to set up and get some work done. Tons of natural light, wi-fi on weekdays, cozy benches and cushioned seats. Unfortunately their kitchen closes at 3pm, so be cognizant of time if you're trying to order food. Last mild complaint - their line tends to run long. I've tried multiple times to go there on a 30-minute lunch break and ended up standing in line for 10 minutes and waiting for food for another 6-8, so I wouldn't recommend if you're on a strict time limit. They get quite busy around lunchtime, enough that there might not be any seats available, especially if people are working there. Overall - really cute place, food good but pricey, tends to be busy/crowded so service can be a little slow just from the sheer number of customers. Would go again at a different time with a better budget in mind.

This was a very popular lunchtime location. The line was pretty long and it took about 20 min (maybe more) to get food after it was ordered. Luckily our group was able to snag a table outside because it was very crowded, and I don't love the interior decoration. I miss this place when it was starry night. They've got such a... bland? Look to the inside now. Very modern, I guess, which isn't my thing for coffee shops. However, I enjoyed the way the tofu was seasoned in my sandwich and the coffee was alright!

Melo is a very cute, hipster coffee shop right near the Memorial Art Gallery. Plenty of street parking, indoor and outdoor seating. Definitely a bit pricy ($5 for a croissant), but very good. I didn't try their food menu, but they have a good selection of toasts, granola, and pancakes. They have a ton of flavored coffee drinks on the menu as well. I will come back at some point, but enjoy trying out all the local coffee shops!

I had a very unpleasant experience here. I ordered a $2.75 coffee then paid with a twenty. The cashier handed me $12.50 in change. (The correct change was $17.25.) I put the change on the counter and asked, politely, if she would check. She gave me a classic "OK boomer" look and did nothing. I suggested what the correct change should be; again, no response but a contemptuous sneer. I have to wonder: If the employees care so little about making correct change, what else are they careless about? Hygiene? The ingredients in their food? Never. Going. Back.

Wow this place is so bomb! It takes bomb to a whole new level because not only do they have sick coffee but also a very cool staff and some great pastry edibles, and the coffee shop is right next to edibles! Jajjajjjajja git er done. They know what they are doing, very based vibe, u gotta check em out if u haven't already! Enjoy the joe!

Lovely cafe, great place to work with a delicious warm coffee! I had the vanilla latte which hit the spot :) Plenty of street parkin

Love love love Melo!! The decor, the vibe, the coffee, the food, the background music...everything. Definitely one of my fave local spots right now! I've been in several times since the changeover from Matilda (which I also loved) always for 'coffee treats' - usually getting one of their seasonal lattes to go, and always pleased with the non-dairy options, level of sweetness and quality coffee. But today I decided on a light lunch and got the avocado toast and a spicy mocha latte. The avocado toast was easily the most delicious AND beautiful avocado toast I have EVER had. A generous slathering of fresh, creamy, mashed and seasoned avocado on top of a thick slice of sourdough, topped with a punchy and colorful bunch of cherry tomatoes, some artfully applied slivers of radish and drizzled with a savory, lemony, tahini dressing plus a few fresh cilantro leaves - so many layers of flavor, crunch, velvety creaminess, the chewy bread - just WOW!!! PLLLEEEAASSEEE gods and goddesses of Melo - do not mess with this perfection!! Side note - I am sensitive to gluten though not celiac, and usually avoid bread, but I can tolerate a good sourdough and this is one of the best. Not a shred of tummy trouble after this toast. Thank you to the bakers/fermenters!! The latte was also excellent, as expected - spicy but not overpowering, chocolatey but not full-on 'hot cocoa,' caffeinated but not crazy, and vegan thanks to the oat milk. Smooth and lovely. Well done Melo, very well done!!

This is such a great location, and I think Melo is the best occupant yet. We got the toast with buratta and strawberries and the burrito. The toast was delicious, something unique and surprising. The burrito might be the best in roc, breakfast or otherwise. And no that's not a high bar, not a ton of good burritos around here, but this one is incredibly tasty and satisfying. The fresh salsa on the side goes so well with the chorizo. We got a latte and a cappuccino, both excellent. Service was also great. The line was long, but it moved right along thanks to some very organized and hard-working people behind the counter. And yeah, the location. You get to have your coffee and breakfast on that wedge between atlantic and university, which is not only a great spot in itself but also a great spot to start a nice walk around town. I hope Melo holds this spot for years to come.

The food is always EXcellent! Drinks are very good too. Both are a bit on the expensive side- expect to pay at least $15-20 for both. Service is great. The primary issue is that the music playlist is repetitive and they play the same songs over and over. Not the best for focusing or working remotely. Love the ambience however and still super cozy!

My 74 year old mother came in here the other day and ordered a bottomless cup of coffee. After her first cup, she requested another. The line was long and she waited in line. She saw a manager doing nothing, and asked him if he would help her. He told her that he wouldn't. She asked why if he wasn't doing anything. She didn't cause a scene at all. He requested that she leave. As a customer service manager for one of the larger SaaS companies in the country, I know what a good customer experience is (efficiency), and I know how to prevent churn (probably not a good idea to escalate a situation that wasn't escalated) The manager on duty was out of line and while I understand customers can be rude, demanding, and downright disrespectful, this wasn't one of those moments.

Where Starry Nights used to be. Good job with the renovations. Minimalist interior, but clean and trendy. Ordered an ice latte and a cold brew for $5 each. To be honest, I wasn't that impressed with the drinks. Nothing too special and cold brew tasted "sour" per my wife. Granted we're not cold brew connoisseurs, but $5 for a meh tasting drink with a relatively small serving size wasn't impressive. On the other hand, Matilda's has the same great outdoor patio space overlooking Atlantic and University Avenues. It's a fabulous place to grab a drink on a nice sunny day. I will be back to try their food, but I wasn't super impressed with their coffee.

One of my favorite spots for a cup of coffee and breakfast on a warm summer morning. There are plenty of tables on the sidewalk and the trees offer a little shade. The food is excellent here. They have such a tiny cooking space but they are making the most of it. I love the brown butter banana pecan pancakes. The egg sandwich is way better than your usual egg sandwich. Seriously. Egg sandwiches are everywhere and this is the best I have had in a long time.

I don't drink coffee, so this review is strictly for the banh mi. One might rightly be skeptical of a banh mi at a more general cafe that isn't Vietnamese. So of course one expects it to be Americanized, though it's still a bit weird for it to come with chips. That said, my only real objection is that the bread was too squishy. Like, really squishy. The fresh vegetables and the sauce inside, though, are really tasty. The tofu isn't the standard banh mi tofu, I think it's west side soyboy (yes, that's the actual brand name) smoked tofu that they heat up, but the way it's pressed makes it soft and it almost feels like the pate that a banh mi "should" have.

This is such a cute coffee shop! We went to go pick up our candles we made a couple doors down and needed a mid-day caffeine fix. I went with the ginger turmeric latte. My boyfriend got the cortado. While we were waiting for the drinks, another customer got their order from the counter and it was magical! There were designs in the coffee and I yelped with excitement. My ginger turmeric latte was great. I enjoyed it. It was the perfect spice. My boyfriend liked his cortado. If I am back in the area, I will definitely support this coffee shop.

Stopped by after going to the Memorial Art Gallery. Great seating outside with seats indoor too. Ordered a banh mi sandwich, which weirdly came with potato chips. Sandwich was made with tofu and pretty good. Friends enjoyed their breakfast sandwiches and strawberry honey toast. Would definitely come back.

This was my first time coming here since Starry Nights closed. The interior is much more streamlined and easier to navigate, and the coffee and food is good. We sat outside near the exit, so it was a little annoying to have to walk through the front door to pick up our coffee and food. I got the sides of eggs, fresh fruit, and bacon, and a hazelnut latte with oatmilk.

Full disclosure I am a lover of all things coffee. I was in the area and had a little time on my hands and decided to check out this beautiful café on the corner of university. I only had drinks but saw some of the beautiful breakfast sandwiches being made that smelled and looked so good. This location has a very cozy feel with seating inside and a few tables now outside as the weather is heating up. Ordering is in the back of the location. I ordered an almond milk iced latte and a cold brew, they were done quickly and perfectly. They have stevia which I always appreciate. Staff was very friendly and organized. Menus are available online on their socials as they offer fresh seasonal options. I look forward to coming back!

Fantastic avocado toast! Cute little spot in NOTA. Excuse the bites taken in the photo!

Excellent coffee. We breakfasted on smoked salmon toast and a yogurt granola bowl. Both delicious.

The owner knew sign language which is easier for us to communicate. I did not expect that the cafe was super busy. My friend and I decided to go there because we used to go to Starry Cafe before it became Matilda Cafe. We wanted to see how food and drinks taste like. We were in awe of their food and it was so delicious!!! We were tempting to order more breakfast burritos with their homemade salsa verde. I'm glad that we went there and it is all worth it stopping by and they also offer wines and beers. It's not very common for cafes to serve alcohol. I also want to thank you for serving us amazing food and drinks during the pandemic and I know it is not easy, but you all did a fantastic job and you all are awesome!

Five gorgeous stars for the brand spankin' new Matilda Coffee House! Coffee, cocktails, wine, lattes, breakfast sams, toast, acai bowls, cubanos, Amazing Grains pastries...the list goes on and on. This location in the flatiron building was made to be an all day bistro, and I am so glad the teams behind Fuego and Unter came together to give the community this gift. I am currently sipping my drip coffee as I write the review and it is flavorful, deep, and reinvigorating. I had the chance to sample a few menu items and was wowed by every facet of this menu. You can see the team cooking up the goods behind the barista station, and it makes the wait for coffee quite entertaining. They operate on a buzzer system for both food items and specialty coffee drinks. The space has been renovated to perfection with bold bright colors and sleek modern finishes. Remote work (in non-Coronatimes) paradise, with inspiration and people watching abounding. Never mind the locally sourced art on the walls and the collaboration with local farmers and partners proudly featured on their menu?! *swoon* Inspiration behind the name comes from co-owner Derek's daughter, Matilda, and Hey Jude coffee comes from his son, Jude. Love the family feel and appreciate how committed this space is to serving the Rochester community. COVID precautions being followed, and you can enter the building from the entrance on University or Atlantic. I can't wait to become a regular all fall and winter long, and enjoy this delicious coffee close to home. Get out there and spread the love, y'all! A must-visit.

Great food. Cool vibe. I always feel so posh coming here. Parking is easy, there's street parking and a lot in the back. Coffee and chai are great. The chai latte I got had a component in it that is reminiscent of that malty barley smell that hits you when you walk into a brewery, I'm guessing it's one of the spices, very interesting! I think I've also tried the turmeric latte, also good. They also have a cooler of drinks like kombucha and beer. Spicy fried egg BLT - nice rich breakfast sandwich. Burrata toast - I first had the fig flavor and it blew my mind! The strawberry one is also nice. Potato leek soup - rich, creamy, and tasty. Breakfast burrito - good staple. Has sausage, egg, cheese, and potato hash. The potato hash could have been browned more.

Love it. Highly recommend the Cuban panini so delicious! Mocha latte was also A+ you could really taste the quality of the coffee and chocolate came through. The man working was lovely and gave wonderful customer service, very friendly and warm manner. It's a cute bright fresh place with lots of window and natural light and local art on the walls.

It's a nice place on a warm day or when ever the weather is sunny and not too hot. They have good breakfast options. I got the breakfast sandwich. It was filling and tasted pretty good. Had to add some hot sauce to spice a bit. I also got a salted Carmel iced latte. Was also good too. They have indoor and outdoor seating. You king of pick where you want to sit. They give you a buzzer to notify you to come pick up your food. It's pretty busy over the weekend. The area is nice to walk around afterward.

I had to downgrade a bit, although I maintain that the banh mi was excellent...The BLT tried was a pretty wonky composition...due mainly to the fridge cold salsa-like spread they use to make it spicy. Just threw everything off. The sandwich further barely had a strip of bacon in it. I still enjoyed their uber greasy bread, but the BLT was not an enjoyable contender here. $17 for a latte and this particular BLT didn't leave me satisfied.

I've been living in Rochester for only about a month and I can't get enough of Matilda "probably spend around 300-500 dollars already". I truly enjoy the vibe, super chill hipster spot to hang out & do work. The coffee is super good, locally sourced! I had the iced caramel latte, what I enjoy the most is that they do not over do it with the caramel. I genuinely appreciate my coffee with some sweetness, not the other way around. The breakfast sandwich is bomb.com, the muffin is the biggest mark i have, where is it locally sourced because it's freaking good. The bacon is locally sourced from McCains, the rest is egg & cheese. I'll say it's definitely the coffee spot on university! If your in the area, stop on by

Such a cute spot in the flatiron building for a quick meal! I came on a Sunday around noon and it was busy but the line wasn't long, we were able to find seats, and food still came out pretty quickly. I got the short stack of pancakes while my friends got the avocado toast and breakfast sandwich. Pretty interior and I look forward to coming back when it's warm out to eat outdoors! There's free 2 hr parking in the lot behind the building.

If you remember the artsy-every-wall-mural Starry Nights, you'll be surprised when you enter the renovated space. It's very clean and modern in aesthetics but comparatively sterile. The staff are very pleasant and accommodating. At one point I asked the same question 3 times (thinking maybe our masks were prohibiting communication) and the staff politely answered my question 3 times. Very patient woman. We ordered and were give a buzzer to return for our food. We sat outside which was simple seating and a good viewpoint for the NOTA sculptures and whatnot. The menu is delightful unique and pretty reasonably priced. I had the fig and burrata toast and my dates had the breakfast burrito and Brie panini. Burrata and Figs - only one piece of toast which surprised me but ok since it's a larger slice of bread. The fresh figs were sweet and I love that crunchy seed texture. The whole ensemble was very tasty- I just wish it was actually 2 pieces of toast like at other places. The Breakfast Burrito as also on the small side especially when you take binge of all the stuffing ingredients. The tortilla was nicely toasted and crisped but the dish was very light on the avocado- we weren't even sure it was actually in there. The salsa verde accompaniment was very good on every bite. The Brie Panini was tasty with fresh pear. It was served with potato chips ‍. Again, not exactly a very stuffed sandwich. Overall, a pleasant and tasty experience. The servings are reasonably priced but small portions.

Great coffeehouse in a great neighborhood. We drove out to Rochester on a whim last weekend and decided to grab a coffee after dinner before the ride home. Loved the colorful decor inside, they are located at the corner with ample indoor and outdoor seating. We had no problem finding street parking on a Saturday evening. We enjoyed our windowsill table, with the large windows, the views of the neighborhood are great. Our espresso and cold brew were made perfectly. They are using ceramic cups for hot beverages, a lot of coffee shops went away from that during COVID, so it's nice to see them coming back. Stop by if you are in the neighborhood!

Great coffee and such great avocado toast and burrata toast!! Go there on a regular for breakfast and yummy coffee

Breakfast sandwich and a pumpkin latte. That's what I ordered for my first time eating at Matilda. The breakfast sandwich is tasty. Egg and bacon with arugula and I believe some sort of a hot sauce (I can't remember) that gives it a fantastic flavor. The English muffin is multigrain I believe. Heavy enough to leave you full. Very tasty. The lattes here are some of the creamiest lattes I've ever had. They're so tasty. I'm not a big latte drinker but when I want one I want a good one. This will always be at the top of my choice list. Matilda is new and fantastic. You should totally check them out!

The Chai though!!!!! So yummy and comforting. I love how they spice the top and the design is beautiful. I got the egg BLT and it was just perfect. The tomato jam they use really topped it off. The most unique thing about it was the bread. The description said an English muffin but it was much thinner and lighter than an English muffin. Could have just been a special kind but oh yea was it good! I went by myself on a Sunday afternoon and it was pretty busy. I will be taking my family as I know they will love it too!

Went two days in a row for an iced mocha and will definitely be back for more...also highly recommend their breakfast burrito!!! ...Just had to edit this review to say THREE days in a row

This is the first time we ventured out to a coffee house since last March. We thoroughly enjoyed visiting Matilda's. What a great little spot on University with plenty of street parking. The coffee was good and the service was great. There was plenty of seating available with outlets to plug in and stay for a while. We both had work to do, so we started off with coffee and 2 hours later transitioned to adult beverages. So In my mind, they offer the best of both worlds! We'll definitely be back.

Good quality food and drinks in a quaint area; we enjoyed sitting on the patio. The service was also good as I accidentally ordered the wrong drink and they exchanged it without hassle.

Big vibes at this place. I'm pretty sure the cook is the guy who killed my brother, but he sure makes the hell out of an egg sandwich.

Very cute coffee spot the breakfast burrito is a must! The salted caramel lattes didn't have much flavor but were still good . They have cronuts which is a plus !

This place is always busy and it's easy to see why. The coffee and food are excellent with some tasty staples plus seasonal rotations. The location in NOTA is also a great place to walk around. We often go for the French Quarter, Breakfast Burrito and Short Stack (Maple Banana Nut Buckwheat Pancakes!)

Their pancakes are downright addictive. I mias starry nights cafe, but this a welcomed update to an old favorite spot. Avocado toast was also amaze balls as well. Money well spent. Could use better seating tho.

So happy with this redo of starry Nites... Was skeptical at first as I have loved start nights eclectic funky vibe but after visiting Matilda I'm in love with the clean lines the fresh interior and the re- organized interior. Not to mention the delicious breakfast sandwiches and great beer selection. They always have easy parking and a great area for outdoor seating.