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    Mel Dog's Cafe

    4.1 (257 reviews)
    Closed 7:00 am - 3:00 pm
    Updated 2 weeks ago

    Mel Dog's Cafe Photos

    Business Info

    MEL DOG'S CAFE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Moderate noise
    Dogs allowed
    Good for groups

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    Recommended Reviews - Mel Dog's Cafe

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    French dip with freezer fries.
    Ann L.

    I waited a day just to digest my experience here. Pun intended. I can still say a day later - I just don't get it. With all of the great reviews I was expecting a pretty decent breakfast spot with some killer food and great service. Just not our experience. We were greeted and chose our spot. Menus were dropped. We've seen three different people at this point. Order taken and then the wait begins. There were 5 tables total in the place. Two have their food. Our food takes 30 minutes to arrive. The table after us is a 40 minute wait for food. Not what I expected at all. The food is freezer to fryer and I am doubting that anything is made in house. Also not what I expected for the reviews they are receiving. Definitely a been there done that experience for me and I am done.

    Farmers Omelet has Bacon mixed in!
    Parveen L.

    Hidden gem, because of its inconspicuous location. Off Waterman and Dino (commercial building) the name also makes me think hot dog. Staff is friendly with big smiles! Twin sisters run the place with a family atmosphere. Nice decor and super clean. The breakfast is classic American. Fresh food and great portions. I had the Farmers scramble with a pancake. I'm looking forward to going back for the same thing. My daughter had hash browns, eggs with biscuits and gravy, she enjoyed her meal too. Can't wait to go back!

    California Omelette-Military Style
    Ed S.

    Another place I use to go to Mel Dog's Cafe 9766 Waterman Rd, Ste B, Elk Grove, CA 95624. It has been years so today I decided to check it out. This restaurant is in an industrial complex so a bit hard to find. I walked into a pretty full restaurant being served by one server. It was about 8:15 AM and I thought this was going to be slow service. Not at all! I was seated, drinks delivered and order taken pretty quick. The server seemed to know everyone. She was obviously very experienced so I went with her suggestion of a California Omelette. At 9:00 AM other servers showed and started helping her. This omelette was made military style, very thin egg wrap with fresh ingredients. Another thing I liked was the large mug for my tea, which was refilled as needed with hot water. The potatoes, pancakes and everything else was spectacular. The Chef in the back obviously took great care in its preparation. The home made salsa was incredible. The ambience is a very clean, well laid out restaurant. They have nice tables and chairs that were properly spaced. The only negative thing I have to add are the huge portions they give. A great place for breakfast or lunch that I HIGHLY RECOMMEND!

    All Yum
    Bobbie R.

    First time here. I had the pancake breakfast. Saved 1 pancake & 1 bacon for breakfast tomorrow. Large portions. Great service. A homey dining room. Lots of parking. We will be back.

    California scramble with sausage instead of bacon
    Ray Y.

    Great place to walk and have breakfast after your car is being worked on down the street! Awesome California scramble that hits the spot!

    1) Breakfast omelette meal and 2) Chicken nuggets and fries.

    Fun oldies diner. Service is very friendly and attentive. The food was really good with large portions. Prices are reasonable. I will definitely be coming back.

    Biscuits and Biscuits & Gravy Platter

    Was recommended by a friend. Ordered B & G with hash browns & chicken apple sausage. Service was good. Unfortunately, the sausage was incredibly tough & dry, as if it was reheated from the day before. This was disappointing.

    Side salad

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    2 months ago

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    5 months ago

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    4 months ago

    Parts of the restaurant was quite dark. Food was ok nothing special. Service is not bad. Won't be going back

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    4 months ago

    Food, service, and culture was great! Definitely recommend and im coming back! Love the ambiance.

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    4 months ago

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    2 years ago

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    1 year ago

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    7 months ago

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    8 months ago

    This place is always closed. They need to update yelps hours! 3rd time tryin to go and closed :(

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    4 months ago

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    9 months ago

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    10 months ago

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    1 year ago

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    3 years ago

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    11 months ago

    The food, ambience and people were nice. We will go back, I just didn't like the portion size of the food.

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    7 months ago

    Your basic run-of-the-mill breakfast place. Nothing really stood out to me, except the boxed pancake mix flavor.

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    2 years ago

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    6 months ago

    Very busy spot. Obviously regulars. Service is good. Food can be better. Just too rushed. Ok for kids, good parking.

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    1 year ago

    Good food good service good ambience. I had a small meal. Will try more food soon! I love that breakfast is served all day!

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    1 year ago

    Great service and huge portions at affordable prices! Our server was very attentive, despite how jam packed they were.

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    4 years ago

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    3 years ago

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    7 months ago

    The breakfast was amazing. You can't beat the prices they have. The staff is very friendly. I highly recommend this restaurant.

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    2 years ago

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    10 months ago

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    9 months ago

    Good food. Made fresh always Served hot not warm. great service. Owners are wonderful.

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    2 years ago

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    1 year ago

    Foods good ,but that atmosphere was unfriendly, no greeting no smiles Get it together girls . lastly please makeover the decor is gross

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    2 years ago

    Great breakfast! Nice hot meals! Plenty of meat! Served hot and very delicious! Fresh meat and vegetables! Nice hot coffee! Yum yum!!

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    2 years ago

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    Boulevard Bistro - The world's best bread pudding with apple crisp and caramel sauce.

    Boulevard Bistro

    4.6(915 reviews)
    0.9 mi
    $$

    Came here for our family's anniversary and we had such a wonderful time! Thank you to all of the…read moreAMAZING servers who made sure we had a memorable night!!! No wine glass was left empty throughout the night. All the servers were very attentive and accommodating. We were large party, but they made sure everyone was taken care of. We sat in the outdoor patio and loved the ambiance with the lights during the sunset. We brought our karaoke and sang throughout the night. Loved that the servers joined us as well. Food was excellent, of course! We loved all of the appetizers (chicken skin, octopus, spinach dip). For them main dish, we got the arugula salad, braised pork cheeks and swordfish and they were all so delicious! Will definitely come back here!

    I made a reservation inquiry for my birthday at exactly 5:00 PM on Saturday, April 11, for a party…read moreof two. I was told the earliest available reservation was 7:45 PM. I then asked if there was any chance of being seated sooner as a walk-in, and Aubrey told me they had room for two at a table in the bar area. I specifically asked whether it was an actual table where we could comfortably order food, because I did not want to be stuck at some tiny corner setup where only one plate could fit. I also made it clear that it was my birthday and that I wanted something a little more formal and comfortable. I was told it would be in the front by the bar, not shoved in a corner, though it could be a little crowded if people were in the waiting area. When we arrived, the first issue was parking. For a first-time guest, parking was unnecessarily difficult to figure out, especially during a rainstorm. Since the restaurant is set up like a small house, it was not obvious where to park, and there was no clear sign letting us know there was parking around the back. Once we walked in, I immediately saw the table that had been described to us. It was right near the bar against the wall, and it was much smaller and more awkward than I had been led to believe. My girlfriend was wearing a dress, and because it was such a high table, it made it uncomfortable for her to sit naturally and comfortably. As soon as we sat down, I looked at the table and asked if we were really going to be able to order multiple items and eat comfortably there. I was told they would "pace it" and "make it work." That should have been the warning sign right there. We started with two ice waters, and even that nearly filled the table. They brought a pitcher and poured the water into the glasses. I asked for a separate cup of ice, and because there was so little room on the table, I had to ask the waiter to take the glass back and pour it for me so I would not spill everything. That is how cramped this setup was. We ordered the chicken breast special and a half dozen oysters. First came the garlic bread, and now we had bread, butter, two waters, silverware everywhere, and barely any room left. Then the oysters arrived, and everything had to be shifted around just to make it fit. At that point, the table had bread, oysters, hot sauce, waters, and multiple pieces of silverware for each guest, and it felt like one wrong move would send a glass to the floor. After we finished the oysters and bread, they cleared the table and brought out our entrée. We ordered the shareable chicken breast after I specifically asked whether it would be enough food for both of us. The waiter said it should be. In reality, it was about four small pieces of chicken once cut, three asparagus spears, and two very small scoops of mashed potatoes. For the price, it was honestly disappointing. I cannot remember the last time I paid that much at a nicer restaurant and still left hungry. What made it worse was that they knew it was my birthday and did absolutely nothing to acknowledge it. No small dessert, no candle, no gesture, nothing. Ironically, the only people who made the night feel special were another couple who had apparently been dining there for years. They overheard us mention it was my birthday and kindly bought us two sparkling wines. That was thoughtful, but it also added even more clutter to an already ridiculously tiny table. The service overall was underwhelming. We were barely checked on, and the whole experience felt awkward. The hostess kept staring at us throughout the meal, and at one point, she rolled her eyes when she went to take the Tabasco sauce, and we told her we still needed it for the chicken. For the prices Boulevard Bistro charges, I expected much better service, better communication, and a much more comfortable dining experience. Instead, the whole night felt misleading, cramped, and disappointing. I will not be coming back.

    Photos
    Boulevard Bistro - Elegantly Dining Area

    Elegantly Dining Area

    Boulevard Bistro - Deviled Eggs

    Deviled Eggs

    Boulevard Bistro

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    Black Bear Diner Elk Grove

    Black Bear Diner Elk Grove

    3.6(1k reviews)
    2.3 mi
    $$
    Gift cards

    Had a family thing at this restaurant a couple of months ago and was sorely disappointed…read more Surprisingly, the food and service were not good contrary to our past dining experiences. It was noticeable that something had changed - either management/staff or food supplier or all. We were so disappointed in the food and the service that we will not be dining there anymore until something changes and they once again become the wonderful restaurant they were in the distant past.

    Came here on Easter morning because we were craving French Toast and didn't want to cook. We were…read morepromptly greeted upon entry with a smile. We were quickly seated at a freshly cleaned table. The restaurant was pretty busy however, our server took our order within minutes. The food came out in a pretty quickly for how busy it was too. The food itself was pretty good. I really liked the Bread Pudding French Toast. We substituted the bananas for strawberries. I personally liked it better without the fruit on there altogether, on the side is fine. The French toast was crunchy on the outside yet. Had a delicious soft yummy layer on the inside. I think the praline bits really set it off. Since the French toast was lacking protein, we ordered Joe's Hobo Omelette and added bell peppers to it. The omelette was decent, but tasted a little dry. The potatoes were soggy / mushy. I wish they were cooked longer and crispier. The flavor was good though. The biscuit was huge! Which only made it that much more disappointing how dry it was. Overall the meal was great, the ambiance was nice, the service was delightful. I will definitely be back here for breakfast, but I would love to explore the rest of the menu as well. Bread Pudding French Toast = 4.7 out of 5 Joe's Hobo Omelette = 3.9 out of 5

    Photos
    Black Bear Diner Elk Grove
    Black Bear Diner Elk Grove
    Black Bear Diner Elk Grove

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    Brick House Restaurant - Fried calamari

    Brick House Restaurant

    4.2(1.1k reviews)
    0.8 mi
    $$

    Wow. We drove from 35 minutes away to try a new place and we were blown away. The food is…read moreimpeccable. Our party of 6 has the pesto pasta, the short ribs with polenta, prime rib, and appetizers. We also ordered sides of mashed potatoes (eh) and pesto pasta (AMAZING). The portions were generous and every one of us had to get a to-go box. We were stuffed but equally happy that we ordered dessert anyway. The bread pudding was our favorite but the apple crisp was also stellar. Kind of a steakhouse vibe but also casual dining. We enjoyed the ambiance and service. The manager Chris came around and checked on us in addition to our server. We will be telling friends about this find and we will be back!

    This is a review of the Mother's Day brunch we went to yesterday. I leave long reviews, so skip if…read moreyou don't like them! My husband & I live in the Monterey area, but our elderly moms live in Galt & Pioneer. So, with busy lives we decided to try & give them a Mother's Day they'd really like. I was searching up restaurants that were doing Mother's Day events in their area. I didn't want to do a buffet or be in a place that was going to be so packed no one could hear each other. Tough challenge. But I found the Mother's Day brunch event at the Brick House, so decided to make reservations. I personally liked that you had to leave a deposit to hold the reservation. That tells me they're serious about making sure it was not overcrowded. The menu was limited due to it being a special event, but the items to choose from seemed interesting. Plus the bottomless mimosas & bloody Mary's was a big bonus. Our reservation was at 10:15AM. I'll start off with the review by mentioning my dad. He is a grumpy old guy who doesn't get out much. I've had to "warn" wait staff to ignore him; that he's a grump & won't be paying the bill, we will, so to not let any comments phase them, & we will try to keep him in line. Luckily he doesn't know what yelp is! When we were reviewing the menu the night before, he made the comments, "weird menu, it will be crowded, bottomless drinks? That means they will come by one time with tiny glasses." So we arrive a little early but are immediately seated in a very quiet area with only a couple of other tables occupied. The Grumpy old man: "see. They stuck us where we won't get any service." As soon as we sat down our waitress came over & immediately wished us all a happy mother's Day & could she get us a Bloody Mary or mimosa & that they were bottomless. And that she'd also be bringing our pastry board. We ordered our drinks & my dad made the comments, loud enough for the waitress to hear, "ok girls. Your one small mimosa will be coming out along with cold donuts. you'll never be offered another one, so enjoy." Within a few minutes us moms got our mimosas. In large wine glasses, filled to the top. Grumpy old man got a Bloody Mary. Nice selection of Pastries were hot out of the oven. He Made the comment, "great, a weak drink." (He hadn't taken a sip yet.") We told the waitress we would need a few minutes to look at the menu, she said fine. No rush. She came back & saw my mom & dad were nearly done with their drinks. Offered another while she took our order. My dad replied: "no. I'm driving." Translation: it's a strong drink. We went to order & my dad ordered the eggs Benedict with pork belly. also muttering it sounded weird, and it would be a shame to throw out such expensive food. He ate every bite & told the waitress it was "ok." (He rarely eats all his food.) Translation: it was probably one of the best he's had. I had the vegetable quiche & it was very good. The mimosas kept being offered & were flowing for the moms well after our food was finished which for it being a special, reservation only event was a pleasant surprise. We finely told the waitress at round 4 us girls were done. The restaurant remained quiet & when we left, it was busy, but not overly so. The manager, Chris, was greeting people & wishing the moms a happy Mother's Day. We were there for a couple of hours & never felt rushed to leave. When the bill came & my husband went to pay it, my dad told him to make sure the tip wasn't included before not leaving one. The waitress had to put up with us girls Constantly getting mimosas without asking for them. Translation: he felt like he had a nice time, the waitress made sure us moms had a nice time & wanted to make sure she got a tip. Us girls decided that we wanted to come back for regular happy hour/dinner next time we visited. My dad grumbled that he'd have to come too so we'd have a ride back. Translation: he wants to come back. Lol It was pricey, but worth every penny for the wonderful Mother's Day we were able to give our older moms. I'd definitely do it again next year if they have it. Thank you!

    Photos
    Brick House Restaurant - Holiday decor

    Holiday decor

    Brick House Restaurant - Short ribs on a bed of polenta (aka Italian grits)

    Short ribs on a bed of polenta (aka Italian grits)

    Brick House Restaurant - Our small plates and a glass of Wente Chardonnay

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    Our small plates and a glass of Wente Chardonnay

    Tule Coffeehouse - I got the "Italian Panini Sandwich" - 11/10

    Tule Coffeehouse

    4.5(313 reviews)
    0.6 mi
    $$

    Tule Coffeehouse is the ideal relaxing shop often found in other places outside of EG; this is the…read moreend goal that many coffee chains strive to have but never achieve. There's a nice indoor area with tables and a couch, real plant vines hang from the ceiling. Through the many clean windows, EG Blvd. can be clearly viewed. There's a courtyard area on either side of the establishment that's well maintained with trimmed trees. There's space between the tables and it doesn't feel so crammed. Soft coffeeshop study music is playing in the background. The workers were friendly and the coffee came out fast even with a line but the sandwiches took over 20 minutes to come out. The coffee and food were at market prices; the sandwiches are larger than normal and easily shareable. Parking was easy thanks to the parking lot next door. The coffee was well balanced with many milk alternatives available and not overly sweet brown sugar or vanilla add-ons. The Turkey Panini was savory, the red bell peppers gave it a kick, and the bread was toasty. The Bacon (turkey) Breakfast sandwich was fluffy and It's refreshing to see this type of vibe in EG.

    We got the turkey panini and bacon sandwich. They gave us the veggie panini by mistake and ended up…read moregiving us the turkey panini too. All the sandwiches were good but the bacon sandwich left a huge impact due to the fluffy eggs. The aioli they put on the sandwiches is amazing. One complaint is that they put so much arugula and some of them are uncooked so it's quite hard to chew and I ended up choking on some of them. Be prepared to wait for your sandwiches though. There's plenty of seatings inside and outside + lots of parking spaces. The cafe is super cute and they even have couches!

    Photos
    Tule Coffeehouse - Indoor seating and decor.

    Indoor seating and decor.

    Tule Coffeehouse - Mortadella Breakfast Sando

    Mortadella Breakfast Sando

    Tule Coffeehouse - Tule Fog and Banana Haze

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    Tule Fog and Banana Haze

    Mel Dog's Cafe - breakfast_brunch - Updated June 2026

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