Excellent meal!!! In fact, one of the best ever!!!! My hubby and I celebrated Valentine's Day at Meelo's, having never dined here before. We WILL be back!!!! The stuffed ravioli and lasagna were soooooo good!!!!! read more

The restaurant is very small and the seating is quite tight. The food was alright but the service was awful. We won't be going back.

My husband and I dined at Melo's for the second time recently. We both thoroughly enjoyed our dinner choices. The seafood, vegetables, and chorizo were all cooked to perfection with their accompanying sauces. And, the Tiramisu was awesome. We have had the Meat Lasagna in the past...and it, too, is very special. This little restaurant, nestled in a small strip mall across the parking lot from the Courtyard by Marriott is quite a "find" and is very convenient to Duke Hospital and the Adult Bone Marrow Transplant Clinic. read more

This place was amazing from the minute we walked in. We sat outside on the patio. My husband ordered the special, lasagna bolognese and I ordered the ravoli, and both were fantastic. We ordered a bottle of Chilean wine, which was very reasonable and tasty. We had multiple servers, and they were all attentive, but did not over do it. The chef (and I think owner) came out and joked with us and also gave us a free tshirt that had a funny slogan. After dinner we were served lemonchello shots. Fantastic, we will be back!! read more

Melo Trattoria - Love our shirt! - Italian Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

This place is so good, we just returned from going there for our second night in a row. Friendly service, very nice staff. Great food, too: scallops and shrimp; lamb dish absolutely wonderful; lasagna - special rich and wonderful. Fresh, fresh salads. A new favorite Italian Restaurant close to home. Thanks for a second evening as good as the first. read more

I really don't get all the hype about this place....I have now been to this restaurant for dinner twice. The first time was with a large group of over 15, so I give the restaurant some slack when dealing with large groups. I thought my food the first time was just OK...not bad, but nothing so wonderful that I would run to come back there again. The first time I had gotten the meatballs that are on their tapas menu for an appetizer. They were just Ok in terms of taste. Nothing special. Dinner was forgettable as well - I had gotten one of their pasta dishes, but honestly cannot remember which one I had ordered now. I can tell you that it was a dish with shrimp, and all my shrimp in the dish were very much overcooked in the pasta dish. I only went back the second time with a smaller group of friends, as one of them really liked the place and wanted to go back. So, I decided to go back for another try. This time, I ordered the octopus tapas. Again, the octopus were much overcooked. The red sauce that they were in was the best part of the entire dish. For dinner, I ordered the lasagna. It comes out as a flattened piece of lasagna on a plate with a pool of water around the sauce (so looks like it was a piece cut and microwaved). The taste was just OK....I had to order some red pepper flakes to kick the sauce up a notch...it was a little bit on the bland side. I just don't get the raving reviews on this website. I think people are just enamored of the place being an eclectic blend of both international tapas and Italian food, neither done well. I should also point out that the server forgot my tapas order when he brought out my friends' appetizers, so I had to wait for my octopus app. And, we were only a group of 4, so really no excuse for this. Sorry, but I won't be back to this place.... read more

This is an amazing place to dine. The staff are very friendly and the service is great. The food, well, I have never, never had to bad one. Overall this is a must go to place. By the way, after having this desert in many places around the world, the Tiramisu is the best. read more

Awesome food, great ambience, friendly service!! For appetizers we had tapas: Lamb chops, garlic shrimp and, bruschetta. For entrees: lasagna, pasta with shrimp and lamb chops. Everything was delicious. I highly recommend and I will definitely be back...soon read more

I didnt feel it was Italian. My dinner was ok, but just average. I expected more. I see this as a great place for large groups to share tapas items. read more

We just found a new neighborhood favorite and plan on going back often! The food is excellent for the price. We had a few rounds of tapas and wine. Their timing was great. Not too slow, not too fast. The meal was the event for the evening and we stayed about an hour and half. Even better than the food was the hospitality! Andre welcomed us and asked us our names. He was also right when he said the tiramasu was "of the gods". The best I've had anywhere. Can't wait to go back see what he's cooking up next time. read more

Meelo's was spectacular! Great food. Great service. Great atmoshere.

What's up, Andre? Have always been a fan of Melos but miss seeing Andre, the owner. The staff is great, but Andre's presence is what makes this restaurant stand above others. Every time we go we they say that Andre "just left". The only other comment I have is that I wish they would serve some rustic crusty bread - the soft dinner rolls can be found anywhere and really best with a blue plate special at a diner. read more

Just stumbled on this spot, and wow what a surprise, great service and amazing food! Stuffed ravioli, yummo!!

Just had lunch today at Meelo's with my wife and daughter. Food was great from the Burger to the Gyro to the sausage sandwich. Waiters friendly, service was prompt and reasonable prices read more

Always a delight. Superb dishes and wine at a relaxed friendly pace like Italia. Andre is a gracious host.

Sorry. I can't recommend this place at all. I have eaten there twice for lunch. They seem bent on trying to squeeze every penny out of a customer and the service was terrible. The first time I had a club sandwich -- just OK. Chips or Fries are extra -- are you kidding. Although we only had a table of 5, a gratuity of 20% was automatically added to the bill. The second time I ate there, I had a gyro. There was so little meat that I wasn't sure it was even there. It was like all they had was something like a thin piece of deli meat. i have had much better gyros at the food court at our local mall -- bigger serving, better service too. The quality absolutely does not match the prize paid. read more

This is my favorite spot for a special occasion. The setting is intimate. The atmosphere is romantic. The food is spectacular. And the service is always on point. My companion is one of the pickiest eaters I know bur she was forced to admit that she enjoyed it. read more

traveling from PA to SC-------ate outdoors, excellent service----had the penne puttanesca and wife had calamari------marvelous food

I ate here for lunch today didn't even know the place was here until i drove by and saw it. This is a quiet little bistro style Italian restaurant, it has tables inside and out, and the attention to detail makes this a fun place to get away, without leaving town. They even had Italian music playing to help complete the transformation. They have lots of wine to choose from, and many dishes to satisfy a lunch or dinner appetite. So for lunch i had the grilled chicken panini sandwich w/fries. Now normally i wouldn't rant and rave about a chicken sandwich and fries but, it was on of the best i ever had the chicken was spiced just right and the fries had what i think was lemon pepper and sea salt on them. Just that settle change made all the difference in the world. As far a s pricing goes i belive they are right on the money my lunch w/tea was only $10.00 but i felt like i got a $20 dollar meal. I will be back to eat there again. I would recommend this place to a friend!!!! read more

We discovered this delightful restaurant when we visited Duke last year for a medical appointment. When we had to return this year, we made a beeline for Meelo. The food is great and the atmosphere cozy and fun. I had the Italian sausage and peppers with penne and it was delicious. Just sorry I didn't have room for dessert, which also looked wonderful. Next time we will try the tapas menu, which looked intriguing. The friendly staff and owner, along with the great food, make this place a must try! read more

After waiting 40 min for my "reserved table" next door at Bleu Olive we decided to try Melo's. What an excellent choice we made. The place is small yet cozy and intimate. The servers and the chef were extremely nice and considerate. The food was delicious. I had the salmon and was very tasty. My mom loved the lamb. Even the more common dishes like the puttanesca and chicken alfredo were delicious. Despite a 20 min drive we will make there again. Loved it. read more

Still a great Italian restaurant in Durham! If you describe what you want, they will fix it for you, even if not on the menu. The staff is friendly and accommodating. We usually get a great table, and they don't have too long of a wait when full. Love this place as a regular! read more

First time at this quaint and cozy restaurant. Very good lagasna and great service. Looking forward to my next visit to try different menu items. Definitely on my favorites list! read more

Surprisingly good Italian restaurant in Northern Durham. Very surprised that I hadn't heard anything about this place until I went to dinner on a Thursday night. Little did I know this is one of the best kept secrets in Durham and we were lucky to get a table without a reservation as the place quickly filled up. The ambiance is quaint and cozy, albeit a bit cheesy (large murals, fake plants). The service was attentive and if anything wasn't obtrusive or tried to sell us on anything. The menu is limited but packs a culinary punch. The tortellini was out of this world good, with a rich and somewhat creamy sauce that matched perfectly with the (possibly homemade?) pasta. The bread was fresh and warm, demerits for serving with butter instead of olive oil, but still good nonetheless. Also tried their tiramisu which was great. Overall, a fantastic meal, that was reasonably priced ($13-15) for entrees. read more

Everything about this place is wonderful. I had the Greek Pasta, which had a depth of flavor to indicate that the chef really takes the time to do things right. The owner was very friendly and came out to see how things were going. For the price, I don't see how you could ask for a better meal. read more

Great food and atmosphere. If you want pizza, go elsewhere (they don't serve it). Pasta dishes are very good and don't forget desert. Unless you go nuts on the wine this is a low $$ place read more

Brought my family here to try it out a few days after Christmas, and boy were we pleased. Our family lived in Northeast Italy for two years during the '90's, and we all agreed that the pasta dishes we ate at Meelo rated quite favorably in comparison. We stuck with the pasta and desserts, and didn't venture into the tapas-style small dishes on the menu, but I'd be happy to return to try them in the future! Service was friendly and attentive...Chef Andre pulled up a spare chair when we told him about living in Italy, and chatted with us for a good five minutes. Good times and good food all around, definitely will be back. Please note, no pizza at Meelo...if anyone knows of good places to get Italian-style pizza in the triangle, let me know! read more

When they have it, my daughter and I love the lobster ravioli - the sauce has lots of flavor with plenty of lobster in each ravioli. The large salads are big enough to share. The soups are delicious. Some of the entrees might miss the mark, but not by much. read more

Food was very good but over priced. Warm atmosphere. Wonderful wait staff.

Melo is the quintessential local Italian restaurant. Avoid all of the nuisance you get with big chain restaurants. You get good food, friendly service, usually a visit from the owner, and consistent quality. read more

we must have eaten there on a very bad night. After reading the great reviews we thought we'd give it a try a few months ago, but it was a giant disappointment. My penne was overspiced and killed my taste buds - the wine was waaay overpriced - look, we all know alcohol in all restaurants is marked up, but charging $25 for Rex Goliath! Really? It's $5 at Walmart and Trader Joes and even Big Lots! At least put unrecognizable labels on the wine list so we don't know the size of the rip off. Service was ok, nothing to complain about there, but all of our dishes arrived with the same shaker seasoning on top - it was a waste of money, except that we got a good laugh out of the bad food. read more

Family run restaurant with very friendly and helpful waitstaff. Service was efficient and the tapas we had we delish especially the beef with mushrooms in tomato cream sauce. Save room for the homemade tiramisu read more

Visited the Meelo Restaurant last week based upon previous reviews. We were not disappointed. A charming restaurant with excellent food, and the prices were not too high - a great combination. Highly recommend the Tiramisu dessert. read more

Good food and good service. But good Lord. I ordered the special Mahi Mahi. It was the smallest piece of fish I've ever seen! It wasn't even very hot because of the mango/peach salsa on top (guess it was cold). Other people around me seemed to enjoy their food. I'll go back, just not to order the special!!! read more

As usual the food was fantastic and the wait staff worked in perfect harmony. Tonight's special was Oso Buca, done to perfection. Too many local places want to substitute pork or beef for the traditional veal. The only substitute that I have found to, almost, be acceptable is buffalo in a place in Colorado. This was superb. read more

I'm so surprised to see negative reviews of Melo's! It's truly one of my favorite restaurants in Durham. The owners/staff are some of the nicest people I've met in the area and the food is delicious. This is a regular stop for my husband and myself, especially when we have guests in town. If you want great pasta served by happy people, go here for dinner. read more

I just wanted to give a shout-out for one of my favorite undiscovered hole-in-the-wall restaurant, Tucked in at the south end of the now nearly vacant Loehmann's Plaza (near the significantly more upscale Papa's Grill) you will find a neighborhood treasure. Favored by many of the residents at nearby Croasdaile Village, for excellent food and reasonable prices. On the face of it, the menu seems traditional Mediterranean: pasta, Greek salad, gyros, etc. The secret is that most of the pasta is fresh made and is wonderfully sauced (try the Bolognese or the Greek--olives, feta, tomatoes, and olive oil). Also stay alert for evening specials--often a very nice lasagna, but occasionally a superlative osso buco (go for it, if it's the right night). They also have nice wine choices and daily specials of imported beers. The atmosphere is...well, "neighborhoody." Formica tables, small booths, small capacity, CD loop of schmaltzy Italian music. What makes it special is the warmth and attention of the owner/chef, Andre Chabaneix. He makes everyone feel as if they're family or old friends and has a great memory. With the loss of Sal's in that mall (I'm sorry, its morphing into Pomodoro Italian Kitchen at an old Shoney's location is still a loss), if you want a comfortable atmosphere and the possibility of some really good food, give Meelo a try. I just hope this review doesn't overwhelm them as they are small. read more

Best service I have had at a restaurant in a long time. Pleasant atmosphere and delicious food. Interesting menu, with the choice of Italian or tapas. read more

Really disappointing. Food was not cheap (entrees $12-16), but simply awful. I had shrimp scampi pasta, which mentioned oregano as an ingredient, but it should have been called oregano pasta. I have never tasted so much dried oregano in one dish. Really bad. My daughter's bolognese pasta was lackluster. I had my doubts before trying, but this confirmed my assumptions about north of I-85 dining. Only reason it's 2 stars is it was fast and servers were pleasant. Don't waste your money! read more

Quiet and charming atmosphere. Northern Italian menu was such a nice change from the usual southern Italian marinara drenched food that so many Italian restaurants succumb to. I had the tilapia served with zucchini and potato garnished with Parmesan flakes. The dessert is classic hazelnut mousse cake- apparently home made by a local pastry chef in the area. read more