Driving by we spotted Mel's and figured they would have some good coffee to go so we stopped. From what we could see as we waited they offer a really nice breakfast menu for eat in dining and you can get breakfast sandwiches and other bakery items to go. The selection of muffins looked amazing. We went with their new one which had a bunch of flavors and boiled down to caramel on top, walnuts and cranberries inside and an overall apple flavor. It was just okay. Fell apart very easily and I'm not sure the cranberries went well as they gave it a very sour taste. Points for originality though. We wanted a cold brew coffee but they were out of it. We went with a coconut iced coffee. It wasn't that good. If you did a blind taste test I doubt anyone would have guessed coconut. It was nice and creamy but not particularly strong or flavorful. Prices were okay and there was plenty of parking despite the restaurant portion looking very busy. read more

Great local gem! Had the corned beef hash and eggs. This place has an old school "diner" type of feel. The servers were attentive. They give out coloring pages and crayons for the kids. Plenty of parking spaces in the private lot. I'd definitely come back next time I'm in town... read more

Mel's Commonwealth Cafe - Store front - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Wayland, Massachusetts

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The food is delicious, the service is excellent!! I love going here to eat in or order out

We shared eggs bennie over latke, and the hollandaise on the side. Enough to pour on my half to make it extra tasty. Eggs were PERFECT POACH, and quite frankly, the side of more potatoes was just overkill, because the dish itself was almost perfect! Of course, you know I judge a diner by its pancakes, and we ordered just one. Not fluffy, not cakey, not hard, no aftertaste - just a good pancake. Really good. Took some muffins to go - a corn (made in house) and a chocolate chip (sourced from Mendon?) - which we will grill in the morning and taste test. The place is spacious, kitschy, clean and friendly. Lorraine has been there for 20 years and on Saturdays and Sundays, this hard working mom from Framingham can walk you through the menu like there is no tomorrow and make you believe in the breakfast God's all over again! Nice people, great food, "ok" coffee, wonderful service. EVERTYTHING you want in a nice breakfast. And cheap! read more

Cute place for a great breakfast. Nicely decorated in nostalgia and the server was pleasant and efficient.

Heinous! Lousy coffee, "potato pancakes" were slugs-tasted like leftover mashed potatoes formed into a patty. Run! Was nauseous the rest of the morning. read more

Mel's is amazing! I have been going there as much as I can for over 15 years (I'm 20). Great for breakfast and lunch by yourself or with a group. I like everything so much I can almost never decide what to get! Some clear winners are: Crunchy Country French Toast special Corned beef hash (nice and crispy) BBQ chicken sandwiches Pancake sandwich Truly something for everyone :) Long live Mel's!!!!! read more

Good food, good portions, good service. Comfortable, laid back atmosphere. Ample parking. Easy to get to. Didn't think their fish and chips was anything spectacular but other dishes have been very good. They serve breakfast all day. Good coffee, too. I really like the diner-like decor. The layout struck me as a bit odd with different rooms/spaces, but that added to the charm. Haven't tried any of their baked goods yet but they looked dangerous. Highly recommended if you're up that way. read more

We tried the restaurant based on the fact I was told they served chicken sausage and sounds strange but I really love breakfast. Chicken sausage and it is hard to get out . When we first arrived the mini take our bakery caught my eye especially the muffins but as I looked at them closer all them Them seemed to be covered in sugar so I lost my interest . But the little cafe area seemed to be nice and staff were working hard and fast . When we first went to check in there didn't seem to be a clear understanding of you had to give your name to the hostess or just stand In line . The hostess didn't give any direction either but we did get seated reasonably quickly . Our waitress was nice and when my hot chocolate came it didn't have the generous amount of whipped cream as I had seen on others so I asked for more and she came with the can. I like that ! The food /meals were good. I got the flatbread naan sandwich with chicken sausage of course and it was so filling I have breakfast for tomorrow . My friend got the Diablo and said it was really food but it didn't really wed the salsa on top and next time would ask for blue cheese instead of cheddar cheese as it would paired well with the buffalo sauce. Overall, it was a food restaurant and I would definitely visit again read more

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A great local diner with cozy atmosphere and friendly service. I had an Italian omelet (sausage, peppers, onions, mushrooms, and cheddar) with a side of blueberry pancakes instead of the home fries and toast (and awesome option!). The hot chocolate was delicious as well. (visited 1/15/22) read more

Four stars for diner food in a restaurant setting. Portions are big and the menu is bigger. Parking is plentiful. Seating options range from chairs at tables to the counter. One less star because the service can be slow, but the service when you get it is good. read more

Great breakfast. Lots to choose from. Good ambiance and very clean! Would definitely come again.

Mel's has a large, diverse menu and is reasonably priced! I had the Chicken Pesto Panini. The bread on the panini was what they called a "special Indian wood fired naan flatbread." Inside the bread was a heavenly combination of roasted red peppers, sun-dried tomatoes, chicken, pesto and provolone cheese. The bread wasn't overly crispy (in a good way) and the sandwich wasn't greasy. The food portions are slightly larger than average, but perfect if you're pretty hungry. At just under $10 for my chicken panini and a side salad, Mel's is very reasonably priced, especially given the portion size and quality. Our waitress (and all the staff we interacted with) was very friendly and attentive. For what it is (a reasonably priced cafe/diner), I give Mel's 5 stars! read more

Mel's Commonwealth Cafe - Chicken pesto panini with a side salad, yum! - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Wayland, Massachusetts

I look forward to the weekend because of this place...chatting and eating one of our favorite breakfast spots. Friendly staff too. read more

Mel's Commonwealth Cafe - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Wayland, Massachusetts

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One of my favorite breakfast places in the area. Love the Flatbread sandwich! Portions are usually very big. The only reason I gave 3 stars and not 5 is because their homefries are often undercooked. Sometimes the potatos are so undercooked that they are still hard or taste raw and are pretty much unedible. This is a pretty big flaw for a breakfast place in my opinion. read more

So, I'm writing this review after a second visit, my first visit would have yielded a five star review, today's yielded a one star review. Last week I stumbled upon this place because I work in Wayland and there aren't many non-chain breakfast joints (not really a Panera fan for breakfast)... When I visited last weekend I ordered a bacon, egg & cheese on a GRILLED bagel to-go. And this exactly what I was served and it was DELICIOUS. Today I went in again, The young lady at the counter seemed like a bit of a space case... so I strongly reiterated, more than once, to the young lady at the counter that I would like my sandwich on a GRILLED bagel... when I returned to work and opened up my sandwich my bagel was not only not grilled, but not toasted, it was a room temperature bagel. Moral of the story: if you're staffing high school students for Saturday mornings at the counter, please give them coffee, they need some focus. read more

Average in just about every aspect imaginable. The one thing that stands out are their muffins which are way above average.

Meh. The food is mediocre and a tad overpriced. I would not return. The scrambled eggs were too dense (as Wendy wrote: rubbery), not fluffy at all. The "large" OJ was not and was almost $5. The Portuguese Sweet Roll was almost tasteless. And, overpriced. + Efficient service - No Wi-Fi. - paper napkins - cheap "middle weight" flatware read more

Always a great go to for breakfast, French toast and blueberry muffins are a must here

If you're looking for a solid local eatery filled with heart stopping cholesterol, and flavors your Nana used to cook up at home with a hefty helping of Crisco... This is the place. You will not find spices recently discovered in a small unique crop in Tibet here. The crowd is not hip. It's grey. The service is A-OK. The decor is not trendy. So wander in in your favorite LL Bean duds, order a plate of fish and chips, and enjoy. PS: If they're serving the split pea and ham soup, don't miss out. read more

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We've been going to Mel's for years, but this is a tough review to do. Most importantly, the food is always very good. Eggs bendict is a solid choice - though I'm not sure why they took Alaskan eggs benedict off the menu (it was a favorite). My wife and daughter love the waffles. For lunch, their turkey or tuna club are excellent - one of my favorites. There's usually a wait on weekends, so sometimes we call in and order takeout. When we eat there - the service is hit or miss. I would say that for a place that gets as much business and it located in upscale Wayland - I would think the service would better. The owner is a very nice guy - always smiles, chats with patrons, etc. The problem is that some of the waitresses aren't very friendly and some are just too damn slow. I'm not looking for giggles and cartwheels, but I don't want my day to start off with a surly waitress bringing me my coffee and eggs benny. read more

My College Student kept talking about this amazing Little cafe that she loved to go to and wanted to share it with me. It was wonderful! The staff was very friendly and accommodating when we walked in with a big party! The food was fabulous! Every person was very happy with their meals! Definitely will return on our next visit! read more

Mel's has a HUGE menu with lots of great options for breakfast and lunch! Very clean, well managed, and a fun place to grab a bite. If you're coming on a Sunday morning there can sometimes be a bit of a wait because of churchgoers, but they have a pretty quick turnover rate and I've never had to wait too long! My favorite thing on the menu is their eggs Benedict, their hollandaise sauce is AMAZING. Their omelettes are also delish. I haven't ever personally had any of their lunch options because I'm always craving eggs when I go, but I've heard their club sandwiches are great as well. Price wise it is a tiny bit more expensive than your average town diner, but the quality of food and variety of options makes it very worth it. I've been coming here since I was a kid, and I'd recommend Mel's to anyone in the area looking for a great diner! read more

I asked for 2 scrambled eggs and 2 sausages and requested no potatoes or toast. I also ordered a cup of coffee. Concern #1: VERY rubbery scrambled eggs... nothing light/fluffy or yummy about them. Concern #2: Fork was lightweight and could not cut the sausages (which were barely warm) Concern #3 and most concerning: $13.24???? What???? Under what circumstance would 3 food items for breakfast be $13.24?? WOW. I live near here and will not patronize this spot ever again. read more

Popped into Mel's as so many in the neighborhood give it raves. Nice burger place atmosphere with a full diner grade menu. Had to get a double 1/3 + 1/3 lb burger, because they did not charge that much for a 2nd patty, and well, it all starts with the meat. Two juicy 6 oz. burger charbroiled to perfection topped with the cheese of your choice, which in my case was American with the standard toppings, lettuce, tomato, pickle & sliced red onion. A real bakery roll and the included side of fries meant I would not eat again till the next day. A Darn Good Burger (See: https://www.facebook.com/MightyTastyBurger) with at least some pink inside, not quite the medium rare I wanted, but very eatable. My wife got an oriental chicken salad which was decent, but not overwhelming. There were enough lunch salad choices to bring us back again & again. The coffee was not gourmet, but OK. I always hope I can find coffee worth getting but at home we use Black Bear in a Chemex, and that is tough competition for a restaurant to go against. (see: www.blackbearcoffee.com/ for online purchasing!) read more

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This place was really good. I had the French toast the cinnamon swirl was so good with butter and syrup it was perfect. The place is cute I was surprised when I was some menus and asked to sit ourselves because it was before 8:00am I laughed, I said oh okay no problem. We also bought some homemade fresh muffins to take home. We will be back read more

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First off, I want to apologize for not having any photos to post... :( My wife and I came here for lunch on Friday and we found it to be pretty busy but we were seated right away. Our server appeared to be very experienced and was so polite. They have so many options to choose from that it made me a bit overwhelmed. I decided to order the Ranch House Burger, and so glad I did. Oh my gosh!!! Probably one of the best burgers I have ever tasted. It looked as good as it tasted! Probably 1/2 pound patty with cheese, bacon, bbq sauce, onion, and pickles. I looked so good that I didn't even think to take pictures. I devoured the whole thing I about 5 minutes. I can't wait to go back and try something else. read more

Stopped here while on vacation last summer.I sat at the counter in the back.The waitress was very nice and attentive and I received my food quickly.I ordered the sliced salmon and bagel . I was so disappointed with what I was served. I order this dish all over the country and this was amongst the worst.The bagel was rock hard stale and the few pieces of fish were sliced so thin they were translucent.I should have complained, but I'm not a big complainer. I ate some but left most uneaten.I get the bill and go to the front to pay. Tab was $16.01 total. I give the Manager a twenty to pay , I couldn't find a penny and he wouldn't let it slide. I had to walk out with 3 ones and a fist full of coins. AYFKM?How cheap can you get. read more

Very disgusted with the way I was treated from the moment I walked in. I was seated in the next to the bathrooms with many tables open in the front. After 15 minutes of sitting there not one person came by so I got up and walked out. Way to go Wayland. Sad to say I'm apart of this racist town. We need to do better people! read more

The premier breakfast spot in metro west? I don't know about that. At least not the pre-made breakfast sandwiches. My teenager makes a better one. What a piece of crap. Stop doing that and just make everyone's fresh. Egg was over cooked till all edges were burnt and bacon was undercooked. A joke. And stop saying "The best deal in town" YUCK!! read more

I have tried ordering from Mels several times and they seem to consistently forget ingredients on my orders. I ordered one of their "famous" salads, which is also way overpriced at $13 after tax, and they proceeded to forget both the guacamole and eggs. However, congratulations Mel on giving me the correct salad dressing this time... read more

I order here a lot at work. I generally get one of their breakfast specials. It comes with French toast, eggs, and potatoes. It's just a classic breakfast place. Orange juice is great and so are their muffins. If you're looking for a classic diner, come here! read more

It's my boyfriend's birthday and he loves breakfast, specifically waffles, so we decided to try a new place. Sadly, this is not a place we will be visiting again. The Service: Took our order, never asked if we'd been there before so when it came time to pay we weren't sure if she took our money or if we were supposed to pay at the hostess area. Never came back and asked if we wanted a warm-up on our coffee or if we needed anything else. Brought the bill out at the same time she brought the food- never a good look. She did bring us an accurate order in a timely fashion. However, had she paid a bit more attention to us, she would have received a much better tip. We tend to tip 50% for great service. Also, we were going to grab some muffins to go but never had the chance to order or ask the server's opinions so ultimately, this place lost out on some money because of the service as well. The Food: We tried French toast, eggs, Belgium waffle and bacon. Bacon and "eggs" (beaters) were incredibly greasy. My mouth is coated in oil. Waffle was cold and the French toast did taste good. The Value: This is where they lose us as customers- the prices are insane. Almost $9 for a waffle? Almost $9 for 4 pieces of French toast? Bacon was precooked Oscar Meyer, and eggs were not real eggs. If an establishment is going to charge that much for a simple breakfast- that breakfast better be incredible. I will post a picture of our receipt for reference. $5 for a side of 4 slices of bacon is crazy considering you can buy a package of bacon for that. The Atmosphere: Smelled of hazelnut coffee, cute little diner. Exactly the nostalgia diner feel. read more

Mel's Commonwealth Cafe - Cold greasy food at high cost. - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Wayland, Massachusetts

This place is hit or miss. They mostly do a nice job with good food. But today was a miss for sure! Most of the time you could split the salads because they are so big. Today my salad was made up with big hunks of hard, white bitter iceberg lettuce. The parts you toss in the trash when making a salad at home. I think I'll be skipping Mel's in the future. If ya can't splerge on decent lettuce...then I'm all set. read more

Good good. Solid breakfast. First time here and it was tasty. The loaded home fries were excellent. read more

Mel's Commonwealth Cafe - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Wayland, Massachusetts

I will not even give one star to this restaurant. The service was awful. It took forever to get our food and when we finally got it there were items missing...asked the awful waitress for maple syrup and she gave us attitude the entire time. The home fries were bottom of the barrel and burnt. The food is over priced and to get bad service and bad food is just wrong. I've been going there for 25 years. My entire family has in this area and I will never step foot in that place again! Just an awful experience the last two times.not good during covid times! Don't waste your time or money on that place read more

Julianned ham in ham and cheese omlet. gross worm texture. Reuben omlet tongue shriveling salty. potato hash dry. pancakes to die for.... go figure. read more

A good 'ol fashioned diner! Super friendly staff and yummy food. Highly recommend for families or just to meet up with friends.

Typical breakfast and lunch joint with an extensive menu. The wait staff are super friendly and tend to go out of their way to make you feel welcome. Unfortunately the kitchen is slow. You typically wait 20 minutes for your food to arrive. read more

I only recently discovered Mel's and boy am I happy that I did! I have been there 3 times in the past 2 weeks and every time the service has been great and the food plentiful and delicious. I also appreciate the healthy options that they have alongside the more indulgent ones (especially the muffins!) read more