Honestly, I'd rate it more like a 3.5. The kids menu is definitely worth it... everything is under $10 and a solid deal. They have a wide selection overall, and the short rib grilled cheese and omelettes are pretty good. That said, there's nothing particularly special about the food. I usually come here with a Groupon, which makes it feel like you're saving more than you actually are (it's really only about $7.50 that you're saving). I will say the service is consistently great. But if you're ordering off the regular menu, it feels overpriced for what you get and pretty average food at higher-than-average prices. My kids love it though, so for now, it's still our go-to spot! read more

Mel's Drive-In - Spaghetti - Diners Near Me - San Francisco, California

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I want to drop Mel's at least a star, but I gave it two stars when I first reviewed it, and it would be dishonest of me to pretend that it has remained at two stars all these years, because I've come here occasionally in the intervening years and have mostly enjoyed myself. So it might have rated three stars before this past April. What happened in April? Well, I don't know whether it actually occurred in April, but in April, I noticed that Mel's very prominently advertises on its menu that it fries its fried foods in beef tallow. That means I can't eat French fries or onion rings from here, because they're needlessly not vegetarian. And while I'm not the most healthy person out there, I do notice when things probably aren't vegetarian. In short, I'm pretty sure this is a change, because I would have noticed this a long time ago and ordered accordingly. So why did Mel's make this change? Probably because its owners are MAHA people, and RFJ, Jr., and a bunch of other clueless people believe that seed oils are deadly. But even if you believe seed oils are deadly, there are other non-seed oils that aren't sourced from dead animals. I only noticed because it's printed on the menu, so it's not like Mel's is trying to hide this change--on the contrary, I think they really believe using beef tallow is a selling point. Except that there are expressly vegetarian items on the menu, including a veggie burger. Non-beef fries aren't even an option? Really? I must issue a GRATUITOUS MEAT ALERT. Other things annoy me about Mel's too. It's not open late enough. They do that stupid thing where they charge you a hidden fee to pay either their workers' salaries or for their health insurance. A Bunch of SF restaurants do this same thing; it's false advertising, and it should be illegal. Build the cost of doing business into your actual prices. It's not as if the restaurant is paying these fees; we customers are. Finally, the service has been atrocious the last two times I came here. If you don't have enough servers to offer good service, do not seat people. That's the time-tested solution. Seating people without enough help just makes everyone angry. This isn't a one-star review, because Mel's is useful in a late-night bind and has a parking lot. If more places in San Francisco were open late or at least until ten p.m., Mel's would probably only warrant one star. Still, I can't see coming here anytime soon, especially after such recent bad service. It's also really expensive, even pre-hidden fee. read more

My wife and I were visiting family in the Bay Area, and before heading to the airport, we decided to stop at Mel's Drive-In on Geary. A few nights earlier, I had eaten at another Mel's and ordered the short rib fries -- they were absolutely delicious. After seeing the photo I took, my wife said she wanted to try them too, so this stop was a must! We went around 12:00 p.m. on a Sunday, and although the place was full, the wait was surprisingly short. The staff was friendly, professional, and kept things moving smoothly. Parking right in front of the restaurant was a nice bonus -- rare in San Francisco! I went with the short rib fries again, and my wife ordered the braised short rib dinner, which comes with creamy mashed potatoes, fresh sautéed vegetables, and a rich demi-glace. The short ribs were very tender, the mash was flavorful, and the fries were just as perfect as the first time -- tender beef, generous portions, and full of flavor. Prices here are on the higher side, but honestly, the quality backs it up. We both left full and happy. We'll definitely be returning to Mel's next time we're in the Bay Area! read more

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Iconic diner in San Francisco, usual go to entrees. Good food, fun vibe, nostalgic setting. Good service by servers, happy to go back and try other classic dishes! read more

Mel's Drive-In - *Old Fashioned Buttermilk Pancakes - Diners Near Me - San Francisco, California

Such a classic place! Food is always good, and large portions. Service was this older fellow that was ON IT, and very busy. Each booth has its own mini juke box you can choose songs from your table. If you've never been, you MUST. Get a milk shake! Cheers! read more

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Here we are again, having Saturday brunch. Both ordering breast burrito. There's something about eggs and hash brown in a pan seared burrito. This thing was temperature hot. Loved the fresh fruit. Pricey for brunch but free parking and great service. We paid in the front and saw scones being sold. read more

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This is the third diner I've eaten at in the past week alone. I ordered breakfast, figuring it's hard to go wrong with that. The eggs were cooked exactly as I requested, the turkey sausage was about what you'd expect, but the potatoes were burnt on the bottom. They really went all out decorating for Valentine's Day, which I appreciated. If that's any indication, I imagine they decorate for other holidays and occasions too. I chose this spot partly because it's hard to find a meeting place in the area with its own parking lot, so that's a plus. It was very busy when I visited. read more

Mel's Drive-In - Diners Near Me - San Francisco, California

Our basketball team was in town for a tournament and stopped in for lunch on Saturday. The crew worked quickly to set up a tables to seat our large group. Some of us sat at the counter to get that "diner" experience. Menu had something for everyone. We tried the burger and Monte Cristo. Henry was our waiter. He was great, took care of everything we asked for. Diners of all ages had a wonderful time. I could see that younger patrons enjoyed their food served in paper car trays. read more

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The food was really good. Tuna melt. I liked my impossible burrito. So I would go back again. The service was from I feel like the same people that used to work there for 30 years. Always the old time diner with the american grafitti pictures on the wall. read more

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I love Mels Drive In! I've been a regular here since I was in high school. I love the banana milkshake (delicious, refreshing and they always give you the extra in a stainless steel jar), and I got the cheeseburger. Plain, and simple, but they're good with the basics! read more

Amazing server Anna.. friendly and provides good service. Cashier pleasant. Ambience is fun. Food normally okay and certain items need improvement. Todays was below well below average. Spaghetti meatballs were dry and sauce dry clumpy.. wont order this again. Left bad taste in my mouth. Went for coffee and pastry at B. Mel is my neighbor place so will be back. :) read more

I stopped by Mel's after a long red eye flight. I was in need of some sustenance and classic diner food sounded like it would hit the spot. Service was quick and attentive. I ordered coffee, a chocolate milkshake, a veggie omelette with home fries and GF toast. The omelette was really strange... none of the veggies were mixed into the egg and they were barely cooked. While I appreciated the large and fresh serving of veggies, I expected them to be more incorporated into the omelette - they just kind of fell out as soon as I cut into the omelette. The home fries are apparently famous but I don't really see why. They were kind of hard and seemed like they may have been reheated several times. The GF toast was actually great and I so appreciated having this option. The chocolate milkshake was also great. It was really expensive for what it was ($50 for one person) and I was not very impressed at all. I wouldn't return the next time I'm in the area. read more

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Under cooked potatoes and eggs, freezer burned steak, flat Diet Coke and all for $73 with just two people.

As the kids say, pretty mid overall BUT service was absolutely fantastic by Henry. Was in the area and my kid wanted pancakes for dinner. He ordered the full stack but Henry kindly pointed out that was perhaps a bit much for him, but would he like the short stack and add bacon/eggs? Yessiree that was perfect for him! Plate looked great and kid was very happy. I wasn't super hungry and was morbidly curious what the short rib nachos were like. The chips aren't typical tortilla chips - looked like they took leftover flour tortillas and fried them up. Not traditional, but they were crispy and fresh albeit a bit greasy. Nacho cheese goo, generous amount of black beans, guac, sour cream. Short ribs were in big chunks scattered on top in a not particularly cohesive manner, a bit too big for nachos. But the short rib meat itself was tasty - beefy and tender, not dry at all. I bet one of the other dishes with short rib in it would be solid. All of it is fairly pricey. Nachos were nearly $19. Wouldn't get them again because of the weird chip situation but maybe something else with short ribs. Not a budget eats place despite the ultra casual vibe. Loved Henry as the waiter though, super friendly and helpful! read more

Mel's Drive-In - *Short Rib Nachos - Diners Near Me - San Francisco, California

Just had the worst dining experience, etc. that I can really remember in my long life. I've been going there for four years. I'm a screenwriter. Everyone knows me; you can see me on television. There was an employee in the bathroom for 20 minutes - what he was doing I don't know. I asked someone who identified himself as the managerI If I could perhaps use the handicap bathroom or another bathroom as I've been waiting for 20 minutes .He said if you don't like it, you can leave. Shocked, I'm like you're telling me I can leave because I just need to use the bathroom. I just spent over $30 on a hamburger and a Coke plus you're out of fries. Is something going on here at this diner cause things have been funny for the last two years I asked him. I wasn't yelling at him. I wasn't complaining. I'm inquiring like what's going on here. He said you're asking too many questions you have to go and then he said he would call the police if I didn't go. I'm like what is happening here?!I I mean I'm almost laughing cause it's just also so unreal. I've never had to leave a restaurant in my entire life. He said I'm paying your bill and I'm calling the police. Wtf! Because I ask what happened to this restaurant in the last couple years, that even the nurses across the street won't come here anymore cause they said nobody waits on them. I'm simply inquiring did something happen and I just want to use a bathroom. So I left and immediately called corporate and I put a formal complaint in and they said they're following up. This guy should be fired.... definitely!!! Avoid this place at all costs, no pun intended. read more

Mel's is the iconic diner. Hadn't been here for quite awhile, but decided to come before going to SI Church for a Candlelight Concert. The vibe is definitely 50s with the vinyl booths and juke boxes at the tables. The staff was definitely friendly and welcoming. I was greeted as I entered and was told to sit anywhere. I was waiting for several others to join me, so I took a larger table in the corner. The waiter brought water right away and set down menus for all of us. After my friends came, the waiter came back to introduce himself and helped us take a group picture. Since I wasn't really hungry, I only ordered a single ground turkey slider. It was actually pretty good and was the size of a saucer. My friends ordered different sandwiches and they seemed to each enjoy them. The amount of fries that came with the sandwiches was very generous and delicious. Most of them ended up taking half a sandwich and some fries home as leftovers! Even though the food was pretty good, I think the prices were pretty high and I'd probably think twice before stopping in again. read more

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I've always wanted to try Mel's Diner; it just seems like such an iconic spot! I stopped by for lunch with a friend on a whim, and I have no regrets :) Between the both of us, we ordered chili fries, mac n cheese, a burger, and clam chowder. We also both got desserts. TBH, all of the food was pretty standard, but in a good way! I think most of the appeal behind this diner is in the atmosphere, as it feels true to its time and is just fun to hang out in! The best part of eating here was definitely interacting with Henry, our server. Not only was he super kind and friendly, he was also helpful in his recommendations and very accommodating. read more

Had a Kaiser appointment, the only reason I went is so that I can eat at Mel's after my appt!, food makes me happy. I was deciding for an omelette or tuna melt. I ordered the tuna melt & tomato soup. I was under the weather so that combo just struck me as comfort food. Everything was fine, service & all. But 1 thing changed was the potato salad that I ordered w/ my melt. I love their potato salad but looks like it's a different recipe. It was not to my liking. I remember it just being a plain simple recipe, bite sized cubes, mayo & mustard, seasonings etc. Now it's minced potatoes, mayo & such with olives. Maybe it's different among locations but yeah. Not ordering that again. read more

Mel's Drive-In - Tomato soup - Diners Near Me - San Francisco, California

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This was a great dinner! I had the Braised Short Ribs, and they were delicious! Fall off the bone, flavorful, great gravy. Came with cheesy mashed potatoes - so good! The sautéed vegetables were excellent. And a reasonable price too for all that. Our server, David was excellent too. The leather booth is so comfortable. Highly recommended! read more

Mel's Drive-In - Delicious Short Rib Nachos! - Diners Near Me - San Francisco, California

You know it's bad when you sit and wait for service for so long, and you don't even see an employee in the area, and you have to call the main line to ask for service. Mind you it's Saturday dinner shift and the place isn't even busy. read more

Decided to give this place a second chance after my friend suggested it. We went in around midnight, an hour before closing. Unlike my last experience, we were greeted promptly and professionally. The server quickly brought us menus. We grabbed a large booth, with plenty of room for the two of us to enjoy the retro ambiance. Everything looked clean and organized. We ordered a few snacks to share, such as a mac and cheese, fries, and mashed potatoes. Everything was good. When we asked for mayo, the server promptly brought it. I also got a banana milkshake, which was basically two milkshakes in one. It was a bit chunky, which I liked, but I could imagine other people being upset with that, so I'd be sure to ask for it extra-blended. My friend got a hot chocolate, which she loved. The milkshake was the most expensive item on the bill, around 10 dollars. However, considering the size, it is worth it. All of our food servings were generous in size, despite being "sides". Ultimately, we had an amazing experience and our server was super nice and caring. I wish I knew his name so I could give him a shout-out! read more

Mel's Drive-In - Melsss - Diners Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Welp, don't get the fries or the fried chicken. Old oil, stomach ache for days. Someday I'll be vegan and just not do this to myself. Another person at my table got the taco salad and only ate a few bites. Not sure what's going on here, perhaps a holding company bought the chain? read more

Absolutely delicious diner food! We came on New Year's Eve at around 7:30PM and there were plenty of tables available as the restaurant is huge. The server was so kind and patient with us as it took us a while to figure out what we wanted. I got the Penguin shake (marshmallow and chocolate) along with the short rib grilled cheese with sweet potato fries. Everything was amazing. The milkshake was so decadent and I loved that they gave us the cup that it was made in as well with the leftovers that didn't make it into the milkshake cup. The short rib was surprisingly really well made for the price and the sweet potato fries were nice and soft. Love the vibe of a diner always, especially because they have the jukeboxes to change the song playing in the restaurant. Make sure to bring coins! Definitely give this place a try! read more

Mel's Drive-In - The Penguin Shake - Diners Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Not a big fan of "American drive-in" spots, but stopped by to give it a try. Great old school atmosphere, the burgers looked great, but nothing to write home about, little pricy, but at least parking is as easy as it gets. The real gold is in the Apple Pie! Definitely well made, super recommend! read more

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Not mels dinner any longer. Now Mels kitchen and bar. New look new menu. For years we stopped in for a mels breakfast. The smoothie I use to look forward to that was made with all fresh fruit has been replaced with a plant based flax glutamine cinnamon almon milk . The food and the atmosphere are all gone.The parking is also gone. Go to one of the other Mels in San Francisco. This place sucks!!!! read more

Disappointing. Thin servings. Skimpy. Weak. We thought this Mel's was like others. No. The franchise here seems to think friendly service makes up for sub par food. It does not. Other Mel's are better. It's as if the food isn't real: Not real Russian Dressing, but something made to taste like it but not it. The tuna salad on my tuna melt, not really tuna salad, but something weak, lots of filler, not much tuna and not very much of it. French fries, small wimpy, not hearty or impressive. The Reuben sandwich, not much meat, sauerkraut cheese or dressing. Just a poor excuse of a $20 sandwich. Also: the jukeboxes on each table are broken. None of them work. This Mel's drags the brand down. So disappointing. Also: The men's room door is situated such it opens right into a urinal. No barrier or little wall to shield seeing directly at the person standing there. Completely exposed. It was awkward as I opened the door and a child of about 13 years old was finishing peeing. A very uncomfortable situation. read more

Old school vibey diner. Open until midnight, I ordered the Smashburger and my friend ordered The Famous Melburger. We got an oreo milkshake to share together. It's what you'd expect from a diner burger, very delicious, flavorful and juicy and the cheese is melted to perfection. The fries are good too! They give you mustard on the side. The milkshakes here are SO GOOD. Classic made with real ice cream, thick, with real oreo chunks blended inside!! I have to agree from the menu, they definitely have the best milkshakes "in town". They ended up giving us the cup they blended the milkshake in, so we got extra for free. So good. On the pricier side but worth it for the experience and tasty food. Will be returning. read more

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The first time I ever went i got the chicken ceaser wrap. It wasnt my favorite thing But it was alright. The chicken was kind of dry but the wrap was huge. The second time I got he sliders with cheese and those i would totally get again. I went on the late night trip and got the cookies and cream milk shake which was the best milkshake ive ever gotten. read more

Mel's Drive-In - Milkshake - Diners Near Me - San Francisco, California

What can I say? Mel's Diner is an old standby for late nights in San Francisco. We should all be familiar with Mel's by now--an old-timey diner with an extensive menu of breakfast options and burgers. This location was clutch after a weekend at Outside Lands. The restaurant was clean, and the staff was friendly. Even though it was late at night and somewhat busy, we still got our food quickly. Everything was delicious. I had the classic burger with a cup of chili, and I couldn't resist getting a milkshake, enjoying the ice cream straight out of the cold tin cup. This place delivered solid eats late at night in a clean environment with friendly service. Thanks, Mel's! Oh and check in on Yelp! for a milkshake coupon! read more

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Service was exceptionally friendly, even for 10pm at night (they're open until 11, which makes it one of the few places in SF to get table service after 9pm on a weekday). The diner has a classic 1950's feel, and every part is committed to the bit (but in a way that makes it charming, not tacky). The burgers were good, albeit verrrry greasy (remember the "committed-to-the-bit" above? That includes the greasy spoon). The fries were very plentiful, but they lost their appeal with their heat. Best to eat them quickly! Is this a show-stopping restaurant? Perhaps not, but it's got all the right parts for a family dinner out or a late night made-to-order burger. read more

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I used to go to Mel's with my friends way back when I was going to college. Good times:) As I look around at the customers dining in, I noticed a lot of folks in my age group or perhaps older that appear to be regulars by the way the people working there engaged them. . I couldn't help but wonder if they returned to Mel's because of all the good times they had back in their days. I asked my server if he preferred the Mel's Burger or the Hollywood Burger. He recommended the latter which is served with thin fries. It was a nice and delicious choice. I finished off my meal with a tasty slice of cheesecake. The workers were all friendly and provided good service. This is a really nice restaurant to come back to:) read more

This is our go to spot after the Church service on a Sunday and we have been going here regularly for the last 3 years . The service and the food that we order has consistently kept its mark along with the trade mark Mel's ambience that is always welcoming. read more

Mel's Drive-In - Diners Near Me - San Francisco, California

Came by around 9:45 PM on a Sunday. Mainly came for the milkshakes and ended up also ordering a side of mac and cheese. We usually order an oreo milkshake when its an option, but since there are a bunch of flavors available here, we asked the server what he recommended. We ended up with a coffee and oreo mix, split into 2 glasses. Flavor of the shake was fine, I think I prefer a classic oreo over the mix. Vibes of the spot were amazing, very cute diner decor. read more

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Came here for a late dinner after a date night at the Academy's after dark event. Mels Diners across the country are all pretty much the same and this location is no different. Love that its one of the few restaurants open til midnight in SF, and also loved using the jukeboxes at each table. The food was yummy carb heaven. Our server was kind and attentive. Parking is accessible in front of the restaurant read more

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I didn't realize this place was so expensive. I don't know if they raised the prices, but I swear it's more expensive than the last time I've been. And I've been quite a few times. That being said, the food was nothing crazy. It wasn't bad, but it wasn't mind blowing or honestly worth the price tag. I got the huevos rancheros with a side of fruit, and it was pretty underwhelming. I asked for soft poached eggs and they just gave me completely hard boiled eggs. The fruit was cold and sweet, so I did enjoy that. My boyfriend got a burger with a side salad. The salad was pretty basic, and the burger had an oddly excessive amount of lettuce. I didn't try either, but he seemed to enjoy it a reasonable amount. Mel's is a classic spot for a cute diner vibe, but the prices really got me. I'm not sure if I'll be back, there's definitely cheaper diners in the city with better food. read more

Mel's Drive-In - Burger - Diners Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Upon landing in sfo flying from south Florida... my friend said let's hit Mel's before heading down to Santa Cruz. It was great to visit and enjoy the food at a place people clearly flock to. We had an accessible table and Chiquiles and huevos rancheros. Delish! Staff was very attentive. read more

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Diner food with good variety. Hats off for vegan choices other than impossible burgers. I had the vegan burrito which was very good and enough for two meals. They also have vegan chili, a quinoa salad, a veggie sandwich, and even a vegan chocolate-chip milkshake. My daughter had the tenders and fries and said it was very good. Service was friendly as well. There was a good neighborhood vibe; the kind of place people come after a game or while out running errands with the kids. read more

Mel's Drive-In - Vegan burrito and chicken strips and fries - Diners Near Me - San Francisco, California

$14.27 for a chocolate malt. Yikes! And they aren't as big as they used to be either. Might be time to invest in a milk shake machine for the home. read more

The service was decent and ambiance fun with the old-time diner feel. The food was average. I had a veggie omelet which should have been called a green pepper omelet that came with hashbrowns and choice of toast. The omelet was just egg layered on top of veggies not a true omelet which was weird to me. The cheeseburger with fries were good for hubby. Highlight was the chocolate malt. This was our favorite go-to about 20+ years ago; nowadays notsomuch. read more

Only reason I will give 2 stars is because waiter was nice. Unorganized but nice. I came with a party of 10, 3 of those orders were wrong. Two were fixed quickly but the last wrong order took about 20 minutes and still came out wrong. The taste of the food was average. My food specifically made my stomach upset, I had the burger on sourdough bread. Will not be returning. read more

Mel's Drive-In - Sunset Burger - Diners Near Me - San Francisco, California