I go to Mel's kitchen when I'm in the area because it opens late and they have good coffee. The food is 3 stars all day . But I have to take out a star for their service . The lady/ manager is very rude and try's to crack jokes . And she's not very funny . read more

Oh dear God. Mel's has always been pricey but the quality was acceptable. Not today! The place was EMPTY and it's a huge place. And the prices $14.95 for avocado toast (I'm sort of an expert on the dish and I knew it would be a disaster) I ordered corn beef hash and eggs with sourdough toast. It took 30 minutes. Upon delivery, I saw whole wheat. read more

Great place to chill and have breakfast. Remodeled. Great service. You can't ask for more in a diner. Clean as Mr. Clean can get. The food quality def is above diner quality. read more

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Corner diner with cleaner bar feel and B&W framed city pics. Background music was timeless and proper levels for conversation.. Wed 7:30a breakfast crowd was all of 9 people making for quick service. Breakfast burrito and coffee was the mission. Ample burrito w/ hashbrowns came out hot and the coffee mug was the heavy large type making good initial impression. Taste was 4.8stars as I prefer spicy. Hashbrowns only needed a little salt seasoning. Free coffee refills appreciated. Clean, crisp kitchen was noticeable and some of the counter cushions showing wear but I could make this a return destination except for the $$$. read more

This one is attached to the courtyard hotel. The food is a bit pricey and greasy. The service can vary in quality, but overall I had pretty fast service. My brother in law, however, waited for quite some time. I think they forgot his order and it wasn't until he asked about his burger 30 minutes later they realized and so 45 minutes later, he had his food. read more

We had a wonderful experience getting takeout at Mel's Kitchen on Van Ness tonite. The place had good social distancing and I felt safe being there with diners spaced VERY far apart along with the use of plastic barriers. It is fortunate they have a really large physical space as well which lends to easier distancing. It was quiet but there was a steady flow of customers for takeout and a few eating indoors. Antonia - the host/server that night- was very responsive to our many questions about the menu and gave us super helpful recommendations. I really appreciated the careful covid precautions she took during the payment process as well. Anyway, we finally decided on the classic Mel's hamburger with cheese and onion rings. The burger was perfect and juicy. The onion rings were some of the BEST I have ever had (and we order onion rings often at establishments). They were crunchy and flavorful even after the 20 min ride home. Great with a generous side of ranch dressing. Also we tried the chocolate cake - amazing double layer cake with just the perfect sweetness and rich dark chocolate icing. Note: as of this review, the menu on the website has NOT been updated since pre-covid - so it's really best to call ahead and find out the new menu now that they recently re-opened. BTW they also have Liquor To Go ! read more

Puke-inducing, disgusting, filthy establishment! I've been coming to this diner ever since they opened, so I know it's always been a lower quality diner. I've had terrible experiences with disrespectful or inexperienced staff at this Mel's, and their food is less than good. But I go there because there is no other place to eat late night in the neighborhood--except for Tommy's Joint, which isn't great either--or where I can have a quick milk shake or dessert experience. I always try to stay as far as I can from this filthy place. read more

We recently stayed 5 days at the well located Courtyard Marriott Van Ness in San Francisco which is located above Mel's Kitchen. We have eaten there many times over the years but during this visit, we really appreciated the convenience of having a great restaurant right downstairs to easily bring up to our room. For breakfast, we enjoyed their veggie omelet, waffle, French toast, pancakes, eggs, bacon and potatoes and more. For lunch and dinner, we loved their excellent crispy fried chicken, club sandwich, grilled chicken sandwich and BLT. They are quick to prepare the food and on time plus their staff are friendly and professional. We were so grateful to have the convenience of a reliably delicious restaurant that is both casual and friendly. The historic photos are fun to view as well. Highly recommend for locals, visitors, families, group celebrations and much more! read more

My son and I went to Mel's down on Mission street a few days ago and we're pleased with the food but very disappointed with the service. This was a real shame as I have been going to that Mel's for 10 years plus - whenever I'm in San Francisco This Mel's location corrected that and was soooo different. The staff in there couldn't do enough for us and were attentive and pleasant. The food as always was excellent. The Avocado toast, just perfect. My son said that this made up for the other place as he finished off his Penguin shake! The guys down on Mission street need to go there and see how service at Mel's should be done! read more

Mels kitchen serves fresh delicious food. The wait staff is friendly and efficient. I had to eat and be finished within 1/2 hour and they were great! I highly recommend the place! Tourists, this is a great place to start you day! read more

I have had issues in the past. Been going here since it was Mels Dinner and sonce Mels Kitchen opened. I always given them the benifit if thr doubt as I life nearby and all on all its hood food at tourist pruces. Very nice staff. Recently however I call to place an order and I am put on hold and never given a chance to order. After 15 mins I simply give up. 3rd time its happened. 5th time tey lost an order and a 5$ tip for simple pick up. Dissapointing consideri b g tge amount of traffic, family and bizzness Ive brought them. Until something magical happens Im over being ignored. read more

Full disclosure: I didn't eat here. However, these guys saved me from a very scary situation tonight. I left the movies to find myself being followed by someone definitely on drugs. Long story, but I was able to run into Mel's for safety, and they didn't disappoint. I was clearly terrified. The manager Steffen and waiter Lorenzo were so gracious and offered me a seat. They also confirmed the man looked unsafe (yes, he followed me all the way to the restaurant) and let me stay long after he was gone until my nerves calmed. While I may not have had a meal there tonight, I will definitely be coming back, and not just because these amazing guys saved me from a potentially horrific situation. Here's why: *The restaurant was recently remodeled and it looks great! Very clean and excellent atmosphere. *Menu looks solid. I'll likely go for the burger, but there's definitely less casual options and something for everyone. *Easy access to the movies means a great spot to grab a bite before or after the show. No need for multiple Ubers... or a potentially scary walk Thankful for these guys keeping me safe tonight, and looking forward to many a meal there. read more

Been to all the Mel's in Los Angeles. Visited the San Francisco one at the hotel where I stayed at (Marriott). I will definitely come back! While my visit to San Francisco I ate breakfast there the three days I stayed at the hotel , lunch twice and dinner once. The food is great! I had the avocado toast with poached eggs (medium poached). The staff was very very nice. One of our server was Delma, she was nice and attentive. The other day we had Ricardo, very attentive, professional, friendly and gave us some pointers about the city. He was also recommended a few good items on the menu. It a nutshell, it's so nice to come to a restaurant where the staff goes so much out of their way to make sure you are happy and will return which I will ! read more

Mel's Kitchen - Nice photos on the wall from the city of San Francisco and Mel's before being remodeled. - American Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Staff are very welcoming. Traditional diner type food, loved the older style music - transported me back in time.

very bad service. the waiter was rude. refused. I do not recommend to anyone. there are many other, more pleasant places. read more

Mel's Kitchen - American Near Me - San Francisco, California

Finally got the chance to try the new "Mel's Kitchen" for a late lunch today. I was greeted promptly and was alone, so I sat at the bar. The server was friendly and prompt. The menu is much smaller than the old diner menu, and it's much more toward "California cuisine" rather than just diner food. I opted for the ahi poke salad, which had pieces of ahi, avocado, mango, and some other stuff artfully presented on a bed of friseé lettuce with some wonton chips and a light drizzle of a soy dressing. I thought it was very tasty as well as light and refreshing. Prices are on the high side -- Mel's was never an inexpensive place to eat, and the new prices are probably 25-30% higher, on average, then before. But I didn't think the ahi salad was horribly overpriced for SF -- it was $18. I'd have called $16 "reasonable" at a full-service restaurant (which this is.) I will go back and try more. This is a long-time SF business and I want to see them succeed as they try to adapt to changing times and changing tastes. read more

I came in around 640am This morning 3/17/19. The service and atmosphere was lovely and the bathrooms were very clean. I ordered the Chicken and Waffles to go as I was just getting off work and just wanted to go home. Once I got home I opened my box and the chicken was extremely dark and chewy the waffles were over cooked and dry. I probably won't return unless it's for a little whiskey and coffee read more

Mel's Kitchen - Rubbery Chicken Strip - American Near Me - San Francisco, California

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19.01.16. First visit after reboot Single dish/visit review ... Draft Wanted to try the dry aged streak, gratin dish Next time Hamburger - 3.5 Fries - well done - 4 Service - 4.5 Hamburger As requested ... Med rare ... Matters to me (Many places overshoot it ... Texture and juiciness difference) Butter lettuce Sauteed onions Pickle slices (possibly homemade) read more

(rounding up to 3 stars due to the joint is new and probably still has some getting pains) sorry for the winded review. Ambience: clinical, which could be good due to the hospital next door. There are no signs of the old Mel's except for a lonely, mini jukebox. I'm not sure if they will get more decor. Music is house lounge. The place is very clean. Service: the staff is nice. We were informed the original staff still works there. They maintain the joint during the day shift. (Good karma points for Management) I did not like how our main server lacked the listening skills when he asked how our meal was. He didn't bother to really comment on my feedback, he was halfway turning around when he asked the question. Oh well. Food: meh. Appetizers: artichokes. There were a total of two artichokes, cut in halves. You can tell they were pre-boiled and then placed on the grill for very little charring. It's not really artichoke season, so I'm not sure how they'll maintain this dish. Would not recommend. Tuna: it was sesame crusted, seared, cold and bland. Served with wild rice which was overcooked and had the consistency of Chinese sweet rice cakes. If they seasoned the fish, I may reorder Fried chicken: one leg, one breast, served with mashed potatoes and mustard greens. Chicken was cooked well but again, very bland. It seemed whomever was doing the main dishes forgot about the salt. Potatoes and greens were 2nd best dish. Impossible Burger: lab grown veggie burger, served with french fries. The fries were cooked almost perfect but... No seasoning. The "burger" was cold and the consistency felt like low-quality ground beef. We have never had it before so it was more of an experiment. Will not order again. Cocktails: if you order a drink, ask for regular ice, not craft. Their craft ice is so big that my overall drink (a cocktail, mind you) was just barely over 1.5 ounces, due to the volume the ball of ice took up. They are $12 each. Pricing: $$$ 3 drinks, 3 entrees, appetizer and shared salad = $180 w/ tip read more

Have you seen the new Mel's?! Full bar with speciality cocktails, ahi tuna, fried chicken and cubano sandwiches, and an amazing staff! If you are heading to a movie, in the neighborhood or want to try something new, check it out! read more

Mel's is a great new spot. A modern take on the American diner. The food was good, the service was speedy. read more

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Best experience I've had at any restaurant in a long time! Great decor and a thoughtfully traditional menu. I came by for dinner after a long day of work with some coworkers, and not only was our service excellent, but the food and cocktails were spot on. I had the meatloaf dinner with mashed potatoes and veggies, and as a man who admires a good meatloaf, it was top notch. Also, the bartender whipped up a White-Russian worthy of The Dude himself (for all the Lebowski fans). My coworkers got the Patty-melt and the Cajun chicken sandwich and were raving about them as well. To top it all off, I called them a week later because I had misplaced the receipt I needed to turn in for work. The manager Ricardo took time out of his busy night and emailed me my receipt! You don't get service like that anymore. Can't recommend this place highly enough. read more

This kitchen is the best not only did my plate looked perfect it was deliciously exquisitely tasting. I really wanted to order it again and have it again but I wouldn't my tummy was was full. Definitely will stop here when ever in town. read more

The food is good quality but they are very stingy with the amount of food, and they give you a small ketchup container not the bottle when asked. They didn't even refill our water, our waiter never checked on us. They denver omelet had more bell peppers then egg, it was literally a egg on top of bell peppers no bottom to the omelet, but they food taste really good. Its just ridiculous the small amount of food you get. read more

Ensured customers had proof of vaccination is excellent showing they comply with SF regulations. Latte was hot enough it did not cool throughout the meal. Freshly squeezed OJ was spot on. I got the homemade corned beef hash with eggs over easy. Yummmm! My son said the burger was delicious. Servers were attentive. read more

Mel's Kitchen - Homemade corned beef hash with eggs over easy. Burger in the back. - American Near Me - San Francisco, California

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We were coming out of the movies. My husband was suspicious of this Mel's Drive In upscale-ish revamp and wanted to cross the street and go to Tommy's Joynt instead. I insisted we give it a go, and now I wish I hadn't. The butter lettuce salad I ordered was overdressed. The fuji apple cubes were small, few, and mealy rather than crisp. The extra $7 for the top sirloin seemed reasonable, but the meat came well done and not medium rare as I ordered. We were served water in small cups, and I soon ran out of it. Had to ask a different server for more water since our original server forgot about us until we were practically done eating. My husband was underwhelmed by his southern chicken, which he said was bland. Now for the kids' menu: "spinach pesto" pasta? Our child insisted on pasta and that's what they had. Needless to say the kid didn't eat one bit of it. The apple juice didn't come with the food. We had to remind them, and when the check came two apple juices had been added. Husband pointed that to the waiter, who DOUBTED US, insisting that yes, we'd ordered two juices. After some back and forth he apologized and said it'd be hard to take it off the tab, and that he'd offer us an apple juice to go. I wanted to raise a stink--those were $4 apple juices--but my diplomatic husband, minding the late hour and our child's bedtime, went with it, comforting himself with the promise of never coming back. It was a bad idea to displace Mel's Drive In with its winning, expansive diner menu. But above all, those people will regret treating their patrons like crap. read more

We were in town for appointments at CPMC and Staying at Courtyard. We decided to try this place since they were finally back open. They did not disappoint. So glad they are open again and so glad we stopped in. This will be our go to when we are in town. read more

We had such a delicious meal!! Steak, short rib grilled cheese (YUM), and a strawberry milkshake. Secret Tip: Get the dirty martini!! Antonia makes em good :) We live nearby and will definitely be back soon! read more

My friends and I came here for brunch before flying out of the city. We ordered French toast and chicken & waffle with coffee. All really good! And there was bacon in my waffle! I was shocked to see that this place had a low rating. I especially loved the modern upscale diner style. Definitely recommend. read more

Mel's Kitchen - Chicken & waffle (with bacon bits inside) - American Near Me - San Francisco, California

This is the restaurant attached to The Opal Hotel were a friend and I stayed during our trip to San Fran. One morning we called decided to call down an order for a light breakfast and coffee. When I called, the call got disconnected while I was placing my order, but the person that answered the phone called me right back! The food was good, a little expensive (we ordered a side of bacon, a coffee and two sodas=$18 with our 10% discount for staying at the hotel). read more

Solid 3 nothing special really I live right next to it so I go there but I would go out of my way to eat here. Its over priced average diner fair. Some food items were below average but overall a solid 3. Much better breakfast at cheaper pricing nearby. Staff are good people though, and when I get my morning screwdriver they have fresh squeezed OJ. read more

With my sweetie for his back surgery in SF. This restaurant was conveniently connected to the Marriott Courtyard hotel where we stayed. Usual diner menu but it was all good. There was also a full bar to help with my stress read more

Tried out the new Mel's after a movie yesterday and had a terrible experience. With the new decor and higher prices, I expected better. Food: I had the Impossible Burger, which was quite good but that credit mostly goes to Impossible Foods, not Mel's. They did put it on a tasty wheat bun with some sprouts, which I liked. But they charged an extra $4 for me to replace the accompanying fries with a salad, and the salad was literally a bowl of lettuce and tomatoes with no dressing. My boyfriend had the Ahi Poke Salad, which was not good at all - heavy and smothered in sauce rather than fresh. Service: We went around 3pm and it was not busy at all. Our original server seemed friendly enough but there was a shift change right after he took our order. The new server never checked on us until a half hour later when he brought out the food. There is no reason it should've taken that long as there was only a couple of other diners - I also saw my burger sitting on their counter for half that time while they prepared the rest of the order, I guess. Most of the kitchen staff seemed to be just standing around talking to each other so who knows that the holdup was? After bringing our food, our sever never came by again so I couldn't ask him for condiments, water, or some dressing for my salad. He was chatty enough with some other people that came in later and we overheard him joking about still being hungover from the night before. Guess that's his excuse for bad service? Ambiance: The new decor looks nice and the bathrooms were fancy. One star for that? Originally, I thought maybe they were still figuring things out with the new menu, but other reviews indicate they've been open three months now so they should have their act together. I might go to the other drive-ins for their curly fries and milkshakes but won't be frequenting this location again. read more

Our most recent visit to Mel's Kitchen was the third and was just as enjoyable as the first two times. I don't ordinarily get over to the Van Ness & Geary area, except on those occasions when I am keeping an appointment with a healthcare professional at CPMC. As before, my wife ordered the superb southern fried chicken, which was just right: moist on the inside and just enough crispy batter on the outside. The 'comfort food' meat loaf I had was equally stellar. Friendly, attentive, and efficient service. Clean, pleasant environment. And the music of the 1950s ala Mel's Drive-In days went well with the meal. Wha'can'I'say ...?!? Will most certainly recommend to friends and colleagues, plus publicize on Facebook. Keep on keepin' on...! read more

LOVED this diner! The interior is stunning, it's really clean, bathrooms are so thoughtfully designed it blew me away (trash is right next to door handle). Primo runs the dining room and is great as is the food. read more

Popped in after a movie last night. My friend and i shared the Grilled artichoke, which was pretty good and we split the cheeseburger with french fries.The food was good and it was nice that they have a full bar ( my friend had a Negroni what she said was pretty good) We did however have an issue with part of the service. The order was taken and the food was served in a timely manner, however we sat there 20 min after our plates were cleared waiting for our check. The check was actually never even brought to us, I finally got annoyed and went up to the front and had to ask for it. Kind of weird and uncommon to have your table cleared and then be ignored.... other then that, i give them a thumbs up. read more

Me and my boyfriend came here this morning,I'm handicap confined to crutches but use a mobile scooter while on outings.we arnt from San Francisco and it wasn't until we were passing Mel's kitchen diner my battery was dying, originally we were headed to eat at Denny's we decided since the prices seemed fair and there were great reviews it was perfect.upon entering the man working the front desk was already extremely rude so we asked if we can sit near a plug to charge my scooter he says yes and points in the direction of our table.i first plug my scooter in he comes to take our order didn't ask if we wanted drinks we couldn't even get one work out without him aggressively telling us that we have to pay before eating I was so embarrassed we decided to ignore it at first until my boyfriend who is African American asks the man is it mandatory to pay before eating and was asking if other customers paid first the man was so rude an tells us loud enough to where everyone looked at us an said pay or leave or I'm calling the police then looks at my boyfriend and says you don't scare me an stood up to my boyfriend I was so embarrassed we asked him his name I think it was Richards or Ricardo he wouldn't let us see but it was today at 7:30 we left my boyfriend had to push my scooter an me while it was dead all the way to Denny's SMH I will be calling to speak to the manager and if they don't fire that employee that completely embarrassed us idk if he was discriminate against me o my boyfriend but it was wrong on so many levels I am going to make sure that nobody ever has to experience what we did today.i felt ashamed because we were so looking forward to enjoying our what we thought to be destined breakfast their to have to leave with feeling embarrassed and TBH pissed off.i will be calling corporate if something isn't done and hopefully the next time we try to enjoy our meals there we actually can.if you took the time to read this thank u and please give me and other veiwers some input on what you might have done or if you think I am doing the right thing..thank you read more

Don't know what all these people are bitching about but Mel's Kitchen is fantastic! My family and I had wonderful service there with incredible and classic American food. It honestly makes me sad to see those reviews on such a wholesome place coming from those people. Easily 5 stars. read more

I asked for well done burger and they served me a bloody burger. Disgusting and disappointing. Lol the fries were good though read more

Mel's Kitchen - I asked for a well done burger and this is what I got. They didn't even try. Very disappointing!!! - American Near Me - San Francisco, California

My meal was pretty good but it was pricey for sure. But then again everything is in the time of covid.