I heard about this restaurant from a rave review on Nextdoor and decided to take a drive to San Pablo to check it out. I'm so glad a did. The food was so fresh, well prepared, and absolutley delicious! Nothing fancy about this place. It's located in a little strip mall, not far from I80, but the ambiance is nice enough and I enjoyed the jazz that was playing in the background. But the food is the real star here. I'm definitely going back! read more

I was very pleasantly surprised by this place. We were looking for somewhere close by to have a family brunch and this place had over 4 stars on Yelp and was in a convenient location for us, so we decided to give it a try. I liked the eggs Benedicts we got: both the crab and avocado and the smoked salmon ones, and the Croque Madame. I feel like the croissant French toast was a bit of a waste of a croissant because it lost all the good essence of a croissant.... But props to the restaurant for being creative! The kids really enjoyed the food here as well. The Nutella pancake was very chocolaty, but the other family members enjoyed that more than I did. I think we'd come back again sometime. There was no line on a Sunday... which I'm surprised about considering this place is great! Prices are reasonable. Service was great. I only gave 4 star because to use the restroom you have to go next door (a Mexican restaurant owned by the same people), which is kind of odd. At night time this place apparently serves Italian food! Maybe we'll come back for Italian sometime. read more

See all

I have never had anything but 5 star food here. Service is great, prices are reasonable. A real find!

We wanted to give this place a try since it's local, but the moment we walked in it wasn't a good experience. We were ignored so we sat ourselves, then a couple walked in and they sit them and hurry to give them a menu. I had to ask for our menus, then the younger server takes our drink orders for nothing because we never got them but all the parties that came after us got their drinks. The second server asked what we wanted to eat so we give him our order and asked for our drinks we ordered. All in all we walked out once the other parties got their food before us. Horrible service and horrible experience: We came to Sukies and got coffee offered before sitting down!!!! read more

Wonderful high quality authentic Italian food. We've had dinner there twice (we just discovered them) - no doubt we will be back often. This little restaurant is easily overlooked in a small strip mall but it is truly a hidden gem. Most recently, we had the Tortellini dinner and the Fettucini di Mare dinner, a side of Garlic Parmesian Bread and flan for desert - absolutely everything was delicious. Each entree was cooked to order, the service was terrific and, oh by the way, the portions are tremendous. If you like Italian food, you will fall in love with this place. read more

We love this place! The food is gourmet level and the service is great. So much variety for such a small place.

Every is Fresh To Order made with love and attention to flavor and detail. Very homey and down to earth customer service. Decor was very nearly and Italian family style type. Lobster Ravioli Chicken Jerusalem Mozzarella sticks are to DIE , pricing out the door by far the best in the west for the quality of the food. I'm literally trying everything on the menu Keep it up family owned support great quality read more

Mely's Cafe - Front door - Italian Near Me - San Pablo, California

See all

I ordered the California fritatta and it was very delicious. It consisted of an open face omelette with a variety of delicious vegetables. My mouth was filled with happiness as I bit into it. The omelette had avocado, broccoli, zucchini, tomato, mushrooms, bell peppers, and spinach with wheat bread and fresh fruit I ordered on the side. It was the best omelette I ever had. My eyes were sparkling. We got fresh squeezed orange juice and fresh carrot juice. Both were very delicious. The waiter kindfully have us hashbrowns on the house since we were waiting quite a bit for it. I like the atmosphere of this little gem. They had wine bottles displayed on the wall which looked nice for the decoration. I would recommend anyone to come eat here for their delirious food. read more

Mely's Cafe - California fritatta - Italian Near Me - San Pablo, California

I LOVE the Alfredo it's so good and comes with a lot of sauce, the garlic bread is delicious and so are the mozzarella sticks with their Mariana! The restaurant owner is super friendly and truly cares about his customers. Definitely recommend this place. read more

Great trained chef who is very personable,fresh ingredients prepared with great skill,I haven't tried anything I didn't think was delicious breakfast lunch and dinner on trays great flavor and very satisfying meals,truly a little jule in San Pablo read more

I absolutely love this place. The food is delicious. The price is just right. If you're looking for delicious breakfast and great American Italian food, you have to try this place. read more

Mely's Cafe is a cute Italian x American brunch spot near the Richmond area. We ordered the Frittata Omelette, Crab Egg Benedict, and Lemon/Garlic Chicken Wings. EVERYTHING was delicious! The wings are seasoned and fried with perfection. Portions are generous and the service was exceptional. Overall, a really friendly family owned business. We look forward to trying the pastas in the future! read more

See all

Don't let the outside of this place fool you. The inside may be small, but this place is a hidden gem. The orange juice was good, and it was not watered down like many places. I got California's Benedict. They were not stingy with the avocados, and they were fresh. The eggs were nice and poached. The waiter was nice and made sure we were doing OK. The restaurant shares the bathroom, so the waiter took me to the other restaurant and showed me where the bathroom was. read more

See all

I chose the tuna melt sandwich and it was pretty yummy! I like how the bread was toasted to perfection with butter. The staff is nice and friendly. I will come back again to try other foods on the menu. :) read more

Mely's Cafe - Tuna melt on buttery toasted sour dough bread with a side salad and Italian dressing .. yummy! - Italian Near Me - San Pablo, California

My parents live nearby and we been talking about checking this place out for weeks. I came 2 weekends in a row and had to try their lunch before writing a review.. located off of San pablo ave in a small strip of small stores across from the casino, there's a decent sized parking lot here. Interior looks like they put some effort into it making it cozy and setting a tone for the food to make you forget the outside. My first go around I had the pancakes combo. It comes with 2 pancakes,2 eggs,2 perfectly cooked pieces of bacon AND 2 sausages. Most places make you choose but this place gives you both options, wow. My pop ordered the chicken fried steak in which I sampled, gotta say they have the magic touch when it comes to seasoning. The potatoes are a breath of fresh air and all of their meats are rather impressive in the flavor department. I also ordered the steak melt to make sure they're not 1 dimensional and the food checks out. Steak sammie was legit, string cut fries most will appreciate. My brother said his crab avocado Benedict was ok but he's not doing the review, I am. This place is definitely worth trying out if you're in the area. I'm sure there's something you will find that you like here. Sidenote: they are actually owned by the same family that owns the Mexican restaurant next door. Good people and they deserve the support read more

See all

I have been a regular at Mely's for more than two years. Folks, you need to try this place. Its a hidden gem. I say hidden because if you passed by it you wouldn't think twice. Its a little place in a little strip mall. But guess what, the food is wonderful, and Daniel the owner is great and so is his family. Daniel shops for fresh ingredients locally several times a week and he is a master cook. The pasta is wonderful, The salads are fresh, and the breakfast... Oh my.... Try the croissant french toast. He serves American and Italian food. AND its NOT expensive. Enjoy!! Tell him you read Fred's review. read more

This was my 2nd time coming here. I had my friend show me this place. Let me tell you I was so surprised on the flavor of the food & not disappointed at all. My friend always likes to drink black coffee I tried the coffee & the coffee is good when you don't have to add nothing to it. They serve fresh squeezed orange juice, that's my favorite. Their customer service is amazing the presentation on the food & the flavor. I was not disappointed at all. It's a small place so go early because they can get packed pretty quick. I notice they own the restaurant next door so if you want you can order food from them and they will bring it to you too. So you have two options to order from one place. Definitely check this place out. You will love it because I do now. One of my favorite spots to definitely go for breakfast & the prices are very reasonable. read more

Mely's Cafe - Roasted tomatoes & Avocado Tartine - Italian Near Me - San Pablo, California

My sister orders salmon fettuccine from Mely's all the time and raves about it. I wanted some pasta, but it felt kind of heavy during this time of day, so I ordered a smoked salmon benedict while my bf ordered a crab and avocado benedict. The smoked salmon benedict was very salty. The hollandaise sauce was fine, but the salmon itself was very salty. At least I was able to even it out with the hash browns, since there was no salt on them. The salmon looked as if it came from one of those (frozen) packages you find at grocery stores that cost like $5. The crab benedict did not look or taste like real crab and was not worth the price. I've paid for crab benedicts around the same price or even slightly more, and it was real crab. We ordered through Yelp and it gave us a 20-40min estimate time for pick up. When I refreshed the status page, the time increased. I thought why would it take so long for them to prepare this much food. So I called the restaurant directly and they said my food has been ready for about 5 minutes already! I told them that Yelp didn't update and said my food was still cooking. They said they didn't know what happened. I would've waited an hour for my food and it would've been cold. Yelp should really fix this issue. The portions were decent and it did get me full. I'll probably just come back to try their pasta dishes next time. read more

See all

Super friendly and accommodating. Excellent food. I had the Salmon Benedict with fresh fruit. The Benedict was perfectly done and delicious. The fruit was amazing - fresh and delicious. It was reasonably priced. I can't wait to go back there for dinner and try their Salmon Fettuccini. Highly recommend this place. I give it 5 stars! read more

Regular customer here, mostly brunch, sometimes dinner. Food is first-rate, service is excellent, prices are very reasonable. I have never had anything that disappointed me here. We are very lucky to have this spot in our area. read more

SERVICE was mid to be honest it was a low 3.... BUT THE FOOD is just crazy! So good the dishes were deliciously seasoned and we were a little taken aback because the service was confusing. The restaurant itself is small and the bathroom is next door but wow the food is great. read more

See all

We went for Valentine's day and had an amazing dinner! Food is delicious! Service was top notch! Gnocchis were phenomenal. Can't wait to come back for brunch! New favorite place. read more

We stopped by here after a long flight and the high reviews do not lie! There is something for everyone no matter what food you're in the mood for and it is absolutely DELICIOUS. Don't keep driving past this place! The owner helped us and he was so friendly and we would definitely come back. We felt like we were having lunch with family instantly ! Thanks again! read more

I really love this place. It has a wonderful homey feel. The service is always friendly, and the atmosphere is jovial and joyful. It's not uncommon to see the chef in the dining room, socializing with customers and even serving on occasion. The food is also really, really good. I personally love their fresh salads and tartines and their excellent coffee -- yes, you can get a refill; want a to-go cup? Wonderful neighborhood spot. read more

As a vegetarian, breakfast spots can be hit or miss. This one hit. Good food, good ingredients, fair prices, and friendly staff.

Came in mid afternoon after health visit nearby. Wanted spaghetti and meatballs for a change. Very good, rustic style and owner was very nice and gracious. Great service. He's a very personable guy. Support him and the food is good too! read more

This establishment is worth frequenting regularly. The ambience is charming & the people friendly. Fresh ingredients & really good food makes for nice experience. read more

Nice little spot in a small strip mall. Food and service were good. Will be back for sure. read more

Mely's Cafe - California Fritatta with hash browns and English muffin - Italian Near Me - San Pablo, California

See all

The food was absolutely amazing!! My mom, daughter, and I stopped because we wanted to grab a bite to eat before going home and a friend had mentioned Mely's. I had the Gnocchi Al Funghi, my mom had the Spinach ravioli w/ cream sauce, and my daughter had the Fettuccine Alfredo w/ chicken. It was absolutely delicious! They even bake their own bread. Will definitely be back. read more

I decided to try this restaurant on a whim one weekend with my cousin. It was a very nice small place and we were seated immediately. I got the two eggs any style (over easy) with the garlic herb roasted tomatoes and sourdough toast. It was light and tasty I would definitely get something else next time but I was trying to play it safe, this is definitely a much plainer option. My cousin got the crab cake eggs Benedict and requested egg whites instead of the regular poached eggs with a side of home fried potatoes. She thoroughly enjoyed her food, and I will probably be getting what she had next time. Overall I will be returning here to try more food. read more

Mely's Cafe - Two eggs any style (over easy) w/ roasted herb and garlic tomatoes and sourdough toast - Italian Near Me - San Pablo, California

See all

First time visitor yesterday. I chose this place because of the Yelp food photos and that it is about 10 minutes from my house. SUPER easy to get to being near to the San Pablo - Lytton Casino. Friendly service and delicious food were on point! I was a bit puzzled over the few # of patrons in the small, limited seating café, but do I want it to be so popular that I cannot get a table? NO! Still, there's no reason why this place isn't busier unless it was just the day and time I arrived. Irish Benedict with hash browns and fresh-squeezed orange juice - 5 stars!! I also ordered a pasta dish with sausage to go - for my dinner later on. That was 4.5 stars. A 1/2 star was deducted because I was looking for some butter for my bread. I will definitely be back to try other breakfast/lunch/dinner options very soon! Thank you, Mely's! read more

Mely's is absolutely amazing and my favorite local restaurant. Everything I've tried has been exceptional but my favorite might be the Chicken Marsala...Or the Chicken Piccata....Or the Chicken Oscar (piccata with crabmeat basically). Its humble location in a tiny shopping center down the street from the casino belies its culinary prowess, with the owner/chef always hard at work in the kitchen. And very affordable prices. 10/10, highest possible recommendation. read more

2nd time here and still as delicious as the first time! The vegetarian quesadilla was something I had my eye on and I'm glad I tried it! I love the wheat tortilla and the guac and sides it came with that made it that much more! Service was fast and friendly and wasn't too busy for a Saturday afternoon which was nice not to wait for a table. read more

See all

This is a place I had heard good things about from friends and online, so I decided to take a chance in coming here. The breakfast menu had some fun choices, and so I got the croque madame and my boyfriend got the huevos rancheros. Perhaps we were too ambitious and should've stuck with the simpler American fare. The croque madame stated it was made with two pieces of French toast, so I expected a delicious sweet and savory moment. However, the bread had absolutely no sweetness - no sugar, no cinnamon I could taste, so it was essentially bland, soggy, eggy bread with ham and cheese on the inside. The huevos rancheros looked incredibly promising, but after my bf took his first bite he realized he'd also made a wrong choice. Now, this was our error - we mistakenly assumed the huevos rancheros would be like regular huevos rancheros. But nope, instead of a delicious salsa or ranchero sauce, it was marinara. The Italian pasta sauce. It provided the only real flavor (which just didn't work well on a Mexican staple) - everything else on the plate was severely lacking. It's like they didn't add any seasoning, including salt, while cooking. This was an unfortunate experience. Neither one of us finished our food. The staff were nice, and the fresh orange juice was the highlight. But at the end we paid and then decided we wouldn't be coming back. read more

Fabulous everything! Service, food. You name it! A Family Biz..Delish Food..all fresh..A hidden Gem. Just go!

We arrived around 9 am. on Saturday, the place was 3 quarters full we were greeted right away service was spot on. We had one of the best cups of coffee with fresh squeeze orange juice. Our order was taken promptly, and our food came within 12 minutes. What else can you ask for when you receive great food, fair prices, and excellent service We'll be back, that's for sure!!! read more

This tiny unassuming spot in a strip mall in San Pablo was a refreshing brunch spot. They are labeled as an American Italian cafe service everything from Brunch favorites, tartines and pasta. They have a small setup that accommodates around 10 tables but the food is well worth a visit. The number of Benedict options is what we drew me to this spot initially. Benedict did not disappoint and the hue is rancheros were scrumptious too. The home fries are definitely the way to go but the fruit was also fresh and sweet. They have a wide variety of freshly squeezed juices and a few alcoholic options. Parking in the strip mall was a bit tricky but street parking was easy enough. Service was great and all the staff were super gracious ! A good and delicious brunch spot in east bay. read more

Mely's Cafe - Crab and Avocado Benedict - Italian Near Me - San Pablo, California

See all

Mely's Cafe is hands down one of my favorite restaurants EVER. It is truly a hidden gem and I'm so glad it opened in this neighborhood. My first, number one reason why I say Mely's is one of the best restaurants ever is because THEIR PASTA DISHES ARE SO DELICIOUS AND UNMATCHED. When I first tasted their pasta, I was taken aback by how GOOD it was. The sauce was SO flavorful, SO savory, and so fulfilling. The taste of wine in the sauce was so strong and potent, but not overbearing, that I was surprised that there was a restaurant nowadays that is still generous with the sauce and not skimping out on anything! Combined with great herbs and seasoning, their pasta dishes come out perfectly every time. The pasta is the perfect consistency and texture with great mouthfeel. They don't cut corners, and from what I was told, they use whole, fresh ingredients instead of processed ingredients, such as pre-made sauce. I am always on the lookout for good Italian restaurants and delicious, authentic, well-made pasta dishes; I've been to a lot of different Italian restaurants in the Bay Area, trying many of them in search of tasty, satisfying, rich pasta dishes, so believe me when I say that Mely's is actually one of the best places to eat pasta in all of the Bay Area!!! You might not think it because they serve other cuisines as well, which is why I was surprised at how well they do pastas!! I cannot sing the praises of their pasta ENOUGH; I truly am not exaggerating. No one does pasta like them. I am always craving for their pastas and always defer to Mely's as my restaurant of choice whenever I want to dine out by myself or with other people. Their portion sizes are generous and they don't skimp out on ingredients! The food plating and presentation are also very nice. I can truly get whatever I want at Mely's--it's like they have everything!! They have such a large selection, their menu is so diverse and long that you wouldn't be able to be bored with it. I love eating brunch food, and Mely's is the perfect place for that too! The first time I had their hash browns, I was wowed because they were so crispy and fresh and perfectly-made! I also go to many other brunch restaurants, so I could tell that in comparison, Mely's hash browns were special! Their freshly-juiced carrot juice is so delicious and refreshing too. I am also grateful that they have vegetarian options. The chef is so nice, attentive, welcoming, and accommodating. I like a particular vegetarian pasta dish they have, but prefer that they make it with fettuccine pasta instead. When I mentioned it to the chef, he readily complied and said I could just tell him and he can make it for me like that. Their waiter is also very nice and has good customer service. He is attentive and efficient so it's just a nice added bonus on top of this all-around pleasant, satisfying restaurant. The food comes out very quickly too. Mely's Cafe is a convenient stop and I always know I will be guaranteed a good, tasty, scrumptious, filling meal. It is also like comfort food to me. Going to Mely's simply brightens up my day because I just love their food. Their consistency in the quality they deliver makes them trustworthy to me. They have a small parking lot so it's easy to just park and go in to eat. I truly love Mely's with all my heart and hope they are around for years to come. read more

My new favorite breakfast place. I had the California Tostada and the Croissant French toast. They were both so delicious!!! The place is small and cozy, and service was great! read more

Mely's Cafe - Croissant French toast - Italian Near Me - San Pablo, California

See all

I wish I had known about this place sooner! The service here is phenomenal, and the food is too!! I got the lobster ravioli and it was so tasty and rich and there were chunks of shrimp in the sauce, it had such a great flavor almost like lemony but it didn't overpower the sauce, and they weren't shy with the sauce either! It also came with bread & butter. My boyfriend got the French toast and said it was great, my mom got one of the frittatas which was also really tasty and had lots of fresh veggies! I think it's also worth mentioning that the prices on their menu items are great! The inside is kinda small but they weren't really busy, think there was about 5-8 tables and only 2 other people came in while we were there. They have such a big menu so I'll be coming back with my family to try some other dishes soon! read more

Mely's Cafe - Lobster Ravioli - Italian Near Me - San Pablo, California