"The Melt" sounded good but once we got our food, we were pretty disappointed. Even the chocolate shake for around $5 was watery and tasted nothing like chocolate! Definitely will not be wasting our $$ here again. read more

The food is OK. A little overpriced but probably because of the rent paid to Irvine company. I'm writing this as I sit here so I can warn you as early as possible - DON'T BUY THE GIFT CARD! Last time I bought it because I asked the dude on the other side of the counter about the: (1.) Free Birthday Treat (came on my friend's bday), and (2.) $5 off of $25. He said I have to get the gift card to get both. After I got the card, the dude says "We're out of birthday treats" and "I don't know why it didn't take $5 off." Needless to say, inner eye rolls were immediately prompted but I let it go. THIS TIME, I came back to spend the remaining $9.72 on the (stupid) gift card but their system wouldn't recognize the gift card. Just saying - how embarrassing will it be if you bought the card for someone else and it doesn't work... Right? The nice employee behind the counter for time longer than it takes to finish the grill cheese sandwiches gave us a discount, $12.90, which is more than my gift card balance. So I give them one star more for the service. Good luck, people! read more

Doesn't pass test #1 which is that I can make a better grilled cheese at home with minimal effort. A place like this has to elevate the grilled cheese to justify it's existence and the Melt doesn't come close. The bread is good, but toasted only beyond total limpness. Overall the sandwich I got, the Italian one, was bland and unspectacular. Tomato soup was fine. Orange cream soda also pleasant. Not enough to bring me back ever. Go get the short rib grilled cheese from TLT next door. Seriously. read more

Probably one of the dirtiest places to eat in the spectrum. The outside tables were filthy when I went on my lunch break from just across the street. Food was decent. I guess I got what I paid for. read more

My mom and I came in for lunch today and we were so excited to see that they have a patty melt now! I was contemplating between getting a grilled cheese or a cheeseburger, so it was perfect that I was able to fulfill both cravings with the same sandwich. It was everything I imagined it would be and super filling. The staff was very helpful when I chose to customize it a bit, and Arturo is always a joy when he's serving our food. Also, the manager is really friendly and we enjoyed chatting with him for a bit while our order was being prepared. Definitely one of our favorite places to grab a bite at the Spectrum :) P.s. Don't forget to get an order of cheese fries with extra crispy onions!! read more

I get the steak and cheese every time. It's a bit greasy, but that's what makes it great. The bread is crunchy to a perfection. Last two times I've came to Irvine, I came here!! read more

Great concept and the food was tasty but I was still disappointed. Way too simple and over priced for what you got. If I'm paying 6 bucks for a grilled cheese it better knock my socks off. Would rather eat at home. read more

I had a tasty and healthy meal at a fair price. Ms Nicole handled all my gluten free questions and special orders. Will be back for more. Visited the Melt franchise in Palo Alto but I like the service and food better here in Irvine. read more

I was here several months ago and I was extremely unimpressed. I make better grilled cheese sandwiches at home. The bread was the problem, just basic white bread thin and boring. In my opinion if you are going to have an amazing grilled cheese then put it on amazing bread!!! read more

This is not the type of place I typically eat, I usually go across the way to Veggie Grill. I decided to try it because my son likes it. I had a soup and salad combo which was surprisingly good for a place that specializes in grilled cheese. read more

Expensive burgers and fries were not worth the money. Soda was great though but the food was just ok. You might as well go to Red Robin and pay less for better food. We will not be back! read more

Hit and miss. The previous menu offered more vegetarian choices and while I appreciate the expanded menu, it is overpriced for a grilled cheese. The food tastes good but again a bit too expensive and they no longer have the combination salad and grilled cheese. read more

Horrible service. The cashier took his sweet time taking orders. Then to top it off someone screwed up my order and gave me a plain grilled cheese instead of a cheesesteak. There was also no receipt in the bag and I was not even offered a receipt when I purchased the food, so I couldn't even check to see whether or not I had been charged for a regular grilled cheese or for the cheesesteak that I had ordered. read more

Love this place, but they need to have more employees working because the wait is insane when it's lunch time or when the spectrum is busy.

I really wanted to love The Melt. I first read about the concept months ago and after seeing an interview with the founder, I really had high hopes. So much for that. Maybe this location is unique but I'm fearful this foray into the world of fast-food may have been a misstep for the dreamers up top. It perfectly sums up what happens when business objectives takes precedence over passion in the F&B industry. My observations (forgive the ALL CAPS, yelp doesn't let me bold my key points) - They only have one terminal from which to order which ensures DEMAND APPEARS HIGH. There is always a line because people will naturally assume the product is good if people are willing to line up and wait. Not to mention it reduces your staffing overhead because there is less food to prepare all at once. - The PRICING IS PREMIUM, which makes the customer FEEL like the product must also be a premium product. Why stoop to the dollar menu elsewhere when you can drop $6 for what must be the best grilled cheese money can buy? - The PRICING IS WAY TOO HIGH. I did some quick math and figured that if my girlfriend and I split the fries and drink (comes with free refills), we'd save a little money and would leave satiated and not stuffed. I got the classic burger combo with fries and drink and she got the egg-in-a-hole. After tax, the total was about $18. 2 sandwiches, 1 fries, 1 drink. $18. That's pretty much restaurant pricing in a fast-food setting. - The PRESENTATION IS NOT PREMIUM. While waiting in the fabricated line up, I noticed one of the employees plating a grilled cheese. It didn't even fill up half the tray so she placed a napkin in the other half to make the try appear full. That's just bad presentation. If you're going to charge these prices knowing that customers will decline upsells, at least work on making the presentation tasteful. A sprig of parsley, wedge of tomato, anything. A half-empty plate is a no-no in any dining setting unless it's a $47 blah-blah-infused foam-blah. The presentation should match the pricing. - The PORTIONS ARE SMALL. We thought about ordering another plate of fries but opted to go to Subway instead where we shared a 6-inch sub and a cookie for $4. - The TASTE IS MEH. My burger was boring. I would have ordered a grilled cheese but my hunger that day left me craving something more substantial. It was overcooked, lacked flavor, and brought me no joy in eating it. It didn't even put a dent in my hunger (see above).The egg-in-a-hole was similarly bland. The cheese is greasy and the egg too dry. - The STAFF DON'T GIVE A F$#@. And why should they, corporate has done the heavy lifting of pretty pictures and a line that grows exponentially once you have two people wanting to dine at the same time. No smiles. No pleasantries. I imagine they love the place about as much as I do. Still, I suggest you go to The Melt at least once. The idea of the grilled cheese growing up tugs at everyone's heartstrings and to resist the urge is to never know what your dreams might actually taste like. Until you find out it's just processed crap like other fast-food providers and that your $18 could have at least got you 18 things off a dollar menu. Sorry Mr. Kaplan, I suggest you either double down and right this ship or go back to developing tech that does one thing well. read more

The costumer service was AWFUL! When I ordered I specifically asked for no onions or tomatoes, when I got my burger it was cold and included onions and tomatoes. The food was sub-par and the staff ignored me on multiple occasions when I requested my cup of lemonade (which I had already paid for). read more

Didn't wow me! My husband and I ordered burgers. They were small and I also tried the tomato soup, which was pretty good but it was also pretty small portion and I'm petite so that's saying something! The staff was very friendly. read more

Just made a yelp account today to rate all the places that have made an impact on me over the past month or so... I expected this place to have the BEST grilled cheese since it is a grilled cheese restaurant ... however, these grilled cheese sandwiches were horrible... I make way better GC sandwiches at home so I will stick to my kitchen when I am craving a GC... read more

Best Place at the Spectrum! Be patient and get a yummy grill cheese with everything or nothing on it. Awesome salad options too to lighten up your meal. Healthier soda versions from an old-fashioned fountain station, all served with a delicious crisp pickle. Very All-American and Very well worth the wait. Till next time. read more

Food is really great, but honestly I choke every time I go to pay. $5 for a grilled cheese and additional $2 to add meat...it's really overpriced. Neat concept, but I just wish price was more in line with product. read more

I've had lunch here a few times because of its proximity to my workplace. I've discovered it's hit or miss. Half the time the grilled cheese sandwiches are amazing, the other half I've found them to be soggy and/or underseasoned. I second the other reviewer who said the jalapeno was old and gross. If they figure out a way to consistently produce hot, melty, well-seasoned sandwiches then I'll give this another star. However, salads and soups are ALWAYS good, and sometimes those are the real star of the place. Bonus points for having a pickup board that shows you when your order is ready-- very helpful for those who can't hear announcements over the speakers. read more

Caught the truck at the oc fair food truck night Wednesday n asked them to surprise me with anything they wanted n I was not disappointed it was delicious and now that I know they have a restaurant I will be going there for dinner or lunch when im in the area read more

So we have tried them twice. Definitely a different taste of grilled cheese. Not bad. Wish they offered a little more variety on the side items. read more

My boyfriend and I came here after we had heard so many good things about it. I got the Italian Job with turkey and my boyfriend got The Mission with turkey. Both were great and pretty cheap. I love that they use all natural ingredients. The sandwiches are on the smaller size so don't expect giant portions! read more

So good!! The Italian job is great as is the sweet corn soup. My wife had the classic and wasn't overly impressed but mine was delicious!

Delicious food! I had sourdough grilled cheese with pepper Jack cheese and jalapeños with a Caesar side salad. Clean restaurant and friendly service. Everything is fresh! read more

I had seen this place months ago when I was at the Spectrum but I'd already eaten so I figured if catch it next time...I was excited to try it because I liked the concept..well I went there yesterday and I have to say I was so disappointed. First, the choices of the sandwiches and soup were, in my opinion, unimpressive and then the cost but none of that would've bummed me out if the food was good, but it wasn't ....it was mediocre at best...:( I had the one with the Jalapeño and pepper jack with tomato soup and my daughter had the Mac n cheese one with tomato soup...neither of us liked it..the whole idea of this type of restaurant is great but they need to improve the food...nice try but it's a miss read more

I really enjoy the melt but it's kind of one of those places where you have to get the right thing. I have tried all the grilled cheeses and most aren't anything to rave about except the Italian job and their new one the truffle. The mac daddy was dissappinting- the macaroni was just placed in the sand which with no sauce or cheese on the pasta itself which made it taste plain. I haven't tried any of their burgers yet but I'm more of a grilled cheese person anyway. They have fantastic handcrafted sodas!! If you get the Italian job and a root beer you will not be disappointed. The soup is also good. Every time I have been the employees have been kind and helpful. I would say it is a bit pricey for what you get. read more

Ordered 2 classic melts, one each of the soups, naked fries and a cone, bad choice. Ice cream was watery and very hard, sandwiches were the worst I have ever had, tomato soup was like warmed up puréed Tomatoes. Only good thing were the fries and corn soup. read more

At first I thought the prices on the menu were a bit high for the standard grilled cheese. But i was wrong. The Classic was delicious made with real cheese and wholesome tomato slices, and the crust had some added flavor sprinkles. The bread wasn't greasy. The Caesar salad had actual fresh grated Parmesan cheese (nice for a change) and the croutons were unique crunchy grilled cheese croutons that I've never seen before. Greens were fresh and crisp. The tomato soup was not too salty and perfect temp when they brought it out. The iced tea was made fresh and the lemons wedges they had out were fresh, and not shriveled. What I love was that they are Eco conscious- all foods and plastics are industrial compostable and other bottles and such have a BIM for recycling. The utensils are lightweight design and I think made from recycled material. All in all, the price justifies the effort (food and otherwise) that they put into their product. It is definitely going on the food list at this mall along with my all time fav chipotle. read more

Ate here yesterday and enjoyed it. Had the burger combo with fries and drink Which was above average. Also tried the Mac and cheese which was just average. I would go back and try a few different things next time. read more

Heard this place have a good grill cheese and milkshake. My friends and I decided to eat here for dinner. The grill cheese was good it wasn't like super amazing. I usually don't like chocolate milkshake, but this place made good chocolate milkshake. it kind of pricey compare to all the other place that I had eaten at. read more

Extremely disappointed! Could not get anything to eat because they ran out of practically everything. How do you possibly have a business in a extremely busy place and run out of food? Guess I won't be trying their food anytime soon. I would stay away from this place especially if you are hungry on a Sunday evening. read more

I actually like the classic burger and fries here. Our first time and it wasn't bad, However, we don't quite understand why making a "medium-well" patty is so complicated. Just leave it on for an extra 30 secs and it should leave just a little pink., but no..."we can only cook rare, medium, and well-done." This isn't a place we would drive to the mall for, but when we are there to shop, it's a pretty good place for a quick bite. read more

The grilled cheese is great, but avoid the burgers - mine was burnt on the outside and raw in the middle.

From the second the plump, orange sign is spotted from the carousel at the Irvine Spectrum there's a grumble to soon be heard, the same sound heard during thanksgiving around Grandma's world famous secret apple pie recipe. The Melt has been discovered; right next to Dave and Busters and in the center of one of the restaurant circles. The Melt was created by the owner of the FlipCam owner and serves simple classics at their few locations that are spread throughout California. Walking in are a range as wide as elderly women on a girls day out to hipsters who may have made their way over from Urban Outfitters all looking for the well-priced simple, but delicious classic american food. This is because all of the food is made fresh and with preservative free ingredients. It's the Melt's main mission is to create clean and delicious food that feels delightful to eat. The ambiance is casual, clean, fresh, and basic but in a perfectly fitting way. The uplifting mood is set by the bright white and orange theme, which is complemented by buckets of light pouring through from the patio area that show off the smiles of the aproned employees waiting to put your order on the overhead screen, so the chef can prepare your food immediately after you order it. The melt serves a slim selection of food, focusing mainly on grilled cheese, but these grilled cheeses will make the perspective change on all other grilled cheeses ever eaten and any to be eaten in the future. Yes, they're that astounding because of their one-of-a-kind grilled cheese presses that were shipped to the restaurant in a box designed by NASA specifically for the protection of the machine. The classic grilled cheese allows people of all ages to reminisce about the happy times when eating the same dish many or maybe not so many years ago. Let's mentally set this up, imagine grabbing the shiney chrome basket, putting it down on a bar that overlooks the people walking by, biting into the heavily addictive item of crisp, but not hard artisan white bread, then reaching the decadent yet ooey-gooey, warm sharp cheddar. And that was just the beginning. This is why the classic Grilled cheese is a go-to for everyone. Another great item, according to many people is the Mac Daddy, of course it starts out with a +10 points because it is made with all fresh ingredients including... the white artisan bread, gooey aged sharp cheddar, perfectly al dente large macaroni noodles, creamy and comforting buttery sauce, and the final ingredient crispy bacon! Could it get any better? Oh but it can, simply add the famous home-made ice cream with flavors of rich cream and bits of real vanilla bean, it all comes together as big as a cow, served on a perfectly sized waffle cone. In contrast to all of the Melt's other items, the only item to avoid is the Spicy Black Bean Soup; because the only flavor to be tasted is spice, and when spice is mixed with a warm temperature and a mushy texture baby food sounds more appetizing. Overall the menu is pretty slim but it is very rare to find a grilled cheese made to such perfection in a very quick amount of time. But if you want your classic grilled cheese or any other item waiting for you the moment you walk in, download the Melt's mobile app which gives you the ability to order before you even get in! My final thoughts are that The Melt is fitting for any day and always leaves people satisfied by the time the shiney chrome basket is empty. read more

The burger is decent and cooked perfectly medium. It's not flattened into a disk you can almost see through. They put lettuce and a Russian dressing style sauce on it but it's too soggy. They put a pickle spear on top of the bun with a toothpick and the pickle juice makes the top of the bun soggy. The fries were more little bits than actual cut potatoes. The worst thing is the soft drinks. Sugary no name nasty sodas and no diet soda choices. read more

I have wanted to go here for about a year and tonight we went for dinner. The girl at the register was very kind and friendly. My daughter ordered the italian grilled cheese and there were 2 long black hairs in it! So gross! When I informed the nice girl at the register she apologized and made a new sandwich for us. Other then that, the food was good. No name-brand soda products something about less sugar in their soda. No diet soda either. I had some blackberry soda which was good. I would go back I just wish the staff had their long hair tied up. read more

I debated giving this place 1 or 2 stars , but went with 2 only because I didn't try the grilled cheese sandwiches and I think that would actually taste better than the cheeseburger I had. No taste what so ever. I rather have any other burger than the one I had here. We came here because we were starving and this was closest to us. Their soda options very slim. I ordered fries, but they were so skinny they became hard when fried that I decided not to even eat them and waste my calories on them. Next time, me and my family are hungry and can't find something we'll probably go next door to the Melt. read more

The Melt was not a good, first time experience. The restaurant was dirty, out of iced tea and lemonade. When asked for iced tea, the rude staff exclaimed, " I have to go make it!!" Plus the food was not even that great! read more