Editor Pick
Solid American Comfort Food
- October 3, 2008
- Rated 3 of 5 by
Wasatch from heber ctity, Utah
Desperation led us to Mel's for dinner. Many San Francisco restaurants close on Mondays, especially holiday Mondays it seems. We expressed a desire for French to our local host who suggested a French restaurant almost across the street from out hotel. We went there first, looked at the menu in the lobby and decided it was too pricey, so we took the bus to the South Park Cafe, a bistro recommended in the Lonely Planet Guide, which said it was open on Monday's, only to arrive and find it was closed all Labor Day Weekend for remodeling. Off we went to a San Francisco classic, the Tadich Grill, which was also closed. Walking from the Tadich Grill to Market St., we saw not one other restaurant, so we took the F line trolley back to 4th St. to return to the French restaurant across the street from the Marriott, and discovered it was closed. That was enough. We know that just around the corner on Misson from 4th St. were three 24-7 places to eat: Jack in the Box, Denny's, and the local Mel's Diner. Mel's was not unknown to our local host, and that's where we headed.
After spending more than two hours looking for a restaurant, the first thing we did at Mel's was to order a bottle of Merlot, which turned out to be the worst part of our dinner. Serving a red wine at room temperature means 55-65 degrees. Mel's Merlot was about 80. This is not good. We appalled our local host by putting ice from our water glasses into the wine to cool it, a smart move, but a shocker to wine snobs. Things then improved considerably with the food.
Needing comfort, she opted for the queen of comfort food- meatloaf. Mel's excellent meatloaf was tasty and juicy. I had ribs, which were OK but not a knock out, being a little on the tough and dry side, but the Bbq sauce was nice and wisely, there was not too much of it. We both had fries, which were top drawer, as was the garlic toast.
The waitress was rushed, but got the job done in a friendly fashion. Ambiance is sort of 1950s neon and plastic. All in all, good enough for the price, but this is not the finest dining.
Also on the diner menu are: Chicken Pot Pie; Meat Loaf and lumpy mashed potatoes, homemade gravy, vegetables, roll, and butter; Rotisserie Chicken; Turkey; Pork Chops; Ground Round Steak; Fish and Chips; Marinated Broiled Chicken Breast; New York Steak; Broiled Chicken Breast. Sandwiches include a variety of 1/3 or ½ lb. Burgers; Turkey Burger; Turkey Melt; Hot Turkey or Roast Beef Open-Faced Sandwich Meatloaf Sandwich; Egg Cheese Jack, Swiss, and Cheddar on sour dough Vegetarian B.L.T."old favorite" on sourdough. Add avocado. Smoked Ham and Cheese grilled, on rye Tuna Mel French Dip" breast of turkey, bacon, lettuce, and tomatoes piled high on toasted sourdough Steak Chicken Salad Tuna Salad Sandwich served with lettuce, tomato, and black olives on sourdough New Yorker hot peppercorn pastrami with coleslaw on corn rye with 1000 Island dressing Fresh Turkey Breast piled high on toasted sourdough, Reuben Sandwich of thinly sliced corned beef with sauerkraut, 1000 Island dressing and melted Monterrey Jack on grilled rye; Three Hot Dogs-- San Francisco Hot Dog scooped out sourdough roll, cheese, onion, relish, and pickle , Sour Dog sauerkraut, and beef frank Rebel Rouser topped with chili, onion, and Cheddar cheese.
Mel's has four San Francisco locations and four in Los Angeles. When all else fails, or if you want decent food at decent prices, give it a try.
From journal A Long Weekend in San Francisco