1286 NC Highway 105
Boone
(828) 265-1344
We first ate lunch at Mel’s Diner one fine summer day. Please note that this restaurant has recently changed hands and we will be reviewing it again as soon as possible. It is likely that the comments below are not applicable to the restaurant under its new management. Early unofficial anecdotal evidence suggests that it is lots better!
Ray: I started off with a cup of the chili ($2.29). The chili here consists of kidneys & pintos and hamburger meat all in a decent but unspicy broth. Other than the beans there are no apparent veggies, and the lack of any real spice was a big let down. The worst aspect of the chili, however, was the meat. It was very gristly, with some pieces being almost impossible to chew. This is not a one-time problem, either. I had the same chili here several months ago, with the same result.
Tom: I had the Little Deuce with swiss cheese ,also offered with cheddar or “American” cheese (or is that cheese product?). I only got that because you took ordered the Richie Valen’s. Anyway, it came with “Cajun” spices but was nothing particularly exciting–just a regular buger served open face with some brown spice on top of the meat. Hence, “Cajun.” I also thought the buns were rather plain, like something from Sunshine bakeries. Certainly not from the deli. The onion rings were at least real instead of extruded onion product, and were Ok.
Ray: For main course, I had a Richie Valen’s Mexican Burger ($5.99). This is a “jumbo” hamburger with lettuce, tomato, onion, and jalapenos. For a side I chose the mashed potatoes sans gravy. The burger was ok, with decently fresh veggies, and meat that was average. The mashed potatoes, however, were clearly of the instant variety. Yuck. I finished with an excellent hot fudge sundae ($3.49), and washed all this down with a glass of weak tea ($0.99).
Tom: And how ’bout that diner look?
Ray: The atmosphere here is pure diner. The outside of the building is classic diner stainless steel, while the inside has the typical diner bar in front of the kitchen, with comfy booths in an adjacent room. The music is provided by a juke box, which further adds to the diner motif.
Tom: I think my seat was from the 50’s! It featured a genuine split in the vinyl. The waitress said that this used to be one of a chain but they are one of the only two survivors, with one other in California.
Ray: While I wasn’t impressed with my lunch here, the desserts are quite good. I’ve also had breakfast here a few times, and remember it as being a lot better than the lunches. While the service when we were there wasn’t great, it wasn’t bad either.
Tom: The service seemed not particularly great, you think?
Ray: Yeah, the service at Mel’s was not fast, not slow, just average
Tom: I’m not particularly in a hurry myself–that is, to return to Mel’s.
Ray: I would recommend Mel’s as a good place to go for a dessert after having a meal elsewhere, or for breakfast after a long night of studying (or partying). The burger was good, but stay away from the mashed potatoes.
GPS Coordinates
Lat: 36° 12.200′
Lon: 81° 40.486′
Menu (prices may change)
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