Mel's Drive-in - San Francisco

The service was outstanding, Hugo was exceptional. The food was enjoyable and the coffee in particular was excellent.

The best part of Mel’s Drive In is its American diner atmosphere, complete with neon lights and jukeboxes scattered throughout. There is counter seating in front of the kitchen, as well as a mix of booth and table seating. The noise level can get a bit loud at times, adding to the bustling ambiance. The pricing at Mel’s Drive In is average for the quality of food being served. The service was good, with friendly staff and quick food delivery after ordering. Overall, Mel’s Drive In provides a nostalgic dining experience with good food and efficient service.

I recently dined at this restaurant for the first time in several years. The interior is pleasant and the surrounding area has improved in the last few months, although there is still less traffic than before the pandemic. I was disappointed with the French Dip sandwich, as it seemed to be lacking in portion size for the price. However, other menu options looked promising. The restaurant still retains its old-time charm and history, with good service. While the prices were slightly high, they were still reasonable.

The service and experience is what drove up the rating, but if I was strictly rating the food, it would be 0 stars. Ordered several breakfast plates and the bacon was burnt and bitter. The hasbrowns were soggy. The omelet was OK. We also ordered dinner plates to go. My family cooks a lot of short ribs, so we thought we should give their Braised short rib a try. It was definitely not short rib, rather chick roast. The meat was very dry and lacked any flavor. The meatloaf was also very tough. The best part about dinner were the vegetable medley. Our family would not be coming back.

Great diner, good food. It's worth checking out if downtown. Parking is in the garage, which isn't far from Mel's diner.