Excellent food, drinks, and service...my wife and I went between games while in Cooperstown baseball game(s) (rain delay) we sat at the bar and ate the haddock fish sandwich, which was delicious and was recommend by Dael, our bartender who made GREAT drinks...I had several while we waited the rain out...she made excellent Long Islands, Forbidden Apples, and also Margaritas...nice little spot to eat and drink at while in the area...very impressed and I'm hard to please!!! Job well done Mel's at 22...we will be back!!! read more

Mel's started out as a great date night spot for me, and then when I started working down the block, was the go to lunch spot. Staff is great and accommodating. The specials are always exciting, especially their seasonal drinks. Their menu is the perfect balance between simplicity or slide on over way to a nice bougie meal (like steak and potatoes, or some fish entree). Some days you want a regular chicken wrap with some fries, others you need a steak and some red wine, and you can go to Mels for both of those. Their paninis are packed with flavor, and a good portion size. Pre- covid times they did have different cuisine nights, polish night was my favorite/ most memorable. If you have any leftovers the next day, you are counting down the seconds till lunch time when you can enjoy your meal all over again. Writing this review is making me miss the spot more so.... dinner later on this week it is! read more

Everything about the business was great! Ambiance, food, drinks, service! Such a fun place to eat and have drinks at. Husband loved his steak and he is very picky! read more

This place was good . The food was really good here . It was really nice here and looked fancy . The people were semi quick and they were nice read more

Look for a cute reddish brick bldg on the corner of Chestnut & Main. Service was friendly and accommodating. What more can you ask? Pesto fries were good but lukewarm. Tater tots were pretty good. Turkey Bacon panini quite good with added avocado. I enjoyed the Cobb Salad w/ shrimp quite a bit. I'd get it again. Give 'em a try! read more

Mel's at 22 - Shrimp Cobb - Bars Near Me - Cooperstown, New York

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After a long day visiting the Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum we were wanted to treat ourselves to a nice dinner. Had a reservation and we're seated promptly and things went downhill from there. Our table was in the corner by the window, the room was very crowded and extremely loud. Asked to sit outside and they seated us at a high top table where the table & chairs were on a downward slope and felt like we were going to fall over. Ou server took our drink order and when she can back there were two empty tables and requested to be moved. Seated at the 3rd table of the night we enjoyed our cocktails, I had the house Manhattan and is was fabulous! Ordered our meals, ordered the Caprese Shrimp appetizer and it was delicious. I ordered the filet and my husband ordered the Shrimp with pasta. My filet was ok, nothing special, but the shrimp dish was swimming in a cream sauce that was overwhelming. My husband asked to send it back and get it without so much sauce, when they brought it back it was not much better. He sent it back and they took it off our bill. At the end of the night we decided we should have just stopped after the cocktails and appetizer. read more

Mel's at 22 - Bars Near Me - Cooperstown, New York

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Came in with a group of 6 and everyone loved their meal. 4 of the 6 got the clam chowder and loved it. The burger was delicious as well. Great spot for lunch! read more

Just has a wonderful dinner last night at Mel's. The beet risotto was amazing. I'm not sure how they infused the beets into the risotto but it was an incredible taste. I also had the PEI mussels which were so good. I could have that sauce on just about anything. Carrot cake was also spectacular. The frosting could be a little less sweet but that is a minor quibble with a desert. Our server did a great job and I appreciated they had Athletic NA beer. Ambiance was perfect for a family dinner in Cooperstown. We asked for a table and there was a 15 minute wait. Perfect amount of time for a stroll around Cooperstown. read more

The food wasn't bad at all. The beet risotto my wife had was good but it was a little heavy and the abundance of tomatoes in it were searching for a purpose in the dish, but she rates it as good. The Indian butter chicken I had was hotter than I expected and the curry dominated the entire palate. My error in not checking further with the waitress when she said "it's not bad at all" when I asked its heat level. Nevertheless, it was very tasty. The prices are very fair and you won't feel gouged afterwards. The interior is warm, inviting, clean and wasn't loud so you feel like it will be a fine experience. The service is not a home run so to say. It took to long to get to us on a mid week night when it wasn't busy. When we asked for more water she forgot. When asked for the check she brought it and never returned. Maybe she is overworked, has babysitter problems, who knows, but the service wasn't up to snuff. read more

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Holy smokes what a delicious lunch! Granted the service was very slow as it was packed in town with youth baseball teams but worth the wait. I had a Cobb salad with chicken added and it was OFF the charts delish with their house dressing. My son and husband raved about the burgers. Just a very nice meal. Will probably return for the dinner menu later this week. Yum!!!!!! read more

girls night out in Cooperstown Mel's 22 is always my favorite. It's just warm and cozy and the food and drinks are always delicious. read more

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Clam chowder, salad with white vinaigrette dressing, and burgers with tater tots for the kids were all very good!

Came for lunch on the way out of town. The food and service was phenomenal. Great way to end the trip!

We were staying at the Otesaga, And decided we wanted to try dining out somewhere else that particular night. I remember seeing a bunch of people standing on a corner every time we drove through Cooper's town and I thought what is that it looks like a restaurant? It was Mel's at 22. So we decided to go in there for something to eat and I ordered their haddock with breading and of course I had to have a cup of butter to dip it in. LOL oh my God it was so delicious My fiancé had vegetable raviolis that she said were absolutely amazing and she's never had any quite like that ever before. We had also had a couple of drinks and the dinner bill was way lower than I thought it would be for the quality of the food and drinks. We are definitely returning here on our next trip to Cooperstown and Fly Creek.. read more

Mel's at 22 - Vegan vegetable ravioli's :-) - Bars Near Me - Cooperstown, New York

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If you are visiting Cooperstown and are hankering for a juicy, well-cooked cheeseburger, made from locally-grown beef, with a side of perfectly crispy fries and a cup of aioli for dipping, this is the place. We've been back here several times and even during the busiest days, the food I consistently good and the service friendly and helpful. Although we've been back here several times, I can't really recommend any other food offerings since I love those burgers and especially the aioli. The place is well-lighted with large (sometimes) sunny windows, is clean, and has a nice terrace in front for outdoor dining. Street parking is not too difficult. The restaurant can get crowded in the summer and fall when there are lots of tourists in town, but the burgers and the aioli keep us coming back. read more

Mel's at 22 has become a routine stop when I visit town. I love the atmosphere, customer service and quality of food this place offers. Moreover, the wine selection is on point and the serving sizes are just right, generous but not over the top. I've tried a few different dishes over the last few years and all my entrées have been great. Recently, I opted for the Cobb salad and ordered it again on a follow-up visit due to the fact it was so good. The tater tots are scrumptious and cooked to perfection so I highly recommend pairing your sandwich with these. My mother ordered the BLT on a recent visit and the sandwich was huge plus the bacon was plentiful. Not to mention, the bacon was crisp and delicious. I enjoy the architecture because it's charming and classy yet inviting. The seating layout is designed in a way to provide ample space yet still offers a cozy and warm vibe. There is a community table and bar at the front of the restaurant and patrons seemed to be engaged and enjoying one another's company. Finally, the restrooms are clean and metered street parking is easily accessible. Next time you're in Cooperstown, hit up Mel's at 22 for a good meal! read more

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The first thing I saw when I got back to our hotel was the tequila scallop appetizer which I ordered dairy free, due to anaphylactic dairy allergy. I was happy they were able to accommodate so easily, I was thankful for that. But I was appalled it was $14 for 3! I'm from Cape May, and I was truly appalled. They were sub par. But then I got to the ahi tuna app. It took the cake, ahi being one of my faves. The stack of seaweed, avocado, mango, and crisp tortillas with the rare tuna was delectable. Also had the tofu Asian stir fry, which I apparently gobbled up before taking a photo. It was incredible. The family had the calamari and pesto fries, which you must order with the garlic aioli. Another of our party had the lobster roll sandwich, and rated it "alright." read more

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Hosted a party of 25. We had one waitress who did a phenomenal job! Props to the chef getting all the meals out hot and delicious! I couldn't have asked for a better experience. Thank you Brian . read more

What an amazing meal. We sat outside and got the best service you could imagine. The food was delicious. Definitely a repeat.

Who knew Cooperstown was a bastion of fine dining?! This place was an intimate and quiet affair, though Friday's there is live music (but it wasnt overpowering and very enjoyable). They emphasize their seafood dishes. Lots of haddock on the menu. They have daily specials, but we stuck to the regular menu. I had the lobster risotto. Lobster isn't even my bag, baby, but this was phenomenal. The scallops made it!! Husbo has the haddock and chips. We also tried their specialty cocktails, he has the forbidden apple and I had the 22 Chestnut. Highly recommend. Lastly, the service was just top notch. Our server was attentive and sweet. A bit pricey for Cooperstown; but worth every penny. read more

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Great food and fun staff. Was so nice to get something other than pizza on the menu. We both had fish and it was so fresh.

I'm really between a 3 and 4. Mel's used to be my favourite restaurant between Oneonta and Cooperstown, and before the big renovation (I do like the decor) I would have easily given it a 5. However, I feel that service and food has changed since then. I used to come in for the calamari and pesto garlic fries, and I would typically order from their specials, usually the strip steak, duck, or rib eye specials. From my repeated experiences, I would say to stick to the strip, the rib eye that I have had a couple of times, each time the fat wasn't rendered properly and I was left with extremely hard to chew pieces with a lot of gristle as well. The menu has changed a bit, and I find it hard to find things I really want, and the service has become a bit slower. The menu, especially for lunch now more heavily consists of fried foods, like fried scallops on top of french fries, or fried tater tots. So fried food on top of fried food, which can be quite dry. The last time I was there, which was pretty recent, I ordered the special brisket burger. It was advertised as sliced brisket with fried onion rings. Well, what came out was not sliced brisket, it was chopped brisket heavily smothered and mixed in bbq sauce, and there were no fried onion rings. read more

We were blown away by how good our burgers were at this place. On top of that, they were really reasonably priced. Mel's had the Best burgers either of us had had in a while. The dining room is also cute and the service was good. The draft list includes Nine Pin, which is phenomenal. We got a chocolate tort for dessert. That was okay, nothing special. But we didn't even care because the burgers are so awesome. read more

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Great food with great prices. Great location. One of the best grilled cheese sandwiches I've ever eaten.

Loved sitting outside. Food was delicious and the service was also very good! Would recommend this spot for brunch or lunch.

Came to Cooperstown with my family during Spring Break in late March 2021. Had no idea that the town is sort of "shut down" for the season, but thankfully, Mel's was open on Monday evening for dinner. We were able to get a reasonable reservation for my family of four. Upon arrival, we were seated immediately in the room behind the bar, at table by the window. They do a great job of spacing out the tables so that you don't feel like you're crowded. I don't remember our server's name, but she was great. She gave us the run down on the specials and took our drink orders quickly. We came in during happy hour and the margarita's were on special, so I took full advantage, since I wasn't driving (we walked from the Otesaga Hotel). We got the Calamari appetizer which was very good and the soup of the day, which I believe was potato, which my daughter ordered. I tasted it and it was fantastic. For dinner, i got talked into the fried Haddock tacos, and they were delicious. They were topped with all sorts of mexican goodies you'd expect, and it was plenty of food. My son go the burger, my daughter the shrimp, and my wife got the chicken bacon sandwich. Nobody went hungry, for sure. So, the service was great, the food was excellent, and the drinks were tasty. This place checked all the boxes for me. The only mistake we made was not getting dessert. We thought there'd be an open ice cream shop or something in town, but everything was closed. Walking down the main drag after dinner felt like I was an extra on the walking dead waiting for the zombies to pop out....I'm sure it's way more active during the season. Long story short, I recommend Mel's!! read more

We went after a trip to the baseball hall of fame. I read great reviews from Yelp and it didn't disappoint. There wasn't a lot of people there. Our sever was nice and recommended the pulled pork tacos!! And I got tater tots for a side which unexpectedly where really good!! My daughter and her fiancé really enjoyed their meals too. I have to say it was less than 15 mins from ordering to our meals being ready! I'll go back when I'm down that way again!! Prices were fair, service was good read more

Was flying solo so sat at the bar. Excellent martini followed by superb burger with tater tots. Definitely a local favorite and delivers well on food, beverage and service. read more

Rounding out my couple of days in upstate NY with another 5 Star review in Cooperstown NY. Yes, I'm surprised 3 meals would bring all these kind of review, but they are all well deserved. Super close to the Baseball HOF, with a nice airy vibe. Very friendly waitress as well. I had the BLT with a delicious aioli on a ciabatta roll with French fries which was delicious! The other two people with me at the grilled cheese and a burger which they both loved. Definitely the place to eat lunch. read more

The beet salad with blackened salmon was amazing and they have gluten and dairy free options!

Great spot, solid food, slow with the water lolllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll

Great place to grab lunch while in town. Staff was friendly but the wait for ordered meals was long. Mac and cheese had no flavor. read more

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Totally amazing. Wonderful attentive friendly service with great food. The atmosphere is upscale vintage which makes it very romantic and personal. The lunch selection has great options. The clam chowder was packed with flavor and just right. The burger was made rare like I wanted. I hate when they cook it more than what I ask. The fries were nice and crispy. The crab cake Caesar salad was huge with a smaller crab cake than I'd like but very delicious. Next time I'd order just crab cakes alone because it was so good. This place accommodated our group of 10 just fine and there's wrap around seating along the wall for larger parties. The bar is very nice for solo eaters as well. Definitely makes you feel like your eating somewhere in the village of Manhattan versus a town. Highly recommended! read more

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It's kind of the only game in town. Okay, that was a bad pun, and sort of a bad intro. However, it is, really, the only upscale restaurant in Cooperstown, which makes it a stand out, and a bit busy at a guess. The menu has a good selection of standard hits, though nothing that will scream unique to the town. With that, the food is good, the desserts though, are very very good. Service is a bit slow, we were seated on the patio at the end (by our request) and that may have played part. But, the patio is a great place to look down main street and see the crowds as they wander by. They have unique cocktail menu which is a fun way to cap dinner. With limited options around, they're the top end of places to eat, but deliver on quality and atomosphere. read more

Service was friendly but overwhelmed. We stared at dirty tables for 20 minutes on a Saturday for lunch. Food was very good, the tater tots were cooked perfectly. Menu had enough choices. read more

Nice surprise for my daughters bday. The food was outstanding with choices from burgers to veal. Our server was top notch and fun to have waiting on us. They did a little surprise bday singing for her with dessert. Highly recommend if in the area. read more

Sub par food and snooty, unfriendly staff. Guess that's why the place was 1/2 empty.

We arrived, a party of 6, at 1:30. They were slammed so we sat outside. The sun started going down & people emptied out inside so we moved to a table in the dining area. We ordered outside and it took an HOUR for our food to arrive--4 burgers and two skillet scrambles. An HOUR with no explanation. The food was good but they were out of hash browns (keep in mind we ordered from the brunch menu) so we got tater tots which were just frozen tots. The scrambles looked great. The burgers were good. To me it looked like the bacon was undercooked so I gave it to someone else in my party. I would say it's an average place with decent food in a town with not much selection. read more

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As a break during our visit to Cooperstown, Mel's was a godsend just a couple of blocks down from the Baseball Hall of Fame. There was just so much I could take of the rugrats running around screaming at the museum and this was a quiet, more mature place I can enjoy my lunch. There were still families here, but their children were much better behaved and I'm sure the rowdier ones were at the pizza place down the street. Starting with New England Clam Chowder was a good bet, though it was a little low in the clam department. My wife had the Lobster Roll which was more of a seafood salad, but still had a good amount of lobster. The pesto garlic fries (extra $2) that she ordered as her side were fantastic though. I ordered the Fried Haddock Sandwich, a large hunk of fish perfectly batter-dipped and crispy fried to perfection, along with a side of tater tots. I wasn't too thrilled with the taters because they were the bottle cap type, not the beer keg shaped ones and came out too crispy hard. So I snuck some more pesto fries from my wife's plate and scooched some tots over onto hers. Service was inconsistent because I had to ask our server for a lot of little things that other tables were getting automatically like tartar sauce for the fish sandwich and ketchup for the tots. Our water glasses were kept full though. I'll be sure to come back next time to try them for dinner. read more

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In Cooperstown for Baseball Hall of Fame Inductions. Knew that all places would be packed and just jumped to the end of a short line. WHAT A GREAT MOVE! After waiting for about 15 minutes (not bad at all considering the weekend) was seated. Server was prompt with taking drink orders and getting glasses of water. Checked the menu and settled on our orders. I ordered the Turkey Bacon wrap and my son got the California Burger. Both were served with fresh cut fries. Both were plated delightfully and temperature was perfect. My son said it was the best burger he had in years! Loved the bun which seemed homemade. The burger was cooked exactly how he ordered and juicy for each bite. My wrap was loaded with turkey and thick bacon slices. I have had wraps in many locations and this one is in the top three, for me! We were not rushed, and given that it was Hall of Fame Induction weekend, it was a pleasant surprise! Both my son and I said we need to return to really spend time at the Hall of Fame and both said we should convince my wife/his mom to join us on the trip, just to eat here!! A MUST visit when in Cooperstown NY! read more

Mel's at 22 - Turkey Bacon wrap and California burger! BOTH AWESOME - Bars Near Me - Cooperstown, New York