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    Mel's Cafenio

    3.8 (42 reviews)
    InexpensiveDiners
    Closed 5:30 am - 12:00 pm

    Mel's Cafenio Photos

    Business Info

    MEL'S CAFENIO ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Quiet
    Good for groups
    Good for kids

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    Recommended Reviews - Mel's Cafenio

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    Chorizo hash
    Meghan M.

    Good honest food from a hard working Greek family. A must stop when we visit Newport, RI . The French toast was nice and custard like the bacon nice and crisp. The Gyro omelet was delicious the meat was fresh and moist the seasoning carried through the whole omelet the tomatoes and onions where a nice addition. The homemade Chorizo hash is a nice change from the traditional canned hash. The coffee is also quite delicious! The staff is friendly and welcoming and the food is served quickly. The decor is clean and typical for a greasy spoon there are booths tables and seating at the counter.

    Chocolate chip pancakes, hash and home fries. So good!
    Kimber R.

    Great little greasy spoon. The food was great! Amazing chocolate chip pancakes, hash and home fries. 7.50 for a good plate of food. The service was lacking a bit. There weren't many people in there... At all. But in the almost two hours we were sitting, we never got water or tea refills, which is just plain bad service. The bathroom was just plain terrible. Almost every review says this, they need to take it seriously. Not only was it disgusting, but there wasn't any soap!

    2 eggs, chourico, home fries and toast combo
    Robert G.

    If you do not like Waffle House, you will not like Mel's Cafenio. It is a hole in the wall by every definition. The place is pretty well laid out, the decor is dated (like 1970's), and the upkeep of the shop is a little lacking, but the food is greasy goodness. There are a couple cobwebs in the corners if you look really hard (after reading the other reviews, I was curious), but honestly, who cares as long as the food is good? The fact it is cheap blows my mind. Since coming to Newport, I have eaten a lot of breakfasts here, and most of them have been garbage. Other than Corner Cafe and this place, what they pass for breakfast is a sad attempt of doing something fancy. Forget fancy, if you can do the basics well, you don't have to make things up. Wife and I came here, ordered two breakfasts, 2 drinks, and walked out with a $20 bill. Honestly, in Newport, I'm used to the highway robbery of $40 for 2 for basic breakfast... Wife ordered the french toast with home fries and Chourico hash. The Chourico hash is like straight up crack. It is by far our favorite thing about this place. Wife said the French toast wasn't bad, but next time is going for over easy eggs with the Chourico hash to drizzle the yolk over it to make a savory spicy awesome taste. I ordered the 2 eggs, Chourico sausage, home fries and toast. Unlike the other joints in town, my over easy egg actually had a runny yolk! So many places have overcooked overeasy eggs that you get a solid yolk, even worse they over cook eggs Benedict and do the same thing. I did not understand why Corner Cafe had an hour wait for breakfast until I tried other options, and I have to say, I understand waiting since most of them suck. But this place is really good, half the price, and right across the street. I will be honest though, if you like vegetarian options, I did not see any on the menu, but breakfast is eggs, meat, and home fries in my book, so this fits me perfectly. I highly recommend you try this place out if you are waiting in line somewhere else. Since coming back to the U.S., Newport is like the twilight zone of restaurants, with 75% of them sucking and wishing you would have ate at home. This place doesn't promise you a 4 star meal, just a greasy good tasting one at a decent price. I can live with that...

    the front of the building

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    Photo of Jen V.
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    2 months ago

    Love this place. Definitely what Newport needs is a normal sit down breakfast diner that isn't overhyped or overpriced

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    2 years ago

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    1 year ago

    Food was ok, service was meh! Female server at the counter seemed more bothered than happy to see you. Considering the area it's a 3 star.

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    10 months ago

    Great coffee, great egg and sausage breakfast sandwich. Nice owner! Fair prices. Old school atmosphere.

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    11 months ago

    Every week my breakfast goes up a dollar. Not coming back!! $12,$13, $14, today $15. Bad business

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    1 year ago

    Best place to get breakfast in town. Fast service and great staff. Gyro omelette is my go-to breakfast. Highly recommend going there.

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    2 years ago

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    4 years ago

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    9 years ago

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    3 years ago

    Great little find. My husband had been dying to try this place and so happy we finally stopped in. Great food and great prices.

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    7 years ago

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    18 years ago

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    5 years ago

    Quick and delicious... the food was the perfect amount of greasy after a night of drinking

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    11 years ago

    Solid breakfast for a reasonable price. Locals are here so it has that non-touristy feel that I like. It's very real!

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    Page 1 of 2

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    Jax Diner

    Jax Diner

    4.5(61 reviews)
    6.7 mi

    Likely driven past a hundred times, yet had not been in until today when coworker met for quick…read moremeal. With slight lunch rush there was a bit of a hustle and bustle vibe going on, but service was friendly and swift. Whether you want to sit at the bar, table for two, four or more, this is a great little diner to enjoy a breakfast or lunch meal. Placed order, being it was raining felt like a soup day for me and boy it was tasty!! Coworker swears no bad food to be had here and will be back to sample some of the rest of the menu items along with the amazing service! Don't be like Dave and just drive by, stop in and enjoy a mouthwatering meal!!

    You may know this from earlier reviews, but in case not, I'm on a search for the world's best…read morebiscuits and gravy. Until yesterday morning, the holder of that title was 3 Monkeys in Richmond, Virginia. That title changed hands at the bar at Jax Diner yesterday in Middletown, RI. The man running the food, I think his name is John (my apologies if memory fails me!), is a force, in both a physical and epicurean sense. He towers o er the grill with a presence and makes the best sausage gravy I have ever tasted, and that is saying something. I practically ignored everything else on that considerable plate of food because I didn't dare leave a scrap of the biscuit and gravy! It's that good. Title worthy good. It's made to order too - yup, you heard that right. When I sat down and told the server that this was my first time there, the local guy to my left chuckled and said, without looking up from his plate, "it won't be his last." When our eyes met, I saw the truth with no words exchanged, that I had found my way accidentally into the club of Jax believers, those who truly understood what makes it great there. And now I do too. Go find the secret - it's at Jax, a cool little humble diner doing great things. Enjoy!

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    Norm's Diner - BLTE with curly fries

    Norm's Diner

    4.5(404 reviews)
    40.7 mi
    $$

    Just moved up to Connecticut from Florida and had to find a new breakfast spot... and wow, Norms…read moreDiner absolutely blew me away. Hands down the best breakfast I've ever had -- and I don't say that lightly. Everything was fresh, cooked perfectly, and you can tell they actually care about quality. The portions were great, the vibe was classic diner comfort, and the service made it even better. If you're anywhere nearby, this place is 100% worth it. Definitely my new go-to spot. Also , Steven the owner is amazing.

    I do love a diner. I think it goes back to being a kid and spinning around on one of those counter…read moreseats while the cook chatted up my mom. :D Whatever the reason, I am always on the look out for a true diner experience and Norm's has it. The parking lot is 'smallish' on the right side of the building and flows right to left in one direction, so be sure to look for the 'enter' sign. There are three steps up into the diner so be aware of that if you have difficulty using steps. Also, the restroom is tiny: like so small the sink is about a foot long by half as much wide, small. We stop in here on our trips out to Groton. Last visit we stopped for a late breakfast/early lunch. I ordered a coffee and it came in a nice big mug and is a mellow blend with a smooth finish. There are photo descriptions on the table of what your eggs will look like based on how you order it, so no surprises. What a great idea. The table holds napkins, hot sauces, salt & pepper, jellies, creamer and sugars. The staff are pleasant. Some are more chatty than others. There are definitely some regulars here each time we visit. The menu has lots of breakfast options but there are no substitutions so you may need to order al a carte or get a different 'meal' option and add-on an item. Just a heads up. They have plenty of toast options including English muffins. The lunch menu is a variety of sandwiches and burgers. Fries are tasty. Lettuce and tomato on your sandwiches are fresh. I can't think of a single disappointment we've had here. If you are in the area and enjoy a nice diner experience, stop in to Norm's.

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    Mel's Cafenio - diners - Updated May 2026

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