This diner is a blast from the past, right down to the benches and the tables, every table has a coat and hat rack attached to it. A reminder of the days when men and women dressed with class and wore hats and coats to dinner.. Mills has this inherent 50s vibe, but the menu is quite up-to-date and everything is delicious. You can't go wrong with the burgers, I'm just telling you they've got something for everyone's taste. Even the sides don't disappoint, and the milkshakes are enough for two people, at least it was enough for the two of us. My engine rings were fantastic, breaded to perfection, and plenty of them came with my meal. Our waitress was tremendous also, quick drink refills, brought our food, hot, and prepared to give helpful and delicious recommendations from the menu. They do sell their merchandise at the checkout, but what do you expect, this is pigeon Forge for goodness sake! Everyone is Hawking their stuff . We are definitely planning on coming back and trying something different. Their menu is diverse and I think that we could come back for years and never have the same thing twice. read more

First time here, overall decent place. It's a good 1950s diner, typical of what you see normally. It was a happening place, all seats were filled, there was probably 60 guests there. The staff was running back and fourth, overall the wait time was not and at all. I had a chili, cheese, mushroom, back, burger, onion rings, and a root beer float. The service was decent, the food was ok, not greatest but not the best I've had either. I wouldn't mind returning and trying something else next time. read more

We love the diner look! We love how country and southern the food is. The best was the medium liver, bowl of chilli and the pineapple milkshake! It would have been perfect if our server didnt forget to add the milk shake. We already paid and were called back as we walked out of the door almost halfway to car to come back and pay additional because she forgot. Which was ok with us however I wish it was more thorough and smooth. Overall, a good experience with the food! read more

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Great little breakfast spot. Had the special and it was quite nice. I recommend the sausage patties. My husband got the fried bologna sandwich and really liked it. Our waitress was super sweet and the inside was clean and comfortable. We would go back anytime. read more

Mel's Diner - Cute diner - Diners Near Me - Pigeon Forge, Tennessee

The cool retro 50's diner is alive and well here. Shakes, malts, hamburgers hot dogs and the kind of comfort food that conjures up the nostalgia of American fare made complete with the lively diner decor. First time and the service was great! read more

Mel's Diner - Diners Near Me - Pigeon Forge, Tennessee

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It was extremely busy on a Thursday night, but I got seated with no wait at the counter. I ordered the Julie's Grilled Chicken Salad, fried okra, and finished with a hot fudge sundae. The salad was okay, nothing special but just what I needed. I loved the fried okra, but I felt like there could have been more seasoning (but there is salt and pepper at the table!). The sundae was the real star of the show. It reminded me of how much I loved hot fudge sundaes as a kid. My waitress was super nice and I loved the decor, but it can be quite chaotic because of how many people there are. read more

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Stopped in for the first time ever on a Friday night and we were seated immediately! Our waitress was nice and very attentive! But she really rushed us as it was getting busy after a while. The food was really good though! We started with Cheese fries and wow! The cheese was like a good cheese whiz! For my main I got the club sandwich! I can't resist a club sandwich and I'm glad I didn't skip on theirs! My side was pasta salad, it was good but tastes like it came out of a container . My boyfriend had a bbq cheeseburger with onion rings! Everything was great! Fun diner in a cool streamliner trailer with fun 50d themed & music decor! We will definitely be back! read more

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Place was very clean. Server, Whitney, was very friendly. My wife had French toast. I had the omelette. Sorry about the half eaten picture. I was starving and forgot to take a picture when the food arrived. I really liked the whole experience. Place to go for breakfast. read more

Mel's Diner - 3 egg omelette: Ham, sausage bacon and cheese - Diners Near Me - Pigeon Forge, Tennessee

We always enjoy Mel's Diner. Good, diner-style food from chili dogs to country fried steak. Fun atmosphere. Clean. Busy. Fun. Thanks for a great meal as always! read more

Mel's Diner - BBQ Pulled Pork with mashed potatoes & fried corn. B+ - Diners Near Me - Pigeon Forge, Tennessee

I wanted so badly to like this place but the food was just ok. Service was excellent and fast, servers were so kind and attentive. Catfish was ok but nothing great, potatoes and gravy seemed Boxed. The BBQ was not very tasty, the fried okra was ok. Apple hand pie was not very tasty and the insides were lacking anything moist. read more

Neat place that leans heavy on the nostalgia factor, with waitresses who took on character names from the show. Onion rings and fries were really good; fresh and crispy. Cheeseburger was standard dinner fare, mushroom swiss burger was good, but would have been better with fresh mushrooms, instead of canned. Meatloaf was different, with a Mexican spice profile. One word of advice, skip the mac n' cheese. Service could have been better, a little more attentive, but she was nice. read more

I got the Reuben and it was good. I was torn between a burger, and the fried bologna. The waitress suggested the Reuben and I was impressed. I would rank it in the top 3 Reuben I have had traveling the eastern half of the US. The fries were delicious as well. I also had a side of pasta salad and it was served the way I like it, very wet. Even though I hate olives, I still found it awesome. It had that cool diner vibe and of course some merch. read more

Well being that my name is Melissa.... 10/10!! No seriously, incredible service. Great value and the food was delicious. I loved the real diner feel and how down to earth everyone was. I even bought a tshirt. read more

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Whenever we come to town we always must visit Mel's. The menu is simple and the food is good and well prepared. Burgers and fries are always a hit with the kids and there is plenty of choices for those with more complex tastes. The service is always great and decor takes me back to when times were much more simple. The burgers are always good and the onion rings are really good. read more

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Arrived about 6 pm Saturday. Was given a buzzer and told about 25 minute wait and we could wait outside or in our car. After watching about three or four groups that arrived after us go in I asked the girl what is the problem. She said the paperwork got messed up but there was a table being cleaned in a few minutes. I wonder how long they would had left us sitting in our car had I not gone back in. Will never happen again because I wont go back. Food also not the greatest!! read more

This was a cute, 50s themed restaurant. I had the French dip which was delicious. Our server, Samantha, was excellent and very helpful. The only reason I'm not giving it 5 stars is because the menu wasn't descriptive. For example, the omelets didn't list what was in them. Other than that, it was an excellent experience. read more

Mel's Diner - Nicole's Nicoles's French Dip with chips - Diners Near Me - Pigeon Forge, Tennessee

Super fun eclectic 1960-1960's diner. We were seated immediately on a Thursday evening getting into town. The waitress was quick and attentive. My husband had a cheese burger that he inhaled within 5mins so it must've been great! I had a Reuben sandwich that reminded me Of ones my grandfather use to make. It was so delicious! We had chocolate shakes and malts both were fantastic! The restaurant was very clean. If we lived nearby, we would be regulars! read more

Mel's Diner - Exterior at night - Diners Near Me - Pigeon Forge, Tennessee

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Mel's Diner is SO good! Our server, "Angel", took great care of us! I love the classic diner decor and booths. Very nostalgic! All of our food was delicious. The hamburger steak, chili dog, and grilled cheese were great, and we finished it off with a strawberry sundae and peach cobbler. Chef's kiss! Can't wait to go back! read more

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When coming to TN for my brother's wedding, he suggested we all go to Mel's diner, as he ate there the two days previous and loved the cinnamon rolls. I will start by saying that I'm gluten-free, so I'm already a little limited in my options at a diner. I opted for an omelette that left something to be desired and tasted like powdered eggs. My sister also got an omelette and there was no cheese - how bizarre? The coffee, while not expected to be great, was horribly watered down. For all of that, the price was still high for a diner like this. I wanted to love this place, but I just didn't. read more

Mel's Diner - Cinnamon Roll - Diners Near Me - Pigeon Forge, Tennessee

Nice place! Great staff. who were attentive. Had the catfish, with sides of fried okra & mac and cheese. Very good. Glad I went. read more

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As a content creator here in Gatlinburg on YouTube TikTok IG Facebook..The Gatlinburg Hussey, I tell everyone how amazing this place is! One of the best burgers I've ever had and the onion rings are Insane too! I highly recommend going there and having a great time! Save room for a milkshake too read more

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Food was delicious. The ambience was cool. It's like stepping back into the past, listening to 50's and 60's music. Megan was our waitress. She did a good job. I've eaten here numerous times and I've never been disappointed. The parking lot is kind of small and could be a problem if you get here during the busy time. read more

Came to eat here with my family and the moment we stepped in they were horribly rude. The hostess acted like we didn't belong here. I told my husband I wanted to leave and he said let's just try it out. Our waitress Alexis seems like she did NOT want to be there. She was short with us, acted like we were an inconvenience when we literally asked one question. Didn't come to check on us til we were almost done. My daughter needed more ranch and she just threw it on the table. Maybe it was a bad night for her but there's no reason to act that way. We aren't from here and have had great experiences everywhere we have went to eat. I guess I just expected too much from one of the only mom and pop places left in Pigeon Forge. read more

Mel's Diner - Diners Near Me - Pigeon Forge, Tennessee

It is a cool restaurant to visit however.... The burger was good, fries were okay, and the dessert which was Peach Cobbler was disappointing. It tasted like the peaches they used were out of those individual plastic cups of peaches.The cobbler was slightly warmed. It was served with Vanilla ice cream which was good. read more

It was late night in Pigeon Forge and we needed food. Mel's Diner was a great choice. It was like stepping back into the 1960's. I had pancakes. Others had burgers/fries. They have a huge menu. Quick service and great oldie music playing . Fun place. Nothing fancy perfect diner. read more

Mel's Diner - Inside Mel's Diner - Diners Near Me - Pigeon Forge, Tennessee

Food/Taste/Flavor: 3/5 - ordered Miss Stella's Country Fried Steak with french fries and mac & cheese, Grandpappy's Pot Roast with mash potatoes and fried okra, and a bowl of chili. The chili had a tiny kick but was on the sweeter side. Country Fried Steak was 5/5 and absolutely delicious! Fried perfectly well with a lovely gravy on top. The pot roast was 1/5 and did not melt in your mouth as advertised, it was quite chewy and dry and only edible because of the gravy. The french fries and fried okra were great but the mac & cheese was plain and the mash potatoes quite dry/sticky in our mouth... Service: 5/5 - Cassie was super friendly and cracked jokes and took a moment to chat whenever she could. Ambiance: 5/5 - interesting interior that was 50's or 60's diner themed with pictures of musicians along the walls. The booths were cramed but cozy overall. The metal does act as a faraday cage though since we had pretty much no reception inside the restaurant. Value for price: 4/5 - quick service with large serving of food. Reasonable pricing compared to the options in town. read more

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Food hit the spot today! Wow. Full with happy bellies! We had breakfast for dinner and it was delicious. Service was great too!

Everything was wonderful. Pulled pork was great. Highly recommend. Shakes were super thick read more

Mel's Diner - Chocolate milkshake - Diners Near Me - Pigeon Forge, Tennessee

The food is always good. I love the atmosphere here and the people are friendly. One day I hope to try the banana split

Great food. Sorry I didn't catch our servers name but she was a sweetie and very prompt. I ordered the western omelette it was amazing. My other half ordered eggs, hash browns, sausage and bacon and biscuits and gravy. Our daughter ordered sausage, biscuits and gravy and grits and bacon. Everyone enjoyed their meals. Although our daughter said she'd never seen sausage and gravy with sausage sprinkled on top of her gravy before. I thought it was creative and didn't add that greasy effect it sometimes can. But honestly what really I loved about it most was we didn't have to wait not even a minute to get seated. It was fricken fantastic, especially when you go the weekend after Xmas to Pigeon Forge. I mean it can be so silly trying to get in any restaurant without a reservation. This was an amazing experience and I love the decor. The coolest shirts. Plus they have that cool juke box. Really a fun little place. Everyone was honestly so sweet. read more

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After visiting Ripley's Aquarium in Gatlinburg, we decided to go to Mel's Diner for dinner. For my meal, I ordered the country fried steak, which comes with two sides and Texas toast. I chose mac and cheese and fried okra for my sides. I thought that the country fried steak was crunchy, peppery, and hearty. The mac was extremely cheesy, the way mac should be. The okra and toast were just like any other. My cousin got the James Works burger, which is topped with chili, bacon, and mushrooms with lettuce, tomato, onion, and pickle. He got it with no mushrooms and enjoyed it. My cousin's girlfriend got the biscuit and gravy with two eggs and bacon. She loved it. My dad got the bacon cheeseburger, and he thought it was delicious. My mom got the Cajun burger and enjoyed it. Overall, I would highly recommend going to Mel's for a delicious meal. read more

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Hot chicken was extremely dry. Fried corn on Cobb tasted like oil. Pot roast was good but the portion was very small, like for a child. Banana Split was good but for $10, not the best deal. Our waitress was very nice. Atmosphere was what you'd expect from a diner. I would not return. 5 guys would have been a better value and meal. They were advertising for kitchen help. They definitely need it! I don't know how you can believe any of the 5-Star ratings. They must be paid or from friends or family. read more

Typical diner ambiance and options. Went for breakfast/lunch on a Saturday morning and although crowded, we were seated quickly. The food came out quickly and tasted good. The portion sizes were decent for the prices. I appreciated how many veggies were in the veggie omelet. read more

The food was pretty gross. I got a burger and it was awful. The floor was disgusting from one side all the way to the other side. Bathrooms were yucky. The only reason I gave 2 stars is because our server was really nice. read more

The food was great, still didn't need to be that much money, we could've bought whole things of juice, milk, and coffee for the amount of money each individual thing was, our server Erin was very nice. There were also a ton of fun posters and the music was nice, just costed way too much money. read more

Love the ambiance. Reminded me of Alice. I looked for Flo but she wasn't around. Food was amazing. Service was fast. The cheese on my Reuben was so good. My honey's patty melt was also good. read more

Mel's Diner - Patty melt and fries - Diners Near Me - Pigeon Forge, Tennessee

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Authentic vintage diner. Service is always great and staff is attentive. Food is great whenever you want a late night snack. Has become a must stop restaurant whenever I am in the area. read more

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The servers were extremely friendly amd helpfu ans the food came out fast and hotl. The facility was clean and the ambiance was fun and welcoming. The food had a lot to be desired . I would rate the food a 1 as it was mediocre, at best. We asked the server for their recommendations and not one of their "home-made" options made the cut. The catfish was highly recommend so we ordered it. The pieces were big but nothing special. read more

Amazing service. The place was packed and I was able to get a seat and my order was taken and served faster that anything I have had in the last year. Phenomenal! The burger was perfect and I opted for the onion rings and I highly recommend those. Amazing and a perfect amount. The server was incredible, read more

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Always go to Mel's as soon as we get to Pigeon Forge, but our last visit was very disappointing. Two of us ordered the pot roast and one portion was full of fat. Also the portions are shrinking while the prices are increasing. Our wait person was not very attentive, but busy chatting with coworkers. Needless to say we did not make our usual 2nd visit this trip and hoping this was just an off day. read more