Mel&#x27;s Downtown

Great lil tavern pub!!…read more Patrons and servers were all VERY welcoming and friendly. Great place to chat it up with the locals and have a yummy burger that will remind you of the diners we all grew up on. I'd definitely stop back in next time I'm in the area. Pro or Con depending on your outlook but they allow you to smoke inside... for me, I appreciate the nostalgia of simpler times, good conversation and frosty beverages.

If you want to go where the locals go, stop here. Not only is the atmosphere great, they have a…read morevery unique burger. Just order it as it comes. Somehow the ingredients come together. I stop every time I'm in the area.

Rock me Mama like a Wagon Wheel- revisiting my Puma haunts

The wagon master

See all

Wagon Wheel Single Burger. Great flavor!!

Red Carpet Lounge

4.4(5 reviews)

47.5 mi

Super cool local bar. Very friendly staff. Popped in for a Bloody Mary. I'll be back.read more

Sweet sweet dive bar that has been around for more than 50 years. My Dad drank here in his…read moretwenties. Super fun, super cheap. Might be a turn off for some as they allow smoking, the bars once did! Locals and regulars are prevalent and fun loving! Stop by and be sure to have a couple cold ones and play some lottery tickets!! Enjoy!

Menu

See all

Murdock's Place

4.7(9 reviews)

43.9 mi

Food was very good lots of it but kinda pricey. Service was great…read more Ambiance was so so.

Good local food for awesome prices. Waitresses are lovely and very attentive. It can get a little…read moreloud here on the weekends due to sheer number of people in the restaurant. Live music does happen on occasion as well.

Fried chicken and mashed potato.

Menu and fried chicken.

See all

Wednesday and Thursday night specials

Stacks Bar & Grill

4.3(622 reviews)

41.3 mi

My husband and I had the perfect date night at Stacks! We've dined here many times but this time we…read moredecided to dine on the Rooftop and it was absolutely perfect. The weather couldn't have been better, making it such a beautiful evening to sit back, relax and enjoy a great meal together. We started with the Steak & Lobster Stuffed Mushrooms and WOW.....they were fantastic! Such a delicious way to start the evening. My husband ordered the 24 oz. Tomahawk Ribeye with a Brandy Mushroom Sauce, served over mashed potatoes and asparagus. He thoroughly enjoyed every bite because when he was finished, there was absolutely nothing left on the plate.....which says it all! I ordered the Scalibut, featuring Blackened Halibut and Seared Scallops served over Lobster mashed potatoes and asparagus, topped with a Lemon Parmesan sauce and Tomato basil Cruda. It did NOT disappoint! Every bite was packed with incredible flavor and the combination of the halibut, scallops, lobster mashed potatoes and sauce was absolutely delicious. Between the food, the atmosphere and getting to enjoy a beautiful evening on the rooftop with my husband, this was such a wonderful date night. We've always enjoyed Stacks but this visit was definitely one to remember. We'll absolutely be back!

Awesome food!!! had sliders and extra aioli!! Server was awesome Taylor was right on answered every…read morequestion and made suggestions. Sat outside it was nice with fans, music, drinks!!

StackinCheddar

Scallop Feature

See all

Fenwick Farms Brewing Company

4.0(49 reviews)

15.7 mi

Smoked kielbasa as an appetizer on the menu? Heck yeah, I'm here for it. And you know what? The…read moresmoked kielbasa was even better than I was hoping it would be. It came with three different sauces: beer-infused mustard, tangy barbecue and creamy horseradish. I could have just sat here and ate charred pork and drank beer and I would have been happy. We also got a Caesar salad, which was OK but would have been a bit better if it came dressed -- the dressing came on the side. The wedge salad was good but was less of a wedge and more of a regular salad. Fenwick Farms has a kids menu, which features things like cheeseburgers, buttered noodles, chicken strips and other kid-friendly foods. Each kids meal comes with a side and a dessert (ice cream sundae), although we didn't get our ice cream, but it was fine because my kids didn't need anymore sugar that day. Speaking of kids: They have free arcade games to play! My kids played Pac-Man and NBA Jam while we waited for our food. The Fenwick Farms Brewing Co. beer is made right here at the brewery, and this is the first and only craft brewery in Rensselaer. They have 30 different beers on tap (most their own, some guest beers), and they offer flights. Indiana knows how to do craft beer, and FFBC is another great example of great beer.

We have been wanting to visit here for a while, and I'm so glad we finally did! The service was…read morefast and friendly, the drinks were great, and the food was memorable! The server helped me pick a popular drink, she let me try any of their tap beers before deciding what I wanted. We had the sausage appetizer and it was delicious! We will definitely be back!

Dining room

See all

Front of Fenwick Farms Brewing Company, Rensselaer

Old Colonial Inn

4.7(30 reviews)

12.2 mi

The Old Colonial Inn is a charming restaurant perfect for a date night, special occasion, or just…read morebecause! The restaurant is located in the town's restored old hotel right near the town square. Upon entering, there's delightfully cozy seating and a candlelit interior--we were seated in the library room that contained a few intimate tables. The service was amazing. Jill is attentive yet gave us space for conversation. She recommended the tenderloin special, which paired with the blueberry gastrique and parsnip purée was a nice mashup of flavors. The soup of the day was a rich, creamy lobster bisque. My husband ordered the salmon grilled and said it was well seasoned and cooked to perfection. We ordered a dessert to share (turtle cheesecake), and they thoughtfully plated it with a starburst of whipped cream for each of us! The owners came around and checked on everyone briefly. They were very kind and hospitable. Overall, the Old Colonial Inn was a delightful experience and a hidden gem.

The Old Colonial does not disappoint. The owners and staff are always friendly when we see them…read more The food is fantastic. Whenever we are in the area, we always look forward to coming here with friends.

Interior seating

Lobster bisque

See all

Old Colonial Inn entrance

Good Table Family Restaurant

3.7(53 reviews)

12.2 mi

I just wanna say, this place is amazing. Working in the industry I know it can be hard on a Friday…read morenight with short staff. But let me tell you the staff and service here was still 100% on top of it. They are genuine people with good hearts. Also, the food was AWESOME!!! I had the special prime rib and yummmmy My boyfriend had the all you can eat cod- super good So all in all Service- outstanding Food- absolutely delicious Cleanliness- pretty freaking great with all the chaos that was happening Thank you MARY!!! You were a great server and killed it.

The service was quick and friendly. The dining room seemed to be full of regulars. The food was…read morepretty quick and had good quality.

Delicious Broiled Centercut Pork Chops

Homemade Nachos loaded

See all

Menu

Lupe's Grill

4.8(14 reviews)

21.7 mi

Always great service and Friendly staff! Good food too. They just got their liquor license, if…read moreyou are interested in that respect. They are always willing to accommodate changes, as I am a vegetaria.

Good food and friendly staff. We enjoy eating here. Nice local place. Can get busy. Waitress was…read morevery nice.

Kitchen and "Specials" menu

Shrimp dinner.

See all

Italian beef - Lupe's Grill

John Andys

4.8(5 reviews)

33.9 mi

Food is outstanding! Can't go wrong here. Love the broasted chicken and Fridays fish. Tried the…read morepollack, perch, and shrimp. Excellent and filling portions.

Ate three days in a row here. Loved it. Can tell everything is made, not from a box. Down home…read moretasting food. Soups are so good.......

Crazy Joe's Diner

3.9(30 reviews)

24.5 mi

Food was wonderful! I recommend highly! They are Aldo open for lunch and dinner.Very good on the…read moreprices. This reviewer is happy with the food and service.

I love this little cafe it's very reasonable and consistent every time I go! You can't go wrong…read moreeating here!

Biscuits and gravy with two eggs on top! Yummy! Unending coffe and lemon water

See all

Burnt hashbrowns!!

Why does Yelp recommend reviews?

Hundreds of millions of reviews are posted on Yelp, and our automated recommendation software works in the background to showcase the reviews that it …

1 review that is not currently recommended

The reviews below are not factored into the business's overall star rating.

Renee M.

0

1

0

2 years ago

The food was great. loved the pizza burger but the best was the zucchni fries! waitress was great. well worth stopping in off of Hwy 41. Definitely going back read more

Mel's Downtown - tradamerican - Updated September 2026

People who viewed Mel's Downtown also viewed

eMbers Station

4.6

(80 reviews)

Really fantastic spot with a hip, relaxed vibe and great food! Absolutely worth the ten minutes…read moredrive from the interstate. I had the Toasted Italian sandwich and loved it. The soft pretzels/beer cheese and chips/salsa were hits with everyone in our party. Didn't get a chance try the drinks--but I'll be back for that! While you're there, be sure to take a few minutes to walk or drive the local Art Walk. Lots of really incredible public murals to enjoy. Our visit to eMbers made my day!

This is a unique restaurant with a unique menu. It has a beautiful large covered patio that is…read moreheated so you can still enjoy eating on cool October evenings. My husband had the wood fired pork chop topped with house made bourbon barbecue. It looked scrumptious and tasted scrumptious. I had the figgy delight from the wood fired. Oven. May sound a little strange, but omg, out of this world. We enjoyed the eclectic decor. We ate in what i would describe as the 1950's greenhouse with 50's and 60's 45's covering one wall. Our server was very gracious, especially since we had a lot of questions. If you are ever in the Rensselaer, you must stop at Embers. Great beer and whiskey selection.

Our Place

4.8

(8 reviews)

My brother and I made a special trip to try their highly regarded tenderloin sandwich…read more The quality, taste, freshness and size exceeded our expectations. We both agree that their tenderloin is the best we've had to date. While waiting for our food, we heard them freshly pounding out our tenderloins and confirmed they are made to order and the chef did an excellent job. We spoke to the owner and she was delightful. Although off the beaten path, it is well worth your time to visit.

We went for the famous Breaded Pork Tenderloin Sandwich go early because they will run out the food…read morethey put out will out do any big city. It's small town at it's finest filled with the locals ....located on the Main Street in a refurbished old building the walls are filled with old pictures.

Don's Drive In

3.9

(34 reviews)

The hamburger look like a McDonald's hamburger. They want to much money.and they only take cashread more

I read the good reviews and thought I would give them a try. Not a fan. We ordered cheese fries, a…read morestrawberry shake and a banana split. The fries tasted like they were microwaved and the cheese was super goopy like it was out of a can. The strawberry shake tasted like artificial flavor, and the banana split was served in a cup which was a first for me. I wanted to like it, since we are new to the area, but I definitely would not recommend.

Greensfields Cafe

4.2

(5 reviews)

This place looks like it needs an update. When I got her I wasn't even sure it was open. Then when…read moreu walk in it smells like stall cigarette smoke. The seats have been fixed with tape. The only good thing so far is the staff is polite and the food was very very reasonable. They also have Truck parking. That is a huge plus for me.

Average breakfast place. Food was good, service was good. I did like that the full menu was…read moreavailable at breakfast. I had the hot Turkey sandwich, it was good.

Farmhouse Restaurant

3.6

(457 reviews)

We flew off the highway to see what this farm complex was all about. It's an impressive set up with…read morea variety of spots to explore for a break from driving. Service was good and attentive. I noticed the comments about high prices, and for the area, I bet that is true. We found the prices comparable to large cities. The smoked brisket chili doesn't taste smoky, but the meat is tender and the chili flavorful. The charcuterie was good, and we loved the apple chutney. The space is open and airy. It's a very family friendly place with the bar and bourbon tasting room toward the back.

Stopped here for a break and lunch while passing through Indiana. The Farmhouse Restaurant menu…read moresaid they offer a "quick & casual lunch" and well, they weren't lying about the casual part... We ordered two lunches, both the 1/2 grilled cheese and soup. One with tomato soup and the other with chili. We also ordered the *special* $5 egg salad sandwich. The grilled cheese came out as some cheese microwaved between a soft burger bun. Really disappointing and crappy. The chili and soup were okay. The egg salad sandwich was very basic and lacking flavor, served on classic white bread. It was also a weird dining setup, it felt like we were eating in a giant and deserted beer hall. Total transparency: we both expected more from one of the nation's largest dairy farms. We also thought the food would be a little cleaner, like a farm-to-table experience and less processed, but it tasted like food we could get at a gas station. My husband was disappointed with the ice cream selection at the milk bar, he was hoping for more of a variety other than the basic strawberry, chocolate, vanilla, etc. We also needed to get DEF for our truck from the Fair Oaks BP and my husband called it "highway robbery" for the cost we paid. He said it was 2 or 3 times what he normally pays. In summary, a total tourist trap with crappy lunch food. I also didn't know about their animal abuse case from 2019 until after we left. And the allegations about neglect and improper slaughter in 2023. Gross and sad.

Rick's Pizza

4.6

(16 reviews)

Amazing, one-of-a-kind pizza! Always made fresh, hand tossed dough, what's not to love?read more

Rick's Pizza is a great place. Rick's one if s kind. You can enjoy watching crust throwing in the…read moreair while shaping each crust to the order. Take home and eat to your hearts delight. Umnmm good!!

Dixie Delite

3.6

(13 reviews)

Happened on this gem. Wanted Italian Beef and Drive thru service. Highly recommend and we may even…read moremake a special trip just for this restaurant some day.

Tasty food! Service doesn't take to long reminds you of being a kid again with the decor.read more

Downtown Lounge And Trattoria

5.0

(4 reviews)

The food was amazing and so was the staff. The atmosphere is awesome like stepping back in time.read more

Stopped in here tonight for a drink and were pleasantly surprised. The owner was so friendly and…read morewelcoming. We really weren't that hungry, but because it smelled so good, we tried the empanadas and their 2 different soups (mushroom and cheese tortellini). Empanadas were delicious and soup was just as good. We can't wait to go back with an appetite for dinner!

Blue's Cafe

4.4

(108 reviews)

Food, service are both excellent with a hometown vibe. Waitresses are very cheerful and always…read morecordial.

It seems these new restaurants should should take a lesson from this old school diner. Because they…read morehave everything right from the atmosphere, service to the food the saying goes if it's not broke don't fix it. Walking in you feel you stepped back in time greeted with a smile and the words have a seat wherever you want. The hours are limited to closing at 2pm so Breakfast is served all day. They are well known in the Breaded Pork Tenderloin world so I had to check it out and I will tell you for $8.99 and a cup of soup it didn't disappoint crisp tender and full of flavor

Stefari West Avenue

4.5

(88 reviews)