I wanted pancakes today... to absorb the overindulgence of cocktails the night before. (Oy!) I reviewed yelp to find something close that maybe we hadn't tried, and I found Mely's with the amazing rating of 4.3 stars. We've lived in Hercules for over 30 years and are creatures of habit, so it was nice to venture the 10-minute drive to San Pablo. We were not impressed by the exterior strip mall building, but the interior of Mely's is very cute, homey, and clean. (I even peeked into the kitchen since the door was open.) I wanted pancakes, but got waffles instead since W ordered the blueberry buttermilk stack. We both had a side of eggs, his scrambled and mine sunny side up. The eggs were delish; mine in particular was perfectly cooked with slightly crunchy edges, a beautiful, silky, runny yolk, and no uncooked whites. The blueberry pancakes are so good! Of course they are huge and I ate some of them in addition to my waffle. We could have split just the pancakes and been perfectly happy. They cook berries inside the homemade batter and top them with a house-made blueberry compote. Maple syrup and soft butter on the side. The waffles are crispy outside with a light, airy, center, dusted with powdered sugar and cinnamon. I had strawberries on the side (+$5 !!). Since I ate some of W's pancakes, we took half the waffles home. W had a drip coffee--no decalf available so I had the fresh-squeezed OJ. It was a large glass so I took half of that home, too. The coffee was nothing to rave about, but it was coffee. Service was friendly and efficient--there is only one cook and one server, and it seems several of us arrived at the same time on this Sunday morning. Overall a wonderful find that we will return to so we can explore more dishes. We saw omelets and Benedict's come out that looked amazing! Plus, I want to try the dinner menu, which also looked pretty amazing. read more

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Who would of thought in this small plaza there was this hidden gem. I frequent this area at times around 6ish am to get Starbrrad for my co-workers. When maps directed me to here, I was shocked. Stepped in there was 1 party so I said great its not busy. As we took a seat, I kept hearing the online ordering beeps while the nice young man was there checking them. Alan came around and handed us menus and since my little one is into chicken or country fried steak, its the first thing I asked him when he greeted us. Ordered the food and observed hes the only o ne cleaning tables, greeting, processing the online orders and waiting. Hes truly a star and is great at what he does. Food is fresh and delicious. Did not disappoint. Kudos to Alan read more

Mely's Cafe - American & Italian - This was the bomb. - Italian Near Me - San Pablo, California

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Awesome experience every time! I've quickly added this spot as a "FAV" location. Easy to miss if you blink but Mely's does it right! I've already had these few dishes off of the menu and they're all excellent. Be sure to check them out , this a can't miss if your a lover of great food & nice experience! read more

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Hole in the wall brunch spot located across from Lytton Casino. Their egg bennies took me a bit by surprise. I was low-key expecting something mediocre but they did an excellent job! Both poached eggs had good runny yolk. Bit unfortunate they ran out of crab but their smoked salmon was pretty good. Seems like they use good ingredients and cook with care here. Parking situation: small parking plaza with street parking available too Restroom situation: it's in the Mexican restaurant next door all the way down the hall to the right. read more

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We've been hearing great things about Mely's for a while now so we decided to try it for lunch after doing some shopping in nearby Pinole. The menu was extensive, including some delicious breakfast options, but the shrimp/crab melt, which came in a buttery croissant, caught my eye immediately. I ordered that and asked for onion rings instead of fries. Unfortunately, they ran out of onion rings but our awesome server offered fried zucchini or mozzarella sticks instead. I went with the zucchini. My wife ordered the ham frittata. Our server was attentive, friendly and super engaging too! The food was amazing as the melt was overflowing with so much shrimp & crap in yummy gooey cheese. My wife loved her frittata too as they weren't shy with the toppings, including the ham! We'll definitely be going back. There are so many breakfast options, like the variety of eggs benedicts, that sound delicious! Plus their Italian-themed dinner menu sounds pretty darn tasty as well! This is a great local spot! read more

Mely's Cafe - American & Italian - Shrimp and Crab melt with Fried Zucchini (6 Pcs.) - Italian Near Me - San Pablo, California

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This place is nothing fancy (very casual ) but service is good and food is ok. We came here for breakfast. Not too many places do hash browns right and this place did great. It was crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. They also run the Mexican restaurant next door so my husband was able to order a burrito too. read more

I must confess. I've been here a handful of times and I keep forgetting to post my review. I have ordered a variety of items such as the Fettuccine Alfredo and Steak Sandwich. Both are good but what keeps me coming back is the Oscar Chicken. It is so delicious, from the Cajun Sauce that the Chicken is smothered in to the Real Crab Chunks packed in between the Chicken is just perfection Besides the Oscar Chicken, everytime I have placed an online order the food has always been ready. The staff is also very welcome and friendly. The restaurant itself is clean too. read more

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They charge extra for any dish made with eggs because of the egg shortage. Is there still a shortage? Basically, every dish is surcharged because everything is made with eggs? Lol The place is nice and tucked away in a small strip. The prices are not surprising with the rest of the market. I ordered the Benedict which was cooked nicely, but lacked flavor. It needed some spice or more salt, something. Nice service, nice interior, but not a place I'd visit frequently. read more

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Mely's often shows up when I'm browsing DoorDash for breakfast. Finally decided to give it a try. I ordered the French toast which turned out soggy and tasted like scrambled eggs. No amount of powdered sugar could salvage it. A very underwhelming experience. read more

Went for a late breakfast, food was great as well as the staff. Coffee on point. Ambience was great. Ordered basic breakfast entree which didn't disappoint. Small but very nice with great music. read more

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I love this place!! Food is so good! Ingredients taste fresh, food is well seasoned and the prices are decent! The staff is super friendly! Mely is always so welcoming and treats everyone like family. Mimosas are top tier! Breakfast is 10/10 but the hospitality is a 100! Absolutely recommend if you're in the area! read more

small little cafe with a big flavorful menu. Many items to choose from and I have not yet found anything that I didnt like . small family business and they treat you as such . highly reccomended read more

We were driving through on on way to SF and took a chance on Mely 's Cafe. Service was top notch and our food was delicious!! read more

Mely's Cafe - American & Italian - Mely's Special: scrambled eggs, smoked salmon, avocado. - Italian Near Me - San Pablo, California

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We were ecstatic to find a breakfast place open on Christmas. This place does it right. All the ingredients were fresh and every item was cooked with care. Even the coffee refill that is usually very subpar was smooth and delicious. If you're looking for spot that delivers solid breakfast staples, I'd highly recommend this place. read more

First time eating at restaurant and will be definitely going back! Delicious, flavorful food and great customer service. Ordered grilled salmon salad and my husband had a whole wheat shrimp quesadilla. Everything was fresh and good side portions. Breakfast menu looks amazing as we will be back for more! I definitely will be telling my friends and family to try it out. read more

Food was pretty good. Service was good as well. We came in for Father's Day. My kids loved the food and stuffed themselves. No bad experience at all. A great place to look for good food. read more

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The welcoming gracious owner was amazing. Made us feel as special guests. A1 service. I ordered the shrimp crab croissant melt. It was perfection. Served with a green mixed salad, tomatoes, mushrooms & Italian vinegarette dressing. Beverage choice was iced tea. I'd certainly return soon, to try other dishes read more

Mely's Cafe - American & Italian - Crab & Shrimp Croissant Melt - Italian Near Me - San Pablo, California

The mozzarella sticks was crunchy and not greasy. The fettuccine pesto with the added vegetables was just right. Good quantity. Nice cozy café and great service! read more

This restaurant is so cute. It's in a little strip mall, but when you go in, they decorated it, Trendy and modern. You forget you're in a strip mall . Add great customer service. I ordered a mimosa and huevos rancheros. I already forgot the flavor of the mimosa, but it wasn't your typical orange juice mimosa, it was delicious and so were the huevos rancheros. In fact, I tried everyone else's meal and felt mine was the best choice. read more

Mely's Cafe - American & Italian - Italian Near Me - San Pablo, California

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First time here. The food was good. Never knew there were breakfast place here. There was one server and he was pleasant and nice. Off-course it's San Pablo so ambiance outside was not so nice but inside was pleasant. read more

Will definitely come back again! service; Nice foods; Nice ambiance; everything just out of expectation from that area. Me and my family came with low hope during the thanksgiving holiday, but everything just so great! Service was very very good; Food-wise, the coffee isn't those rough coffee from other restaurants, this here is very smooth and perfect, the foods are absolutely delicious; The restaurant is small but the inside looks so Italy. Most importantly, the prices are reasonable from today's economic impact. read more

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TLDR: Small (but not crowded) restaurant with great customer service and food! Highly recommended :) We came during lunch hour and there were no other customers surprisingly. We were seated immediately and the food came out quickly. The mozzarella sticks were a little small but tasty. Their pasta is much more flavorful compared to other Italian restaurants nearby. We spent a decent amount of time but didn't feel rushed at all. They checked up on us frequently and were extremely attentive: they literally rushed to their feet when they noticed we finished. Would definitely come back again to try out other dishes! read more

My daughter was celebrating her 13th birthday and she requested Italian food, so we returned to Mely's Cafe after having previously visited some time ago. Mely's Cafe also supports local schools like my daughter's bilingual school, so that's an added reason to give them business. I noticed that the interior has been enhanced with new furniture and decor, giving the place a charming and cozy atmosphere. We all ordered pasta dishes, which are outstanding here. They made everything fresh. We had the Seafood Fettucine, Lobster Ravioli, Fusilli Salsiccia, and Tortellini. The chef/owner took our ordesr and I was very impressed that he recognized me and my review from a year ago! We all enjoyed our orders and was very delighted when the service staff surprised us with a gratis plate of delicious flan with fresh strawberries on top, and a lighted birthday candle! The staff sang the happy birthday song, which made my daughter very happy. We ordered additional Profiteroles for dessert. All the staff at Mely's were warm and gracious. The other customers also wished my daughter a happy birthday and had a brief conservation. We had such a great birthday dinner there. read more

San Pablo's best kept secret but not any more...Get to this place asap! Wow! The food is so freaking flavorful and delicious! They have so much to offer a foodie. Exceptional service! Extremely fresh fresh fresh! This is my new go to spot! Bring your appetite and get ready for an amazing meal! Very nice ambiance they play jazz! Not only do they know the way to my stomach but they know the way to my ears too! read more

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We are in from NY and tried this small place. We didn't have high expectations, but were hungry after a long flight. I ordered the salmon and was quite pleased. The salmon was really tasty, the rice and veggies on the side were good as well. We found out from our very personable waiter, Chris, that this was a family owned business (along with the Mexican restaurant next door). We will be back next time we are in the neighborhood! read more

This is my first time rating our Awesome Sunday Breakfast Spot. We order via DoorDash from Melys just about EVERY Sunday. One of my personal favorites is the Ham Frittata. It is fresh, delicious and a large portion size. read more

Mely's Cafe - American & Italian - This is the Han Frittata(minus tomatoes) with Home Fries and a Side of Bacon. - Italian Near Me - San Pablo, California

Their tilapia almondine and the fettuccine gamberetti e vongole dishes are exquisite. You can't find anything else like them in this area! Daniel and his son Alan are very friendly to our family and always so accommodating to our special food instructions. read more

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Mely's Cafe We were looking for a brunch place in San Pablo and we stumbled upon Mely's Cafe. We pulled up on a Saturday morning and thought, "we've been here before". Mely's is in the spot that Blue Bay Thai Cuisine used to occupy. We ate brunch here and were very happy with most of the dishes. They told us to come back some other time at night since they switch over to Italian fare. Recommended: Benedicts are one of my favorite breakfast foods and they make great ones here. Perfectly poached eggs, interesting pairings, and we'll seasoned. I gave the edge to Crab over Smoked Salmon, but both were delicious. Croque Madame - a ham and cheese sandwich with french toast as bread and two runny over easy eggs on top. Heavy, but satisfying. Sides were all great - super crispy hash browns, crispy and seasoned home fries, fresh fruit Fresh squeezed orange juice Things that were alright: Nutella pancakes - fluffy buttermilk pancakes with Nutella spread on top. Better in theory than in practice. I think regular, fruit, or the pecan ones would have been a better choice for us. Croissant french toast - we liked the flavor, but didn't think the croissant added much - it's not flaky or really anything like a croissant in texture. Overall: What a great find! The restaurant is on the small side, but we were easily able to fit our party of 8 there (we got there when it opened). If you want tasty food and a small twist on brunch, really recommend Mely's. read more

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"...George likes his chicken spicy!" - George Costanza, Seinfeld Da Scene: yep, it's known more as a casual breakfast/brunch spot and they do an excellent job of that. From 9 different Benedict's, to 8 kinds of Frittatas, pancakes, Crepes, and omelettes... AND great hashbrowns. This visit we came to try their Italian fare and was pleasantly surprised. Da Grub: Wine, water and 2 slices of soft, toasted sweet baguette landed quickly. Wanting to try pasta and mains, we split an order of Gnocchi w/ a creamy Mushroom sauce as a 1st course. EXCELLENT!! Normally Gnocchi is very lightly sauced, this was generously so & garnished with roasted mushrooms... scarpetta with the bread!! I went with the Chicken Ocsar which was spicy as advertised, stuffed with plenty of crab... might be better w/ thigh vs breast, but tasty in any case. My wife went with the Tilapia Almondine and I had a bit of plate envy after we exchanged tastes... both came with a veggie rice pilaf and a simple medley of broccoli, carrots, etc. Da Service: Friendly and checked in enough... I was surprised we weren't offered dessert and coffee, just the check... maybe they were out? Waitress might've been newish. It's a hidden jewel in a non-descript strip mall, parking can be tight. Wine selection is small, but the price is right. Looking for casual Osteria-type meal, this is the spot! read more

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Looking for a quick breakfast we found some delicious options at this local Italian restaurant. It's located in a small strip mall, and right next to a well know burrito shop. It was a cute and welcoming dining area with ample options on the menu. We had a frittata and eggs with hash browns for a quick in and out meal. The wait staff was friendly and helpful and we had our meal quickly. I loved the frittata which was cooked like an open faced omelette, which made all the ingredients stand out. read more

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Oh my gawd!! Thee best chicken fried steak, and country potatoes I ever had in my life!! Kiss the chef!! read more

Torts with added veggies and salmon were Great, Very Good sauce, fair price, good service. I will come back. :-) Torts were a bit too al dente, but this is easily corrected on next experience. :-) Glad to find a reasonable Italian place close, rare since Pasta Pom went away. read more

We were looking for a different Breakfast place and found this one. Boy we were pleasantly pleased. The place is small, Cozy place. Service is excellent. It is Italian and American Food, a Cafe: My wife had a Croissant-French Toast! A first for her, I had a La Frittata, both excellent. We will both be back read more

Mely's Cafe - American & Italian - Croissant French toast - Italian Near Me - San Pablo, California

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Pretty, pretty good. Cozy storefront in a strip mall, friendly service, solid breakfast fare. What I liked most about Mely's was the chill vibe of the place, even on a Saturday or Sunday morning - one cannot discount ambience for a weekend breakfast. Many places are too hectic to sustain a relaxed feel, and it's noteworthy that Mely's is fighting the good fight in this regard. read more

First of all, the owner was so nice and accommodating! It makes all the difference. Three of us, so we had a Benedict, a frittata and an omelet. Everyone was happy with their choice. The fruit looked extra good, wish I had ordered that. The potatoes were a little over cooked for me but the service made up for it. The coffee was strong. Went next door to the Mexican restaurant to ask about their menu, they were super nice too! I'm sorry I waited so long to try their food. In such a crazy, mean world it's nice to have a friendly and nice place to go! Recommend!!! read more

Wow, totally impressed with their tasty breakfast options. Maybe it's because I've been sick for a week and finally had an appetite, but I really enjoyed my eggs with country fried steak. I started eating it and then realized I hadn't snapped a photo. Portion size was great, a little too much for me but reasonable and filling. The open-faced frittatas and tartines looked yummy, so I will have to try that next time. The flavor of everything was spot on, service was fast and courteous. I typically don't come in this direction to eat but this place is a gem, tucked away with super casual and homey vibes. read more

Mely's Cafe - American & Italian - Eggs and country fried steak - Italian Near Me - San Pablo, California

First time visit for brunch. Excellent food for a reasonable price, with good service. Alan is a very nice young man. The atmosphere is definitely casual/diner, but for a great breakfast, I would highly recommend! read more

Mely's Cafe - American & Italian - Irish Benedict (corned beef hash) on the bottom, Croque Madame on top.. both very good! - Italian Near Me - San Pablo, California

Relaxed atmosphere, Wonderful food and Warm Owners, Daniel and Mely will definitely bring us back! read more

Mely's Cafe - American & Italian - Veggie Fritatta and Asada Fritatta! Crisp veggies seasoned with basil, oregano, thyme and rosemary. - Italian Near Me - San Pablo, California

Overall it's a good spot, good food, great servers. French toast was lacking a tad of sweetness or taste. I had to pour the syrup it came with to enjoy it. The god part is that it did not have that eggy taste. But I'll take it more than the breakfast they serve at the neighboring casino. The pancake size is generous. It's been a while I've had pancakes this big AND thick. Loved that aspect. Oh, and they are not stingy with fruits. Don't be deceived as you won't see the fries from the top park of the cake, rather the fruits were at the bottom of it. The bacon it came with is over thin and cooked for my preference - to describe that, I could no longer taste the difference between the fat and meat. read more

Mely's Cafe - American & Italian - French toast. - Italian Near Me - San Pablo, California

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Mely's Café is brunch heaven, and I might just be a willing addict. From the first bite of their frittatas (fluffy, flavorful, and unforgettable) to the last sip of what might be the best mimosa I've ever had, Mely's delivers comfort food with serious charm. But the real magic? Mely herself. She's the radiant soul of the café: warm, welcoming, and the kind of joyful energy that wraps around you like a favorite song. Her presence turns a good meal into a memorable experience, full of laughter, light, and maybe a second mimosa. The food is consistently delicious, the service always on point, and the entire space just feels like home. If you're craving a hometown meal that feeds more than your stomach, stop by Mely's. You'll thank me later. Promise! read more