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    The Original Mels

    3.9 (249 reviews)
    Open • 6:00 am - 9:00 pm

    Order The Original Mels Takeout or Delivery

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    THE ORIGINAL MELS ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Outdoor seating
    Good for groups

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    Large bucket of fresh water for my dog was brought over. Really kind. Good shade with large umbrellas for most seats.
    Gisele X.

    I still love this Mel's. The patio is great for dogs to take their owners to breakfast (or lunch). The busser brought out a nice large bucket of fresh water for my dog. I'm glad my dog was gracious and drank some water while he was there. My server, Joey, she was wonderful. My weekday steak and eggs were perfect. I think the price went up a small amount, total $14 before tip. That's ok. It's a good meal and excellent service. They do tap to pay, "NFC" with Google Pay (fka Android Pay) or Apple Pay. And you can add the tip after they run the card, just like your phone was the card. .

    Inside
    Loredo L.

    I came here craving corned beef hash and eggs. I've been to other Mel's diners and this one seemed newer but with the same theme and decor. The service was very friendly. The corned beef hash was possibly different than what I remembered but still tasted great. I look forward to coming back and getting pancakes.

    Front
    John F.

    I was feeling nostalgic for Mel's and how it used to be when I tried it as a kid. Nowadays, it didn't taste as fresh as I remembered. Maybe everything just tasted better when we were kids? Although the food was so-so, the service was pleasant and quick! I would come back just for the great service. I ordered the chicken fried steak with eggs over easy and hash browns, which came with a side of buttered toast of your choice. The ambiance of the restaurant takes you back, with that old school diner vibe that feels familiar and comforting. Overall service was great with ok food.

    Theodore W.

    We have visited several different Mels Diner locations over the years from Lombard Street in San Francisco to Roseville Douglas Blvd to Rocklin Lonetree. The Folsom location is BY FAR the BEST quality food, the CLEANEST, and the BEST customer service.

    Toast
    Monisha M.

    Mel has the your basic diner vibes. The food was okay and the customer service was good. They do have great milkshakes and fries .

    Philly cheese
    John D.

    Can't go wrong with a Philly cheese from Mel's. Super cheesy sandwich. Good service open late is a plus for a late night mission

    Side salad

    Just left Mel's diner with a happy & full belly! From the moment we walked in everyone was friendly! My friend and I were very impressed how clean the place was! I ordered the Philadelphia Cheese steak and will say it was one of the best I've had in California! My friend ordered the French dip and enjoyed that too! My only complaint was I had no room for a hot fudge sundae! Looking forward to returning!

    Mels Original Cheese Steak Sandwich
    Myla A.

    All the employees were all very friendly, with excellent service. The food came out fast and fresh. The sampler I had was delicious, crunchy, light, delicious, and not heavy nor greasy. My wife had the cheese steak she liked it but it definitely needed cheese sauce. We are definitely coming back to try other food items. Inside was inviting, clean, so many things to look at.

    Milk Shake or Malt
    Kayla S.

    Mel's Diner always delivers! I ordered DoorDash and my order arrived in under 30 minutes. The Mel burger was cooked perfectly (slightly pink), with a soft, buttery bun and fresh produce. The Mel fries had the right balance of softness and crunch, still hot from the fryer. The banana milkshake was delicious and generously filled. Highly impressed with the quality and portion sizes!

    Kids meal (burger & fries)
    Mel J.

    Our family visited here around 10am on Sunday. The restaurant was starting to get crowded but we managed to get a table. We had to wait for awhile for a waitress to put our order but the food came out relatively fast (around 15 mins). - kids meal - burger with fries and oreo: my kid liked it and finished all the burger and fries. I tried a bite of the burger and it tasted good. The fries were crispy and well seasoned. - chorizo skillet: the portion was smaller than I expected. The flavor was on point but I wish they put more chorizos. The hash brown was tasty & crispy. The sunny side up eggs were cooked perfectly. We had good experience and good food. We would come back to try different menu. Tips: do come early for breakfast as there was a line when we left the restaurant around 11am.

    Fried chicken dinner with mashed potatoes, veggies, cornbread and salad.

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    3 months ago

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    7 days ago

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    3 months ago

    I love the old time vibes here. Food is okay but the shakes and malts are yummy. The service is always great. They're fast and friendly.

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    11 months ago

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    7 months ago

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    3 months ago

    The best place ever service was very kind And help full the food was amazing like super good

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    7 months ago

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    8 months ago

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    10 months ago

    I have become a regular customer. The staff are very nice. accommodating. I don't eat rice or potatoes and I get a salad instead.

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    3 years ago

    Food is always consistently good. Always hot fries always crisp! The staff is so welcoming and friendly!

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    Page 1 of 7

    The Original Mels Reviews in Other Languages

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    Mario’s Early Toast - Combo platter- Maui French toast

    Mario’s Early Toast

    4.2(343 reviews)
    2.1 mi
    •$$

    A Great Breakfast Stop After a Hike in Auburn! We came here…read morefor breakfast during the week after a hike in Auburn. We had just finished the Lake Clementine/Dam hike and were very hungry afterward, so we headed into town and ended up at Mario's. First of all, Mario's is a very pretty space. I loved the black-and-white aesthetic and the simple but thoughtful décor. There's bar seating, booths, and tables both inside and outside. Parking is plentiful, so that's definitely not an issue. I started with a regular latte, while my cousin ordered a chai latte. My latte was beautiful and served in a very original, deep, low cup that I absolutely loved. It was delicious and just perfect. Unfortunately, the chai latte wasn't really to our liking. It didn't taste much like chai to us--it had a strong cinnamon flavor and a combination of flavors that made it difficult to tell exactly what we were drinking. So, the chai was definitely not our favorite. For breakfast, I ordered what I would call their breakfast sampler, with eggs, bacon, and hash browns, which also came with a portion of French toast. My cousin ordered their Monte Cristo sandwich. My eggs and hash browns were amazing, and there was plenty of bacon! I chose all bacon, and it was thick-cut, smoky, and cooked to perfection. The plates here are HUGE, and the portions are definitely abundant. My cousin's Monte Cristo was their lighter take on the classic. Instead of being deep-fried, their version is dipped in batter and cooked, which makes it a little less heavy. It looked beautiful and had plenty of ingredients inside, but for us, it was just okay. We've definitely had better Monte Cristo sandwiches. Now, the French toast... WOW. This was easily my favorite part of the meal. The bread had this delicious cinnamon-sugar coating on top that took it to another level. Add the soft, fluffy butter and maple syrup, and it was absolutely superb. That French toast alone would bring me back! I also appreciated the nice, cold ice water that was kept at our table throughout the meal. Service was super nice and pretty quick, especially considering how busy they were. I also loved how many options they give you to customize your meal. I could choose between different types of bacon, sausage, or turkey, and my cousin was able to customize her sandwich and ended up choosing cottage cheese to go with a healthier, higher-protein option. They also have sweet potato fries, regular fries, and plenty of other sides that you can substitute depending on what you're looking for. The ambiance was great, everything was clean and well maintained, and even the bathrooms were in good condition. Overall, this was a very good breakfast experience. Not everything was a home run for us, but the service, atmosphere, generous portions, customization options, and especially that French toast made it a place I'd definitely recommend if you're in the area. And after a hike? Even better!

    This is a nice place to hit for brunch. They have typical breakfast items but also some lunch…read moreitems. There's seating & outdoors. I prefer the outdoors on the patio. The only thing is they should have one for bigger parties. We were going to be seated with a chair at the end of the table which would block the walkway. We asked if we can another table and they had to clear one that was for a party of six. Carla, our waitress is nice and our food came out quickly. This is second time I'm here. Other family members have not been here and they enjoyed the food. They all had left overs. We ordered the following for our visit. Steak and eggs Loco Moco Pacific Omelette Lox & Bagel Perfect combo Iced Chai Hot chocolate I was so full from my Lox, but I de used to taste the waffle and it was soo good! Looks hard but it is not at all! I ended eating half of what I was going to pack home!!

    Photos
    Mario’s Early Toast
    Mario’s Early Toast
    Mario’s Early Toast - Avocado toast with eggs over easy.

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    Avocado toast with eggs over easy.

    Chant’el Cafe - 01.16.26 VARENIKI - potato, bacon & sour cream

    Chant’el Cafe

    4.5(303 reviews)
    1.0 mi
    •$$

    Great food, wonderful service, sweet atmosphere. I have been taking my friends there one at a time…read moreand they all have enjoyed it as much as I have.

    Before you come here, make sure your phone is charged because you'll want to take plenty of pics in…read morethe gorgeous rooms in this cafe! I liked my lavender iced latte and like the fact that they serve it in a large mug if you plan to drink it at the cafe, it had that extra, comforting touch that I love when hanging at a coffee shop. The room we sat in had a beautiful cherry tree draped in cherry blossoms as well as a cute neon sign, perfect for pics, as well as comfy chairs, a love seat and a table as well as a large window that brought in plenty of sunlight. There's another room on the left side of the cafe but I didn't have a chance to check it out since we left to get lunch at Belly. According to my friend, the room is gorgeous as well; I'll have to check it out next time I visit. They had a lot of scrumptious-looking dessert but they were a little out of my budget. They're beautiful though, and I'd try one for a special occasion (the coffee bean dessert cost $20). The cashier (owner, I'm guessing?) was welcoming and helpful when I said it was my 1st time there and pointed out a list of specials. I'll have to try the cherry blossom and banana drinks in the future! They have private shared parking with a bunch of other businesses; I found a spot easily on a recent Saturday morning. Thank you!

    Photos
    Chant’el Cafe - Beautiful location and very clean!

    Beautiful location and very clean!

    Chant’el Cafe - Apricot Vegan Pie

    Apricot Vegan Pie

    Chant’el Cafe - Pistachio Latte

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    Pistachio Latte

    Iron Horse Tavern - Fried Pickles & Onions

    Iron Horse Tavern

    3.9(592 reviews)
    3.4 mi
    •$$

    We came in for a casual date night and had a great time! Prime time (6 on a Friday) the wait was…read moreonly about 15-20 minutes with plenty of room at the bar. There was plenty of seating on the shady patio, but it was really hot outside, so we opted to wait for a table inside. We had a drink and watched the NBA finals on the TVs (there was no sound so it wasn't noisy). I tried the Mustang Sally cocktail and it was well balanced and delicious! We were seated for dinner pretty quickly. The only problem I had was deciding what to order. The luau shrimp salad? Meatball sub? I finally decided on the lobster mac and cheese. While the portion wasn't large, it was delicious! Creamy and mild with fresh lobster (not fishy) and garlicy breadcrumbs. My husband got the ribeye and was thin but large with great seasoning and veggies. I'm not a big steak fan but I really liked it. We ended up grabbing some beignets to go for the kids, which were really tasty and came with 3 dipping sauces (our favorite was the Berry, although we ended up eating most of them without sauce). The atmosphere was upscale, but very casual, quiet and fun. We saw families with young children, couples on dates, and friends enjoying a meal together. It was the perfect vibe that we were looking for, comfortable, but classy. And the food was high-quality and tasty. We will definitely be back!

    My wife and I visited yesterday to celebrate our wedding anniversary. Unfortunately, the experience…read moregot off to a disappointing start. Upon entering, the hostess with the brown curly hair was noticeably rude and unwelcoming, which isn't the first impression you'd hope for when celebrating a special occasion. The food, however, was outstanding and was definitely the highlight of the evening. Every dish we ordered was well-prepared and delicious. Service was a mixed experience. While our server was polite, the service was quite slow throughout the meal, despite the restaurant being fairly empty at the time. Overall, the excellent food helped make up for some of the service issues, but the rude greeting and slow service took away from what should have been a memorable anniversary dinner. I hope management addresses these concerns, as the kitchen is clearly doing a great job.

    Photos
    Iron Horse Tavern - Roomy and mysterious looking haha

    Roomy and mysterious looking haha

    Iron Horse Tavern - Beef Shortrib Stroganoff
mushroom and spinach, pappardelle, house gravy,
parmesan cheese

    Beef Shortrib Stroganoff mushroom and spinach, pappardelle, house gravy, parmesan cheese

    Iron Horse Tavern

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    Mimosa House - Breakfast sandwich made with scrambled egg. Super delicious!

    Mimosa House

    3.4(87 reviews)
    1.2 mi
    Locally owned & operated
    Free parking

    If you're looking for slow service and cold food, this is the place for you. We had a terrible…read moreexperience. Our waitress disappeared multiple times and barely checked on us, and the food took so long that we honestly wondered if our order had been forgotten. There were only a handful of other tables in the restaurant around noon on Friday, 7/17, so the lack of service was surprising. By the time our food arrived, it was lukewarm like it had been maybe sitting out I don't know, and our server was nowhere to be found to fix it. Since we had to get back to work, we couldn't wait any longer. Disappointing experience overall--I wouldn't recommend this place.

    Let's talk about Mimosa House!…read more From beginning to end, the experience was wonderful. Ryan, our server, was fantastic. He was friendly, knowledgeable, attentive, and had the perfect personality for the atmosphere. Great service can truly elevate a dining experience, and Ryan did exactly that. The food was delicious. I ordered the fish and chips, and the fish was exceptional. The batter was light, crispy, and perfectly seasoned--honestly, I enjoyed it even more than traditional beer-battered fish. The fish itself was flaky and cooked just right. As for the fries, I'm personally a steak-fry enthusiast, so shoestring fries aren't usually my favorite. It would have been nice to have an option to choose between fry styles, but that's me. I also ordered a chocolate martini, which was absolutely delicious. The owner personally prepared it, and it was rich, smooth, and hit the spot . Between the cute ambiance, excellent service, and tasty food, Mimosa House made for a great dining experience. We'll definitely be back!

    Photos
    Mimosa House - Inside

    Inside

    Mimosa House - Our Skillets

    Our Skillets

    Mimosa House - French Toast

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    French Toast

    Mimi's Cafe

    Mimi's Cafe

    3.3(532 reviews)
    3.1 mi
    •$$

    fantastic brunch place! they have really great French recipes and the decorations are very cute and…read moreFrench, great place to take a date or your mom on mother's day Their staff were super attentive and helpful too. never had to chase anyone down to get anything and their prices are reasonable too!

    It's been so long since I've gone to a Mimi's Cafe. It was a cold, foggy day and I somehow didn't…read moreget enough cheese over the holidays, so I dropped in for a solo lunch. Enjoyed a cup of the French onion soup and the five way grilled cheese sandwich with some freshly brewed iced tea. I'd almost forgotten how charming Mimi's is, both inside and out. It's decorated like a little (big!) French cafe ~ adorable. While they weren't particularly busy, the server apologized for the delay in getting over to my table to take my order. No worries since I wasn't in a hurry. The tea was fresh and tasty and my request for simple syrup was met without a blink of an eye. Unfortunately, it seems my order might have sat around for a while since the sandwich was almost cold by the time it reached me (not exactly what you want with a grilled cheese). But it was still delicious. As was the French onion soup, albeit a touch on the too-salty side for my taste ~ and I really like salt! Overall, I'd give this particular visit 3.5 stars but will round up for good measure and the friendly service.

    Photos
    Mimi's Cafe - Blueberry stuffed inside French toast with eggs over easy

    Blueberry stuffed inside French toast with eggs over easy

    Mimi's Cafe - Homemade corned beef hash

    Homemade corned beef hash

    Mimi's Cafe - Top Sirloin

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    Top Sirloin

    The Original Mels - diners - Updated September 2026

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