Mel's

I was able to quickly grab a drink here before my comedy show and I wish I had more time to soak in the beauty of this place. Dimly lit, spacious and perfect for a date night. Mel's is a newly opened speakeasy tucked away on Commission Row. Our server understood the assignment and knew we had to be in and out, she delivered drinks, our oysters and the bill and still left us enough time for a photo shoot- Courtesy of the super friendly hostess who knew all the angles. Drinks are pricier than other Indy spots we visited, but still worth it. Also- hands down best oysters I've had in the city. We will absolutely prioritize returning and giving ourselves enough time to experience another round of drinks and try the other appetizers.

I made a reservation here to try out the Devour menu for three people at 6:30. I didn't realize that there was also a Pacers game the same night, but no biggie!! We arrived at 6:25 and the hostess directed us to a lounge table where there were big comfy chairs and an extra large coffee table, basically. She told us we could sit here or we could sit at a table that was a little bit more traditional but the size of the table wouldn't fit more than two plates. We asked if we could get a normal table because we were having a full meal. She said once everyone from the Pacers game cleared out we could grab one. I was a little upset about this because we made a reservation and you know the whole point of a reservation is to have priority over walk ins.... But whatever we got drinks, hung out, and we finally sat at a regular table around 7:15 on our own accord. No one asked if we wanted to move or directed us to a table, so we just got up and moved our stuff. Our salads arrived and we received our main course almost immediately after. Our waitress didn't check up on us until we were done and only then did she ask if we wanted a second round of drinks. We would have gotten some, but maybe 20 minutes prior with our meals not when they were being packaged in to-go containers. She offered to bring over the checks before we even got dessert but we agreed anyway. She said that they were gonna bring out the dessert in just a "few minutes." Fast forward 15 minutes later and we still have not gotten dessert. We grabbed the man filling up our waters and told him that we were still waiting on our macaroons. He grabbed them immediately and they were at our table in two minutes. I don't know if the Pacers game stresses people out (which is totally fair) but once everybody cleared out, there were maybe four or five tables occupied. The food is genuinely delicious so it's a bummer to have a service experience like this. The timing is off and the waitress could have been a little more attentive. I always give a little bit of grace because I know that the service industry can be crazy, but everyone that got seated after us had their meals and paid before we even got our dessert.

This is a great spot to stop in before or after Gainbridge events as it is next to it. We stopped in after a Pacers game, not sure if it would be busy or not, but we were seated with no issues. The front desk was extremely nice and helpful and even talked with us for a couple of minutes as we were leaving, super friendly. The ambience is a speakeasy vibe with great chairs, hidden spaces and low lighting. There was a wonderful acoustic guitar that night, Sunday evening. He was able to make an impromptu song for us after overhearing a comment we had made, it was wonderful.The upstairs menu is not available downstairs, which they are sure to tell you. We did ask before coming downstairs and it was not a problem as we were looking for drinks and small bites.We wanted a wedge salad, but no salads were available on the menu downstairs. We did ask, and they were able to accomodate a wedge salad for us, which was very nice but I would not expect it all the time. The place was slower that Sunday evening and we were just excited they were able to help.We had oysters, wedge salad, and a smash burger between our group. Drinks and meals were delivered in a good time, but both had small errors that we did not bring up, so not bothered by them. (Just stating to see if there are concerns with other diners in the future and to check your items.)Everything was very good including the Old Fashion and their specialty drink with with two types of bourbon (one being Rye) and I cannot remember the name. It was not sweet and not too tart, nice mix if you regularly like and drink Old Fashions.PRO:AmbienceEasy to findFood was greatDrinks were wonderfulGreat vibeGreat musicCON:Small menu for downstairs, it is not a full menuJust verify orders, waiting to see if it was a one off or not, trying again!

Mel's is my go to speakeasy. Great vibes and music. Food is good! I recommend the steak frites or smash burger. A chipmunk stole my car for the drink. Thank me later!

They do not accommodate! RUDE we had money to spend they would not accept a big group.

Mel's Speakeasy is too good to be true! Tucked downstairs in Commission Row, this place has its own phone number. I went with a group of girls on a weeknight, and let me tell you, my expectations were high and Mel's did not disappoint!Let's get into the details - Mel's is a hot girls' dream! The place is draped in dark velvet, and the mood lighting is a solid 10/10. They did not miss a single detail, and honestly, even the women's restroom had its own flair. It's clear they thought through every aspect of the experience.We went for drinks and appetizers, and we ordered a little bit of everything. From oysters to fries with garlic aioli, to salt & vinegar pork rinds and waffle chips, to charred broccolini, everything we tried was delicious. The cocktails were great, and the wine selection was really good too. The food is small plate style, which made it easy to try a variety of items.Whether you're looking for a fun girls night out, a date night, or even just a low key evening by yourself, Mel's Speakeasy is the perfect spot. This place checks all the boxes. Highly recommend!

My friend and I stopped inside Mel's prior to the Janet Jackson concert. Mel's is a speakeasy located inside Commission Row. After you go down the steps, you will be greeted with a door. Inside you will find a beautiful dimly lit space. We didn't have reservations and were able to be seated immediately. There are private spaces you can sit in as well as tables and a bar. The bartenders were very friendly and greeted me upon arrival to my seat. I was also excited to hear someone singing live music! I ordered an expresso martini and it was delicious! I also ordered the salt and vinegar pork rinds and waffle chips served with french onion dip. The pork rinds were somewhat disappointing due to it not have the salt and vinegar taste. They simply taste like plain pork rinds. The chips were decent and the dip was a little too sweet for my liking. I will definitely return and try other items on the menu!

This is my favorite spot to have cocktails. My friends generally make the plans and I just show up but I request Mel's now. Everything here is on point every time. Love the whole vibe. Totally recommend, can't lose coming here.

Great ambiance! A flagship Cunningham property...amazing interior design.The smash burger was tasty and reasonably priced on the menu (and came with a generous side of fries). The hamachi crudo was flavorful...although quite a small appetizer portion. The beef tartare had a wonderful amount of shaved truffles and was the highlight of the evening...highly recommend this delightful flavor combo!

I was not impressed with the menu. We weren't told that we could order from the upstairs menu, too, until we asked a second time. By then, it was too late.The wait staff was very kind, but frazzled because the restaurant was slammed right when we arrived.We had to wait an incredibly long time for our food to arrive, but our smash burgers were delicious. The burger was priced well, but everything else seemed to be priced exorbitantly high. I was dumbfounded at the price of the cauliflower steak, $27!