Mel's Diner

As a Gen-Xer, I grew up watching the TV show Alice with my parents. The funny thing is, I've lived in Arizona for almost 17 years and it never dawned on me that Mel's Diner was in Phoenix until I saw a random new clipping about it. Of course, I had to check it out.I went there late morning to avoid the early morning breakfast rush. A wave of nostalgia washed over me as I pulled into the parking lot and saw the Mel's Diner sign. I knew they closed at 2 pm, so I figured that 11 am would be plenty of time. They were moderately busy when I got there, but there was still plenty of seating. I was greeted immediately and asked if I'd like a table. I opted to sit at the counter since it was just me.If you're expecting to see waitresses in uniforms like the TV show, you'll be disappointed. I didn't expect this since this isn't a commercialized tourist attraction where the staff dresses up. Other than the menus, I didn't see any other memorabilia. I like that the charm of this diner isn't tainted in that regard.I ordered the Reuben sandwich with fries simply because I've been craving a Reuben for a while. I was tempted to order one of the burgers. My order came with a cup of soup. Chicken Noodle and Hamburger Macaroni were the choices. I'm anti-chicken noodle soup due to childhood trauma, so my choice was easy. :) The soup was flavorful and delicious.My sandwich arrived shortly after finishing my soup. The sandwich was piping hot and the grilled Rye bread was crispy and not soggy! The sandwich was awesome. I will admit that I would have liked it a little more if it had some Thousand Island dressing on it. The fries had very little salt on them, which was fine with me. I thought that they were good. They weren't the battered trash that a lot of places serve these days.The service here was fantastic. The waitresses were very attentive and my iced tea never went empty. You can tell that they enjoy working with each other as the playful humor among coworkers was present.I've read other reviews that cite that the TV show was filmed here. That is incorrect. The exterior shots were used for the show. The show itself was filmed in studios in California.If you like the nostalgia and feel of old diners, this is a place to check out. It's tie to TV history as well as the good food that makes Mel's Diner worth checking out. I do plan on returning so I can try their burgers, jumbo shrimp, omelets, chicken fried steak, and pancakes. Hahaha!

Well, as a Gen Xer who grew up with the show, Alice and being married TO an Alice we HAD to stop here for lunch!!! LOLAs much as it was a nostalgic stop for us, it was also a great stop for lunch, food-wise! I ordered a bacon cheeseburger with fries and Alice ordered the gyro sandwich with fries. Both were outstanding! The burger was huge, almost a half pound, so it is very shareable. The fries were good and in my favorite style but I wouldn't describe them as great. I'd probably try one of the other sides, if we went again. They also give you a cup of soup with your meal! I tried the charro bean, which was super tasty! Alice wanted the vegetable, but unfortunately we were there very early for lunch and it wasn't ready (she didn't want the bean soup!) ;-)Alice really enjoyed the gyro but had the same opinion of the fries. As usual, my final focus is on the service which was outstanding! We were served by a a super pleasant lady (Marianna). She was not only super nice but her skills as a waitress were top notch. Just the right amount of attention to make sure my coffee and our waters were never empty. My only disappointment was the waitresses were not wearing the classic pink uniforms with the crazy large handkerchiefs on the lapel! LOL

I stopped by this retro 1960s diner 2 days ago and enjoyed the experience. Since the Barbie phenomenon is happening, I brought along my Curvy Barbie "Andra". I opted for breakfast before going to the nearby county fair. I ordered a combo of scrambled eggs, a stack of 2 pancakes, hash browns, and orange juice to dine in and take home a doggie bag (of course- can't eat all that generous portion in one sitting ;))I'm always letting establishments take the time to prepare and cook food, which is appreciated for both professionals and consumers. Eggs and hash browns were cooked solid, pancakes were thick and tasted like sea salt was added to help reduce the common blandness of flour. Juice was orange-y. Overall a delicious meal.Exterior and lot gave off nostalgia of the bygone days. Being situated at Grand Ave added to that appeal. Interior appeared intentionally unchanged that I felt like I entered a 1970s Alice TV set. There were actually a cook and 3 waitresses. Cook was accompanying. Waitresses were nice but a bit behind on attention since they were busy cleaning here and there. Floor was a bit sticky. Table and rest room were clean. Price was reasonable for quality and portion.I had been curious about this iconic Phoenix staple and had to sample the experience. I'm glad I did and may return in the future with an out- of-town friend who's also a fan of this fantastic TV series.BTW, just so you know, Alice was never filmed at the diner- only at a Hollywood studio lot. The cast never visited- just sent autographs. Only that iconic (and unchanged) SIGNAGE during the theme was filmed. (Alice Hyatt singing "There's a new girl in town...")

I wish they were open later because most days I get off at 2PM and they're closed. Food just as good as you think it is. Been coming here for years. Great little breakfast diner although they do serve lunch items too.

Very fast service and good was great. Kinda of cool old school atmosphere and there are a few pictures from the filling of Alice.

Mel's Diner has been on my bucket list for years and it was even better than I had imagined. The food is so good and freshly crafted. I had their special Banana Belgian waffle. It was so light and fluffy and covered with freshly cut bananas. It came with sausage and eggs that were perfectly made. My husband had their eggs, sausage links and home fries with their fresh salsa. He loved his meal as well. We just can't say enough about how great the food tasted. All of the employees were very kind and friendly. They took their time to walk us through their menu choices. We could tell that everyone LOVED being a part of Mel's Diner. We even had the chance to meet the owner. Guests were asking if they could call him Mel, and he got the biggest kick out of that. He loves sharing with guests this famous landmark. It was so fun to see the original sign outside from the show Alice in person. The inside is very open with lots of booths and counter seats. There are great photos of the cast from Alice framed all over the walls. It was truly a fun and yummy experience that we highly recommend making a trip to Mel's Diner. We can't wait to go back again soon!

In town for business and was looking for a place for some breakfast that was not a chain.Boy, oh boy, did I find it. I thought a diner would be nice. I never put the name and history together this is until I sat down.Basic American flavor food. This history made the atmosphere cool and Nostalgique.The ladies were great as a team and I had my food in under five minutes.I suggest stopping by when you are in the area for a bit of American tv history.

Saw this place on TV for years. Drove by it for many years as I worked in the area. Just never went in to eat. A couple of months ago a friend and I stopped in for lunch.It was good enough for us to make a second trip. The place is larger inside than it looks from outside. This place has been here for many years and its shows on the outside and inside. Not dirty, worn. Red checkered curtains in the windows. The waiters all wear tee shirts that says Mel's Dinner. Both times we have been there the place has a lot of people eating. I suspect many are regulars. Only thing I can comment on is the burgers. Both times mine have been very good. Thick and juicy. For the price they are a good deal. Hamburger and fries was more that I should eat at a sitting. Many other options on the menu. Probably why many people in the area eat there. Some families and some people that worked in the area. I will definitely be back. To me it is worth the trip from Peoria. Hey, It's just down Grand.

Gravy needs seasoning but biscuits are good. I'm glad I didn't order toast as they starch plates on top of toast. Nasty!

Food was what you would expect from a diner. Eggs, pancakes, and waffles were good. The biscuits and gravy were underwhelming. I would not get this again. Place is small and loud when place is packed, like in a Saturday when we went. Waitress was very good.