Mel's Drive-In diner opens this morning

Mel's Drive-In diner in the landmark Parasol building in Seal Beach, pictured here, opens Wednesday after months of delays and three years after it was slated for demolition FILE PHOTO: THE REGISTER Wednesday, ... via The Orange County Register

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[Andy]

We gave Mel's Diner a try this evening and I can say that this was by far, the worst meal (quality and service) I and my family have ever had. I ordered the ribs, big mistake, my wife ordered spring roll chicken and was brought out what looked like broiled chicken breast. When we told our waitress about the mistake, her response was "well we ran out of spring roll chicken". I couldn't belive it. She sent it back for a turkey sandwich that was as plain as a sheet of paper with an after taste of something. My son ordered a french dip and found about a sixteenth of inch of meat on it. My father in law ordered the fish and chips and it was so overdone he could hardly choke it down.
Save yourself some money and aggravation and stay away from Mel's Diner.
I even tried to post a comment on their website but they don't even have that available. I guess they don't want to stay that busy answering all of the complaints.

[Richard]

Unfortunately, I have to agree with Andy's comments. We were very excited about Mel's opening in the area and waited for a few weeks after opening to let things calm down...well, we are very disappointed. Everything that could have gone wrong, did.
As the waitress put it, "We're going down. If we are still open in a month, or maybe two, try us then."

[Charlie and Janet]

Like so many other folks we couldn’t wait for the “Opening” of Mel’s Diner. We went for breakfast. Beside over eager help running into each other with less then poor service. The food was terrible. My husband had waffles, the worst he has ever had and he even likes frozen waffles at home.
May I be one of many to say “Goodbye” to an expensive remolding job which failed due to really really bad food. We all go to a restaurant for GOOD FOOD.

[Wembly]

Just had a horrible dining (or not dining) experience at Mel's in Seal Beach. Went in with a large group, 13 in all. When we asked for a large table they waitresses and busboys appeared put out and were reluctant to add enough tables. At first teh chaiurs were literally touching eah other clustered around the too-small tables. We insisted they add two moretable and we barely had enough roomn to sit.
Then the waitress took our orders, but after 15 minutes a guy brought three drinks. The other 10 drinks never arrived. We asked for the missing drinks two separate times with no response.
After waiting 40 minutes from the time we were seated, I stood adn walked over to the cash register where a man who appeared to be the manager was standing. I asked if he could have someone look into our drinks. He sent a confused looking busboy over, who went and got the waitress.
When the waitress finally arrived and we asked for our drinks that had been ordered over a half hour prior, she said "I'll go take care of my other tables and then I'll come back". Incredible. I couldn't believe what I was hearing.
Since I had only given myself one-hour to eat and had an appintment scheduled, I had not even received my drink, much less the food, and I only had 15 minutes of my hour left, I cancelled my order.
On the way out, I informed the "manager" that I had cancelled my order and to be sure to remove it from the bill, he shrugged and said "okay". Not even a "I'm sorry" or "here, take a voucher and come back and eat on us next time" or "give us another chance".
I left and when I returned to my work, I was upset. I wanted to call and let the Manager know I was upset and to ensure the bill was removed from my fellow diner's check (they still had not received their food after over ONE-HOUR of waiting). The perwson who answered the phone actually had the nerve to tell me, after I politely told her I was a dissatisfied customer, "we're real busy, please call back in one hour".

Mel's food service and customer interaction by it's personnel is extremely poor. I will never eat there again and will ensure my friend know of the horrible service and poor performance by Mel's employees.

My advice: AVOID Mel's Drive In located in Seal Beach. They do not deserve to be in business with the substandard attitudes, slow performance, dismissive employees and incompetent manager.

[Larry Elkhart]

Mel's is absolutely the worst place to dine in North Orange County. The food is substandard. The service lacking and the manager is a moron. These people couldn't properly prepare and serve a boiled egg.

Stay away from Hel's (oop's, I mean Mel's).

[Seal Bch Mels]

Ate at the Mel's in Seal Beach 2 weekends ago.
Food was poor, service was not good either.
Won't go again.

[Robert E]

To Quote an old TV comedy classic that really fits my opinion of Mel's Diner:
"What a revoltin' development this is"

To replace a warm, friendly historically rich local landmark like the Parasol with an overpriced, miserable food venue with snippy attitude and flavorless,uncreative menu choices is an insult to those of us who make Seal Beach our home town. This place should be closed and reopened by a company that cares about its customers and gives quality and good value for reasonable prices. Mel's fails on ALL accounts.

[Dena M Buena Park]

I was so excited to try this place out. I love the whole retro theme. We (my husband, 7 year old and myself) went on Friday, 3/14 for dinner. We were seated promtly and our drink order was taken. Then our food order was taken. 45 min later our food had yet to arrive. We asked our server she said that it was because my husband order a hamburger well done. Other families were seated well after we were and their food was out in less the 15 min. I am sad to say that we will not be going back. The server was nice, but that doesn't cut it. The mgr never came to our table to check on us even after we asked for him. And yes after all of that we still had to pay for our food. They however did comp our drinks. Rather big of them! Don't you think?

[sherry]

i ate mels diner the food wwas terriable

[Angie]

Mels was ok... Kids eat free... the food takes forever to come. My friend ordered rotissarie chicken and it was more like microwave chicken.. My other friend ordered a salad with Vinegrette but they brought ranch.. the whole order was suppose to be 2 checks and they gave my kids their own seperate bill.. What a mess up.. But the manager did come and apologize... the shakes were great and the chocolate cake was mmmm good... my kids food was alright considering it was free... I give it 2 stars... =0) Not worth the drive...

[Lise]

Ok, everyone has hit the nail on the head. They took down Parasol's to open this dump. We went in with 2 kids and charged us for them (until we told them to take them off) and charged my husband for a corona he didnt get (they ran out) they also ran out of his second choice, so he took a Bud. We told the cashier to change it to the BUd price and didnt. It was a waste. The hambuger was so plain and the cheese they put on my fries was cheese sauce! YUCK!! The kids HOT DOg was big though. Oh, and even though it says Free Soft Drink, the waiter never told us it was extra for milk or lemonade with our kids meal.
I get it 1 Star! Poor service and poor food.

[george]

i think all you guys need to go back to this place and try it again...i can say that they have dramtically improved in their service and food preparation since the first couple months...the last time i went there the burger was so juicy and delicious