Mel's Diner — Restaurant in Kitchener

I feel terrible about this..the server was outstanding..so kind..genuine and went above and beyond what was necessary..she had a beautiful personality and was very warm and welcoming..The decor and cleanliness were very good and on point, channelling the great '50's & 60's diner like we see on t.v. for that era. I had the Hot Turkey dinner with mashed and gravy and cranberry on the side..the food was hot but the taste of the mashed was pure garlic. As well, the bread and meat did not have sufficient gravy although well.fixed when my server and another server brought is 2 diff types of gravy. Neither had enough flavour. The veggies had a heavy cream au-gratin and we're sparsely​ cooked. When asked how everything was, I initially said it was delicious..I then felt bad because my friends meal was also unsatisfactory. So, I politely explained to our server quietly .we didn't expect garlic mashed potatoes..or cheese sauce and she agreed the gravy should cover the hot sandwich..none of this was her doing and she understood how bad I felt..I just appreciate getting what I'm paying for and knowing what it is..if it's mashed with sour cream, garlic, etc. I should know..same as fries having a thick.coating of flour. Our server offered a dessert on the house and expressed she too felt bad about our food. I truly hope whoever is cooking this food, considers this review and realizes..the beef gravy needs to be beefier..the turkey gravy lacks flavour too. The food coming out, needs to be tasted regularly from whomever is making it.. Sadly, the server is working in a place where she won't receive the proper credit for her end..because the food was not good. Sadly, we will not...

I dropped my review score after I realized they switched to halal. This is Canada. I understand you want to increase the amount of people eating here... but beef that was obtained using methods that are "halal" is just awful. Sometimes they "stun" the animal, sometimes they do not before they slit their throat. Your beef being halal also means the beef must be obtained from islamic sources. This means someone who is not a practicing muslim cannot provide the beef unless they hire someone who is willing to slit the animals throat that is muslim. That's discrimination. I'd rather my beef be slaughtered using humane methods that offer equal rights for the employer to higher whomever they like regardless of race or religion. But no, you only buying halal means "we will only buy meat that was slaughtered from a person of this particular religion". I can understand halal being an OPTION, but not THE option. There should be 2 options. Modern and Halal.

Excluding people based upon their religion to sell a couple burgers? Come on....

I do enjoy the food mostly. Its nothing special. Its just always what you expect which I have appreciated. The waitresses are fine too. They always treat you well. No complaints over the last decade. Just please modernize your source of beef and I will increase my...

We used to eat at Mel's (Kitchener) very regularly and enjoyed it no matter what meal we were ordering. During COVID, we supported them through picking up take-out orders. With their new reduced hours and changes in our own schedules, it hasn't been easy to get in but we finally went in for lunch today. Our server, Brianne, was lovely. Friendly, attentive, professional, kind. I ordered a BLT with the bacon extra, extra crispy "Tell them to burn it." I even said to our server. My husband ordered his old favourite at Mel's, The Elvis Burger. We both had coffee; his was hot, mine lukewarm and kind of bitter. Our food portions were very good. The bacon on the BLT was disappointing; far from crispy and I left some of the most limp pieces on the side of my plate. Half of the sandwich had just one very thick slice of tomato which I set to the side as it was all coarse, white core and not juicy red tomato. I left half of my hash browns, too; not hot and lacking flavour. My husband enjoyed his burger and it was hot but he said it lacked the flavour and that unknown "something" from Mel's of the past. Our server made the dining experience very good, with her warmth and great service. The...