Mel's Drive-In — Restaurant in Los Angeles

I've been to SEVERAL mels. This was BY FAR the worst experience. First, the seating was very small, and they only allowed kids with high chairs it the corner tables. Which didn't even fit our party of 6. But we made it work. We had 4 children with us, and they didn't offer us a kids menu. They didn't show any kids options on the menu they gave us. I double-checked the website as they have the menu on there as well, and I have the app also. (Like I said, we go often) I had thought they had a kids menu, just was unsure because I usually dont have the kids with us. But we just figured maybe they dont have it here. The waitress took so long to come to us that we just figured out what to eat. Then they didn't ask if we wanted beverages, just took our food order and left. We didn't think about it when ordering because we were just glad to be ordering the food. We had to ask if we could have something other than the water they gave us. Usually, they ask when they sit you down at the start of your order. The waitress just left. But that was fine too. When we finally got our food.. one of the plates came out with some unknown stuff on the plate. It looked like cheese and something green left over from who knows what. The plate had fries and chicken tenders on it. The waitress couldn't explain what it was and then asked what we wanted her to do about it. After that I just told them to take off the plate and we just wouldn't get it. They said that was fine and we just finished our meal with one person not eating. Then when going to pay, they still charged us for the plate of food that they took back and we never touched. The manager then went to confirm that the item was to be removed and when she came back. Instead of apologizing, the manager said yes, I'll remove that the waitress explained about the ketchup on your plate. We'll take that off. But it WAS NOT ketchup. When we asked what the substance might be, the waitress herself looked at the plate and couldn't figure it out and said she wasn't sure what it was. So I don't know if she told the manager that I just didn't want it because they put ketchup on the plate or what, but it was just bad customer service all around with how everything was handled. I wouldn't recommend going there. Would recommend any other place but there, in fact. Worth taking the time to write this long negative...

I met a friend of mine who lives out of town. We hadn't seen each other in about 5 years and we are talkers. We enjoyed our food and our waitress was very pleasant and made sure our meals were correct. Mine was wrong at first and she offered to take it back. Excellent service up to that point.

We told her that we were catching up and asked if that was an issue. She told us the limit was "typically" 2 hours but she'd let us know if she needed the table. At this point there were about 4 other people in the diner. We were not there at a busy time.

At about 2 hours and 15 min she came over to the table and asked if we needed anything else and we paid our bill, leaving a tip on the card and then my friend was going to leave cash as well for us staying over.

When she brought over to-go boxes over she informed us we were "almost at the 3 hour mark." There were approx 8 people in the diner. They were not even close to busy and had they been, she wouldn't have had to ask us to leave. She said that it's almost been 3 hours. It had been 2 hours and 20 min.

My friend was going to be driving for the next 4 hours and then asked for a Sprite. She said "To go?" He asked if it have to be to go. Her irritation was written all over her face (well, eyes and forehead because she was wearing a mask) and with out saying anything, she went, got the drink in a regular glass, and dropped off the bill. Well left within 5 minutes.

We were stunned by her rudeness, but trying to give her the benefit of the doubt and considered that maybe her manager was pushing her. Regardless of the reason, there were more polite ways to handle it. When we first told her we were going to be chatty, she could have said their policy was firm. We would have gone elsewhere and not been upset. She could have politely said that she was really sorry but she needed the table. We would have questioned that, but we would have left. There was just no reason to be rude. We always tip well and ask ahead of time if our staying longer is OK. We've never had a waitress be so disdainful. It was really strange. We won't be returning despite the...

Disappointed, Bad Service from our server Gabriela. At first we arrived late today and our server was a very nice guy and very accomodating named Chris * such a nice positive person, unfortunately his duty was done .

Our server was changed before we got our food. Anyways we have one order that was not available ( fried chicken) and they said they will substitute ( we did not know the substitute was *Chicken Tenders ) and not happy, how to turned out and ridiculously was charged same price. The biscuit for the other meal was so hard and cold, my kid did not want to complain, he just told me when we left it's disappointing.

Btw our server was gone for the whole time * I asked her for something but seems like she's NOT interested to assist us, while I'm still taking to here she turned her back while I'm still talking * twice and leave, totally ignored . BTW, we are not the type of customer that is VERY NEEDY , as long as we have all the sauces condiments and all,, we're good.

We needed some butter and most condiments * no honey mustard btw . I have to ask the 2 other servers ( which I believe they were annoyed when I asked, they said they will call our server but * Server Never arrived * . We went for early dinner for dessert , but our decision to leave early and get dessert somewhere else. I asked for the bill from the other server because our server never came back, never...Very bad experience with our food and service today 👎👎👎👎👎. No stars if I could .

I have to add, the food was not good * dry and no flavor . We ordered sirloin steak, fried chicken dinner ( which not available and substitute with chicken tender *OMG) and the the one with biscuit and dry vegetarian omelette. And overpriced food . Not worth it at Mel's Diner . Just go somewhereelse, actually after we ate here, we went somewhere else to order banana split and burgers. And it was great decision!

Mel's Diner Sherman Oaks

TASTELESS DRY FOOD OVER PRICED BAD...