Mel's Diner — Restaurant in Nebraska

MELS was our go-to for a relaxed lunch/supper for my husband, myself, and adult kids. We've overlooked the dirty walls & sagging booths bcz the tabletops were always cleaned. We've overlooked the grimey menus. We've even overlooked the old, dirty bathroom. All because the waitstaff had always been friendly, the prices were fair, and the ambiance was relaxed. Today, I was alone for a late lunch. The food was fine; the service was good. However, when I rcvd the bill, I was overcharged $1. I nicely asked the waitress to correct it, showing her the menu price difference. She smiled and left to take care of it. Then, an unidentified angry woman came over to my table and informed me that a sign was posted on the inside front door that I had been expected to read, informing customers there was an extra 50cent charge for each egg. Unfortunately, reading any of all the posted signage on the door while holding my phone & car keys in one hand, my cane in the other, and trying to pull the door open, was not possible. I calmly explained that I had ordered what was printed on the menu. The angry woman said it didn't matter; their doorsign was posted and I'd have to pay the extra amount anyway. So, I said ok, that I would just take the $1 from the tip, and the mgmt could compensate the waitress the extra if they wanted. The angry woman said, "Then don't come back," and stormed away with the bill in hand. Next, a stringy-haired boy brought the bill back to the table and said I'd better pay it or they were going to call the police. Paying the bill was never the issue - what had the angry woman said to cause him to say this to me? All for a $1 overcharge? I asked a familiar waitress to take my $20 to the register to pay the bill for me bcz by then I WAS upset. I left the 20% tip and collected myself to leave. Then, I thought, how hard is it to just add a sticker to the menus? So, on the way, I went to the register, anyway, and tried to give this suggestion to the older gentleman standing there. The angry woman took that opportunity to falsely accuse me of yelling&screaming. Meanwhile, the older gentleman looked very confused bcz he recognized me as a good, repeat customer (if I HAD been yelling, he would not have been confused). The stringy-haired boy told me to "get out bcz I was hurting business" and "losing them profits." Unfortunately, they are doing that on their own. So, ok. Our $200/month will now go elsewhere. Sorry, my sweet waitresses, but your 30% tipper is now gone, as well. All for $1 of misadvertising? Not really - for not respecting me as a decent customer or even as a human being. You don't treat people like this -- especially in the service industry. I left feeling as if I'd just encountered a pack of wild...

This was a decent pick for breakfast; the turkey, tomato, bacon, and cheese omelette was okay. It was a little too heavy on the tomato (and had the taste diluted significantly as a result) and needed more flavour (especially the hollandaise sauce; it had a blank, empty taste to it), and the biscuits and gravy were fantastic. The place was clean and everyone was friendly.

It’d be nice to be able to order just biscuits and gravy with eggs and sausage. The Mel’s potatoes weren’t very good at all; some were undercooked, some overcooked, and they all had no flavour. The portions were good for the price, I just wish everything had been made with more seasoning; the potatoes especially could have really benefited from being equally cooked, with onions and garlic salt at the least; they probably would have been fantastic with onions, garlic, seasoned salt, and fried in bacon grease. As it is, a lot of the food is lacking seasoning in the same way Aunt Gladys starts cooking after her doctor tells her that she has to urgently reduce the fats in her diet and cut out sodium completely; it’s not bad, but it’s only okay and a lot of flavour is lacking.

I’ll go back if I’m in the mood for a reasonably okay breakfast served quickly with no frills, or a decent biscuits and gravy (their biscuits are very good), but I’ll probably order something different and steer away from the Mel’s potatoes entirely. I’d definitely choose this restaurant over the nearby Penny’s Diner a million times over. It’s a safe place to bring guests, because other than the flavourless potatoes, nothing is overtly bad, it’s just nothing to...

My entire experience was atrocious. The waiter I was assigned was entirely inattentive to my needs while dining. I tried unsuccessfully to get the management's attention and to ask for another waiter. I even asked other waiters if they would tell the management that I would like a new server. I was ignored again. By this time, I was finished with my meal and ready to pay my check. The manager then came to me with a giant plate of food that is not mine, and asked "this is yours, correct?" I shrugged and said "sure, I guess", and I shrugged. The manager then realizing the error asked why I hadn't said it was not mine to begin with, and I replied, in exasperation, "because you aren't paying attention". Then it gets weird. The manager begins accusing me of cursing with the restaurant staff. When I ask her to tell me what it is I said (I had not used any obscenity), she (more than five times) could not come up with a valid response. I then asked for the manager's/owners phone number so I could make a direct complaint, but was refused any contact information. At this point I have been ready to pay and leave for a while, but the first waitress at hand was nowhere to be found. Upon my disputing her accusations of swearing and yelling (I had not raised my voice) she then leaned into my face and told me I was not allowed to be in the restaurant anymore. I was insulted to say the least. I have paid for countless meals at this establishment, and it is a shame such atrocious management is in charge of the...