Mel's Diner — Restaurant in Port Orange

2 stars only because the food was actually really good. However service here is horrible at best. Went in and sat ourselves as that is how they work. Waited 10 minutes before someone finally acknowledged that we were there and asked us if we wanted drinks. Another 15 minutes after that someone else came over and took our order. About 15 minutes after that i nkticed our food was up in the window under the heat lamp. It sat there for 10 kinutes before it was brought to the table. However before they brought it to us they brought the food to the table behind us. The waitress dropped the toast on the floor for that tabke and then went to the window and took the toast for our order and gace it to that table. When our food was brought out with out the toast we were told it would be right out. Order was also missing the bacon. We got the bacon in about 3 min. The toast however we had to ask for 2 more tines and did not get it until after we were done eating everything. Did not get offered drink refils until the end of the meal (we had coffee and soda). Waited almost another 15 minutes before they finally brought the check after we asked 3 different people for it. We watched 2 tables get up and walk out because they were just sitting there waiting to be acknowledged for more then 15 minutes. As i said the food is actually really good but the service is completely slow and actually quite pathetic. It is almost like they just dont care about the customer at all. Hopefully management reads this and does something to correct this because with wait staff that actually acted likebthey cared about the customer and were attentive to the tabkes they would be worthy for 5 stars. But for now either order ahead to go or just done go at all. You will be highly disappointed with...

Posting here for all customers, to be aware that they will charge you a second drink charge if you ask for more than 3 refills (small water cups, not the traditional red restaurant sized cups). " you are only allowed 3 drinks and 1 to go per person". Or at least that's what we were told. Maybe reconsider stopping in if you're thirsty?!

What makes this frustrating, is:

We did not see this posted ANYWHERE, and when I told/asked the waitress, she could not tell me where it was posted. Just her saying something about it being cheaper....cheaper for who, you, the restaurant?

Our waitress did not INFORM us when we asked for these drinks. Only waiting until we asked why a ticket that another waitress gave us (because she saw us sitting for a while and asked if we needed our bill) was charged differently than the bill our waitress gave us

We sat with empty cups both my husband and I for some time, and were thirsty. So we had hoped to make up for that. Taking 1 to-go and drinking the other down while we were there. I asked for a water myself, and didn't even get that.

We have frequented this diner every year while we're in town for events, including yesterday, and have never left as frustrated as we did today, which made for a terrible experience. We like support small business, but to not inform your customers of "policies" that arent posted or that you are made aware of, until you question the bill is borderline unethical. Not to mention we 3 other tables that came in after us, got their food and left before us. So all in all, it was not a good experience and we will be taking our business elsewhere when we visit...

I've been to this restaurant many times and I felt the need to give this review. First and foremost THE FOOD WAS FANTASTIC!!! The service... Terrible Our waitress seemed very distracted. I don't know names but she had short curly hair. She didn't bring my mom's toast or the requested side of mayonnaise. She never refilled my mom's coffee and she NEVER came to check on us. Another waitress, with green hair, she stopped by our table because we were looking around trying to get our waitresses attention. She brought the toast, the mayonnaise and then about 5 minutes later, she noticed that my mom's coffee needed a refill. I know it's normal practice for wait staff to assist others but our waitress (short curly hair) spent more time chit chatting with other tables than taking care of all of her tables. With this being said she got only $2 which I wanted to give to the green haired waitress but she wasn't around when we left. I will return but I may request another server if the same server is...