The Original Mels Diner — Restaurant in Reno

For starters, being a former food service mgmt worker that served fried foods and more... the fryer oil must've been really dirty because we ordered the 4 pc fried chicken or it must've been previously cooked and sat in the warmer or sitting in basket hangning on the fryer and then redipped in the oil to warm it up chicken came really dark tasted a little burned. By no means it was freshly cooked. Also ordered the Rib eye steak med well, it came well done absolutely no slight pink at all with no taste of seasoning The other dish was fine. Did I mention that all 3 dishes came out at the sametime? ! Not complaining but if that doesn't make you wonder.... The warm cornbread was great, except given cold hard butter and cold honey.

1 of us in our party was still eating, our server stopped at our table asking if he needed a to go box while still eating. as well as offered to see if we were interested in ordering dessert. We said possibly shake(s), said she'd come back. Well she sure did but with no menu in hand nor asked a 2nd time about dessert. But instead she sat our check on the table.

Not sure if they were really busy prior to us visiting the restaurant or not. But a few workers looked a little rough and like they didn't want to be there. 1 walked by our table wearing a black hoodie with the hood on her head. If I was a secret shopper, definitely would've had a low score. Last Mel's i went to was @ the old Sands, food and service was great! Definitely won't be driving out to boomtown from S. Reno again. For the price, wasn't worth it.

Of the 3 dishes, 1 1/2 was fully satisfied. We gave the food in the to go container to a homeless person to eat.

Not worth the $80 w/tip spent.

Thanks, Former food service...

IF YOU WANT TO DINE AT MEL INSIDE BOOMTOWN CASINO, READ THIS, NOT RECOMMENDED. JUST THE WHOLE ATMOSPHERE INSIDE MEL CONJURES AN ILL FEELING OF SEPARATIONAN AND PREJUDICE!!! ALMOST LIKE YOU ARE NOT WELCOME. You are not their priority! I just have the worst experience today. I don't like to write bad reviews for any business but this experience is something I just have to get it out there. We walked into Mel, waited by the cash register to be seated. A customer lady and her child walk in after us, the cashier proceeded to ask the lady behind us what did she wanted, of course she is here to pick up her Doordash order, then the cashier proceeded to help her instead. We waited patiently for our turn since we were the first person in line....well well another customer finished dining and walked up, the cashier proceeded to help that customer too....THE CASHIER DID NOT EVEN SAY "I will be with you shortly" or any acknowledgement that we were even standing there. This is when I said excuse me, why are you not helping us and we have been standing in line for a while now?? This is what the cashier said "THEY HAVE PRIORITY!!"" With this being said to me and not even acknowledging that I am there just threw me off guard. I did not understand why would the other customer be a priority and we are not. I demanded to speak to a manager. PATRICK was the manager and all he said was sorry for what had happened. I walked out not dining there, it's the way they made me feel. We will never look at Mel the...

Mels Diner got the bid, since Best Western took over Boomtown. Food is good, not great and the prices are fair, not excellent. The food is standard, as the chain of Mels Diners are more for ombience, rather than taste. You can have their juke Box play music from your table, for the standard 50 cents, or buy a shirt with a classic car-for $20.00 on your way out. The experience is honestly a step down from the former owners taste, price and experience. Boomtown itself has taken a step down, as the rooms are now more expensive, and 60% percent of the slot machines have now been removed and changed, as the focus was more for walking-room (comfort). The only updated area that was a step in a positive direction is the kids area (Kid's Zone). You can get to the Kids Zone through Mels Diner, but that was closed off by a rope when I looked. There are now two seperate areas for birthday parties/get -together (functions) that are very well done. The kids area has been updated with a virtual reality ride, bowling area, and updated arcade games from Sega Sammy, Nintendo, Sony, Microsoft, IGF, and Williams. There is now more room to walk around between video games (Best Western). The stage coach and miniture golf area is the same, as is the...