Mel's Butcher Box — Restaurant in Tenafly

In great anticipation I anxiously waited to taste the burger from Mel's Butcher Box. I heard from a family member that it was amazing! Twenty minutes after opening they already had a full house for the lunch crowd. A very good sign! We looked over the menu and decided on the Mel's double and the ribeye cheese steak. Doreen helped us with our order and gave us a buzzer to alert us when our food was ready. The owner was buzzing around interacting with patrons and taking selfies. The interior was pleasing to the eye and very clean. But due to the crowd we decided to eat curbside. After we found a table outside which was very sticky by the way, but was sanitized by the wipes that you need gloves to handle. The buzzer alerted me at the food was ready approximately 15 to 20 minutes after ordering. I went inside to retrieve our lunch and I must say the arrangement look pleasing to the eyes. My first bite it was a whole lot of flavor mixed in with a hint of cheese and onions but very very dry. I prefer my burgers medium well and very juicy, this burger was neither. The bread was too much and the cheesesteak was identical to the Burger. The chips that comes with each sandwich (so you do not need to order fries) is an excellent touch and I enjoyed them more than the fries. This will not be my last time here, I will try to order to my preference and see what the results will be. The milkshake was good it tasted just like vanilla ice cream with whipped cream on it which is very pleasing for me. I would definitely recommend that you experience this place for yourself. Note I'm assuming the burgers are all well done unless you order otherwise so keep that in mind. They come with chips on the side, enough of which you don't need to order fries. After driving over an hour from Dutchess County New York and spending over $65 I am inclined to give this place three stars because of all the efforts I went through and disappointments I experienced. However I do see the potential and the experience was wonderful and I shall return. Till...

EAT AT MEL'S BUTCHER BOX NOW... YOU WILL THANK ME!

If you’re looking for the PERFECT place to host a private event—or just want the BEST burger, milkshake, and onion rings of your life—go to Mel’s Butcher Block in Tenafly. Full stop.

We recently celebrated my son’s graduation here, and I can’t say enough about how amazing the experience was. Mel and her sister, Gina, went above and beyond to make it unforgettable. We rented the entire place for a Friday night party with 20–25 food-loving guests, and every single one of them was raving and highly impressed – and these are foodies, (from - NYC, Brooklyn, the Bronx, Queens, Long Island, Greenwich, Philly, Chicago, Maine, Vermont, Miami, Guatemala, Romania, Israel and Egypt); all BLOWN AWAY.

The food? Absolutely off the charts. Perfectly cooked hamburgers, cheesesteaks, chicken sandwiches Creamy, fresh Caesar salad and mac & cheese To-die-for onion rings Killer fries and even potato skins that were a surprise hit And the star: a jaw-dropping Tomahawk steak with my son’s name and “Class of 2025” etched into the bone—an unforgettable touch Do not leave without a milkshake – they are off the charts

Beyond the food, Mel is simply the best. She was responsive, creative, thoughtful, and a joy to work with. She helped plan the menu, presentation, and even set up music and decorations. She made my son feel like a star, and that meant the world to us. My nieces and nephews loved the vintage pinball machines, and the whole space had the perfect energy—cozy but vibrant. Gina was outstanding too – constantly making sure everyone felt welcome, well taken care of, and was having a great time. She brought such a warmth fee and energy, ensuring every guest loved the food and felt special.

You can tell Mel loves what she does. She’s passionate, professional, warm, and deeply committed to making people happy through incredible food and a great experience. This place is a gem—whether you’re planning an event or just stopping in for lunch, Mel’s Butcher...

We had an extremely disappointing experience at this establishment. My family stopped in for a quick meal before my daughter’s dance class nearby. My husband placed an order for three burgers, one of which needed to be gluten-free. Unaware that the standard burger included cheese, we were surprised when they arrived that way. As my daughter and I cannot eat cheese, we couldn’t eat our meals. While the owner acknowledged the misunderstanding, she insisted my husband pay for an additional burger for my daughter. Furthermore, we were charged an extra $1 for two pickle slices and another $2 for a single slice of tomato and a lettuce leaf.

Pressed for time, I decided to forgo my own meal, and since we had already paid for the cheeseburgers, we asked them to pack those for takeout. Unfortunately, in our rush to leave for my daughter’s class, we accidentally left the bag of cheeseburgers on the table.

After the class, we returned to retrieve the forgotten bag, only to be told it had been thrown away. While the cashier apologized and offered to have the kitchen remake the burgers, the owner intervened, instructing her not to. Without making proper eye contact, the owner dismissively stated, "We threw them," refusing to take any responsibility. When I questioned why the bag hadn’t been set aside for retrieval, the owner offered no reasonable explanation, simply remarking, "People leave bags all the time."

The lack of customer service and accountability was appalling. To make matters worse, the restaurant was nearly empty, and after this experience, it is easy to understand why. It goes without saying that we will not be returning to this restaurant, despite it being our third visit. The service was terrible, the food was mediocre, and the overall experience was a major...