Every time we go to LA we seem to end up at Mel's - and every time we end up at Mel's we ask ourselves - why ????
Love the decor - always snap a few pictures - it a classic - but the service is the bottom of the barrel - and the food is just one step above - its as though they are out to dissuade you from coming back - nothing turns me off more than french fries that are "significantly" less than anything -
We stop because its near where we are staying - and it looks like we can grab a couple of ice teas and maybe a light sandwich - pre late supper - it never ends up being that - we spend way too much time - repeatedly asking the servers for our order - when the restaurant is empty -
Maybe its a sign of LA - maybe its a tourist rip off - but the next time its suggested - I'm going to put the pedal to the metal - and keep driving -
Ahh Mel's... I live in LA and end going there quite a bit (my kids love it). Yes the late night food is sub-par, and the decor is hack kitsch but the breakfast is actually not half bad.
There are actually a few Mel's Diner's, it's a chain. The one that I believe you are speaking of, is on Sunset Blvd. Now what is intriguing about the one in that location is that it was originally a fantastic 60s hipster diner called 'Ben Franks'... so it holds a soft spot in my heart.
There's a lyric in an old Tom Waits song that goes '...eating dangerous Veal Paramagiana at Ben Franks'
Ben Franks closed in 1995... I miss it, so I can still feel the ghosts when I got mel's which somehow makes it worth it.
Posted by: Josh Mutchnick | October 08, 2009 at 09:25 PM