Mel's The Original

I don't typically do reviews, but I saw several negative reviews on this place so thought I'd share my good experiences. I go here somewhat frequently with coworkers for lunch . . . service is good, atmosphere is good, food is what I expect of diner food. For old school diner food and atmosphere this is the best place in Berkeley.

Tips: - don't visit on a weekday during lunch: all the Berkeley High School kids wander in, causing noise pollution and slow service - remember that this is a diner-- the food should be cheap(ish) and greasy!! Pros: - corned beef hash (tender, greasy beef + crispy potatoes) - good prices (I always get a lot of meat in my hash) - friendly servers - there is always seating available - breakfast is served all day (who else here likes breakfast for dinner!?) Cons: - I can feel my blood vessels clogging up from all the grease. So worth it, though. Bottom line: Decent diner food. I'll be back.

Ordered the Hot Turkey Sandwich over sourdough. Couldn't even finish half of it. Absolutely horrible. First and foremost it isn't even anything close to real turkey! It's some processed crap. Then, to top it off, it's totally flavorless. I can't say we'll never return, since we love dining at small, local places, but you can rest assured that I will never, EVER have the hot roasted turkey sandwich again. In fact, I'll even tell others to steer clear of it.