Melrose Diner

07/18/2008 Posted by drviemecrzy

OK, I HAVE MOVED FROM SOUTH PHILLY AND COME BACK EVERY SUMMER FOR A MONTH OR TWO. THIS TIME I AM SO DISAPPOINTED!! LAST SUMMER I HAD THE PLEASURE OF MEETING THE NEW OWNER AND MANAGER (WHAT A PLEASURE & MUCH NEEDED CHANGE) THEY WERE BOTH RIGHT THERE TO MAKE SURE EVERYTHING WAS JUST RIGHT! I WENT THE OTHER DAY AND FELT LIKE I WAS IN A TIME WARP, THE OLD (FORMER) RUDE MANAGER WAS THERE, AND STILL WAS LACKIG OF ANY CLUE ABOUT CUSTOMER SERVICE. ALSO THE SERVICE WAS HORRIBLE OUR WAITRESS WAS BARELY ABLE TO TAKE OUR ORDER AND THE FOOD WAS BAD BECAUSE IT WAS COLD (WHEN IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN HOT - OMLETTE, HOME FRIES, TOAST, COFFEE)!! THE WAITRESS SEEMED AS THOUGH WE WERE A BOTHER TO HER, COCKY AND IRRITATED AT HER MISTAKES. TO MAKE THE ALREADY BAD SITUATION WORSE, I HEARD THE "MANAGER FROM HELL" SAY TO OUR WAITRESS & A COUPLE OTHERS "WELL THEY ORDERED THE FOOD AND THEY WILL PAY FOR IT(NOT THAT I EVER INTENDED ON NOT PAYING), DON'T WORRY EVERYONE HAS COMPLAINTS"!! NO WONDER THE PLACE IS WHAT IT IS, NOBODY CARES ABOUT WHAT'S HAPPENING!! THAT'S GOING TO BE THE LAST COMPLAINT AND VISIT FROM ME, AND IT'S SAD. ONE LAST THING I DON'T THINK THAT ASKING FOR A "HOT" BREAKFAST TO BE SERVED "HOT" IS TOO MUCH TO ASK FOR, BUT SADLY AT THE MELROSE IT IS! WHAT AN UNFORTUNATE OUTCOME TO A ONE TIME GREAT PLACE. VERY SAD. MY SUGGESTION, JUST CLOSE THE DOORS.

07/07/2008 Posted by doowats

I remember when the Melrose was a failsafe - good, consistent food and service. Since the ownership change things have done a complete 180-degree turn for the worse. The past three times I've been there for breakfast I've had to wait at least 30 minutes for my cold food to be delivered, and at varying stages (toast came first, bacon 10 minutes later, etc.). Sadly, I'll not be going back - see you at the Oregon Diner.

05/07/2008 Posted by jdaulter65

I'm 35 years old, no longer live in South Philly and still stop by every once and a while... Not sure what everybody is complaining about, food is still good, place is always clean and prices are reasonable by todays standards. Seems to me that people just don't like a change in ownership, things change people... get used to it.

Pros: Bakery is delicious and service is great.

Cons: Sharing tables is a bit weird, but hey it's been that way for years.

05/06/2008 Posted by roxxibrat

I went to Melrose today to surprise my Grandfather who before we moved him out of Philly was there 7 mornings a week for his oatmeal and coffee and at least 3 nights a week for dinner. I myself went atleast twice a week when I lived in the city. Since I moved I have popped in from time to time and it was ok at best since the new ownership. Well, today was the end of me going to Melrose. I ordered MP1 which if you know Melrose at all is the chicken cutlet. The chicken had a processed solid foamy like texure (my best way to describe it) it was burnt with a medicine like after taste, the center was so overcooked it wasnt even edible or cutable for that matter. My grandfather who always praised the melrose for many reasons refused to eat it past the first bite; thats how bad it was. Then, my salad was brown and wilted. When would melrose ever serve anything that wasnt completely fresh and perfectly cooked? The portions have drastically shrunk and they no longer pack things to go nicely so that your food doesnt fall over and leak all over your car. Which my food did today. they used to use boxes and sturdier plates now they use plastic bags and smaller less sturdy plates. Then, the utensils were so chinsy the mashed potato's practically bent the fork because the fork was so cheap and flimsy. The mashed potato's were the same by the way and the only edible thing on my plate. I ordered coconut custart pie and ended up with coconut cream when I got home. The new staff seemed friendly and it was still clean is the only good thing I could say. A big disappointment to say the least. I would have chalked it up to them having a bad day had I not been a there a few times in the past few months and had bad food then too. In my 30 years of going there until recently I could honestly say i've never had a bad meal. You always knew what you were getting and it was always consistently great. Change is never good when changing perfection. It seems they are cutting corners and it shows.

03/09/2008 Posted by Jerome99RIP

I grew up in Philly and would go to the Melrose at least once a week if not more as a kid. The food there was incredible, the service was friendly, and the place was always spotless. I ate there a few weeks ago on a business trip back to Philly and I was a little disappointed. I had the world famous cream chipped beef with a side of scrapple with coffee. The chipped beef was excellent but the scrapple was not well done and the coffee tasted like dirty dish water. I can deal with lousy coffee but who serves scrapple that isn't well done? I even asked the waitress if she could have the cook toss it back on and she did but it still came back underdone. If you know anything about scrapple, that's not good. They did get the coffee right the second time but I had to practically beg the server for more cream. Plus she didn't refill my water glass either. Annoying. Anyway, the homemade cookies were still amazing (best oatmeal raisin ever) the chipped beef was ridiculously delicious, the coffee was awful then decent and the scrapple wasn't cooked right the first time or the second time. That's why the formerly great Melrose gets three stars out of five.

03/06/2008 Posted by mrpalestra

I wanted to give new ownership a chance hoping that the would have left the daily operations intact, but that wasn't the case. I use to frequent the Diner 3-4 times/wk, but not anymore. I've had too many bad experiences such as undercooked food, wrong items in take out orders or items left out of orders. The menu changes from week to week & if you arrive after 6:00PM for dinner, most of the entries are already sold out(they must make two servings of every entry), not to mention that the portions have decreased, but not the prices.Its sacreligious that they are allowed to use the Melrose name with that quality. It boggles the mind that the new owners would tinker with a Diner that had the formula for success. Theirs an old addage-IF ITAIN'T BROKE,DON'T FIX IT!!!! IT WAS NICE KNOWIN' YOU MELROSE!!

Pros: IT USED TO BE GOOD!!!!

Cons: TERRIBLE FOOD, SMALL PORTIONS

01/14/2008 Posted by antleno

i had stayed away from the melrose for a long time, even though i live only a few blocks from the diner because i couldn't get a cheesesteak until after 3:00 pm along with other reasonable requests. i did begin going again this summer, when the new owners took over and it was a pleasure. now things are back to the way they were, who ever went to eat lunch & was told they couldn't have the basic "philly cheesesteak" at (1:00 pm) lunch?? this wasn't a problem when michele (mgr) and michael (owner) were there -met them & they were more than happy to get us what we wanted without hesitaion- but now it's an impossiblity. too bad because they did need the change. the current, manager (who was the mgr for the previous owner)should really consider what is needed for the customers for a change, like a sandwich at lunch instead of being ignorant and lacking of customer service.

Pros: good food, location

Cons: lacking customer service

09/07/2007 Posted by tinadefeo

I have to admit that the new owners have topped themselves. The chicken soup is always delicious as well as the spaghetti & meatballs (as good as my italian grandmom's). The daily specials are just that "special", and Michael & Michelle are working very hard (day and night) to make sure the customers are satisfied. The bakery items are just as good as always. I can't wait to go back to see what new dinners will be severed next. It's been a much needed change, while keeping the old favorites like the apple pie with vanilla sauce! They have the right idea (taking care of the cusotmers) and hope they keep adding to the already tasty selection. I can now see why these new owners are so successful.

Pros: hot delicious food. large serving. fast service.

Cons: sharing booths, small and may have to wait for a booth/seat.

3 out of 3 people found this review helpful

08/07/2007 Posted by stevesondo

I've lived in S. Philly all of my life & stopped going to the melrose several yrs ago, the management was arrogant (that's putting it nicely). After hearing that the melrose had been sold a couple months ago, a few friends and I decided to give it another chance. I am so glad we did, the food was hot, and delicious. The service was quick, and friendly. The new owner obviously knows how to treat customers, and isn't so arrogant that they'd forget they NEED customers to survive like the previous manager. Another great new feature, is that the new manager is a life long S. Philly resident & was very sweet & accomadating. Congratulations, the new ownership will be seeing alot of me, and friends who'd stayed away for yrs!

Pros: Friendly fast service. Hot & tasty food. Parking lot

Cons: sitting with strangers

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful

06/25/2007 Posted by libby01

Everyone goes to " MELROSE " best price - good service and the best cakes!! Clean, and the 24 hrs. service is what everyone is looking for. ENJOY

Pros: Late night dinning

Cons: truely there's nothing bad about " MELROSE"