Get Lost with Lisa

You may be hard pressed to find a magical time-traveling DeLorean in Southwest Florida. But if you’re really keen on stepping back into the past, then the best option is checking out Mel’s Diner! With several locations in the greater Naples area, you’re going to love the music, the food and most especially the atmosphere!

Being transported back to the 1950s is easier than you might think. And having several options of where you can do it is also easier than one might presume. But let’s step back a little more recently into the past, to see where it all began.

Back to the Past…

Mel’s diner opened in 1987 to many a local’s and tourist’s delight. With five locations in Southwest Florida, the chain is owned and operated by one large family from Albania.

Husband Romey and his wife own and run the Fort Myers, Cape Coral and Bonita Springs location, the latter of which where I found myself one day. Romey’s  brother owns the Naples spot, while his nephews have taken over the East Naples restaurant.

In 1993, while his cousin and uncle were operating the restaurants at the time, Romey managed to work out a partnership deal. Slowly, throughout the years, he managed to buy them out as they grew closer and closer to retirement. 

And where did Romey and his family develop their love for the restaurant industry?

“My grandfather was in the business all his life, with restaurants in Sain Louis and also in Miami.  I grew up listening to his stories and fell in love with the restaurant business. I worked at several different restaurants in Miami – in different positions, from back to front of the house – prior to working for Mel’s Diner,” Romey tells me.

Currently, Romey does not own any other restaurants or chains, however he tells me that if the right opportunity should come along in the future, he will indeed open another location. But I think given how successful and time consuming Mel’s Diner has become, plans for such a large endeavor may be on the “back burner” so to speak for right now.

Gee, the Food’s Swell…

There’s no shortage of food on Mel’s menu. A long mashup of your greatest hits, you won’t go hungry here – no matter what you order! Because not only is the menu large, so are the portions.

Though you may be expecting the food to be mediocre for a diner type of restaurant, you will be pleasantly surprised to find that that is just not true. Yes, some dishes are better than others, but it was hard to find a plate that I didn’t enjoy – and I ordered so many!

Let’s start with their most popular dish, which is the Turkey Dinner.  Fresh roasted turkey daily served with stuffing, mashed potatoes and gravy. Is it Thanksgiving all year round at Mel’s? Maybe. Their BBQ Baby Back Ribs are also at the top of their most popular list, followed by the Black Angus Burgers.

And their specialty dish? All of the above including their Eggs Benedict and Omelets for breakfast.

While I did not have the chance to sample any of their breakfast items, I did however get to try just about everything else I could manage to put away. Which again, was a lot.

Here’s what you don’t want to leave the restaurant without trying:

Their cheeseburgers are an obvious choice. And frankly, they were the best I had the entire time I was in Southwest Florida (I ate like 5 different burgers the whole time I was there – Mel’s were by far the best). The cheeseburgers at Mel’s Diner are the way a good old fashioned burger is supposed to taste. It has that old fashioned grill taste to it, and with all the right condiments and ingredients (whatever they may be) are served up perfectly and to every patron’s delight.

But the best thing by far and away that I had while at Mel’s were their seafood tacos. I know, I know. Seafood? Tacos? At a 50’s diner? Yep. They were out of this world delicious and may have quite possibly been the best thing I ate the entire time I was in SW Florida.  From the flavors of the salsa, to the tenderness and freshness of the shrimp, I scarfed those up without leaving a morsel behind.

Their chocolate malt is also something not to be missed while you’re there. A classic treat, it coupled perfectly with those old fashioned cheeseburgers, and hand cut fries.

But the piece de resistance were their desserts. All three that I tried were heavenly, but their chocolate Brownie Delight was…beyond delicious. The best dessert I had (you guessed it) the entire time I was in Florida. It was absolutely incredible, and I would go back to Mel’s just for their desserts. Whether it was the brownie, the chocolate malt, or their mile high coconut cream pie! Good Lord that was a steep piece of pie.

The Customers

Mel’s Diner sees over a million guests annually throughout all their different locations, and with some of them coming three times a day or new comers stopping in to see what all the fuss is about, it’s no wonder why Mel’s has been around for so long and has done so well. And because of the continued influx of new residents in Florida, they see more and more customers daily.

Prices at Mel’s are very average and fair, and certainly worth the cost given the quality of food.

The music is also something you’re really going to enjoy if you like the oldies. With a non-stop array of great classics to listen to while you chow down on your burger and sip your malt, you’re going to feel like you’ve stepped back into another world. A gentler, more carefree and of course, delicious time.

So what’s the hold up, Mac? You know you want to stop in and eat some delicious grub while you settle into one of their booths at the diner while you sip that shake and try one of their club sandwiches. Just make sure that when you stop in to Mel’s Diner, you let them know that Lisa sent you!