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  • 0

    Very Very good food!
    Love the place looks awsome.
    They have a lot of organic products, there juice bar is the bomb.
    The homemade marmalade is delicious!
    I will definelty be coming back.

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  • 0

    Solid!

    Upon arrival, there was a host who guided me and my guest to a seat. Immediate service and prompt preparation of the food. The juice selection can be a tad overwhelming, but it's always best to have more choices than not enough.

    Many breakfast restaurants state that they have 'fresh-squeezed orange juice' these days, and it's merely some Dole mix than got from a store. Not this place! It's pure juice all the way around. If you don't go for the food, the juice is just as worthy.

    I had the berry mixed french toast, which was really good, but the highlight was the whipped cream topping, which was unique to anything I've ever had before on french toast, and very addictive. The atmosphere is a plus also, which makes the experience worth dining in; very spacious, with nice bathrooms I may add.

    I've struggled to find a new breakfast spot to feast from, and this restaurant has my attention. On a side note, they also have a pretty nice vegan menu to select from, for those who are interested about such food. I'll have to return to explore the rest of the menu, and it's worth bringing a few friends.

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  • 0

    I don't live in the area, but Meli was recommended by a friend who does.  

    I was warned the wait is long, but then again, most brunch places have long waits.  At 30 minutes, this wasn't bad.  The food was good, but didn't blow me away.  

    Pluses:
    -appealing juice bar list
    -most delicious latte I've had in Chicago (incredibly creamy)
    -plenty of options
    -very friendly service
    -cute space

    Minuses:
    -plenty of options (so hard to decide!  I prefer a menu that gives variety but doesn't boggle the mind)
    -service was quite slow (it turned out ok since he was really nice and we weren't in a rush, but still)
    -no liquor license, and they won't let you bring in your own to mix with the delicious juice!
    -worst chicken & waffles ever (the "fried chicken" was basically two chicken tenders - no bueno)

    Overall, it was fine, but did not wow.

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  • 0

    This is the way breakfast should be done!

    My boyfriend and I had breakfast here on our last day in Chicago (visiting from out of town) per the suggestion of the concierge at our hotel. Boy, was the concierge SPOT ON! The juice is fresh squeezed (even had a few pieces of seeds in my OJ) and delicious. Our meals were equally amazing; him having an omelet (which we were sure they used ostrich eggs for, as it was HUGE!) and I had the apple-stuffed french toast. The portions were huge and definitely had plenty to share, though neither of us wanted to! It was almost a sin to not be able to take our leftovers with us. I could rave on and on about the food here, it was THAT good! The service was spot on, as well as the ambiance. We both agreed that you have to have a passion for food to be able to create and serve foods like that. We can't wait until our next trip back, as this place will be on our go-to list from now on!

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  • 0

    Great place for brunch!

    Biggest advantage is the juice bar - can jazz your morning up with some fresh squeezed juice options.

    Has tasty options for people who want to eat healthy. At other places you are either stuck between pork belly with a side of chest pain or a bowl of fruit with some granola - here you can still have something healthy that is sexay.

    busy like most other brunch places - but the ambiance is nice - bright with good sunlight.

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  • 0

    The best you can get in the "brunch place" list in Chicago! Been here too many times and do not have a single complaint.  The food, service and experience is always as good as it gets!  They serve the best coffee (Illy), use Wedgewood by Waterford china, offer a WIDE variety of items in the breakfast and lunch categories and cater to every special need possible.  They have a fab juice list and the quality is just as great.   Every friend and family member I have brought to Meli has fallen in love.  Our faves are the skillets - they never disappoint.  They have honey butter w/ their breads and homemade jams/jelly's.  Oh and they even make their English muffins from scratch...gigantic and delicious!
    You can really never go wrong w/ Meli....yes they don't take reservations but I've never had to wait either...its a big place.  Much bigger than their Greektown  location.

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  • 0

    This place is a nice high end breakfast spot, the service is always great but it get very slammed on the weekends so i usually try to go at off times. I Love the crepes they have a big selection and the food comes out pretty fast.

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  • 0

    By far the best breakfast/brunch place in Chicago! You can't go wrong with anything you pick here! The skillets are incredibly delicious! Mana mou steak skillet is one of my favorites. Everything is soo fresh you taste it in every bite. The red roasted potatoes, fries, and fruit sides are even good. You can smell the decadent buttermilk pancakes from a mile away and just indulge in them! The juices and smoothies are a must as well! All incredibly amazing! Oh and service is unquestionable. Everyone is so helpful, homey, and happy! I love it! There will be a wait if you go anytime on the weekend but it is definitely worth it!

    Bon apetite! :)

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  • 0

    I seriously can't stop going back to this place.  Everything I try is awesome.  I am a big fan of the streusel french toast and the down on the farm skillet, but I have yet to try something I don't like here.  My friend from out of town loved the orange marmalade that she bought a bunch to bring home with her.  I would go here for brunch every weekend if I could!

    The location on Wells is a little bigger than the Greektown location and has huge windows so it's very bright and cheery and easier to accommodate the kiddies, but both locations are great.

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  • 0

    We ate here for the first time today (for Brunch), and it was SO amazing!  We were treated with such kindness, and kind of got VIP treatment because we came in with a friend who frequents this specific location.  The food is amazing, the freshness and uniqueness of the menu is wonderful.  We will be back for SURE!

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  • 0

    I'm not much of a breakfast girl, but I do enjoy Meli's lunch options. I went there today with a friend after the lunch rush (~1:30 p.m.), and we were seated immediately. I hadn't been to this location before, but it's much bigger than the Greektown location where I've always had to wait for a table.

    To drink, I ordered the Skin Cleanser, a juice blend of apple, celery, and cucumber. It was pleasantly sweet and tasted very fresh. I was happy with my selection, and I look forward to trying another juice the next time I'm at Meli. Juice blends cost around $5, but I don't mind splurging once in a while as they make me feel like I'm doing something good for my body.

    To eat, I ordered the Whole Wheat Wrap, which comes with a side of Detox Salad. The wrap contained grilled tofu, roasted red peppers, grilled zucchini, arugula, and red vinaigrette on a thin wheat flatbread. The salad consisted of quinoa, almonds, red onion, kale, blueberry, orange, and vinaigrette. This is what healthy food should taste like! Both were vegan and gluten-free. I would highly recommend Meli for anyone who needs/wants to eat that way. The wrap was large and cost $10. My only complaint is that the flatbread got a bit soggy from the vinaigrette.

    On other occasions (albeit at the other location), I've ordered the Goat Cheese Wrap and various smoothies, all of which I have enjoyed.

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  • 0

    More juice than major league baseball!

    Meli is definitely an awesome place to get your freshly squeezed on, but in addition has one of the biggest breakfast menus in town.

    With omelet, skillet, scramble, benedict, fritatta, and sandwich sections it's safe to say they've got eggs for days (zing!) Also available are pancakes, waffles, French toast, crepes, breakfast mounds (basically a bunch of ingredients put in a pile) vegan options, and more side items than a professional athlete on a long road trip. It's safe to say that this place has something in the morning for everyone.

    I ended up getting a special that wasn't even on the main menu. The cabbage omelet. sounds strange, but paired with corned beef bits, and cheese it was quite tasty. With how large the menu you is I wouldn't doubt if it was made every day available very soon.

    It is a little bit more expensive than most breakfast joints around, but with quality ingredients and en encyclopedia of options Meli always makes for a safe morning bet.

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  • 0

    Meli Cafe, what a wonderful way to start your day!  They have an amazing breakfast menu featuring skillet meals, omlets, scramblers, sandwiches, frittatas, eggs benedict, waffles, pancakes, and crepes.  They also offer healthier choices such as fresh fruit and parfaits along with vegan and gluten free options as well.  

    I indulged in the strawberry and banana french toast with a chocolate drizzle while my husband had the decadent caramel banana pancakes. Yum!  The food, drinks and service were excellent.  We felt very comfortable there.  You could tell by the way the staff treated us, that they cared about customer service.  What a great 'last meal' to have during our visit to Chicago!

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  • 0

    I've had a few friends and coworkers rave about Meli, so my fiance and I tried it out this Sunday.

    FOOD: A very wide array of options means I'll be back again to try the rest. Telling myself that was the only way I could even bring myself to order just one thing. There were even like 8 or 9 options just for Eggs Benedicts.  I tried "The Healthy Start" (or something like that), which consisted of scrambled eggwhites and veggies on toasted naan. It was very creative and delicious. Also, unlike a lot of diners and breakfast joints, where your food tastes greasy and overloadad with butter, Meli's food tastes light and fresh.

    JUICES: There aren't a lot of places that have the kind of variety of fresh juices that Meli has. My fiance and I were quite impressed by how taste their juices were, despite being a lot of fruits that are tough to come by in winter time.

    SERVICE: I wish I could remember the name of our server, because she was right on target. In my fiance's words... "I was never wondering where she was. She was always right there when I needed it. My coffee was never empty. She was right there when we sat down. They cleared our table quickly. Also, she didn't interrupt our conversation at awkward intervals."

    MUSIC: My only 'con' about this place was the obnoxious music. If you're going to play music that is that corny and bad, just turn the volume down. It felt like Whitney Houston was part of my conversation.

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  • 0

    You can customize everything from fresh squeezed juice to omeletes, skillets, to pancakes, waffles, to salad, wraps! For example, I ordered a Salmon Omelete with 1 yolk, 2 egg whites, side arugula salad, and side Mutli-grain Berry pancake! I'm so amazed at how much customization I can do here! Love it!

    Interesting note:
    They have a very special honey! I never tasted this kind of honey before. The color is dark. The taste is very unique and good, comes with an interesting aroma too. I believe it is raw buckwheat honey, not really sure though. The butter is rare too, honey butter. You have to try both.

    Price:
    The food is cheap given the big portion that comes with it. Average dish is around $11. Comes with toast, roasted red potato, and fresh fruit.

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  • 0

    I found out about this place on Yelp and 30 minutes later was eating here. Amazing avocado smoothie followed by a BBQ chicken omelette. Probably the best breakfast I've ever eaten. Love to be able to have a healthy smoothie and wash it down with a rich omelette!

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  • 0

    Very big menu. Very big portions. Food isn't overpriced for what you're getting. I like the juices. There was a 25 minute wait at 11:30 am Sunday and we were seated around that estimate when we told
    Server the entire party was there. Only accept 2 credit cards.

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  • 0

    Meli is the epitome of a brunchy meal featuring expansive variations of eggs, scramblers, omelets, frittatas, skillets, benedicts, sandwiches, pancakes, [stops to take a breath], french toast, waffles, crepes...  if that's not enough, get all of your brunchy ingredients in a "mound" topped with eggs. Yes, it exists and everything is made with a 'lil Meli love. What I like is that their menu also has a respectful shout out to vegans and sans-glutenivores. We took a good while deciding but ultimately I skipped the cheesy-bacon-egged based dishes and picked something from their "healthy eats" plus a juice bar concoction.  

    My breakfast quinoa was soupy and bland-- as if someone forgot to drain it before adding everything else. I don't mind subtlety but where was the cinnamon and brown sugar? Had to flag down someone for a side of agave. I liked my brunch buddy's apple & cheddar frittata better but we couldn't really taste the horseradish component. All tiny bumps for an all-around good brunch. Gets an extra star for their fresh squeezed juice!

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  • 0

    My friends have RAVED about Meli, so I really wanted to give it a try during this trip back to Chicago. We went at about 10:45 on a Sunday and were seated within 10 minutes of arriving- AMAZING!? yes! Our server wasn't that friendly, which was a bummer. Whenever she brought food or brought by something we requested, she would kind of slam it down and walk away quickly - like we were a burden or something... not nice.

    I ordered the Kiwi-Strawberry-Orange Juice and it was delicious- I had to transfer over ice from my water glass to it, though, because it was room temp when we got it- who likes room temp juice? not me... My friend got the Pure Gold juice- she thought it was delicious (I didn't, probably because of the carrots and ginger in it). Her juice was also room temp and she had to put her own ice in it as well.

    I ordered the Farmland skillet and a side of the Veggie 3-grain patties. The skillet was good, it just had a thick layer of oil that seemed to settle at the bottom, so I was only able to enjoy the eggs at the top and the top layer of vegetables and potatoes- it was pretty gross at the bottom. So, I wasn't as impressed. The patties were pretty good! I haven't seen many other breakfast places that have these, so it was unique and good. It was a bit too oily as well, though :- My meal came with a side of toast so I was glad I was able to try their homemade butter- DELICIOUS!! My friend got the Breakfast Crepes and she seemed to enjoy them.

    Overall, the food was OK- nothing really special and the service was mediocre. Maybe it was this specific day at Meli, but I'm not sure what all the hype is about. There are few other brunch places in the city that I think are better and will probably just stick to those in the future. But, this place wasn't horrible, so if I'm with people who want to come here, I wouldn't be opposed to it and just hope that that experience is better.

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  • 0

    45 min wait although they told us it would be approx. 25 min. Once seated, we felt rushed, friendliness of staff only mediocre. Food mediocre for all of us (group of six); only the sweet stuff was ok (pancakes etc.). Only accept a max of two credit cards -- overall, everything just seemed to be an inconvenience. Not coming back.

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  • 0

    Flying solo? Sit at the bar for quick service.  Fresh grapefruit juice is great here.

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  • 0

    Meli's cafe is a great brunch spot in River North.  Prices are on par with other casual brunch places in the area. I love their wide variety of juices. They have many choices for food as well. I had the kale scrambler. It was sooo delicious! Portions are large so I was more than satisfied. You can also requesr egg whites as a substitute. My friend got the egg white scrambler and was more than satisfied with her plate as well. Sausage patties are another tasty side we ordered. My friend always gets the ginger splash juice and highly recommends it.

    Service was genuine and attentive. Our waittress was there when she needed to be but not overly so. Everyone was friendly as well.

    The decor was clean, bright, homely, and inviting. I'll gladly return for sure.

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  • 0

    Awesome menu, great service, warm inviting atmosphere, and INCREDIBLE food!

    4 of us went on a Friday morning at 10AM and had been feeling stuffed from after the holiday bingeing. We had: fresh OJ, ginger juice drink- carrot, pear, orange, ginger, beet juice. They have a huge fresh juice menu along with the hundred other items they have on their regular menu.

    Ordered for breakfast- jalapeno skillet- tons of veggies (not filled with crappy/cheap potatoes only) chicken chorizo and 2 eggs on top. SPCIY AND NICE!
    Gluten free crepes with almonds and blackberries and home made maple syrup
    Smoked salmon, havartie, capers omelette- WOW.
    Corned beef hash skillet.

    The eggs are cage free, they have a huge gluten free and vegan section, and home made english muffins. Wow. This place rocks and WE WILL BE GOING BACK.

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  • 0

    One word: Overrated

    Worst service I have ever experienced at a breakfast joint.

    To start, we were quoted 20-25 minutes on a Sunday around 11:45AM. We waited 35 minutes. When we were taken to our table, it still had plates from the last table. Why would you take a guest to a dirty table?

    Our waitress did not come to us for about 10 minutes after being seated. She did not say hello just stood there and looked at us, waiting for our order. She was foreign, and quite frankly, one of the dumbest people I have ever met in the industry. We asked for coffee refills, did not get them. We asked for syrup, did not get it. We asked for skim milk for coffee, did not get it. Awful, awful waitress.

    Food wasn't bad. I had the ham and cheese omelet. It was a tab bit salty, but it was good. Our waitress never came to ask how the food was.

    The one positive was that Jonathan Toews from the Blackhawks was having breakfast here at the same time.

    Overall, I will not be back to this place. There are hundreds of other breakfast establishments that I would rather spend my money at.

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  • 0

    Slightly upscale breakfast place.  Warm and cozy, but NOT a "bring your laptop and hang out all morning" kind of place. (oops!)

    GREAT menu, fast, friendly, cheerful, attentive service.

    I had the "special" fritatta (sp) - Swiss cheese, bacon, spinach, potatoes, etc. DEElish. Wonderful.

    Would give this the full five stars...BUT...the place lacked a key menu item for any breakfast place...  A sweet / savory combo option!  EX - French Toast -n- Eggs.

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  • 0

    Meli Cafe is one of the better breakfast joints in town. Eggs, pancakes, crepes, skillets, even freshly squeezed juice...you name it and they got it. And make it good with quality ingredients like organic eggs.  Had the pumpkin pie crepes and a cucumber, carrot, and beet juice.  This location is big so wait is minimal on the weekends and good for kids too.

    Would of liked the ingredients in my breakfast skillet to mesh better together but everything else was really good. Would def come again.

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  • 0

    Great place.  The entire staff was great with my 90 year old father who uses a walker.  So kind to us especially with a large group.  Service fast, juices are yummy.  Jams are amazing.  Love this place

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  • 0

    I forgot what I even ordered. I was totally eying my friend's greek yogurt with dates and honey the whole time. It is GIGANTIC and so delicious and healthy. Get it!

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  • 0

    I went here for Brunch and I will go for brunch again and again and again.  It does brunch right.  They've got a huge menu, complete with your standard healthy options (oatmeal) and your omelettes, french toast, pancakes, and whatever else floats your boat.  And everything I've had here is wonderful.  Their juice is great too, but I'd just go for the brecky breck!

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  • 0

    Went in for lunch today with my girlfriend.  She has a very sensitive stomach and ordered a skillet and specifically asked to cook without oil or butter.  When the food arrived the vegetables were soaked in liquid.  When we asked the waitress if they cooked it in oil or butter she said they cooked it in Pam and the liquid was from the veggies.  

    Two hours later: you can use your imagination on where my girlfriend has been.  We called the restaurant and spoke to a manager and all they said was to ask for the manager next time we come in and that they would make sure our order is right.  No offer of a refund, discount on the next meal or anything else.  

    Even while we were at the restaurant the service was VERY slow and the wait staff was very pretentious.  

    Sorry Meli...you won't be seeing us again anytime soon.

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  • 0

    I like bringing people here whether it's for a business meeting or brunch with friends. The atmosphere is classy without being too stuffy. It's very relaxed and feels conducive to have any kind of conversation.

    There is also a nice variety of food selection so everyone in your party can find something they like. I tend to lean towards the more savory dishes for breakfast/brunch, so the omletes and scramblers are my choices. They are also very healthy portions so you won't leave hungry!

    The freshly squeezed juice blends are a nice option as well and not too expensive.

    Oh! They also make their own jam! Make sure to give it a try when you're there!

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  • 0

    Meli is nicely decorated, classy, but still charming.

    Had the gluten-free pancakes -- awesome!!!!

    Also the smoothies were great, I tried one with avocado--I can't remember what it was called but it was tasty and served in a giant pint glass.  They are on the pricey side, but definitely worth it.

    Service was not bad, not excellent either.  

    All in all a great experience though.

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  • 0

    First, as a Californian, let me say that I'm really impressed by the breakfast options in Chicago.  Folks there like their breakfast, and clearly make time for it!

    This is the second location for Meli Cafe of Greektown.  While it doesn't quite have the authentic funky atmosphere of the original Meli, it also doesn't have the lines.  On a Thursday, we walked right in.

    Meli continually puts more work into breakfast than anyone else.  I had the "egg heap" which was a mound of tasty sauteed vegetables hidden beneath an inverted bowl of ultra-fluffy scrambled eggs.

    If you only have one day for fancy breakfast in Chicago, spend it here or at original Meli.

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  • 0

    First experience at Meli Cafe was so-so.  The service was good.  The location was fine and so forth.

    The waffle was not as great as it could've been.  It was pretty much soft - no crisp to it.  The ingredients, pecans, syrup, etc all seemed to be high quality.

    Also had a veggie sandwich.  They pretty much use your basic morningstar veggie pattie.  However, there's also a portabella mushroom in there which made the whole thing unique.  That's in addition to other grilled veggies and melted swiss.  Overall it was OK.  Nothing to call home about, though.

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  • 0

    Oh Meli, how I love thee, let me count the ways.

    1) Bomb ass juices and smoothies (try the peanut butter smoothie)
    2) Eggs...Meli's Omlette, I have no words...pancetta, parsley, chives, Boursin, so rich and delicious it's tough to finish the whole thing
    3) French Toast. The blueberry muffin french toast will rock your world. Also, if they ever bring back the Choco-Cashew french toast special- DO IT! Chocolate pan bread with chocolate chips soaked in a vanilla bean custard and topped with some delicious cashew butter concoction and raw cashews.
    4) Watermelon served w/ every dish

    World's most expansive brunch menu, plus they always have a ton of delicious sounding specials (lobster omelet? Thai steak breakfast burrito?). Consider this: they have a section on the menu entitled 'Mounds: a mound of ingredients topped with scrambled eggs, cheese, and selected sauce.' Meli, you get me.

    Decor is crisp and clean. Service is pretty standard.

    Down side: expect a long wait, especially if you're popping in on the weekend. Regardless, I will be back again and explore the menu further.

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  • 0

    I came back here when Fabcakes was closed on a Sunday.

    Well I have to say, they actually were better.  

    We sat at the bar because the wait on a Sunday early afternoon was still 30 minutes so we were able to snag a seat at the bar in like 2 mins.  We beat the rush because when we were leaving, the place was JAMMED.

    Anyway, the service at the bar was so-so.  Its a very busy place so I get it, however, I shouldnt have to ask for refills on coffee, etc.

    I got an omelette with chicken sausage and it was pretty good.  Overpriced, but good.  

    Overall, not a horrible breakfast place, but not anything that I loved.

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  • 0

    Breakfast.  My favorite meal of the day (even if it's for dinner).  We stumbled upon this place during our trip to Chicago.  Had a delicious breakfast!  Great flavor, and a nice variety for omnivores and herbivores.

    The only reason I did not give this more stars: service.  We walked in from a rainy morning and there were 2 waitresses and, I'm assuming, a manager just standing there looking at us.  No friendly greeting, no "2 for breakfast?", zip, zero, zilch.  We stood there looking at them and I had to say "2 for breakfast, please".  The manager didn't say a word, grabbed 2 menus and brought us to our table.  Really?  Lame.

    I waited tables for 5 years.  I know how it works.  The place was not slammed and there was no reason for the lack of communication/greeting, etc.  For a higher end breakfast and price tag I expected a lot more customer service.

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  • 0

    While I Iove the variety of the menu and the fresh ingredients used, this location is severely lacking in it's service.

    I came here with my parents while they were visiting me in the city on a Saturday afternoon around 1:30. Even though it was typically past the prime brunch/lunch rush, Meli was still crowded, which was not unusual.

    We quickly put our name in for a table for three, and were told we would be seated in 10-15 minutes. If only we knew how inaccurate that estimation would be.

    Not only did we wait over 45 minutes to be seated, we proceeded to watch as the man who I presumed to be the manager (dark hair, worn in a ponytail) seated table after table that walked in after we had arrived. We initially assumed that these groups had put their names in and come back closer to the time they could be seated - wrong. We watched as two groups of people approached the host stand and provided the number in their party, and were seated immediately.

    After witnessing this, my mom approached the manager to ask whether we would be seated soon, considering what we had just experienced. Without so much as glancing in her direction, he mumbled something to the effect that we were "next" and rushed off to the kitchen. We proceeded to watch yet ANOTHER group of people be seated in front of us - after which I was EXTREMELY irritated.

    At this point, my parents and I were beyond annoyed and flabbergasted at the atrocious service. Finally, I told the hostess we would be leaving if we weren't the next group seated - and SHOCKINGLY - we were. As I mentioned before, I have never had an issue with the food, and the waitress was efficient and sweet. It's unfortunate that the terrible service overshadows the quality of the food.

    Although we were seated after I threatened walking out, we never received an apology from the hostess, or as much as a glance in our direction from the manager. I left feeling embarrassed and disgusted that I had brought my parents to a restaurant I'd initially felt confident they would enjoy, but that turned into a disastrous experience.

    I certainly won't be returning to Meli after this experience.

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  • 0

    I live near here. I have eaten here many times, so this is not a come here once and bam my review.  Agree with Jenn G on Service and Management

    In a nutshell, RUDE RUDE RUDE.

    Scenerio: Waitress wrote the order down wrong.  I told her it was wrong when my food was brought out. She took it back and brought me my order, but it was still wrong. Then proceeded to argue you with me on what I actually order verses what she brought me. Not to mentioned everytime she came to the table following her mistake she would make snide remarks about me, to me and to my lunch guests.

    Mmgt: Did not admit that his daughter or wife, was wrong? A family member nonetheless. Finally, brought me what I ordered on third try, but did not disagree that what happen with his staff was wrong. Instead, blew it off.  Did not address it nothing. So as a result all four people at my table annoyed at the horrible service and will not be going back.

    So in a nutshell, food is decent, but management and staff not so great. So this know that going into this place.

    Honest review of what to expect.

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  • 0

    Here's the Cliffs notes version:

    Food:  very good (3 stars worthy - service brings down the review)
    Service:  average to unattentive
    Management: rude

    This was my second visit to Meli and I had a better first experience than second.  The food was delicious both times (veggie scrambler the first, crab cake benedict the second).  Both times we had the same waitress, who had about as much personality as soggy bread.  When she wasn't busy ignoring our empty coffee cups or spilling water on people's food (and then saying "Oops" and offering no remedy) she was scowling in general and was completely unhelpful in making menu recommendations.

    We had a large party of 8 plus a toddler, so we got there at 9:30am on a Sunday morning to try and beat the rush.  We still had to wait over 30 minutes to be seated, but I know that's part of having a large brunch party on a Sunday morning.

    What REALLY irked me on this second visit was management's insistence on rushing us through our meal to clear the table.  I get it.  It's a Sunday in Chicago.  You want to turn the tables as quickly as possible.  But there's a right way to do that.  We had waiters coming to our table and picking up drinks and plates while we were still eating, without even asking if we were finished!

    Finally, one of my dining companions got annoyed and as the bus boy came to take her coffee, she grabbed it back from him and sternly said "I'm not done with that yet"... the bus boy got all flustered and muttered something about "sorry, my manager is telling me to hurry and get this table finished."

    Seriously?!  We just dropped like $300 at brunch.  Get your flippin panties out of a bunch and let us eat our dang food.  

    If they wanted to move the table so bad, how about being polite and asking if we were done with our food.  And did we want to box up our leftovers or would we like a to-go cup for our coffee?  

    But instead, the rude manager insisted on having his waistaff rush us out of there.  I will deifnitely not be back to Meli any time soon.

    Hmph!

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