The New Mel’s Diner

Me'ls Diner (photos by Carley McGlynn)
Mel’s Diner (photos by CM)

Mel’s Diner returns after a three year absence in the Waterloo dining scene. Located on University Ave., near the University of Waterloo, Mel’s Diner officially re-opened on February 19, serving up the breakfast that made the diner a K-W favourite since its 1995 opening.

Sunday morning I ventured out to check out the rebuilt and reinvented iconic Mel’s. Some friends and I were hungry for breakfast so we hopped in the car and headed to Mel’s. Surprisingly  there was no line up when we arrived at 10:00 A.M. We were pleasantly surprised that not much has changed inside the diner. The traditional diner-style decor,  atmosphere, and menu is just as it once was. Apparently they have the best milkshake around, so naturally, I had to test this theory out. I ordered a chocolate shake off a drink menu that boasted over 10 kinds of milkshakes and ‘fabulous floats’. Let’s just say that the milkshake lived up to its name. The breakfasts my friends and I ordered, and subsequently devoured, were equally as delicious. The food itself was tasty and resembled the classic breakfast foods we all expected – including pancakes, waffles, breakfast skillets, and of course the traditional eggs and bacon. Nothing exciting, but exactly what we expected from a breakfast diner. Portions were huge, and combination breakfast meals were all over $5.

If you’re looking for good food and a fun atmosphere, Mel’s Diner is worth a trip out on a Saturday or Sunday morning.

Mel’s on University Ave. will resume the diner’s old hours, operating from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Wednesday and 24 hours Thursday to Saturday, closing at 10 p.m. Sunday night.