Mel’s Market
3rd & Madison St, Seattle, WA, 98154
Mel’s Market Menu
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Address :
3rd & Madison St
Seattle, WA, 98154 - Phone (206) 623-6771
- Website https://www.melspickup.com
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :6:30 am - 4:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Lunch
Parking : Street
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : No
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : No
Waiter Service : No
Drive-Thru : No
Caters : No
Categories
Burgers
Burger or Hamburger is savored as the most desired fast food meal in the United States. A hamburger is basically a sandwich prepared by stuffing ground meat patty, generally beef, between two slices of a bun cut in half. Hamburger is also famous for its seasoning. Most popular condiments used in hamburgers in the United States are mustard, mayonnaise, and ketchup. Besides ground meat patty, hamburgers are also stuffed with lettuce, onions, tomato slices, pickles, and cheese.
Hamburgers are also categorized into two types in the United States. Fast food hamburger and individual hamburgers served at restaurants are two basic types of burgers served in the United States. The individual hamburgers served at restaurants are prepared using everything including lettuce, onion, tomato, and sliced pickles as well as melted cheese on the patty or crumbled on top. American restaurants also serve veggie burgers for those who don't relish meat. Cheeseburgers are also hot favorite in the United States.
McDonalds is the most popular fast food burger restaurant serving different types of burgers in the United States. On the other hand, there are several restaurants such as Burger King are famous for serving the best hamburgers in the United States. Most burger restaurants in the United States often serve hamburgers with French fries and other condiments. If you have a liking for burgers in the United States, then you won't be disappointed. You can easily find the best burger restaurants in your city on our Restaurants Listings directory. Check the reviews and ratings of the top burger restaurants and savor yourself with the best hamburger in the city.
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Nathan J.
The people who work here at Mel's are the friendliest in the downtown area. Their smiles keep me coming back.
(5)Jennifer O.
Inexpensive place to grab a quick lunch. They make a nice custom salad, and the hamburger is a good deal for the money. I keep eyeballing the cookies the size of a hubcap when I am in line... But so far my will power has held up.
(3)Ray I.
Even if the food wasn't excellent, I think I'd come here for the great music they play and the great, snappy, friendly service. I had breakfast here almost every day I was working in Seattle.
(3)Sadie W.
This is my favorite place to grab lunch. Not only is it fast, it is fresh! The people who work there are really friendly and you can tell they are enjoying what they do. My favorite thing there is the Taco Salad. I get it nearly every time. Their french fries are to DIE for! They have all homemade dipping sauces and dressings too which is bomb.
(5)Astor A.
Oh Yum! My new favorite place. I plan on being a regular. Saw the other reviews on Yelp and thought it would be safe to give it try and it was not a let down. Is five stars to much? No. It's an open floor plan. Most places downtown are so small you think your in your walk in closet. This is open and easy to navigate and you can stand back and read the large menu boards without people pushing. It is clean and bright and not stuffy! Then there are the workers. Most business forget the people dealing with customers are as important as the food. Trish and Barb made the experience great. Trish filled my order of fish and chips. She was so generous with the chips that I couldn't eat them all and I am a potato fanatic! Then Barb, after the sale, I remember I saw the 20% discount on yelp. She re-rang the order. I did not expect that I figured I would use it next time. They were friendly, kind and engaging. So, the deco, the employees, how about the food? I got the fish and chips for 6.99. My meal was better then most sit down places that cost 2-3x's more. No kidding. The cod was firm, fresh and not over done. The beer batter was coupled with panko bread crumbs and it was light, not over battered. The meal came with 2 lemon slices (love lemons), Cole slaw, and their tarter sauce, not the stuff from the bottle. The chips (aka fries), amazing. Warm and salted with sea salt with some of the panko fallen onto them. The fries were plump and "potatoie". I liked them so much I couldn't throw them away so I'll throw them in the oven for dinner, or a side for lunch tomorrow (if I don't go back for a burger). I came back to my office with a smile on my face from how nicely I was treated I was going to write this review before the food,but I couldn't wait. So I went to the patio at my building to enjoy my lunch and enjoy I did. I am glad no one was sitting near me to hear me making yummy, content noises :)
(5)Rebecca S.
The nicest people ever work at Mel's! That's pretty much all I like about it though. I don't like the margarine they put on the baked potatoes, and I don't like that they use ice cream scoopers to put the margarine and sour cream on the potatoes. The ceasar salads are also a bit small, and the salad dressing is way too garlicy for my liking. Getting a ceasar salad and a baked potato also feels a bit steep here when it's not even that much food. I think I generally spend $8-9 when I come here and I'm still hungry when I finish my lunch.
(3)J K.
I pass Mel's all the time, but the Instant Living Social Deal finally got me to go in. SUPER friendly and personable staff, great selection of food, and prices are good. Love the salads - they're huge! Will definitely go back again.
(5)Ryan G.
I love their made to order sandwiches. They're huge, offer tons of optional toppings, and have several breads to choose from. They also have burgers, pasta, salads, pre-made sandwiches, but I have only had the made to order sandwiches. The sandwiches are great, and I used to come here at least once a week, but they've jacked up the prices over the last few years (only reason for not receiving 5 stars) so I frequent this place much less often.
(4)KT E.
If you want to know what customer service looks like, come here! Everyone is very nice and it comes across sincere. They go out of their way for their customers and this is a fast food joint! Customer service here is above and beyond my expectations. Especially the man that handles the breakfast bar ... I don't know what his name is but if I find out I'll update this review. They serve breakfast items like eggs, bacon, sausages, breakfast sandwiches, burritos, and for lunch they have made to order sandwiches they have salads .. cookies drinks chips and soup. They have everything! It's a really nice place to come for a quick lunch when you're in the financial district!
(5)Coley U.
I love coming here!!! The food is delicious and the employees love being there-- you can definitely tell. A restaurant that's closed on weekends? Unheard of-- no wonder the employees are always happy! Kevin is the salad wizard and has turned me into a "regular". :)
(5)Edward R.
Best bang for your buck for a burger in the $5-$7 range...! Really can't go wrong. Juicy and flavorful and awesome choices. I highly recommend Mel's as a lunchtime choice.
(5)Kristin W.
Wow, I've been by this place a bunch of times on my way to the Post Office, but my first time in today. I arrived fairly early, around 10a, so they were still prepping things, but I ordered a customized salad and it was huge. I liked it could pick and choose. It was drenched with dressing, but in the future I'll just tell them to go easy on the Ranch ;) They have a huge variety of things to order - soup, salad, sandwiches, burgers, fries, etc. You can either get the pre-packaged ones or made-to-order. Prices were decent for the amount of food you get, not to mention fresh. I'll definitely stop in more often. Staff were all friendly and helpful despite me being there early before they were fully done with all their prep. Clean, organized environment. Lots of seating outside in the lobby area.
(5)Teaira L.
*The* spot to go to for a sandwich. When I want a great sandwich, I go to Mel's. Thanks to a friend who recommended this place, I know everytime I go, I can expect to be satisfied. Their level of customer service and the meal itself, is consistent. Something other sandwich shops don't have. I usually get Virgil the Veggie and because all I want are veggies the guys and gals stack it up, asking if I want veggies that are over on the salad side of things. When I say stack it up, I do not kid. I only eat half of the sandwich and save the other half when the munchies kick in later. All the veggies are fresh and have that satisfying crunch. For about $7-$8, I can get a meal for lunch and dinner. It does get crowded, but the staff has a systems that handles the volume well.
(5)Jennifer F.
Mel's sandwiches and burgers aren't anything spectacular, but they're good and decently priced. Definitely could be a go-to if you want to grab a quick lunch in the financial district! Plus, they sell convenience store snacks/drinks. I've tried their smoked turkey sandwich, and their mushroom swiss burger + fries. The sandwich was the kind you could make at home, but I didn't get any add-ons. Regardless, it was still pretty filling. The burger wasn't greasy (neither were the fries), and wasn't falling apart like some burgers do. It seemed like the patty was precooked though, because there wasn't really a wait. Both the sandwich and the burger + fries were filling, and came out to be about $7-8 (after the $1 off discount). They also offer combo deals! NOTE: You can get $1 off for checking in! ($5 minimum purchase)
(4)Thao N.
Have been to here twice. Once I ordered an almond chicken salad sandwich and loved it. It was only 6.49 but so filling but fresh because a lot of veggies. The second time I ordered a taco salad. It was the most filling salad that I have ever had. Overall, the price is very cheap for the amount of food you get. I love this place. Staffs are so friendly too. Definitely recommend this place! Definitely 5 out of 5
(5)Heather B.
Mel's is a great place to grab lunch. So far everything I've had has been super fresh and really tasty. I had a delicious ham and navy bean soup last week when it was rainy and the sandwiches are oversized and very good. Super friendly staff too! Yay Mel's!
(4)Kristine S.
I've only ever eaten the burgers and fries at Mel's, but their sandwiches and salads look great, too. It's just that whenever I go there, I just can't say no to the burger! The thing I like most about Mel's is their customer service. Everyone, from the cooks behind the counter to the people at the register, is so friendly and all of them seem genuinely happy to see you whenever you stop by. I've eaten there maybe a dozen times and every single time, all of the people who work there have been so warm and welcoming. This downtown lunch spot gets really busy during the 12-1 lunch hour, so I recommend getting there a little early to avoid the rush.
(5)Danica S.
I must come back and rate Mel's 5 stars for the exceptional customer service received by PamC. My first experience was really good, and my only complaint was the cookie I purchased. ---To my surprise, Pam replied and welcomed me to return to try a cookie they carry that's made by a local baker. I forgot the name of the bakery, but the cookie comes in a paper bag with a bit of cellophane in the front. The snicker doodle cookie was chewy, fresh, buttery, and packed with cinnamon. I'm a bit bummed my husband got glimpse of it on the drive home, so I had to share lol! I also tried their cheese burger with pepper jack cheese and it was delish!!! It had a flame broiled taste, was larger than any cheeseburger I've ever ordered for the price, had a soft sesame bun, and my favorite----it wasn't a dry burger!!! They topped it with fresh fixin's, including a yummy thousand island burger sauce! My large burger and small fry was about the price I would pay at a fast food restaurant, but the quality doesn't compare. So glad my coworkers suggested Mel's for my burger fix. This could be dangerous---very, very dangerous! HaHa!
(5)Joel M.
I work in the building so I have a lot of exposure to Mel's. When I first started working in the building, I avoided the place because I felt like it had some sort of weird business park cafeteria vibe going that I didn't think that I would mesh with. I finally went in some two or three years ago and discovered that I was wrong. Not only do I like Mel's, I've come to greatly appreciate it over the years. Want a burger? When you walk in the door near lunchtime, the friendly burger guy will almost always call you over to hawk the burger special. If you choose to partake in said special, you're likely to find that your burger will be delicious, juicy, and quick to arrive. They have a lot of custom options available and the fries are great, too. Want a salad? They have a salad bar where you can build your own salad from scratch or you can order one of their many menu options. None of the salads that I've ordered there have disappointed. They're sizable, too, which is great. I'm a big fan of the taco salad on days where I want to KIND of eat healthy but still get in some greens, but I'm even more of a fan of their recent super-salads that they've started carrying. Kale, quinoa and fiber abound! The crown jewel, though? The sandwiches. I absolutely love sandwiches, and Mel's never disappoints. Go to Lonnie, and he'll build you a heaping sandwich masterpiece with a smile. The BLT with all the free stuff on it? You can't beat that. So many veggies. So much thick bacon. So good!
(5)Georgia W.
Hugs all around! Yes I want to tip AND hug the staff at Mel's market. They dutifully put up with all my annoyingly picky requests.... - could I have 2 extra cucumbers please? - could you please NOT put the cream cheese and avocado on the same slice of bread? And they do it all with a smile! Have yet to try the "build your own spud" bar. A little pricey, but worth it when you consider the above average sandwich fare and the out of the ordinary friendly service.
(5)Jane A.
YUMMY FRENCHFRIES I've had a few items here... - salads, great - soups, wonderful - mini lasania meal, filling and good - donuts, average - FRENCHFRIES, marvelous They people that work there are so nice and they provide awsome service. Especially the lunch ladies that serve frenchfries. They know exactly what time I come in and from a distance they already know what I'm about to order without saying so.
(4)Kyle M.
Always enjoy soup and sandwich day at Mel's. Sadly I don't deviate from my go-to favorite of the Farmer John and chili - why ruin a good thing right?!? Service is always impeccable and appreciated. I haven't tried the online ordering yet but seems like a great idea.
(5)Tsunami J.
The salads are fantastic. How can you go wrong when you pick the ingredients! Always fresh and priced well. We go primarily for the burgers, which are great, but I have found myself getting a salad more and more often as well. The staff is great and friendly. The foods are prepared quickly - very rarely do we have to wait more than just a couple of minutes.
(5)Chelsea J.
If I worked down here I would stop in to Mel's from time to time. We came here before the Seahawks parade to fuel up. I got the big breakfast of 2 bacon, scrambled eggs, and home fries and a coffee for $6.79ish. Not bad! The home fries were very good. Coffee was Seattle's Best. It wasn't great. Food was tasty. I enjoyed it! The guys working here were cheerful and very friendly and energetic. I admired their attitudes on such a busy day!
(4)Shari d.
Mel's is back and I couldn't be happier. The layout and food is slightly different but the faces are the same and the service is equally nice. They have a variety of selections for breakfast and lunch and have installed a new "build your own" salad station which I throughly enjoy. Even though it is your general breakfast / lunch fare (i.e. breakfast sandwiches, bagels, sandwiches, salads, pasta) it is cheaper than the other restaurants around serving similar fare. I am SO glad that they are back! Please never go away again and if you do keep the Organic people away!
(4)James S.
My partner and I visited during the lunch rush and was pleasantly surprised with the speedy service. The chicken salad sandwich was delicious, thank you!
(4)Kaylee T.
Lovely and lively little place! It was a great place to go with my toddler after visiting the library. Very friendly and fast. Lots of healthy and gluten free options, or yummy greasy fries and burgers for a treat.
(5)Amanda W.
My go-to place for fresh fast food! Everything on their menu is really good. My favorites are the burgers and salads. It gets really busy during lunch hour but the lines go by quick. Exceptional customer service from all staff members, which is pretty rare when it comes to fast food establishments. On Monday's, you can get a bounce back coupon for your next visit within the week ($1 off on $5 purchase or more). Pretty sweet deal when you are a frequent customer!
(5)John L.
Food is fine but, better to go there since there is confusion about meal deliveries possibly by another operator. Just call ahead and be a careful customer.
(4)Charlie R.
I work in the building and my co-workers and I do the Mel's thing often. Especially when it's rainy and we don't want to walk anywhere else. Mel's food is consistently good, no matter which station you go to. The burger patties taste a little bland to me now, but I attribute that to eating so many of them. You can customize your burger, sandwich and salad to however you like them. The breakfast is good. They have a nice special on their grab and go stuff. The staff is always friendly and helpful. It can get a little pricey once you start adding extras, but then again what isn't in DT seattle? Give them a try. You'll like it!
(5)Johnny M.
The burger guy is awesome! I was trying to eat all healthy, standing in the sandwich line, and all the sudden I get called out from across the room and talked into ordering a big cheeseburger with fries. I think he could sense my weakness. Anyway, the burgers are ok but their fries are where it's at. Try their tarter too. Sandwiches are good but overpriced.
(3)Remington M.
This place has great burgers, the price isn't bad for combos considering how much you get, their sandwiches are awesome and the staff is pretty friendly. Even when they're busy they make you feel like you're business counts instead of rushing you, the bacon on the burgers is crisp, the patty itself is juicy, and the fries are borederline orgasmic with mayonaise. The only thing that sucks about it is that you have to get there by 1 pm and if you're held up you're screwed. hey larry, if you read this, show those guys at johnny rockets how to get their shit together.
(4)Serena A.
Have you ever eaten somewhere so perfect.....that there isn't much to write about? Well, that's how I feel about Mel's Market! This has been my go-to lunch spot for years now, and it never gets old or disappoints! The Mandarin Chicken Salad (minus chicken, add garbanzo beans) is my favorite thing on the menu, although, I've taken a bite of my son's burger and it was delicious. My son requests a Mel's Market burger anytime he is downtown at work with me! Mel's is about as convenient as it comes if you are downtown Seattle and need a bite! They are well organized, fast paced, and have the POS system perfected!
(5)Alanna M.
Mel's is back with the same friendly faces and food options with a slight face lift. If it's not broke don't fix it. The Organics to Go was just way too expensive for lunch. It's nice to have the option of getting pasta, burger, salad or sandwich in one convenient location The last soup I bought there was overly salted so I won't be doing that again.
(4)Keysha B.
Love this place. They really know customer service and it shows. They use the power of social media to reward customers and the food is quality for a good price.
(5)Dub N.
First time I been here.... 5-star customer service all the way. Pretty cool layout and price was nice.
(5)Active R.
Great place to grab lunch !! Friendly staff :)
(4)Holli M.
Num. Heard about this from coworkers, and had to try. One of the best burgers I've found downtown so far for a quick to-go lunch. Good fries. Totally satisfying. Will go back. Worth the trek up from Belltown for lunch.
(4)Jacquie P.
There's nowhere to eat in my building, so I occasionally trek down the street to Mel's for a quick lunch. Build your own salad bar = super yummy choices and good prices. Last time I was in a big hurry so I ran in and grabbed a pre-packaged salad. It was missing its dressing so I asked one of the salad bar ladies if I could get a a little dressing to go. I handed my salad over to her and she ended up tossing it for me, adding some more croutons and tomatoes, and apologizing for the missing dressing. So nice! If you're on the run downtown, definitely check out Mel's.
(4)John F.
Mel's is located in my building. The do a pretty good on the go breakfast, plenty of options for hot food in the morning as well as some refrigerated things too. I'll get lunch there a couple times a week, the sandwiches are all made to order and never disappoint, the salads are also made to order, my personal favorite is the taco salad. They do burgers and soups as well. Usually busy during lunch but the wait is worth it.
(4)Conner W.
Customer Service Alert! Today I was in Mel's, ordering a sandwich, and I was curious why they were charging a certain price for a certain item. At checkout, I casually asked who was in charge so that I could provide some feedback to the stakeholder. Quick as lightning, an employee next to the one I had posed the question to jumped up and nearly ran to go get the person in charge. They didn't even ask why I was asking. Less than 30 seconds later, out of the back came a very nice woman wearing the title of 'Owner.' She immediately introduced herself and we shook hands. It was apparent that she is very much 'hands-on' with the business, which I always like to see ('Ivory Tower' owners suck, BTW). I explained my question to her and she very gently explained why they charge the amount they do for the item in question. She also thanked me for taking the time to provide feedback. I walked away impressed and satisfied that I had received a logical and honest response to my question. This customer service interaction has proven to me that the people running Mel's do care about their customers and their business. If the owner is willing to drop what she was doing in the back, during the busy lunch hour, and come out to speak with a customer about an unknown topic, then I can only imagine what happens behind the scenes...probably lots of other great things! Thanks for your time, attention, and willingness to receive customer feedback on-the-spot!
(5)Natalie G.
Convenience store and burger shop! Everyone working the day I stopped by were super friendly. Ordered a burger and fries, and enjoyed both. The fries were nice and crisp and had a good flavor. You order the burger at the counter, then go to the register to pay. Once I finished paying my burger was ready for pickup!
(4)Andy W.
Quality, variety, and AMAZING people. When you first walk in, you might be a little overwhelmed by all the options and all the signs everywhere. It's not super obvious where you should go first. But if you stand there for more than about 10 seconds you will be approached by a super friendly person who will patiently explain everything. Even if the food were so-so, which it's not, I would go back just for the wonderful people who work there.
(5)Rachael A.
I'm ecstatic that Mel's is back. Organics to go is no comparison. I'm a sucker for their taco salad. The new layout makes it a lot easier to get to what you want too. The service is always the best.
(5)Ajmal H.
Its a neighborhood breakfast and lunch place.. Nothing overtly special
(3)Chelsea J.
If I worked down here I would stop in to Mel's from time to time. We came here before the Seahawks parade to fuel up. I got the big breakfast of 2 bacon, scrambled eggs, and home fries and a coffee for $6.79ish. Not bad! The home fries were very good. Coffee was Seattle's Best. It wasn't great. Food was tasty. I enjoyed it! The guys working here were cheerful and very friendly and energetic. I admired their attitudes on such a busy day!
(4)Kaylee T.
Lovely and lively little place! It was a great place to go with my toddler after visiting the library. Very friendly and fast. Lots of healthy and gluten free options, or yummy greasy fries and burgers for a treat.
(5)Charlie R.
I work in the building and my co-workers and I do the Mel's thing often. Especially when it's rainy and we don't want to walk anywhere else. Mel's food is consistently good, no matter which station you go to. The burger patties taste a little bland to me now, but I attribute that to eating so many of them. You can customize your burger, sandwich and salad to however you like them. The breakfast is good. They have a nice special on their grab and go stuff. The staff is always friendly and helpful. It can get a little pricey once you start adding extras, but then again what isn't in DT seattle? Give them a try. You'll like it!
(5)Johnny M.
The burger guy is awesome! I was trying to eat all healthy, standing in the sandwich line, and all the sudden I get called out from across the room and talked into ordering a big cheeseburger with fries. I think he could sense my weakness. Anyway, the burgers are ok but their fries are where it's at. Try their tarter too. Sandwiches are good but overpriced.
(3)John F.
Mel's is located in my building. The do a pretty good on the go breakfast, plenty of options for hot food in the morning as well as some refrigerated things too. I'll get lunch there a couple times a week, the sandwiches are all made to order and never disappoint, the salads are also made to order, my personal favorite is the taco salad. They do burgers and soups as well. Usually busy during lunch but the wait is worth it.
(4)Conner W.
Customer Service Alert! Today I was in Mel's, ordering a sandwich, and I was curious why they were charging a certain price for a certain item. At checkout, I casually asked who was in charge so that I could provide some feedback to the stakeholder. Quick as lightning, an employee next to the one I had posed the question to jumped up and nearly ran to go get the person in charge. They didn't even ask why I was asking. Less than 30 seconds later, out of the back came a very nice woman wearing the title of 'Owner.' She immediately introduced herself and we shook hands. It was apparent that she is very much 'hands-on' with the business, which I always like to see ('Ivory Tower' owners suck, BTW). I explained my question to her and she very gently explained why they charge the amount they do for the item in question. She also thanked me for taking the time to provide feedback. I walked away impressed and satisfied that I had received a logical and honest response to my question. This customer service interaction has proven to me that the people running Mel's do care about their customers and their business. If the owner is willing to drop what she was doing in the back, during the busy lunch hour, and come out to speak with a customer about an unknown topic, then I can only imagine what happens behind the scenes...probably lots of other great things! Thanks for your time, attention, and willingness to receive customer feedback on-the-spot!
(5)Natalie G.
Convenience store and burger shop! Everyone working the day I stopped by were super friendly. Ordered a burger and fries, and enjoyed both. The fries were nice and crisp and had a good flavor. You order the burger at the counter, then go to the register to pay. Once I finished paying my burger was ready for pickup!
(4)Kat L.
A bunch of co-workers took the bust to SLU for a Lunchbox Laboratory Birthday lunch. Those of us who had two much on our plate to take a two hour field trip decided to head to Mel's for our hamburger fix. So here is the way it works. There are two different stations, burger & a sandwich and salad station. You order what you want. They give you a ticket that you bring to the cash register. After you pay you come back to the station and wait for your order to get called. You exchanged a paid slip the cashier gives you for your food. Every single employee I had contact with was extremely friendly. For the price the cheeseburger was big and delicious! I also loved that you got the choice of grilled onions at no extra charge. And the fries were some of the best fast food fries I have ever had. They were crispy on the outside. Soft on the inside. And they tasted like potatoes. Make sure to get some of Mel's Special Fry Sauce. There are two reasons this places falls short on 5 stars. 1. The hamburger patty lacked a lot of flavor. It really relied on the condiments. 2. They carry Pepsi products. Though I prefer Coke, I like Sierra Mist better than Sprite. But they do not have any lemon lime pop. They had Pepsi, Mr.Pibb, Root Beer, and Mountain Dew.
(4)Teresa C.
Mel's serves great food and the service is great, too! The taco salad with chicken is my favorite, and I also like their veggie burger and fish and chips. The people are very friendly.
(4)Sara H.
How is it that I've never reviewed Mel's? This place gets 5 stars because it really is just the kind of lunch place a busy worker bee needs! Sandwiches, salads, soups, hot grilled items, grab & go...etc. All delivered speedily and with above-and-beyond friendly attitude by every employee every time. My one gripe is that they have 4 soup pots and I've never seen a single veggie option on the soup, which is a real bummer!
(5)Serena A.
Have you ever eaten somewhere so perfect.....that there isn't much to write about? Well, that's how I feel about Mel's Market! This has been my go-to lunch spot for years now, and it never gets old or disappoints! The Mandarin Chicken Salad (minus chicken, add garbanzo beans) is my favorite thing on the menu, although, I've taken a bite of my son's burger and it was delicious. My son requests a Mel's Market burger anytime he is downtown at work with me! Mel's is about as convenient as it comes if you are downtown Seattle and need a bite! They are well organized, fast paced, and have the POS system perfected!
(5)Dub N.
First time I been here.... 5-star customer service all the way. Pretty cool layout and price was nice.
(5)Active R.
Great place to grab lunch !! Friendly staff :)
(4)Anna A.
I love Mel's !! I work downtown and frequent this building because there is a post office inside. Every postal trip and I can't help but go to Mel's to grab lunch. So far I've tried a variety of salads - pre-made and made to order as well as the cold wraps and hot food (fish & chips). Everything is always delicious! The layout is a bit overwhelming when you first walk in but once you are familiar the line is always quick with little to no wait. They have a huge seating area in the lobby of the building that works great for business lunches or a casual meet up. Staff is always very friendly and attentive (even when it is busy). A tad pricey but for downtown, I think the prices are moderate, its not cheap eats but definitely matches its quality.
(5)C F.
I've worked across the street from Mel's for years, and I've been there probably almost a hundred times. The best part of Mel's is the staff. The people working here are uniformly upbeat, positive, and friendly. Mel's hires people who are interesting and unique, but still understand how to operate in a fast-paced restaurant environment. An efficient system is in place that allows the staff to efficiently handle the lunch rush that crowds this small establishment every weekday. The burgers are very consistent. I have ordered the same custom burger almost every time I've come to Mel's, and it has only been served wrong once, which is an exceptional track record in my opinion. The fries are excellent, especially when fresh, and getting the optional grilled onions on your burger is a nice touch. The only complaint I have about Mel's is that the burger patties seem to not be cooked to order. I imagine they grill up a bunch of burgers ahead of time, and when you order one, they throw a patty back on the grill for a minute to heat it back up. The plus side of this is that they serve up a burger in a couple minutes flat. The downside is that the meat is usually a bit dry and bland. Personally, I would rather wait a few minutes for a better quality patty. That said, I'm still a loyal Mel's customer.
(4)C. C.
I love this place. Whenever I'm working close by I always try to get here for lunch. I'm addicted to their chop chop salad with the balsamic vinaigrette. Although the last time I was there they didn't have any in the pre-made salad section. I almost cried. I hope that was just temporary and that they haven't gotten rid of it permanently. Their deli-style sandwiches are awesome. I have also tried their breakfast sandwiches, which are good. And they are one of the few places that carries Bagel Oasis bagels, which are by far my favorite bagels. They are true New York style dense bagels as opposed to the fluffy soft things that so many other places around here offer. I've never tried Mel's legendary burgers or fish and chips but have heard great things. And the staff is super friendly, helpful and efficient to boot. Mel's, please don't ever leave me!
(5)Victor S.
Good food fairly priced especially for being downtown. The portion size for a cheeseburger and small fry is filling for price
(4)Caitlin D.
I've been on the hunt for a reasonably priced, good cheeseburger. This might be my new go-to. My eyes were bigger than my stomach and I got a double. Be warned- it's a lot of food. Their fries were decent too, better than I expected, actually. They only carry Pepsi products on their soda fountain though, which is sad. Super quick and really friendly staff.
(4)Addie R.
So their food is pretty good - the burgers are big, but I wouldn't say they're the best I've had by any means. The fries are good too. However, I haven't the chance to try anything else because it is simply CHAOS in there. You walk in, confused where to go, crowds of people milling about - I'm really disappointed in that because I think people flow and design are critical to a positive experience. It was frustrating and intimidating to make an order because it was so crowded and unclear what to order, where to move, how to pick up the food. Seems a lot of people really love Mel's though; I'd prefer to go somewhere less chaotic and confusing.
(3)A T.
We just moved to Seattle and checked this place out. When we first walked in it was obvious we were newbies, looking around kind of aimlessly. A woman (the owner I think?) came out and asked us how we were then explained the different stations and favorites. She was so nice, asked about our move and everything. The food was really good and fresh, and everyone else we encountered was equally as friendly as the owner. We will definitely be back.
(5)Ruby P.
love the hash browns. especially sour cream and cheese baked, and their mac n cheese with onions. love love love go just for that
(4)Ron F.
I had California chicken sandwich it was as expected. Payment line was quick. Fries were not that good, I bit too greasy for me. I would return but not get the fries.
(3)Alissa V.
Couldn't be happier to have this deli near my office. It's quick, fresh, inexpensive and has a ton of options. Friendly staff, and the theme/ signage brightens my sometimes-dull work day. Oh, and they have sprouts. I'm picking up what Mel is putting down, if you know what I mean.
(5)Yvonne D.
I love Mel's Market! This may be my favorite find in Seattle thus far. I accidental came here when I searched for "market" thinking I'd find a grocery store. But to my luck, it has become a weekly go-to lunch location. + 20% off for mentioning Yelp (its surprisingly how many people don't) + loyalty stampl card: one punch for spending $2.50, after 10, get $2.50 off + top 10...maybe top 5 chilli's I've ever had + fish n chips Fridays! I can't wait to go back!
(5)Rod W.
The things to know about Mel's: The staff is friendly. Every single one of them, from the cashiers to the sandwich makers to the hot food section. Their tuna is the best in downtown. Great bread and meat selection. The burgers are off the chain. And if you get there too late you won't get one, so get there before 2pm. The lunch combos are affordable and filling. The soups are flavorful and hot. They've got a nice grab and go selection... better than some grocery stores. I don't need many words to review Mel's. They are my "go to" when I forgot to bring lunch and can't decide where I want to eat. Maybe I'm biased since they're adjacent to the corner of my building, but whatever man, just go there.
(5)Jurija M.
Uh, YUM. If I lived in Seattle, I would certainly plan on becoming a regular. My boyfriend saw the reviews on Yelp while we were staying in Seattle so we gave it a try. This place is open and clean, easy to navigate through, and friendly employees. My boyfriend had a burger and fries that he loved and I had the Mediterranean salad. SO good. I wish I could go pick up a salad as I type this! *Don't forget to mention Yelp! The place is already fairly priced but the additional discount is icing on the cake!
(5)Tiffany P.
Mel's has hands down the best customer service ever! I've always had the nicest people help me and make wonderful suggestions. They are quick and fresh! I always leave with a smile on my face and yummy food in my hand. It's a Seattle gem!
(5)Daren D.
Nice salads, mm not bad. I like the food concept, with the different greens, all the offerings... I just felt their salad bar could have a better selection. Organic's To Go before them had slightly better, while Market Fresh likely tops all. Although, i may have caught atleast one item I've not seen at the others. Interesting dressings. The colors n design are alright. Interesting use of lime green. One thing I found peculiar was that they take your greens selection and add your toppings, so it's not a self-serve salad bar, it's a "Subway-style" one. Idea for job creation and tips? IDK... but atleast the bowl is good and they tongs-toss it up for you. "Drop it like it's hot!" says the tip jar on top.
(3)Yekta A.
This place has a great selection of yummy food at great prices for people who work in/around this building! Great place to stop in for the yummiest sandwiches!
(5)Anthony C.
I feel bad giving this place only three stars, but that's only because the staff was super friendly. My general feeling about ordering food here was that it felt like that first day of highschool, where you have eight different people telling you where to go and what to do all at the same time. Oh, and while you're at it go find all of your classes within the next 32 seconds. They have you place your order at a counter on one side of the restaurant, give you a slip to take to the register (On the other side of the restaurant) to pay for your meal, and then the soda fountain is hidden behind a crowd of other people on a different wall. Then, after you get your drink you have to return to the first counter where you ordered your food, hand them a slip and get your meal in return. It felt very chaotic and weird. Mix that with a (Veggie) burger that was just "ok" and it just doesn't sell me. They did give me $1 off for having checked in on Yelp though! So, that was neat.
(3)Rebecca K.
I like this place... only four stars because, well, it's not the highest quality food, but it is at the very least always good and always consistent. (VERY important in my opinion...) I like that I have the option to get a salad if I wanted to go that route, although, very rarely is that what I end up with. They have specials every day and coupons! (posted on their website albeit a bit hard to actually find... melspickup.com ) Have tried a few different things... all good. Fries were made fresh to order so worth the wait, chicken cobb sandwich was very tasty but messy, my standard is the bbq chicken wrap (mostly because it is pre-made and very quick!), and the chili is pretty good too! I will usually go here when I'm not trying to watch what I eat, because I know I will never make it out with something that is completely healthy, but every once in a while it's good for lunch. Oh, and as others have mentioned... a BIG shout out to their excellent customer service! Their employees have always had big smiles and are so incredibly helpful. It is actually very refreshing.
(4)Nick B.
No doubt in my mind this place serves the best burger in town! I had the double bacon cheeseburger with fries. The hamburger was absolutely delicious! They even have their own "special sauce" that is really phenomenal! The fries were great too, the nice crunchy kind and not the soggy dangly kind. Also, this place is bustling for lunch but they get you through in a timely manner. Everyone that worked there was really friendly. The only downside I have (which still isn't enough to knock the 5 star rating cos the food is so great!) is that I thought it was a bit expensive. I paid $9.50 for a combo which I think is pretty steep for hamburgers and fries (no matter how great they are). However this place is downtown so I guess you have to take that into account. Bottom line, you will not find a better burger/fry combo downtown!
(5)Diana W.
The first time I came here, I was so confused. But once you know where to go, it is very easy. The egg salad sandwich is very yummy and the price is decent. The staff has been very friendly. No complaints here.
(5)Lazaros K.
Nice place, everything looked fresh and tasty. The burger station was closed at the time so I had a sandwich.
(4)DeAnne E.
You may think it's a grocery store but it's really not. It's a pretty popular lunch spot. It's on the pricier side but it's a given because it's in the financial district of downtown. The set up is in stations. You have the salad and sandwich station. To the left of that is the hot food station: baked potato, soup, lasagna, and more. To that left of that is the payment station. I came in because I wanted a Caesar salad. The greens, in a plastic container, are located in the refrigerator right before the salad counter. I gave the guy behind the counter my greens. He took the plastic container and dropped the greens in a metal bowl. He tossed in chicken (optional), lemon (optional), dressing, and croutons and mixed it together. He gave the mixed salad back to me in the same plastic container. By the way, the guy behind the counter is very friendly with all his customers. I took my salad to the register. Even the guy at the cash register is friendly and energetic. He was singing to the music in the background while I was pulling out my money. The restaurant doesn't have it's own seating area but I like to sit down in the Safeco Plaza lobby area. They have lots of tables and chairs. You'll find it if you'll walk north passing by the hot food station and the cash register station.
(4)Dante M.
I've been to Mel's on three separate occasions and two of those have been favorable. This place is great for a quick grab and go of either a sandwich and some soup, salad, and they even have a grill with hot items! The two times that I have come and been impressed was when I got their cheeseburger and fries. You can totally customize your burger with all the fixings if you want by filling the paper out and handing to them, they do the rest. I had the deluxe burger with bacon and avocado and it was very tasty! Big size, and a generous portion of french fries. Yum. The other time I came and wasn't satisfied was when I ordered the lasagna and bread. The lasagna was not very tasty, and bread was bland and cold. Definitely not fun. If you come, get the burger. Next time I'll try the sandwich, if that is favorable I'll bump this up a star ;)
(3)Kelly M.
I'm at Mel's Market about three times a week. I'm not there because their salads are the best in the world; I'm there because their service is easily the best I've experienced. Everyone there is insanely nice - and it's not fake nice either. I'm convinced that every employee there truly loves their job. From the peeps that make the salads to the cashiers, each person greets you with a smile and is super helpful. You guys are awesome!
(4)Patrick M.
Big double cheese burger and a 32 oz soda for about $7-$8. Good burger, reasonable price, fast and friendly service. I will be back
(3)Christian S.
This is probably 1 of the best places to get a good hamburger, salad or sandwich for lunch! Their fries is probably 1 of the best in Seattle and always my go to place for a quick and easy lunch. People working there are friendly and helpful. If you go at noon you might need to wait for a while in line but never too long! Finding seating in the lobby is hard at times, just wait a few minutes and a place will open up!
(4)Chi N.
Cheap, fast, great menu items and very friendly staff. For breakfast, I like getting the bagels here for 2 reasons: they serve more cream cheese options than just the regular cream cheese and I like the size of the bagels, they are a little smaller than normal bagels. My mornings are usually crazy so if I get hungry, I like grabbing something I can eat quickly but filling. For that, the bagel here serves me right. For lunch, their Monday special fish tacos is my favorite of all the daily specials. They use panko breading. Their burgers and fries are good. FRIES especially, they are fat, juicy and crispy.... yussss I also love... the condiments section. I wish every fast food/take out place have it because some of us can get pretty crazy about condiments. MmHhmm... ; ] Really, though what makes this place great is the workers. They are always energetic, happy and really nice. Lifts my spirit especially after a busy day cooped up in meeting rooms or cubicle all morning. Thank you for being so awesome.
(5)Ivan H.
Fast and friendly, good quality food. Had the egg salad sandwich and enjoyed it very much.
(5)K G.
This is one of my go to places for lunch. I usually get the half sandwich combo. One thing that bugs me is that they charge extra for "premium bread". I find that their normal bread is to thick and squishy. Their breakfast sandwiches for fill the eggy, meaty and cheese goodness I sometimes needs in the mornings . The employes are super nice and friendly and the owner is often on site. Don't forget to grab one of their punch cards.
(4)Marley B.
Great place for a quick lunch while in the financial district of downtown. Made to order burgers, sandwiches, salads- plus a variety of soups and pre-made grab and go items. Add in the friendly staff, reasonable prices, quick-moving line, and you've got a winner! They have a large selection of vegetarian items- including breakfast wraps, sandwiches, burgers, salads, and sandwiches- and their food is always piping hot. They also really take care of their customers- often offering coupons for return visits. Note that there's no actual seating in Mel's- but the lobby of the building it's in has lots of seating, plus a roof deck on the 4th floor.
(5)Nathan J.
The people who work here at Mel's are the friendliest in the downtown area. Their smiles keep me coming back.
(5)Jennifer O.
Inexpensive place to grab a quick lunch. They make a nice custom salad, and the hamburger is a good deal for the money. I keep eyeballing the cookies the size of a hubcap when I am in line... But so far my will power has held up.
(3)Ray I.
Even if the food wasn't excellent, I think I'd come here for the great music they play and the great, snappy, friendly service. I had breakfast here almost every day I was working in Seattle.
(3)erica r.
The only things I've had here are the tossed salads. You know the style -- you pick your bowl of greens and X number of ingredients, and they toss it all together for you w/ the dressing of your choice. These places are literally on every corner in midtown NYC b/c these salads make a perfect lunch. In Seattle for some reason, Mel's is the only place I've found with these types of salads. This place does a decent job with the salads. I think you get up to 5 ingredients included in the base price. My only complaint is that their selection is a bit limited...just add some avocado, PLEASE!
(4)Patrick L.
"Not fast food, just good food delivered quickly." Their motto is so true! They're super friendly, from the nice ladies that perpared my order to the gentleman behind the register. Great prices, where I got a burger, fries, and fountain drink all for the price of just a sandwich at Specialty's across the street. They have hot/cold food like sandwiches, burgers, soup, salad, etc... The fries are among the best too. This place is very popular, but it's designed well with plenty of room so you're not crammed in like at many other local spots. What a great lunch destination!
(5)Sadie W.
This is my favorite place to grab lunch. Not only is it fast, it is fresh! The people who work there are really friendly and you can tell they are enjoying what they do. My favorite thing there is the Taco Salad. I get it nearly every time. Their french fries are to DIE for! They have all homemade dipping sauces and dressings too which is bomb.
(5)Lisa F.
Mel's is entirely too conveniently located to my office, so I go when I don't want to wander out in the rain. Good standard sandwiches, salads, and grill items. I've never tried the soup, so can't comment. Have Linda make your sandwich. She loads on the meat and fillings and will chat you up. They even offer to toast the bread for you. Much better value than Specialties too. I've been coming here for years and was bummed out when it closed and became Organics to Go. Mel's is back and good as always. And now they offer fish and chips every day.
(4)Georgia W.
Hugs all around! Yes I want to tip AND hug the staff at Mel's market. They dutifully put up with all my annoyingly picky requests.... - could I have 2 extra cucumbers please? - could you please NOT put the cream cheese and avocado on the same slice of bread? And they do it all with a smile! Have yet to try the "build your own spud" bar. A little pricey, but worth it when you consider the above average sandwich fare and the out of the ordinary friendly service.
(5)Jane A.
YUMMY FRENCHFRIES I've had a few items here... - salads, great - soups, wonderful - mini lasania meal, filling and good - donuts, average - FRENCHFRIES, marvelous They people that work there are so nice and they provide awsome service. Especially the lunch ladies that serve frenchfries. They know exactly what time I come in and from a distance they already know what I'm about to order without saying so.
(4)Astor A.
Oh Yum! My new favorite place. I plan on being a regular. Saw the other reviews on Yelp and thought it would be safe to give it try and it was not a let down. Is five stars to much? No. It's an open floor plan. Most places downtown are so small you think your in your walk in closet. This is open and easy to navigate and you can stand back and read the large menu boards without people pushing. It is clean and bright and not stuffy! Then there are the workers. Most business forget the people dealing with customers are as important as the food. Trish and Barb made the experience great. Trish filled my order of fish and chips. She was so generous with the chips that I couldn't eat them all and I am a potato fanatic! Then Barb, after the sale, I remember I saw the 20% discount on yelp. She re-rang the order. I did not expect that I figured I would use it next time. They were friendly, kind and engaging. So, the deco, the employees, how about the food? I got the fish and chips for 6.99. My meal was better then most sit down places that cost 2-3x's more. No kidding. The cod was firm, fresh and not over done. The beer batter was coupled with panko bread crumbs and it was light, not over battered. The meal came with 2 lemon slices (love lemons), Cole slaw, and their tarter sauce, not the stuff from the bottle. The chips (aka fries), amazing. Warm and salted with sea salt with some of the panko fallen onto them. The fries were plump and "potatoie". I liked them so much I couldn't throw them away so I'll throw them in the oven for dinner, or a side for lunch tomorrow (if I don't go back for a burger). I came back to my office with a smile on my face from how nicely I was treated I was going to write this review before the food,but I couldn't wait. So I went to the patio at my building to enjoy my lunch and enjoy I did. I am glad no one was sitting near me to hear me making yummy, content noises :)
(5)Rebecca S.
The nicest people ever work at Mel's! That's pretty much all I like about it though. I don't like the margarine they put on the baked potatoes, and I don't like that they use ice cream scoopers to put the margarine and sour cream on the potatoes. The ceasar salads are also a bit small, and the salad dressing is way too garlicy for my liking. Getting a ceasar salad and a baked potato also feels a bit steep here when it's not even that much food. I think I generally spend $8-9 when I come here and I'm still hungry when I finish my lunch.
(3)J K.
I pass Mel's all the time, but the Instant Living Social Deal finally got me to go in. SUPER friendly and personable staff, great selection of food, and prices are good. Love the salads - they're huge! Will definitely go back again.
(5)Ryan G.
I love their made to order sandwiches. They're huge, offer tons of optional toppings, and have several breads to choose from. They also have burgers, pasta, salads, pre-made sandwiches, but I have only had the made to order sandwiches. The sandwiches are great, and I used to come here at least once a week, but they've jacked up the prices over the last few years (only reason for not receiving 5 stars) so I frequent this place much less often.
(4)Shari d.
Mel's is back and I couldn't be happier. The layout and food is slightly different but the faces are the same and the service is equally nice. They have a variety of selections for breakfast and lunch and have installed a new "build your own" salad station which I throughly enjoy. Even though it is your general breakfast / lunch fare (i.e. breakfast sandwiches, bagels, sandwiches, salads, pasta) it is cheaper than the other restaurants around serving similar fare. I am SO glad that they are back! Please never go away again and if you do keep the Organic people away!
(4)Laura P.
Craig at Mel's Market had such a great customer service response today, which saved them from a 2 star rating. My coworkers and I hit up Mel's on our less-than-lunch-hour, mainly to spend some time with a coworker who is leaving town. Two of us had the mandarin chicken salad. It is one of another coworker's favorite salad. In the old Mel's, you just ordered the salad. In the new Mel's you choose which type of greens (spinach with mixed greens or romaine) in the cooler, then walk it over to them to add the rest of the salad ingredients. I used to love this salad, but every bite of chicken I had was just gross. Either it was a bit fatty or odd-tasting. The rest of the salad (red bell peppers, almonds, fried noodles) were tasty and hadn't changed. In the end I started pushing the chicken aside. My coworker just wasn't feeling it for her mandarin chicken salad. Even less so when she found a blonde hair in the salad. Immediately, the rest of our group tried to figure out whose hair it was, as the three people behind the salad bar weren't blonde. I persuaded her to bring the salad back so we talked to Craig who promptly wanted to rectify the situation. He was super pleasant and remembered that he prepared my salad as well as my coworker's. Without any hassle, he refunded her money. As this was her last day at work, I didn't want her to have a crappy send-off lunch. Craig was genuinely apologetic and made up for that hairy lunch. Mel's is so close to work so naturally we'll go back, even if she can't. I just won't get the chicken in my salad and I'll hope that the hair-thing was a quirk.
(3)Jan M.
This is a great place to grab a take-out lunch in the area around 3rd and Madison. The food is always excellent, and there is a good mix between healthy things like salads and burgers and fries. The staff are always very nice.
(4)Remington M.
This place has great burgers, the price isn't bad for combos considering how much you get, their sandwiches are awesome and the staff is pretty friendly. Even when they're busy they make you feel like you're business counts instead of rushing you, the bacon on the burgers is crisp, the patty itself is juicy, and the fries are borederline orgasmic with mayonaise. The only thing that sucks about it is that you have to get there by 1 pm and if you're held up you're screwed. hey larry, if you read this, show those guys at johnny rockets how to get their shit together.
(4)Alanna M.
Mel's is back with the same friendly faces and food options with a slight face lift. If it's not broke don't fix it. The Organics to Go was just way too expensive for lunch. It's nice to have the option of getting pasta, burger, salad or sandwich in one convenient location The last soup I bought there was overly salted so I won't be doing that again.
(4)Keysha B.
Love this place. They really know customer service and it shows. They use the power of social media to reward customers and the food is quality for a good price.
(5)Rachael A.
I'm ecstatic that Mel's is back. Organics to go is no comparison. I'm a sucker for their taco salad. The new layout makes it a lot easier to get to what you want too. The service is always the best.
(5)Holli M.
Num. Heard about this from coworkers, and had to try. One of the best burgers I've found downtown so far for a quick to-go lunch. Good fries. Totally satisfying. Will go back. Worth the trek up from Belltown for lunch.
(4)Tony G.
There are many good reasons to become a vegetarian. If you want to read a list, go here: britishmeat.com/49.htm . If you are a vegetarian there are good options at Mel's Market so you should be all set. If you are an asshole, like myself, who has no conscious and likes a God Damn tasty burger what the hell are you waiting for? Eat the delicious burger here! A juicy dead cow between a toasted bun, lettuce, tomato, and special sauce (which is usually mayo and ketcup). Half way through this thing you say to yourself, "holy crap, I still have the other half to finish." If you are like me and order the combo, after you eat the burger you realize, "holy crap, I still have the fries eat!" The fries are crispy and delicious shoestring fries. Right now I feel like crap. I am so tired and feel so heavy, but I don't regret it. No siree. That cow did not deserve to live. It was probably an asshole and deserves to be in my stomach. Ok seriously, I realize eating animals is wrong. I don't want to eat animals. But what's done is done and I can't go back and change anything. To make matters worse, I accidently threw my garbage in the recycle bin and was too embarassed to get it out. Ya, I know, real model citizen huh? I also stole a sucker from a baby on the way back to work, and kicked an old lady in the shin. They deserved it. Zipzap Zubidy Bop!
(4)Ashley S.
Delicous burgers, quick and on the cheap. A great lunch spot if you work downtown. I grabbed a deluxe burger combo and left feeling more than full. The sandwiches are fresh, handcrafted, and really hit the spot. I was here twice in one week and the staff remembered me on my second time through, which I found impressive given the amount of customers that come through.
(4)Steph K.
If you like a good burger on the cheap, this is your place. Deluxe burger (1/3 lb patty, special sauce, tomato, onion, lettuce, cheese) with fries and soda comes to $7.57, which is a steal considering there's enough food for two people. You can get chicken or veggie patty also, and there are other burger variations and add ons. The custom sandwiches are excellent as well. Anything you want, on any kind of bread. My favorite is a modified 'Farmer John'. The basic FJ is egg salad and bacon. I like it on the potato baguette with some cheddar cheese melted on it. Very very heavy food, but awesome. The salads are good too. I get them less frequently than I get the burgers, though that will change soon. They have lasagne (veggie, chicken or beef) and soup also. Mel's is worth your time if you're in the downtown business core. Update 7/26/2014 Ownership at Mel's has changed in the few years and while it's not the same place it was, it's not bad. They claim to have the best bacon in Seattle, and you know what? I think they're right. It's the best -- not too salty, cooked perfectly. I am mostly a breakfast visitor now. The burgers are not the same but I'm not really a burger kind of girl anymore anyway. Still worth your time.
(4)Tarah M.
I was teetering between rating this place 3 stars and 4, based on the price I paid for a petite salad. I paid $7 for a seriously small salad that looked like it could be consumed in 5 bites. However, after I took one bite of this goodness, I was all over it. I had the summer spinach salad w/goat cheese, strawberries, and pecans, with a balsamic vinaigrette. De.lic.ious. Freshly made and flavor was worth the price. Haven't tried their sammys but I'd be willing to go back for a second round.
(4)J T.
In middle school we had "the good fries" and then the terrible steak cut fries that seemed like they were still raw in the middle. Chalk it up to nostalgia, but those were some of the best fries I've ever had...until now. Mel's fries, wow. Killer. I went in and was just planning on getting the Deluxe burger, but when I got there I saw that fries and a drink was just $2 more, so I went ahead and got 'em. Best decision of the day. As for the burger, it was the deluxe with bacon and grilled onions and it was pretty darn good. The only thing is that the bacon was way too dry for my liking. A ton of seating outside as well. And 'cause it is in some building, it was wide open and spacious- I didn't feel cramped and hurried at all. Final thing is that the people there are AWESOME. I know that everybody mentions it, but they really are. Special shoutout to the two burger ladies that helped me (Trish and Mary?) you guys are the best.
(4)Justin M.
Reasonable prices and great burgers! I had the BBQ burger and it was good.
(4)Martina M.
Yum! I love this place for a quick lunch. The stuff isn't gourmet, but it's good food, quick, and it's affordable. I've been here twice and got a deli sandwich and then a grilled chicken sandwich and they were both delicious, fresh, and huge portions for the money. I'll be going here more often for lunch!
(4)Pizza Party S.
Mel's is coming back Sept 8th! blogs.seattleweekly.com/… If I were honest, it would be 3-stars for food because they aren't serving anything mind blowing. Slightly greasy burgers, fries, and hot sandwiches. Pasta bar with coices of alfredo or marinara. The prennial All-American favorite baked potato bar with giant potatoes with butter, sour cream, bacon. Salad bar sserves the oriental-chicken/taco/ceaser "salad" niche. The choices all taste fine and are filling -- average to above average fare that is quick and cheap in the downtown financial district. Extra half star of glee for seeing off the disgusting Organics-To-Go . Organics-To-Go is basically the McDonalds of organic food (except McDonalds tastes better, easily) at 200% mark-up. Organics-to-Go is a horrible caterer and even worse store front. Too bad Simon's in the 4th and Madison building is still in its evil grasp. Other half of a star? Awarded for the fact that the old Mel's would put alfredo sauce on anything. Anything. Baked potatoes? Chicken fingers? Lasagna? I've seen the ladies behind the counter put alfredo sauce on all of these items. While I've never done it myself, its a comfort to know that option once again exists on 3rd and Madison.
(4)Cliff C.
I've been to this place far more than I care to admit, I've eaten hamburgers here far more than I care to admit. Thanks to the new year and new year goals I've moved over to their salads, but I reward myself by killing all my weight loss progress by eating a delicious hamburger.
(3)Cherry Blossom Girl A.
So sad to report that Mel's is CLOSED!! Unfortunately, they went the way of their coffee place upstairs and now are part of the Organic to Go mini-chain. Tragic. Mel's had the best asian chicken salad around with tons of veggies. They were super reasonable, unlike pricey Organic to Go. Let's see if the new business will last.
(3)Raymond W.
First off, let me say that when I first moved to Seattle, one of my first jobs was at Mel's when they had a location in Bellevue. Although I was based at a different location, running delivery I would still make it to Third and Madison just about everyday to pick up box-lunch orders and prepped sandwiches and salads for their other locations. I've seen the kitchen, I've seen the employees (many of the same ones are still there) work in the kitchen. That fact that I sometimes choose to eat there should say something. Most of the food, burgers, sandwiches, tossed salads (tee hee), baked potatoes, and pasta, are alright. Not fantastic, but not bad for the average prices- you can get a sandwich and chips for right around $6. One would have to be hard pressed or really hungry to spend much more than $8. Sounds pretty average, right? Well, it is. So why the 4 stars? Three reasons: 1) Yelp doesn't offer a half-star rating and I tend to round up (I'm a Glass-Is-Half-Full kind of guy... that is on the rare occasions that I'm thirsty). 2) They have breakfast calzones, which are delicious! Scrambled eggs, cheese, and either bacon, ham, or sausage, baked in to a dough pouch. Under $3 and keeps me filled up for the day (if you go a little after 10am when breakfast ends, both the calzones and breakfast sandwiches are two-for-one). 3) Their tuna is really good- not too wet, not too dry, with just a bit of relish. I believe that tuna is a very personal thing. Everybody likes it a different way and has their own foibles when it comes to making "proper tuna". It wasn't until I was into my late twenties that I could bring myself to eat tuna that I didn't make. Even now, when trying a new place, I still ask to taste the tuna before committing to a whole sandwich. Mel's doesn't skimp on it either with each sandwich getting two heaping scoops. However, like I said in my review for Mel's sister store Joelle's, unless you like things soggy, stay away from the grab-and-go and order fresh. They keep the line moving so it doesn't take that much more time.
(4)Bryan M.
I'm glad I searched SeattleVegan and found this place. Great vegetarian options here! It is pretty crazy with hot food, sandwiches and such served at different islands and the cashiers at another. Wander around and find/order all your fixings then try to figure out which line goes to the cash register island. The veggie sandwich was very fresh and awesome. The vegetarian lasagna was awesome too. Prices are much more reasonable than going to some place like Organic to Go, especially if your appetite is larger than a single sandwich or whatnot. There's seating in the lobby to the attached building as well if you want a change of scenery from the office.
(4)Traci J.
First it was Mel's, for a short time it was an Organics to Go, and now, they're back, and better than ever. I've loved their Asian Chicken Salad since the beginning, got the pasta special of the day, then progressed to their made-to-order burgers and fries. Yum - a good sized patty, all the fixings on the deluxe: avocado, cheddar, bacon, lettuce, sauce, pickle and tomato. Fries are almost always piping hot and their ranch dressing is delish. This morning I was in the area and grabbed one of their coveted Joe's Special Calzones. OMG - that thing was huge. Pizza dough covered scrambled eggs, sausage, cheddar and spinach. It would be cool if they could make one big ass omelette with all that stuff, then shove it in the calzones. The sausage cubes were trying to escape so you have to take a bite, then hold the thing upright so the plentiful goodness doesn't fall out. Another thing - these people really like their jobs, are always smiling and are super friendly.
(5)Jacquie P.
There's nowhere to eat in my building, so I occasionally trek down the street to Mel's for a quick lunch. Build your own salad bar = super yummy choices and good prices. Last time I was in a big hurry so I ran in and grabbed a pre-packaged salad. It was missing its dressing so I asked one of the salad bar ladies if I could get a a little dressing to go. I handed my salad over to her and she ended up tossing it for me, adding some more croutons and tomatoes, and apologizing for the missing dressing. So nice! If you're on the run downtown, definitely check out Mel's.
(4)Andy W.
Quality, variety, and AMAZING people. When you first walk in, you might be a little overwhelmed by all the options and all the signs everywhere. It's not super obvious where you should go first. But if you stand there for more than about 10 seconds you will be approached by a super friendly person who will patiently explain everything. Even if the food were so-so, which it's not, I would go back just for the wonderful people who work there.
(5)Trance A.
5 stars for the "old mel's" which is no longer. But, I'm happy to report that the organics to go nazis are no longer in business at this location. Turns out that we aren't interested in $9 nasty organic sandwiches (Note: I do feel that organic food can, and should, taste great, but organics to go just kills it). Let's hope that Mel's comes back... EDIT AND UPDATE - there are now signs outside of mells that it's coming back in "late august". Says "same management, same employees". Well, now that those bastards at the organic dive bought it, I doubt it'll be the "same". Probably another scam by the organics to go people. but, I'll wait with fingers crossed
(5)Holly W.
They've got the best french fries. I would go out of my way to get a bag of them, but luckily they're in my building. The manager knows me by name, the cashiers are always friendly.
(5)Dave K.
"Not Fast Food, Just Good Food Served Quickly" That's the truth. Best sandwiches around. Get yours made by Lonnie.
(4)Jasmine M.
Hehheh, what a bunch of whack jobs! I love this place. The first time I wander in it was close to closing and I picked up a bottled green tea beverage and some pretzel pre-packaged snack. Second time I came here nothing like the first visit, which consisted of me being the only customer in the place along with two employees. My second visit was in full lunch shouting mode. The place was teeming! Seasoned customers weaving in out and of the few newbies, myself included, who dared such a virgin visit at such an intense time of day. Now don't get me wrong. There's nothing about this place, even in it's terror alert level red, that is bad. In fact, the employees thrive in it and on it. The majority of the customers didn't notice or are so use to it they can side step you with the grace of a panther yet not look at you once. The employees know how to get you in and out as soon as humanly possible. And when I wandered too close to the salad area and was shouted at as to what I wanted by a very friendly man (seriously, despite the shouting and calling the employees do - this place is very friendly and at times jovial - yes I did just type jovial .... twice) and had to pull back and assess from a safe distance. I caved under the pressure of not knowing that I had all these fabulous options to choose from (burgers, salads, lasagna, baked potatoes, sammies made to order) and picked up a pre-made roast beef with cheddar, creamy horseradish, tomatoes, and lettuce on rye. It was so fresh it was like I made it myself at home. I loved it. My co-worker informed me that they make the best made to order sandwiches and their BLT is brilliant. However their BLT with avocado is orgasmic if not daydream inducing (my words). Things I learned from my second visit, which lead to me successfully acquiring a BLTA. 1: No eye contact until you're ready. 2: When you have what you want, put it down on the cashier counter, that's how they know you're ready to pay. 3: Only have the lady with the glasses and blond hair make your sandwich (while I watched her make my sammy I told her about my last trip in with the confusion and hustle & bustle, this caused her to grab another handful of fresh crisp bacon, break the strips in half and cram them onto my sammy, her words, "Well we want you to come back") 4: The pre-packed sammies and salads are made fresh daily too, don't poo-poo them 5: Tip. They deserve it. As for making sure I come back, no worries!
(5)Annie B.
BEST BLT here - they load on the bacon and it's thick pieces of bacon which I love and prefer. They serve hot foods also which is decent. Had a pasta dish once. A little pricey but I think it's worth it - especially that BLT.
(4)Kristine S.
I've only ever eaten the burgers and fries at Mel's, but their sandwiches and salads look great, too. It's just that whenever I go there, I just can't say no to the burger! The thing I like most about Mel's is their customer service. Everyone, from the cooks behind the counter to the people at the register, is so friendly and all of them seem genuinely happy to see you whenever you stop by. I've eaten there maybe a dozen times and every single time, all of the people who work there have been so warm and welcoming. This downtown lunch spot gets really busy during the 12-1 lunch hour, so I recommend getting there a little early to avoid the rush.
(5)Danica S.
I must come back and rate Mel's 5 stars for the exceptional customer service received by PamC. My first experience was really good, and my only complaint was the cookie I purchased. ---To my surprise, Pam replied and welcomed me to return to try a cookie they carry that's made by a local baker. I forgot the name of the bakery, but the cookie comes in a paper bag with a bit of cellophane in the front. The snicker doodle cookie was chewy, fresh, buttery, and packed with cinnamon. I'm a bit bummed my husband got glimpse of it on the drive home, so I had to share lol! I also tried their cheese burger with pepper jack cheese and it was delish!!! It had a flame broiled taste, was larger than any cheeseburger I've ever ordered for the price, had a soft sesame bun, and my favorite----it wasn't a dry burger!!! They topped it with fresh fixin's, including a yummy thousand island burger sauce! My large burger and small fry was about the price I would pay at a fast food restaurant, but the quality doesn't compare. So glad my coworkers suggested Mel's for my burger fix. This could be dangerous---very, very dangerous! HaHa!
(5)Kristin W.
Wow, I've been by this place a bunch of times on my way to the Post Office, but my first time in today. I arrived fairly early, around 10a, so they were still prepping things, but I ordered a customized salad and it was huge. I liked it could pick and choose. It was drenched with dressing, but in the future I'll just tell them to go easy on the Ranch ;) They have a huge variety of things to order - soup, salad, sandwiches, burgers, fries, etc. You can either get the pre-packaged ones or made-to-order. Prices were decent for the amount of food you get, not to mention fresh. I'll definitely stop in more often. Staff were all friendly and helpful despite me being there early before they were fully done with all their prep. Clean, organized environment. Lots of seating outside in the lobby area.
(5)Teaira L.
*The* spot to go to for a sandwich. When I want a great sandwich, I go to Mel's. Thanks to a friend who recommended this place, I know everytime I go, I can expect to be satisfied. Their level of customer service and the meal itself, is consistent. Something other sandwich shops don't have. I usually get Virgil the Veggie and because all I want are veggies the guys and gals stack it up, asking if I want veggies that are over on the salad side of things. When I say stack it up, I do not kid. I only eat half of the sandwich and save the other half when the munchies kick in later. All the veggies are fresh and have that satisfying crunch. For about $7-$8, I can get a meal for lunch and dinner. It does get crowded, but the staff has a systems that handles the volume well.
(5)Jennifer F.
Mel's sandwiches and burgers aren't anything spectacular, but they're good and decently priced. Definitely could be a go-to if you want to grab a quick lunch in the financial district! Plus, they sell convenience store snacks/drinks. I've tried their smoked turkey sandwich, and their mushroom swiss burger + fries. The sandwich was the kind you could make at home, but I didn't get any add-ons. Regardless, it was still pretty filling. The burger wasn't greasy (neither were the fries), and wasn't falling apart like some burgers do. It seemed like the patty was precooked though, because there wasn't really a wait. Both the sandwich and the burger + fries were filling, and came out to be about $7-8 (after the $1 off discount). They also offer combo deals! NOTE: You can get $1 off for checking in! ($5 minimum purchase)
(4)Thao N.
Have been to here twice. Once I ordered an almond chicken salad sandwich and loved it. It was only 6.49 but so filling but fresh because a lot of veggies. The second time I ordered a taco salad. It was the most filling salad that I have ever had. Overall, the price is very cheap for the amount of food you get. I love this place. Staffs are so friendly too. Definitely recommend this place! Definitely 5 out of 5
(5)Heather B.
Mel's is a great place to grab lunch. So far everything I've had has been super fresh and really tasty. I had a delicious ham and navy bean soup last week when it was rainy and the sandwiches are oversized and very good. Super friendly staff too! Yay Mel's!
(4)Scott H.
It is hard to find a good burger in downtime Seattle without going to an expensive pub. Mel's delivers a solid burger, as good as any of the pub's and restaurants, but for a much better price. The other thing that is hard to find is a place that also has good fries. Mel's also delivers with good fries. It isn't Five Guys or Red Robin, but it is now my favorite downtime Seattle burger place. They also have good breakfast sandwiches and good brownies.
(5)Edward R.
Best bang for your buck for a burger in the $5-$7 range...! Really can't go wrong. Juicy and flavorful and awesome choices. I highly recommend Mel's as a lunchtime choice.
(5)KT E.
If you want to know what customer service looks like, come here! Everyone is very nice and it comes across sincere. They go out of their way for their customers and this is a fast food joint! Customer service here is above and beyond my expectations. Especially the man that handles the breakfast bar ... I don't know what his name is but if I find out I'll update this review. They serve breakfast items like eggs, bacon, sausages, breakfast sandwiches, burritos, and for lunch they have made to order sandwiches they have salads .. cookies drinks chips and soup. They have everything! It's a really nice place to come for a quick lunch when you're in the financial district!
(5)Coley U.
I love coming here!!! The food is delicious and the employees love being there-- you can definitely tell. A restaurant that's closed on weekends? Unheard of-- no wonder the employees are always happy! Kevin is the salad wizard and has turned me into a "regular". :)
(5)Amanda W.
My go-to place for fresh fast food! Everything on their menu is really good. My favorites are the burgers and salads. It gets really busy during lunch hour but the lines go by quick. Exceptional customer service from all staff members, which is pretty rare when it comes to fast food establishments. On Monday's, you can get a bounce back coupon for your next visit within the week ($1 off on $5 purchase or more). Pretty sweet deal when you are a frequent customer!
(5)John L.
Food is fine but, better to go there since there is confusion about meal deliveries possibly by another operator. Just call ahead and be a careful customer.
(4)James S.
My partner and I visited during the lunch rush and was pleasantly surprised with the speedy service. The chicken salad sandwich was delicious, thank you!
(4)Joel M.
I work in the building so I have a lot of exposure to Mel's. When I first started working in the building, I avoided the place because I felt like it had some sort of weird business park cafeteria vibe going that I didn't think that I would mesh with. I finally went in some two or three years ago and discovered that I was wrong. Not only do I like Mel's, I've come to greatly appreciate it over the years. Want a burger? When you walk in the door near lunchtime, the friendly burger guy will almost always call you over to hawk the burger special. If you choose to partake in said special, you're likely to find that your burger will be delicious, juicy, and quick to arrive. They have a lot of custom options available and the fries are great, too. Want a salad? They have a salad bar where you can build your own salad from scratch or you can order one of their many menu options. None of the salads that I've ordered there have disappointed. They're sizable, too, which is great. I'm a big fan of the taco salad on days where I want to KIND of eat healthy but still get in some greens, but I'm even more of a fan of their recent super-salads that they've started carrying. Kale, quinoa and fiber abound! The crown jewel, though? The sandwiches. I absolutely love sandwiches, and Mel's never disappoints. Go to Lonnie, and he'll build you a heaping sandwich masterpiece with a smile. The BLT with all the free stuff on it? You can't beat that. So many veggies. So much thick bacon. So good!
(5)Kyle M.
Always enjoy soup and sandwich day at Mel's. Sadly I don't deviate from my go-to favorite of the Farmer John and chili - why ruin a good thing right?!? Service is always impeccable and appreciated. I haven't tried the online ordering yet but seems like a great idea.
(5)Ajmal H.
Its a neighborhood breakfast and lunch place.. Nothing overtly special
(3)Tsunami J.
The salads are fantastic. How can you go wrong when you pick the ingredients! Always fresh and priced well. We go primarily for the burgers, which are great, but I have found myself getting a salad more and more often as well. The staff is great and friendly. The foods are prepared quickly - very rarely do we have to wait more than just a couple of minutes.
(5)Pizza Party S.
Mel's is coming back Sept 8th! blogs.seattleweekly.com/… If I were honest, it would be 3-stars for food because they aren't serving anything mind blowing. Slightly greasy burgers, fries, and hot sandwiches. Pasta bar with coices of alfredo or marinara. The prennial All-American favorite baked potato bar with giant potatoes with butter, sour cream, bacon. Salad bar sserves the oriental-chicken/taco/ceaser "salad" niche. The choices all taste fine and are filling -- average to above average fare that is quick and cheap in the downtown financial district. Extra half star of glee for seeing off the disgusting Organics-To-Go . Organics-To-Go is basically the McDonalds of organic food (except McDonalds tastes better, easily) at 200% mark-up. Organics-to-Go is a horrible caterer and even worse store front. Too bad Simon's in the 4th and Madison building is still in its evil grasp. Other half of a star? Awarded for the fact that the old Mel's would put alfredo sauce on anything. Anything. Baked potatoes? Chicken fingers? Lasagna? I've seen the ladies behind the counter put alfredo sauce on all of these items. While I've never done it myself, its a comfort to know that option once again exists on 3rd and Madison.
(4)Cliff C.
I've been to this place far more than I care to admit, I've eaten hamburgers here far more than I care to admit. Thanks to the new year and new year goals I've moved over to their salads, but I reward myself by killing all my weight loss progress by eating a delicious hamburger.
(3)Cherry Blossom Girl A.
So sad to report that Mel's is CLOSED!! Unfortunately, they went the way of their coffee place upstairs and now are part of the Organic to Go mini-chain. Tragic. Mel's had the best asian chicken salad around with tons of veggies. They were super reasonable, unlike pricey Organic to Go. Let's see if the new business will last.
(3)JacnDan P.
What is happening to my (work) block? Organic to Go is taking over the world. It's a Monopoly and they need to be stopped!!! ;) Seriously, they moved in downstairs, they took over Mel's, they moved on to the other two corners. Give me some freaking choices 'round here!!!
(3)g h.
I used to get the Farmer's Johns sandwich which is egg salad with bacon. But this time I felt a little guilty so I didn't get the bacon just the egg salad. I miss the bacon... But, the egg salad was pretty tasty. Get it with tomatoes and pickles. Really good. The sandwich maker was very friendly too. They are fast as well.
(4)V K.
I don't really care for the food but I rate them 5 stars b/c of the nice staff members. Everyone there are so nice and friendly.Wish Joelle's upstairs learned from people at Mel's.
(5)Jasmine M.
Hehheh, what a bunch of whack jobs! I love this place. The first time I wander in it was close to closing and I picked up a bottled green tea beverage and some pretzel pre-packaged snack. Second time I came here nothing like the first visit, which consisted of me being the only customer in the place along with two employees. My second visit was in full lunch shouting mode. The place was teeming! Seasoned customers weaving in out and of the few newbies, myself included, who dared such a virgin visit at such an intense time of day. Now don't get me wrong. There's nothing about this place, even in it's terror alert level red, that is bad. In fact, the employees thrive in it and on it. The majority of the customers didn't notice or are so use to it they can side step you with the grace of a panther yet not look at you once. The employees know how to get you in and out as soon as humanly possible. And when I wandered too close to the salad area and was shouted at as to what I wanted by a very friendly man (seriously, despite the shouting and calling the employees do - this place is very friendly and at times jovial - yes I did just type jovial .... twice) and had to pull back and assess from a safe distance. I caved under the pressure of not knowing that I had all these fabulous options to choose from (burgers, salads, lasagna, baked potatoes, sammies made to order) and picked up a pre-made roast beef with cheddar, creamy horseradish, tomatoes, and lettuce on rye. It was so fresh it was like I made it myself at home. I loved it. My co-worker informed me that they make the best made to order sandwiches and their BLT is brilliant. However their BLT with avocado is orgasmic if not daydream inducing (my words). Things I learned from my second visit, which lead to me successfully acquiring a BLTA. 1: No eye contact until you're ready. 2: When you have what you want, put it down on the cashier counter, that's how they know you're ready to pay. 3: Only have the lady with the glasses and blond hair make your sandwich (while I watched her make my sammy I told her about my last trip in with the confusion and hustle & bustle, this caused her to grab another handful of fresh crisp bacon, break the strips in half and cram them onto my sammy, her words, "Well we want you to come back") 4: The pre-packed sammies and salads are made fresh daily too, don't poo-poo them 5: Tip. They deserve it. As for making sure I come back, no worries!
(5)Annie B.
BEST BLT here - they load on the bacon and it's thick pieces of bacon which I love and prefer. They serve hot foods also which is decent. Had a pasta dish once. A little pricey but I think it's worth it - especially that BLT.
(4)