Mel's Raspberry Patch - Sanford

Moving on to the dining experience, the food turned out to be quite good. The eggs and pancakes were satisfactory, while the sausage and bacon were exceptional.... read more Moving on to the dining experience, the food turned out to be quite good. The eggs and pancakes were satisfactory, while the sausage and bacon were exceptional. The bacon, in particular, was perfectly cooked, achieving that elusive "medium" texture that many places seem to miss these days. Unfortunately, this is where things began to take a turn. At first glance, the pricing seemed reasonable, but it quickly became clear that the menu was quite limited with more side options than main course choices. Neither home fries nor toast were included with the breakfast meals—something I found baffling. Who does that? It feels like a strategy to create a seemingly affordable menu while ultimately inflating the bill with side items, which are typically standard inclusions in most diners. Service wise, it left much to be desired. The woman taking our orders was neither accommodating nor particularly friendly. She wasn’t rude, but her demeanor was blunt and matter-of-fact. As mentioned, the breakfast samplers lack toast or home fries—a puzzling choice given my 44 years of dining experience. When I inquired about possible substitutions, her response was vague; we were told it “depends.” When I asked if I could swap eggs for home fries, she curtly declined. And when I pressed for alternatives, she stated they don’t really offer substitutions at all. If that’s the case, why mention them? With a mix of highs and lows, it's tough for me to rate this place fairly. I wanted to give it 3 or 4 stars, but the menu design—forcing customers to add sides that are typically standard in breakfast meals—simply cannot be overlooked. For me, it’s a 2-star rating. If they were to include those sides in their breakfast offerings, I believe this diner could easily earn a 4-star rating. Adding a booth or two and including home fries in the breakfast meals could even push it toward a 5-star status, as the food truly was quite good. One final note: steer clear of the chocolate chip pancakes or waffles. They don't mix the chocolate chips into the batter but instead pile them on top, turning the entire plate into a messy hot fudge disaster. While I appreciate the generous amount of chocolate chips, it would have been far better if they were incorporated into the batter.

The food was disappointing. I ordered an omelet with cheese and onions, but the eggs were incredibly dry with no cheese or onions included. It was inedible. I w... read more The food was disappointing. I ordered an omelet with cheese and onions, but the eggs were incredibly dry with no cheese or onions included. It was inedible. I won't be wasting my money there again.

I visited Mel's for the first time and had the best breakfast I've had in ages! It was a classic American breakfast, prepared with exceptional quality and fanta... read more I visited Mel's for the first time and had the best breakfast I've had in ages! It was a classic American breakfast, prepared with exceptional quality and fantastic flavor. The service was even more impressive! The waitstaff greets everyone by name and clearly loves their job and the community they've created. I just wish I lived closer so I could be a regular customer too!

Wonderful little breakfast and lunch place. Definitely a hidden gem. Menu and daily specials. Can't go wrong. Staff is friendly. read more Wonderful little breakfast and lunch place. Definitely a hidden gem. Menu and daily specials. Can't go wrong. Staff is friendly.

Went on Monday and it was such a cute little place! The waitress was so nice and there was hardly any wait at all other than trying to decide what to have! So m... read more Went on Monday and it was such a cute little place! The waitress was so nice and there was hardly any wait at all other than trying to decide what to have! So many things sounded delicious. I had eggs benedict and I was not disappointed! The pancakes are huge as well and they put so many blueberries. I would highly recommend going to check it out.