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Melanie's Food Fantasy
Category: Restaurants Breakfast & Brunch Breakfast & Brunch [Edit]
664 W King StBoone, NC 28607
(828) 263-0300
- Price Range:
-
$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- No
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Breakfast
- Alcohol:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
28 reviews for Melanie's Food Fantasy
Review Highlights
"Do yourself a favor and try the tempeh Benedict."
(in 1 review)
"This is a local hotspot and the service is great."
(in 2 reviews)
"...are many vegetarian and vegan options here, which make it..."
(in 3 reviews)
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28 reviews in English
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Review from Sarah H.
Roanoke, VA
12/23/2011
I am giving 5 stars because the service was way above average and the coffee was actually hot!
I ordered a lot of food and liked it all. I had homefries, apples, a pancake, and toast with applebutter. The toast was the best, I will probably get two orders of it the next time! -
Review from Jules S.
12/9/2011
(And the angels sing) FINALLY! The breakfast spot I've been looking for in NC- a perfect blend of fresh food, inventive large menu, dog-friendly outdoor seating and friendly service. This place has it all.
The menu has a great blend of comfort breakfast food and healthy vegetarian and vegan food. We had the tempeh scramble with sundried tomatoes which was a-may-Zing! And french toast which was delish as well. The coffee and tea were great and there were so many organic options, which I really appreciated. I preferred the outdoor seating to the diner feel inside.
We loved everything about this place (sans the wait) and am heartbroken it's not in Charlotte. Boo. -
Review from Roger H.
Asheville, NC
12/5/2011 1 Check-in Here
Have had brunch here...great local small place with excellent food. Can be hard to get in. Highly recommend this spot or Hob Nob down the street. I give the nod to Hob Nob, but don't say no if you can get in here.
Great stuff....especially brunch! -
Review from Christopher P.
Boone, NC
12/18/2011
Very good food for the omnivore, vegetarian or vegan. Reasonably priced and a wide variety of delicious menu choices keeps Melanie's high on my list of breakfast and brunch choices.
They close at 2 so you should head early, and they are usually busy. Bead comes from the local bakery and is stellar. Free coffee while you wait and outdoor seating when the weather permits.
Like all places in Boone, it's small and the seating is crowded. Recommended for all first time visitors to Boone.
Sometimes the staff can come off like a bunch of hipsters, but they are nice and friendly once they get to your table. -
Review from Nicholas G.
Hendersonville, NC
12/10/2011
Definitely better than average breakfast, but nothing to go out of your way for or wait an hour for.
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Review from tom j.
Wilmington, NC
7/6/2011
The host was fast and very efficient. Large outdoor eating area, although full when I walked up it was easy to get a table. This is a busy place and tables cleared out fast due in part to the awesome host.
During my short wait for a table I watched all the food come out, and everything looked great!
Once seated the service was great, the food was very good. Unfortunately my girlfriend ordered the same thing that I ordered so we couldn't sample more.
Prices were very reasonable. It was very close to getting 5 stars. -
Review from Chelsie M.
Boone, NC
3/25/2011
This is probably the best breakfast you'll ever eat in your lifetime. It's all the freshest ingredients, nothing is frozen or pre-made.The prices are decent and competitive with any other breakfast place in town. Worth every cent.
On a nice day, plan to wait for a table though because it is a very popular spot with limited space. Don't go there in a rush. It's an experience and here in Boone, no one is in a rush.
This is a local hotspot and the service is great.
You will not be disappointed. -
Review from Travis J.
Saint Louis, MO
3/31/2011
Melanie's is good if you cant stand the idea of hickory-smoked bacon, sausage links, or crispy liver-mush. Unfortunately for me, I certainly can.
That aside, Melanie's does a damn fine job considering their lack of meaty breakfast necessities. The homemade biscuits and gravy are killer, lots of flavor and goodness. On the weekends they have free coffee for you while you wait for a table. And yes, you WILL wait.
The servers are all very friendly and, lets put it this way, happy.
For a unique Boonetown experience- give it a try. -
Review from Kuanyu C.
1/23/2011 1 Check-in Here
A friend of mine and I were in town visiting her younger brother in school, and we were looking for a local place to grab a quick bite in the morning. You can definitely tell it's the local hotspot, because it was only 9:30 am but already there are dozens people standing outside to be seated, in 40* Fahrenheit. Hot coffee were provided for those who have to wait outside to be seated.
Step into the restaurant, and it was like walking into someone's family kitchen/dining room. This place is definitely too small for the popularity it receives, and for good reason. The wait staffs were courteous and welcoming, and always with smiles on their faces even though they have to take care 40 people at the same time.
Disclaimer: this is a place that does breakfast right! Everything on the menu was like breakfast you eat at home, but super-charged. All the ingredients were fresh, some even locally raised and farmed to support home town business. Additional disclaimer: they do not skim on the portion, so when they said hearty breakfast, they do mean hearty portion of breakfast.
This is definitely a place worth driving 6 hours just for the morning visit. -
Review from Ann J.
Austin, TX
8/25/2011 1 Check-in Here
Excellent eggs florentine...fresh real tomato, fresh spinach, perfectly cooked eggs, homemade hollandaise. Very pleasant outdoor seating and excellent service. What more can you ask for?
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Review from Paige T.
10/19/2011
I don't think I realized that this place was called Melanie's Food Fantasy; I just thought it was Melanie's, hm. After a night of roughin' it with the babe at a local campground, my husband and I were starving and wanted to check out downtown Boone. There was not a whole lot to choose from along King St. at nine am on a Saturday. Alas, Melanie's did become a sort of food fantasy...to every one in town! We had to wait about twenty minutes, but thankfully they had a pot of coffee going for the line that was out the door. Once we were seated, we quickly decided to split the pumpkin pancake special of the day and the eggs benedict--very good decision. The pancakes were fluffy and the eggs benedict sufficiently tasty, sort of light on the hollendaise, which I didn't mind. Our waitress was very nice and the interior was quaint. Melanie's Food Fantasy, while not exactly my food fantasy, completely satisfied.
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Review from Bill P.
Crystal Lake, IL
8/7/2011 1 photo
Did I have a bad day? No. Did the manager and the hostess? Yes. Do they regularly have this attitude that they did with me? I would think that they just screwed up and have much better days. However, to not correct a problem that I spoke with them twice and then whisper to each other that all is well, is just poor judgement. The resturaunt biz is about happy customers. I was not a crazy unhappy guy, nor made a scene. But I went away quietly with a real real poor perspective of this place. I see a few comments about the hostess in this thread. It may be that the owner just does not realize this.
So we waited 30 minutes to be seated, which is OK since it was a Sunday and what better way to signal a good restaurant than to have to wait? Any business owner would dream of this chance. The problem was that when you picture this restaurant, imagine a small entrance to an old bungalow house, and then you stand or flow into the front room which has been converted to three tables. Now picture about 15 people standing and then you are sitting down at the table and the people are just right there, within inches waiting to be seated. Now picture, which I provided, the door to the kitchen within 3 feet, and the other coffee area about 10 feet and people running back to the kitchen, the noise etc. So when she sat us there, I said "can I wait for another table?" She said, "it will be 30 minutes" I took the table but asked if something opens up I would like it. 5 minutes later there was a mass exodus of people, and tables opened up, and then the whispering started between her and the manager pointing at us and then the manager said, which I could hear ""well seat the people now waiting, they will just have to live with it". I asked again and the hostess said she would see.
Then the food came. I ordered the denver omlette which was very good especially for the price. My wife ordered the waffles and they were way under cooked. So, with pain I asked the good waiter, (who did a good job and I tipped him well) apologized and sent them back. I finished my food and then my wife got hers. No commentary from the manager but he saw the whole thing. He was trying to hope that this situation would just go away.
What a lousy experience except for my plate and the waiter was decent. Look at my other reviews and realize that I am not a negative guy just one that is surprised that the owners let this type or caliber of manager keep up this poor behavior. -
Review from Helena K.
7/6/2010 1 Check-in Here
The morning of my best friend's wedding in Butler, TN, my husband and I rose early and drove the twenty or so miles in to Boone---takes at least 45 minutes, what with all the mountain passes (well, perhaps not a bad drive for a mountain dweller, but it certainly was for this piedmont girl)---and came upon Melanie's, quite by chance and, drawn in by its brightly-painted exterior, picket fence, and bustling patio, we practically knocked each other over racing to the door.
First of all, the people who work here are unbelievably nice. Our server was just as genuinely sweet as can be. Her name escapes me now, which is a shame, because I'd very much love to give her a shout out here. She has short brown hair and wore overalls over a Carolina Tarheels t-shirt. Such a nice girl. (Does this sound like a Craig's List "missed connections" posting or what?)
Second, their coffee is amazing, never-ending, and served in charmingly mismatched mugs. Lots of Splenda (my sweetener of choice, which is sometimes a rarity in eco-conscious, vegan-friendly joints), sugar in the raw, etc., and whatever else you need to sweeten it. Delicious cream, too.
Third, this place is a vegetarian's dream come true. Do yourself a favor and try the tempeh Benedict. OMG. Nearly everything has a vegan and/or gluten-free option, too. The fruit was uncommonly fresh. And the grits were like none I've ever tasted and I've lived in the South since '98. So very, very good. And, I might add, an instant hangover remedy. We partied hard at the rehearsal dinner the night before, but immediately felt wholesome and healthy once more after our feast at Melanie's.
Breakfast for two, with coffee and juice, plus two sides à la carte, and we got out of there for under $30. Now, this, my friends, is as good as it gets! -
Review from Jeff S.
Raleigh, NC
9/7/2010 1 Check-in Here
Only in town for the day and chose this spot. Food was above average, but service was poor and there is no air conditioning. We were sat by the kitchen/main entrance which sucked.
I would only go back if I could insure a better table and was optimistic about better service.
The food really was above average. Overall a 3 star but could easily be 4 on a better day and if you were just a left wing liberal hippie probably 5 stars all day long everyday. -
Review from Michael H.
San Jose, CA
5/31/2011 3 Check-ins Here
Great menu and fresh ingredients. Perfect for breakfast or lunch. If the weather is good, sit outside! I would come back for the food again and again.
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Review from Casey H.
Boone, NC
7/6/2011
Melanie's is one of the top breakfast places in the area. The seasoning and flavors they can get into their menu items will amaze you! Their homemade bread is an amazing addition to your plate of eggs and potatoes!
The summer environment in a small mountain town is the perfect destination for everyone! -
Review from David H.
Alexandria, VA
8/1/2006 1 photo
Stuffed French Toast...Live it, Love it. :-)
There was a trio of bluegrass minstrels playing on this sunny sunday taking requests and that made this a wonderful brunch-day. Excellent service. We ate outside under umbrellas. They serve soysauge and a plethura of tempeh dishes as well if you are so inclined in that direction. Flee the hot DC swampland for the cool breezes of Boone in July! :-) -
Review from Bill Z.
Houston, TX
7/21/2009
This is probably my favorite place to eat in Boone. Brunch here has become an affordable weekend tradition that my wife and always anticipate.
Generally, Melanie's is packed with like-minded people, so expect to wait a little. I particularly like this place because it is very vegetarian friendly, without sacrificing taste. Their organic pancakes are a delight, and they have daily special pancakes (my favorite so far have been the strawberry-banana pancakes).
The student weekly special (two eggs, home fries/grits, toast) is a great deal, and they have wonderful biscuits. My wife is a fan of their vegan gravy (which I find a bit peppery for my taste).
All in all, I am never disappointed when I eat here. -
Review from Jake B.
Charlotte, NC
4/27/2011
Standing in line waiting to be seated even though there were plenty of open seats. It was clear we were putting the Hostess out by waiting to be seated (per the sign) and then she informed us there was longer wait for food because they are so busy. I liked the honesty but the delivery was hey you are bothering me. We left before being seated as did the couple behind as we didn't want to be a burden by being a customer
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Review from Rebecca S.
Austin, TX
4/9/2010
So worth the wait if you make the time.
On my last visit, I filled a mug full of scrumptious Bald Guy Brew coffee and did a crossword puzzle during my wait, you can't really beat that.
Whatever the quiche special may be, try it. I LOVE their quiche. The tempeh scramble is also phenomenal. Some of the best "fake meat" I've tried is at Melanie's. There are even student specials during the week. Go spring or summer and sit out side, brunch it up all morning long if you please but bring your own Coke or Sprite if that's what you're craving to drink because you're not going to find one there. -
Review from Sarah T.
6/15/2009
Wanted to hit up a few of the old breakfast stomping grounds; Boone Bagelry, Sunshine Grille, Daniel Boone Inn... but my little brother (who is a Junior @ App, and hip to what is hot in the high country right now) insisted that we try out Melanie's.
The patio seemed divine for the pleasant Boone morning, but it was packed, so we opted to get seated faster and eat inside.
I don't like maple syrup, and some of what it seems Melanie's is most known for is pancakes, waffles, and french toast. None of which I ever order anywhere, ever. So, I went with the Biscuits & Gravy. They were above average, as was the Canadian bacon. I would've preferred some bacon bacon - but it wasn't an option.
Our waitress was very friendly, and despite forgetting to bring by my brother's orange juice until after the food arrived, she was pretty good considering the crowd.
Overall, I recommend it - but not over those old favorites. Not yet at least. -
Review from Tricia O.
Durham, NC
3/1/2011 1 Check-in Here
Hands down best french toast I have ever had! Good prices and selection. Friendly service. Very good organic coffee and homemade bread! We went during the week so we didn't have to wait for seating. I heard it is beyond packed on the weekends. Would definitely visit again, but only during the week!
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Review from Paul A.
Boone, NC
1/2/2011
Melanie's Food Fantasy is THE place for breakfast in Boone. I was thrilled to see their return. The current location means that it is almost always busy, but the food is certainly worth it! Not a place to "grab a quick bite." Eat Fresh, Eat Local!
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Review from Rebecca S.
Boone, NC
9/20/2010
Melanie's is an adorable restaurant with tons of personality. It's one of my favorite places in Boone to eat. Make sure to try the stuffed french toasts and quiche!
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Review from Christy R.
Boone, NC
7/24/2010
Without a doubt, Melanie's is my favorite breakfast place in Boone. Fortunately, we live just around the corner from it, so it's just a walk away to the best breakfast in town. Their food is simple, healthy, and delicious. My "usual" is an Omwich (omelette between 2 slices of toast) with feta cheese, and a fresh fruit cup (w/yogurt and granola). They use as many local ingredients as possible, including bread from Stick Boy bread and coffee from Espresso News. The staff is always friendly and cheerful--we've never had an issue. I also love that the same waitstaff have been working there for years...it really is a testament to the working conditions of this restaurant and the way Melanie treats her staff! Breakfast here is even better when you can get a table outside on their deck (well, during the warmer months!) Love, love, love this place!
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Review from Allison M.
Harrisburg, NC
8/7/2010
This is a wonderful little restaurant in the heart of Boone, NC. With it's artsy charm and delicious menu, I plan on returning once I'm in Boone. There are many vegetarian and vegan options here, which make it incredibly easy to enjoy a meal.
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Review from Hannah L.
Hoboken, NJ
2/17/2007
I love Boone. I've been there three or four times in the last six months. And Melanie's has the all-around best breakfast I've had. Ever. The coffee, the eggs, the french toast...it's all so very fresh. And it's made with hippy love, which I think makes it taste better. Everytime I am in Boone, the first place I go before I head to the mountains is Melanie's. And, nomatter how much you order, it never seems to cost more than ten dollars. Really! And yeah, the bluegrass trio playing against the back drop of the Appalachian Mountains...perfect.
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Review from patrick s.
Boone, NC
8/19/2011
my wife and small child visited melanie's on a busy saturday. we noticed the wait when we arrived, and were skeptical, but decided to stay since the food we saw coming out looked promising. after a shorter wait than we were originally told, we were led to a table on the corner of the patio. the coffee was good, from a local roaster just around the corner. i had the stuffed french toast, my wife chose the eggs florentine, and we ordered the kids pancake for our son. the food came in a reasonable amount of time, and was AWESOME! not usually one for specials, my wife had chosen to upgrade her florentine to the heirloom tomato version, using local heirloom tomatoes. she loved it! my french toast was piled high with bananas and strawberries, with a creamy raspberry filling layered between pieces. my son's pancake was some sort of multigrain cake, and was also good. i appreciate the service, which was quick and efficient. if you are in boone, you must check this place out!
