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Mel's Country Cafe
Categories: Restaurants Southern Restaurants Burgers Southern, Burgers [Edit]
24814 Stanolind RdTomball, TX 77375
(281) 255-6357
- Price Range:
-
$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Private Lot
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Lunch, Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Beer & Wine Only
- Drive-Thru:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
46 reviews for Mel's Country Cafe
Review Highlights
"The Chicken Fried Steak is huge and tasty."
(in 14 reviews)
"...pound of bacon, .25 pound of American cheese, lots, lots of..."
(in 3 reviews)
"The best side is the green beans."
(in 5 reviews)
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46 reviews in English
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Review from Erin L.
Cypress, TX
12/7/2011
YUM YUM YUM! Just moved to Tomball not long ago and have been meaning to try this. Me and the husband went around lunch time on a Sunday and were seated right away.
I had the catfish with fried. Never really had catfish but if there is a squeeze bottle of tartar at any restaurant, you better believe I am ordering the fried fish. Fish was good and the tartar was great. My husband ordered the Mel burger which was huge and delicious. We tried the onion rings- had a perfect crunch and the onion stayed in the batter when you took a bite...perfect.
I'm sure we'll be back at some point. It is great whole in the wall places like these that keep me from being a size 2 :-) I LOVE IT! -
Review from Scott M.
Houston, TX
12/14/2011 2 Check-ins Here
Somewhere in that kitchen of theirs is a grandma you just want to hug.
The food at Mel's takes me back to my mom's kitchen at home. Reminds me of when we would sit down as a family for dinner on a Tuesday night.
Nothing is spectacular, but everything is comforting and good.
A charming country diner on the side of a road a little out of the way. During lunch time, you will see a cross section of America. That simple country feeling adds to the experience.
The staff is friendly and you can talk a little Friday Night Lights with the couple sitting next to you.
Butter beans, corn bread, chicken fried steak, hamburgers and others round out a wonder selection of southern cooking.
Mel's is a throwback. Thank goodness its not too far away from work. -
Review from HoustonMidtownGirl M.
Houston, TX
11/13/2011
This was one of the funnest things to do on a Sunday. A nice drive to Mel's Country Cafe, where the food was so delicious, the service was great, and the atmosphere was...well, just what you'd expect it to be. Red-checkered tablecloths, linoleum floors, and names all over the walls with numbers beside them...the amount of minutes it took each person to finish a Mel's giant burger.
Chicken fried steak & country gravy, mac & cheese, green beans, cornbread, and of course...peach cobbler with vanilla ice cream. Huge glass of iced tea, and I won't need to eat for a few days. :)
We were prepared to wait, given what we've heard, but on Sunday at 1:30, the restaurant was full but no wait. Lucky us, as we couldn't wait to devour our Mel's goodies. -
Review from M H.
Tomball, TX
1/28/2012
This place used to be fantastic. But now it sucks. Big time. The last time I ate here I had a horrible experience the staff/service was extremely delayed, the cat fish I ordered was drenched in grease (and not in a good way) and the vegetables tasted old. It's sad because this used to be one of the better places in Tomball. Gordon Ramsay needs to get his butt here pronto, because this restaurant needs to face reality on a lot of issues. If you want good home cooking in Tomball go to the Rib Tickler. They cleaned up their act and their food taste fresh it smells better too.
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Review from KRISTEN P.
Dallas, TX
1/12/2012
We randomly went here for lunch after a good friend's wedding in Tomball. I found the place on...yep, Yelp. We decided to give it a try. It's kinda off the beaten path, but when we drove up we knew it must be popular because there were tons of cars in the parking lot. The parking lot is pretty large, too, for a restaurant that isn't that big. Service was super friendly and our waitress even let us taste their homemade macaroni and cheese before we ordered it! It was delicious. I had the chicken fried chicken with macaroni and cheese and green beans and Robert had grilled catfish with some kind of seafood sauce. Both dishes were out of this world. We loved everything about the place - from the decor, service, prices and the food. We often talk about how we want to go back to Mel's. I wish it was in Dallas instead of Tomball. But, on our next trip down to Houston, we're going out of our way and making a stop at Mel's!
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Review from Troy O.
Houston, TX
1/28/2012
I tried this place because a friend of mine recommended it. When we arrived, there was a crowd on the patio waiting to be seated. I took them being so busy as a good sign, so we waited. I was pleased with the decor (it reminded me of small town diners from my childhood). The three of us ordered the burgers because that is what everyone raves about. The burgers were fresh and fantastic and the onion rings were absolutely delicious! The only complaint I have is the big burgers they advertise. I get the gimmick and I'm sure its popular, but I don't want to be covered with lettuce and tomato juice when I'm done. I'm not knocking anyone that loves them; that may be your thing, but I have no interest in trying it and the portions of food we got was more than enough to fill us up. So in summary, love the atmosphere, love the food, will recommend it in the future but will advise people not to order the big burgers LOL.
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Review from Matt H.
Kingwood, TX
8/15/2011
The line wrapping around the side of the building meant that it had to be a great place to eat. Why else would people be out in triple digit heat waiting to get a seat at this hole-in-the-wall venue?
Once I finally squeezed into the loud dining room and placed my order, Mel's Country Cafe attempted to kill me with their large burgers covered in bacon.
Although the large portions are nice, I left feeling underwhelmed by the flavor and would only describe the food as "average". I think the atmosphere of the hard to find restaurant adds to it's charm, but I don't think I'll be running back any time soon. -
Review from Karen H.
Houston, TX
7/7/2011
Out on the Harley one fine hot Saturday, hubster and I were getting hungry. We were near the Tomball area without a care in the world. Picture a loud bike and I lean up to "whisper" in his ear what my stomach is trying to say... my one request: find an out of the way diner type spot with red and white tablecloths and I'll be happy. That's all I asked of him. Several twists and turns and me biting my lip before I asked if we were lost, but voila, we found Mels. (must admit, he's been here once before but it's very difficult to have a two way talk on the bike so I had no clue).
Busy little joint, but a few tables were still open. Waitress cooled us off nicely with fast drink service and offered a plate of biscuits from breakfast along with some cornbread. Hellla Yes, please bring with some honey, honey. He chose the daily special- pot roast along with sides of okra and cabbage. I chose the fried catfish, with hushpuppies and mac n cheese. All very very good. Ate all I could, but three pieces of catfish still on my plate. Sweet waitress must be a biker since she knew how to package a to-go creation for me to easily store in the saddle bag. Picture going to your grandmothers house for Sunday Supper, it's that good and that friendly. -
Review from Michael M.
Houston, TX
If you have never ate at mel's you are missing out. Its a hole in the wall place, that you will need directions to find. Fair warning though if you go during lunch or dinner hours you will have a wait. Now for the food they have the best burgers and they don't hold back on size but hold back on price. I don't like okra but will eat there fried okra when I'm there. I have driven across houston to go eat there. They have been on the food network, and other channels. I was there one time when a european channel was there.
Now if your feeling bold they have a mega mel burger which is a 1 1/2lb of beef lb of bacon and a lot of other stuff. If you eat it your name goes on the wall of fame. -
Review from Angela C.
Straight up in the middle of Nowhere, USA, this is a small hole in the wall that serves up some of the most authentic southern home cooked country staples. Word to the wise, don't come here if you're on a diet.
We started off with an appetizer of onion rings (served with ranch, me likey already). Oh man, these were fried to perfection and just soo DEELICIOUS. I was totally eyeing the fried mushroom appetizer too, and after seeing how yummy it looked on someone else's table, I totally regret not ordering them. Next time mushrooms, you shall be mine.
The fried catfish was super flaky and tender and the tarter sauce was delectably rich and creamy with that touch of homemade goodness. Hubby thought the CFS was just alright, but my father in law said that the burger was the BEST burger he had ever had. They serve most fried dishes with a huge cup of white gravy, exactly the way I like it. -
Review from Ryan V.
Spring, TX
6/14/2011
Dadgum I love this place. It's sooo far, but I love it.
Ditto to much of all the other good reviews, this place is busy, solid, and delicious.
The fried mushrooms are the bomb! And I've only ever gotten the burgers otherwise. Good stuff, old school giant portions, and nice staff.
Although, me and my dad were there a while back and asked for soda, and they brought us a 2 liter sized cup, and a can of soda. We decided the free refill lemonade was a better idea. Not sure if that's still the setup, but come on... :)
I try to make it over here when I'm in the area! Will be back again hopefully soon! -
Review from Kevin S.
The Woodlands, TX
2/18/2011
I first heard about this place from the Texas Burger Guy blog. Mel's had a reputation built up as time went on and I just had to try it to see what made this establishment so great.
After leaving the Woodlands mall my wife turned and said she was hungry. We almost settled on Freebirds which is just across the street from the mall, but then I remembered Mel's was still out there waiting for me to give it a try.
We drove all the way out to Hufsmith rd and finally came across the old rundown looking building that houses what many have come to claim as a burger legend worthy to fight any other burger mecca in Texas.
My presence was immediately recognized as me being an outsider. I was charmed by the lack of interested I was given. This place is truly an authentic country cafe, and the warm courteous welcome is not wasted on those who are not considered regulars.
"What do you want?", says the rusty and very unattractive woman holding down the fort. I replied by saying, "Well I just wanted to get a few burgers to go." She quickly fired back saying, "Well then go back that way I just sit people."
All of the drinks are laid out on a table in boxes, but don't even think about just reaching over to pick up your choice of poisen, there is a sign to remind the customer that only employees are allowed to pick up the drinks.
The bill was cheap. I paid 20 bucks for two drinks a bacon burger, a cheeseburger and some fries, and was well on my way out the door when the man working the register asked me to turn around (I thought I was in trouble). Turns out that he actually charged me for 4 burgers by mistake and wanted to correct the bill for me. The cheeseburger was only 3 bucks!!
I must say the burger patty was very impressive especially considering how economical the burger is. I really enjoyed the whole experience and even the drive to get there can be relaxing.
I hope all Texans nearby the Houston metro area give this place a try as it really is a good old country establishment the type that is becoming very rare. -
Review from John M.
Los Angeles, CA
2/27/2011
I have tried to eat the Mega Mel (3.5 LB burger) three times now and have not succeeded. The first two times I ended up behind Mel's Country Cafe attending "The Naughty Luncheon" so to speak and the third time I knew from experience that it wasn't going to happen. It's still on my to do list and will probably make another attempt next time I am home for a visit. Why do I do this to myself?
I give Mel's 4 stars because it lost some of its ambiance and mystery when every HP worker and his brother found out about it and Mel got rid of his mismatched chairs and perma-sealed the door off the street, forcing patrons to come in through the pretty NEW deck area. I want my Mel's old and mismatched, thank you very much! Build another satellite location and make it harder to find. -
Review from Lauren P.
Magnolia, TX
Updated - 8/1/2010
Still don't understand what the deal is here boys and girls.....
The place recently started serving breakfast so I figued I'd give them another chance.....stupid idea. There isn't a single Denny's or IHOP I've been to that's hasn't been *MUCH* better. I will *NEVER* understand why this place is always packed.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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8/12/2008
The food was good but not as fabulous as one would assume by the constantly packed parking lot {do… Read more »
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Review from Cynthia C.
Los Angeles, CA
2/1/2011 1 Check-in Here
I adore quaint little places like this. This place should be on Guy Fieri's show for diner/dive OR Adam Richman's Man v. Food challenge. Both work!
My parents live nearby, and every time we drive by, they always rave about their cornbread. We finally got to try it out. My brother ordered the 8oz country fried steak with fried okra and mixed greens, and I got the club sandwich w/ fries (i don't know what I was thinking for choosing this at a country-style joint. luckily, it was tasty.). The steak was good, but a little too much batter and the sides were a bit salty. The cornbread WAS heavenly, and it tastes even greater when you eat it at home as a leftover. The portions are humongous so I'd definitely recommend wearing some Joey Turkey pants!
I think everyone was a little caught off guard when some Asians walked in... it's an obscure little place...in a pretty rural area.... The lady who served us was very friendly. :)
I'm from Seattle/LA and I don't get much "comfort food" there, so this was such a treat. (BUTTER, CREAM & GRAVY!!!)
I'd definitely go back again to try the catfish or burgers. -
Review from Laura H.
Spring, TX
7/30/2010
My cousin told me that I had to eat here. That I would "love it". That everyone "loves it". I think what we have here is "Emperor's New Clothes" syndrome... Was it horrible? No. Was it as great as I have been led to believe? No. Perhaps it was the raw sewage smell emanating from the ground after a fresh rain, but I don't get the draw of this place. The food is not bad. The service is a bit slow, but the wait staff is great. The prices are ok. I did like the potato logs. All in all, I don't think I would make the 25 minute drive out there when there is a good CF Steak to be had right down the street. I'm not saying you shouldn't go here... I'm just saying I would have survived had I never listened to my cousin.
As a side note, my cousin had the catfish and said it was amazingly good. -
Review from Alexander T.
Houston, TX
Updated - 12/10/2010
This is absolutely one of my favorite comfort food restaurants. I can even wager to say it is the best in a 10 mile radius from its epicenter of taste.
It is however, incredibly far and is a good place to go if you are happening to go to ren fest. Fortunately (and unfortunately?) I work out near Tomball and am forced to make this excruciating drive daily.
The catfish fillets are breaded to perfection, with amazing smothered sides.
Jumbo Fried Mushrooms. I am unsure if Jumbo was on the menu, but this platter of appetizers can feed 4 easily for the price of 4.99.
And lastly, the burger challenge is as exciting as rooting tooting apple pie contest in game 7 of the world series. See pictures below.
http://melscountrycafe...
You can easily get out of here with paying less then 10 if you get specials.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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6/4/2009
I like Mel's Cafe as I like all things in life, namely it is Delicious, Cheap, and Quick.
for 2… Read more »
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Review from Scott M.
Sanger, TX
This place is in the middle of nowhere, but worth making your way to it. If you love a good burger this is the place. Big burgers at a reasonable price. If you have love bacon and cheese, they pile it high!
The Mega Mel is a huge burger (1 1/2 pounds of fresh beef, 1 pound of bacon, 1/4 pound of American cheese, & to make it healthy, lettuce, tomatoes, & onions). You have 2 hours to eat to earn the right to have your picture taken and name placed up on the wall with your time immortalized for all to see when it was that you nearly had a heart attack!
I hear they have other great food (eg catfish, etc), but when I'm here in the area, it will always be a burger for me. Couple more reasons to come: the wait staff is awesome, and the prices are very fair. -
Review from Alex R.
Providence, RI
7/4/2010
Outside Houston, Texas in a town called Tomball, Mel's Country Cafe is a local gem. Between my freshman and sophomore year of undergrad a friend who lived in Texas and I agreed it would be fun to drive to the midwest from her hometown. After flying to Houston and spending the night, her family took me to Mel's where I was able to see a slice of life in a real, family owned, Texas-Style diner. While there I couldn't help but noticed it was packed full of people. This is the kind of establishment you need to go to with a local or heads will turn.
When we sat down, my friend's father ordered the table a plate of onion rings. Thinking all onion rings and french fries are the same is a bunch of nonsense; these onion rings were huge and with a side of buttermilk ranch dressing, health wasn't in mind but great flavor was. For the main dish I ordered the Chicken Fried Steak Sandwich. Having only had that in a college dining hall I figured a chicken friend steak from any other place would be legitimate, well it was. A warm, hearty sandwich hit the spot on the hot, sunny day in Texas. I really can't recall anything uber special about the sandwich but it was a damn good meal nonetheless.
What really attracted me to Mel's was the infamous Mega Mel Burger. This burger is not just a burger but a challenge within itself. The burger consists of 1.5 pounds of fresh ground beef, 1 pound of bacon, .25 pound of American cheese, lots, lots of lettuce, tomatoes, onions, and pickles. According to the menu here's the details: Can you get your name on the wall? -
Review from Albert N.
Some of you might have noticed that we are on a neverending quest to find superb burgers, no matter where they are. One thing that we've noticed on this quest is the gradual creeping up of burger prices in the Houston area. Fortunately, it's not gotten to the NYC/Las Vegas levels of insanity (there's a $36 burger at Daniel Boulud that we hear great things about) but it's not unusual to pay $10 or more for a burger these days.
But what if you're on a budget, and still want a serious burger? One choice is Mel's Country Cafe, the legendary restaurant between Tomball and the Woodlands. While Mel's is known for the insane Mega Mel, the non-linebackers among us will discover that Mel's does a very credible regular burger, and it starts at $2.95.
Our choice this visit was the Bacon Cheeseburger. It's a 1/3 lb patty, hand formed and griddled to medium well (Mel's doesn't do medium rare). It's topped with traditional American cheese, a lot of good quality bacon, and a plentiful portion of the traditional veggie toppings.
Mel's doesn't skimp on the bacon; took about half of it off the burger before we dug in, and enjoyed a very nice bacon appetizer.
The burger is very good; with a nice charred flavor to the meat. The buns are griddled, the cheese is slightly melty, and the veggies are fresh and crisp - onions are chopped, which is our preference.
The only downside was the medium well temperature of the meat. Serving it medium well minimized the ooze factor, and kept the burger from entering the upper echelons of burgerdom in the Houston area.
The cafe itself is delightful. It's a blast from the past, with local families filling up the tables and enjoying the big portions and reasonable prices. It's bright and clean, and the service is friendly.
You'll notice all those names on the wall. Those are the folks who've finished the Mega Mel (a pound and a half of beef, a pound of bacon, a quarter pound of cheese, and all the trimmings) in less than two hours, and who lived to talk about it. Some hardy soul completed this task in nine minutes. We're impressed, but it's a record we wouldn't wish to attempt.
For those of you who live Inside The Loop, Mel's is a half-hour drive into the northwest, out 249 to Tomball. But it's miles away from the slick burger joints in the city, both in its feel and its prices. Try it - we bet you'll like it.Listed in: Tops in the Woodlands, Houston's Hidden Gems, Where to take Visitors?, Houston Dining Deals, Houston's Burger Bargains
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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5/1/2008 First to Review
Mel's is a little country cafe with a big dose of charm. It's a place where you can take the family… Read more »
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Review from Marchel P.
Spring, TX
12/4/2008 3 photos
If you are looking for good home cooked country meal; Mel's Country Café in Tomball TX is where you need to go. However, you almost need to know where to look to find the restaurant. It is off the beaten path on a quiet country road just to the west of Tomball. I say quiet the road is fairly busy but only because of Mel's.
We happened on to Mel's shortly after moving to the area 13 years ago. We would use Stanolind Road as a cut through and noticed that there were always cars parked in front of the restaurant. It did not matter what time of the day it seemed to be packed. We decided to try it and have been going back ever since.
They are known for their hamburgers; especially Mel's Mega Burger. If you can eat the Mega Mel Burger within 2 hours your name goes on Mel's Mega wall of fame. The burger contains 1 & 1/2 pounds of ground beef, 1 pound of bacon, pound of American cheese. Note that someone ate it in 9 minutes. There are several walls with names. I personally have not seen anyone eat the Mega Meal but I had long time friends who moved here last summer and the first time they went in someone ordered it.
They actually have all different sizes of hamburgers ranging in price from $2.95 to the Mega Mel Burger at $15.95. They are also known for their catfish and chicken fried steak. Friday evening is all you can eat catfish and pop corn shrimp.
At lunch they have a steam table with 3 different daily lunch specials available. The prices are reasonable. The steam table is $7.00 and that includes your meat and two sides along with your drink.
My parents cannot come in town without making a trip to Mel's. They are coming in for Christmas and you can bet we will make a Mel's run. My Mother especially loves their cabbage. The owner was nice enough to tell her how they make it. He actually told her they made it three different times. She asked the first time she ate there; then went back to Arizona and couldn't remember. The next time they were here she asked again, the same scenario happened. The third time she took a piece of paper and wrote it down.
Mel's is not much to look at from the outside or I guess even from the inside but the food is INCREDIBLE. .
To find Mel's take FM 2920 to the east of Tomball. Go north on FM 2978 and then make a left on Hufsmith. Take a right on Stanolind Rd.; go over the railroad tracks and you will see it on your right hand side. You won't be able to miss it; you will see all the cars and truck lined up in front and over to the side. -
Review from Jennifer N.
Tomball, TX
9/19/2010
LOVE the giant fried mushrooms as an appetizer!
LOVE the green beans! Although a veggie, don't expect these to be healthy You can taste the bacon grease, but they are AWESOME!
My favorite dish is the Cajun Catfish. It is only available on the dinner menu.
Great "mom and pop" place! -
Review from Bob T.
The Woodlands, TX
8/13/2010 6 Check-ins Here
I have eaten here more than a dozen times and have never left hungry or disappointed. I mainly come here for the hamburgers and onion rings but have also had the fried fish, steak fingers and several other sides. I definitely recommend the burgers and onion rings but some of the other items were okay but not something I would order again.
I am always on the lookout for a non-franchise, non-chain mom and pop restaurant and this place definitely qualifies. Don't come here if you expect anything fancy. It is a converted house with basic table, chairs and decor....true to it's name.....Country Cafe. If you find a place with a better burger in the area, please send me a message because I would like to try it. At this point, this place has my favorite burger but I am always looking for a new place.
Other reviews have mentioned the Mega Mel Burger, which I have never tried, but I saw someone try one time and it was fun to watch. I have also seen the Mega Mel ordered for a group to eat together, which looked like a good idea....if you have a few friends who are up to the challenge. You won't get your name on the wall but you will have some fun.
I have not tried the breakfast yet because it is a little to far for me to drive for breakfast food but maybe one day I'll give it a try.
Also, expect to wait for a table at peak times. They have a waiting area and during the winter, it has space heaters but in the summer, it can be hot. -
Review from William G.
Austin, TX
4/1/2009
2 Great things about this place: Great food and Super Cheap.
I was amazed at how good the burgers are here. I have heard about this place for a while and its a pretty famous place for a small town. The location kinda sucks and the restaurant isn't much to look at but the food is amazing! There is almost always a line or a short wait. It is one of those typical hole in the wall joints.
I cannot stress how big the portions are for the price. The price for a burger fries and drink was about 5-6 dollars tops.This is one of my favorite places in Tomball. I would recommend this to everyone
Cons about the place: Parking is somewhat limited when its lunch or dinner time, the restaurant is somewhat small and old. -
Review from Sarah H.
Magnolia, TX
6/29/2011
I visit Mel's frequently for good ole' country food. Everything on their menu is excellent, and the service is quick most of the time. There's a large selection of menu items to choose from, so everyone can find something they will love. Dont' leave without trying their cobbler for dessert - it can't be beat!
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Review from Karen P.
11/25/2009
I've heard about Mel's from somewhere, maybe Michael Berry's top hamburger places which have to be hole in the walls. My family was going to a play at Tomball High School so I decided to give Mel's a try.
First off, don't try to go here for the first time at night. BIG mistake, you WILL get lost, trust me. My recommendation is to go from 2920 turn onto Quinn, take that until you get to Tomball HS, take a right on Zion, it will take you right close to where Mel's is, look on google maps. It is much easier than trying to follow the map directions.
The place is not really what I would consider a hole-in-the-wall but it is nothing fancy--plain building, checkered vinyl tablecloths, etc. The people are friendly and the wait staff is super busy providing great service.
We got lost our way there and were short on time to get to our play on time. Don't be scared off if there is a wait, the tables turnover fairly quickly. We told the waitress when we needed to leave by and she said she would get us out of there. She completely delivered. The burgers are yummy juicy and big! Get the bacon on it as it isn't that thin crap you get other places. They used good old country bacon! My husband got the chicken fried steak and loved it. The 8oz CFS is plenty; the 16oz is as big a dinner plate. If you like onion rings, they have the best. The coating doesn't fall off and they are so good. They have a side portion and an appetizer portion which is enough to share with a couple people.
Their sides are what I would call "Southern Style". I believe another reviewer called them mushy. I like my veggies Southern style so I thought they rocked and had great seasoning.
I'm going back to Mel's today for lunch to meet a friend so I can report later what it is like at lunch. The waitress we had last night was great I left her a $10 tip on a $32 tab (for a family of 5). Not sure how the other reviewer with 2 people had a tab the same size for 2 with water. I fed 2 adults, 1 teen, and 2 kids and we all had drinks
Give Mel's a chance, you won't regret it! I gave them 4 stars. They only lost 1 start for location -
Review from Chuck C.
Noblesville, IN
8/12/2009
The little out of the way please you always hear people talking about, IT'S MEL'S!!!! The cafe is hard to find but once the food comes to your table you know why the place is packed! Two people at the table picked the Chicken Fried Steak,it has off the plate. Two other had the Chicken and dumpling, the dumpling melted in your mouth! The last two oped for the burger, I ordered the double, it was 8 inch's high and full of flavor. We also ordered the fried mushrooms, what a deal a full platter came to the table. The burgers came with fries, the meals came with two sides.
The best part the bill was under $60 for all that food!
Remember to eat well and live well and please no chains! -
Review from Theresa N.
Houston, TX
8/21/2010
Love the catfish. Burgers are tasty, onion rings good too. I like getting a can of soda and not fountain drinks. Cheap, fresh, good food. Most of the food is a heart attack on a plate, but you knew that coming in, right? It's loud, always pretty busy, and off Quinn Road between 2978 and 249 - much closer to 2978. Over the tracks and to your right on Stanolind, coming from Tomball. Don't be frightened by the neighboring homes....Ask to see the picture album with all the Mega Mel pictures - some are failures and have hilarious notes written on them.
Not a fancy place by any means but you come as you are, you are welcome here! -
Review from Carly C.
Houston, TX
6/10/2011
If u haven't been here you must go! EVERYTHING is good! You will be back.
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Review from Nathan T.
Pinehurst, TX
2/4/2009
This place has great, home-cooked food. And the prices are fantastic.
I'm partial to the burgers, chicken-fried steak, and catfish. You'll get more food than you can eat no matter what your order. -
Review from Greg F.
Houston, TX
2/24/2009
The Mel burger is great. Had one New Years Day, started the year out healthy :)
The Maga Mel is a little scary but I think I might try it as well.. -
Review from Julie C.
Spring, TX
2/19/2011
Love this place. I've heard about it from people over the years, but finally went there. I am a bit heavier for knowing about it, but it is worth the extra weight. Incredible catfish: the batter is light and the fish tastes fresh. I went w/ three other people, so we tried a bit of everything. From the Monte Cristo to the Chicken Fried Steak - it was all heart-attack inducing and well worth the health risk. Amazing food. After I get medical clearance, I'll be back to cause damage to myself again.
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Review from Jason G.
Cypress, TX
2/15/2011
Good classic country fare. Not enough of these kinds of places left with so many chains around. Family friendly in pricing and setting.
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Review from Shana P.
Spring, TX
12/15/2010 1 Check-in Here
Awesome! Burgers great, takeout offered cafeteria style with various entries and sides to pick from ~ looked yummy. I had a Monte Cristo and it was perfect. Be prepared to go for the gusto this is not a diet place.
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Review from Tara S.
Houston, TX
8/11/2009
Mel's is by far the best secret in Tomball. In comparison to other café style places in Tomball, especially 1, Mel's trumps it by far. Their food is great, cooked fresh, and their portions are huge and tasty. We don't live close by but I love when we take a trip just to go eat there.
Sometimes there is a crowd and you have to wait to be seated but it is well worth it. It's never too long. The place has grown in size since I started going there many years ago, it excites me to see that their business has really picked up and people just keep flowing in.
When we go, we usually start with some fried mushrooms. There are enough to serve 4 people comfortably as an appetizer. I usually order the Country Chicken; it's cooked in lemon pepper. You get 2 sides with an order; I love their mashed potatoes and corn. I have tried their other veggies which are just as good. The green beans aren't how I like them but they are still really tasty. I also like their House Salads. The chicken friend chicken and chicken fried steak are battered in a light crisp batter. I love the batter they use. Basically everything on their menu is delicious.
One small downsize is depending on the crowd, they sometimes run out of things. I have not experienced this first hand but I have heard that this happens.
If you are ever in the area and hungry, I totally recommend this place! -
Review from Kim D.
Houston, TX
10/11/2010
My husband and I enjoy the occassional drive out to Tomball to eat at Mel's Country Cafe. A friend of mine told me about it several years ago and we've been dining there on occassion ever since. Everything I've ordered has been good. We think their fried mushrooms are the best! I also really like their cooked cabbage. I usually order chicken, or hamburger steak or fish of some kind. Hubby likes the chicken fried steak. If you like home-style cooking, you should give Mel's a try. The decor isn't much to look at and the service is sometimes a bit slow, but the food is always good and hot and the portions are huge, so I always have leftovers for lunch the next day. Overall, Mel's gets two thumbs up from us!
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Review from David C.
Spring, TX
11/30/2010
Country goodness. The Chicken Fried Steak is huge and tasty. A little out of the way but worth the drive.
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Review from Jennifer K.
Spring, TX
6/25/2011
The food was in big portions but I had the wrong dish. They claimed they were know for their catfish so tried it with some hushpuppies. Everything except the side of navy beans tasted old and only warm at best. My wife had the cheese burger and claimed she liked it better than Five Guys so maybe need I to go back and try the right thing.
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Review from Robb Z.
Spring, TX
4/17/2009
I just came back from Mel's Country Cafe with my friend from England who didn't know what Chicken Fried Steak was. I hadn't been there and looked around reviews at several places and decided to give Mel's a try. Boy, was I glad we did! The CFS was delicious, as were the onion rings (not the frozen bag kind. HUZZAH!), and the puddings and pies. This place is a little off of the beaten path, but well worth the journey. I will be going back and I might even try the Mega Mel Burger Challenge!
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Review from Christy D.
Houston, TX
11/21/2009
I am gonna have to agree with Lauren P.--I don't get what the big deal is about this place. Maybe I had my hopes set too high? For starters, yes, this place is "off the beaten path." And by that I mean, I googled directions and still got lost (it's hard for me to drive in the dark). And here I thought driving far north on 249 was a looooong way from town. This place is actually a good distance from 249! So, after we found the place and squeezed into a parking spot in the teeny lot (maybe there's more space to park that I can't see?) we came there at the dinner rush and barely had a five minute wait. Not too shabby! The place WAS packed so that gave me warm fuzzies that our meal would be well worth the drive...
At first glance, I thought the prices were cheap. Appetizers were around $5 or less, woohoo! Some of the burgers were around $5 or less, too...wow! Ok, so we started with the fried jalapenos for $3-something. For my meal, I went for the much lauded Chicken Fried Steak--the "small" 8 ouncer with green beans and fried okra. I love a good homecooked meal so I was super excited! The five fried jalapenos were less than exciting. I'm not sure what they were breaded with, but I'm fairly certain it was nothing from the kitchen...probably something from a box...and I mean, the fried jalapenos themselves came from a box. *sigh*
On to the main course! The Chicken Fried Steak was pretty darn good! To be honest, it tastes like the one my mom makes, which is a compliment! It was a bit chewy, but that always happens, even with my mom's, so I can forgive them that. There's only so much time you can spend pounding the meat with a tenderizer. I got the cream gravy on the side, which was good too. The green beans were alllllll right, in my opinion. They had a pretty good flavor (bacon and onions) but they were a bit too soft, for me. My bf got the green beans and tater tots with his steak covered in butter and mushrooms (the special for the night) and he was like "see THIS is how I like my green beans." Practically mushy? Weirdo! Anyway, back to my meal, the fried okra was all right too. I have a sneaking suspicion they were from a bag, too. Gee, maybe I'm becoming too harsh in my critique? I just expect HOMEcooked food when I go to a country cafe!
Anyway, the bf's steak looked and tasted ok. He compared it to "one I make at home." And by "I," I mean him, not me. It tasted all right to me, the mushrooms were kinda scarce. He said the best part of the meal was the green beans! Whatev. The tater tots were decent--like Sonic's but without the grease. Oh, I might also mention they brought some cornbread and a roll to our table with our entrees. Eh...
So, it came time to pay. With 2 waters and 2 meals and an app, it came to $32!! I was expecting much less, maybe $20's? I guess that's what happens when you get "steaks." I dunno, it just doesn't fall under "cheap" for me. Would I go back? Yeah, if someone else drove b/c I cannot drive well in the dark, especially in back roads like those! I would probably get another entree like the Catfish Christopher (catfish topped with pico and cheese and avocado). Would I recommend you driving all the way out there for a great homecooked meal? Eh, probably not. My search for a good Southern style meal made by someone other than my mom continues...
