Mel’s Cafe

I definitely want to come back here for some soul food… The day I came (on snowpocalypse, thanks for being open!) I was in the mood for a burger, so I got this alternative burger that was a patty between rye bread, with swiss cheese and grilled onions. Sort of a reuben with a meat patty instead of all the other cuts. It was great! and so affordable. The staff is also super nice. Can’t wait to try more!

This place was great! The fried chicken is especially amazing. The lady I assume is Mel was so nice and made us feel at home and came out and chatted after the meal. I also recommend the grilled donuts, Mac and cheese, and liver.
Eat here if you’re in Charlottesville!!!

Food was amazing! Our group ordered the fried chicken, ribs and fried fish. All was great. Side wise we ordered Mac and cheese, fried potatoes, mashed potatoes, red beans and rice, and rolls and cornbread. Skip the rolls and get the corn bread, best cornbread I have ever had! The people were super friendly and made you feel at home. We will definitely be coming back!

For dinner stop here in Charlottesville, I was really craving some southern comfort food. I didn’t take long to find Mel’s on Unilocal,due to their high ratings.
Was greeted when I came in. Made my order at the register. 3 piece fried chicken, with mashed potatoes, rice, cornbread, and Mac n cheese. Prices were great, and I was excited to really dive into some solid fried chicken.
The chicken was awesome. The outside was so crispy, while the inside tasted fresh and moist. It was clear they’ve been in this business for a while. The sides were pretty standard, none of them wowed me, but it did compliment the chicken. If I find myself in the area again, I would considering taking another visit.
Go in confidence.

My boyfriend and I came here last week after visiting Carter Mountain. He looked up places to eat and Mel’s came up on the top 10 list! I drove past it and had to turn around. It’s places like this that I always come back too. It is definitely affordable. Food is MTO. We both got 8oz cheeseburgers, side of Mac and cheese, potato salad, and two pieces of corn bread for about $ 15. You can tell everything is home made. The burger was excellent cooked perfectly. We wish we would’ve gotten some pie! There were 7 tables inside I believe along with outdoor seating. Definitely recommend to anyone traveling through the Charlottesville area!

Loved the burgers, fries and onion rings. Friend got pork chops and mash potatoes. Everything was on point. Loved the food. Friendly staff. Meals were cheap and extra delicious.

5 stars for service/​hospitality
4 stars for fried chicken/​wings
3 stars for sides
This is a nice small spot that serves up some good food for pretty cheap. Fried chicken is delicious, fresh, with a great crispy skin. The wings are delicious too and they have blue cheese just ask.
Stewed tomatoes and fried potatoes are good, Mac and cheese, greens, and rice and beans I would skip next time. Sweet potato pie was ok but is what you would get at a store

This place is simply delicious. The wing dings are amazing. I always get that with some Mac and cheese and some red beans and rice. Very impressed with the owner and the awesome customer service he provides. He makes you feel like a part of his family. I will continue to come here every other day until I leave Charlottesville. Thank you so much! Definitely recommend this place.

This soul food restaurant offers food for soul for real! LOL
I found this place on Unilocal for lunch.
I got their BBQ Ribs from their dinner menu that comes with two sides, so I chose potato salad and coleslaw.
I must say BBQ ribs were average, but potato salad and coleslaw were unexpectedly good!
I paid 9.38 with tax, which compare to such meal it was very cheap!
Overall, great place for a fast cheap lunch, and I would definitely come back again.
P.S: this place would be fine for small group but too small for large groups over 6!

Best food in Charlottesville! I grew up in Charlottesville and have seen trendy restaurants open and close. I had heard great things about Mel’s but had never eaten there since I absolutely hate driving in Charlottesville, but this café is worth dodging crazy drivers. I ordered the fish sub. I was not disappointed. Flaky, perfectly breaded and fried on a fresh bun with lettuce, tomato and tarter sauce. My son had what I would rate as THE BEST hamburger for miles. Huge patty of juicy goodness… way better than the declining 5 Guys. It was perfectly cooked and hadn’t had the juices squished out of it. My daughter-​in-​law had one of their all day breakfasts, with country ham, two eggs over easy, home fried potatoes and toast. We all tasted the ham, which reminded me of the ham my grandfather cured in his smokehouse. The eggs were fresh, potatoes were perfect and the toast was tasty with a good texture. All of this plus sides and beverages was refreshingly affordable in contrast to the expensive trendy restaurants next door.
I will definitely eat at Mel’s every time I’m on West Main Street. Please don’t change. It’s so nice to see locals keeping it real. Thank you for reminding me that there are good people doing good things in Charlottesville and good home cooking available on West Main. Next time I’m getting a burger and after that, a pork chop sandwich. Yummmmm!

Stopped in after seeing all the awesome reviews and I wasn’t disappointed. Just a short walk from the Hampton Inn on Main, this place has all the country fare you could want and AMAZING customer service. I got the two piece fried chicken, green beans and mashed potatoes w gravy. It also came with a delicious roll. The chicken was juicy, tender and had an amazing crispy skin. The mashed potatoes were yummy and the beans were pretty good (a bit salty but still tasty). All that with a drink was $ 9.93. I would recommend it to anyone in Cville!

I stopped here for dinner during a business trip and felt like I was eating at an old friends house. Super friendly staff (everyone, from the woman who took my order to the line chef coming in for his shift), geat home cooking, and at very reasonable prices. An extensive menu that should offer something for most… especially since they serve breakfast and lunch all day.
I got the fried chicken, greens, and red beans and rice. I loved the chicken and greens (don’t forget the cider vinegar if you get the greens). The red beans and rice were good but not quite as good as I’ve gotten in places like New Orleans, Austin, or Gulf Port, but a lot better than most places. I will definitely go back.

We stopped in and they were short handed for the holiday weekend. The owner was so nice you couldn’t even be mad. It looks like an old service station with a kitchen tables inside and tables on the outside patio. We ordered two dinners… fried chicken (3 piece), Mac & cheese and mashed potatoes with gravy. It was so good! Fried chicken wasn’t greasy but crispy with good flavor. They have the good ice for your drinks… the kind that is almost crushed. Overall I thought it was great good for a reasonable price. We will definitely stop back in the next time we are in Charlottesville.

Stop your searching and get your behind to Mel’s right now. Visited this small establishment on the way to Shenandoah National Park and the food ended up being the highlight of my trip. The fried chicken is too good to share. Order 3 pieces at least. Gf had the fried fish and it was equally delicious as well. The batter doesn’t overwhelm the fish and chicken the way most fried food places do these days…
All the sides are 100% southern style. The collard greens were out of this world. Doesn’t matter if you’re full after all the food, order dessert. The grilled donuts with ice cream will haunt my dreams… So. Damn. Good. Two dinner entrees, four sides, two dessert dishes — all for under $ 24. I had to wrestle with the tempting prospect of moving out to Charlottesville just so I could eat at Mel’s.
Adding to the incredible food is the service. Southern hospitality at its finest. They truly make you feel like family and not just some customer to please. Get to Mel’s. Do it. If you don’t go eat at Mel’s, uninstall the Unilocal app because this type of food is what Unilocal exists for.

Mel’s is right next door to where I get my hair cut. So over the years, I have popped in the get an iced tea or a quick bite to eat before going into the shop.
I have always been greeted warmly, served quickly, and fed well with each visit and always at a very reasonable price.

This place was so good that is is earning my first ever Unilocal review! I’m not an expert on southern cooking, but they made the best fried chicken I’ve ever had. Perfectly crispy skin, and even the breast meat was juicy. As good as the chicken was, however, I can’t even say it was my favorite dish. Ribs, fried potatoes, Mac n cheese, and cornbread– I kept going from one dish to another trying to decide which I liked best. My wife and I stuffed ourselves senseless, left a great tip, and still walked out paying less than $ 30.
Walking by this restaurant, you might not give it a second glance, but don’t make that mistake!

First time in Charlottesville and this is probably the most «south» I’ve been. I had a craving for some authentic soul food, and Mel’s Café was definitely a great choice.
Biggest highlight: I think this is some of the BEST fried chicken I’ve ever had — perfectly battered, nice and crispy on the outside, and juicy and succulent on the inside. Mmmmmmm. gimme a side of corn bread and collard greens and I’m a happy camper.
It’s a super casual restaurant where you order at the counter and seat yourself. There’s not a lot of seating inside, but they do have a little outdoor space with tables if the weather permits.
We were greeted the second we walked in by Mel himself. He’s so friendly and inviting. It’s southern hospitality at its finest. I’m definitely a fan!

Adorable seems-​to-​be-​family-​owned place with the best Southern hospitality you could imagine. Southern comfort food at its finest with the nicest service around.
The wait after we ordered was a bit long, but I had ordered fried chicken wings and they made them fresh so I didn’t complain. The wings were fantastic – super crispy, very filling, delicious! My friends enjoyed their mac and cheese, and we all had bites of the cornbread, which was just fine. The sweet potato pie was delicious, as was the warm apple pie a la mode we tried. Everything was also really cheap!
We will absolutely be back.

Greatest BBQ Ribs I have ever eaten. A meal at Mel’s is money well-​spent.
Small shop and looks a little dingy from the outside, but the people who work there are great and super nice. Parking lot is not very roomy so expect to park around the shop.
Food is spectacular. We ordered the fried chicken and bbq ribs with some sides, and everything was just incredible. The whole order took maybe 10 – 15 min to be served, but that was because the fried chicken was fried to order and served fresh and smoking hot. Tasted exactly how I imagine good-​quality fried chicken.
Now the BBQ Ribs… holy guacamole. It may be because I just love BBQ ribs in general, but these ribs knocked my socks off. Huge chunks of meat on each bone and each rib was bathed in an incredible BBQ bath that is a delight to lick off your fingers. Needless to say, Mel served it and gave us extra napkins.
Bottom line is Mel’s is the bomb, and it’s pretty inexpensive for the amount of food you get. Would definitely go there again.

Definitely a no-​frills casual southern dining in what looks to be a converted carvel ice cream shop. Seating is limited, but there are a few outdoor tables depending on the weather.
Order at the counter and seat yourself. Super friendly service from Mel himself, taking orders and bring out food to tables. The fried pork chop is good, but personally I like smothered chops. Definitely go for the fried chicken or else you’ll be missing out. The breading includes cornmeal, giving it a more textural satisfying crunch. Very juicy chicken with a beautiful crispy crust. Sweet potato pie was pretty standard, but freshly baked and tasty.
Friendly service, good food, and incredibly affordable prices. You can get a lot of good eating for very little spent here.