Mel's Hot Dogs

Doesn't Recommend

DisrespectedCustomer

Joined 2 years ago

WARNING DO NOT COME HERE. PEOPLE I NEVER WRITE REVIEWS BUT FROM MY EXPERIENCE HERE I HAVE TO WARN YOU ALL.

1. THE OWNER HAS SOME SERIOUS MENTAL ISSUES, I HAVE NEVER IN MY LIFE BEEN MORE DISRESPECTED THEN I HAVE BY THIS OLD MEAN SOB. IF YOU WANT TO GO SOMEWHERE TO EAT, GET TERRIBLE SERVICE, SMALL PORTIONS AND TAKE VERBAL ABUSE FROM AN OLD MAN THEN THIS IS YOUR PLACE.

2. THE FOOD PORTIONS ARE TERRIBLE, THE HOTDOGS LOOK LIKE THE ONES I USED TO GET FROM THE WORK TRUCKS WHEN I WORKED CONSTRUCTION. THESE THINGS ARE TINY AND $$$$. I BOUGHT 3 HOTDOGS AND A CHICKEN SANDWHICH AND IT WAS $33.

3. FOR ALL OF YOU HARD WORKING AMERICANS OUT THERE THAT HAVE TO KEEP YOUR COOL WITH CUSTOMERS, DO NOT GO TO THIS ESTABLISHMENT THIS TERRIBLE PIECE OF SH*T OWNER DOES NOT CARE ABOUT YOU, HE JUST WANTS YOUR MONEY AND BASICALLY SPITS IN YOUR FACE.

IT IS A MONEY TRAP, THEY ADD 99 CENTS TO 1.50 FOR EACH ADD ON AND HE CHARGES FOR REFILLS. PLEASE DO NOT GO HERE, THIS GUY DESERVES TO BE BANKRUPT & SHUTDOWN!

Doesn't Recommend

katoftampa

Joined 4 years ago

More Hype than Hot Dog. I have made better hot dogs at home. And whats with that relish? what is that stuff? its not pickles, taste more like bad green peppers. All the hype over this place makes you want to go there but its such a let down once you do. I have a feeling its another one of those good ole boys pushing a buddies business.

I did not eat the entire hot dog and had to scrape off that horrible relish. I dont think I even ate half of it. They are bag fries that you can buy at winn dixie nothing special there. And the service leave a whole lot to be desired, Very crowded seating areas no way to talk to who you are with because it is so noisey in there.

I went once. paid a fortune for something we did not eat wont go back and wont take visitors there.

Doesn't Recommend

thatme

Joined 7 years ago

Maybe it was good at one time.. Okay, I visited this Hotdog restaurant only because they pitch it as a must visit location when in Tampa and here is my review. The Hotdogs here are not pedigreed. When an eatery calls it self Mel’s Hotdogs, it better have some serious and wholesome Hotdogs. If you say you have the best, then it should come up to par with some of the best Hotdogs at least within your state. Hotdogs are served with the usual toppings at $2.75 plus tax. If you want their platter, which is a hotdog, small French fries and a tiny bit of coleslaw, well that will cost you $5.24 plus tax. So here is the gist of it: Small dogs and small portions and pricey with service that is rudimentary and not particularly friendly.

Recommends

gnatv

Joined 5 years ago

Mel's Hot Dogs Episode. Watch our Mel's Hot Dogs episode at our website GNAtv dot com.

Click on episodes or browse our episodes by using a local map of Tampa.

The Chicago hot dog is delicious. It's not too far from a Yuengling factory which gives tours. I am gonna have to visit both in one day.

- Chris

Thanks!

Recommends

morf0

Joined 7 years ago

Highly reccomended for dog-lovers. Mel's has captured the "good-times" spirit of America's celebrated casual culinary creation: the hot dog. A look around reveals decades of heirlooms submitted by hotdog lovers worldwide. My favorite is the picture of the guy standing AT the north pole, ripping open his jacket revealing a "Mel's hot dogs" T-shirt. I've been visiting since I was a child. The staff is ALWAYS courteous, friendly, and humorous. The dogs are second to none, and come with anything you'd want to put on them. My wife HATED hot dogs, and was reluctant to visit. On the first trip, she had a hamburger. HOWEVER, she loved the atmosphere so much we returned 3 days later and she finally tried a hotdog. She loved it. Some people say the price is a lot for a hotdog, they're right, but the price is low compared to the overall dining experience you'll have while visiting Mel's.

Recommends

patdenny

Joined 8 years ago

Worth the Trip. We drive to Mel's once a month from Lakeland. My husband is originally from the Chicago land area (for 50 years) and loves Chicago hot dogs. Well, we both agree that Mel's is by far the closest to a Chicago dog that we can find. We take our granddaughters there - because that is where they want to go! They get all excited when they find out we are driving to Tampa for Mel's. The reason we went there in the first place is their award for a "clean restaurant". Wish we had one in the Lakeland area.

Recommends

tampagal

Joined 10 years ago

Only For a Chili Fix!. There was a long line about 10 minutes to get a not so very warm dog.

Chili was outstanding. But with a family you might want to visit Publix :)

High on the prices for hot dogs for a family.

Doesn't Recommend

mushroom

Joined 8 years ago

STINKY SERVICE. THE SERVICE IS HORRIBLE! I WOULD NOT RECOMMEND THIS PLACE AT ALL.

Recommends

j986r

Joined 9 years ago

We love mels. We love mels. We live here and have gone there for years. The hot dogs are great. It was recently featured as one of the cleanest restarants in Tampa. If you go to Busch Gardens you are almost in the parking lot. Go For IT!

Recommends

mgantolak

Joined 9 years ago

Makes Me Homesick. After living in the Chicago area for 35 years I've eaten a few hot dogs. After trying Mel's "Chicago Dog", I can say that although it doesn't quite match up to the best Chicago has to offer (one flaw was way to much celery salt), I think it is about the best that Tampa has to offer. Definitely worth the 80 mile round trip from Lakeland!