Jim and Nancy do not disclose the fact that they will review a restaurant before they attend, ensuring their reviews are unbiased and uninfluenced by their position with the Sun Day.
When we were reviewing Niko’s Tavern & Neighborhood Grill in Campton Hills, we drove by a little place called Mel’s Diner. Could this be the place where the 1970’s sitcom “Alice” was filmed? Will Mel and Alice be inside? Would Flo be there yelling “kiss my grits”? Inquiring minds want to know…Our curiosity got the best of us and we had to find out. Nancy was having fun all morning long, yelling “kiss my grits” at every opportunity. Once again, we jumped into the Mini-Mobile, charged up the flux capacitor, and headed back to 1974 and Mel’s Diner in Campton Hills.
Mel’s Diner
40W160 Campton Crossings Drive
Campton Hills 60175
630-444-3535
No Website
Directions: Take Rte. 47 south to Burlington road (roundabout), East to Campton Crossings Drive to restaurant.
Estimated Travel Time: 27 minutes
It was a very small diner with 10 tables, counter seating for one, and a kitchen/flat top grill in the middle of the restaurant. This is as close to Mel’s Diner as you can get. There was one cook manning the flat top (Mel?) and two women attending to the dining area (Flo and Alice?). We think they were sisters, but we didn’t get their names and not once did either of them say “kiss my grits”!
Now for the good stuff. Nancy had a taste for an omelet this morning, so she went with the Meat and Cheese 3 Egg Omelet ($8.49). She chose bacon and American cheese for her omelet. This was served with homefries and a choice of toast or pancakes, and she went for the toast. The homefries were different and yummy. They were small thin slices of potatoes that were crispy all around. Could they have been deep-fried? We will never know for sure, but Nancy thinks they were.
Jim found the Country Skillet Combo ($9.49). This artery-clogging combo had homefries, sausage, green pepper, onion, and American cheese with two eggs (any style) smothered in sausage gravy. This came with toast or pancakes, and he tried the pancakes. This was a huge skillet and really delicious. Jim’s not a big potato lover and because of this, he doesn’t usually order skillets. The homefries in this skillet changed his mind. We think we may have seen the American Heart Association picketing the diner because of this artery clogging concoction. Jim’s cholesterol drug was working overtime this morning.
DINING DUO TIP TO THE OWNER: You have a potential gold mine here. Use it to your advantage and go with the “Flo.” Have the waitresses wear traditional diner uniforms with Flo and Alice nametags, and the cook should wear a white T-shirt and apron (complete with stains). Get into character and yell food orders back and forth with Flo interjecting “kiss my grits.” Maybe even have grits on the menu named “Kiss My Grits.”
To sum this all up, this is a nice friendly neighborhood diner complete with its group of regular customers. The food was “diner-licious” and inexpensive. Extra cholesterol meds, not so cheap.
FYI: This restaurant is handicap accessible.
The price for going back to a 1970’s sitcom was $23.99, and as Flo would say, “kiss my grits”!
Jim’s take: My skillet was a delicious combo because of the sausage gravy. I have never seen a skillet with sausage gravy on a menu until now.
Nancy’s take: I really loved the homefries. I’m a potato junkie who likes them extra crispy.
Have comments or restaurant suggestions for the Dining Duo? Send them an email at thediningduo@gmail.com
