DINING OUT Mel's Restaurant
Eastwood Golf Course
3505 Eastwood Road S.E.
(507) 282-2518
Mel's Restaurant is run by Scott Carpenter. So who is Mel? He's Scott's father, Mel Carpenter, for whom the restaurant was named. "My dad works here every Thursday, baking chocolate chip cookies," Scott Carpenter said. Those cookies are reportedly out-of-this-world (unfortunately, we visited on a Tuesday) and help bring plenty of nongolfers out to Eastwood. businessp Eastwood Golf Course
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3505 Eastwood Road S.E.
(507) 282-2518
Mel's Restaurant is run by Scott Carpenter. So who is Mel? He's Scott's father, Mel Carpenter, for whom the restaurant was named. "My dad works here every Thursday, baking chocolate chip cookies," Scott Carpenter said. Those cookies are reportedly out-of-this-world (unfortunately, we visited on a Tuesday) and help bring plenty of nongolfers out to Eastwood.
"Most of our business is from nongolfers," Carpenter said. "We get IBMers driving all the way across town for burgers." Those burgers include the top-seller, a double bacon cheeseburger.
The breakfast menu features special recipe French toast. "It's an old family recipe brought over from the old country -- Wisconsin," Carpenter said.
"Hopefully, we're not your ordinary restaurant," he said.
Hours
7:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. weekdays, 6:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. weekends.
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Value
The bacon double cheeseburger is $5. The Taylor Burger is an 8-oz. Swiss cheese and bacon monster, also for $5. The shrimp basket is $6, a grilled cheese sandwich is $4. Breakfast options include eggs, toast and coffee for $3.50, and the Big Mel (egg, ham and cheese on an English muffin) for $3.50.
Atmosphere
Eclectic, with sports posters and hand-lettered, golf-related wit and wisdom scattered about the room. The kind of place where regulars pour their own cup of coffee. "Plus, the best view in town," Carpenter said of the large windows overlooking the golf course. The outdoor deck is open for dining in good weather.
Specials
Usually a hot dish special on Tuesdays.
Worth noting
Available for groom's dinners, retirement parties and birthday parties.
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Wine and beer available.
Shorter hours during winter.
--Tom Weber
Dining Out is a weekly feature spotlighting a regional restaurant. It is not intended as a critical review. If you have comments or suggestions, send e-mail to lifestyle@postbulletin.com or call 285-7710.
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