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- Hours:
Mon-Sun 7:30 am - 9:30 pm
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Music:
- Background
- Happy Hour:
- Yes
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Smoking:
- Outdoor Area/ Patio Only
- Coat Check:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Good For Dancing:
- No
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
26 reviews for Melissa's
Review Highlights
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"The best breakfast place I've ever been in." In 4 reviews -
"There was also the eggs benedict dish, which my hubby..." In 3 reviews -
"It has this authentic log cabin feel and the food is just..." In 3 reviews
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26 reviews in English
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Review from Kyle H.
Calgary, AB
5/4/2012 1 Check-in Here
Om nom nom. Best breakfast around
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Review from Kay M.
5/9/2012
I was kinda baffled by the all the reviews of the place being a great brunch spot and family friendly since it's a total dive bar, then I realized I went to Mels upstairs, NOT the steakhouse. So this is a review solely on their second-floor sports bar.
My friends insisted Mels was a great, cheap place to drink in Banff and I was pretty disappointed. It's the kind of old country-style rowdy house with men in ten gallon hats swiggin with the boys, surly old bartenders and a BuckHunt game in the corner. Totally my brothers kind of place, not so much for me. They have super cheap beer including PBR cans and Old Milwaukee by the pitcher but when I asked for an ale on tap it was $7 for a watery mug that was much smaller than a pint.
We settled into our game of pool with a basket of popcorn only to find that the table is so squished into it's area that every second shot we made the cue was hitting a wall. Didn't stay too long, opted to finish my night at the Brew Pub instead with decent beer and conversation.
Mels pub wasn't my place, but I'll have to go back for breakfast and update my thoughts. The brunch menu looks pretty awesome! -
Review from Matthew L.
Edmonton, AB
4/28/2012
More like Meh-lissa's. I'm sorry to say that Yelp failed us here. Based on an overall four star rating and a number of raves, we decided to make this our first breakfast stop.
And at the risk of sounding overly picky, we had a number of issues with our breakfast experience:
1) While our server asked if I wanted my eggs poached soft, medium, or hard, and I ordered them soft, they were served to me hard. As I was in somewhat of a rush, I didn't want to send them back.
2) The eggs were clearly poached in one of those egg poaching molds that make poached eggs look unappetizing.
3) The tap water tasted chlorinated. At first, I attributed this to Banff itself, but after tasting tap water at a number of other restaurants in town, I should attribute this to Melissa's.
4) I ordered Corned Beef hash. Not only did I not have egg yolks to drizzle throughout the hash, but the hash itself was dry and crumbly.
5) Sarah ordered hash browns, which our server forgot to serve. We then reminded her and promptly received the hash browns. And we got them, but they were shredded thin and a bit too dry tasting. The restaurant claims that the hash browns are fresh, but they taste worse than your average frozen hash browns.
6) Sarah ordered an omelette, which thankfully came with real cheddar cheese, but came out a bit too dry and flat for our tastes.
7) I went straight to the bathroom about 5 minutes after I finished eating - not usually a good sign.
Essentially, I'd choose to eat at Ricky's over here. And I don't like Ricky's very much. The only good thing is that we received our food in a relatively quick amount of time. -
Review from shawnna p.
Edmonton, AB
8/2/2011
The only reason this place doesn't get five stars is because the coffee is dreadful.
We stumbled into "Mel's" (as the locals call it) for a late breakfast. They accommodated a large table for ten with all the kid friendly touches. The menu is vast and the service was swell. The best thing was the pancakes. Everyone raved about them. Nobody could finish their plates and we all waddled out satisfied. Our local buddies claim it has a great patio for drinks which are a lot cheaper than in other bars. I'll have to come back and check that out. -
Review from Kris Z.
7/2/2011 1 Check-in Here
Went here after looking all over Banff for a late breakfast place. The town itself seems very hard to find breakfast at a non-breakfast hour, unlike Jasper. In any case we finally found Melissa's who serves a rockin breakfast. Service was slightly slow but friendly overall.
The decor was much like many places in Banff, cabin chic. I'd definitely come back if needing some breaky, either at normal hours or after. A side note, the prices here are reasonable as well, and it's off the main tourist drag which is a plus. -
Review from Pamela L.
Hagensborg, BC
12/28/2011
Although options are limited for breakfast in Banff, this rustic greasy spoon is not too shabby. The service is great and the food is always quick. The menu has a decent selection of breakfast basics, all at decent prices. Don't expect to have the best breakfast of your life, but you can expect to kick start your day with good service and a cup of coffee.
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Review from Dana W.
Calgary, AB
5/4/2011 1 Check-in Here
We went to Melissa's for basically a late supper. My husband and I split a veggie pizza with pepperoni on their flat crust which was delicious.
It's a great place for kids. They have high chairs, boosters and a kids menu with crayons. My little guy had the kids burger and fries. Which he loved.
I was really impressed with the staff, my son is only 2 and was getting a little impatient waiting to order. (it wasn't actually taking a long time - we were just having dinner later than usual). I told him we had to wait until the waitress came back and he could tell her. While we weren't paying attention he had caught the eye of the hostess and was trying to tell her what he wanted. She came right over and tried to understand what he was saying. I was so surprised! -
Review from Eric B.
6/7/2011
Melissa's Missteak has been a noted Banff Steakhouse and Family Restaurant for over 30 years. I came here for a family Breakfast, and later for a Joe Canadian Burger for Lunch (remember the Molson Commercial?). The bonus is eating and relaxing in this unique 1928 vintage landmark building. Melissa's offers good honest family food that is sometimes hard to find in tourist popular locale such as the Banff Town Site. This place is very kid friendly too.
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Review from Noel M.
8/3/2009 1 photo
1st Visit:
I was attracted by the sign "Melissa's Missteak" thinking it was a steak joint. They serve steak but the menu description didn't even sound appetizing. I settled for an overcooked, dry burger with nice blue cheese and delightful Canadian back bacon. The bacon overpowered all other flavors so it came off for solo consumption. FYI: Canadian bacon is NOT the same as the popular crap found on American pizzas. Also note, Kraft Dinner = Mac and Cheese.
The array of salad components were complimented by little krafts of Italian and Swiss dressings presented.
2nd Visit:
I can't believe I wasted a meal here on something other than breakfast! The omelets are rockin!! I got the Crab and Asparagus Omelet (way better than expected) and helped my friend eat her Huevos Rancheros. Definitely ignore all other sections of the menu and go directly to breakfast! -
Review from Bill N.
8/1/2011
Great place for breakfast before hitting the slopes!
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Review from Neil E.
8/12/2010
Wound up here in a roundabout way. We drove down to Canmore after spending a night at Saskatchewan Crossing and were HUNGRY. Our first brekkie choice stopped serving at 10am. Our second choice (Phil's) was inexplicably closed. So we came to Melissa's.
Right off the bat they win bonus points for serving breakfast until 4pm. Sometimes you just want breakfast.
I had my standard brekky: bacon, eggs over medium, hashbrowns, toast. The eggs were slightly overcooked. The bacon was just ok. The hashbrowns were nice but you had to pay extra for them. The coffee was fine. Service was friendly and attentive.
Overall... it was fine. It's the best of the three breakfasts I've had in the area. Although I still can't figure out why nobody in Alberta can cook decent bacon. -
Review from Maria H.
Calgary, AB
3/14/2011 1 Check-in Here
Awesome brunch. I got the weekender special, it's pretty much like eggs benedict but scrambled eggs instead and old fashioned ham, it is really tasty. Fresh orange juice... Only thing is... you do have to wait a bit as they are VERY busy, it's worth it though... Oh...one last thing, I wouldn't come here for coffee... So going to Evelyn's after is a must!
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Review from Christopher W.
Calgary, AB
12/16/2008
Melissa's is great for breakfast in Banff. Whether you're in a hotel or camping, Melissa's has a complete breakfast to start your day.
Every time in the service has been exceptional (lots of Aussies working here) and the food cooked to perfection. It has this authentic log cabin feel and the food is just classic. -
Review from Suzanne L.
8/10/2011
After a disappointing breakfast at Bruno's, we tried Melissa's. The moment we sat down we said 'ah' because we had found what we were looking for. Warm, cozy atmosphere. Pleasant waitstaff who were more than accommodating with our 2 young kids. I had the signature omelet which was fantastic - all the veggies and ham were cut small enough so that the omelet stayed together and no one flavor was overpowering. The bread came buttered (which I love) and was very fresh and tasty. The kids meal portion of eggs w/ham was extremely generous. We may just keep coming back here rather than trying some other places.
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Review from David S.
9/9/2009
We had two meals at Melissa's -- the first was dinner. After a long day of driving and sightseeing, steak seemed like a good choice; Melissa's delivered ample quantities, with reasonably good veggies (often a problem), a nice salad, and a decent selection of wines by the half-bottle (and more by the bottle, of course!). We probably should have skipped dessert, though; the "Brownie Conspiracy" was over the top and VERY splittable (though awkward to eat).
We also visited for Sunday morning breakfast, arriving just early enough to beat the long lines. We're not pork eaters, so our choices were limited, but the omelets were tasty, and the coffee strong! After ordering, I saw the blueberry Belgian Waffle at an adjacent table, and I wish I'd gone for it instead of the omelet -- next time, perhaps.
Service was prompt but not pushy and very friendly on both visits. -
Review from neil m.
Calgary, AB
10/22/2009
We spent another weekend in Banff and just had to try Melissa's for Breakfast. We have heard so many good thing about it and had to see for ourselves.
It was quite a busy place but of course it was noon time. We still only had to wait about 20 minutes. Nice high ceilings, a bustling brunch crowd and a wonderfully happy server greeted us on our first ever visit.
The first round of coffee tasted like it was sitting out way to long and rather stale. After that it was up to par as far as coffee goes.
My wife and I had the eggs benny (of course) and it was really good and runny but nothing to special. I also had a side of hash browns which were more like shredded potatoes, they were also good albeit a little on the pasty side.
My son ordered the big breakfast ( i think that's what it was called). He said it was good but the pancakes were WAY under cooked, very doughy. We mentioned this to our server and she apologized and cut the price of the meal in half.
Over all Melissa's was good for brunch but not out of this world -
Review from Jill Z.
7/4/2011
My husband and I were in search of breakfast in downtown Banff at around noon, and had a terrible time finding any place still offering breakfast. And then we found Melissa's. This place is awesome. They offered all of the classic breakfast choices at a very reasonable price. The coffee was tasty too. The place was pretty dated inside and had a 1980's ski lodge feel, but I loved it. The service was slow, as our waitress was pretty chatty with some of the other patrons. We weren't in a big hurry and didn't much mind. I was satisfied with the experience, overall, and would recommend Melissa's for breakfast or brunch.
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Review from Moses C.
1/26/2011
The best breakfast place I've ever been in. The wait was a bit long but worth it. A+ all the way.
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Review from David T.
Calgary, AB
11/8/2011 1 Check-in Here
Good hearty tasty breakfast. Worth remembering. I have been to Banff countless times, and am now wondering why I kept walking past this place. Will definitely be back.
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Review from C C.
8/12/2009
Excellent Breakfast place.
My fried eggs and toasts were cooked perfect. My daughters ordered Belgian Waffles with blueberries which she loved it. There was also the eggs benedict dish, which my hubby enjoyed very much. Staff and guests were all really friendly and my coffee cup was never empty.
I will recommend this place. -
Review from Tim S.
10/22/2008 1 photo
Melissa's is one of the best places to eat in Banff. In 2003, we went there while vacationing. We went back to Banff in 2005, and this time a trip to Melissa's was on our itinerary! The place left that kind of impression on us. The waiters and waitresses here are awesome. They answered all our questions about the menu and always were courteous when coming by our table. The restaurant interior features a lot of wood, giving a very warm log cabin vibe that makes for a great atmosphere. The food is so good at Melissa's. The steak I ordered was probably my favorite I've ever had anywhere. If I ever find myself back in Banff, I'll definitely visit Melissa's again... maybe for breakfast, lunch and dinner!
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Review from Glenn B.
6/8/2009
For me saying Melissa's is one of the best places to eat in Banff is like saying this was a great protology exam. This is an expensive resort town. It had expensive food, lodging, and all other resort feels to it. $10-18.00CDN for $3.99-$10.00 US food does not scream a good deal for me. I would say the pancakes were great - the touted as great hash browns were hash blondes and cold - the eggs just fine, the coffee tepid and the service lacking. I love Banff but the food - not so much.
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Review from Kyle W.
9/30/2009
After reading the Yelp reviews here we opted to try Melissa's for breakfast rather than a steak dinner (which we ended up going to Saltlik for). Melissa's was a good choice for breakfast - nice laid back cottage-style atmosphere and great food. We had eggs benedict which was very tasty as were the pancakes. Service was good too. Put this on your list for a decent breakfast in Banff!
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Review from Zoe G.
NORTH YORK, ON
8/18/2010
great breakfast joint! to start off, the place has a great look and feel to it. very homey and comfy, one of the few places in Banff that really look and feel like a genuine mountain lodge.
the crab and asparagus omelette is incredible. it's unique and a nice change from the usual two eggs, bacon, and hashbrown breakfast (though you can get that, too). coffee is good, service always friendly and attentive, and prices are low. plus, if you eat there for breakfast and then come back for dinner you get %10 off, which is a pretty sweet deal. i wouldn't recommend the hashbrowns, but you can get decent fries or toast instead, which is nice.
i also had their wrap with chicken, cranberry salsa, lettuce, and avocado, which was great as a lunch. it was with a small caesar salad that tasted fresh and had just the right amount of dressing on it, and i was a big fan of the cranberry salsa. -
Review from Richard M.
12/5/2009
Had a really great dinner here with a couple of friends after spending the day hiking in Banff. The food was very good (we had pasta and steaks) and the service was outstanding. I've been looking for a good place to eat in Banff and I finally found a place that I'll definitely come back to!
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Review from Brian K.
12/28/2010
Great breakfast place. Had everything you could ever want in a bfast place in Banff. We totally dug it.
