Earlsfield is somewhat lacking in places to eat and hang out at, however Mels is here to save the day with its garden and fantastic staff helping to make your stay as pleasant as possible.

The Venue
Mels is a place that stands out on the high street as it doesn’t blend into its surroundings. It may be quite understated but its warm charm makes you want to pop in and take a look for yourself. The front part of the venue serves as more of a bar-cafe with coloured diner style tables and stiff chairs; you get the impression that it is more of a place to eat, rather than a place to have a few drinks. Above the impressive bar area are circular brass light fixtures, giving it a modern contemporary feel. For those who just want to slope into a comfy seat, there is a well loved leather sofa opposite the bar.

In the dining area, it feels as if you have stepped into another place. The walls are ruby red and the lighting is so low it feels more intimate and private - a complete contrast to the bar. On each table a red flower is placed in a glass bottle which aptly goes with the colour scheme. The main draw of Mels is its beautiful garden which works well at all times of the year. It is a tranquil urban retreat just off the busy high street so it is bound to be popular.

The Atmosphere
During the day you will typically find yummy mummies catching a bite to eat before having to pick up their darlings from school but as soon as night falls, the young professionals and seasoned drinkers take over and, on busy nights, leave the bar close to dry. Typically the music is female singer-songwriters which sets a calming mood to the venue. What is impressive about Mels is the level of service from the staff. Once you sit down in the bar, there is always someone at hand to make sure that you are being attended to. This is also true of the restaurant the owner Mel, who serves food, takes orders and generally makes sure that all of her customers are being taken care of, which is a lovely touch.

The Food
Mels food is half way between a diner and a restaurant and can feed any appetite. In the small plates section you can choose from nibbles such as soup of the day (£4.50), chicken satay skewers (£5.50) or cocktail sausages with hot Colman’s mustard (£5). Whereas the sausages are plentiful, well cooked and exactly how a sausage should taste – meaty - the chicken satay is unfortunately a little disappointing. The chicken is lukewarm and lacking in seasoning and the satay sauce has no depth and it tastes shop bought, even though it is prepared on site.

Mains are a mixed bag too. There are a variety of burgers to choose from, starting at £9 for a veggie one, sausage and mash and salads are on offer, but if you want something a bit more substantial then the shank of lamb (£12.50), slow roasted pork belly (£11) and the salmon and smoked salmon fish cakes (£9), may fulfil that need. The pork belly with creamy smooth mash and kale is a dish that particularly shines. The pork is beautifully tender and the lashings of gravy and dollop of apple and cinnamon sauce make this dish blissful. However the fishcakes are not very exciting and a bit on the bland side, so it seems you need to choose your dishes carefully to get one with good flavour.

Desserts consist of favourites like the chocolate brownie and a devilish sticky toffee pudding (both £5), which is a dense cake with a light sweet toffee sauce that’s surprisingly not to sickly. It is a real treat.

Mels also has offers from Sunday-Thursday, after 6pm, where you can get two courses for £10, which is a great bargain.

The Drink
There are a reasonable amount of interesting draught beers on offer, including Guinness, Amstel (both £3.35), Bitburger, Spindrift, Aspall, Erdinger (£4.05) and Leffe. There is also a small cocktail list starting at £5.65 for a Bloody Mary and £6.50 for the rest (Tom Collins, Dark and Stormy and so on). House wine starts at £3.65 for a small, £4.90 for a large and £14.65 the bottle. The Cote a Cote Blanc is quite average put perfectly drinkable so if you want something a bit more interesting, try the Viognier (£5.15/ £7.15/ £21.85). If you’re prepared to pay a bit extra, the reds have some very respectable tipples. Stay at the cheaper end and you can try a 2008 Tempranillo (£4.30/£6.15/£18.15) which is again on the average side. What you can’t go wrong with is the bubbly – there’s a a great Prosecco (£5.35/£23.55) which is crisp and very refreshing, or for the proper stuff, splurge on the Perrier Jouet which is £39.55 for a bottle and worth every penny.

The Last Word
People obviously flock to Mels as the service and atmosphere is brilliant and it is one of the best places to hang out in the area. The venue is definitely more suited for diners than drinkers and the tables in the restaurant fill up exceptionally quickly. All you need to do is choose your meal carefully as you may end up with something that is merely passable.

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