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... More

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. Pros: alot of choices Cons: not very good
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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... More

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. Pros: Roomy inside and easy parking in front. Cons: Small portions, pricey and overrated.
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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... More

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!
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This place is coveted by old time locals as well as tourists. Its kind of interesting. Kind of diner like. But I guess I think its over rated unless you are really hot dog nut. Good for one... More

This place is coveted by old time locals as well as tourists. Its kind of interesting. Kind of diner like. But I guess I think its over rated unless you are really hot dog nut. Good for one trip, go back if you loved it.
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This is a popular place for tourists coming out of Busch Gardens. The food is good, but there is only so much you can charge for a hotdog - no matter how much stuff you put on it. Over $10 for a... More

This is a popular place for tourists coming out of Busch Gardens. The food is good, but there is only so much you can charge for a hotdog - no matter how much stuff you put on it. Over $10 for a hotdog doesn't quite cut it.
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Mels Hot Dogs is a really great family owned hot dog shop. From the minute you pull in the parking lot and see the hot dog car you know that you are gonna get one great dog. The overall style of the... More

Mels Hot Dogs is a really great family owned hot dog shop. From the minute you pull in the parking lot and see the hot dog car you know that you are gonna get one great dog. The overall style of the hotdogs is chicago style with the vienna beef hotdogs and fresh baked rolls. The variety of toppings they offer is staggering and you are bound to get your hot dog just the way you like.
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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... More

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.
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These hotdogs are really something special. They serve only Vienna Beef hotdogs and you can really tell a diffrence in the taste. The choices they have for toppings on the hot dogs are really unique... More

These hotdogs are really something special. They serve only Vienna Beef hotdogs and you can really tell a diffrence in the taste. The choices they have for toppings on the hot dogs are really unique too. I personally like mine Chicago Style. From the moment you pull up outside and see the hot dog car you know this restaurant doesnt joke around with their hotdogs.
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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... More

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. Pros: very clean, excellent food, friendly people Cons: a little expensive
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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... More

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. Pros: good chili Cons: Long line, high priced
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