Mel-O-Dee Cocktails

Absolute banger of a bar, from the decor to the crowd. Came for the ball drop NYE and didn't regret it. Bartender made a fabulous French 75!

A great bar. The owner runs it very well. A safe fun environment. Patrons are really great. Everyone gets to know each other. The owner is really friendly and goes out of his way to make everyone comfortable. It is my husband and my favorite bar and the only one we trust during covid. They check Vax cards and IDs.

Great drinks and the best Karaoke bar in the East Bay!

Always great people here

We had a great time. It was karaoke night and that was so much fun! The drinks were good.

Mel-O-Dees Cocktails in El Cerrito is a true gem for those seeking a sophisticated and mature atmosphere. From the moment you step inside, you're greeted with an air of elegance and charm that sets the tone for an unforgettable evening. The crowd exudes a refined energy, creating an ambiance perfect for intimate conversations or simply enjoying a well-crafted cocktail. The bartenders are true artisans, mastering classic concoctions while also innovating with creative new blends. The attention to detail in both the drinks and the decor is impeccable, showcasing a dedication to quality that's second to none. Whether you're a cocktail connoisseur or simply looking for a classy night out, Mel-O-Dees exceeds expectations on every level. A five-star experience that's sure to leave you longing for more.

Came to see the music with Lee Russell and a host of very talented musicians. Great vibe with a cozy stylish atmosphere. Loved it!

I love this place. Definitely a dive bar with character and verve. Would come here anytime for karaoke, atmosphere and reasonably priced drinks!

This is my go-to neighborhood bar every time I head back up to Northern California to visit family. Great staff, solid drinks, decent prices, and karaoke from Wed to Sat. Whenever we go, it's mainly an older crowd. I don't mind. The aunties and uncles who go are all solid. I usually befriend a ton of them, and we all dance on the dance floor. Divey, but there's a touch of (dated) class with the decor. Don't take this as a diss. I love it. It's super cozy and comfortable. We usually grab a couple of rounds, sing some songs, and then mosey our way down to Nations for some post-drinking grub. It's a perfect, chill night. Don't sleep on Mel-O-Dee! It's an El Cerrito staple, even as the city evolves due to gentrification.

Had family and friends come watch the football games with me for my bday. Multiple TV's to watch all the games. Cool owner (even tho he's a Raider fan) and the bar tender makes a MEAN DRINK!!! Was able to bring food in and my sisters brought a crock pot to warm up cheese for nachos or cheese fries for the whole bar. Very friendly place to go.

Omg, the older woman bartender is sooooooo unwelcoming. My friend and I had a drink and left. It's a weird little place with a culty (not in a good way) vibe and not welcoming to new comers.

This is one of the most famous neighborhood bars for the neighborhood of El Cerrito California. It's been around so many years and they take care of the customer and it's the best prices around and the greatest crowds for karaoke and friends.

Visited recently with some of my girls, with two of us being there for the first time. Appreciate that it's lowkey and in the El Cerrito Plaza, so that means plenty of parking because of the lots. The bar itself is at the front and a bit tight compared to the back room where live karaoke occurs and plenty of seating exists. I like the vibe, but be aware that ventilation could improve. The crowds here echo a hometown feel, so you'll find people who are present for a good song and a chill night. Drank the mai tai and White Russian here; they come in big glasses and they come strong! Drinks are a good deal and you'll be getting your money's worth!

I'm not sure how this works, but the Mel-O-Dee is definitely open on Sundays..I've been there many times, and going today...not sure how to correct, it's a great bar, my go to especially for football...fun bartenders, and customers....

The drinks are strong and reasonably priced. The staff is welcoming and nice. We had a great time singing karaoke for my friend's wedding after-party. While not in a typical place for a bar, this bar is top notch, and I can't wait to come back.

The bar manager is a despot and rude, I won't go again.......................................................................,..................................,,,,,

Typically neighborhood bar. No food served. Basic fun place. Ppl come here to watch the games, have a great time, and live their life. I'm not too impressed but it will work while I wait for a friend. I'm early for the Halloween Party

A nice place for karaoke, great drinks, and a good place for a get together! Bar service is amazing.

Oh wow, this vintage watering hole is a major throwback deep into the last century when men in gray flannel suits and matching porkpie hats patronized their neighborhood bars to share their troubles with the bartender. If you saw any sitcom back between the Eisenhower and Reagan years, there was always a scene in a bar like this where the misunderstood husband plots with his best friend on how to get back at his wife for carelessly overspending their household budget. Jamie W. and I discovered this spot quite by accident after shopping at Trader Joe's. I have to admit I was intrigued by the retro sign and the fact that you can't see anything inside until you enter the side door where of course, the bouncer checks for your ID. Inside it was like something out of that sitcom with regulars talking over each other just a little too loudly as they were downing various well drinks. Jamie W. and I fit right in by ordering $8 Makers Marks and Ginger (photo: http://bit.ly/2L65uXH). They have a back room with red paisley wallpaper and quite an elaborate karaoke set-up. We have yet to make it for karaoke but give us time...and enough Makers Marks and Gingers. Mel-o-Dee...oh wait, I get it now. DRINKS - 4 stars...not watered down, thank goodness AMBIANCE - 4 stars...mid-century throwback, love it SERVICE - 3 stars...not sure I'd share my troubles with him but certainly friendly enough TOTAL - 4 stars...drop the mic RELATED - Looking for libations? Here's a collection of places I've tried and reviewed: http://bit.ly/2YJ1IbU

Authentic dive-bar without the hepatitis. Old-scool ambience but clean. Fair prices. Hey Yelp- requiring 85 characters is a pain.

Just sing me a mel-o-dee why don't you?! Because if YOU don't sing it... you'll regret hearing me "try" to. Belting my lungs out anywhere other than the shower should be strictly prohibited. But when I get to feelin' myself at Mel-o-dee, I just can't control it. Four cocktails in on a Thursday night here, and you might get the pleasure of seeing me singing and dancing on top of the bar! Okay... I'm exaggerating. However, I can't deny that this place is such a fun time. Located next to Trader Joe's in the El Cerrito Plaza shopping center, Mel-o-dee serves up some really strong cocktails while providing a wonderful spot to sing along to your favorite tunes. It's the oldest bar in El Cerrito and is still going strong for so many reasons! For one, the bartenders make the drinks here really strong. You won't need too much liquid courage to get you singing when you come here. To top it off, their drinks are super cheap! Cheap drinks that are still strong and tasty? Yep, I'm a fan of that! The employee turnover here is really low. Some of those bartenders have probably been working there since before I was born! Now, that's what I call dedication. The venue itself is pretty comfortable. You first enter through the bar area which is long and wide with a counter that's also located on the opposite side for additional seating. The lounge area is pretty spacious. There are usually tables out in the middle of the floor and cozy booths which usually fill up by the end of the night. This place also has tons of TV's and tends to get quite packed during sports games. The best nights to come out are either on Thursday or Saturday nights because of... you guessed it: KARAOKE! To be frank; I've never been the biggest fan of karaoke. However, I absolutely love the karaoke nights here! My friends and I used to frequent this spot at least once a month on Thursdays to have a karaoke night. But lemme tell you the REAL reason why we kept coming back here... to watch the regulars sing. It's the most entertaining thing ever! If you've ever felt too shy to get up and sing karaoke, just watch the people who do it here every Thursday. That should be enough encouragement for you to get your butt up there on ANY day! And when I say entertaining, I mean hilarious. I gotta keep it real... most of you folk' do NOT know how to sing! Half of the time, I feel I'm watching America Idol audition rejects. But damn, it is just soooo funny! If these people can come here and sing like this every Thursday, then damnit... I can do it too! It's like a comical musical... best thing everrrr! Not everyone who sings here is bad. Some of them have vocals... I'm just saying that most of them don't. And that's okay, because everyone gets a big laugh out of it. I love getting up there and making a fool of myself... sometimes! The list of song choices here are endless! I've found songs on here that I didn't even know could be used for karaoke! They have a super diverse selection of songs of all different genres and times. If you're looking to have a fun night of karaoke, I would without a doubt recommend Mel-o-dee! Even if you aren't into singing yourself, this place is super entertaining and a great way to spend time with friends.

honestly a quality place to sing the people are friendly the place is no frills no cover open Wednesday to Sunday

Great place to hang out, staff and owner are very attentive. Regular customers are inclusive of new bees.

So stinkin' fun. They have a full bar, and a huge book of songs. They don't have any recent songs from the last... I would say several years, but they will absolutely have something for everyone. Their little stage is great as well. DJ is behind you in their little booth. The best part? Everyone is welcoming and kind, the customers love to cheer you on and will also compliment you after your song.

10-4-2019...9:15p.m. First timer... Mel-O-Dee Cocktails is a must go to for Karaoke...I had a blast...Now imma bit shy when it comes to doing karaoke but this place is hella kool...The regulars here can get down and aren't shy as me...plenty of songs to choose from ya diggg... Drinks are decent... Karaoke is great... Come on in and have a blast... Gotta work on my karaoke skills...lol Most definitely will be back

I LOVE THIS BAR! I go for karaoke with DeeCee and have a BLAST every time. It's intimate but bustling at the same time. Great drinks, great people, and the regulars are always welcoming. I love bringing people here for a fun night of singing and relaxing.

Came here for my birthday, we had plenty of drinks Atleast 3 per person. Had a party of 6 and the dj told us we had to many song requests after 4 songs and refused to put us In the cue. We asked twice for the same song 45 minutes apart and we never got in. Bartenders were nice and service was fast at least.

What a fun place! I met up with some friends here for karaoke. It's in a random shopping plaza so I wasn't sure what to expect at first. The crowd here is pretty diverse and everyone loves to sing and have a good time. The karaoke area isn't that big so go early if you want to grab a seat/table. The bartender we had wasn't that great though. The drinks we ordered weren't as strong as other reviews stated and my AMF was disgusting. Maybe it was an off night? I'll give it another chance.

The jewel of el Cerrito plaza.... great place to sing and enjoy spirits. I encourage visitors to go!

I'm praying that Mel-O-Dee lounge will survive Covid because it is hands-down the BEST karaoke bar ever! And, I am about to move into a house that is within walking distance. I can't think of a better way to celebrate the end of this pandemic than a night at Mel-O-Dee Lounge. If there is a gofundme or anything to keep this amazing local business alive, please post it here!!

Mel-O-Dee is a great venue for people wanting to have a fun time throwing back a couple of drinks and belting out a few tunes. If you have an open mind, don't mind a being a bit crowded, this place is tons of fun. I was introduced to this place over 5 years ago, and I have since become a regular. Pros: Large song selection. This is one of the original KJs that had bought the long song sets back in the day. They have many songs other people cannot get anymore. Friendly staff. Always aim to please Friendly regulars. Mel-O-Dee has allot of Karaoke OGs. Cheap drinks. Fun drink specials. Strong but not too strong. Nothing super fancy, but for $7 a drink or $4 a beer, you are getting more than what you paid for, poured correctly, and well balanced. You can submit a new song every time you sing, so if you get there early, you will end up singing allot. (People who come in late grumble about how others got to sing multiple songs, but it's their fault for coming in late.) Hole-in-the-wall old-style décor that is campy, fun, and comfortable: Crushed red velvet wall paper, saloon doors to the restrooms, old style pleather lounge seats, etc. They do party reservations. Popular place, so allot of good singers. Some do not sing so great, but they put their heart into it, so its always fun. Others are spectacular and will make your jaw drop. If the song queue is closed, which happens from time to time, wait it out. Towards the end, especially on weekdays, people start bailing early. IF enough people bail on their songs, you can then (Politely) ask the KJ if you might be able to squeeze a song in. (Don't forget to tip!) Cons: Sound system turned up too LOUD. Easily compensated by ear protection, or a bit of cocktail napkin. Small venue that gets crowded quickly. If someone has a party going on, be prepared to have to squeeze though people and only get to sing once or twice. If you get there late, especially on the weekend, the song queue can get filled for the night. (This is understandable, as there allot of people who come here). Limited seating. On a crowded night, be prepared to stand. Overall the cons are minor, and are easily overcome. This is a REALLY fun place for Karaoke... unless you are a self-entitled priss or wannabe baller who likes bling and status more than fun... then you best move on to the expensive, overpriced, private room karaoke parlors with over-priced, watered down drinks with fancy colors, fancy glass, & fancy garnishes (I mean, as long as they look fancy, you don't mind their quality, right? Dumb-ass.) Now about the few bad reviews for this place... I actually took the time to read through all the one star and two star reviews for this place, which are very few, and I can honestly say that almost all of the bad reviews were fluffed up bull by unreasonable people wanting more than they did not deserve for less than they should pay, were people who were jerks who had a personal problem, or happened to hit the place on that once in a blue moon off-night. Let's face facts... there is only 1 Karaoke system set-up at this venue. If you come after 12:00 on a weekend, hand the KJ a first full of songs, don't tip, act like a jerk, and are already a bit drunk... you probably won't get to sing. ALSO: Anyone who complains that any karaoke venue doesn't have the songs you like, or not enough of the newest songs, they need to understand that US laws with licensing and copy write for songs and lyrics have a ton of red tape. New songs are extremely difficult to make and acquire in the US. Sound Choice (now Phoenix Entertainment Partners) have been suing people who have moved their songs from CD to digital format, left and right, causing allot of road blocks for KJs to legally use the songs they have already purchased. The songs online for sale and download from the UK are mostly not legal to use at all (let alone commercially) in the USA. SO CUT THE KJs SOME SLACK, PLEASE!!!! https://www.digitalmusicnews.com/2013/07/12/karaoke/ https://www.imaginelaw.com/top-myths-about-karaoke-cd-g-users-legal-rights.html

Cool, easy access, karaoke, sports on TV. What else does one need? Always have a good time there.

I would give it a zero if I could. This place is a dump and its old , the owner needs to do some updating. The bathrooms are nasty

I'm so glad that it's open still during the outbreak and and they serve my girl favorite cocktails and sadly they don't do no delivery with a little spills still a feel you drink

If you don't like Mel-O-Dee we can't be friends. Mel-O-Dee is a divey lounge-slash-karaoke bar in a strip mall off of San Pablo in El Cerrito. The drink prices are reasonable, the bar staff is friendly and puts up with a sometimes rowdy crowd pretty well. I've only been here on Friday nights during karaoke time. It's public karaoke in a room that holds about twenty people - there's a bar area that also holds about twenty or so. The crowd is a mix of regulars, former high school musical dorks, and just normal folks that want to sing Torn really loudly, dammit. The crowd will get up and dance when someone hits a good number, which also takes some of the attention off the singer (pro-tip if you want to sing but perhaps not too public ally). I've heard rumors of some amazing late-night Tibetan dance circles happening here... ask around, I haven't been here late enough (yet!).

Leaving BART and walking to the El Cerrito Plaza, you have to walk around the whole plaza to find Mel-O-Dee ... but it's worth it. The decor has not changed since the early 70s but it is so warm and cozy. My family had the same swivel chairs in our kitchen from that time period maybe that is why. I could have sat there all night drinking ... wait, I did. There was a special drink that night because it was so hot. For $4 it was worth it, juice and rum and Midori. When she ran out of Midori, she made us another special, the "Rum Runner" which was equally as good and was welcomed on such a hot night. The bartender was very personable and was quick and efficient. Karaoke was fun but I didn't sing because they did not have The Cure, Beastie Boys, or "Tainted Love". After not finding songs I liked, I became disenchanted and resolved myself to chair dancing and singing which was pretty fun in itself. Would I come back -- YES. Would I bring my friends -- YES. If I lived near El Cerrito BART, I would make Mel-O-Dee my local.

"We went in and no one was there. We got scared. So we left." I was a little afraid to go into this place when part of the EB DYL crowd greeted us with that. I think it was just the lack of lighting that scared them. I really don't think it was the cast of Cocoon sitting at the bar. We made our way back to the latter years Elvis lounge in the back. One magnificent, black, tufted leather couch winds the length of two walls - complimented by small circular "club" tables and swivel chairs. It's easy to slide in and get comfy with a lot of good friends. It was so dark at one point, the pool players were having trouble seeing. We tried to turn on the light over the pool table but knew instantly that it killed the mood and turned it back off. Then Angelo proceeded to make the bank shot of the year. The KJ hoisted the table up onto a dolly and moved it aside to reveal the dance floor. He has a couple of really cool microphones, albeit the blinky light one is a little distracting when girls hold it near their bewbs. He should have saved money on the mics and concentrated on the song book because the selections are weak at best. Give me a crappy song list and un-readable lyrics - I'magonna make an idiot of myself and probably you as well. The cute little bartender couldn't have been nicer. I was always greeted with a "Welcome Back" when I headed back for "one more" and she always tried to talk me into getting two. I have a fuzzy memory of her actually hiking up her skirt, she was seemingly trying to demonstrate something to one of the regulars - I kind of short circuited when she did it. I'm not sure what it was about but it was fun. I'd go back. If they don't improve their song selections by then, I'm threatening to throw down "The Real Slim Shady".

I love it...Different kinds of crowd's & so far the bartenders are nice. Great booze selection....It's in a shopping plaza.

This was my first DYL event where I actually stayed more than ten minutes. East Bay DYL'ers know how to do it and they know how to do it well. The velvet walls definitely made this place unique from the rest. The drink specials were pretty reasonable and mixed pretty well. I love the Old School mic for singing karaoke. I think I'll be belting more songs out here more often. Just bring your earplugs because I'm totally tone deaf :) Don't say I didn't warn you. If they had more BritPop, I'd be all over the mic here...but then I'd probably piss off the good karaoke singers. I guess I'll stick to my guilty pleasures of old 80s hair metal (I can thank my brother for scarring me for life with the cheesiest music of the decade). Thank you to all the lovely DYL'ers for making my experience here more fun. Yeah...I was only going to stay an hour but there was lots of good conversation with cool people. So I didn't leave until almost the last BART train left. This place is totally bitchin' especially when you mix it with a bunch of awesome Yelpers. Kudos to Bill B and those awesome dance moves. heehee.

They say that you should "Sing like no one is listening", but what fun is that? Sing your heart out like a superstar. Karaoke is meant to entertain, sometimes good, sometimes even more entertaining. Either way it's fun to participate or watch. We stopped into the Mel-o-dee for a couple beers and karaoke. It was packed with quite the variety in the crowd, also reflected in the song choices. My beer was great, we found seats and enjoyed our time here. Maybe next time I come back, I'll get on stage and sing one. ;)

I'm a sucker for dive bars with the cocktail class sign on the exterior of the building. This place is a complete throw back. It's like they decorated in 1971 and said, "It's perfect. Don't touch a thing" and then didn't. We were in on a Friday and coming in at 7 PM, we got the last table and four chairs in the rear Karaoke room. It was mult-age, multi-cultural and multi-talent. There are clearly regulars who seem to come up over and over again (most of whom bring enthusiasm rather than vocal chops) while others turn in their slips and wait forever to get on. I like the sound system and the screens which tell you who's up next and who's up after that. The KJ really kept things moving. Someone else mentioned that the song selection is small but I thought it was great. As the night wore on, it got REALLY crowded and REALLY hot back there. One of the females in our group was accosted by a drunk guy and groped a bit and a guy (I couldn't tell if he was a bouncer or a regular guy) came up, asked my friend what happened and dealt with the situation quickly and without drama and the "drunk uncle" was bounced out of the joint. The Mel is in a shopping center and it's around the side and not well lit or signed so you may miss it the first time.

went here to celebrate my BFF's bday. Have lived in EC for 10 years & heard about the legendary Mel-O-Dee for many years. It lives up to the hype. If Yelp would let me give 6 stars, I would Star #1: Red velvet wallpaper Star #2: Cheap drinks Star #3: Really bad karaoke singers (like me) Star #4 Really GOOD karaoke singers like DeeCee, Massina & Soup Star #5: Humungous Purell next to the tip jar (huh?) Star #6: Fun, diverse (in every way) crowd that likes to tear up the (tiny) dance floor.

Awesome crowd! You have to check it out! Great folks that came over here. Delia runs the DJ and karaoke! Drinks are served strong. Private parties are welcome...small place by its by Trader Joes. Would never know its here. I would not sing here as compared to the singers here, I would be boo'd!! Lol

I really like this place. It's sort of off road so you can have to look for it a little bit but this place is always jammed with people, and they have karaoke five nights a week. So you should call for the times. But the place is always filled to the limit with happy people. Like with most karaoke bars is always a couple really really find talents but I would say so many people in here are such great singers. And the people that work here are very very nice and are hospitable and make you feel welcome. It is a full bar with a Jager cooler and it has a karaoke room in the back which is full functioning and very fun and definitely has a lot of regulars that come here to enjoy it. Definitely recommended.

Fun, eclectic bunch of patrons but their karaoke equipment is the worst I've ever seen or heard. They seriously need to upgrade!

It was the day after Christmas and a few buddies came into town and wanted to go bowling at Albany Lanes. The plan was to down a few shots and beers before some drunk bowling. We never though to think that the bar would be closed inside the bowling alley as it was 11am and wouldn't open until 5pm. We'll be back. I Yelped for a nearby bar and it was Mel-O-Dee or Hotsty Totsy, which was was closed until 3pm, Mel-O-Dee it is. The bar is next to Chef's Chinese Food, which I've seen plenty of times. As soon as I entered, I loved the decor, very gentlemen's club like. I felt I was in a strip club with no strippers. It was 11am and the day after Christmas, but the place was buzzing with the regulars. The main bartender wasn't quite eye candy per say, but she was a nicer older lady, a grandma almost. She didn't care when we got a little rowdy and kept the drinks coming for about two hours. Prices are affordable and they had a few specials going on as well. There's also some space near the back for dancing or sitting down at a table or two. I really enjoyed discovering Mel-O-Dee, but is a little far from home if I'm going to be doing any serious drinking. Nevertheless, a cool bar in El Cerrito, which you don't hear often. And the bowling? It never happened.

Mel-o-dee sits in a reconstructed shopping mall, a few doors from trader joes. Mel would classify as a dive bar except it's innards are sipfy . fancy smanchy. faux velvet? 4 flatscreens. no pool tables , 10ish draught beers pours: -blue moon(4)fresh -gin & tonic (3) pretty strong on draught: -older crowd -cordial, friendly service -2ns room availiable for dancing? kaorake? -cheers type bar.

I was pretty hesitant about going to a karaoke bar in a strip mall, but Mel-O-Dee did not disappoint! First off, the drink prices are super reasonable... much cheaper than at some of the nearby bars on San Pablo Ave. I tried a few different cocktails and they were all good. The staff was super friendly and the karaoke was on point! It's a mix of regulars, people who are actually decent singers and then those who are just awful but don't care and have fun with it. The one thing I will say is that it's a bit of an older crowd (my friends and I are early/mid twenties and were the youngest ones there by far). But honestly, who cares? This place is great and I will definitely be back.

The patrons and owners just don't care to follow the no-smoking ordinance posted on each pillar outside. Not cool at all when I am with my small kids and just trying to hit Trader Joe's on a weekend morning. No matter the time, there is a group of smokers. Fun bar to enjoy on karaoke night, but they don't care about their community or the law.

It's not much to look at, but they sure know how to karaoke! Pros: Awesome karaoke selection Awesome-er karaoke DJ Nice little dance floor if the mood strikes Comfortable seating GREAT screen for onlookers and singers alike Super-friendly bar staff And the absolute coup - free hotdogs and fresh popcorn. I mean, seriously?! Decent drink prices Con: It's in a very strange shopping center/plaza...in the back. If you don't know where you're going you may not find it. But hey, if that's your biggest problem, you're doing pretty well!

The bartender ( I think she said her name is Margaret) she is so rude. We (my company) was trying to speak to a manager/ owner / event person etc. and Margaret said "9a" and just hung up while I was in the process of asking for someone else. Then we called back to speak to Owner and get the info. we needed. She said "hold on", came back and gave #, then I said" may I have his naaaa?" She said "ok, bye bye" and hung up on me again. Who gives a # and no name or info with it. She was so rude, we will not look at this spot for our office party anymore. The coworker that recommended it also said that the bartender can be a little slow & short with you at times. Guess they were right!

Love this place. Nice environment and staff. Great drinks and friendly folks. Worth stopping by for a drink.

Went for my birthday. They have Pabst on Tap now, yeshhhh. And of course drinks are still super cheap. Now onto the karaoke... It was a busy night, I'll give them that. I think I was one of three parties there celebrating birthdays so I didn't get to sing until the very end of the night. Which is fine. BUT, there were people who sang multiple times before me. (one lady friend of the DJ sang 4 times). Also, my initial song request had apparently already been requested by someone else before me and I didn't know this until I heard them singing it. The DJ never told me anything when I submitted the song and when I went up there to give him another song he was was unaware of this issue. The same thing happened for two other people in my party and they were told that they can sing the same song as well and didn't need to put in another. That is SO against the karaoke rules! There are rules aren't there?!

I have been coming here for years! The drinks are cheap, the crowd is never the same (which makes it exciting every time you go in), and Ralph, the bartender and owner, is terrific and down to earth. I have been here with co-workers, family, and friends which means it's a place a lot of people can agree on. However, if you're not an open-minded fun go-getter, you may not enjoy it as much but this place really doesn't depend on people of that sort since it is usually packed to the front door. If you're in town, go by for some drinks and karaoke fun!

Yesterday was my birthday and I walked over to this spot with a mutual acquaintance having been at The Crown celebrating. I went directly to the restroom and when I approached the bar, I was immediately told that we needed to leave. I assumed my friend had developed a reputation at this place that I wasn't aware of. So I left without objection. Once outside, I proceeded to order a Lyft when my phone died. So I returned to the bar, thinking someone could help. When I returned, the door was locked with about 20 people inside. So I knocked on the door. My friend also knocked to try to help me. The bartender opened the door and immediately was screaming "you're not coming in!" over and over. I couldn't even explain. He slammed the door in my face and said he was calling the cops. I'm so glad he did because finally someone was able to help me. The police called me a cab and charged my phone while we waited. The bartender at Melodee put my safety at risk and acted with complete unprofessionalism. It's terrible because I'm new the the area and have developed friendships with people who visit regularly, but I won't return unless this bartender is removed.

Friday 1/17/2020 my mom stepdad and friend attended mel-o-dees I arrived 1st alone when I got there I ordered my friend and myself a margarita and opened a TAB I was by myself as I mentioned so my friend arrived and then my mom and stepdad arrived and they opened a tab so my mom bought us drinks as well. The drinks were good coming from the same BARTENDER that made mines when I arrived so time went by I ordered 2 more drinks on my mom and STEPDAD tab they were made by the same BARTENDER they were good and later I went to order my mom and myself 1 on my tab and the other BARTENDER made them so I gave my mom her drink and she was conversing with an old school friend and I went and set with my friend and I sipped my drink it was sour and as I turned looking for my mom she was at the bar asking for her drink to be fixed and was turned down disrespected and some. So I went over there asking can the other BARTENDER just remake them the glasses were still full the other BARTENDER stated we will have to charge you for new drinks I said ma'am they are still full she began to be sarcastic and make a scene saying they want the other good BARTENDER apparently shes better than me so I just asked for a refund on the last 2 drinks which were both full glasses and she began to ignore me so my song came up to sing I left and this stranger white guy brought me my card I was confused so when I went and asked them why would you close out my tab with a stranger a guy I never met in my life and I stood here asking to close it nicely for 10mins and as soon as I go to sing you give a total stranger my card I don't have no receipt no nothing then she states well he paid for your tab I said I don't know him I didn't ask him to pay for my tab where is my receipt because she then states that she did charge me for the 1st drinks and he paid for the other drinks she didn't give me no receipt I called the police they were racist as was the security at the bar I will be taking this to court as bad as identity theft is in the world today they couldn't even apologize about giving my card to a total stranger which happen to be a white man they thinking just because I'm a black woman I'm supposed to be ok with this stranger paying for my drinks and getting my credit card no I'm furious and disturbed that they thought I would be happy I can pay for my own drinks and futher more my husband who wasn't present wouldn't appreciate me taking money from another man who is a stranger I will never go back here but best believe I will be suing them.

Luckily, there isn't really a need to try and impart to you the obscene cred of the Mel-O-Dee, because Wes Anderson and Sofia Coppola have basically already done that, but suffice it to say, it's like a David Lynch movie about a party in your pants. In Nevada. Or rather, El Cerrito. Same thing. Whatever. The wallpaper in here will blow your mind it's so fucking awesome (I think they actually rebuilt the El Cerrito Plaza around the walls of this place to avoid fucking with all the gilt and felted red brocade.) And, the ladies' powder room is straight fresh, second only in fabulousness to the powder room at the First Congregational Church in Oakland. Five stars.