Melt Eclectic Cafe

Whenever I know I’ll be in Northside for a meeting, I make time to stop by Melt for lunch. The food is so flavorful and fresh. I actually feel a little healthier after I eat it. Plus, there are vegan/​vegetarian options on the menu. I love that.
Typically, I stick with the baked sandwiches and salads — the verde chicken is a favorite. I will say that the menu is a little pricey for what it is. Maybe there’s a reason for that I’m not aware of — maybe they go to the farmer’s market each week to pick out the produce. I’m not sure, but I would stop by more often if it were a little cheaper.
This is another restaurant that has a secret patio in the back that you definitely won’t regret hanging out in. The only downside to Melt is the amount of seating it can hold, even with a front and back room, Melt can get a little crowded at peak hours. However, on nice days, Northside is a great area of town to be in with carry out. There’s a park right down the street from Melt where you could picnic.

Got the vegan «cheese steak» sandwich, the vegan three way, and the vegan chili. All were delicious and filing! The staff was friendly, the prices were fair, and everything looked very clean. We sat outside to eat and it was beautiful out there! Would definitely recommend this restaurant. A+

When we decided to take a long weekend in Cincinnati and try new things, I found three vegan/​vegetarian restaurants I was interested in. Melt sounded good and was in a part of the city I hadn’t been to before. It was SO good and I will definitely go back to try more of their creations!
The front of the place is small and you order from the counter. There were more tables in the back, but it was still pretty small. We had a group of five and were able to snag a table big enough for us in the front. While we were waiting for the food to come out we saw that Guy Fieri had been there and I had even higher expectations than I did before.
The food did not disappoint! I got the Avocado Wrap (vegan style) and a vegan chocolate cupcake with chocolate ganache. I was in heaven! the wrap had tons of filling and excellent blend of flavors. The cupcake was simply divine. I wish I had gotten one to-​go! The rest of our party got a mixture of vegetarian and meat items and they were all very pleased with the taste.
There was an issue with the service. The machine that prints the tickets ran out of paper and they lost two of our groups orders. So three of us ate while the others waited and waited. The server came over to tell us, but she was not apologetic at all.

Melt may be one of the most wonderful eccentric cafes I ever been! I was visiting with my boyfriend this past weekend and a colleague told us to try it out as he had when he was on a business trip. The décor was lovely and the options were out of this world! Finally a place where meat lovers and veggies/​vegans can coexist peacefully. The buffalo mac and cheese is delicious! Quite possibly the best I’ve ever had. The curry potato salad was scrumptious (if you like Curry — do not hesitate). Our sandwiches were also amazing. My boyfriend got the Hoffinator. It was made with delicious brisket and fills you up quickly. I wish I lived closer so that I can try everything else on their menu. The staff was super attentive and charming. If I ever visit Cincy again, this is my go-​to spot. Also, we sat out in the backyard patio — certainly recommended!

I love Melt and don’t know what I’d do without it.
Being vegan/​vegetarian, there are SO many options. They also have meat for those who are not.
They’ve got lots of sandwiches, chili, etc. Excited that brunch is back. My favorites are their biscuits and gravy, the vegan nachos (which actually are better than the non-​vegan version with real cheese, in me and my spouse’s opinion), and the seitan BBQ sandwich.
My only complaint is it gets really pricey in my opinion. We end up dropping as much as $ 40 each time me and my spouse go. In addition, the time to be served can take a long time.
Usually, they get my orders right. There was one time, they got everything wrong, including serving me meat on a vegan option. That day was annoying, but all other times (and we go there very often), it has been great.

Another time that I wish I could give half stars, because Melt is almost perfect. I’ve been eating here for years since they can handle almost any dietary need — vegan, vegetarian, omnivore, picky kid. This trip, I stopped by for a Friday lunch with an old friend who mostly maintains a vegan diet.
Melt is in Northside and on-​street parking can be challenging at times. However, there is a surface lot close by to all the shops and restaurants. The restaurant is narrow but you’ll find seating in front, back, and on a beautiful patio in the rear. It’s been challenging to have a large group for brunch there, but no issues other times.
We decided to share the Thai peanut wrap and the YeeHaw BBQ (subbing tempeh for the chicken). My friend had the kale slaw as her side and I went with the Buffalo Mac and cheese. Both combos were around $ 10. I love the YeeHaw BBQ with its smokey, slightly spicy sauce and delicious tempeh. The Thai peanut sauce in the wrap was also tasty, but the firm tofu could have used some love. Maybe pan frying or marinating in the sauce. The mac & cheese was room temperature, but had a good flavor. The kale slaw was excellent. Great balance to the BBQ.
We had a lot to catch up on, so didn’t mind the wait which was over 20 min from ordering to eating. If this would have been a workday lunch break or meeting, we’d probably selected another spot. The food is very fresh and prepared to order, so you need to expect it to take time.

My go to spot every time I am back in town! The Rachel on gluten free bread, with that smokey vegan cheese, is the jam :) The kale slaw was awesome, and I love all of the gluten free and vegan options!

What a great place! Amazing vibes and good food.

I’m so glad to have moved to Mt. Airy, partly because of the forest, but mostly because of its closeness to Northside. Melt was the first restaurant my boyfriend and I tried when we were exploring the area. It has a very eclectic feel to it, which is only enhanced by the 80s music usually playing in the background and sci-​fi themed number stands to put on your table for your food. Must-​try items? The Rachel, which is a refreshing take on a turkey rueben. I’d also recommend their vegan Penne and Cheeze. Oh my gosh. Never have I craved vegan cheese until I tried this dish. And for dessert? Their gluten free chocolate torte cake. Mmm. They have a ton vegan, vegetarian, and gluten free options that also happen to be delicious, which for some reason seems to be a rarity in Cincinnati. I can’t wait to go back and try more.
(I had to come back and add in that they have an image of Guy Fieri’s face spray painted on one of their walls, with the caption «Guy Ate Here». It’s probably my favorite part of the décor.)

My heart melts for Melt! Located in Northside, this unique and eclectic café is the perfect place to get your vegetarian or vegan fix without eating purely raw foods.
I visited with a friend after work one day and there were only a few people in the restaurant by the time we got there. I ordered the Veggie Cheesesteak with Melt’s house made «rinotta» cheese and a side salad. Never having tried seitan before (a vegetarian, protein packed «wheat meat»), I was nervous, but the sandwich looked gorgeous when it arrived. Most notably, the seitan was delicious — I could not even tell that I was not eating meat, and the house made rinotta is off the charts! It was a tangy flavor (similar to mustard), but great with the bread, grilled veggies, and seitan! Overall, it was a great meal that I could simply not enjoy every bite!
++ Melt was recently acquired by the Wellmanns Brands family and you can now enjoy their tasty creations at Myrtle’s Punch House and Neon’s!

This place is amazing! I always get the vegan chili and make my friends try it. They never believe me when I say there isn’t meat in it. Melt has both amazing food and amazing vibes. I’d say it’s best place in city for lunch and I’m a tour guide!

Stopped in here for an early dinner on our way to Northside Distillery. This place is very cool and laid back. Soups, salads and sandwiches with some vegetarian options. I had the Aloha sandwich which is turkey with a lot of other delicious stuff. I found it delicious without being over the top. It really hit the spot for me. The décor is very «Northside» and the staff was all very friendly. I cannot wait to come back and try something else. I love variety.

This place is solid. I have gotten very few items I didn’t care for, and those few items were always based on my weird taste preferences– my husband liked them.
Highlights:
Vegan Chili– I always order with onions and actual cheddar (I am not vegan or even vegetarian). They say it on their menu and website, but it’s true– you really won’t miss the meat. I crave this more than any other chili in the city. There! I said it. But I do miss when you could order this as a 3-​way (4-​way) but with potatoes rather than spaghetti.
The Thai Peanut wrap. I could just eat a vat of the sauce. I couldn’t even tell you what’s on it– the sauce is so distractingly delicious!
The Hoffner and Rachel are also solid choices. Again, I think it’s all about the condiments on these.
Any of the soups. Never met one I didn’t like. And they are not all super typical– winter veggie, miso ginger (something like that), dill potato, spicy tortilla, etc. I almost always go for a cup of soup for my side.

A great little lunch spot in Northside! Hipster vibes, plenty of vegetarian options, tasteful music. What more could one ask for?
I ordered the artichoke melt with a side of hummus and chips. The melt was excellent, comprised of flavorful spinach-​artichoke dip and roma tomato slices atop a generous portion of flatbread. I was also pleased with the hummus, although I thought the fact that it was served with sun chips (and not pita) was a little odd. For dessert, I got a chocolate chip cookie, which completed the meal!
**Side note: the space looks small when you first walk in, but walk through the narrow hallway and you’ll find plenty more seating options in the back.
I highly recommend Melt and definitely plan on coming back!

Best seitan philly cheesesteak I’ve had all year. I would go back just for this sandwich. Lots of good vegan options here. The food is consistently great. This is another great spot to bring a group of friends so everyone wins — vegans, omnis, GF, etc… We took our food «to go» and headed next door to the Northside Tavern — beer and seitan. I’m a happy camper.

First visit was amazing. Veggie chili was hearty and very tasty with black beans and crumbled textured meat. Seitan pesto sandwich was very satisfying with pesto and cucumbers and spring lettuce on a toasted pita. Very good. The kale slaw was lemony and was a nice change from mayo slaw. The atmosphere is eclectic but that adds to the charm of this little gem of a restaurant!

Melt is the definition of hipster awesomeness. We love to come here, and don’t get to do it nearly often enough. Funky, eclectic, organic, whatever-​you-​like, with lots of options, that’s Melt. The vibe is chilled out and mellow, despite having a good crowd during our visits.
The space is colorful, small, and broken up a bit, with dining in the front, in the hall, in the back, or on the patio. They’ll also bring your food to you next door at Northside Tavern. I’ve always had friendly service here, both from the counter and kitchen folks about ingredients, substitutions, etc.
So. Orders are taken at the counter. They give you a themed number card (Three’s Company for us this time.) Iced Earl Grey tea? Mmm… Their appetizers are huge — we ordered a Mediterranean platter and I could have eaten that as a meal (and likely will next time we’re back) — the pesto toast was delish and I’m a big fan of their white-​people hummus (Google that, it’s a thing). A tofu wrap with peanut sauce for me and a turkey wrap for the spouse — both tasted great and again, huge portions. We took half of our order home. Prices are super-​reasonable, too.
I’m always looking at their desserts and other lovelies up front, but with all the other stuff, I haven’t made it that far. Which, of course, is why I’ll be back next time I’m in Cincy.

Try the kale slaw, it’s tangy and sweet! Not as creamy as cole slaw but it’s definitely a great vegan version… one of the best I’ve had! The chili is spicy and very thick, full of beans, tomatoes and what I assume to be crumbled tofu. I wish they had a vegan sour cream to top it off, but then again I didn’t ask… so they just might have an option.
I can’t wait to come back and try to vegan philly cheese steak.

Fantastic sandwiches and salads. Been coming here for lunch many many times over the years. Everything on the menu is good. My favorites are the Rachel, the Hoffner and the Joan of Arc. They have mastered the right meat to bread ratio and the bread always has the right crispness. If you get a sandwich, it either comes with chips or a side (soup, salad, or curry potatoes). Everyone on the staff is super friendly and they’re relatively quick for a small operation. You’ll get your food within 15 minutes after ordering at the front desk. It’s best to come on a sunny day so that you can sit in the back patio but I also like sitting by the kitchen to see how they prep the food.

I’ve eaten and reviewed here before, but last night I tried a new sandwich that was absolutely delicious so I had to write again! I I get my sandwiches without bread, so they serve it on a bed of greens. It had smoked turkey, olive tapenade, sun-​dried tomatoes, roasted red peppers and provolone cheese. All of these ingredients made for a delicious flavor combination that I am now in love with! They give you a very decent serving of turkey slices and that cheese on top looked as if it had been put under the broiler because of it’s perfect melted and crispiness.
For my side, I tried the roasted potatoes. They had a bit of a crunch on the outside and were soft and warm on the inside. I also ordered my favorite curry yogurt sauce to dip them in. What a perfect combination!