Melange Cafe

This is indeed a hidden jewel. Do not let the outside fool you. Inside is a cozy atmosphere accented by artwork and music. Dress code is dress casual. The tables are set with a casual elegance. Remember it is cozy,so the atmosphere changes with more people, thus if you arrive during peak hours it may get a little noisy. Reservations are definitely recommended. We were greeted by the owner/chef who led us to our table and continued to tend to both the front and back of the restaurant with ease: greeting diners, explaining specials and overall ensuring an excellent experience. The menu offered an expansive variety for appetizers as well as salads and main course as the waitstaff greeted us warmly and informed us of the specials. I would highly recommend the crabmeat cheesecake: please dont let the name scare you away....it was surprisingly delicious. The food is served in moderate proportion so you dont feel as though a trough was placed in front of you but you wont have to eat afterward either. The service was readily available throughout our experience and they often responded without prompting. The meat was tender and we could taste each herb in our sauces: no spice overpowered the other. The vegetables were cooked perfectly so that they still had a slight but tasty crunch. For dessert I had the bread pudding which was the first time I ate bread pudding that did not contain awkward lumps of bread held together by a (too sweet) sugary icing. The entire experience was outstanding and we are sure we will return again. more

Our fourth trip here has confirmed the declining trend. This was an enjoyable experience when it opened, but downhill ever since. Our last experience in November 2007 was close to disastrous. The steak filets were way overcooked (order was for medium and medium rare), a shellfish medley had six shells, two of them empty. The soups and desserts were satisfactory. The waitstaff were virtually second day, and despite relaying our verdict on the steaks and shells, Mr Brown, the owner-chef, standing nearby and watching, declined to intervene. We politely paid our bill for four ($240 without alcohol), and left for the last time. more

My husband and I received a gift certificate to Melange Cafe for Christmas '06 and thought it would be perfect to use for our 33rd wedding anniversary dinner. We were not disappointed! We sent a thank you note to the donors this morning. I enjoyed the Pasta with seafood and my husband had the Filet Mignon topped with mushrooms and pureed seafood. The service was good but they could have had at least one more server, 2 were not enough for the number of customers . There were two parties of 6 and approximately 12-14 other customers as well, at times we were left waiting for items, including the bill. We will return and we will recommend it to others. It's close seating but the feeling was one of warmth and intimacy. Would not recommend bringing young children, however. BYOB is a definite plus.\r Pros: Food and Ambiance Cons: Ratio of servers to number of customers more

I took my boyfriend here for dinner. The food was EXCELLENT!!! It was tasty and not overpowering. We were in heaven!!! I wish we got to meet Joe Brown so we could tell him that the food is AWESOME!!! We had the crab ravoli for an appetizer. For entree we had the special filet migeon topped with scallops and shrimp. It was so good that we didn't have room for dessert! We will definitely be back and next time save room for dessert =) Pros: Food, Service, Ambience more

Melange has wonderful food but a horrible attitude. The owner did not seem to care at all that I was disappointed in the way I was treated. Go for the food because it is amazing, but remember they are very expensive and you may not be treated right ! Pros: amazing food, nice ambiance Cons: parking, attitude of staff more

Every time my boyfriend and I go to Melange we ask ourselves - ""Why don't we come here more often?"" It's cozy, friendly and the food is consistantly amazing. Everything from the house salad - the perfect marriage of texture and flavor - to my favorite crab cake dish - keeps me wanting more of this hidden treasure. Pros: BYOB more

Melange Cafe is a SMALL, but very cozy and intimate restaurant. When you consider the multitude of lack-luster and downright boring alternatives in Cherry Hill....This place is an oasis in the desert! Excellent variety (Try the Stuffed Filet Mignon) and friendly staff. I recommend going at lunch time (less $) versus dinner, when the $ goes up a lot. If only they could get the car dealer next door to MOVE, maybe they could expand the place.....tables are too close together in this joint! Some of the staff are strange, but most of them are cool... Joe Brown, PLEASE buy out the used car lot next door and EXPAND the place!!!! Pros: Great Food, Ambience, Good prices for lunch Cons: Cramped seating, Too pricey for dinner, Used Car lot eyesore more

Melange was supposed to be good. Unfortuantely, it was not. Do not waste your money going here. It was very noisy and was also not set up for a crowd. We had eight people to our party and at a regtanular table, could not speak to all that were there. The food was ok for very expensive prices. The oyster appetizer was horrible--don't get it. In conclusion, the meals were overpriced, the waitstaff inexperienced and green and the deserts not better than breyer's. Pros: byob Cons: mediocre food, expensive prices, inexperienced waitsta more

I took my wife here, for her Birthday after it was suggested by a friend. It is quaint, and the food was excellent. You have to try the LAMB SALAD, it was the best. Service is on the money, and even tho its BYOB they have glasses and wine chillers, that will set you up nicely. Desserts are a must. It isnt a very big place, so I would recommend reservations. We loved it! Pros: good food, friendly service, comfortable Cons: no enough room for ki more

Classy, classy, classy. Felt like I was eating dinner with friends. Other diners were friendly and relaxed. Pros: Romantic, Good service, EXCELLENT Cons: poorly lit lot more

Joe Brown has done a fabulous job with this restaurant. The menu is very imaginative. The creative menu is only surpassed by the quality of the food itself. The BYOB policy is a nice addition. The staff strictly enforces the reservation policy. Tables are hard to come by in this out-of-the-way location. The knowledgeable staff makes everyone feel comortable. Do yourself a favor and make the trip. Pros: prompt service, courteous waitstaff, great value Cons: a few awkward tables more