When guests ask for a lunch recommendation, Méli-Mélo, a French crêperie on Greenwich Avenue, is always on my mind.
The restaurant is located at the bottom of Greenwich Avenue and has a cheerful, bright yellow facade and playful sign. Inside, there is a small, busy restaurant with efficient wait staff and several fast-moving cooks.
They serve delicious sweet and savory crêpes, sandwiches, salads, soups, homemade ice cream, sorbet, and a variety of smoothies.
Background of Méli-Mélo Greenwich
Méli-Mélo was established on Greenwich Avenue in 1994 to pay tribute to the local cuisine of Bretagne, France. Marc Penvenne, the owner, originally hailed from Brittany, France, known for its buckwheat crepes. And he was enthusiastic to share his cherished childhood tastes with the community. The restaurant gained notoriety for their classic buckwheat and sweet wheat crépes in an eatery reminiscent of Saint Barthélemy.
The restaurant grew from having only 20 seats to now having over 60 seats in 2011 due to the community’s continuous support throughout the years. Some recent updates include:
- A diverse takeout selection at the front of the restaurant
- Newly added wine and beer menus
Added to the same quality breakfast, lunch, and dinner that they have been offering for many years.
In 2013, the owners bought a restaurant called Versailles at 339 Greenwich Avenue, a few doors up from Méli-Mélo. They renamed and renovated the restaurant, now called Bistro V . The pastry division of the restaurant is still in town, established in 1980. Bistro V and Versailles patisserie are the places to go for traditional treats like: Bûche de Noël, King Cake, and Foie Gras Terrine.
What you’ll find on the menu at Méli-Mélo Greenwich
The restaurant’s gained its name, which means hodgepodge in French, from its diverse menu of:
- Fresh juices
- Smoothies
- Crepes
- Soups (both hot and cold)
- Sorbets
- Ice creams
- Sandwiches
- And salads
Their menu has won awards and is constantly expanding.
Most popular menu items
Méli-Mélo is a French restaurant that offers a broad range of menu options, making it a little difficult to make a choice. In 2006, the owners of Méli-Mélo collaborated with Chef Nadia Ramsey and introduced the chicken curry salad as a catering option. Their chicken curry salad has become a menu staple after starting as a catering option. Other top sellers include:
- French onion soup, for which Chef Marc Penvenne wakes up at 6 a.m. to cook the 50 pounds of white onions for the soup’s delicious flavor
- Organic egg omelets
- Fresh smoothies
- Sweet and savory crepes
- Housemade ice cream and sorbet
The restaurant always serves fresh, all-natural ingredients without any added preservatives. And all made with fresh ingredients and a French flair.
The Crepes
But Méli-Mélo continues to specialize in serving crêpes all day long. The menu offers a wide variety of sweet options such as smoked salmon, vegetarian, butter and sugar with fresh fruit, and more.
There are twenty-three buckwheat crepes to choose from. Perennial favorites are:
- The ‘Jambon, Fromage et Oeuf’ with ham, Swiss cheese, and egg (either scrambled or sunny side up)
- And the ‘Pissaladiere’ which has roasted onions, goat cheese, black olives, capers, fresh basil, and roasted tomatoes
Juices
The restaurant provides one-, two-, and three-day cleanses for people who want to detox after a week of excess. The Cardiovascular Cleanse features:
- Carrots
- Beets
- Apples
- Ginger
While the Lymph cleanse features such ingredients as:
- Lemons
- Apples
- Apple cider vinegar
- Cayenne pepper These cleanses aim to revitalize specific body systems
Or feel free to just get a less-intense juice off their menu to go with your meal.
Salads and sandwiches
Their soups, salads, and sandwiches are also noteworthy.
The Ciabatta comprises fresh tomato, roasted bell pepper, brie, mesclun greens, and crispy bacon.
The Cubano is a personal favorite, with pulled pork, ham, bacon, Swiss cheese, honey mustard, and cornichons. All on toasted Cuban bread, plus a juice to make me feel better about my eating habits, vis-à-vis my heart.
The French Lentils Salad features:
- French lentils
- Shredded carrots
- Parmesan shavings
- Mesclun and dressing
During summer in CT, they serve a fresh and flavorful Gazpacho.
Ice cream
If you’re too full to have dessert at this Parisian café, you can always take home a pint of their homemade ice cream or sorbet. The dulce de leche ice cream and coconut sorbet are very popular.
Other businesses that Méli-Mélo Greenwich connects
Méli-Mélo sells locally made raw honey and offers Hallstein Water created by a family in Greenwich. They feature works from local artists to decorate their walls and support local organizations.
Méli-Mélo is open every day from 10am to 10pm and serves food that is suitable for any meal of the day, including breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
Discover even more Greenwich restaurants, like Méli-Mélo
Greenwich Avenue and downtown Greenwich is full of restaurants to explore!
Enjoy Méli-Mélo Greenwich for lunch, then check-out some other top restaurants nearby for dinner, after a day of shopping:
- L’Escale Greenwich, for waterfront dining
- Bistro V, Mr Penvenne’s sister restaurant
- The Ginger Man, for a New England tavern experience
- Miku Sushi, for sushi on Greenwich Avenue
And be sure to download a copy of the Greenwich, CT, Visitor’s Guide for all the best attractions, activities, and things to do in Greenwich!
Or head over to Stamford, CT, for even more great restaurant options. Or explore the whole state in our guide to romantic restaurants across Connecticut.
Take your pick!