Headed to Amador county anytime soon? If so, then you don't want to miss Mel & Faye's Diner in Jackson. I was there looking for antiques, on a semi-regular jaunt to the area. I've been going to Jackson, Sutter Creek, and Drytown for years to check out their antique shops and historical downtowns. And every time I go to the area, I have to eat at Mel & Faye's. In fact, I don't think I've eaten anywhere else there. (I would be curious about the Chinese restaurant on Main Street in Jackson, but mainly from a historical perspective.)

In any case, if you've been to Mel & Faye's before (and it's been around since 1956), you may be surprised to see that it's now 100 yards up the street from where it used to be. The old diner was up against a rock face, with a small parking lot and terrible bathrooms outside. You could count on flies to help you eat your food. But the new place (maybe 2 years old), is roomy and has a suspiciously huge parking lot (where are all those people supposed to sit??). The menu is much bigger than I remember, although the "Moo Burger" is the special. That's a double patty with everything and the special sauce. I ordered the Sourdough Burger and Fries instead ($6.39), which came with Swiss cheese, grilled onions, and Thousand Island dressing. It was pretty tasty, although the single patty was a bit small. But it's a real burger--not a preformed frozen thing. The fries are thin and crispy, but they cool down fast. The other thing I always have to get there is a shake. Their menu says they have "most flavors," although I usually get coffee. This time I tried banana, since the waitress looked at me funny when I asked if they had peach or blackberry. I guess I thought I was at Whitey's in West Sac. The $3.79 shake was piled with whipped cream and had small chunks of fresh banana. Pretty tasty.

They have a ton of other diner food, like hot cakes, salad bar, chili dogs, and rib eye sandwiches. There is the ubiquitous flat-screen television, but it's less annoying at a diner I suppose. There's also some outdoor seating (probably with less flies). And you've got to like a place that has the following quote on their menu (three times!): "Thank you for your patronage. Consideration for waiting customers will be appreciated by not holding meetings that extend beyond meal time during peak hours." So go and set a spell, but don't hog the tables.

Mel & Faye's Diner
31 Highway 49/88, Jackson
209-223-0853
www.melandfayesdiner.com