The Waiters Restaurant

If you want cheap and cheerful, decent portion sizes, and friendly staff, don’t come here. Two pastas, a tiny salad and two glasses of low-quality white wine set us back $110. Genuinely upsetting as this place was once a favourite of mine but it’s clearly gone downhill. Do yourself a favour and go across the road to Pellegrini’s.

Ordered spaghetti aglio e olio that was so spicy it wasn’t edible. There were no prices on the menu, but how expensive could it be? Over 25$ apparently! We also had to wait eons to order, then food came surprisingly quickly, and then had to wait eons to get the bill. Pretty absurd experience overall.

The staff were rude, there were no prices advertised for the food, my meat was burnt, and the staff seated other customers at our table before we even left. Can't recommend against enough

Heard that this place was all about the food.and no truer words spoken! My bruschetta was terrific, but the Osso Buco was created with love. Rich, tasty, succulent and delicious. Will be returning for the rest of my life. Wonderful

I first went here in my late adolescence, just a door and stairs in a dark lane, we felt very adventurous! The food and ambiance continues to not disappoint 45 years later, although the wine is no longer served for those in the know from under the counter. Fresh pasta and gnocchi that runs out if you’re not quick. Just great food!

Great experience so authentic quick and efficient staff.if you want to dwell make sure you go for the 7pm session

Great food, blackboard only menu. Best Italian I have had outside of Italy. Recommend making a reservation!

Great service, phenomenal food, a highly recommended venue if you like great quality food in a relaxed no frills dining experience.

Not a five star fine dining restaurant but in terms of to me a classic Melbourne eating institution, long lived, casual, laneway, busy atmosphere, good service, good menu selection, you simply can't rate it any other than 5.

It’s a quirky little restaurant in the CBD - 20 Meyers Plc.

There are 2 sittings for lunch. 12pm and 1pm. The service is very efficient especially from Jess.

We went for the 1pm slot and enjoyed a few Peroni beers before settling on a bottle of Italian Chianti.

We ordered the Penne Calabrese and Rigatoni Americana. They were quite similar. The Pasta is A1. There are lots of choices on the menu including steak and osso bucco. Plenty of Italian dessert options too like Tiramisu and Affagato.

Be prepared though the restaurant closes at 3pm which meant for a speedy end to our remaining red wine.

Great place.

I had never been here before and it was such a treat! Fresh, authentic pasta and it was absolutely delicious. Served quickly, staff attentive and not expensive. Can't wait to go back!

The best spag marinara I've digested in a decade. The other 4 were happy with their choices as well.
We arrived before opening, as no bookings taken. Steps to upstairs, so I don't think it's disabled friendly.
Service was attentive, although with a bit of a Fawlty Towers slapped on top as well. Quirky in a word.
But an overall good experience and great food.

A no frills restaurant that let's the food do the talking. No menus, which for the visually impaired is really frustrating but the waitress was lovely and took the time to go through the menu.twice. Good value, generous servings. We got there at 8pm and 4 dishes were sold out so recommend going earlier. Lovely wine bar downstairs if you want to go for a sophisticated drink beforehand

Really bland grilled fish. Burnt potatoes that even the steak knife had a hard time dissecting.
The porterhouse steak mushroom sauce was good though

Hadn't been back since the 90's. As described no frills Italian, good food. We had the pappardelle fungi and ragu, both delicious, bruschetta and 2 chinotto drinks.

Recently went here with some friends thinking that as I’m gluten and dairy free, I would struggle to find something to eat. To my surprise and delight, they have gluten free pasta and could easily accommodate dairy free! So nice to be able to get an italian meal with friends and the food was amazing and soo quick! Also the BYO is so handy and service was great
Def make a booking because it was packed!

The cult following has worn thin. There is a fine line between efficiency and rudeness and The Waiters Restaurant is on the wrong side of the line. Food taste/quality is overpriced. Décor tired. The main drawcard for the mainly mature clientele is that it is one of the few BYO restaurants in the CBD. But I'd prefer to pay for drinks rather than be told (not so politely) to leave at 2.30pm

Lacked authenticity.very few breadsticks on antipasto platter, ravioli tasted like they were from a packet, saw a packet in the kitchen which looked like the fettuccine I buy.no masks were worn and no vaccination ID was checked.dissapointed.only reason I've given stars is due to the amazing risotto I had which was a generous serve and yummy.

My parents use to come here when they were my age. Mum and dad said it was amazing then and it still is now. The food is quick, tasty and bang for your buck. It’s important to support institutions like this into the future!

One of Melbourne's 'secret' restaurants which has a rich history.

The story of how this restaurant started is nearly as amazing as the food which is no fuss home cooked Italian food just like Nonna made it.

Garlic bread, bruschetta, and wine in small glasses just like in Italy make this a memorable experience and one we keep going back to regularly when in Melbourne CBD.