Review Waiters Restaurant - Italian Waiters Club - Melbourne

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

I had the Pappardelle Al Polo aka creamy chicken mushroom pasta along with the special, lamb shanks. The pasta was great but the lamb shanks were amazing. Two huge pieces and the curry that it was cooked in was just delicious. The tiramisu tied all this up to a fantastic lunch. Would definitely recommend this place. Loved the location as well. Did not expect such a large crowd inside.

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.

An absolute hidden gem that needs to be discovered by everyone. Delicious, large servings at affordable prices. Homely, buzzing, warm. be back many, many times.

I and my friend visited on Friday night and the place was very packed. If you’re lucky enough you can pick a seat on your own and don’t have to share a table with other customers. We ordered their special menu, the rabbit cachatorie on black board which has no prices and another pasta. The rabbit is alright but a bit pricey. Their pasta was very yummy though ! Also their customer service was great even though they’re very busy but extremely helpful.

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

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 wine glasses were in cups but otherwise a nice cosy place with great value!

This restaurant opened in the 1940s and was largely a secret find. It still stays almost hidden upstairs, down a laneway, but is definitely not unknown. Visiting on a Saturday night, we were lucky to get a (shared) table in this homely decked-out establishment. The service was quick and unassuming, with delectable home-made pastas and classic Italian meals whipped up with ease from the tiny kitchen. The sauces with the chicken al Wine and the scaloppine Marsala were delicious, and the meat and vegetables perfectly cooked comfort food.

Average quality food, lacking flavour. Prices were reasonable and service sizes were good.

Very Poor service - not sure how they are getting such Good Zomato review - went for a team lunch today - out of 10 person they served for 9 and last one got after asking for his menu when all finished - it was really very bad experience.<br/>- Ordered Red sauce got creamy :( not time to ask again.

I have never had such authentic Italian in any other restaurant other than ones in Italy! Their Porcini Risotto and bruschetta are to die for. Pasta primavera was amazing as well. Would definitely be coming here again and again.

Sorry but I'm literally dumbfounded as to how this place scores so high.<br/><br/>I've been craving pasta and on the search for amazing pasta in the city so found this place via Zomato and thought we'd give it a try. My partner and I came around 2pm so well and truely past the lunchtime rush and given the restaurant was two fifths full with all tables appearing to be at the end of their meal, it wasn't busy by any means.<br/><br/>Upon arrival we were sought to and quickly seated which was nice, not having been previously though we asked a waitress how the dining and ordering worked as there were no paper menus, but rather a selection of dishes written on blackboards scattered throughout the room (dishes only, no prices listed anywhere which seems a bit interesting). The waitress pointed us to the blackboards, told us each of the pastas were "about $20" and walked away. Catching another that walked past to ask about some of the dishes, whilst not being outright rude, it wasn't a welcoming experience as her responses had a tone of urgency to leave and I think we got about three questions in before she basically just walked off to the front of the dining room to.. organise cutlery into piles 🤔<br/><br/>Grabbing a third waitress to actually place our order, we went with garlic bread and carbonara. The bread came out in what felt like literally less than 2 minutes, was dry, had no flavour and not even a hint of garlic. It's literally the first time in my life I've not wanted to finish garlic bread and I'm equally shocked that other reviews have praised it so highly as surely they must have had something else. The most disappointing part was seeing at least three tubes of "miracle spread" (ie. margarine) laying around the kitchen from our view.. at this point it starts making sense.<br/><br/>The carbonara that came out was larger than I was expecting, so a pleasant surprise, but it was covered in cracked pepper which I loath so just added to the distaste of the dish. Unfortunately it too was incredibly tasteless with no seasoning or flavour. Neither my partner nor I wanted to finish either of ours, I got about half way, my partner only a quarter.<br/><br/>Upon getting ready to leave, there was a table that bet us to the register, now I don't know whether they're regulars (I get the feeling like most people there were) or know the staff, but the comments made by the staff were just eyebrow raising. A couple that stuck in my mind were "you've got to be joking, right?" when being asked if they split bills and "no I'm not breaking a $50, give me a $10". Again, I don't know if they knew each other as the customers seemed to take it in good spirit, but even if so maybe rethink what impression it makes on new customers sitting literally two metres away.<br/><br/>The rating is poor for the following reasons:<br/>1. The garlic bread was foul, dry and tasteless.. it's garlic bread, c'mon<br/>2. The wait staff whilst not being the worst I've ever seen, was definitely not overly helpful, had questionable behaviour and didn't exude an ounce of passion<br/>3. The carbonara was bitterly disappointing, we weren't told of the included pepper despite asking what was in it and we were flat out refused to substitute the spaghetti for another pasta even though it was on the board for other dishes.. don't know why<br/>4. It seems stupid to me not including the prices of your items anywhere for customers to see, thus either making them feel foolish and cheap having to ask, or silly when receiving the bill that for all they know its just a roll of the dice<br/><br/>Your milage may vary, but we won't be back.

Very good food - no doubt on that, but service is horrendous. <br/>I was told I could not make a booking on Friday night, we waited for a bit On arrival and finally got in at 7pm.<br/>We were seated and immediately told we had to be gone in 1.30 hours even though we had just been told there is no bookings on Friday, why stress us out for our dinner then ? Shouldn’t we be allowed to stay as long as we want in a restaurant ? <br/>Blond haired waitress should change jobs...she obviously doesn’t like it very much and was very rude to us during the whole dinner. Made us feel bad for not ordering drinks/entrées.. <br/>People were waiting in the door which was letting the cold air in - freezing and we were not even that close!<br/>I’ve been to this place a few times but service has only been getting worse so I think I’m done trying !

AGGRESSIVE STAFF RUIN THE EXPERIENCE - AVOID!<br/><br/>Arrived at 6pm last night (Friday night) for a work party of 7 (we had called prior to make a booking but were advised that they didn’t take bookings on a Friday night, which is fine). The restaurant was only half full. <br/><br/>Blonde Manager greeted us coldly and advised that the 7 of us could either squeeze onto what was quite obviously a table for 4 (with two extra chairs added) for 1.5 hours, or could push two 4-person tables together but we “had to be out within the hour, starting from RIGHT NOW” (despite the fact that the rest of our party hadn’t yet arrived). When we expressed our confusion why we couldn’t just be seated on the two combined tables as we were all eating and hadn’t been given the opportunity to book, the waitress pretty much said that she could have 4 people or 2 couples sit on the second table and make more money, and that “we have plenty of customers so this policy obviously works doesn’t it, sorry if you don’t like it”. <br/><br/>At this point we were going to leave but thought it might be too difficult to find a table elsewhere without having booked so decided to stay. Once seated at the “1 hour table”, same lady proceeded to come over and sarcastically say “oh so you’re staying are you” And directed us to move to the small table again. When we clarified that we would take the two combined tables for the hour, she muttered “sweet” under her breath and roughly pushed another table against ours and walked off. Any questions we had for her for the rest of the time, including menu prices (as these aren’t advertised?) just seemed to annoy her further. We felt rushed and unwelcome the whole time, and the whole experience was ruined. <br/><br/>Food was actually very nice but there are PLENTY of other high quality Italian restaurants with kind and more welcoming staff.<br/><br/>DO NOT RECOMMEND.

Simple heartwarming food that reminds you of a simple but fulfilling home cooked meal. Nothing pretentious. Portions are generous as well. Great place!

Cozy, no frills and well located, this is going to be in my go-to list for Italian restaurants in the city. The menu, which is on a chalkboard on the wall consists of a good range of pastas, some mains, salads and the garlic bread (which is a must) - we have two very generous glasses of wine, garlic bread, a capresa salad and two pastas and it was $80 - all in all great :) i'll have to come back and my way through the menu!

Hidden restaurant away from the crowd. <br/>There were no prices alongside the foods on the menus on the wall (no actual menus to look off from) so it really was a hit or miss. Pasta came out below average, can 100% tell it was store bought.

Visited on a wet Monday night and the place was bustling within 15 minutes of opening - impressive! The pappadelle ai funghi, penne calabrese and a caprese salad were flavoursome with generous servings of both pasta and protein.<br/>The venue itself although old, is super cosy, welcoming and unpretentious. Yes the menu is written on large blackboards and there are no prices, but nothing's stopping you from asking the wait staff about the dishes? An entree, two pasta dishes, a salad, and two (very full) glasses of wine brought our total to under $80.<br/>I was apprehensive about customer service from reading past reviews but not once did I experience any rudeness from any staff. The noise levels probably wouldn't make this place the greatest for a romantic first date but the food would definitely make up for it 🤤<br/>The place fills up very quickly so either head in early or book!

PROS<br/>Nice marinara pasta dish and nice shiraz. Liked the decor.<br/>CONS<br/>Service was pretty abrupt and rude from the blonde haired waitress.i have no idea what made her so short. A bit cramped once others are seated at adjacent tables. WHY are there no prices at all? it's a restaurant,a service and a product and i think reasonable to know what I'm going to pay Before i get the bill. I also wish they had a menu because depending on where you're sitting,it can be difficult to view the boards properly PLUS it allows people to make an informed choice.ive never had marinara with chilli in a restaurant.it was nice for me but not so much for my dining companion who has difficulty with spices and chilli due to serious illness.<br/>FYI<br/>up a flight of stairs, no other access. Byo.

The waitresses were ordinary,  one spent a considerable amount of time picking at something on her elbow.  the pasta we had was oily and the herb bread was sub par.  this place used to be great.  this is not acceptable food/service for melbourne.  Especially at the price.

Hard to find up the lane-way but it's cute little spot for some pasta. Simple and cheap but a nice place to take someone special for a meal.

Small, tucked away little Italian restaurant. Very comfortable vibes. The dishes we had were cooked very well. Love how the menu items are all written on the wall. Service is fast but not the best. <br/>Definitely will be back to try more.

Simply Italian . I delivered bread to Waiters Club in 1975 as a vacation job. I was impressed then on its authenticity and 44 years later , I’m still impressed. I had the Melanzane Parmigiana. It was excellent. I had a really nice Sangiovese , tartufo di cioccolata e caffè. I paid for 2of us and it all cost $86. <br/>Dennis , we know that everything needs to change but after 44 years , please don’t. <br/>See you next month. I will have the Pasta Puttanesca next time. <br/>A presto.

The Waiters Restaurant was a recommendation by a Melbourne local.<br/>The history of being an after hours restaurant for those in the hospitality industry, simply blew my mind - what a great idea I though. Quick, filling and tasty Italian meals.<br/>Located up a set of stairs in the middle of Meyers lane, will have you scratching your head. But bite the bullet - walk up them, open the door and you’ll see a large family gathering.<br/>The food was spectacular and the ability to feel comfortable in your own clothes was also a positive! Highly recommend!!!

I get what they are going for, that rustic look, where there's no menus, no prices, no wine glasses but it falls to an all time low when the pasta is store bought, the service is abrupt and the food makes you sick a few hours later. I had the mushroom pappardelle (which tasted fine besides having no salt/seasoning) and some antipasto out of jar (hahaha ridiculous they charge for this) and later I was throwing up. Reasonably priced but geez, you could follow any average recipe with some quality bought pasta and it be cheapier and you feel better.  No thanks. Won't be back.

Went here expecting a good italian dining experience and was severely disappointed. The cooks were not italian had the risotto porcini and all I could taste was vinegar which leads me to think the porcini mushrooms were canned or kept in vinegar. The cooks clearly need to go back to italian cooking class and understand the cuisine

Wanted some pasta but why is pasta upwards of $40 a bowl in Melbourne? One of the reasons why I consume more noodles from Asian restaurants these days. Fortunately The Waiters Restaurant despite not having prices on anything are $19.50 for a bowl. My colleagues consumed their bowls, carbonara made from eggs however it's got that sickly ham they use on everything.<br/><br/>I however was swayed by one of their specials on the board, braised oxtail and at $25.00 there was plenty of it. It had been braised in a rich tomatoey stew, a bit salty, my guess is that it had been reduced for too long over days. The oxtail meat however was absolutely perfect, melty and fell off the bone with little gelatinous pieces. The potato and beets on the side were great also.<br/><br/>We also got some garlic bread which were thick cuts of bread with a generous spread of butter and garlic. At $2.00 for 2 pieces, why not.<br/><br/>Very old school and still popular I remember coming here 10 years ago. An observation, I don't think any of the staff here are Italian so they may have changed hands over the years.<br/>

Absolutely classic Melbourne. All the menu on a chalk board and changes regularly. The chicken livers are sublime. Came for lunch with some colleagues and the BYO was a big plus. Throughly enjoyed the continental sausages and antipasto. The great food and no fuss atmosphere makes it clear why this is a Melbourne institution

Have a great dinner here with friends, the waitress was amazing answering our questions with a smile and honesty. Food was amazing and super delicious and fresh. Definitely will be back! Well done!!

Busily restaurant tucked away up a lame up a flight of stairs. The menu is posted on the wall without prices but ranges between $20-$30 per meal. Yummy pasta and equally nice $10 desserts. BYO too but don’t expect a wine glass.

If I could give this place 0 stars I would. The pasta tastes like something I could make at home. So bad would never come back and would never recommend.

Looking for something fast and not to expensive in the city ànd not feeling like Asian we decided to go for The Waiters. We got there around 6pm on a Thursday and it was easy to get a table for four. However, 10 minutes later it was packed. And another 30 minutes later there was plenty of space again. So I guess they are quick. On our table we had lasagne, penne puttanesca, braised oxtail and spaghetti pesto. The oxtail was amazing!! The rest was nice, but nothing super special. Portions are good, service was friendly. Want to give 3.5 but zomato stopped offering that option 😕

A Melbourne staple that has been pushing out good pasta for years. Be prepared for it to be busy but the atmosphere is great and the pasta no matter what you order is tasty and filling. Love the carbonara with a side of garlic bread, it is one I can't go past.

Ordered: <br/>🍛 Lamb alla Romana: $25<br/>🍝 Spaghetti Bolognese: $19.50<br/><br/>Review:<br/>It was an adventure coming here. The staircase coming up is the very epitome of a "hidden in the alleyway" type of restaurant. <br/><br/>The food itself was mediocre. What really stood out was, strangely, the roasted vegetables in the lamb alla romana. Perfectly charred and bursting with abundance of sweet flavour it was a memorable time on the tongue. <br/><br/>Service was quick and no fuss. I don't think bookings are necessary - my friend and I rocked up at 6:30pm and throughout our service the tables didn't all become filled. <br/>So if you're up for more of a spontaneous adventure, why don't you try your luck at the Waiters Restaurant?

The reviews were a bit hit and miss but thought we’d try it out! First off, a surly (American backpacker?), waitress sat us down. We got garlic bread to start, and to be honest, it was atrocious. The bread seemed almost stale and the 1/10th of a millimetre of garlic butter gave no taste at all. We were a little worried at this stage. Mains was the spaghetti marinara which was a generous serving with a tasty tomato sugo and a decent amount of seafood. The mushroom risotto looked fantastic and had the correct consistency but unfortunately lacked any real flavour. Had to add salt three times. Tiramisu was really good and the berry pana cotta had a little hard texture but was topped with a nice sauce and colour. Overall the dining experience was ok, and we were in and out in 40 minutes which suited us just fine, but harking back to the waitress - how hard is it to find decent help in this city? Why all the transients who don’t give a proverbial about future custom from people?? Managers and owners surely need to care more.

The Italian Waiters club, location- secret, cuisine- well 🤔 🤐! This place is discreet and feels like you are in Italy in your Nonna’s living room! Garlic bread was to die for... pasta was good - the actual pasta, sauce could have definitely done with more flavour!! More vegetarian options would be lovely! Regretting not having the cannelloni - it looked spectacular. We ended on such a high note with absolute killer desserts! Chocolate mousse (photo missing) was divine! Everything about this place was simple, tasty and authentic Italian....worth a visit! #rating4 #italiandinner #secretdiscoveries #melbournecbd #igersmelbourne #melbournebesteats #melbournecheapeats #vegetarian #vegbourne #foodielife #secrethideouts #instablogger #foodismylife #ilovepasta #pastaismyfavouritefoodgroup #chocolatemousselove #favouritedessert #dinnerfavourites

This was my first time at Waiters Restaurant. The decor is plain and simple (no fuss). The service is good. and the food is also good. There are no printed menus. Everything is written on the blackboard. The selection is certainly broad enough to find something interesting to eat. The price is fair. It cost me $137 for 3 people (including drinks).<br/><br/>This is an ideal walk-in restaurant, where you are looking for good food to eat, so don't be put off by the apparent old-looking sign outside the narrow entrance door and stairs leading up to the dining area.

Has stepped up in recent years and although better has lost some of its cheap and cheerful charm of yesteryear. We enjoyed great pasta and a reasonable steak. Casual and relaxed atmosphere in what is still seems like a secret was enjoyable other than for american waitress whose twitter time we intruded by expecting appropriatte attention.

A friend took me to this hidden gem last night for some late night carbs and omgggg it’s the best pasta I’ve had in Melbourne! Simply delicious, good hearty flavours, cute ambience, and meals came out quick. Will definitely be back!

This is a cute little restaurant hidden down a lane way and up a nondescript set of stairs. Once inside, it has a lovely friendly busy atmosphere. Service was friendly and very prompt. So many Italian style dishes to choose from. I went very basic and settled on the chicken parma while my lunch partner chose a veal dish. Both dishes were delightful and just the right size for lunch. We did not need any other dishes and finished with a very good coffee. I’ll certainly be back,

Great food, great prices and a relaxed and authentic atmosphere. Had the spaghetti carbonara (which is authentic and not with cream). Recommend the garlic bread also, it's basic but delicious.

Gnocchi Gorgonzola.. twice in two weeks. Why ? Because I had too... I had to go back for more. Soft, light pillows of yum. Next time, maybe I’ll try something else, maybe not.

I had the best vegetarian lasagne last night at The Waiters restaurant! It was on the specials menu so I hope they will make it a regular. The bruschetta was amazing too. The mushroom pasta dish was bland & needed more seasoning. The pasta itself was very good though. Absolutely love this place & will come back for authentic yummy Italian food.

My sister recommended this place before going to a show one night and after a quick google I willingly obliged! Melbourne is known for its 'hole in the wall' bar and food scene and this certainly fits the mould. Through a dodgy looking door and up some steep and somewhat unstable looking stairs and I was immediately greeted by lovely staff and an aroma that threw me back to being in the Cinque Terra! The menu is written on the wall and the wine comes served in water glasses, so if you're someone that restricts yourself to linen napkins and crystal wine glasses then this isn't the place for you. In my opinion, those things just add to the charm of the place!  I was being indecisive whilst ordering so the waitress suggested I try something that wasn't on the menu, her special creation. I took her suggestion and couldn't have been happier! The pasta was simply brilliant and the low price tag made it even more enjoyable. Overall, I appreciated the low frills vibe of The Waiters Restaurant and I certainly believe that the food simply speaks for itself.

This popular spot serves tasty, home style Italian food at reasonable prices. We had garlic bread, salad and 2 delicious pasta dishes for less than $60. BYO with no corkage charge was a bonus.

A fabulous, small little restaurant that's tucked away near Collins. Always delicious gnocchi and awesome staff. Can't stop raving about it.

Came here awhile ago and you just have to compare with pelligrini's nearby, very similar place for a noona style pasta spot. Lack of salt and flavour in my opinion but its a good hearty meal.

I was recommended to try this place from a colleague who hadn't eaten there for a long time. Unfortunately we were very disappointed. We ordered carbonara and amatriciana. To be honest, it left me longing for my own home cooked pasta. Even the customer beside us did not care to finish her dish. Could it be the ingredients used? The technique? Unqualified chefs? I'm not sure, it just wasn't good. We thought we'd at least try their crepes but that was below par too. The only positive was that the service was quick and the price wasn't steep - but even so, I don't think got our money's worth.

I would say the Waiters Restaurant it is one of my favourite Italian restaurants in Melbourne. I love it’s unpretentious, unsophisticated feel and the focus is on great food. I am always impressed by the quality of their house wines. <br/><br/>I was able to make a booking for a group of five of us on a Friday evening, they advised they would need the table back by 20:00 which was fine, an hour and half is more than enough time to enjoy a meal. <br/><br/>Sadly our meal was really rushed. One of our number was less than ten minutes late and we were under prompt pressure to order. We ordered some garlic bread to start and shortly after, two waiters came one after the other to prompt us to order. Our meals were on the table within 15 minutes, which while being impressive, unnecessarily rushed things. We spent the last 45 minutes or so with a cleared table finishing our drinks. <br/><br/>I had the veal parmigiana which was superb, others that had the spaghetti marinara enjoyed that dish very much also. <br/><br/>I hope the waiters’ resultant is a little more customer friendly for my next visit.

The Waiters is a very friendly, quite bright open space restaurant on the first floor of a building. Less ambient and you can have dinner with your date here but I don't recommend.<br/><br/>I had Marinara. Spaghetti was cooked good but the seafood wasn't nice and shrimps (not prawns) were frozen.<br/> <br/>As other reviewers say lack of taste. I agree. Must add lots of Parmesan cheese.<br/><br/>The most expensive dish was Saltimbocca which my partner ordered but it was disappointing. Looked nice but not over cooked. <br/><br/>Desserts we had were tiramisu and panna cotta. I like both. <br/><br/>In the city you can eat pasta everywhere.<br/>If you spend $20 or so for a pasta dish, this may be good rather than a pasta in normal/Italian cafes.

mmmm -pasta. Bring a bottle or 3 and a table of friends. No corkage charge either. Expect a loud night. Pasta is served quickly and the  bolognaise sauce is wonderful.

I was a little hesitant due to the very mixed reviews but I really liked this place. Tucked away in an alley at the top end of Bourke Street, up a wooden staircase, no menus and limited decor, what a hidden gem. Good Italian food. We had the ravioli and carbonara along with a side of garlic bread and what I can only call the best lemon sugar crepe I have ever eaten to share at the end. There are no prices but it was very reasonably priced plus it was BYO wine (no corkage).The staff were very friendly, toilets clean and I will definitely be back.

This is one of my favourite Italian restaurants in Melbourne. I love the cosy, non pretentious vibe and the staff are always really down to earth. <br/><br/>The gnocchi is soft and pillow like, the bolognaise sauce is full of flavour! But also the vego options are great such as the penne primavera, and the ravioli. Best bruschetta I've ever had - soft, fresh bread, loaded with garlic and fresh tomatoes and basil - we get this every time and have never been disappointed.

Nothing else needs to be said, all the good reviews this place has had over the years and that it's still going strong is a testament to the no nonsense good food and service of this institution.

We were intending to go to Pellegrini's but there was no room. Looked on Zomato & saw this place wasn't far & had decent ratings. It's down an alley & up a staircase. Very down to earth restaurant. No menus, just chalkboards on the walls. Friendly service & decent food. Weren't disappointed. :)

Amazing food, great service and great prices !!<br/><br/>Traditional Italian, highly recommend it !!<br/><br/>We'll be back :) !!<br/><br/>Oh, and its BYOW !!<br/><br/><br/>Enjoy, Bon Apatito !!

Visited Friday last with 4 in our group and as was expected had a bit of a wait. Once we were seated, we had a lovely experience with staff who were extremely attentive. We all ordered pasta dishes (all were exceptional). The couple we were with ordered pasta and Parma to share, however the Parma came out about 5 minutes after the pasta. This suited them more than OK, however staff were extremely apologetic despite us ensuring them it was fine! I know that this may be an issue for some, but it wasn't for us. I can't wait to go back

Didn't even get to try the food that's how appalling the initial service was, spoken so rudely by a waitress. Heard amazing reviews and will maybe try again at a later date, disappointing.

Was kinda ashamed I hadn't even heard of this joint despite loving and frequenting old school Melbourne haunts like Pellegrini's for years and years. This place is a raucous Italian joint where you're served with a friendly but no nonsense approach,  and the pasta is seriously some of the very best I have eaten in a restaurant in years. Really incredible, just the right balance of sauce to pasta, just enough oil, the works. Try it before you di-et. Heh.

I think I missed the full import of this place by coming here post-reno. The decor is nice, but not as quaint as the no-frills school camp dining hall it was before (according to reviewers past). REGARDLESS, the food is still yummy. I've had better pasta, but the sauce and flavours at this place are delicious. Ideal spot for a low-key meal.

I won't bother mentioning the appearence of the menu or repeating the 'no frills' line that every second reviewer has already mentioned and I won't carry on about the location or shopfront.  What wouild be the point of repeating that?  (Damn.. did I just repeat it?)<br/><br/>What I will say is the food was very nice, the service was...let's say... attentive and prompt.   Friendly? I wouldn't go that far.<br/><br/>What I do have an issue with was the cleanliness of the glassware in particular. The glasses seemed to have only ever been washed with water or in a dishwasher.  Hey guys.. USE DISHWSASHING LIQUID and warm water!!  Spit on your finger, wipe on both sides and the grime comes of.  Pretty sad that spit cleans these glasses better then the dishwasher.  <br/><br/>One of our glasses still had liptsick on it.  Bought this to the attention of the waiter who simply gave us a new 'clean' glass  (which wasn't really clean).  When wiped, the serviette was discoloured.  Ewwww.. not to mention he didn't even say a word about it.  Not even an "oh" or "sorry".  I guess - who am I to expect this?<br/><br/>What brings this place up is the speed of service and the nice food.  If you are after a fancy place with actual clean glassware and perhaps service staff that smile at you... forget about it. <br/><br/>Provide clean glasssware and throw in a smile every now and then.. and 2 more stars could have been achieved easily.

The menu as you can see in pictures is on the boards with no prices. I'm Italian and know the cuisine well, the ravioli had too thick layer of pasta and rice was overcooked. The wine was also undrinkable.

Value for money.  Simple food and good service.  A bit rushed.  Very olde-school and good atmosphere.  Been there forever and we love the place.  We'll be back.

This has been in my top ten list of Melbourne restaurants for a long time. It's where I go in the CBD when I don't want to think, and I know exactly what I'm getting. The decor is more akin to nona's dining room than a flashy Italian eatery but the food speaks for itself. And that's precisely the idea here. If you're after simple honest Italian food at a decent price, you will love it.

I was so disappointed with this place. I read wonderful reviews on it and was really looking to our visit. First of all the place is a bit of a mystery it's located on a laneway and the shop front is unassuming. We walked up some stairs and arrived at a small restaurant brimming with business men all sitting in tables squashed together. <br/>The wait staff are friendly and attentive. The menu is Italian and is written in black chalk boards with no prices. We ordered garlic bread, chicken parmigiana and creamy chicken fettuccine. The parmigiana was nice it was served with boiled potatoes and asparagus however my pasta was terrible, it was cooked in butter with a tiny amount of chicken and mushrooms and that's it. There was no seasoning and the sauce was tasteless it didn't even have any garlic. I added quite a bit of chilli flakes and bottled Parmesan cheese to make it edible. I was so disappointed and probably would not go back even if the bill was very reasonable despite the menu having no prices listed.

Well.... I've been coming to this place for a long time now and just returned recently for another no frills fan fare feed... as I enter the upstairs premises, to my shock it's had a make over ... the old school 60s / 70s look gone replaced with a modern make over... yuck ... it has lost its old school feel the and character with the no frills food ... the service is still the same and the food is still tasty and homely but has slightly been trumped up a notch as in presentation.

Great find close to home for a quick no frills dinner, the spaghetti marinara was great with plenty of seafood included.  Chicken parmigiana was really good with the beautiful tomato sauce used on it making it really full of flavour. Garlic bread, 2 mains, 2 desserts & 2 coffees for $81 making it great value.  Its not a fancy room but is comfortable and staff were quick and polite. Oh and another bonus is its BYO!

Modest Italian place. A well made selection of pastas and other Italian delicacies. Staff are very friendly and competent. You don't need to go to fine dining restaurants to experience nuances of fine dining.

Nice place, friendly staff and really quick service. Food is nice but not much more than simple home food but without the love. For the same price point there are many better options

The story goes that, many years ago, the Waiters Club Restaurant was a small, no frills hole in the wall restaurant where Melbourne waiters used to go after their shifts for a hearty and delicious Italian meal. True to the story, on climbing the stairs to enter this Meyers place venue, I was definitely greeted by a no frills kind of room which could have easily been the setting of a school camp dining hall (although a very small one at that).  The Waiter's club doesn't even mess around with menus - the daily offerings written up on a chalkboard with no price tag in site.

This is a great place to catch a quick meal before going to the theatre or a concert.  Always fast and efficient service and the pasta is really good.  There is always a good buzz about the place too.

I'm Italian, and we've been coming here for years and introduced friends here. Lately tho, I just think value for money is no longer there. Quality of even a simple Pasta Pesto  (for $17) does not deliver. Pasta is not hard to prepare; but a good sauce IS... Other Secondi (meats, etc) are somewhat good to try, but for pasta? I think I'll stay home. BTW, the female staff are always great.

I have visited the Waiters Restaurant many times over the last few years and have always had a pleasant experiece. Recently, my friend came to visit Melbourne from overseas and it made sense to take her there. Unfortunately on this occasion, we were served by a very rude blonde waitress who made us feel like we were a nuisance for even being there! She was particularly inpatient with my friend who had some questions about the menu as she has dietary requirments. The food was nice, however the experience was ruined by this particular staff member. I was quite embarrassed after telling my friend how great the place was and then be treated this way. Sorry guys but I don't think I will be coming back after that disappointing experience.

Been here twice now and I'm not particularly impressed.<br/><br/>Had the tortellini bolognese the first time and it was tasty enough, but nothing special. The second time I had the pappardelle al polo and it was one of the most bland pasta dishes I've ever had - it tasted like pasta water. Absolutely horrible.<br/><br/>The ambience is nothing special, which isn't usually an issue for me, but when the food isn't great then there's little else to commend it. My other dining companions' dishes were similarly hit and miss - some of them were quite tasty, others found them bland and boring, this was particularly so with the cream-based dishes.<br/><br/>You'll also need to watch out for the cost - there's no prices listed on menu items (including drinks), so the cost of your meal can add up quickly. For example, a glass of house red (served in a small tumbler) was $9.50, which I thought was pretty expensive for what it was.<br/><br/>This place is also inexplicably busy, no matter what time I've gotten here. So if you're still not dissuaded from attending, you'll need to book unless you want to risk it and sit on a shared table (not recommended).<br/><br/>All in all, I won't be back. There are plenty more better Italian restaurants in Melbourne within walking distance of this place that offer better value for money and better ambience.

I've been dining at The Waiters for a very long time. It's consistently good on every level. Good value, good service and really good food. Last night I had the chicken parmigiana and my friend had the nicest spaghetti carbonara I've ever tasted. Very affordable and in a great spot in the cbd. Highly recommended.

the food is relatively simple, which is not a bad thing but it's probably not somewhere you go for a night out in the city. it's homey type Italian but nothing special. prices aren't cheap for the quality of food either. I had the gnocchi with Napoli sauce for $18.50 - small, and literally just pieces of gnocchi with sauce. <br/><br/>if you are looking for homey Italian food, pelligrini's across the road is much better for the same price.<br/>

Service was good enough. Pasta was bland and flavourless, herb bread nothing special, and the antipasto platter was a pass. Wanted us out pretty quickly as it was quite busy. Personally can't understand why

Ordered the gnocchi and it was out of this world and so was the tiramisu... Garlic bread was nothing amazing just very plain white bread... I will def be returning.

Always wanted to try this restaurant sorry we did.  The wine served in small water glasses was pretty rough and at $7.50 a glass overpriced.<br/><br/>The chicken livers $21.50 although ordered pink were overcooked.  The Porcini Risotto $19.50 - Risotto cooked properly but came in a strange tasting liquid, had no flavour I kept adding salt and cheese to try and get some, as for the Porcini mushrooms which usually give the flavour I feel were waved over the pot.  Slices of Garlic bread good.<br/><br/>There are much better places with good food to eat in Melbourne.

service was fast and efficient ... food was hit and miss ... 5 of us had garlic bread for starters ... we ordered pasta marinara, tortellini, veal shank and risotto ... garlic bread, pasta, veal shank and risotto were good ... tortellini was too chewy and had not enough filling ... rounded off the evening with an awesome tiramisu ... no corkage for BYO wine

Without a doubt the best pasta in the city. Not the place to go for a fine dining experience. But if you want delicious Italian food that's well priced, comes in big portions, and is served by friendly and attentive staff; then this is the place to go. A melbourne institution for a reason!

We had pasta with fungi it was horrible tasteless. The place is a dump they cram too many people in and don't have the time to waiter properly.

Well done all at the newly revamped Waiters Restaurant. I have been eating at this place for over 30 years, it is a tradition in our family. I took my first boyfriend right through to my own children now taking their girlfriends, we have always loved it. It has had a fantastic makeover during the Xmas break and I am pleased to say it is better than ever... A new chef has arrived in the kitchen and the food is fantastic. You still have the traditional touches of no fancy wine glasses or pretentious menus just good Italian food served quick and fresh. Well done Denis and Dallila we love it.

I've wanted to try this place for a while. There's something about a good hearty pasta dish that always puts a smile on my dial. Oh wait...that must be the carbs!<br/><br/>I climbed the quiet dodgy staircase to this restaurant to find a surprisingly nice looking and bustling dining establishment! It was not fancy fine dining but looked decent enough.<br/><br/>I was delighted to see chicken livers on the menu and asked a waitress and another diner on the table next to us how the livers were prepared. I was told they were crumbed with a garlic and white wine sauce. Seeing as livers are a rare find on menus, I eagerly ordered the dish. Unfortunately when the dish arrived at the table it looked like the livers were boiled with a bit of parsley and onion/garlic....and did not look appetizing at all. I think that perhaps they crowded the pan and it lead to the livers stewing rather than developing a little bit of a sear. There were no crumbs or sauce at all. Shocked and disappointed, I asked the waitress and the next door diner if that's what the dish was meant to look like. They said no. The waitress was kind enough to let me order another dish instead. <br/><br/>Very extremely apologetically, I ordered the porcini mushroom risotto special. I found the risotto to be a little watery and sloppy, but the flavours were ok. I did find myself adding salt, pepper, chilli flakes and Parmesan to the dish though. <br/><br/>My dining companion ordered a penne puttanesca, which was done very well and quite flavoursome.<br/><br/>Garlic bread was not toasted enough in my opinion.<br/><br/>The desserts were their saving grace- tiramisu was not too heavy and had an excellent balance of coffee soaked flavours. The pannacotta was a little too sweet, however the silky creamy texture was out of this world!<br/><br/>Prices were quite reasonable- approx $30 for a pasta dish and a dessert (no wine).<br/><br/>The 2 wait staff work extremely hard- clearing plates, cleaning tables, serving customers, preparing desserts and coffees, running dishes and settling bills. All with a smile on their face and a friendly demeanor- I was very impressed.<br/><br/>I would be keen to come back and try more of their pasta dishes and specials.

Perfectly satisfactory Italian fare. This is a Melbourne institution, mostly I suspect because of nostalgia and late night food. I had a spaghetti carbonara, which I was pleased to see was done properly without cream. It needed salt, which was a little odd considering the bacon and cheese. The wine was not great, but then it wasn't expensive. Nice.

The Waiters Restaurant had been recommended to us by our overseas visitors. (To be honest we didn't know it existed) We were a little hesitant when we looked it up on the internet as it looked shabby and tired but thought we'd give it a try. We walked up and down Myers Place 2 or 3 times before we spotted the a staircase next door to a little bar. We could hear the hustle and bustle as we were going up the stairs. WoW! what a PLEASANT SURPRISE. When we asked if it was the same place the staff told us that they had recently undergone a little update. The place was vibrant, fresh and modern. Food was good, unpretentious and very well priced. We ordered gnocchi possibly a little too soft for my liking and my partner ordered the spaghetti marinara - both were delicious. The pannacotta is to die for. A little noisey perhaps but that just added to the vibrancy. We loved it and will be recommending it to our friends both here and our overseas visitors. TIP Update your photos !

This place has long been a Melbourne institution. To be honest, the food has never been amazing but I have always come here for the atmosphere. It looked unchanged from mid last century, with wood panelling, newspaper clippings on the walls, an old fashioned menu, old laminex tables, and functional servingware. The place had a real buzz to it and was always packed. <br/><br/>Unfortunately a recent renovation has totally stripped this place of its charm. Stark walls, new furniture and on-trend crockery, lighting that is too bright. It looks like a very uninspiring, standard space. Even La Porchetta looks better! And I've never seen it so empty. You can get better Italian food elsewhere. After many years of coming here, I'm sorry to say that I won't be back.

Ok. So I visited the waiters tonight- an old time favourite and to My surprise it's been slightly renovated and reinvigorated. Same vibe same style but the food and service has come up a few large notches. There is a new chef who is focussed on keeping the authenticity of the food Italian, the flavours seem more refined and overall we all had a foody experience. If you were a lover of the "past" waiters the Reno per say is great, and if your thinking of trying a fresh new value Italian place this is it. You only have to find it first!!!

This is a secret I almost don't want to share. It's a little hard to find from the street you have to go up what look like backstairs to the first floor . But this has to be one of my favourite places in Melbourne. Traditional Italian food, no prices on the blackboard and wine from cheap glasses. The food is excellent. Look out for their specials. Or go for one of the mainstays like porchini risotto or chicken livers which are both fantastic. It's probably worth booking but they will always see if they can find your table. Prices are very reasonable and the quality great. Unfortunately the old bullet holes in the ceiling from a shootout many years ago have now gone

Visited first time about a decade ago and it's still the same. Always order the garlic bread and tortellini alla crema. Right in the middle of the city  Don't go changing!!!!

Terrible! Tasteless and expensive totally overrated $91-00 for 2 will never go back. <br/><br/>Coffee was the only saving grace. I asked about the marinara it was frozen!<br/>Salad for $16-50 tasted like cheap vinegar.<br/>An insult to Italian Cusine!

The food was alright - not bad or amazing. This place is probably best known for their pastas but honestly it wouldn't be anywhere new my first choice. Service was very poor.

It's definitely popular but the food was so-so in comparison to Melbourne's many other pasta places. But there is one thing they do really well ... garlic bread. Love the garlic bread.

Charged $18 for garlic bread which we had to ask twice for and came after our mains were finished. Very very poor. Food was very oily. Pellegrini's is a much better for this type of dining.

Always busy no matter what time of night.  Don't expect fine dining - just laminated tables, vinyl seats and nice home-style cooked meals.  It all adds to the unpretentious atmosphere.  Its been operating for decades, so it must be doing something right :)

Went there for the first time in almost 20 years (been eating in London most of this time)! I'm not sure it's changed at all, except it's now legally licensed! And it looked dated back in '96! This is good (it's a true icon that should be supported), but sadly you can eat better nearby ( Florentino's Cellar Bar for instance). However the food isn't bad at all, the portions are good and reasonably priced. I will be coming back, but I'm there for the place itself rather than the food.

Recommended waiters club as it was a Melbourne Institution what a sham. Worst meal in Melbourne yet. Garlic bread was bread with garlic butter not toasted, veal Marsala thickly cut and felt like I was chewing through a boot I couldn't eat it, my partners spag Bol just as bad dry lacked flavour and sauce. Disgusting won't be back

Went for a work lunch, and this place was surprisingly busy! The place has a very 70s feel to it (down to the glassware), and the menus can be hard to spot as they are placed up along with walls. Unfortunately, it's also pretty cramped, which made for quite a noisy environment.<br/><br/>I ordered the ocean trout instead of the many standard pasta items, and it was a decent sized piece of fish, accompanied with some broccoli, cabbage, and a bit of salad. <br/><br/>However, I don't think it's worth the $25 price tag - especially not when there are much cheaper Chinatown options nearby, or spending a few dollars more can get you the tastier lunch banquet at Red Spice QV.

We dined at The Waiter's Restaurant because it was highly recommended. We wanted to go somewhere that would line our stomachs before late night beverages. We ordered a spinach lasagne (which was like pita with pasta sauce), gnocchi (with pesto) and a mouth watering- mushroom risotto. What can we say?? Absolutely delish and wog-tastic cuisine. Thank you Waiter's Restaurant- we'll be back again soon!! A big thumbs up! xx

I love Waiter's Club so much that if I could marry a restaurant, I would be well and truly off the market. See you there in ten...

The Waiters Club is one of those Melbourne institutions that apparently never changes. I had been meaning to try it out for about two years, when my lovely uni friend S suggested we hold a long-overdue reunion there. This was particularly convenient because they actually take bookings (try finding that at many places in Melbourne anymore), and it meant I could finally tick it off my list. Fantastic!

Up a wooden staircase which you might mistake for a back stair exit is a genuine hidden gem – a perfectly preserved Italian dining room that inhabits an aesthetic somewhere between a 1970s office and Nonna’s kitchen. A longtime haunt of journos and hospitality workers, the Waiters’ Restaurant is now experiencing a renaissance among retro-hungry Gen Y. But the place is as famous for its food as for its Laminex tables and wood panelling. The freshly prepared, home-style meals are delicious, whether you like whole grilled fish, veal scallopini or fresh, homemade pasta. Go for the specials for a seasonal treat. The cleanskin house wine, served humbly in Duralex, is a quaffable steal. The place packs out on Friday and Saturday nights but the efficient staff turn over the diners fairly quickly, so you won’t find yourself waiting on the stairs too long.

The waiters are very friendly, and the service is very quick. Wine options are limited to a house bottle of red or white (although you can BYO), and come in an unlabeled bottle. When the food arrives, it's an enormous, unceremonial pile of pasta on an oval plate. Tuck in.