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.
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.
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!
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.
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.
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 đ€€
The place fills up very quickly so either head in early or book!
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.
Melbourne, Letâs Eat
+4
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.
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 , Iâm still impressed. I had the Melanzane Parmigiana. It was excellent. I had a really nice Sangiovese , tartufo di cioccolata e caffĂš. I paid for 2of us and it all cost $86.
Dennis , we know that everything needs to change but after 44 years , please donât.
See you next month. I will have the Pasta Puttanesca next time.
A presto.
The Waiters Restaurant was a recommendation by a Melbourne local.
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.
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 youâll see a large family gathering.
The food was spectacular and the ability to feel comfortable in your own clothes was also a positive! Highly recommend!!!
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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.
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.
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.
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.
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 donât expect a wine glass.
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:Â
đ Lamb alla Romana: $25
đ Spaghetti Bolognese: $19.50
Review:
It was an adventure coming here. The staircase coming up is the very epitome of a "hidden in the alleyway" type of restaurant.Â
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.Â
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.Â
So if you're up for more of a spontaneous adventure, why don't you try your luck at the Waiters Restaurant?
The Italian Waiters club, location- secret, cuisine- well đ€ đ€! This place is discreet and feels like you are in Italy in your Nonnaâs 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).
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.
A friend took me to this hidden gem last night for some late night carbs and omgggg itâs the best pasta Iâve 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. Iâll 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 Iâll try something else, maybe not.
Vegetarian Food Lover
+4.5
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.
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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! Â 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.
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I would say the Waiters Restaurant it is one of my favourite Italian restaurants in Melbourne. I love itâs unpretentious, unsophisticated feel and the focus is on great food. I am always impressed by the quality of their house wines.
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.
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.
I had the veal parmigiana which was superb, others that had the spaghetti marinara enjoyed that dish very much also.
I hope the waitersâ 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.
I had Marinara. Spaghetti was cooked good but the seafood wasn't nice and shrimps (not prawns) were frozen.
As other reviewers say lack of taste. I agree. Must add lots of Parmesan cheese.
The most expensive dish was Saltimbocca which my partner ordered but it was disappointing. Looked nice but not over cooked.
Desserts we had were tiramisu and panna cotta. I like both.
In the city you can eat pasta everywhere.
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.
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 !!
Traditional Italian, highly recommend it !!
We'll be back :) !!
Oh, and its BYOW !!
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
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, Â 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.
Value for money. Â Simple food and good service. Â A bit rushed. Â Very olde-school and good atmosphere. Â Been there forever and we love the place. Â 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.
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. Â 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. Â 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.
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. Â Always fast and efficient service and the pasta is really good. Â There is always a good buzz about the place too.
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.
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.
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!
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.
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 !
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!!!!
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.
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...
Expensive Delicious Habit.
+4.5
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!
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.
Itâs 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 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!
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