Review Universal Restaurant - Melbourne

One of the best place to go to. Weekend queue is hectic and so is it during the weekdays too. Went for my partner’s birthday dinner. Service was nice and friendly. We had the ultimate meat platter and carbonara pasta. Serving was massive and even the entree for pasta was huge. I had the Mango smoothie for drink which was amazing and my partner went for blood orange, which was not too bad. Make sure you go empty stomach or else you will be missing out. Can’t wait to go back and try rest of the dishes

I visited at around 11:30am on a Saturday with 3 others. When we arrived there was plenty of space, but by the time we left at around 1 or 1:30pm there was a queue out the door. We ordered a cocktail jug ($55), a garlic pizza ($12), a marinara main with red sauce and fettuccine ($25.90), a margherita main ($17.90), and a side of beer battered chips ($12). The drink took so long to come even though it wasn't busy, and they also never came to our table to take another drink order when we had finished it. The food came out fairly quickly. It was nice but nothing special. I think my expectations were too high because I always see people lining up to go here. I will say that the food was good value for money. My friends eventually wanted to leave because they felt like the waiters were waiting for our table (because of the queue), which was a bit awkward. Overall it was alright but I won't go there again and I think there are better options. Also vegetarian options were not very good.

The Chicken Parmigiana was yum. We had a Veggie Super Special Pizza. The base is soft and the flavours just explode in your mouth. The food is cheap, delicious and the portion sizes are huge.Great Food and Friendly staff :)

Used to be my first option when having Italian food. I cannot believe most of spaghetti are broken off. And for the chicken Pesto the bottom of dish is full of oil and tastes no flavor. To be honest, it is a little bit disappointed that this restaurant cannot even cook the pasta above a average level as a Italian restaurant. But the quantity and the price for each dish is still good. Good for those who have good appetite

Visited twice in the short span of 2 weeks. Absolutely massive portion sizes, definitely get the signature chicken parmigiana and schnitzel with mushroom sauce, both of which were delicious, so well-balanced with the fresh slaw and basil which helped cut through the grease, and great for sharing. Poseidon risotto was generous and tasty as well. Marinara cream seafood pasta was a little too undercooked for my liking rather than al-dente. Staff were attentive, helpful and friendly and food came out fast. Overall good value for money for Melbourne, and would return again. Despite the fact that the restaurant has plenty of seating, do try to come during off-peak hours or be prepared to queue in line for a seat.

Best place to go to for amazing parma’s and pizzas. The quantity is huge at a very reasonable price. Weekdays the wait time ain’t that bad however you might have to wait longer on the weekends. But it’s worth the wait.

At first we were shockrd by the position size and quality! Both are excellent so make sure you go there hungry. The chicken parmigiana was perfect. Staff was very helpful, friendly and professional. The they look like college students but are always on top of everything.

Very popular space around lunch time. Staffs are friendly and heartwarming. The portion of the food is great! Very fulfilling and well combined. It includes chicken, sauce, salad and chips for $15.9, totally worth for the price.

we dined here tonight to celebrite a double birthday .and t was a delightful experience .kisrty was serving us she was wonderful. .she a precious staff member... as well as everyone else .. i loved esta too they are a great! asset !! food wise taste wise portion wise ..we were more than satisfied. .and the atmosphere was warm and welcoming. highly recommend it..great job to everyone. .i came back just after i had visited it the precious night. .

Great place, huge servings and so affordable. But what impressed me the most was the staff - all very young, very friendly and when i left every one of then thanked me and wished me a good evening. Thank you all

Always had an amazing steak or Parma! Highly recommend great service

Outstanding. Value and quality. Italians get into this place it does us proud. Great place.

25 years since I was a regular here and the food is still as good as I remember!

Our waitress was exceptional. She seated the four of us quickly. We had another engagement so she ensured our meal was served promptly. The meal was ENORMOUS and tasty.

Best parmas we have ever had... EVER! Excellent menu, amazing prices, great service!

The service was great but the prices went up

Amazing! Delicious and great value!

Service:<br/>As covid19 restrictions are in the early stages of being eased, they are still taking precautions so a max of 20 patrons are allowed to dine in one time, hence there was a bit of wait however my cousin and I didn’t have to wait that long. The staff were very friendly and attentive.<br/><br/>This was my first time dining in at this restaurant so I wasn’t too sure how good the food was but I’ve heard from friends and family that it was definitely worth to go in and try. My cousin and I got the schnitzel easy and she didn’t tell me how big the serving size was 🙃🙃🙃🙃<br/><br/>Our chicken was a little dark but I assume that’s just cause the oil hasn’t been change because the chicken was crispy and tender and didn’t have a burnt taste to it. The mushroom sauce was the highlight! It was so delicious and definitely worth asking for extra for the chips and chicken. It was so big that I was only half way through the chicken before I asked to take it to go. <br/><br/>The peanut choc drink that I ordered was alright, there was barely any peanut flavour to it :( <br/><br/>Still, I’d definitely will be a returning customer.

Hands down fav Italian restaurant in Carlton 🙌🏻 Their chicken parma is a definately a popular one, never fail to order it when dining-in 🥩 For only $13, you’re provided with a super huge portion - enough time feed two individuals. Tried the pasta, pizza, wings, ribs & calamari. All are pretty good and reasonably priced.

Universal is THE restaurant which is quite representative of melb. Or at least melb uni culture. The chicken schnitzel never disappoint; the portion is MASSIVE and I usually share it with people. But I actually had the whole schnitzel to myself just last week cause i haven’t had it in a long time hehe. The mushroom sauce which goes with it is really yum as well. Chicken Parma is as great but I find it too rich/filling after having too much of it.

The chicken schnitzel and parma were massive and very worth it for $14. The service was fuss free and food came out quickly.

I have come a few times here for the Vegan Karma (which is their version of a vegan parma) as it one of the best ones I have had. Service can sometimes be hit and miss but nothing critical. It's usually pretty busy here and you will have to line up to be seated. <br/><br/>All in all Universal and some great vegan options on hand which I enjoy a lot. Despite the cost on some vegan items feeling way over priced compared to the rest of the menu I think it is definitely a must try! That Vegan Parma is the bomb!

Classic parma and schnitzel was great, mushroom sauce was delicious! Great to have for lunch due to location being near University. :)

Extremely disappointed, bad customer service and meat in our vegetarian dishes. We ordered for a vegetarian garlic pizza and they served it with pieces of bacon. We even asked specifically for vegetarian (as mentioned in the menu), as we are vegetarians and vegans. The people serving us food were very rude and when asked about the meat on the vegetarian dishes. The owner came by to our table, spoke about how no restaurant can Guarantee their vegetarian dishes to be 100% vegetarian. Not going there again for sure!

Went here for weekend lunch (approximately 1300hrs) with the brother. Fortunately, we appeared to have arrived at a fortuitous time as there was no queue.<br/>We ordered the Chicken Parmigiana and Beef Lasagne. Homely, no-fuss meals of massive portions! We were more than full following our meals. We also tried the Lychee mocktail, which was refreshing.<br/>Casual ambience with indoor seating available. There was a healthy number of people still queueing outside after we had finished our meals. Friendly and efficient service. Very reasonable prices for portions served.<br/>Overall, a solid no-fuss lunch option.

This time we only had drinks and shakes. But my friend has visited before and said the good is actually decent. We saw the chicken parmigiana on the tables surrounding us as well. The portions are huge! And they're only $14! Definitely need to come back here next time to try the food, so cheap and affordable--super wallet friendly!<br/><br/>The drinks we got were cheap as well. We got Iced Chocolate, Iced Coffee, Lemon Tea, and Chai Milkshake. The Iced Chocolate and Iced Coffee came with a gigantic scoop of gelato. Definitely insane!

Great food, great prices, pleasantly generous portions! Go there when you have an appetite. There's always a line but only ever waited less than five minutes at lunch time. <br/>Staff was friendly and efficient. Will come back again!

One of my favs in Melbourne. The parma with bolognese sauce is amazing and the serving size is super generous. The mussels are also fantastic and worth a try.

⭐️⭐️⭐️<br/><br/>So be prepared to queue as long as you would for chin chin for a table. They apparently do not take reservations. They are known for their Parma’s and great value at just $14. They were huge but unfortunately I found them quite bland and dry. The pasta was really tasty though and it’s BYO but I guess I’m only 3 starring it because of a the really long wait.

Great place for a cheap delicious dinner. Where else can you get a huge Parma with chips and salad for $14!? Service is quick usually but you often have to line up for a bit to get a table at dinner time. Wait isn't usually too long. Sometimes they forget about you because it's so crazy busy but you can easily wave a waiter down. Pizza and pasta is also delicious here. Been many times with friends, will definitely be a regular place to visit.

We ordered the fagatini alla veneziana,they were quite delicious. However the service was a bit slow, and waiter spilled the sauce ever where while serving.

4.5<br/><br/><br/>We came here finally as everything was still closed from the new years closure and it was so busy. We ordered an entrée Pauls special pasta and a parma with mushroom sauce. The servings were so large and we enjoyed everything, the pasta was cooked well and the mushroom sauce was my favourite

Yes, most people will say that you can get a better Parma in Melbourne, and those people would be right. You come to Universal to gorge yourself on the massive portion for $14, not for peak Parma experience. And ykno what? For that, it's pretty perfect. The cheese is stretchy, the sauce is mediocre, the coating isn't that crispy, and the chips aren't fried enough, but it's really about quantity over quality here.<br/><br/>Parma: 7/10

They just write that they are open till 11 pm but they do not take orders after 10 pm. We were standing in line for 10 mins from 10.15 pm and they just told us that they are not taking orders when are turn came to sit down. The waitresses over there do not listen to anything and just insult you with a smile. Really not worth it.

Finally found a good spot for tasty gluten free pasta. Absolutely loved their gluten free pasta in pesto sauce, cooked to perfection and full of flavors. Their Tuscan Chicken is by far one of the best, flavorful and wonderfully cooked chicken I've had so far .<br/><br/>Will absolutely recommend this place and would definitely visit again.

Universal<br/>Chicken Parmigiana and Carbonara Fettuccine.<br/><br/>Lygon Street has always been Melbourne heart for Italian cuisine. The portion to price ratio was on point. A fair price for an amazing meal.<br/><br/>The dishes retained its flavours, without being overcooked or worse under. Situated in the most convenient location just minutes from the CBD, Universal and restaurants close by open till late and are always welcoming.<br/><br/>At night, this area is generally very busy with both diners and pub crawlers. The streets are lined with Italian food, ice cream and late-night coffee and cake.<br/><br/>Highly recommended for those who’ve always been dining around the city, where the dishes are dearer and the portion, not as satisfying.<br/><br/>Would definitely visit again.

Ordered the schnitzel with extra grilled cheese. Huge portion size at an affordable price! I could easily share this with another person and we’ll be full! I love that they didn’t skimp out on the cold slaw as well! I can see why there’s always a queue during peak period!

Their schnitzel is incredible value and the biggest I've ever seen. The chips are perfect and the side salad is also huge.<br/><br/>Other Restaurants along Lygon Street will try to get you into their Restaurant because this place is so popular there is often a line up. <br/><br/>We also shared the pasta but can only get through the entree size as they are also huge.

*3.5/5 but rounded up for zomato <br/>If you’re after a cheap meal Universal is the place to go. The decor is very simple and nothing special, but the crowds/ lines indicate that the place is very popular. <br/>🍴can’t look past the $14 schnitzel. Large portion. Crispy chicken. <br/>💁🏼‍♀️service isn’t usually quick. Sometimes there is a wait for a table but the line moves quickly.

Huge portions, required less crowds and long lines, 1st September 2018, yummy calamari

Oh wow! What can I say? The Chicken Parma at Universal is HUGE and cheap too ($14). Comes with a fresh and tangy coleslaw salad and thick cut chips. There's so much goodness on a plate ! Pasta dishes are also huge (in the photo that is only an entree size).<br/><br/>After a fast, cheap and huge meal.... universal is the place to be.<br/><br/>Instagram @flabnbone_food

The chicken snitzel was HUGE

😱Lizzie’s first impression: the best and cheapest schnitzel in town. It’s like the best comfort food and I’ve come here time and time again after so many years. <br/><br/>🍩Lizzie enjoyed: I always come back for the schnitzel. I really enjoy the lasagne and the pastas too as they have a lot of good creamy and tomato base flavours. <br/><br/>🍅Lizzie did not enjoy: you can’t expect the best service but generally the staff are quite nice. <br/><br/>🥇Lizzie rates overall: love coming back here - and probably many more to come!

Great place at Lygon street for continental food! Loved the parma and steaks!!! Watch out for huge servings... not for someone looking for "small" eats.<br/>Be ready to queue for at least 20 minutes to get a seat!

Came here after hearing some amazing reviews from my friends. And, I'm happy to say it lived up to my friends reviews. Nice location, both indoor and outdoor seating available. I ordered their famous Chicken schnitzel and a pot of their pale ale.<br/><br/>Chicken was delicious. Not too thick of the fry coating and not too chewy. It was perfect. Only downside is the large portion size. Sure my friends said it's a huge portion. But didn't expect this. But it's filling as. I think I'll go without dinner today lol.<br/><br/>The mushroom sauce was a new thing for me. And I liked it very much. And the fries and the salad were delicious.<br/><br/>Overall 9.87/10. Would come back here again.

Really best deal around - but only if you are keen to get Parma. Watch out as the other prices aren't as low and the Parma is the catchy one! :) (Beer is specially expensive)

After hearing so much about Universal, I decided to try it out for myself. Walking over to Lygon Street, I noticed a queue outside Universal. I was surprised to find a place so busy on a weekday.<br/>Me and my friend joined the queue. We didn't have to wait long as the queue moved pretty quickly.<br/>I ordered a white chocolate and raspberry milkshake. It's absolutely absolutely wonderful. Makes you feel so happy and good about yourself. One of the best shakes I have tasted ever in my life. We also ordered a chicken schnitzel and a parma. Both were served with a side of chips and salad. The schnitzel was served with a yummy mushroom sauce. The serving sizes were huge and I had leftovers to take home for another meal. Both the schnitzel and parma cost just $14 and its very pocket friendly.<br/>I would come back anyday to Universal for its white chocolate and raspberry milkshake. If you are feeling down this is bound to cheer you up.<br/>

Worth the queue! Try to go there before dinner time to avoid the queue but the massive chicken schnitzel is SO GOOD and can feed multiple people or one hungry fella. The best part is really the mushroom sauce, so SCHNITZEL > Parma for us<br/><br/>Their potions are so generous, as you can see from their schnitzel, but their pasta is as equally as big! (their bacon oyster is also really good)

Universal is always a great place for dinner after a long day of uni. The food is tasty and comes in large portions, making it extremely affordable. The service is usually very efficient too.

Food was delicious, ambiance was comfortable. Highly recommended for affordable, quality Italian food.

Extremely tasty! Me and my partner came here for a nice dinner since we were craving Italian, and it’s safe to say that we were satisfied! We ordered a Garlic Pizza for starters and then we had both ordered the Fettucine Carbonara. <br/><br/>Ordering was very quick as well the dishes being served out <br/>which was a bonus since we were so hungry. <br/><br/>The serving was definitely worth the price you pay! It was such a big and filling serving that I could barely finish my dish 😂 This was my first time coming and I would love to go again to try out more of their popular dishes 😊

❤️ Parma ($14)<br/><br/>👍 massive service size for the price; friendly customer service; good ambiance and outdoor seating; delicious flavours in the coleslaw, large hot chips, and crunchy chicken<br/><br/>🕓 extremely busy on Saturday 7.30PM; 30 minutes queue; food comes out within 20 minutes <br/>

Quite possibly the worst meal we have eaten in years. Pizza was hard and toppings were bland and dry. Three cheese risotto was tasteless, over cooked and something you’d find at a run down country pub. Spaghetti marinara was overdone, tasted like it was out of a can and reheated to a point of no return. One star is for the drinks and the waitress who reimbursed us for the uneaten spaghetti. Thank goodness we didn’t wait for an hour in line for this rubbish. Our advice, keep on walking.

when I reminded food, coming with cold food and long waiting <br/>An assistant saw me twice but did not any response.<br/>DISAPPOINTED................

We came here for desserts and I cannot find the right words for it. The Universal’s Butterscotch Milkshake was by far my favourite of the three, but the Mud Pudding and Fudge milkshakes were on par. The prices were affordable too, and along with the friendly staff, it all amounts to a complete experience.

You know its popular among the locals when there is always a que in front of the restaurant. No frills, just simple food at a reasonable price. The portions were reasonable as well for the price and the food is good. A great place if you're after an awesome Schnitzel.

The portions here are enormous for the price of the meal. Everyone around us had the $14 Parma which was well worth it’s price. A great spot for lunch with a nice variety.

Very popular place to eat, did have to wait a while to get seats. Staff were nice and friendly. Good portions and worth the price. Location is good. Service was quick.

Literally perfect if you can avoid the line. Food comes to the table FAST, and the food is GOOD. Huge schnitty, chips, slaw and mushroom sauce for $14 is a dream.

There’s always a line outside Universal whenever we walk by, and it was no exception when we went at around 3pm for a late lunch. The line took longer than expected, and when it finally reached our turn we opted to sit outside since it wasn’t too cold and there were heaters. <br/>We ordered the Chicken schnitzel with mushroom sauce and spaghetti bolognese (entrée size) to share, and I also tried the Homemade Chocolate Fudge milkshake. <br/>Thankfully the waiting time for food didn’t take very long, and they all arrived around the same time. <br/>Chicken schnitzel with mushroom sauce- We’ve heard that the serving size is huge, but we were surprised nonetheless! The chicken was so tender, juicy and crispy at the same time. Whether on its own, or dipped into the mushroom sauce, it didn’t really matter how it was eaten- it was really good either way! The mushroom sauce was a little ambiguous for me. It was very creamy and contained a hint of mushroom, but otherwise it wasn’t really there. The chips however, were so tasty. They complimented the schnitzel well and was just plain delicious. <br/>Spaghetti bolognese- the sauce was SO good! It was so good in fact that we were wondering if we should’ve gotten a larger serving after all (we were very full however, so I think the entrée size was good).<br/>Chocolate Fudge milkshake- the chocolate flavour was rich and consistent in the milkshake, and would’ve been too sweet for me on its own, but it balanced out with the other savoury dishes. I found it to be for good value considering the milkshakes I’ve had in the past. However, I felt as if I was way too full by the time I had to finish off my milkshake, so maybe next time I’ll just opt for water instead. <br/><br/>Overall, it was a really satisfying and very filling meal. The prices are reasonable, but I feel as if the service could’ve been slightly better. The staff who served us seemed unenthusiastic but they did their job. Definitely want to be back to try other dishes next time!

A jam-packed Italian restaurant with huge portions worth the price. I only come for one dish that's the absolute best "Universal Chicken Schnitzel" around $13/$14 - includes a large sized perfectly coated chicken with some-sort of mushroomy sauce with large soft fries, paired with the best coleslaw salad. <br/>Despite the long lines you would see along the restaurant during dinner time, It moves pretty quick.

Huge portions so the prices are definitely justifiable. However, slightly overrated with the long wait times to get a table. I guess it's an institution in Melbourne and hence the tourist numbers.

4.5<br/>Pocket friendly italian restaurant.<br/><br/>After such a long time I finally tried this place out. There was always a line, even on a thursday noon. It wasn't a long wait though, and we were seated outside which was heated. Staffs were nice and food surprisingly didn't take long.<br/><br/>The famous chicken schnitzel was massive indeed, especially for its price. It was nicely fried, though it had a texture similar to nuggets, but still yummy especially with the tomato sauce and cheese on top. Fries were also fried perfectly and meaty. Then there was salad to balance the dish.<br/><br/>Seafood marinara spaghetti was also yummy, it was generous for an entree size and toppings were generous as well, spaghetti was cooked perfectly and sauce was great. <br/><br/>Lastly, pizza was quite yummy. The steak was tender and flavours all worked well, though I think the base was a bit too dry. <br/><br/>Overall, I can see why this place is so popular, great food at great price point.<br/><br/>( follow for more!✨)<br/><br/>ｘｘ，ｊｏｅｌｌｅ.

Great food reasonably priced, excellent chicken parmas, ragus and lasagne. Fast service even when the place is packed! I eat there at least once a week.

This is a unique Italian restaurant with famous $14 parmas and schnitzel and crazy long queues that can stretch 50m outside the door! My partner and I rocked up at 540pm Saturday and did not get seated until 615pm. However, the chicken was worth waiting for! The same couldn’t be said of the Lasagne however. It was burnt at the bottom and lacked moisture - probably bc it was cooked in a clay pot style dish. Service was adequate. Can’t really criticise anything else at these prices....will be back!

Food was alright, nothing too special. Chicken schnitzel tasted like every other schnitzel. The mushroom sauce that came with it tasted like those gravy mix, nothing mind blowing either. <br/><br/>Overall, the food wasn’t incredibly good but it was super cheap and affordable for such a huge portion (good for sharing).

The best place in Melbourne for Chicken Schnitzel and Chicken Parma both in terms of taste and price. The parmas are king size and are served with coleslaw and chips and are only priced at $14.The pasta and pizzas are not bad as well but a bit on the expensive side. Another highlight of this place is the amazing mushroom gravy which adds plavour to any meal. <br/>The place is always crowded, even on Monday nights, with people waiting outside to be seated. But for the food and price, it is definitely worth the wait .

Always crowded in lunch and dinner time, but I didn’t have to wait long in line at 1.30. Fast service, quite tasty food with large portions, this make the foods here affordable for student.

This place was recommended to me by my friend... We went during the peak time so there was a considerable wait and queue as this place is really popular<br/><br/>We tried the chicken parmigiana which is what they are known for, the portion size is just ridiculous .. loved the coleslaw and the fries too<br/><br/>We also had the Milano pasta which was really creamy with lots of mushrooms chicken and best of all bacon.<br/>

Omg. I can’t believe I had never been here before. I took my family here for lunch on a Sunday (with booking), and the place was bustling and had a great atmosphere. We all ordered, very nice wait staff too, and the food came out super promptly. Now this schnitzel. I’m going to have wonderful dreams about the chicken schnitzel. I wish I had taken a photo before I inhaled it, but for $14... I’ve never seen something of this value. A schnitzel the size of my HEAD, yet still great quality meat and cook???? Where have you been all my life??? And the mushroom sauce... absolutely amazing. The slaw, the chips, it was just a symphony of perfection. Everything was good quality food. I can’t talk for my company who had various other dishes, but if you’re a schnitzel fiend like me, 1000% give Universal a go.

Went here many times since 2 years ago with a group of friends. Fortunately we went there fast so don’t need to wait from long queue. The food taste is just so so but the portion is super big with affordable price. Staffs provided a good and friendly services to people, they are very attentive to customers, as they can respond to our request very quick. Will be back again in the future!

Amazing chicken schnitzel, would recommend ordering extra mushroom sauce for your chips. <br/><br/>The schnitzel was huge, I couldn’t even finish it. Took it home for a snack. Great quality & quantity for the price. <br/><br/>Their drinks are pretty nice too (and pretty!). <br/><br/>Wouldn’t recommend the garlic pizza though.

Honestly a great place for their famous cheap gigantic schnitzel. I actually prefer their schnitzel over their Parma as I think the mushroom sauce was a better pairing as the tomato based sauce was rather simple and didnt elevate the dish, while I guess the mushroom sauce was far more flavorful perhaps from the butter they used!<br/><br/>Again, portions were great and even though theres always a line up, their consistency in each dish was pretty much the same and their fries were nice and freshly fried, giving it a nice airy yet crispy touch. The slaw was on the bland side but I loved that it was cuz everything else added together was a bit heavy.<br/><br/>Still was able to finish the whole dish myself! Havent tried anything else on the menu but worth coming for the schnitzel. 4 stars for the tomato sauce not being the best but overall would say worth 4.5 for value, money and service was not bad either.

Came here right before dinner rush. And when I say dinner rush, I mean expect to wait in line behind 30 customers before you get a seat! <br/><br/>My go-to here is definitely the universal schnitzel, however we decided on the Parma and ordered an extra side of mushroom sauce. <br/><br/>I also ordered an entree size Paul’s special spaghetti. <br/><br/>The serving size for the Parma’s here are ridiculously big. The chicken tastes fresh and crunchy and the mushroom sauce really brings it well together. The chips here are delicious! Extremely thick cut, almost like a beer batter.<br/><br/>The pasta had a flavorful taste to it! <br/><br/>Between two, you can definitely get comfortable sharing a schnitzel. <br/><br/>However, it’s always better over ordering than under ordering, right? I did have to take away half my pasta though 👀