Amigos y Familia Hardware Lane — Restaurant in Melbourne

My boyfriend and I dined in last night without reading reviews, we just assumed it would be great since it is quite established so we were ready for some delicious mexican food. Boy we were so wrong. I don't even know where to start. We are latino ourselves so we know what to expect and we have been to 80% of the mexican restaurants in Melbourne because we LOVE the food and the culture that much. This place was TERRIBLE and AWFUL and we will never be back.

I ordered the mulled wine and my boyfriend ordered the Mexican punch. Both disappointing. The mulled wine was bitter and hard to swallow. The punch tasted like the worst cordial we've ever had!

We skipped ordering an entree this time only because we always get too full from mains and we wanted to savour the mexcian flavour. I ordered the vegetable fajitas and he ordered the large size enchiladas. The Fajitas came out and I was so excited- however the sizes of everything were underwhelming. There was only half a tablespoon of guac, one measly tablespoon of rice and a splatter of refried beans. The sizzling plate came out but it looked and tasted like a tomato based indian curry. The veggies were not typical of what you'd see in a mexican cuisine- cauliflower, peas, mushrooms, zuccini and loads of carrot. What the?! I gave it a try so here is the BIGGEST reason why I felt cheated and will tell everyone I know not to go here. My rice had absolutely NO flavour, it was very oily and there was not even a hint of salt. The guac was also tasteless and boring- seriously guys all you need to add is lemon!! Now I would have forgiven these two fails if the sizzling plate did it's job. Big Fat NO! The red sauce on the veggies tasted like an indian curry (I'm a big fan of Indian food too) but I would describe the taste as really bad indian cuisine. There was no flavour, no personality, no zest, no coriander, no trace of true mexican flavour and it was very expensive! The waiter didn't even ask us how the food was and we were sitting right next to the register. There was no music, the manager was talking loudly and his booming voice drowned out our conversation. My boyfriend gave his enchiladas a 1 out of 10 rating. They also had no flavour and they skimped on all the sides. He said there was no essence of mexican flavour in there too- just plain tomato sauce and dry tortilla. We were seated inside in the bar area and the decor inside was a) non existant, and b) freezing cold.

We usually try to finish our meals but we didn't want to even keep eating as it was worthless.

Nothing about this restaurant or experience was mexican themed except for the name of the restaurant. I don't know why this place has lots of good reviews, I wish I could turn back time and not give them our money but I will hope that someone reads this review and instead, go to other amazing mexican restaurant that are ACTUALLY mexican restaurants and not like this business who are somehow staying in business by faking their way through.

My tips for this restaurant, it's owners and management: Get your waiters to check on their customers meals EVERY SINGLE TIME. Research what mexican food is ACTUALLY like. Go and TRY some incredible local mexican food or make it at home yourself and see how bad your experience is. Mexican food is meant to bring happiness and smiles and also tell a story about the culture and history of the land. Put some music on that executes the vibe at least! You owe this to your customers- new and old, especially if you can't execute food and drink to a half decent standard. Train your chef/cooks in the flavours and styles if you can't afford or find a real Mexican chef. There are plenty of recipes online if you can't make your own flavour but even that is questionable. And lastly- why are you serving non mexican food and advertising it as mexican? I almost want to call the ACCC on you! Overall please have any sort of care over the customers and their experience here. This is an embarrassment to Mexican culture and also to the hospitality industry...

Amigos y Familia serves up really tasty Mexican food in a cosy little spot on Hardware Lane. We started with the nachos, which came piled with juicy beef brisket, sour cream, and guacamole—super, super comforting and perfect for the chilly winter night.

We wanted to try more from the menu, so we went with a few smaller plates instead of mains. The fish tacos and mole chicken tacos were both delicious and packed with flavours. One of the highlights for me was the Papas Huancaína—a creamy potato salad with a smooth, mustardy dressing (I think?) that was unexpectedly addictive.

The laneway setting is great for a relaxed dinner, and we were lucky enough to have live music while we ate—a duo playing smooth R&B tunes that was quite the vibe.

Service was great too. The wait staff were friendly, quick, and gave helpful suggestions on portion sizes and what dishes worked best for sharing, depending on how hungry we were.

Tip for Muslim travellers: We found out that the restaurant can arrange for halal meat if you let them know in advance when booking. Ask the waiters if they can make alcohol-free versions of the cocktails in the menu. You might be pleasantly surprised.

We finished the night with some crunchy churros served with a dulce de leche sauce instead of the usual chocolate—so good and a sweet way to wrap up our last night in Melbourne.

Would definitely come back hungry next time we’re in town—and order the paella and...

Amigos on Hardware Lane is an absolute gem in Melbourne's culinary scene. The vibrant atmosphere and delicious Mexican cuisine make it a must-visit for anyone craving a flavorful and satisfying meal.

I had the pleasure of dining at Amigos recently and was blown away by the exceptional customer service provided by Ubay. He greeted us with a warm smile and made us feel right at home from the moment we walked in. His knowledge of the menu and recommendations were spot on, and he went above and beyond to ensure that we had a fantastic dining experience.

But the real star of the show at Amigos is the tacos. The flavors were out of this world, with each bite bursting with freshness and authenticity. From the perfectly seasoned meats to the homemade salsas and toppings, every element of the tacos was on point. I couldn't get enough of them and found myself already planning my next visit before I had even finished my meal.

Overall, Amigos on Hardware Lane is a must-visit for anyone looking for a delicious and memorable dining experience. The impeccable customer service from Ubay and the mouthwatering tacos make it a standout restaurant in Melbourne's bustling food scene. I can't recommend it highly enough and can't wait to return for another round...