Fonda Mexican Richmond — Restaurant in Melbourne

2s (Melbourne Eateries that I wouldn't rush back to, but wouldn't be adverse to going back to either. Food needs some development)[40]: Centonove (Kew) Cicciolina Back Bar (St Kilda) Da Guido La Pasta (Carlton) Emporer Court (Mitcham)[RIP] Fonda (Richmond) Georges (Croydon)[RIP] Grants On Sherbrooke (Kallista) Harry's On The Esplanade (Cowes)[RIP] Ishiya (CBD) Laurent Boulangerie Patisserie (Albert Park/Camberwell/Doncaster) Maestro (Geelong) Matteo's (North Fitzroy) Matsumoto (East Brunswick) Minh Xuong (Richmond)[RIP] Nude Food (San Remo)[RIP] Ocha (Hawthorn) Pope Joan (CBD) Queenscliff Brewhouse (Queenscliff) Rumi (East Brunswick) Sarti (CBD) Small Block (East Brunswick)[RIP] Spot + Nosh (Heathmont)[RIP] Stalactites (CBD) Sugardough (East Brunswick) The Corner Hotel (Richmond) The Court House (North Melbourne) The Firehouse (Ringwood) The Groove Train (Cheltenham)[RIP] The Press Club (CBD)[RIP] The Restaurant At The Herb Farm (Lilydale)[RIP] The Studley Park Boathouse Cafe (Kew) Thirty Eight Chairs (Carlton North)[RIP] Tiamo 2 (Carlton) Tien Dat (Box Hill) Tin Pot Cafe (North Fitzroy) Trotters (Carlton)[RIP] Warwick Thai (Brunswick)[RIP] Wild Cattle Creek Estate (Seville) Woodstock Cafe (North Fitzroy)[RIP]

3s (Melbourne eateries with good solid tucker that I wouldn't mind eating fairly regularly. Food is competent)[63]: Allegro (CBD) Alma (Geelong) A Minor Place (Brunswick) Bar Idda (East Brunswick) Bekendales (Croydon) Bellarine Estate (Bellarine) Bistro Guillaume (Southbank) Bistro Thierry (Toorak) Boire (Collingwood)[RIP] Brunswick Flour Mill (Bunswick)[RIP] Cafe Terroni (Yarraville) Carlton Wine Room (Carlton) Carsons (Yarraville)[RIP] Chapelli's (South Yarra) Cheeky Monkey (Richmond) Chez Bob (Armadale) Chez Olivier (South Yarra) Chris's Beacon Point Restaurant (Apollo Bay) Cicciolina (St Kilda) Collins Kitchen (CBD) Cornershop (Yarraville) Di Palma's (East Kew) D.O.C. Mozzarella Bar (Carlton) Donnini's (Carlton) Dragon Boat (CBD)[RIP] Emerge (Geelong) Empire Cafe Gallery (Brunswick)[RIP] En Izakaya (Balaclava)[RIP] Enoteca Vino Bar (Carlton North) Feast Of Merit (Richmond)[RIP] Fiorelli (Hawthorn East) France-Soir (South Yarra) Grossi Florentino: The Restaurant (CBD) Ides (Collingwood) Izakaya Chuji (CBD) Kinya (Docklands)[RIP] Kofi Beans (Croydon) Laurent Boulangerie Patisserie (Toorak) Lau's Family Kitchen (St Kilda)[RIP] Lindt Chocolat Cafe (CBD)[RIP] Little Creatures Dining Hall (Fitzroy)[RIP] Miss Marple's Tearoom (Sassafras) Monsieur Truffe (East Brunswick) Mr. Wolf (St Kilda) Orange (Windsor)[RIP] Pumphouse Hotel (Fitzroy) Punch Lane (CBD) Reunion Cafe And Dining (Surrey Hills) Sapa Hills (Footscray) Secret Kitchen (Doncaster) Shujinko (CBD) Thanh Phong (Richmond)[RIP] The Carlisle Wine Bar (Balaclava)[RIP] The Green Refectory (Brunswick) The Hardware Societe (CBD) The Kent Hotel (Carlton North) The Perch At Lavers Hill (Lavers Hill) Tim Ho Wan (CBD) Truffles Patisserie (Balaclava) Vines Restaurant at Helen's Hill (Coldstream) Wing Loong (CBD)[RIP] Zelena Cafe Bar & Restaurant (Croydon) Zen (Hawthorn)

4s (Melbourne eateries with great food. Food is a strength[32]): APTE Cafe (Alphington)[RIP] Attica (Ripponlea) Bamboo House (CBD) Biagio's (Niddrie) Brae (Birregurra) Chin Chin's at Koto Moon (Carlton North) Choi's (Hawthorn) Cumulus Inc. (CBD) El Mirage (Brunswick) Estivo (Kew)[RIP] Ezard (CBD)[RIP] Flower Drum (CBD) I Carusi (East Brunswick) Igni (Geelong)[RIP] Jack Rabbit (Bellarine) Junior Tan Hawker Kitchen (Bayswater) Ladro (Prahran)[RIP] Le Petit Bistro (Kooyong) Locale at De Bortoli (Dixons Creek) Mule (Brunswick)[RIP] Papa Goose (CBD)[RIP] Paris Go Bistro (Carlton) Pioneer Kitchen @ The Grovedale (Grovedale) +39 Pizzeria (CBD) Ribs & Burgers (Hawthorn) Riche (Richmond) SUD Food And Wine (CBD) Tao's (Bulleen)[RIP] The European (CBD) The Grand Dining Room (Richmond)[RIP] Vue de Monde (CBD) Wall Two 80 (Balaclava)

5's (The Best Melbourne Eateries. Food is very much a strength)[5]: La Fantaisie (Richmond)[RIP] LeTAO (CBD) L'uccellino (Yarraville) Rockpool...

love this place. have been going weekly since it opened last november (2011). there is not really anything on this menu that isn't great, although, the pork scratchings are not my thing and i have yet to try the roo burrito.

since opening, there has been a few changes to the menu. the pulled pork taco was replaced by the beef brisket version which has now changed to a goat taco. all three are delicious and the current goat one comes highly recommended. the original vego quesadilla was asparagus and queso fresco and still remains my favourite (please bring it back guys, even as a special). the mushroom quesadilla was good also and the current cactus version is tasty, too. a special mention goes out to the chicken ensalada. i don't really order salads as a main meal but this one leaves you feeling like you haven't missed out. it is also a great choice for the gluten intolerant who, for flour related reasons, can't order the chicken burrito.

they stock tromba (100% agave) tequila which is just delicious and if you can, try the paloma and margarita cocktails. my favourite, though, is the tromba reposado, served straight up in a wine glass. the blanco served in a shot glass with verdito chaser is pretty warming and delicious, too.

the staff (including the owners) are really fresh and efficient. the space is colourful and vibrant and although there is sometimes a little wait for a table, you can sit on the curb and sip a pacifico or head around the corner to either public bar or der raum. the guys will call your mobile when a table is free. or you could just stand there, mesmerised by the dough pro...

If you're looking for a night of frustration, disappointment, and complete disregard for basic hospitality, then by all means, make a reservation at Fonda Richmond. Otherwise, do yourself a favor and avoid this place like the plague.

From the moment we arrived, it was clear that organization and customer service are foreign concepts here. The service was painfully slow — we waited ages just to be acknowledged, and even longer for our food to arrive. When it finally did, the order was completely wrong. Not just a small mix-up — entire meals were incorrect, and somehow, no one on staff seemed remotely concerned.

Even more concerning were the numerous mistakes made with dietary requirements, which we had clearly communicated. Whether it was carelessness or incompetence, Fonda Richmond put members of our group at serious risk by ignoring specific dietary restrictions including life threatening allergies. That’s not just bad service — it’s dangerous.

And after all that? Not a single apology. No ownership of the mistakes, no attempt to make it right. Just defensiveness and indifference from staff who clearly couldn't care less.

Restaurants make mistakes — it's part of the business. But refusing to acknowledge them, especially when they compromise your guests’ health and experience, is inexcusable. Fonda Richmond has lost our business permanently, and I’ll be warning others to steer well clear.

Avoid...