Molli — Restaurant in Melbourne

I've been here about 4 times and i must say, the first 2 times was the best. Our recent experience wasn't what we had hoped for and so was the one before it, but I decided to give it another crack.

It took 15 minutes to be served, despite our menus were still on the table to signify that we were ready. Our table was positioned right at the waiters foot traffic, too. A few waiters had walked past us without acknowledgement so I had given a little wave to this gentleman server. We ordered cocktails, 1 entree and 2 sides. The cocktails came out quick and they were delicious, but the mains took literally a whole hour to arrive. The last time i waited this long was at Rococco in St. Kilda 10 years ago. The food is on the pricey side and the portion is minimal, and what we ordered was quite disappointing. I just don't think that it was worth it with the slow service, however, i'd like to give a special thank you to the lady with the red hair who was serving us who's great customer service was worth mentioning. She knew what she was doing! The ambience was nice and i favour the hip hop and r&b that gets played softly in the background, but boy was it hard to hear my friend speak because all you could hear were other patrons. I wanted to support local and i am a lady of leisure, but I can't justify an hr wait for my food that tasted anti-climatic, especially if it's pricey, with the slow service (not including red hair lady), and portion.

Anyway, I hope that it'll be...

A couple of weeks ago, I finally made it to Molli after spotting a post about their Tuesday Locals Night. It had been sitting on my list for a while, and seeing that delicious pasta pop up on my feed was all the convincing I needed. I jumped on their website and made a booking straight away.

Tucked away on a quiet street in Abbotsford, Molli is surprisingly spacious with a warm, stylish interior. The moody lighting sets the perfect atmosphere, and I couldn’t help but notice the adorable grape lamps perched near the bar — such a fun touch. The staff were friendly and welcoming, and we settled in with a couple of rose lemonade kombuchas, which were just as refreshing as they looked.

That night’s Tuesday special was a creamy Cacio e Pepe topped with saucy charcuterie, served alongside a fried potato garlic bread — and it was divine. I’ve been making an effort to explore midweek dining deals this year, and honestly, this one is a standout. The balance of flavours was incredible — the sweet richness of the charcuterie against the savoury bite of the pasta was unlike anything I’ve had before.

What made the experience even better was the vibe. Despite being quite full, the space still felt calm and intimate — perfect for conversation. The crowd was surprisingly diverse too: young groups, families, business catch-ups — all enjoying the space in their own way. There’s something special about that kind of atmosphere.

Safe to say, I’ll be back to try the à la...

I dined at Molli in Abbotsford on Tuesday for their locals Steak night. It was pumping, I am glad I had a booking.

Service was warm and friendly. The staff make you feel welcome and have attention to detail while making the space feel casual, and comfortable.

Drinks were exceptional. I enjoyed the No1 Hit cocktail which was a fresh take on a tall aperitif with soda. Delicious and a thoughtful match for food. I ate the Steak Frites, Hot Honey Butter Roll from the Tuesday menu, and the Black Garlic Potatoes from their usual evening menu.

Food was delicious and came out in a timely manner. The steak came with an assortment of condiments, my absolute favourite was the house HP sauce, amazing. Black Garlic potatoes were insane - I could eat a whole bowl to myself. I had a fantastic time, the staff on Tuesday were unreal, not just on the floor but even in the kitchen.

Thank you Molli, I'll be back for steak night and am excited by any other menus you put out...