MR L’S Bar & Restaurant | South Yarra — Restaurant in Melbourne

Disappointing Service.

Our recent experience at Mr. L was deeply frustrating, despite the truly amazing food, especially the fresh oysters. Unfortunately, the service was so consistently poor it overshadowed any culinary enjoyment.

Here's why our visit was so problematic: Unacceptable Seating Policy: Arriving early to an empty restaurant with a reservation, we were inexplicably told it was "fully booked" and only offered bar or outdoor seating by the manager. This was misleading; even when we left at 7:40 PM, the venue was 60% vacant with available tables. This poor management of space and customer comfort was unacceptable, and other diners nearby shared our annoyance. Especially when I heard the gentleman that made the decision was the business owner. I know there was no point making any comments on the spot.

Aggressively Rushed & Disorganized Service: Within 10 minutes of ordering at 6:05 PM, our entire meal, including mains and oysters, was served, overwhelming our tiny bar space.

We weren't even provided cutlery initially, and staff constantly asked where to put more dishes. Attempts to clear plates when we clearly still had five dishes in front of us further highlighted the rush.

Offensive Cleaning Practices: A waiter inexplicably sprayed strong, offensive ethanol directly in front of us while we were eating, ruining our appetite for dessert. A dessert spoon was then placed directly onto this freshly sprayed, chemical-laden surface.

Disregard for Customer Space: The manager even asked me to move my bag so another couple could sit uncomfortably close, despite the restaurant being largely empty.

The list could go on and on, as it was just the worst front house you can experience.

The sole bright spot was Jack, the bartender, who provided genuinely helpful and professional customer service—the only staff member who seemed to understand how to properly attend to guests.

Ultimately, Mr. L's excellent kitchen is severely let down by its front-of-house operations.

The food is fantastic, but the consistently poor and mismanaged service makes dining here an incredibly...

Mr. L’s Melbourne – A Brunch Lover’s Dream! ✨☕🍽

If you’re looking for the ultimate brunch experience in Melbourne, stop what you’re doing and head straight to Mr. L’s! Nestled in the heart of the city, this café is a true hidden gem that serves up not just delicious food, but an experience you’ll be talking about for weeks.

Let’s start with the star of the show—the Brunch Tower. 🏰✨ Imagine a beautifully plated, multi-layered feast featuring a delightful mix of sweet and savory treats. And at the very top? The most heavenly sorbet you’ll ever taste! 🍧 The moment I took a bite, I knew sharing wasn’t an option—I finished it all myself, and honestly, no regrets!

Beyond the tower, the crispy hash browns, paired with their signature sauces, were next level. Crunchy on the outside, fluffy on the inside, and bursting with flavor. Every single bite felt like a warm hug for my taste buds. 💛

The atmosphere at Mr. L’s is just as delightful as the food—warm, inviting, and perfect for catching up with friends or treating yourself to a solo brunch date. The staff are incredibly friendly, making you feel right at home from the moment you walk in.

If you love aesthetic brunches, incredible flavors, and a cozy café vibe, then trust me—you need to try Mr. L’s. It’s the kind of place that makes you want to stay a little longer, sip your coffee a little slower, and savor every bite. ☕✨

🌟 Rating: 10/10 📍 Location: Melbourne CBD 🥞 Must-try: The Brunch Tower & Hash Browns 💛 Vibes: Cozy, welcoming, and oh-so Instagrammable!

Tag someone who needs to take you here! 😉✨ #BrunchGoals #MelbourneEats...

We enjoyed an excellent dinner at Mr L's.

In addition to the 7 main course dishes to choose from, there were 14 small sharing to select from to start your meal. We chose the chargrilled king prawns, oysters, tacos and pan roasted scallops. The oysters were fresh and could be ordered with a selection of accompaniments, the tacos were filled with pork, mango and cured egg yolk, the prawns were served with a butter and lemon sauce and the scallops came with small pieces of apple on top. All were delicious and each dish looked good in addition to tasting great.

For main course we shared the paella which was served with mussels and prawns on top of the rice. The rice was very flavoursome and appeared to have been cooked in a prawn broth.

There is a choice of 3 desserts to choose from. We chose the popcorn pannacotta and the apple and fig sponge. We enjoyed both and we thought the burnt cinnamon and cognac cream was an excellent accompaniment to the apple and fig sponge. Our only suggestion was to have more of the cream.

The staff were attentive and the decor was appropriate for a fine dining establishment.

Between 5-7pm there is a Happy Hour where you can order an aperol spritz for $12, house wine for $11 and the cocktail of the day for $15. On the night we went, the cocktail of the day was a margarita.

I highly recommend Mr L's if you are looking for a great fine dining experience and if you have an early dinner you also have the bonus of the happy hour drinks.

I'm looking forward to returning to try some of the...