The Main Cafe Bar & Restaurant — Restaurant in Melbourne

I have been to The Main on numerous occasions and have been happy with the food but service is always a little lacking. Needing to follow up on where your drinks are. They usually never ask you again if you would like any drinks. Seems to be a pattern which is strange for a restaurant.

Tonight took the cake.

The female manager took our order and then forgot to put in in the system (or there was a computer glitch). Things happen from time to time, i get it. After an hour we did ask how long my wine may be. There seemed to be some confusion and that's when we realised they hadn't put our order in. Not only our order, but half the restaurants. Half the restaurant had food and half didn't! I'm not sure how staff don't recognise that half of their patrons aren't eating OR drinking.

After realising and there being some back and forward between staff and the managers they came to our table trying to work out what was going on. 15 minutes after enquiring about my wine, it came. You would think after leaving us waiting so long a single glass of wine may be to to the front of the queue. Again, no. I spoke with the manager and explained an apology, acknowledgment for the mix up would have gone a long way. Accepting they had dropped the ball tonight and showing some empathy for the situation is a way to at least attempt to handle the situation. What i got was blaming bar staff (which had nothing to do with the food debacle). Another 25 minutes before our order came. We didn't get the herb and cheese bread we ordered (that was supposed to come 1st) and asked how long it would be before it came. She asked if we still even wanted it. I get that it was a frustrating night, as customers we absolutely felt that. It was uncomfortable. I received a wine complimentary near the end of my meal which i couldn't drink and left sitting on the table untouched. They did make me pay for my glass of wine in the end. Totally frustrating. Most likely...

absolutely disgraceful the food not it and never will be it. patience does not exist with these servers apparently, my party of 5 had been sitting down for no more than 2 minutes (120 seconds) before quickly having to put our orders in revealing how understaffed and over seated this establishment was tonight. First the PIZZA (see in attached image below to see what i mean) this pizza was no where near the expected standard from a restaurant that has a wood fire pizza oven, we stoped the waiter to ask if the pizza bases were homemade and they lied directly to our innocent faces. which was not needed. Next thing that absolutely ticked me off was the CHICKEN PARMA. at first it looked promising but BAM the second it was cut into dry, flavourless , stringing and HAIR !?. No complements to the chef for the steak sandwich i asked for medium rare and got WELL over done which came on a lousy thin slice of lifeless bread. ( i must admit on the menu it did say” open steak sandwich”. but a definition of sandwich has two slices of bread NOT ONE cold piece of bread drowned in sauce) trying to cut my tough steak, took longer than the sever asking for our orders. As i entered the bathroom… i was not amazed by the look of this ratchet bathroom( also seen in the images below ) my heart skipped a beat the first time i saw this disgraceful of a “bathroom” that was so called cleaned earlier that evening. PS my daughter had asked the sever ( possible manger i would say) for some tomato sauce he proceeded to then yell at a younger and newer seeming waitress to get the sauce ( not a nice environment to be in) . PSPS this time is not this restaurants first chance they have many from our family (none good) but we decided to try again tonight, sad to say...

I cannot rate the Main, attended with a party of 4 for lunch at 1230pm on December 27th. We will definitely not be returning. After sitting at our table for 20 mins we were offered a drink and water. We then ordered with no explanation of any delays. We watched tables nearby waiting no food or drink. At times we tried to get attention for more drinks but to no avail. We saw a party of 2 who were seated after us receive their meal. We again asked and were told the meals are on their way. This was about 45 mins after ordering. Almost 1 hour and a table also near us were bring served. O this occasion an older male waiter told us our meals were coming. Still offer for drinks or more water. Finally almost 75 mins after ordering the meals arrived. One order was for a vegetarian meal and arrived with chicken. After explaining was told they could remake but would take a while, no time but after waiting 75 mins it was easier to remove the chicken ourselves. Two issues as a paying customer when there us adekay or it is busy the decent thing to do is inform the customer you are busy and there is delay, give an idea if time and keep the customer happy by offering more drinks helps business make money, but never say your meal is on its way after the customer gas waited 45 mins and then not arrive for another 30 mins. When paying mentioned to staff, no apology or acknowledgement. It is a disgrace to avoid customers because you are busy be honest explain the situation and enable customers to understand or at least when ordering be able to make a decision on time for themselves. We will not be returning and I strongly recommend that you enquire on wait times before ordering. Good luck and attend...