The Mitre Tavern — Restaurant in Melbourne

The Mitre Tavern, tucked away in Melbourne's bustling city center, is like stepping back in time to a classic Aussie pub with a twist. It's not just any old bar; it's a spot with history, charm, and a laid-back atmosphere that makes it a solid choice for anyone looking to unwind, have a pint, and maybe catch a bit of sports action.

First off, the place oozes character. It's one of those rare finds in the city that feels genuinely welcoming, with its old-world decor and cozy nooks. The Mitre Tavern isn't trying to be sleek or modern; it's all about keeping that traditional pub vibe alive, and it does it well.

When it comes to watching the game, they've got you covered, but in a more understated way than your typical sports bar. There are screens available, so you can definitely catch major events, but it's not the all-encompassing focus. This makes it a great option for mixed groups where not everyone is there just for the sport.

The food at The Mitre Tavern is exactly what you'd hope for in a pub setting – hearty, comforting, and straight-up good. You'll find all your favorites here, from burgers and steaks to fish and chips, all prepared with that no-nonsense quality that makes pub food so satisfying. It's the kind of menu that pairs perfectly with a cold drink and good company.

Speaking of drinks, The Mitre has a decent selection of beers on tap, along with wines and spirits to suit most tastes. Whether you're into ales, lagers, or something non-alcoholic, they've got enough variety to keep everyone happy. The bar staff know their stuff and are more than happy to recommend a drink if you're looking to try something new.

The vibe here is friendly and relaxed, with a mix of locals, office workers, and the odd tourist, all adding to the tavern's inclusive feel. The staff are approachable and contribute to the overall welcoming atmosphere, ensuring that your glass is never empty for long.

In summary, The Mitre Tavern is a great shout for anyone after a casual spot with a bit of character to grab a drink, have a meal, and maybe watch some sports. It's not about high-end dining or craft cocktail menus; it's about good, simple pleasures – a place where you can chill out and feel...

We called to make a booking for 8:45pm, and were informed that the kitchen closed at 9, so we would have to order prior to 9.

We arrived at 8:45 and proceed to try and order via the table QR code. When this didn’t work I went to the bar and the waitress said to order at the bar and again confirmed the kitchen closed at 9.

We then were given 4 menus and I ordered and paid for 4 drinks whilst the table decided what we wanted.

We went to place the order and the waiter entered the whole order. This was before 9pm.

As he was about to place the order a different waitress (claiming to be the most senior staff member) came and said to him the kitchen was closed, he checked the time and pointed out it was before 9pm. After a bit of back and fourth she went to check if they were still open.

She came back and said they couldn’t do any food except parmas and salt and pepper squid as they had finished closing up and had fully cleaned everything.

We were told that this is the way it was and that there was nothing that could be done. Her ‘apology’ was a lengthy explanation that they had a ‘busy’ week, that the kitchen had been doing 15hr shifts, that all staff had been there less than a week in the job (except her) and that she was still training them all (herself).

She swapped from ‘orders must be in before 9’ to telling me the kitchen actually closes around 8:30-8:45 and that the advice was wrong from the prior 3 people I’d spoken too.

She didn’t seem to care that we now had to find a new place to eat at 9pm, or that we had purchased drinks already… just consistently pushing how hard they had it.

Not a great experience for the first time coming back to the tavern since before covid where this used to be a regular dinner spot with staff who cared about their customers instead of how hard they have it.

This could all have been avoided if we had been told they closed earlier when booking, or if the waitress said the kitchen had closed prior to selling us drinks and...

Porterhouse Set (AUD $36.90) @ The Mitre Tavern. . Stopped by The Mitre Tavern for a quick dinner. An Austalian institution since 1868, the shingled pre-Victorian cottage houses a well-worn pub (and is the oldest standing structure in Melbourne). . The Mitre Tavern has seen many a business deal discussed over its worn wooden tables, and the financial and legal suits still frequent the place on week nights. . Ambience at The Mitre Tavern harkens back to the good ole days before the early stock market crash, with warm lighting and tightly packed wooden benches and tables arrayed around a bustling bar counter and entrance. . Service is just as friendly and affable, staff demonstrate good product knowledge on the menu, and cheerfully serve orders. The bartender is busily engaged with customers all night. . Food at The Mitre Tavern is classic British English and Australian cuisine, they're originally known as being a premier steakhouse, but have since expanded to offer well-executed pub grub and other comfort dishes. . I was hangry for a solid beef steak, and The Mitre Tavern surpassed expectations. This meal is served with a fresh Garden Salad, including crisp leaves of baby spinach, arugula, lettuce, chard, and mizuna, all with vegetal sweet bitter herbal flavour, alongside juicy fresh tomato with vegetal sweet notes. A refreshing garden salad. . The Steak-Cut Potato Chips are large, crisp outside and fluffy inside, with satisfying starchy salty savoury flavour. Loved their steak-cut potato chips, nicely filling. . The star is the Beef Steak 200g Porterhouse Cut. This porterhouse cut of grain-fed beef steak is thick, grilled to a perfect medium rare doneness, with a slight crisp char on the exterior, and tender juicy beef meat interior. Carries bold smoky meaty savoury salty flavour. . Served with a Traditional Brown Meat Gravy to complete, the thick gravy lending robust meaty salty savoury notes that enhance the dish. Excellent with or...