The Waiters Restaurant — Restaurant in Melbourne

I recently booked a birthday dinner at The Waiters Restaurant for my partner and myself for our birthday dinner and unfortunately, it turned out to be a highly disappointing experience. Despite our efforts to inform them that we were running 5-10 minutes late, we were met with utter disregard.

Despite calling 31 times , not once did anyone bother to pick up the phone. Upon our arrival, 10 minutes past our reservation time, we were greeted with hostility by a rude waitress who callously informed us that our table had been given away, “ you’re late and we gave your table away” the waitress explained that if we wanted to come back, we should try at 8:30pm, even though we had reservation. Despite explaining our attempts to notify them of our delay, we were met with nothing but indifference.

The lack of apology for their oversight and the blatant disregard for customer service left a sour taste in our mouths. It was evident that they prioritised strict adherence to booking times over accommodating their guests, even when circumstances were communicated in advance.

To add insult to injury, while there was one group of three waiting to be seated, there were no other patrons in line, highlighting the poor management and unwelcoming atmosphere of the...

You might think that a restaurant called Waiters would have exceptional service. In fact, this was the first restaurant I have ever walked out of in my 56 years.

I arrived at 12 for my lunch booking and was served at about 12:10. Before saying anything else, the waiter, who I think was the owner, stated that I needed to order quickly as my booking finished at 1 o’clock. I responded that I had booked the day before and had not been told there was a limited seating time. Rather than apologise or try to find a solution, he told me that I was incorrect, and that I would have been told that I had to be out by one. I politely insisted that I had not been told that I was to be out by one, and stated that if I had of been informed it was an hour booking I would not of booked as we were expecting to have a long conversation over a long lunch. Again, he told me I was incorrect, and walked away. As he left he said “if you decide to stay, the special board is over there”.

My lunch guest, who I had never met before, and I looked at each other, laughed and left. And luckily found a very nice Italian restaurant around the corner where we had a terrific meal with...

A Melbourne classic that just gets it right

I had dinner at The Waiters Restaurant (Italian Waiters Club) last night with some friends visiting from Sydney and it didn’t disappoint. This place is all about simple, traditional Italian food done really well.

We shared a couple of pasta and veal dishes, all full of flavour and cooked to perfection. The menu is still written on a chalkboard, and there are no prices listed, but the value is excellent.

I was first introduced to the Waiters Club in the late 90s when it felt like a true hidden gem. Back then there was no signage, just a nondescript stairwell off a laneway leading to a dining room that looked more like a school hall. The wine was red or white, the beer was VB, and Nonna was cooking in the back.

While the setup hasn’t changed much, the drinks selection has quietly expanded over the years. There’s still no printed wine list, but you’ll find a better range now, and a few more beer options too.

The charm is in its consistency. The food is always great, the service is warm, and the atmosphere is refreshingly unpretentious. I’ve been coming here for over 25 years and I’ll keep...