Universal Restaurant reviews . (Restaurant) in Melbourne (Victoria).

Universal Restaurant

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364 Comments

Restaurant

Restaurant

141 Lygon St, Carlton VIC 3053, Australia

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Comments of Universal Restaurant

T. T.

One of the best place to go to. Weekend queue is hectic and so is it during the weekdays too. Went for my partner’s birthday dinner. Service was nice and friendly. We had the ultimate meat platter and carbonara pasta. Serving was massive and even the entree for pasta was huge. I had the Mango smoothie for drink which was amazing and my partner went for blood orange, which was not too bad. Make sure you go empty stomach or else you will be missing out. Can’t wait to go back and try rest of the dishes

C. S.

At first we were shockrd by the position size and quality! Both are excellent so make sure you go there hungry. The chicken parmigiana was perfect. Staff was very helpful, friendly and professional. The they look like college students but are always on top of everything.

G. T.

Have heard about Universal Restaurant with its famous long queues from food-lover friends. Never had the chance to visit though. When we met up with friends visiting from Singapore on Christmas eve, we were pleasantly surprised to see the restaurant half empty at 12.30pm. We had a quiet corner all to ourselves. Marcus, our server, kept checking on us to make sure everything was fine. The food and drinks (we ordered the chicken parmigiana of course, marinara pasta in red sauce, chicken and mushroom pasta and the girls went crazy ordering milkshakes with flavours ranging from tiramisu to the house special butterscotch) were lovely, and we were pleasantly surprised by the bill. Quality, big servings with warm service to boot. Probably shouldn't review to add to the usual long queues, but these guys deserve a shout-out for what they do!

K. D.

Been here for several times, the food never disappointed me. The portion of chicken schnitzel will surpise you by its gigantic but also cheap and delicious. They also have good pastas and pizzas. Staffs were friendly and attentive. We always have great experiences dining here. Highly recommended !

k. s.

Came here after a friend recommended this place and been a regular ever since then! The chicken schnitzel and chicken parma here beyond amazing!!! Such enormous portions for only $14 is an absolute steal. The pizza and milkshakes were amazing too but I always come back for the chicken parma. Come during off peak hours to avoid having to compete for tables with the nearby Uni students,myself included😂

A. J.

I love love loveee universal! I lost count of how many times i ate here 😂 My favorite is of course the Universal Chicken Schnitzel with extra cheese! Loved the mushroom sauce & the wedges that comes with it! Always a good time at universal, the only downside is the crazy queue if you come at peak hours. Definitely a great place to dine with friends and family!

V. S.

No one can resist that this restaurant is one the best Italian restaurant in Melbourne. Chicken parmigiana is the most famous and cheapest one which was fabulous. We’ve tried the share plate with one the delicious pasta and absolutely happy with it. You just need add 20 minutes extra time to wait for a seat. Thank you 😊

J. P.

I've been here several times over the years and this place always impresses me. The pasta is high quality, the tortellini is a MUST try! The parmis are also ridiculously huge, the value for money is really good considering how much you get. The staff that I've seen are always friendly and welcoming too which is nice. It can be hard to find good customer service these days. Oh and their mushroom sauce is particularly good

G. M.

Great experience while I had dinner here. The price is affordable but the taste is very amazing! I love this restaurant! Usually very busy and have to queue. Absolutely will come back again if I visit Melbourne.

S. D. M.

While Universal restaurant is famous for its giant sized schnitzel, it does serve up pretty decent pizzas and pasta as well. Everything is always fresh and delicious. It gets very busy here so be prepared to wait. But as they say, the wait is worth the while!

T.

Absolutely loved this place...we had already made plans to eat here today and nearly changed the plans due to the weather but am so glad that we stuck to our guns...staff were very polite smiley and accommodating and the venue was very cosy especially as we had a family of 6...the food both portions and quality was awesome and we will definitely be coming back here again...was so good to see as we walked out the queue and we understand fully why people would be waiting as its defintely worth it....see you again soon and thanks again for a wonderful experience 👍😁💯

H.

Can’t go wrong with a huge $14 Parma/schnitzel from here! Last time I dined here I ordered the chicken stracciatella soup as well, unfortunately I wouldn’t order it again as it really lacked flavour - was closer to warm water with kale and chicken in it. Guess I’ll stick to the usual next time!

I. S.

Did not disappoint , AMAZING food and customer service was on point. Fair price, great location and vibe was great also. Can dine or street dine option available also . Highly recommend 👌🏼

K. T.

This place is well known for their famous chicken parmas, the price is great for anyone who doesn't want to spend too much, and the wait is decent. There is a large range of gluten free selections, which is great for coeliacs/gluten intolerance. Since portions are also very large (plus!!!) take out boxes are an option for anyone who cannot finish their meals. Highly recommend this place if you're up to feast and fulfil your hunger. In the picture below is an image of the gluten free Margherita pizza.

A. D.

Very well known restaurant in Lygon St. Love the parma great portion sizes worth every money and really nice staff. Will definitely be coming back but early since there's always a queue

P. W.

I recommend getting the chicken parma. It was crispy and juicy. The cheese and tomato blended quite well with each other. The fries were a bit sad. Eating them with ketchup helped. Universal’s always has people lining up front. I don’t feel like the dishes were worth to line up for, though. It would probably best to just get takeaway. The fettuccine carbonara was alright. It uses heavy cream and bacon. I think if you’re a fan of a cream based carbonara you’d like this.

L. P.

Universal Restaurant is still popping! Good food, fast service and priced result well. Keeping Lygon alive! Get the $14 parma and you'll be set for life.

H. A.

Best food ever. Worth the long wait. Good value food. Prices are affordable too.

F.

Great value, fantastic quality, amazing portion and always worth the wait to get a seat. I ordered chicken schnitzel (mushroom sauce), crunchy DR peanuts butter & Nutella and universal special pizza. Milkshake was thick and you could taste the peanut bits and Nutella. It reminded me of Reese’s.

A. H.

I love the Food 🥘 specially the vibes you get !! Pretty staff

R. G.

Massive portions and a little too much cheese for my taste ;). Came here for a quick dinner and were really surprised when we saw the sizes of the meals. Will be coming back for sure to try a pizza and pasta dishes next time. Had the biggest parma and risotto I've ever seen/had in my life and couldn't finish it. They also offered interesting cocktails and delicious looking shakes! Take away options available. Staff was somewhat attentive and kind.

f. p.

Highly recommend restaurant, me and my friend waited around half a hour, but it was 100% worth it! Their Chicken Parma was outstanding and I was extremely impressed!

N. J.

Local favourite especially among students and families and it’s easy to see why. Portions are huge and food is very tasty and well cooked - their famous $14 parma is absolutely worth trying! With an expansive menu of pizzas, pastas and mains there will be something for everyone.

J. P.

Ordered their chicken schnitzel and chips and a green apple Lemonade. The chicken schnitzel wasn't bad, too big for me to finish alone. Initial mouthful tasted nice, but then it tasted abit plain even with the mushroom sauce it came with. Chips tasted nice also.

V. G.

Lovely ambience, huge space, and delicious Italian food. 16 April, 2021 : We ordered 2 pastas (sea food marinara and some creamy white one with bacon in it) + a chicken caesar salad. I would rate as Salad is good - 4/5 Pasta's good - 4/5 Portions - 5/5 Staff are all youngies & some are super enthusiastic - 5/5 Ambience - 4/5 Space & seating - 5/5 (we sat inside) Overall it's a great experience. Will visit again.

m. j.

Everything was awesome. Good value, tasty food, friendly staff. Pesto chicken pasta, carbonara, calamari...

R. D.

Incredible food and amazing service. Their pizzas are the best in Carlton, the vegan quinoa and sweet potato salad unbelievably delicious and the broccoli with almonds just divine. The weak point - their gnocchi.

R. F.

Excellent food. Very generous portion sizes at very reasonable prices. Great service. We will definitely be visiting again next time we're in Melbourne.

T. F.

Hands down my favourite Italian restaurant for its big servings, great staff and ambience! However, for this particular visit, the line was extremely long and had to wait 40 min despite there being empty tables for patrons and customers. Additionally, the schnitzel I received was a lot smaller in size than always and compared to everyone else's 😭 couldn't complain at the time because of how hungry I was. Will still be back next time thought and will be hoping for better luck then.

U.

Very big portions and also tasty food. Can't fault what comes out of the kitchen and the on street dining was great. Only small let down were the wait staff who got an order wrong and basically forgot about our drink. Very small criticism but will be back!

K.

We had dinner here last night and it was fantastic! There was quite a line up when we arrived but we were seated in less than 15 mins. The staff were all so friendly, happy and accommodating. The food came quick and was delicious. The serving sizes are huge. We thoroughly enjoyed ourselves and will return when we visit Melbourne again.

L. M.

Delicious food Very big chicken 🐔 parmigiana $14 Fantastic price

M. S.

Today I tried this restaurant for the first time, but unfortunately I Had to opt for takeaway due to pax capacity. Must reach this place earlier to get dine in experience. I tried their Chicken Parmigiana, it was delicious and worth the money spent. Looking forward to experience dine in soon.

J. K.

My experience of dining in Universal was great. The gnocchi was tasty and truly a good lunch. I had to stand in a line for 20 minutes for a table but it was worthy of the wait.

T. N.

A Lygon institution - amazing value for money We finally got around to eating at the Universal on Lygon St. We arrived around 5.30 and the place was already starting to fill up. Luckily we were seated almost immediately and my son was given something to colour in. This is the first time I've seen that level of service in a restaurant on Lygon Street so shout out to the Universal for doing this. We ordered the Chicken Parma and seafood Marinara pasta in algio olio sauce. The chicken parma is the star at $14 and a portion big enough to feed 2. I shared it with my son and we only just managed to finish it. The salad was swapped out for coleslaw. The coleslaw itself was ok but the chicken parma made up for it. Ot was perfectly done with the right amout of crispiness, sauce, parma ham and cheese. The chips were also very well done. The marinara pasta was ok. My wife thought it needed more salt but I thought it was fine. Between the two and a half of us, we were not able to finish everything. The service was ok. I have nothing special to call out about it but it wasn't terrible either. Overall, the Universal represents amazing value for money considering how big the portions are.

I. T.

If you love Italian food then this is the place for you! Friendly staff, food and beverage tastes really good!!! Plus the serving is ginormous! Easy to find and near the city. What are you waiting for?

S. L. (.

Best mushroom sauce I've ever had in my life, definitely order the schnitzel if you're ever here, super crispy, super juicy and very well priced. Well worth sharing between two people with a side. Always love getting the chicken schnitzel here, will be back!!

l. l.

was a great place a few friends and I frequented due to its location being so close to everything, the food was heaps cheaper, albeit just as tasty as other cafes along the street. however, we suspect recent changes have been made as the pastas tasted different during our last few visits. would still be back, just slightly disappointed.

a. n.

Such a steal deal on their Chickens parma.. generous portion and delicious. Also love their mushroom sauce with chicken schnitzel 👌👌.

V. S.

This place is fantastic. People had told me it was good so I went in with high expectations and they were definitely met. The service was very good, considering how busy it was. All staff were friendly and attentive, and the food didn't take long. The only thing I didn't like was the presence of a few pigeons in the outdoor area. They were making a ruckus and it was a bit stressful. I will try to avoid the outdoor area when I come back.

S. R.

Love the down to earth atmosphere of this restaurant. Very good prices and very friendly staff. Frequented by the university crowd so it must be great value for money. It is famous for the Chicken Parma and the Chicken Schnitzel.

C. M.

One of the tastier parmas in Melbourne. Huge serving and worth the price. It's a very busy place. Worth making a table booking ahead. Was turned back in the past due to non booking

S. P.

Best chicken parmigiana in the area. Great portions size. The place is always crowded. So better to arrive early to avoid long queues.

P. H.

Massive portions for a great price. Staff always lovely! Great for uni students looking for a cheap but filling meal

R. W.

Always come here when I don't really know what I want to eat. Always love their Chicken Schnitzel with Cheese, it's always beautiful with their delicious chips as well as their tasty mushroom sauce. Very pocket friendly, considering how big their portion of food is. I also love their chicken creamy pasta (to be honest i forgot the name of the pasta, but you'll find it in their menu). Love this place. Tips: Come early if you want to eat here during peak eating time, especially in the weekends, or you'll have 20 people queuing and you'll be HANGRY. Anyways, such a good restaurant and highly recommended!

a. p.

the chicken pharma was huge and the prices are affordable, for pizza and pasta there are better options around the area. The staff was friendly attentive.

S. V.

Great food, generous servings! Lovely staff

A.

Universal is probably the best value for money meal you can have in Melbourne. It's massive in size. You can't complain any further for its price.

P. V.

Great service, great value for money Parmas! And online QR code ordering as well as hard copy menus. Be aware of lining up for dinner time too due to numbers and space requirements but fairly quick. Just ensure you're ready with your Vax cert. Attentive staff. Thank you!

k. z.

Food 5 stars, staff 1 star Honestly the food was really good, the Parma is not as good as it used to be (outside soggy) Staff were just very inattentive and not well trained, staff constantly brought food to wrong table or walked past you with your food and then walk back, was given a pepper mill that was empty, when the meal was finished, staff would constantly walk past and not clear plates (as we waited for our dessert). Very hard to get staffs attention also. BUT the food was excellent, got the Angus steak pizza, it was very tender. Would highly recommend the apple pie milkshake!

시.

This place was amazing😍😍 I tried their famous chicken parmigiana🐓 and it was humongous!!! 👀🤣🎉🙆🏻‍♂️ And you definitely need to try their chicken soup for the entree course menu🥘 it’s the best choice if you need something to relieve a hangover🤡👍👍👍 And they have pretty large size outdoor dining area too~ I’ll definitely visit here again😂 가격은 생각보다 비싼데 양이 엄청 많아요!~ 치킨 파마 드셔보세요!~

H. M.

Had the chicken parma, it was huge and delicious. Enough for two average eaters. penne carbonara, was nice too. A jug of coke, $12. And a small hawaiian pizza, which I recommend, pineapple is made to be on pizza 🍕. ((Will update the food photos once my friend sends them through ;-;)) Service was relatively fast, and defs friendly and polite.

A. P.

Had a renowned $14 chicken parma. Parma was good, slightly over oily batter on it. Coleslaw and chips were good. The parma does not come with ham (extra $4) and the chips do not come with any sauce to dip (also an extra $4) So in the end the parma cost $22

D. T.

The food was good but not spectacular (I found the mushroom sauce to be a bit burnt although my chicken schnitzel was crispy and tasty). The portion sizes are humongous and very generous which is its best selling point and its claim to fame. The place is clean and nice. Nice place to visit if you're in the area.

D. 7.

Generous portions. The Chicken Parma and Chicken Schnitzel are a must try and definitely worth the price. The Milkshakes are a highlight as well! Typically, an Entrée option would be sufficient for a meal, and the Main option would be best shared in my opinion.

H. Z.

The dishes are in generous amount which not only saved me from hunger but also made me overleaped my dinner. The seafood spaghetti is delicious with enough fresh protein. The modern Tiramisu is a bit too sweet for me but does taste good. Suitable for a relaxing meal.

P. B.

I came this afternoon with my friend, food was great and on top of that it was POLLY whos customer service was awesome, really appreciate the way she took care of our table also how polite she was through out. 5 stars to her

M. K.

Excellent service and helpful staff. The food is good, but the individual portion easily feeds two. I wish if they can offer a smaller version. The takeaway container is one solution, but some customers don't do it.

J.

A bit pricey but good food

k.

Pre lockdown salute 🍷🍷! Living in a Kanton where almost Italian restaurants are located thn yuh’ll definitely gonna be like “ Cosa desidera? “ Universal restaurant is one of tht category where huge dinning capacity include outside tables are available. just dinning next to street where yuh’ll gonna relish “ il vino & la pasta “ an awesome feeling. Pasta was damn good Serving staff being so honest and humble😘 But Pizza was an average, 1 star down for tht. PS : Need to focus on hygiene in kitchen & WC .! must

B. T.

Had nice lunch date here with the misso, very good portion sizes and friendly staff. Food was a little bland but did go during peak time.

J.

For pastas, oil and cream bases were good, and for chicken schnitzel, both tomato cheese and mushroom sauce are super great. You can get better pizzas at same price somewhere. Although the queue is always long, it’s worth the wait and since the restaurant is big, it flows really fast! Keep it in mind that it can get very noisy when there are big groups next to your table.

A. M.

ordered a pizza, cheese was chewy. but it was too round so alright i guess. service was good, friendly waiters. my friends ordered schnitzel which were good and cheap hughly recommend them. not many good vegetarian options. only thing worth it on the menu is the parma, $14 for the biggest parma or schnitzel you've ever seen is a great deal. annoying chicken isn't vegetarian.

P. P.

We came for our Christmas party and had a really great time. The food and service was brilliant and all of our staff thoroughly enjoyed their time. Everything was organised well and the process was smooth. Thanks Universal!

a.

Delicious and reasonable price. Parma is a must!

장.

I got a lunch in Universal restaurant. You can sit outside on fine days, but there are many birds, and roads are under construction these days. Chicken Snitzel is good, but drink’s not good.. Cream blocked my throat. 😓 and here have lunch special menu. More cheaper 👍 And I don't know what's more delicious than that. You can try Chicken Snitzel.

A. G.

Really lovely however the cream sauce whilst great could have been better balanced and not so over powering for the Marinara. Lychee fizz mocktail was fantastic!

S. M.

Had pasta, it was good, liked the ambience and customer service too. But Tiramisu was a modified version of choc mousse

N. K.

Delicious 😋 food. Fantastic service 😊👍

T.

$14 parma with chips and salad. I thought I'd read the price wrong, or I was reading the kids menu or the quality would be compromised. Surprisingly, half a cow came out and it was delicious! Cheap and cheerful parma, will certainly be back. Easily would have paid $30 for this at a pub

J. T.

Arrived here on a weeknight, it was always busy as usual however we got seated quite quickly being a group of two. The lady who served us was friendly and chatty and took our order quickly. Didn't rate the crumbed meat balls for the chicken soup was nice. Not what I had expected. We also had the chicken salad. Serving sizes are generous. Good place to go with a group.

s. s.

Nice place with good food and generous portion sizes. The staff was a bit annoying when they were pretty strict with the instructions of 'wait outside the entrance and under the restaurant signboard,before we allocate you a table". But the quick service made up for it. I haven't te other Italian eateries which are lined up along the same street to get a fair comparison, but the food will not disappoint.

D. S. S.

I really love the restaurant. The restaurant is quite popular and that's for busy. It has nice interior with huge sitting facility. Also it had outdoor sitting. I ordered 2 type white pastas and a pizza. All food were delicious and tasty. Their serving amount is good enough and price is moderate. It was my first time as one of my friend suggested me to go there. And I wish to taste their others food too. Wish they could open a branch at Adelaide, South Australia.

A. K.

Great Italian food with reasonable price. Especially enjoy Chicken with parmesan cheese. People will start queuing up after 7pm. Friendly staff and nice environment. There are also many nice Italian restaurants nearby but this one is definitely worth going.

N. C.

Huge portions, fairly standard menu for Italian. Chicken Parma comes with optional ham/ Bolognese sauce, at a cost! It's cheap, otherwise (around $15), but odd that you have to order ham on it. Always popular - long queues while you wait. The website says you can't book a table. We split the bill, which is good. Pretty fast service.

C.

the parma is so big, big enough for two adults to share and both be full! It is so worth the price, hence the 5 stars, you barely get your moneys worth nowadays at restaurants. Service has always been nice and friendly. There was a time I went where I had to wait 30 mins+ for the parma because the waitress forgot to put it through and they apologised and said it was on the house. Now that's service. I have came back since then. I highly recommend the mushroom sauce! Everyone I have been with says it is amazing, I definitely prefer the parma with mushroom sauce over the cheese one shown in the photo. However both are good with generous portions. The last time I went there was slightly undercooked chicken breast, however I understand this can happen sometimes.

E. C.

This place has a reputation And it lives up to it Their 14 dollar schnittys are the size of your head and will have you sitting back in your chair by the end of the meal in defeat. Complement it with some of their thick creamy milk shakes and a generous serving of their mushroom sauce :) Line is a bit long but well worth the wait

A. E.

Food was good, big portions. Prices were great. Food came out fast, and very fresh. Note: Restaurant was very noisy and loud (in case you don’t like loud places)

c.

The portion size is Crazyyyyyyyyy but I wouldn't say that the food is quality. Felt sick after eating the parma and pizza.

A. Z.

Good value chicken steak. Only 14 dollars and you get a large one with fries. Seafood are fresh and tasty.

A. A. D.

Staff were really friendly, I ordered something called Tucsan chicken, it comes with a risotto and grilled chicken. However, the plate was really really full of oil that you actually eating with regret. Overall, I don’t think I’ll come again.

r. m.

Great place to eat ! The food is always consistent and the place is always busy which is a great sign. Universal is best known for the chicken Parma ! Be sure to make a reservation if you are coming in a big group as it can get very busy. Most nights there will be a line to get in however the staff are always friendly and accommodating.

v. c.

Student friend place, cheap affordable meal with big portion, but food was just okay. Their fried chicken sczhel was the most popular dish.

J. C.

The Risotto is really good. Generous portion and fair price.

R. L.

$14 chicken parmy, can't go wrong. Beautiful steak and mushroom sauce.

Y. C.

Large portions and great ambiences in this place. Delicious food. Just be wary of 20% public holiday surcharge (reasons were explained) but all great.

A. L.

Ordered the schnitzel with extra grilled cheese. Huge portion size at an affordable price! I could easily share this with another person and we’ll be full! I love that they didn’t skimp out on the cold slaw as well! I can see why there’s always a queue during peak period!

T.

Bruschetta was great. I ordered Marinara with olive oil. Taste and seafood were lovely but spaghetti was over cooked, unfortunately. But potion was great for the price. I eat a lot but I was really full. Service is not so friendly. More less cold. Although It was enjoyable over all.

F. C.

Always love this place and their cheap delicious chicken schnitzels/parmas! Fantastic service all the time, even during peak hours. High possibility of queues during peak hours though so get there early. Happy hour here is awesome too!

A. T.

Wow. This place has really good foods (chicken parma and cheese bites ) and vareaties of drinks. One of my fav are these two. Really perfect combination between chicken and cheese and tomato sauce. Feel like having a pizza with chicken katsu in the same time.. and the cheese bites was amaizing..😍😍

O. L.

Very good place to come with friends to share dishes. The mains are HUGE but very delicious, I recommend getting only the entree size for a standard meal for yourself.

S. N.

My favourite Parma place in Melbourne! Portion sizes are super generous and price is reasonable. You can't make reservations, so the line always tends to be out the door. But it is worth waiting in line for.

T.

Thankfully not a long queue of hungry customers this time. Their Chicken parmigiana is a must try. Absolute value for money. 👍

z.

Excellent value for money, massive portions for the price. I reccomend the garlic bread with mozzarella cheese, 1 of their amazing milkshakes or fresh juices and their massive $14 parma

c. j.

I got the chicken risotto and strawberry tiramisu. The risotto was beautiful and creamy and the chicken was awesome! The strawberry tiramisu was also delicious and satisfied my tiramisu cravings without being too heavy or sweet. For some reason in my mind it’s healthier than a normal tiramisu because its fruit, but probably not!!

K. J.

We ordered the Chicken Parmesan (loose English translation as I forgot how to spell it in Italian) and the Sun Dance Kid, the past was okay...the sun dried tomatoes didn't go well with it. The chicken was good and tender, with the cheese it tasted it even better. However, it was not as special or amazing as people made it to be.

V. V.

Universal Chicken Parmigiana and Carbonara Fettuccine. Lygon Street has always been Melbourne heart for Italian cuisine. Portion to price ratio was on point. A fair price for an amazing meal. The dishes retained its flavours, without being over cooked or worse under. Situated in the most convenient location just minutes from the CBD, Universal and restaurants close by open till late and are always welcoming. At night, this area is generally very busy with both diners and pub crawlers. The streets are lined with Italian food, ice cream and late night coffee and cake. Highly recommended for those who’ve always been dining around the city, where the dishes are dearer and the portion, not as satisfying. Would definitely visit again. #italian #food #foodporn #italiancuisine #melbourne #lygon #street #chicken #parmigiana #carbonara #pasta #sauce

S. H.

Iralian restaurant on laygon street.. i ordered chicken avocado pasta with cream and it was ok (wasn't bad but it wasn't amazing)... the service was alright.. I had to wait around 10 minutes to be seated as the restaurant was full because I went there around 13:00 (lunch time).. Try to sit outside to feel the vibes of laygon street.

A. K.

Although we had to wait, it was well worth it! Since being there last, they've updated their menu to accommodate to vegans and vegetarians! I ordered the Sundance kid and my dining partner ordered the famous Universal snitzel. The food was portioned beautifully and the atmosphere was relaxing and family friendly! We return here as often as we can when we're in Melbourne and it was always be a place to go! The prices were appropriate and the servings were great! Definitely recommend!

T. T.

Price is right and food was awesome. Ordered the Parma chicken and it meant to feed two person for a price of one. Kids friendly restaurant and love the services. Went on Sunday and no big crowd. Was choosing between this or another Italian restaurant. Easy access from museum which was a huge plus point.

B. A.

Definitely a place you want to go if you're really hungry and happen to be on Lygon. You get quantity and quality with this place; the portions are huge and the food is delicious. Even though it's always packed, you never wait too long to get a table.

L.

Very cosy and funky place but it’s not too casual. Food size is very generous and tasty. Dishes are not salty at all which was the best! There are many dishes and they are affordable specially that chicken Parma is only $14!!! Can you believe it ??!! The place super busy but seats are cleared reasonably quick. You cannot book your seat unless a function.

Z. X.

Beautifully decorated Italian restaurant. Staffs are very friendly and helpful. Good price with a generous portion. Salad and mushroom sauce are great. The steak is slightly overcooked but tastes amazing. Definitely wouldn't recommend the Tiramisu though.

A. “. L.

You come here for the schnitzel/parma and that's about it. I will start by saying this isn't that great of a restaurant. The service was pretty average, and if you don't get there early for dinner you will be waiting in a long line. At lunch on a weekday it's usually ok though. The biggest draw to this restaurant is the $14 chicken schnitzel/parmigiana, big potion at a great price. The taste on overage is alright most of the time its slightly overcooked when I visit. But i'm willing to ignore it because of how cheap it is. A good part of Universal is that they allow you to split a bill by item which is good for when you dine with a group of friends.

z.

Chicken pamma and the chicken schnitzel was a 10 out of 10!! Super reasonably priced for such a large portion. The sauce that comes with the schnitzel was really delicious too. Would recommend 2 ppl to share one if you're not a big eater as it comes with quite a large serving of coleslaw and fries. The wait is around 20-25 mins during peak hour but it is definitely worth the wait.

J. L.

There's always a queue during dinnertime, especially on weekends. So make sure you get there early. Everything on the food menu is delightful, from pastas to pizzas to muscle pots. Not the most elaborate wine list but the excellent food and quick service makes up for it.

V. D.

$14 huge parma with two sides? What more can you ask for? Bang for your buck. Delicious. Their fish and chips and calamari are also stars!

A. P.

The staffs and food are full 5 stars! The food tasted good and portion is big! The chicken is tasty and tender, the mushroom sauce is really delicious and the slaw is a nice condiment! I left my wallet here and I got it back with nothing gone.

A. T.

Parma and Schnitzel has consistently been the same flavour and quality. Never disappointed. There’s always queue, but never waited more than 10 minutes.

T. S.

We had a group booking and everyone absolutely loved the food and the staff were fantastic!! Highly recommend your restaurant to others!

A. L.

I love this place and I’ve been ordering online and coming in for the past 5 years. I tried to order today online to find out that the delivery service is not available anymore (due to an accident) I then was advised to order through Uber eats or Menulog, but the Parma and snitzel are not there and they are the main reason for me to order every time. I know and have been advised about the excessive Uber eats fees, I hope you guys can overcome all this crazy times, this is just a bit of feedback, I miss my parmas at home so much.

R. P.

Extremely tasty! Me and my partner came here for a nice dinner since we were craving Italian, and it’s safe to say that we were satisfied! We ordered a Garlic Pizza for starters and then we had both ordered the Fettucine Carbonara. Ordering was very quick as well the dishes being served out which was a bonus since we were so hungry. The serving was definitely worth the price you pay! It was such a big and filling serving that I could barely finish my dish 😂 This was my first time coming and I would love to go again to try out more of their popular dishes 😊

H. C.

Delicious food that wont break your wallet. Pizza, chicken schnitzel and parm were great, chicken was tender and juicy and coleslaw was refreshing . Highly recommended to try at least once.

R. A. A.

Universal Restaurant is an Italian Restaurant located in Lygon Street, Melbourne. The restaurant is accessible via PTV trams. It is roughly 10 minutes walk from Melbourne Central. Chicken schnitzel is a must try in Universal Restaurant. The price is reasonable for its huge portion. It was a great dining experience there. Do take note that there is usually queue during lunch and dinners. Although the queue seems long, it usually takes a while (short period of time) for you to get a seat as the service is good and fast. Cheers!

T. N.

Huge portions, nice friendly staff! Reccomend the carbonara (it made me so full within 1/2 a portion) :)

J. K.

There is always a line during peak hour, and staff extremely busy. Food is served in very large portions so you may want to consider sharing the big dishes.

c. c.

good food and reasonable price however i think it is better to hire more staff. they looks like too busy get an order

W. C.

One of my favorite restaurants in Melbourne! Tasty food, good environment and friendly staff.

C. C.

Must try: Chicken parmigiana. Worth the $14 for a huge portion. Their happy hour is pretty good as well. Paul's Special pasta (in picture) is tasty. Their pasta's smallest size is perfect for those who don't have such a big appetite.

H. H.

Well worth your money. Yummy big chicken snitzel and beer battered chips. Mushroom sauce topped it off nicely. Enough for lunch for 2.

A. B.

Good place to come for an awesome $14 chicken parma. Pizza and pasta is also quite good. There's almost always a line up but you don't ever really wait longer than 10 minutes to get a table. The desserts are quite stingy for the price so you're better off getting a thick shake. Some of the staff seem like they can't be bothered being there but are still obliging when asked for something.

C. T.

Excellent value for money. The waitresses who served us yesterday (24 may) were top notch. Professional, polite and friendly. Looked they were Making a huge effort to make sure everything ran smoothly. Our food arrived hot, which in a place that seats 200 was very impressive to me. Will absolutely return

A. A.

The Chicken Parmigiana was best. I am still amazed, that how I finished all by my own.🤩🔥

A. T.

Good food. But you should get a new online ordering system provider. Menu scrolling is amateurish and user interface unintuitive.

M. D. C.

Snitchzel and mushroom sauce or the calamari is probably the best and only thing to get. Not what it used to be but still decent. Prices are decent😊

B. L.

Tasty schnitzel, mushroom sauce on point, def do well for its price point. The queues show that!! Always long!!

D. N.

Group dining. 3 non vegans, 2 vegans. Plenty of options for all. Take your children here if they like cheap shitznel. Vegans diners, I would skip the fake parma. The fake meat will over power you after a few bites. Stick with the pizz, pasta and risotto

I. L.

Came here twice on consecutive days. I loved the food and on my first visit, observed lots of people ordering the massive $14 parmigiana. I had to come back and try it for myself! It was awesome! This place can fill up quite quickly and during the peak lunch hour you will have to queue up just to pay the bill.

A. S.

This place is something. The parma is special. The value is outstanding. The universal special pizza deserves a standing ovation.

J.

I had a fantastic meaty dinner with my friends. Was pretty long queue there though, it was ABSOLUTELY worth to wait. Not only reasonable quantity and price, they have amazing cook as well. We 4 people had a pasta and universal platter, which has all of these in the photo, but couldn't eat it all. Great quantity and barbeque. Everything made and cooked perfectly. Literally wanted to scream after meal.

I. P.

It is nowhere near the best Italian food you can get in this city, but if gigantic parmas cost $15 then it's definitely worth your money. A good place to get a filling, satisfying decent Italian fix. Portions are great for sharing too. The waiting list can be long for dinner so come a little early.

T. G.

Food are so good and delicious but their drinks are not good and also on long weekends they charge 20% extra!!!

A. “. C.

Meals was that big i couldn't finish it... definitely going to the Italian restaurant every time I'm in Melbourne for another filling meal... thanks staff wonderful workers

L. B.

I lived in Yemen for 11 years. Finding this Yemeni Restaurant brought memories back. Great ethnic food and décor.The konafa was amazing.

U. W.

Pretty good food, great value. Chips were bomb

J. C.

Place was nice. Good to have a meal and a chat. The meal sizes are very generous. Drink sizes are very generous too. Didn't feel rushed to get out, though they are attentive as they could be without being intrusive.

M. T.

Great food, big portions! Chicken Parma is my all time fav here!

m. t.

As a good Italian restaurant, dishes are very generous so you never been hungry after eating there, and prices are more than fair. Consider that the place is always full, so you should go early to wait in the queue

B. O.

I liked a lot! The food was delicious, really fast and friendly staff. The portions are really big, you can share most of the dishes. The milkshakes are awesome!

L. B.

Friend of mine told me about how amazing the Parma's were at Universal so I naturally had to go and try for myself! Great size, decent service and top quality for a decent price. Honestly struggled to finish everything so all in all a great place for a feed.

S. W.

Gigantic Parma, big enough to share. It was well cooked, crispy and tasty. I ordered extra Bolognese sauce and it was a good choice. The place is alive and happy. Good choice for a casual lunch with friends and family. Regular Parma = 14 dollars / Extra Bolognese Sauce = 3.9 dollars

C. M.

Really good, but definitely the traditional parma is the best option, I had the Bolognese with Ham one and not as good as the traditional

E. S.

Best schnitzel ever!! Worth of waiting for the seats😋👍 mushroom sauce is great! Must try😊

V. B.

It's been a while since I last visited Universal. In this easing of lockdown stage, I can say that Universal Restaurant really did well and still maintained that quality food that I was looking for. Will surely come back for more!

b. n. f.

Such good food and massive sizes for an amazing price !!!

M. V.

This place has unique foods and a great atmosphere to just sit down and eat. The cakes are also very yummy but I do wish they served greater servings of lasagne

S. R.

Their chicken snitchzel and parma are the must order items. Very satisfying, tasty, and also affordable!!!

A. H.

Best place for dinner in Melbourne! food is delicious, veggie pizza is amazing, very tasty beers and great atmosphere. Highly Recommended!

A. I.

Just heard of how good there parmagianna are. As well went to try it and it was the best parma i had in. The hospitality was good. Staff were very friendly. The atmosphere in the Restaurant was a amazing. Will definitely recommend anyone to try this

N. A.

Great value at first glance but a long wait to be seated and every little bit extra is being charged for - tomato sauce, really?? Generous portions but not exactly lovingly prorated. Wait staff are doing an incredible job. 👍

L. K.

This restaurant is always crowded with lots of people, but the staffs are still so nice and kind! Foods are affordable prices and served very fast. Even though I had to wait on the que always but can get in quite fast. I highly recommend it! Especially Marina pasta!

S. N.

Absolutely loved it! The schnitzels are huge. Big enough to share between two. Loved the pasta and the beer jugs are to share. Good food, great atmosphere and worth the queue.

A. D.

Best chicken parma and for such a good price. It's very fulfilling and staff is extremely nice and helpful.

K. Y.

The garlic bread with cheese is fantastic. Just do not eat too many breads before the main dishes.

B. M.

Can’t go wrong with the parmas at Universal! Only annoying thing is the wait time to get in sometimes, however overall a great restaurant.

S. Y.

Been here many times for dinner, there will always be a line so be prepared to wait. Best thing on the menu is the $14 chicken parma, it's great value and will definitely fill you up. The pasta is also very reasonably priced as you get a very large portion. A main pasta meal is good enough to share between 2 people. All the staff are attentive and friendly. Do recommend you check this place out if you haven't been.

A. J.

It is so good, we didn't get the chance to get in because the wait was so long. Instead had a great chicken parma at Mixity with a pot of Beer free. Cheers.

a. A. A.

Big portions no need to order more , if you wanted halal way they can offer steak house fries without bear , food is really nice enjoy worth waiting in the line

W. J.

Outstanding Quality+Presentation of the food one orders and Really Great Friendly Staff to look after you. Highly Recommend the Parmas or Chicken Schnitzels for Brilliant Value!

S. L.

Always a lovely place to have meals. Customer service; excellent. Meals perfect. Ambience; cool and relaxed. I highly recommed this place for you to try out

W. L.

It was not bad. However, the hype of the chicken parma is overrated I reckon. The panna cotta was wonderful tho

B. K.

Nice and cozy environment. Budget friendly and food portion is huge. If you are not a huge eater, please consider ordering one and share. Good for casual dinner or celebration. Food is amazingly great!

M. U.

The food is okay, a little greasy. The worst thing is they take away our plates immediately after my last bite and ask us to pay. The only reason for going to this shop will be the price. Very cheap. 便宜份量大，但會趕人，不推薦

A. A. S.

Love their pizza's. They also have specials. Staff is friendly. I like it

G. L.

Pretty much our go to place when we can't decide on what to eat. The place hasn't disappointed. We generally order the Chicken Schnitzel and a pasta to share for two people. Hardly ever finish because the size is so big (which is a good thing) Would keep coming here and totally a recommended from us!

S. T.

Food was amazing!!! Highly recommend! They give huge portions for a very reasonable price. Definitely a place I will come back to over and over again.

Z.

Good atmosphere and stuff but the pizza wasn't that good. 11inch pizza was really small and not worth what the price is, it wasn't cut properly once you take a slice all the toppings fall off the dough was very chewy which I couldn't even eat it. But my friends love the pama

M. N.

Friendly staff, affordable and fresh meals. Highly recommend

S. L.

Great atmosphere to dine in, the value for the amount of food you get is great! Note that you’ll likely need to wait in a line for a few minutes but it’s worth it. Food: Parma (w/ Mushroom Sauce) and Milkshake (Peanut Butter and Vanilla)

M. P.

Couldn't be happier with our meal, huge portions, great prices and friendly staff

M. L.

Universal Schnitzel and Parma!

S. W.

I tried pumpkin and goat cheese pizza & milkshake. Loved the pizza as well as the milkshake.

M. H.

Go in with an empty stomach as the servings are large and very well priced. Food is good and you don't have to wait long for it to arrive. However you do have to wait to be seated as there usually is a line outside. Something to be aware of.

D. T.

Fantastic restaurant with a great atmosphere. The food is delicious and the staff are very friendly. I highly recommend this place to everyone! 👍🏻👍🏻

L. M.

Fantastic service and lovely staff. Food portions were generous and of good price. Loved how the carbonara was not too creamy but was still super flavorful. The pizza was delicious! Generous amounts of cheese and toppings! Loved the ambience of the restaurant as well. Definitely recommend this place! It's a popular place among students too!

R. N.

Good quantity of food and lovely ambiance!

許. H.

Amazing food and affordable prices! Even in lockdown time, they serve food through delivery!

C. M.

Incredible menu at incredible prices. After delicious main meals, deserts and milkshakes I would normally expect to be paying more. Very good quality staff doing a great job on a Saturday evening

B.

Pasta was very nice, all the dish was fresh ingredients,however the carbonara sauce was just a little bit too creamy.

P. S.

Great meal! Always leave struggling for finish. For $14 you cant go wrong. Unless for $17 you get the Parma with mushroom sauce for the chips. That’s my choice! Highly recommend

r. t.

the $14 giant parma with two sides is my favourite thing on this earth ❤️thank you for having amazing cost friendly food

L. L.

I truly enjoy starting my meal with some oysters followed by steak and chips. This is one restaurant that is frequented by locals and tourists. Good food and value for money.

R. C.

This is a mixed review because this place WAS the ideal spot for students and people eating out on a budget. For some reason, despite making bank with their cheap parma meals, they decided to up the price to a normal level, mitigating the whole reason I even wanted to go there. I doubt they'll return to this way again as the business is still booming. It's a shame because I'll always remember how good this place WAS.

R. 1.

Cheap deals, value for money . Long wait if its busy. Overall good experience been there few times.

S. M.

Food was amazing, great flavour, great temperature and amazing presentation. The decor was awesome, great lighting and atmosphere good song playlist and the music was soft enough so people could still have conversations. All in all a wonderful experience.

P. T.

Chicken Parma or Chicken schnitzel both worth the value. Highly recommend

R. C.

Vegan pasta was SUPER yummy and garlic-y! So much love for it. Also, Ethan's customer service was fantastic. Thanks again for the lemon lime bitters. Please give him a raise!

R. F.

The biggest chicken parmigiana I've ever had in my life. Also delicious and for a fair price. Great place for lunch or dinner!

h. a.

Good portion of food, but could have more neat.

T. C.

Agree with others, 14dollar chicken Parma is excellent. Plenty of seating indoor/outdoor. Good opening hours

P. B.

I had one of the best Chicken Parmas in Melbourne here. The staff is lovely and warm, and the service is great. Not only the quality of the food is excellent, but also the price is fair compared to what you get. Highly recommend this place.

J. M.

Portion sizes are huge here with relatively low prices. Food quality is what you would expect. Kitchen to waiter communication is a bit messy with our orders being given to the incorrect table twice. An okay joint if you are looking for something filling and bang for your buck.

B. j.

So delicious , and very big But i am all ate them 😆 I like there I want again there

R. S.

Great food.... Value for money.... Very busy at all times....

C. C. K.

Food portions are big. Delicious too. Friendly staffs. Can get extremely crowded with a long waiting queue during dinner

Y. I.

The best 14 dollars I ever spent for a giant chicken schnitzel! But don't try this unless you're really hungry...

D. Y.

Best Chicken Parma in Melbourne, hands down. And for $14? Even better!

T. E.

We used to go here weekly and have spent thousands of dollars here over the years. We’ve stopped due to them changing the special cream used in their milkshakes and the service is now a bit arrogant making people wait to get seated when there are plenty of tables available.

D. S.

Amazing food and incredible value. I honestly don’t know a place in Melbourne that does such incredible food for only 14$. Parma comes with coleslaw AND chips even though it’s already big enough to warrant the price tag. The chips are crispy and the coleslaw is flavoured wonderfully. Simple contrast of textures and flavours used to devastating effect. It really doesn’t get any better. Oh and if you’re wondering if you should get the extra mushroom sauce? Get the mushroom sauce.

Y. D.

I used to go to Universal from the age of 18 in the early 90's. John always accomodated our pizza requests and often gave us 1 on the house, as we frequented the place a lot! Great to see its still going after all these years and place has developed into a popular spot!! Well done John and family.

A. M.

Delicious food. Great service. Highly recommended. 👍

J. P.

Large and delicious chicken perma. Nice indoor and outdoor settings.

P. P.

Awesome prices, awesome food. A must visit for their Parma.

S. C.

Ordered takeaway carbonara last night from here. Food was ready when I came to pick up. HUGE serving - definitely more than enough for 2 people. Taste was good - a little too creamy for my liking, but the efficiency, value and overall experience was great! Would recommend for big serving and value for money.

B.

Very great servings, nice tastes, outgoing atomosphere.

S. S.

Awesome Italian food. Below are pics which I tried today.

D. M.

Had an excellent meal here while staying in Melbourne. Great food at a great price. Would recommend to a friend.

W. J.

Outstanding Quality+Presentation of the food one orders and Really Great Friendly Staff to look after you. Highly Recommend the Parmas or Chicken Schnitzels for Brilliant Value!

H. T.

Good with authentic food Their best selling is chicken Parma

N. C.

The best Italian restaurant you can ever go to. You definitely get more than what you're paying for and its delicious too!

M. M.

Wonderful Italian food, with wonderful staff

I. L.

Came here twice on consecutive days. I loved the food and on my first visit, observed lots of people ordering the massive $14 parmigiana. I had to come back and try it for myself! It was awesome! This place can fill up quite quickly and during the peak lunch hour you will have to queue up just to pay the bill.

M. J.

I been to this restaurant for the last 15 years and one of my favourite. Menu is very reasonably priced. The quantity and quality is always consistent. Not sure if it is still under the same management. Keep up the good work. Staff were very friendly and helpful. Thanks for the lovely dinner. Will surely recommend to anyone who visit lygon street for the Italian food.

S. N.

Absolutely loved it! The schnitzels are huge. Big enough to share between two. Loved the pasta and the beer jugs are to share. Good food, great atmosphere and worth the queue.

T. C.

Agree with others, 14dollar chicken Parma is excellent. Plenty of seating indoor/outdoor. Good opening hours

D. M.

Had an excellent meal here while staying in Melbourne. Great food at a great price. Would recommend to a friend.

R. M.

Wonderful food and vibe

T. S.

Very large portion and reasonable price. The chicken Parma is a must order.

L. o. M.

Very delicious and big portion! Recommend!

E. C.

The portion is big and it's enough for 6 of us, reasonable price.

E. N.

Huge portion and worthy. Recommended for group of people for gathering or any celebration.

Z. H.

I didnt want to queue up to get in, but I'm so glad did. This parma is epic for only $14. So worth it. I shared this and was stuffed afterwards. You wont be hungry after here!

C. L.

Only down fall is the line to wait to get a table no matter what time you go. Universal is always busy and provide decent options to pick from. Famous for there chicken schnitzel/Parma plate for under $16 which is great and filling.

N. C.

The best Italian restaurant you can ever go to. You definitely get more than what you're paying for and its delicious too!

N. M.

Generous serves, good food and location.

L. P.

Generous amount of food, tasty, cheap and a nice place to hang out. The best cost/benefit in CBD, in my opinion.

D.

Amazing food. Great portion sizes. Only downside is long wait time almost every time we are there because there is no bookings.

N. H.

Delicious meals, big servings and reasonably priced. We ordered an entree garlic pizza and four meals (carbonara, pizza, fish and chips, and parma) for our family of five (three primary-aged children) and couldn't finish it all. Total cost under $100, including corkage. We arrived by 6:30 and didn't have to wait for a table, though a queue formed soon after. Would definitely go back again.

E. D.

The restaurant is famous for its chicken parmi. The portion is huge and it's really cheap. You pay $14 for one meal. It is definitely enough for two people to share. I dined there for the second time during my stay at Melbourne. I tried Chicken avocado penne! I asked them to add the garlic to the pasta. It was so yum! I can say one of the best restaurants I've ever been! The portions are huge and the food quality is fantastic! Highly recommended!

S. P. S.

The best chicken parmigiana I’ve ever eaten in Australia!

N. C.

Love their Chicken Parma. Super huge portion. Valuable and tasty. Long queue always tho. But worth the wait.

O. R.

Great food. I have been here multiple times and they have never produced anything bad. 5Stars all round. Very constant with their food. Great quality.

L. L.

Best value for marinara pasta, a lot of seafoods and the entree size is enough. With its quality and the value, you won’t be able to find anywhere else that can compete.

T.

Waitress are so friendly, and foods are cheap and yum! We will definitely come back!!

M.

The food was good, but not super special. The staff was polite and helpful and the service was excellent. All in all good experience. I recommend this place, however there are other places close by which are equally good.

S. M.

Went for lunch today. Staff were very friendly and efficient. Food came out quickly. OMG serving sizes are HUGE!!! Fettuccine Carbonara was delicious as was the chicken parmi. Garlic bread was some of the best I have had. Wasn't a fan of the coleslaw with the parmi, would have enjoyed a simple salad better. Surrounds could do with a quick dust (sign and lights etc as we ate outdoors). Would I go back. Hell Yeah!!!

H. E.

The food is very cheap and delicious.

R. P.

Five stars if you're on a budget; not on a diet; and aren't big on service or finesse. Universal is cheap, tasty, and has obscenely large portions. The parmas are so big they either have a supplier of giant chickens, or there's some meat glue involved in the process. It's actually kind of sad seeing the amount of uneaten food being cleared from tables. Expect a queue - it's a really popular spot, and expect "gluggy" sauces - as in, "I can stand a spoon up in this mushroom sauce" thick. Overall, not my thing, but I can see the appeal for some.

G. A.

Queues are a thing but the parma is worth the wait. Best be patient rather than worry about deciding on a place because by then, you would be sitting on a table with mates. 10 dollars for a shake is worth if you want to be a kid again. Will eat again :)

R. C.

The biggest chicken parmigiana and it was only$14 highly recommend this place

G. R.

The staff have been super friendly and make us feel welcome everytime. Amazing value for money and good food as well! The shake specials are always a winner for us!

T. Y. (.

A great place for young friends get together A little bit squeezy

J. S.

The Best Parma and pasta with such great flavours and options. Such great portion sizes and presented well. The staff are so professional who make really yummy coffee. Thank you for a great experience. I look forward to coming back soon.

M. S.

Although it was weekend and so busy, we are served so quickly. We enjoyed the service and specially the food which is really hard to eat it completely.

J. P.

You won't find a plate that is so delicious for this price and too much for you to be full.

S. T.

It was extremely busy when we went, so there was a bit of a wait on our food. Without even asking the staff offered us complimentary drinks and a discount because of the wait. It was really nice! And the food was very tasty.

F. D.

Was a easy process to get a table outside knowing how busy this place was. Lovely staff got some water for my 🐶 and we went with the chicken schnitty with coleslaw and mushroom sauce, marinara fettuccini and a balsamic salad. Food was good, and had a espresso martini which was refreshing. I found the fettucini was a little bland but other than that pretty good night out

M. A.

Delicious food 😋 I always have lunch there

A. S.

Very yummy food and great staff. Really good prices for lunch.

W. K.

Food is good and in large portion. Many students hang out here

M. K.

Pizza was average sized at 6 slices but it was very good! On that note, another at my table ordered a parmigiana and it was absolutely enourmous.

M. C.

One of the best places I've eaten at and reasonable price as well. Overall would definitely would come back

J. L.

The atmosphere is okay, the food is cheap, especially their signature parma/schnitzel, I tried the calamari once, it was extremely greecey so I only ate a couple pieces out of the 100 I was given. The drinks are 70% water e.g. coke or lemonade, bland and barely bubbling like the real stuff Service is very slow, even though your in the queue and see a empty table, chances are it'll stay empty for the next 30mins. Perhaps they don't seat more people as they are at their capacity as a simple order of pasta and lemonade took over 30mins to come. They also forgot to bring my drink somehow?

A. C.

Can't go wrong with their chicken parma or schnitzel

a. v.

Pizzas are good! The veggie one can be improved!

R. P. T.

Aleisha the staff of universal gave really great service at our time today.

J. J.

Food is really good but the staff let the place down. There are a lot of wait staff who seem to be really busy but it’s very difficult to get their attention, plus they are a bit snappy. Not sure if they’re understaffed. But did I say the food is amazing!

A. K.

Delicious, cozy. Big portion. Fast serving. Professional & charming staffs. Worth to try

E.

5 stars purely for the chicken parmigiana and service! I opted in for take away since the line outside was long on a Saturday night (understandably!), and I was not disappointed! Very easy to order online! Thanks Universal! Will be back again!

S. K.

You are one of the best resturants and most successful businesses in Melbourne. I never tried ordering online directly through your website. It was amazing, just like any other work of yours. Delivery person, packaging and food was fantastic. Thanks very much. I have already shared my experience with friends and family to make sure we will keep supporting you guys because you total deserve it. Cheers and keep up the fantastic work! Siroos

박.

The atmosphere is good, the taste is good:) Cost effective restaurant!

E. N.

You got to queue for the good food but it is definitely worth the wait!!!

F. K.

Good taste.. chicken parmigiana is the favorite one

C. M.

Great food for value. Huge Schnitzels and delicious milkshakes. Service is fine.

M. J.

I been to this restaurant for the last 15 years and one of my favourite. Menu is very reasonably priced. The quantity and quality is always consistent. Not sure if it is still under the same management. Keep up the good work. Staff were …

D.

Awesome fine dining experience. Seatings are available both inside and outside. Great place to spend some time talking and enjoying delicious Italian cuisine.

A. S.

Absolutely amazing Italian restaurant with plenty of options at reasonable prices. Chicken schnitty and parma are highly rated and deserve the hype. Though I preferred the schnitty over the parma as it comes with a nice mushroom sauce on the side. Portions are huge so order carefully. And the staff and service were both wonderful.

D. A.

Best value Parma in all of Melbourne for $14

H. T.

Good with authentic food Their best selling is chicken Parma

J. T.

HUGE chicken lama. Well worth the price at $14. Dishes and drinks were delicious.

J. G.

Huge meals, with huge value, probably one of the best parmas on Lygon St. This place gets busy so try and visit during quiet times.

O. N.

Food was just okay though the portion was big. Just still can have a try.

d. g.

Good place for very generous portions (both drinks and food)... and you can't go wrong with their Parma (comes with chips and coleslaw) and only $15.00AUD Portion is HUGE and really tasty. Worth having a suss

P. P. B.

For 4 people, we shared the chicken parma, a Margherita pizza, and chicken wings, and a kids meal. Accompanied with a lime bitter jug. The bill was below $70.

K.

Love this place! The chicken parmigiana came in a huge portion that could actually feed three person with a tiny stomach. The pizza is nice too. Came here on Easter Monday so I have to queue about half an hour to get a seat. They charged extra 20% on top of our bill because of the holiday, but it's still a reasonable price with that kind of portion tho.

J. L.

Affordable prices, huge portion, great taste

T. M.

If you haven't been here, stop what you're oing and GO !!! $14 Giant Schnitzel and Parmas... DELICIOUS schintzel and parmas might i add. Honestly, i cant compare any other place to this for those 2 dishes. Follow me on Instagram for all your Melbourne food finds & reviews. @Tasty.Melbourne

J. T.

Food was great, but service was lacking. Had to wait a long time at every stage of the process, despite what looked like several staff members wandering around. Ordered dessert but never got it. Eventually given a bill and asked to pay so did and left without dessert. A bit disappointing.

h. i.

Good atmosphere and lovely workers so are slightly out of their depth. Bless them they did their best but they're very inexperienced. I looked over the multiple errors in my order but sadly others didn't and one of the port staff was left in tears

M. J.

Food here is consistently good and the portion sizes are quite large however the service isn't the best at times nor the atmosphere; but it's a reliable place if you want reasonably priced, flavourful food. The only thing that bugs me about this place is the fact that their parma portions seem extreme and I would wonder who they're sourcing their chicken from and how they can profit by selling such gigantic portions of chicken at low costs.

R. P.

Best place for some chicken schnitzels and parmigiana. Love this place.

J. M.

Recently decided to get a Universal Special Pizza - Best decision ever!!! A definite choice to have as a 'Last Meal Ever' it was that good!

M. A.

I love the chicken parma. Thank you will come back definitively.

K. W.

Amazingly good. I bring all of my friends and family from overseas, and they all love it. Portions are hugeeee and great price deal Staff are great and super nice. I like that they try to maintain the 1.5m in the queue, and clean everything very thoroughly. Mushroom sauce was straight from heaven!

C. M.

$14 schnitzel is best deal in Melbourne. Easily feeds two people. Kids meals is also great value.

E. W.

Loved the chicken parmi and chips. Had an oreo shake which was delicious. Waited 20 minutes in line but was all worth it.

J. Z.

It was wonderful to dine there! The food, the service and the atmosphere! The paella like rice was just great! The pizza is better than any pizza I have ever had!!

N. D.

Chicken schnitzel is a must have. Spacious room and perfect chips

C. M.

Friendly service, nice decor, food came out fast and was really tasty, great sized Parma !!!

R. L.

Good ambience and decent food.

R. V. R.

Lunch specials are unbeatable! The wine with it was really good.

R. M.

Signed in just to review this place... there 2 weeks ago, cheap and beautiful food, very very large serving size, fantastic!!!! Must try italian place in Melbourne city. Will be going back asap

S. J.

Great portion sizes, service, prices and taste. Atmosphere is nice too.

M. R. N.

The chicken Parma portion is massive and delicious

F. W.

If you're looking for a schnitty this is the best place in Melbourne to get it. Boasting both incredible value and delicious flavour, I can't think of a single restaurant that can deliver both as well as Universal!

J. w.

Awesome prices and the Parma is delicious and a good portion 👍 also very friendly staff

I. D.

This place for take away is great! Their service was prompt and friendly. After Uber Eats stuffed everything up, we did what we should have done from the start - order directly from the Universal Restaurant's website. Uber are useless, but the Universal Restaurant is excellent!!

M. E. G.

Masive serves! The Poseidon risotto was yummy, the pizza tasty and the chicken Parma masive and cheap. The only think I didn’t like was the salmon with the risotto base.

P.

Simply exquisite 👌🏽 lovely wait staff + amazing food + reasonable price = happy customers (plural). If its your first time here, definitely order the parmigiana - you won't be disappointed.

S. L.

Great atmosphere to dine in, the value for the amount of food you get is great! Note that you’ll likely need to wait in a line for a few minutes but it’s worth it. …

Y. J. F.

Try out their click and collect service, it was great and really fast but they charge transaction fee for that

L. o.

Had a great experience with a mate, the service was nice, would recommend to other. Good Job!

C. P.

Huge schnitzels and parmas for a good pricr

L. N.

Good Parma. Great choice for extras on the Parma. And the serving size is huge!!!!

v.

Very good value.

C. M.

Great food for value. Huge Schnitzels and delicious milkshakes. Service is fine.

l. l.

Delicious & good price

S. C.

Ordered takeaway carbonara last night from here. Food was ready when I came to pick up. HUGE serving - definitely more than enough for 2 people. Taste was good - a little too creamy for my liking, but the efficiency, value and overall experience was great! Would recommend for big serving and value for money.

M. C.

We ordered parma and it was huge. It is great value for money, and I shared it with my partner. It tastes great, staff are very patient and attentive. Will visit again.

S. L.

Portions here are so awesomely huge, but though quantities are big, quality is not compromised at least in my experience, I've had the carbonara( beautifully creamy and mouth watering), Paul's rose pasta I think(wonderfully spicy and fragrant) and the massive chicken schnitzel which was well cooked and the mushroom sauce is absolutely to die for. Would definitely recommend this restaurant. Very affordable and service is very fast and efficient.

둔.

Yummy

A. C.

Great service even though there was a huge line, food was excellent and at a reasonable price. Wi definitely come here again.

B. W.

Great location, very friendly and efficient staff. Chicken avocado pasta and marinara pizza were amazing. The 3 cheese risotto very much lacked the oomph it needed and I really wish I'd ordered something else. The milkshake, wine and beer were all good.

B. L.

Absolutely fantastic food that is well worth the money and price. Portion sizes are large (if you get a main). My partner and I ordered the Salmon Fillet, Fettuccine Marinara and Meat Lovers Pizza. Salmon Fillet is well worth the price, grilled salmon combined in with a very light risotto tasted amazing. Fettuccine Marinara was fresh with mussels, calamari, small bits of crab and prawns. Well worth the buy. Meat Lovers pizza I found to be a bit too greasy for my liking. Otherwise, Universal Restaurant is a fantastic place to eat at for any occasion. Be sure to go early because they are always very packed!

R. D.

Great food, cheap and large portions. Service is average -> non existent but from my observations people visit this place for a quick and cheap feed. Common for Uni students. Very busy overall with lines out the front on just a normal Thursday evening for dinner.

H. L.

Fantastic dining experience with very friendly staff and excellent food. Their chicken parma is bloody brilliant and shockingly cheap. Lots of extra thick cut chips with an absolute unit of a chicken schnitzel. Their pizza and pasta is also quite good, though doesn't come close to the value of the parma. Went with a group of mate's after uni exams ended, and it was a great way to end the semester off.

R. M.

Fresh and delicious. Good service

A. W.

The staff were friendly and helpful and the place was clean. Unfortunately our food was not the best on the day we went. Hopefully just an off day for the kitchen as it was very busy.

B.

Great food, great prices, pleasantly generous portions! Go there when you have an appetite. There's always a line but only ever waited less than five minutes at lunch time. Staff was friendly and efficient. Will come back again!

T. E.

Come here way too often! I love this place! I always get the schnitzel meal but it can be a hit or miss at times! Definitely best value for what you get! Red Velvet shake is a strange one but I guess it’s more so for Chocolate ice cream lovers.. not sure I would buy that again

W. (.

Chicken parma and pasta are great here:) But the pizza is greasy compare to other pizzarias on lygon street. We also tried gelato and panna cotta, they are average not recommend. Overall their food are good for value.

L. R.

The salmon and risotto meal was delicious. Service was quick. Good set up for covid restrictions. If you suffer from hayfever please don't choose a table out on the verge on the grass. The tree there drops so many tiny bits of fluffy stuff and you won't be able to stop sneezing! Not a good look in current times haha. My mask was covered in it after I'd finished eating and I suffered the whole way home.

R. B.

Completely, truly, madly in live with this place..chicken Parma is a must try with a beer or milkshake of your choice. But I'd go with chocolate fudge. And pasta is🔥🔥🖤

이.

No doubt. Just enjoy! A resonable price & taste :)

C. E.

Best Chicken Parma in Melbourne for sure, good price and taste.

A. K.

Good prices forming specials and value for the chicken schnitzels

J. B.

Universal Restaurant in Lygon Street, Carlton is a great place for a family meal. Be prepared though, we had to queue to get in (not for long though) and the meals are ENORMOUS! Try the Chicken Parmigiana and see if you can finish it. Ideally this is good to share. The milkshakes are not your run of the mill variety and the pizzas are excellent too. I can see why people queue up to get in.

R. T.

Italian comfort food to fill anyone's hunger!

H. C.

Had ordered pizza, pasta carbonara and lasagna during the lockdown. Nothing special about the meals. Have had better ones in the restaurant along Lygon St. The prices and the portions are also the same as others so not quite sure why there were always queue before lockdown? Staffs are not very attentive but maybe the atmosphere?

H. Y.

Very famous restaurant, need to book 😅

Y. J. S.

Portions are big, with affordable prices. Their universal schnitzel is really good - the one with mushroom sauce on the side. They have a tomato based sauce equivalent too, which is also pretty good. Their milkshakes are great as well. The place is nearly always crowded so definitely expect a queue, but it's within reasonable wait time.

L. M.

Nice restaurant, really good drinks menu and very generous servings, especially with the $14 parma. Will definitely go back

V. M.

Best restaurant for Parma. Must try

m. t.

Very busy place located in Lygon st. First time having chicken parma here, it is so juicy, tender, and perfectly cooked. I can tell why this is the most popular dish. The steak pizza is very yummy too. Very affordable dinner place and will definitely come back for more

H. W.

Always love this restaurant even though the customers service is just plain. Suitable for big group. Big portion on food especially chicken parmigiana, always fresh and the price is very affordable. We loving it

G.

Chicken parmi is great value for money😄

R. R.

BEST and I mean BEST schnitzel I've ever had. Always consistent in terms of taste and quality. That mushroom sauce is *chefs kiss*. I go here regularly with friends or family and they all love whatever they order everytime. Parma is delicious although I much prefer the schnitzel. The pastas and coffee are good. And the cheesy bite thing (couldn't remember the name) was so delicious I actually didn't want it to ever finish. Portion is generous and on some nights, it could get a little busy.

N. (.

I only go for the $14 Parma, as I always leave with a container of leftovers for lunch the next day. They are huge and great value for so little.

D. T.

My absolute go to when friends or family are in town for a very generous sized (oversized...feeds 2) schnitzel or Parma all for around $16. Best milkshakes and although you sometimes have to line up to get a table, it's usually nit long but well worth it.

K. C.

Food was great! I ordered the pesto pasta, side of chips because I kept stealing them from others they were so good, broccoli side was perfect too. Pizza maybe a bit thin and crispy but that comes down to preference.

D. S.

Come in for lunch. Had to que but was only 10 minutes wait. Taken orders.

P. N.

Awesome Parmas cheap as well. Great portion to share 😁

Z.

The chicken parmigiana’s are elite.

E. H.

Absolutely delicious and excellent service.

S. T.

Loved the food, huge portion. Would definitely come again

D.

Great value for money. Nice staff.

M. D.

Very popular place which I had been told about many times. Famous Chicken Parmigiana special did not disappoint on value and quality. Staff were polite and helpful with quick service. Place gets busy but were seated quickly and while it was a full house it did not feel cramped for space. Would recommend to anyone looking for a great casual dinner.

Y. G.

My friend in Melbourne took me there when I visited. And this time I took another friend there since I really liked the restaurant on my first visit. It was weekday evening but there’s a long line outside. We waited about 20 mins but I didn’t mind because I already knew that it’s worth the wait. The waitress looked after us was very friendly and attentive. Not just her, but overall the service was efficient and fast. We ordered chicken wings as entree, chicken parmi and pasta as main. Chicken parmi there is just wow! Reasonable price, huge portion ( comes with chips and slaw), and it actually tasty! I’ll definitely come back on my next visit to Melbourne!

w. c.

Nice place and nice food It has reasonable prices for food I had nice experience on here

N. M.

Delicious and huge Parma and quick prep time during locky ds

J. L.

Very solid after University Sport feed where you challenge mates to finish the Parma the quickest

J. C.

Lovely restaurant with good ambience. Variety of excellent dishes. Vegetarian dishes are available. Ample of seats however claustrophobic. Clean environment. Car parks available on the street. Close proximity to the city. Service could be improved. Queue of people outside staring at you while you eat

H. A.

The chicken Parma at this place is pretty big. And it's absolutely delicious. One of the best places to have sunday lunch or dinner. As an added benefit, the parking near the streets are free on Sunday. Which is awesome. The customer service is pretty good. I would recommend this place for any one looking to try out some good Italian food.

L. G. V. P.

Excellent value chicken parmigiana, massive size, extremely tasty with a huge serving of beer battered chips. Keep in mind it gets extremely busy at dinner and during holidays so expect a 20-40 minutes queue, well worth the wait but a little unnerving if you are hungry. Drinks are very good just borderline of pricey. Conviniently placed along the street to have a nice stroll after dinner. Can get a bit loud but is to be expected around this area. Park on the backstreets and walk a bit if you planning to get by car

J. F.

Good facilities, impressed with the state of the art tap with attached hand dryer

K. a.

Universal is our favourite place to eat. Service is excellent, covid safe plan obviously in place, can't beat the food & value for money!

M. M.

Wonderful Italian food, with wonderful staff

D. S.

The Service was good & spontaneous, the food could have been hotter and there were no mushrooms in the mushroom source.

S. G.

A Lygon Street classic for a reason. Their chicken parma is HUGE (I recommend sharing with someone) and only costs $14!! This place is always busy and has a line outside by 5.30-6, so get in quick! Friendly and efficient service as well, and with a good range of pastas (the vegan ones are very tasty).

P. 3.

This place is AWESOME !!! I don't think I've ever eaten at a restaurant that gives this kind of size and quality food, probably in my entire life. The sized portions are king size, especially the Parmigiana... The steaks are massive and all other plates are huge too. But... The taste, its fantastic!... The chef is top quality, and you can tell they know what they are doing in the kitchen. The food arrived super fast, there are a lot of waitresses there so they serve you real fast and very well. They have a POS there that is directly linked to the kitchen so they never make a mistake on your order, as far as my experience is concerned... I've been there 5 times thus far and every single time its been perfect. They also have a great Iced Coffee, which when you get it, has a massive dollop of ice-cream on top which not only perfects the taste, the presentation is fantastic, gets the juices flowing. I HIGHLY recommend this restaurant, its probably my favorite restaurant, by far, in Melbourne. You can't go wrong and the pricing is quite reasonable too. The only thing I can complain about is I have to wait inline everytime I go there, but thats obviously because there are so many people that eat there, its packed everyday because the food is so great. 5 Stars all the way, totally awesome !!!

L. M.

i was super hungry and craving pasta and the only place close by that was open was Universal. i ordered the main size spag bol and it was to die for! $20 well spent!

R. V. M.

Milkshakes and food were excellent. The staff were very friendly, helpful and worked hard. Will be back for more

W. V.

A great little place situated conveniently of Lygon street, full of character and great food. The chicken parmi was amazing and incredibly cheap. The menu is well stocked and the serving sizes offer a lot of bang for your buck. Highly recommend

a. a.

It's price and quantity are good but not excellent. There is a really small toilet Small coffee is $4.5 and in comparison with the others is a bit higher

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