Marios’ Cafe

Reviews

• Two S.

  star star star star star_border 13 September 2026

  (Coffee review). 4.0
  
  Comfortingly shabby inside here.  No sign of modern style whatsoever.  Old floor, old paint job, old counter.  It's not putting anyone off though.  There were young and old alike there.  I can see why.  The coffee was superb.  Strong as, great length, silky smooth.  A very very good brew indeed.  It lives up to the artisan coffee tag they've given themselves (not "artesian" as I heard someone mispronounce artisan once).  Service was fine as well.  Cooly amiable in that detached Melbourne way.  I received two unsolicited smiles before I wandered on my way.  Nice.

• Josh K.

  star star star star star 9 September 2026

  Marios is a key part of living in Melbourne. It's a great meeting place, a great meal place or nice for just a quick coffee.
  
  Their all-day breakfast was the inspiration for everybody else's all-day breakfast.
  
  Reasonable prices and delightful service puts the sweetener on it as one of Melbourne's most reliable eateries.

• Cynthia W.

  star star_border star_border star_border star_border 7 September 2026

  Mario's is a 30 year old Italian Restaurant, full of old Melbourne charm, quality authentic cuisine and the most obnoxious wait staff you've ever had the displeasure of encountering in your entire dining lives in our fine city.
  
  This evening, three friends and I graced this Mario's with our business, which included entrees, drinks, mains, deserts and coffees along with laughter and chatter on their reasonably quiet evening and we were met with utter disdain when we went to pay our near $200 tab.
  
  Our waitress, who had felt the entire evening above using a note pad (and did not have the memory for this) informed our Credit Card Roulette winner that she could enter an amount for a tip, when my friend politely advised that she would decline this and "not because of your service, just because we aren't in America." The waitress, thought it best to get into an altercation.
  
  I'm sorry, but is it not awkward enough you are putting people on the spot right in front of you and pressuring them to give you their money just for you doing your job? This is not America, you aren't using tips to make up for minimum wage and if you were you certainly would have gotten a tip. This waitress, continued to ask "have you worked in the industry?!" My friend "yes I have." Waitress "So you should know what it's like."
  Etc etc.. I just walked out, it was so awkward!
  
  We left with our mouths open. Listen, whatever your beliefs are on tipping that's fine, I think it's fine to tip if someone is great, but this person was so average. We asked for water three times and she kept forgetting things and she had an attitude the entire evening. I understand that hospitality isn't the best job in the world and everyone has off nights, but don't ask for a tip and if you aren't going to get one, just leave it at that!
  
  Up to that point, we were raving about Mario's exclaiming that it was going to be our new place and that we had to take everyone we knew there and it was fantastic. Now, I will never go back and will actively tell people about my horrible experience. I'm absolutely mortified by the entire situation!
  
  Tip: You catch my flies with honey, honey.
  
  #marioscafefitzroy #waitressfail #tipssuck #tacky

• Chris L.

  star star star_border star_border star_border 5 September 2026

  First time here...just very ok. I'd pass and find a better Italian place up on Lygon St. Don't get the porterhouse...you're better off buying one at a grocery store and googling how to cook it.

• Emma M.

  star star_border star_border star_border star_border 22 August 2026

  I was looking forward to going here after hearing the good reviews and their bit on the local radio (RRR). They have a history in Melbourne and I was excited. My friends and I made a trip of it and the food was good but the service undermined the whole experience. The waitress as rude and very unpleasant. We left very disappointed and all agreed we would never visit again.