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

🛑🛑🛑🛑🛑 👎👎👎👎👎 Title: Disappointing Dining Experience We decided to give this restaurant a try after witnessing the long queue, only to be disappointed upon trying it yesterday. Honestly, it seems like the food doesn't live up to the hype. Why endure a lengthy wait for subpar quality? The chicken wings were a letdown – dry, flavorless, and surprisingly large. The pastas, usually a reliable choice, were bland and downright pathetic. It's unexpected from a place that garnered attention for its offerings. One can't help but wonder if the chef has ever sampled their own creations. 🤮🤮🤮 The only redeeming factor was the Parma. Unfortunately, this lone positive note was overshadowed by the presence of dirty cutlery throughout our dining experience. 👹👹👹 Regrettably, I won't be returning, and I cannot recommend this restaurant to others based on my experience.

Food was ok. Had the universal parmi (no ham though) which was good. But wife's Cesar salad not so much. No anchovies, no bacon and they used iceberg lettuce. The service left a bit to be desired too. Think the lass servicing us was not too keen on being there. Unhelpful, no sense of humour and not a smile to be seen. Honestly, was happy when she left. The next girl was good. But I liked my schnitty and the price was right 👍

The best carbonara! The best cheese bomb ever! Every bite is heaven! I would recommend this place to everyone! we went for lunch and the place was full! still you get a table, not a very long wait with our orders. new found favorite place!The staff are so amazing and ao quick! I gove this place 10🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

My friend asked me to come here for a early dinner/ late lunch. If you follow my page I am strictly gluten free. As for the most affordable place on Lygon … $12 for a side salad that was not even chopped up and had me munching away like a rabbit. If you offer salads maybe put a grilled chicken salad on the menu with an array of veggies, yes you’re not a celiac Restaurant however individuals like myself have a gluten sensitivity that cannot be ingested. I did not bother asking the waitstaff for recommendations because the hosts attitude was a negative experience. As for the atmosphere, tables are basically touching each other, so close I could eat off their plate. Coffee was average.

One of the best restaurants in Melbourne. They have a full menu for everything you might need for lunch. You have to stay in a row for a seat but not too long. Reasonable price!! I couldn't believe that. It big meal with perfect quality warm and tasty but less than 20 boxes how amazing. Nice job Guys keep going 👌

This place is amazing, starting for the convenient location with plenty car spots near by. Usually on weekends queue but always fast⏩ the food and beverage menu is cheap in comparison of the portions. Parma $17 and huge amount. Lot of milkshakes $10. Service friendly and helpful. I been there 5 or more , definitely a should go for Italian restaurant.

Popular Italian restaurant! And it’s affordable price! Chicken Parma was really huge. We were lucky as we arrived early, people always wait long queue. Better to go lunch time, or early evening like 5:00 pm. Pizza and pasta were also nice, we will come back! Thanks!

Without any doubt melbourne’s best pizza. Chicken wings were just awesome. Worth waiting and totally justify the long line. But we went at around 3pm on Sunday and got table instantly. The staff is really nice and the food quality is more than 10. Also the price is really fair not expensive at all.

I recently had the pleasure of dining here, and I must say, the experience was beyond delightful. The pizza was nothing short of a culinary masterpiece. The pizza, with its flavorful toppings, left me craving for more. Each bite was a burst of deliciousness that showcased the chef's expertise in crafting a memorable pizza experience. The variety of options ensured there was something for everyone, and the freshness of the ingredients truly stood out. Highly recommend.

I've been a regular at Universal Restaurant for over ten years, and boy, has it grown! It's pretty incredible how much this place has expanded, but one thing hasn't changed a bit: the crazy long wait time. My partner and I got there at 5pm, and there was already a queue forming outside! We ordered our old favorite, the universal chicken schnitzel, a new dish - the grilled salmon with risotto, and a special apple pie milkshake. I've gotta be honest, the food took a while to come out. But the milkshake? Totally worth it. It was like sipping on a liquid apple pie, seriously good stuff, although it did cost $12, which seemed a bit steep. Now, the schnitzel. It's been consistently good over the years, but I noticed a few changes since my last visit about 6 months ago. The price, for starters, has gone up. Not surprising, but still, a bummer. The chips were different too, but the biggest letdown was the coleslaw. It was nothing like the good old coleslaw they used to serve - this new one was kinda low quality and too sour for my liking. It's a real shame because the chicken-chips-coleslaw combo was what made this dish a winner. Now, the chicken is the only part I really look forward to. The salmon dish was alright, although it was served a bit too cold for my taste. We sent it back to the kitchen, and it came out hot and tasted quite good. All in all, it's hard to ignore the fact that Universal Restaurant is still a big hit in the area, despite a bunch of not-so-good reviews. But for me, it's getting harder to recommend this place. The prices keep going up, and it feels like they're cutting corners by swapping the chips and coleslaw for cheaper alternatives. It just doesn't feel like the same old Universal Restaurant that I fell in love with. But, hey, that milkshake though - still a game-changer.

Here I often visit for lunch after class ends. Have a HUGE portion size, and the prices are great. The Carbonara sauce is creamy, so it goes well with both Fettuccine and Spaghetti pasta. The chips and coleslaw that come with the Chicken Parmigiana are also tasty. The Chicken Schnitzel comes with a mushroom sauce that is really delicious, so my friend dipped the chips in it. Even if you order the pasta in entree size instead of a main dish, the portion is unbelievably large, and I always have leftovers. Nevertheless, IT IS SO GOOD that I will visit again soon 🤤

I visited at around 11:30am on a Saturday with 3 others. When we arrived there was plenty of space, but by the time we left at around 1 or 1:30pm there was a queue out the door. We ordered a cocktail jug ($55), a garlic pizza ($12), a marinara main with red sauce and fettuccine ($25.90), a margherita main ($17.90), and a side of beer battered chips ($12). The drink took so long to come even though it wasn't busy, and they also never came to our table to take another drink order when we had finished it. The food came out fairly quickly. It was nice but nothing special. I think my expectations were too high because I always see people lining up to go here. I will say that the food was good value for money. My friends eventually wanted to leave because they felt like the waiters were waiting for our table (because of the queue), which was a bit awkward. Overall it was alright but I won't go there again and I think there are better options. Also vegetarian options were not very good.

There's no doubting the popularity of Universal along Lygon Street. Always packed during peak meals times, it serves delicious, reasonably priced Italian meals, and the portions are huge. Every table is dotted with their Chicken Parmigiana, and for good reason too. The chicken is moist and juicy and even for it's size, one can't stop till the last bit. This restaurant is always on my list to check off when visiting Melbourne, and I am looking forward to my next visit - just not the queue...

The Chicken Parmigiana was yum. We had a Veggie Super Special Pizza. The base is soft and the flavours just explode in your mouth. The food is cheap, delicious and the portion sizes are huge.Great Food and Friendly staff :)

Used to be my first option when having Italian food. I cannot believe most of spaghetti are broken off. And for the chicken Pesto the bottom of dish is full of oil and tastes no flavor. To be honest, it is a little bit disappointed that this restaurant cannot even cook the pasta above a average level as a Italian restaurant. But the quantity and the price for each dish is still good. Good for those who have good appetite

This restaurant was really famous. Packed during lunch time on a weekday. I ordered the Parma and it was HUGE. Could easily feed 2 people. And was affordable too at only $17.9 Everyone in our group enjoyed their food. The service was really good and quick as well. The only issue I had was that they charged for sauces. Even ketchup. And they gave such a small amount of it.

We took a tram and crossed over the Melbourne museum, took a 10min walk and every bit was worth it. We were a family of 4 pax, ordered 3 mains (Chicken Parma, chicken schnitzel, Marinara fettuccine), 1 side (chicken wings), 1 dessert (tiramisu) and we could not finish everything. We also arrived at 5:20pm, and the place was half full. By 6pm, there was a snaking queue already. Portion sizes were huge and contrary to some low star reviews, the service was pleasant, food was clean (I didn’t spot any flies in my food in summer)

The long Que on a rainy night tells how much the food here is sort-after. Friendly staff and very accommodating. For the kids brought colour pencils and drawing sheets soon as we were allocated a table, so they kept them busy until the hot food arrived! Despite a crazy busy Friday, they never missed any items we ordered. Value for money. Squid dish, Parma, and pizza are a must try. We didn't have enough room in our tummy to try desserts. We sat on a table outside, but the outdoor heaters kept us warm and toasty and avoided the loud noise at the indoor dining area. After the dinner, nice and full the happy girls performed an umbrella dance outdoors 😊

The convenience of ordering drinks through a QR code scan was a modern and efficient touch. However, I noticed that the food ordering process didn’t offer the same digital convenience. I believe integrating QR code ordering for the food menu as well would streamline the dining experience, making it even more enjoyable. Overall, the restaurant offers a great atmosphere and quality service, and this small enhancement could make a big difference.

Food is excellent and turned out to be worth the wait. There was a queue when I arrived at 6.40 pm and I was half tempted to turn on my heels in the direction of another restaurant. Good thing I was accompanied by friends who helped while the time away with great conversation, plenty of group photos and self-taken videos. So the 30-minute wait didn't feel so long after all. Go for the chicken parmigiana, classic risotto and veggie super special pizza. Not sure about the salmon dish. Desserts were the ice cream and bombolini. Very sweet but since we were sharing it amongst friends, we all took a small portion each so it was bearable. Service crew was excellent and accommodating with our requests for water and sharing plates, and 3.5 hour-long dining. Yes, come for the food and service. It's one of those places worth the wait.

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.

Best place to go to for amazing parma’s and pizzas. The quantity is huge at a very reasonable price. Weekdays the wait time ain’t that bad however you might have to wait longer on the weekends. But it’s worth the wait.

The Paul Special is my favourite :) Portion sizes are great, the prices are affordable considering the amount of food you get. Mains can easily be shared between two people so you will always leave feeling satisfied! The staff are always friendly no matter how busy it gets, however the atmosphere can get a bit noisy if you’re dining inside.

I was recommended by a local friend that Universal Restaurant has a very good menu. I enjoyed the food a lot and the portion is very generous. The Nutella Tiramisu is a must have. Expect 20-30 min waiting time as the restaurant is very popular on weekend. Staffs and waiters are very welcoming, updating you on waiting time and estimate.

The first time we went there the food was really really good. We had the chicken and a pasta plate to share. The taste was spot on and I would give 5 stars for that. Garlic Bread and the Schnitzel were one of the best I ever had. The pesto pasta and the pizza were also good but not as good as the rest.The Service was great , they’re very professional and fulfill every demand you have. Overall a very good experience and I would definitely come again!

It’s my first time having a seafood pasta where the seafood is actually more than the pasta. Food is tasty, price is reasonable, worth of money. However, the waitress could be nicer when it comes to manners. I’m not saying all the waitress are bad, but there’s one particular waitress that made my whole dining experience imperfect. Overall 4.5/5.

Top restaurant for best Italian food 🤩. Being a vegetarian there is always limited choices in the menu but here they customised the chicken and mushroom pasta for us and the risotto was also amazing! Their serving size is pretty good 😉! (Actually it was a lot for me 😅)

Spaghetti is very delicious. I just ate this delicious. Plus, the price is very cheap. It's really worth it. When paying at the counter, the staff is a little confused. Waiting to pay for a long time, even though there are not many customers. But overall, the food is delicious, cheap, worth it, should try spaghetti.

This busy restaurant always has a line out the front which gives a strong statement about the restaurant. The staff are super friendly and helpful and go out of their way to help. Food is always delicious

Visited twice in the short span of 2 weeks. Absolutely massive portion sizes, definitely get the signature chicken parmigiana and schnitzel with mushroom sauce, both of which were delicious, so well-balanced with the fresh slaw and basil which helped cut through the grease, and great for sharing. Poseidon risotto was generous and tasty as well. Marinara cream seafood pasta was a little too undercooked for my liking rather than al-dente. Staff were attentive, helpful and friendly and food came out fast. Overall good value for money for Melbourne, and would return again. Despite the fact that the restaurant has plenty of seating, do try to come during off-peak hours or be prepared to queue in line for a seat.

Been here many times for their chicken parma, one of the best and biggest with a side of chips and salad. Chips were not as good as before when I visited today, they had the potato skin on and tasted bit different. They have ample of seating space but be prepared for at least 10 min during peak times They also have good mocktails, I recommend the Hawaiian punch.

Food was a decent price, good amount, and overall good taste. Pizza was good. Chicken Parm is a very good portion (make sure to share with someone!) Pesto Chicken Pasta so-so.

Great food and value for price, very big portion. We had special pizza and chicken schnitzel. Waiter and waitress need to be more attentive and friendly. If I were to choose between this restaurant and other restaurants down the street, I prefer go to the ones that service is better.

We ordered their Tuscan chicken dish since it was recommended on their menu but it was a terrible choice which could be why we noticed people around us didn’t order this dish. While the chicken breast fillet was decent, the risotto was very bland. We ordered Paul Special as well which is a pasta with bacon, garlic and chilli in a rose sauce. It was better than the risotto but it’s pretty salty. Perhaps we should have ordered their chicken parmigiana instead since we observed that’s what most people around us had ordered.

A Perfect Italian restaurant, delicious food and wine, reasonable pricing and excellent service. It’s always packed and you have to wait in line to get a table but it well worth it. We have eaten there several times and its our go to restaurant. Pasta, pizza and chicken parma is great here.

The food was great, and it comes in a big portion... Try their chicken schnitzel and pasta, they are so good. And the pizza, it has a smoky aroma from the woodfire. The service also great, even though they are so hectic. And the price is very reasonable.