One of Melbourne's hidden gems. The Waiter's Club is a great place for lunch or dinner and you will always get value for money.

The portions are huge, the wine is served in tumblers and the decor is right out of the 1970s. Very unassuming, it's one of Melbourne's best Italian options.

Be sure to try out the Porsini risotto.

Whenever I visit Melbourne and I know I'm in for a night of hard drinking, I go to the Waiter's Club first. The food is so lovely and makes for a great pre-drinks dinner. Great, big serves of traditional pasta, very un-challenging!

The best thing though is that they will come around and refill your large wine glass to the brim with wine any time you ask. Old school!

By the end, you will feel incredibly merry and sated.

A quick note: some of their dishes can be a little bland. I like plain, hearty food, but if you hate that kind of thing, this place might not be for you!

And, as others have said, the decor is exactly the same as it would have been in the 70s, but people still come (it's always full) for the great food and great prices.

My family and I go to this restaurant a couple of times a year. The food is generous and delicious, and the price is very inexpensive.

It's a very basic place. The pasta is excellent and meat dishes are good. The only wine served comes in a regular glass. The dessert is what you'd expect, but good.

You don't go here for the decor, unless you want 1940s laminated, unrenovated chic.

It's hard to find, being down an alley and up a rickety staircase. But once you're inside, you know you're going to get good value for money. The kitchen is essentially at the end of the small dining room, so you can see them preparing the meals.

Did I mention that the pasta is terrific?

Approximate cost: $20

Great little Italian restaurant for lunch with clients or for dinner. A nice spread on the menu ranging from Pastas, antipastos, steaks, Parmigiana chicken/veal.

I really recommend this if you want a nice traditional style Italian meal. The inside will remind you of some Italian family's outside kitchen so it has a nice authentic feel to it. And the food is casalinga (home style)

Approximate cost: $15