Universal Restaurant 141 Lygon Street, Carlton, Victoria 3053

"Eating at the famous Lygon street area in Melbourne and we come to this place right here. This place is 5 stars for value and the sheer monstrosity of its portion sizes. If you live by the big is more mantra and you are into Italian food then this place ticks the boxes. It’s comfort food XXXL. The food is ok tasting. Ordered the fettuccine carbonara, Ceaser salad and chicken Parmy. Definite comfort food. Just don’t expect gourmet, this is so tasty, knock my socks kind of taste. Real honest Italian food with huge servings. $17.90 for that chicken Parmy is a bloody a good deal in any bodies book!! The food is bloody cheap for the huge amounts of food that you get coming here.."

"Universal Restaurant in Carlton exceeded my expectations in every way. Opting for their Chicken Parma was a fantastic choice—I was greeted with a massive portion that offered unbeatable value for the price. The quick service ensured that I didn't have to wait long before digging into this delicious meal. The perfectly cooked chicken, paired with a mouthwatering blend of flavors, made for an unforgettable dining experience. Universal Restaurant has truly mastered the art of offering generous portions without compromising on taste or quality. This gem in Carlton has earned my respect for delivering a memorable meal, and I can't wait to return for more culinary delights"

"Been here once before and remembered the parmas being better. Both the vegan and regular Parma were overcooked, mainly the vegan one which was kind of doughy and tough. We also had the Paul's special pasta which was fantastic and would definitely go back for that. Service was quick and very friendly."

"Good pasta will cooked and great flavors, got the Oysters too which tasted fresh and delicious. Beer served in a traditional point glass which is a blast from the past for me. Good attentive service. Overall a pleasant meal."

"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."