Tiamo

Taimo is a Lygon Street institution, well-known for its authentic Italian food and warm, attentive service. Today, it certainly lived up to its reputation. To celebrate my daughter’s university graduation, this was her restaurant of choice and it didn’t disappoint. The decor is charming, paying tribute to the history of the owners over the years, which adds a lovely personal touch to the dining experience. We started with the garlic focaccia topped with mozzarella, a delicious way to take the edge off our appetite. For mains, we shared the wagyu beef penne and the spaghetti Bolognese. Both dishes were hearty, flavourful, and perfectly portioned for three to share. The food is wholesome and satisfying, though a little on the pricey side at $78 for two mains and one starter. That said, it seems to reflect the standard cost of dining out these days. Good to Know: Dietary requirements are catered for—just let the staff know. Indoor and outdoor seating is available, with heaters for colder days. High chairs are available for young children. Wheelchair access is available, though the toilets may present a challenge. Weekend surcharge: 10%. Public holiday surcharge: 15%. Parking on Lygon Street can be hit and miss, with time limits—public transport is a good option. Not BYO. The wine and beer list is simple but sufficient. Staff were friendly and quick to seat us, offering water and menus promptly. A memorable meal for a special occasion, @tiamomelbourne remains a reliable choice for classic Italian dining in Melbourne. #tripadvisor #tripadvisorreview #tripadvisorreviewer #googlelocalguide #googlelocalguides #letsguide #thewanderingreviewer #tiamolygonstreet #lygonstreet #lygonstreetcarlton #italianfoodmelbourne

1. I had an appointment with a friend, and the waiter directed us to two different seats. 2. We ordered food and the waiter didn’t put it in the system 7/10 ordered a Capricciosa pizza with anchovies The bread is somewhat fluffy, and the flavours were mild. It’s a standard good pizza 6/10 carbonara I could taste the black pepper in the pasta, but the noodles are slightly more overcooked than I would prefer. It’s moderately good. All in all, this place is alright

Absolutely loved everything I tried at Tiamo! The braised meat (I believe it was Osso Buco?) was melt-in-your-mouth tender, rich with deep, savory flavors and perfectly balanced with the vibrant tomato-based sauce. Paired with buttery potatoes and sweet roasted carrots, it was hearty and comforting—total perfection on a plate. The handmade pasta with mushrooms was another standout. Silky, perfectly al dente, and coated in a luxuriously creamy sauce that clung to every fold. The mushrooms added that earthy umami depth, and the sprinkle of seasoning on top gave it a little extra magic. I could eat this every day. Tiamo truly nails both rustic comfort and refined execution. I can’t wait to go back! p.s. staffs are friendly too!

I went with my friend last week, the food was delicious and was really quick to get in the table but the customer service is horrible. While we were waiting for a table, the girl that assisted us til the waiter that took our orders they were super rude. They were waiting for us to leave but they don’t even tell u the time closing, just picked up the things from the table while we were eating, not even one smile (or a fake one) Such a shame, the place looks really nice from outside but with this bad experience i dont recommend it.

Tiamo is a popular spot, and for good reason—the food is absolutely delicious! However, I highly recommend pre-booking as they get extremely busy, and the wait times can be long. Once you’re seated, service is quick and efficient, which helps keep things moving. Just be aware that they do not split bills, so plan ahead if dining in a group. There’s also a 10% surcharge on weekends and a 15% surcharge on public holidays. Overall, a great choice for authentic Italian food,

We recently had lunch at Tiamo in Carlton, and it was fantastic. The cozy atmosphere and friendly staff made us feel right at home. The menu offered a range of traditional Italian dishes. We started with the antipasto and chips, which were the perfect way to begin our meal. For the main courses, we had the risotto, gnocchi, lasagna, and spaghetti marinara. Each dish had fresh ingredients and were cooked to perfection. The service was attentive, and we didn't feel rushed at all. The prices were reasonable, considering the quality of the food and the overall dining experience. If you're in Carlton and looking for a great Italian lunch spot, Tiamo is definitely worth a visit.

Some of our favourite Italian food! The pizza is always wonderful, the go to Fungi pizza was great and the caprese special was light and tasty! Caesar salad was nice, well flavoured with plenty of Parmesan. The pasta was a little under salted, but the meat was soft. We will return again.

The Penne Al Ragu and Eggplant Parmigiana were really good. Ordered Quattro Funghi pizza, generous mushroom topping but a bit salty to our liking - maybe bcos of the cheese. Overall, good food and nice ambience... definitely worth a visit.

Been here plenty of times and the food, service and price is always amazing. Will always be a returning customer here

The worst Italian food I have ever been served. The veal Parma had been so deep fried it was hard as a rock - almost blackened. When I politely complained that I left it as I just couldn't eat it, my complaint was dismissed with "that's the way we have cooked it for 45 years . Seriously when someone cannot eat the food you have served and you expect them to pay regardless - worst customer service ever! Don't go there!!!!!.

We visited Tiamo pre covid and the place was packed! Like, super long line packed. We got to sit at the bar, which worked out well. We had some tasty garlic bread, the husband had lasagna and I had seafood pasta....all was tasty and seemed fresh. We were happy to have found a place to eat on this super busy street!

The line wasn't too long to get into this place. We sat outside on a beautiful spring evening. We got a margarita, salami and a artichoke paste pizza. It was well worth the wait.

Although the other meals may have been good at this restaurant the truffle sauce has absolutely no truffle in it. It was a fine dish but should never have been titled with truffles if they were going to skim on it so much so that one couldn't even smell it. In addition to this the service was quite bad: they forgot to take our orders after delivering our starters and had to be reminded we ordered Prosecco 4 times. Additionally for the same bottle of Prosecco half of our party was given wine glasses while the other half was given Prosecco glasses. It would be an okay restaurant but not for the price whatsoever.

My daughter lives in Melbourne and couldn't wait to bring me her. I'm glad she done. Enjoyed the ambiance of street but our pasta salad and osso bucco rocked. Reasonable prices and quick service

For an Italian restaurant in a city known for its food, this was a huge disappointment. The Antipasto plate was nice and atmosphere was cozy. But I would not go back for food. I ordered the carbonara, and what I got was noodles with scrambled eggs. The technique of creating the creamy egg sauce was so obviously lacking, I'm not sure how they sent that plate to a table without being embarrassed. But the staff knew it was horrible, because they avoided our table like the plague as my dish sat barely touched. So not worth the time or money when there are many other, better restaurants.

I'm from Los Angeles and this Is probably the best pasta I have ever had. I had the penne Al Pesto and it was the best pasta and pesto I ever had. The servings are the perfect size and the service is great.

Tiamo is the quintessential Lygon Street restaurant. It does basic Italian food quickly and cheaply, and to a reasonable quality. It's nothing spectacular, but never bad. The pokey little place has remained unchanged in the time I've been a customer (over 10 years - eek!) and I think it's reasonable to guess it's been the same for it's entire forty-something years. Given it's directly across the street from Lygon Court, it's become a bit of a tradition to have a bowl of pasta and a glass of wine before heading into the movies. My recommendation is to grab one of the outside tables (the heaters make it tolerable in winter) and watch the bustle. Inside is snug, but if you carb-load on pasta and bread, then have a glass of red you might start to feel a bit sleepy. There's always a glut of people trying to squeeze in and out of Tiamo's little door simultaneously, but the waiters generally remain patient and polite even when customers and passers by bump their plate-filled hands. It's this bustle that is Tiamo's real appeal - there's something warm and welcoming about it that's missing in a lot of Lygon Street's other cheap Italian eateries.

Just stopped in here for a quick coffee and catch up with a friend. We sat and dished the goss and stories from her interstate travels. We were met by water almost as soon as we sat down and greeted by a relatively cheery waitress. We only ordered drinks, her a gin and tonic, and a Peroni for myself. The gin and tonic came around straight away but after 10 minutes or so I had to ask for my Peroni again (which was obviously forgotten unless they were freshley brewing the beer out back). After the Peroni was brought out we continued gas-bagging and stocked up on drinks a few times. The service was prompt after the first incident and happy to say I enjoyed the sunshine in their wooden outdoor seating area.

Really yummy spot for lunch. We sat outside on the sidewalk and shared a pizza and a pasta. The tortellini bolognese was delicious! I'm glad that we chose this spot for our Little Italy meal.

We came here two days in a row and the food was consistently good. The first was for dinner where I had the special. It was some kind of whitefish, although I forget which species. It was perfectly cooked, with a nice surface char and a moist interior. The fish lay on a well dressed bed of salad. My eight-year- old daughter had the margherita pizza. It was amazing to see her gobble all but 2 slices of it. The sauce was pleasingly sweet and tangy, and crust was yum-crunchy. The next day she begged to go back. Same delicious pizza as before. My main gripe was our seating. On the first night our table was just outside of the kitchen and it was boisterous, with the staff having a minor argument amongst themselves. On the second day, we were stuck at a small side table that was so cramped that the staff had to hand me the dishes instead of placing them on the table. All told, the pros outweigh the cons. If my daughter had her way, we'd return on our next trip to Melbs.

Stick to the basics and you can't go wrong here. Lygon Street is famous for its Italian food, it's the home of the stuff in Melbourne. And while that brings with it its own downside - semi-regular gangland shootings, ceaselessly panhandling 'spruikers', overpriced shitty food and plenty of bogans come grand prix or spring racing carnival time - there are a couple of places along the strip worthy of note. Tiamo 2 is a no-frills Italian restaurant. They offer pretty standard options - napoli, marinara, lasagna, bolognaise etc - but they do it with very little fuss and generally with smiles on their faces. They also do cheap carafes of wine to wash the pasta down and a killer garlic bread. Nestled in the heart of the 'good end' of Lygon Street and shouldered by a pretty awesome deli on one side, Readings on the other, and the Cinema Nova over the road, Tiamo 2 has the added advantage of not subjecting customers to the other (slightly more painful) end of the strip.

Absolutely rude service. So many other places with pleasant service you could go to. The service was so rude I decided not to stay and go to one of the many other trillion cafes along Lygon for a coffee.

I meet friends here regularly, I go for the food and the coffee, oh and the beer. Tiamo is a bit of an institution in Carlton and rightly so.

Tortellini was dry, bland and an utter disappointment. Too hot to even enjoy ourselves. Should really consider getting better air conditioning if you are planning on housing that many people.

Tiamo 2 is a great choice if you're heading to Nova Cinema and want a good value Italian meal or coffee. I haven't been to the original Tiamo however its second in command is bustling and rustic and offers hearty and well made Italian classics. The servings are generous and the pasta and pizza dishes authentic and tasty. The food is not the best Italian in Melbourne but it is at the better then most of the offerings you will find on Lygon Street. The menu is small but they know what they are doing, which is unfortunately not always the case. The house wines are served in tumbler glasses which reflect the restaurants down to earth approach. They don't take reservations here and it does get busy so be prepared to wait a bit on weekends. You can rely on Tiamo 2 as a consistent and good option in Lygon Street.

Don't trust the gluten free menu!! Attended a family dinner 18/11/16. My daughter is coeliac and has severe reactions to gluten. The staff were made aware, and they assured us their menu was safe. She ended up vomiting from 11:00pm to 2:00am that evening. I notified the restaurant the following day, and was assured the meal was gluten free! The manager refused to admit their error, and offered no compensation. My daughters reaction was definitely how she reacts to gluten. Thanks to this episode, she missed going to school camp the next morning.

Arguably one of the most well-known restaurants on Lygon street. I've been here a few times and it can be a little hit and miss. A late-ish dinner on a weekday would be your best bet for a casual dinning experience that doesn't threaten to get too busy and hectic. You'll find all the regular great Italian items on the menu. The cabonara wasn't the best or the worst I've ever had but I much preferred the bologna. One late night our waiter was a real treat to talk to which made everything more enjoyable. Though it could have purely been because he wasn't under the pump. On other occasions, like bang-on lunchtime on a sunny Saturday, you may not find the same warm chatty service.

TBH - Tiamo is not my favorite restuarant on Lygon street. However, it serves a purpose. If you have some fussy/picky friends who are not happy with a place that specialises (great pizza or great pasta but not both - because there is always that one person who can't have one or the other!), then tiamo is a good option. They have all of the above. Would I go there again? Yes. Would I go there if I were with just one other? No

This place was cool. BYO, pizzas, pastas, salads, etc. It was packed on a Wednesday night even. Had a nice meal and drink. But for me personally, I find most places on Lygon street to be pretty much the same. Just standard, Italian food, hurried service. All serve same dishes, etc etc. And Tiamo was just kinda like that. Which was enjoyable. But I wouldn't necessarily pick it over anywhere else next time hungry and in the area.

This place is home on Lygon. Italian waiters serve beautiful Italian food and carafes of wine in the heart of Carlton. Please, for the love of all that is good and holy, try the penne ragu. I'd tell you what else on the menu is good, but I was recommended the ragu on my first visit and I haven't been able to order anything else since! The atmosphere and clamor, the attentive-yet-nonchalant attitude of the waiters, the romance of drinking chianti by the carafe and sitting in a cosy restaurant perfumed by the steam rising from fresh, handmade pasta and warmed by the pizza oven is only complemented by the ridiculously generous portion sizes which are amazing value for money (that ragu - $17.50). You may have to wait a little while to get in on a weekend peak-hour, but do it. It's worth it. Beautiful venue for a romantic first date, or an intimate catch up with friends. Any more than 4 at a table, and the lively atmosphere may make it hard to hear whats being said at the other end of the table. They also have an upstairs, where one day I dream of having some cosy, intimate function. If you live in Melbourne, shop at Readings and frequent the Nova and haven't been to Tiamo 2 yet, please, do yourself a favour and remedy this! And if you don't eat the ragu, let me know how delicious everything else on the menu is! ;)

I came here with a large group of friends. That was a huge mistake. There isn't a lot of room so we were seated at a few different tables. Not a place to go if you're with more than 4 or 5 people. The food was good. It just wasn't anything special or unique.

Was recommended this place from friends as one of the highlights down lygon street! Took a group of family down here for dinner. The restaurant was nice and the staff were friendly. However didn't really cater for parents with baby, as the restaurant consistent of just one baby seat (which was in use when we arrived) however staff did the best the could to accommodate. Placed order for foods, had a shared mushroom and prawn pizza, which was rather delightful. Onto mains I had pasta with cream sauce and mushroom. It lacked abit in flavour but the dish was cooked well! Everyone else seemed to enjoy their mains. I believe their is nicer restaurants down lygon than this one, as my overall experience this place was average.

Heard pretty good reviews on this one so I gave it a crack tonight at Tiamo2 . Went there for a dinner, didn't have a chance to try their coffee. But dinner was sensational. I'm not an Italian and I don't give a sh*t to dishes names as they all sounded the same to me. So I picked this random creamy tortellini with truffle mushroom as main to share with a girlfriend of mine, plus a warm chicken salad as appetizer. Tortellini was juicy creamy, we ordered some bread to eat with - cause the sauce was amazing!! Chicken in the salad was crispy chilly which is quite unusually refreshing, as normal restaurants serve only white pieces of chicken breasts for salad like this. I can tell chefs at Tiamo had put thought about each dishes, which is very important for a restaurant to be able to stand out from the crowd especially on a high competition location like Lyon street. Good job. Drink list is quite special too. Minus the usual house red and white, Tiamo offers spritz and some cocktail made of spritz such as Campari bitter mixed with spritz. Very girly drink and yet, quite strong in alcohol too. I'm surprised a cafe restaurant serve drinks like this. Me likeyyyy :) Overall experience was good. Will definitely come back!

When in Rome, do what the Romans do. Or in the case of Lygon Street, do what the locals do and have a meal at Tiamo. I adore this section of Carlton as it has all my faves - Cinema Nova, Readings, DOC, Markov, Brunettis and Trotters. Tiamo would have to be there as well, as it serves hearty and simple Italian food in an ambient spot which is perfect for people watching in the outdoor section. Service can be a little haphazard, but it adds to the authenticity of the experience. Recommend the antipasto, maccheroni with mini meatballs, eggplant and Napoli sauce, and a glass of pinot noir. Save yourself for dessert across the road at Brunettis!

I really am not sure about what to give Tiamo 2. It is a fairly cheap Italian restaurant that has a much warmer atmosphere than the other Italian restaurants at the other end of the strip and better quality food. These so mentioned joints cash in on tourists not knowing that Lygon Street's reputation for great quality Italian food is only party true. Avoid these ones like the plague! You have to know where to look. Having said that, I find that Tiamo 2's food whilst a cut above these other places, it is still very much hit and miss. It is pasta that they do the best and that is what I'd stick to. The service is also very hit and miss as they often seem to struggle when the venue is packed. For way better pizza, I'd head to DOC just down the road.

My Wife and I have been going there (Tiamos 1+ then 2) for about 30years, it has been very good food, and we have been through the menu several times, always friendly staff. they almost treat us like family; well we have be known to eat there twice a week some times. Always good priced true Italian. Yes we are fans. Greg and Diane Lyndon.

The pasta is actually really good a 4-5 for sure, however the pizza is not very nice at all which is disappointing for an Italian restaurant. Also, when I was there with a friend who could not have gluten this seemed to confuse the waiters, even though gluten free is listed on the menu. (we actually ended up having to swap meals which was fine however I would have liked the mistake to be acknowledged) Basically go for the pasta and skip the pizza!

A Lygon Street staple. I come here quite regularly before my dance class and I usually order the pasta. It's quite delicious (with generous helpings) and I can see why Tiamo has been popular over the years. The staff are very nice and the service is generally quite fast.

I eat here quite often and the food is always great. You can't go past the pizza or pasta. It can get busy and sometimes there is a wait but it is worth it. I don't have a favorite pizza or pasta dish as I like to change it up. They don't do half and half pizza's and they won't let you add meat to one side of a vegetarian. So if u have a vegetarian girlfriend like I do it is no good to split a pizza. Most other restaurants on Lygon street will do this for you.

Tiamo 2 is the newer, renovated next door neighbour to the long running original Tiamo. Like the original, its a busy, bustling restaurant that serves good, cheap Italian. Its comfortable here, and not pretentious in any way. There are no reservations, so just arrive and put your name down while you enjoy the bar and all its delicious beverages. My favourite dish here would be the tortellini in a cream sauce with chicken and mushrooms (mmm, mushrooms), followed in a close second by an eggplant and meatball pasta in a tomato based sauce off the specials board. Always,ALWAYS check the specials board- the dishes are delicious and interesting.

Childhood favorite. Maccheroni della zia and penne ragu are strong choices. Nothing better than sitting here in winter under the heaters with pasta, wine and friends watching the world go by.

Best pasta ever. Highly recommend all year round. Plenty of healthy options. Service is impeccable.

This place was OK. Nothing to rave about. Formal interior with nice ambience. Pizza was just overpriced though for the quality. $17 for a large Capriccosa and I was only 70% full. This would make most people full but the quality just wasn't good enough. Crust too thick. Ingredients eg olives, cheese, ham were just sub standard/out of the packet. Not very impressed but yet the food still tasted just standard. Probably will not come back here

Classic old school Melbourne-italian vibe. Reminds me of my child hood. The food will not blow your mind, this is not fine dining, but it is just like nonna used to make. Be prepared to have your memories flood in. The pastas are classic, and the red wine in a little coffee glass are also classic. It's more about the vibe, and a bit friendlier than many places on Lygon st that try to force you inside.

A last minute decision to head to Tiamo for a meal. The food was nice and the place was cozy. I have had better Italian food but I have to say the lovely wait staff made things all the more better when I accidentally misheard something from the staff and thus ordered incorrectly. They were apologetic even though it was my mistake. The staff even returned to double check that the meal was acceptable. It was lovely to see that attentiveness and service. I would return again for a nice casual meal with family or friends.

i know its not cool to like anything in Lygon St but every time i come here I love it. Great pasta, superb chicken livers, reasonable house wine and fresh interesting salads. maybe not coooool but great none the less.

I actually don't mind Tiamo 2, maybe because it's the most central of Lygon places? Excellent garlic bread / focaccias, the past that I had was pretty decent too. And the pasta that my friend had looked great.

I tried the 4 mushroom and seafood pizzas. They were in the Italian style, thin crust little sauce, little cheese. Overall, pretty tasty.

Have returned to this place after not eating there for a year. The quality has gone down the drain. The food was terrible and apart from that they charged us a public holiday surcharge of $18 in a $170 bill without even telling us when we made the reservation. Never going there again. Rip off and terrible food that even a dog won't eat.

Not a bad place. Would eat here again. I had one of the specials, salmon risotto, and a roquette salad. The upstairs is a little more quiet and with a little more light.

Maybe we just got them on a bad night but the quality of the food was a bit disappointing. Each of the 5 of us got a main pasta and then we shared garlice bread. The pasta sauces were great but the problem was the pasta was all really limp and overdone with no texture to it whatsoever, and the garlic bread had very little garlic taste but seemed more like just plain old bread. First bad experience I have had on Lygon st though the staff were friendly enough.