Tiamo

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.

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! ;)

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.

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

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.

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 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.

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.

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.

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 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.

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 café restaurant serve drinks like this. Me likeyyyy :)
Overall experience was good. Will definitely come back!

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

I am not a fan of Lygon Street Italian restaurants; however, if I had to eat at one of the restaurants it would be Tiamo. Located across from Lygon Court, it attracts a substantial following. Tiamo is an old-​school Italian restaurant that has remained the same (check board flooring and faded posters of Italy) and in the same family for nearly 40 years.
The dishes are honest, substantial, and something I imagined my grandmother would cook if she were an old Italian grandmother. With communal and private tables, this place is usually packed to the brim for lunch and dinner.
On the menu, you’ll find classic Italian dishes such as minestrone, bruschetta, bologna, carbonara, and marinara. Considering value for money as many of the patrons here do (they’re all Melbourne University students), it is great value. For less than $ 15, you get a large serving of pasta and are absolutely stuffed.
Just be warned, the service is slightly slow.

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.