The University Café and how to pay

"Delizioso cibo italiano cucinato con passione e amore." University Café Menu

Last Thursday we dined with our sons in one of our favourite Lygon Street restaurants, The University Café - or the Università as it was first known in Italian. It is located in the main strip of Lygon Street and is always busy, busy, busy. As you can see it has quite a large alfresco dining area, where people sit all year round thanks to the overhead heaters that abound in this street. It's loud, buzzy and although the food is not very exciting - it's all standard fare - it is all pretty well prepared and tasty.

It was founded back in 1952 by the Donnini family who have since created their own Italian food empire - fresh pasta shops and a few restaurants - one of which is across the road from the University. I actually couldn't find out much about its history, other than that it was one of the first in Lygon Street and one of the first to have an Espresso machine. The Espresso machine is still there in the University Cafe, although not used - it is on display in a glass case.

You can just see it in the background behind a picture of the current owner, Giancarlo Caprioli who took the University over in 1976. He is now in his eighties and is said to work there seven days a week.

And it may have been this gentleman with whom my husband had a slight run-in.

We had had a very pleasant evening, with lovely food (though the portions were a little large). I had a very traditional tagliatelle carbonara - but I'm not very good at making a carbonara - I always end up with scrambled eggs, and not a creamy sauce. The bacon was a touch salty I guess, but really it was lovely. And the focaccia with anchovies and cheese that my son and I shared as an entrée was good too, though a bit light on the anchovies. Well this is not fine dining and so I am not going to complain about the food.

However when it came to pay the bill we discovered that there was a charge for using a credit card, perhaps not that unusual, but also for doing an EFTPOS transaction - not at all common. Which peeved my husband and so he complained. An explanation was given of the costs to the business, etc. but in a slightly offhand way, and then when we left he was also accosted by another older man complaining about his complaint. Well I think this is what happened. I confess I found it all too embarrassing and unnecessary and walked off. So I can't really say who was in the right or the wrong on politeness.

But I will say something about all of this. As I said before, the University is a very busy café - all day - so I am guessing that it makes money, so there is no need to antagonise your customers by not accepting EFTPOS without a charge. If you really want to absorb your cost, then simply put up your price or only accept cash. I think we were also encouraged to leave, slightly before we were ready. At the University you usually pay at the bar, but on this occasion a more senior waiter - the man in charge I guess - came to the table and politely gave us the bill. I think we were being given a hint to move on, which was actually unnecessary because there were a couple of empty tables. Also not good. And if my husband is right and he was accosted by the owner or someone like that, then that really is not good business. So thumbs down for paying the bill.

It's interesting though is it not how paying the bill is an ever changing thing? Do you even remember a time before credit cards? They say that one day we shall be a cashless society, but it seems to me that if people start charging for paying electronically - with your phone, by tapping the machine, inserting a card, etc., then we might actually return to cash. The American Express card, for example is often not given as an option because I believe they charge the retailers more than the other cards, and in days of slim margins it's just a step too far for the retailer. And it's rare to find anyone who will split the bill between two or more credit cards - which I think is probably fair enough.

This is the first time we have been charged for an EFTPOS transaction and I suspect it might mean that we never go to the University again. David was very angry in the end - not so much for the fact that he was charged, though that might've been enough, but more for the argument that ensued. There is plenty of competition after all in Lygon St - beginning with Donnini's across the road and the Da Mattina cafés further down the street, not to mention Ti Amor, where you can never get a seat anyway. I wonder if it is a sign of the times and that others will soon follow the charging for EFTPOS thing. Maybe in true Italian tribalism fashion they have all already colluded to add the charge.

I do recommend the University for the atmosphere and the food though. Such a pity about the bill.