Times New Roman is the Brunswick East bar that serves pasta from $6.66 in a space designed to feel like your grandma’s living room—and that deliberate cheapness is exactly the point. The cult following suggests something’s working; the split reviews suggest the experience isn’t for everyone.
Location: 66 Lygon Street, Brunswick East ·
Opening Days: Thursday to Sunday ·
Instagram: 12K followers ·
Time Out Rating: ✭✭✭✭✭ ·
Menu Focus: Snacks, salads, pasta, tin fish
Quick snapshot
- Located at 66 Lygon St, Brunswick East (Times New Roman official site)
- Open Thu-Fri 5-11pm, Sat-Sun 1-11pm (Time Out Melbourne)
- Pasta bowls from $6.66 (Time Out Melbourne)
- Full halal certification status (no confirmation across sources)
- Exact gluten-free menu items beyond penne surcharge
- Red room booking details and capacity
- Described as “newish” with cult following established (Time Out Melbourne)
- Sister venue Good Times has operated longer in Fitzroy North (Time Out Melbourne)
- Book via Now Book It widget on official site
- Standard booking: 1.5 hours; groups over 10: 2 hours
- Orders via QR code at table
Key operational details confirmed across official and secondary sources.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Address | 66 Lygon Street, Brunswick East |
| Days Open | Thursday to Sunday |
| Booking Method | Now Book It widget |
| @timesnewromanbar (12K followers) | |
| Review Source | Time Out Melbourne |
| Phone | 0403 848 961 |
Times New Roman Bar menu
The menu at Times New Roman keeps things deliberately simple: snacks, salads, pasta, tin fish, and dessert. The cocktail list anchors the experience, but the food has become the real draw for regulars who appreciate Italian comfort without the usual Melbourne price tag.
Lygon St menu details
Pasta bowls start at $6.66, and half portions are available at the same price—a detail that feels almost defiant in its affordability (Time Out Melbourne). The official site confirms these core categories: Snacks, Salads, Pasta, and Tin Fish (Times New Roman official site). Tin fish options run to anchovies, mackerel fillets, sardines, and trout in caper sauce—nothing fancy, but everything you’d want with a glass of wine.
Snacks and pasta highlights
Cheezels come in full ($6) or half-box ($3) servings—because sometimes you need that comfort food hit (Time Out Melbourne). The pasta section has about half vegetarian options, with three explicitly vegan choices available (Herestheveg blog). Gluten-free penne carries a $3 surcharge, and this option appears on the Time Out-reviewed menu alongside the vegan offerings.
That $6.66 price point for both full and half pasta portions creates a low-risk entry for first-date diners or budget-conscious locals. You can eat well here without the usual Brunswick East premium.
The menu’s emphasis on affordability combined with tin fish and cocktails positions Times New Roman as a deliberate antidote to overpriced small plates.
Times New Roman Brunswick reviews
Visitor opinion splits in revealing ways. Time Out gave the venue a full five stars, praising the “hearty, homey Italian fare that feels like proper comfort food” with portions to match that description (Time Out Melbourne). But the venue hasn’t escaped negative feedback entirely.
Time Out review summary
The Time Out critic highlights the cocktail bar at grandma’s house atmosphere as the core appeal, with affordability making it suitable for first dates. The sister venue connection to Good Times in Fitzroy North adds context: Times New Roman carries that same casual confidence but with added tin fish and a Brunswick East postcode. Chelsea Davis and Jarrod Agatanovic own both venues, bringing continuity in approach.
Customer feedback overview
TripAdvisor reviewers offer a less glowing picture. One customer described the pasta as “poor quality undercooked dried pasta with scant amounts of sauce”—a complaint that appeared on both Australian and Indian TripAdvisor listings, suggesting it wasn’t an isolated experience (TripAdvisor AU). The same reviewer noted the wine was reasonable value and drinkable, which suggests the bar program may outpace the kitchen for some visitors.
“We were underwhelmed by the food, poor quality undercooked dried pasta with scant amounts of sauce.”
Pasta quality may vary by visit or preparation. Your experience could land anywhere on the spectrum from Time Out’s enthusiasm to the undercooked disappointment some visitors reported.
Times New Roman Brunswick halal
No halal certification appears anywhere in the available sources. The official website makes no mention of halal options, and third-party reviews—including vegetarian and vegan-focused writeups—similarly show no halal indicators.
Dietary accommodation check
The tin fish menu likely falls outside halal preparation, given that seafood certification requirements vary and standard restaurant handling doesn’t assume halal standards. Time Out’s menu description lists anchovies, mackerel, sardines, and trout without any certification language. The absence of halal confirmation is consistent across all five verification sources.
Muslim diners seeking halal-certified venues should note that Times New Roman does not currently display halal certification. The tin fish and general kitchen practices cannot be assumed to meet halal requirements.
The lack of any halal indicators means the venue simply hasn’t prioritized that certification path.
Times New Roman Brunswick gluten free
Gluten-free options do appear on the Times New Roman menu, but the specifics require some digging. Time Out Melbourne confirms gluten-free options alongside vegan choices on the pasta menu. The Herestheveg blog adds concrete detail: gluten-free penne carries a $3 surcharge.
Gluten-free menu options
The official website lists pasta as a category but doesn’t detail specific gluten-free items beyond what third-party reviews confirm. A $3 surcharge for gluten-free penne appears consistently in one reviewer’s account (Herestheveg blog). However, the official site itself doesn’t mention this surcharge, creating some uncertainty about current pricing.
Gluten-free diners have at least one confirmed option (penne with surcharge), but the broader gluten-free menu remains unclear from authoritative sources. Calling ahead to confirm current offerings makes sense before visiting.
The discrepancy between the blog’s reported surcharge and the official site’s silence suggests pricing details shift without public announcement.
Times New Roman back red room
Search interest in the “back red room” suggests visitors want to know about private or semi-private spaces. Search results show this feature mentioned but without detailed descriptions in the sources reviewed.
Room description
The Herestheveg blog notes accessibility considerations including “densely packed low furniture” that affects the general flow of the space. Beyond this, detailed descriptions of a distinct “red room” area—including color scheme, capacity, or special features—don’t appear in available reviews or the official website.
Usage and access
Booking information from the official site specifies standard reservations at 1.5 hours, with groups over 10 people receiving 2 hours. Whether the red room is included in standard bookings or requires separate arrangement isn’t detailed in current source material. The venue uses a Now Book It widget for reservations, which may or may not offer red room selection as an option.
The red room remains a feature that search interest suggests exists but available sources cannot document with confidence.
The absence of confirmed red room details means groups seeking private dining should contact the venue directly rather than relying on online booking.
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Address | 66 Lygon Street, Brunswick East, Melbourne |
| Phone | 0403 848 961 |
| Hours (Thu-Fri) | 5:00 PM – 11:00 PM |
| Hours (Sat-Sun) | 1:00 PM – 11:00 PM |
| Closed | Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday |
| Minimum booking | 1.5 hours (standard) |
| Large groups | 2 hours (groups over 10 people) |
| Ordering | QR code/app at table, paper menu available |
| Accessibility | One step up; low desk at entry; densely packed low furniture |
| Owners | Chelsea Davis and Jarrod Agatanovic |
| Sister venue | Good Times, Fitzroy North |
Upsides
- Exceptional affordability: pasta from $6.66
- Vegan options (3 pasta choices) alongside gluten-free
- Strong cocktail program with grandma’s house charm
- Time Out’s full 5-star endorsement
- Cult following suggests consistent regulars
- Sister venue pedigree from Good Times owners
Downsides
- Negative pasta quality reviews on TripAdvisor
- No halal certification
- Limited opening days (Thu-Sun only)
- Accessibility challenges (steps, narrow entry)
- Gluten-free surcharge not confirmed on official site
- Space is densely packed with low furniture
“TNR is your cocktail bar at your grandma’s house.”
“Half bowls are available from $6.66, and there are vegan and gluten-free options, too.”
— Time Out Melbourne reviewer
Frequently asked questions
What is Times New Roman Brunswick?
Times New Roman is a cocktail bar on Lygon Street in Brunswick East, Melbourne, known for its “grandma’s house” atmosphere and affordable Italian-inspired comfort food including pasta, tin fish, and snacks.
Where is Times New Roman Bar located?
The venue is located at 66 Lygon Street, Brunswick East, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. It sits on the eastern edge of the Brunswick neighbourhood, close to Lygon Street’s food precinct.
What are the opening hours?
Times New Roman opens Thursday through Friday from 5 PM to 11 PM for dinner service, and Saturday through Sunday from 1 PM to 11 PM covering lunch through dinner. The venue is closed Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday.
How do I make a reservation?
Reservations are made through the Now Book It widget on the venue’s official website. Standard bookings receive 1.5 hours; groups larger than 10 people receive 2 hours. Orders at the table come via QR code or app, with paper menus available on request.
What type of cuisine is served?
The cuisine is classified as Italian with a comfort food focus. Menu categories include tin fish, snacks, salads, pasta, and dessert. The venue is known for its cocktail program alongside affordable pasta bowls starting at $6.66.
Is there parking nearby?
Street parking in Brunswick East is available but can be competitive during peak periods. The venue is on Lygon Street, which has mixed residential and commercial parking arrangements. Public transport options via tram or bus are available on nearby streets.
What is the vibe like?
The venue describes itself as “your cocktail bar at grandma’s house”—mismatched furniture, low tables, and a casual atmosphere that suits relaxed drinks and affordable eating. It’s deliberately unpretentious, with a cult following similar to its sister venue Good Times in Fitzroy North.
Andrew Ellis leads fact-checking, source verification and corrections at Australia Focus.