FAQS
General FAQs
Do we have to book?
No. We are mainly a walk in restaurant, but we accept a handful of bookings up until 6pm, or other times at our discretion.
How long will we have to wait for a table?
Although we are well known for queues out the door, the actual wait time is often quite short. Between 6.30 and 8.30pm on warm and dry Friday and Saturday nights is our peak time you expect to wait between 10-40 minutes. After 8pm there is often no wait at all as early diners are leaving the venue. If you are flexible about where to sit, we encourage you to just come on down. There is frequently no wait for tables outside of the above-mentioned peak times. NB Single diners and small groups of 2 or 3 will usually be seated very quickly. Larger groups of 6 or more generally have a longer wait as there are fewer places in the restaurant where they can be seated.
Why can’t I book a table after 6pm?
Radio Mexico is a unique dining eco-system. we are a mix of outdoor and semi-outdoor tables; we do not offer the traditional entre-main-dessert style of dining, and we do not move guests on once they are finished their meal. Therefore, it can be difficult for us to predict when tables will turn over. We think a walk in policy is most conducive to the style of dining which we offer.
Can we wait at the bar for a table?
Yes. There is a bar that seats 9 guests, and in busy times, we reserve this space for guests awaiting their table. If the bar is full, the Host will give you an accurate wait time, take your name and number and call you when your table is available. They will suggest a spot close by to go for a walk or start with a drink.
The website won’t let me book… are you booked out?
No. Definitely not. We accept a handful of bookings (around 16 guests) until 6pm for customers requiring certainty of their table, but otherwise, we are a walk-in venue. Just come on down. Feel free to call ahead to add your name to the list.
If I come late, will I lose my booking?
Potentially. We will hold your table for a maximum of 10 minutes. Please let us know if you think you will be late and we will do our best to accomodate you.
Can we book for a large group?
Yes. We offer our Communal Table for 8-12 (or 14 at a squeeze!) in 2 seatings: 6pm and 8pm, bookable online. Alternatively, our Private Dining Room is available for 10-28 guests, with a choice of start time and generous time allocation.
Can I book an outside table?
When you make a booking online, you have the opportunity to select between indoor, courtyard and outdoor tables.
I have dietary requirements. Will you be able to accomodate me?
Yes! We have a chart on site which is a guide to which dishes are acceptable for a wide range of dietary concerns. Most of our menu is nut and gluten free. We have many vegan and vegetarian options. Whilst we do not use a huge amount of dairy in our food, in most instances we can take it out. PLEASE NOTE that whilst we take great care, trace ingredients may be present in our food. Out of our meats, our chicken is certified Halal.
Is there wheelchair access?
Yes. And an accessible bathroom
Can I bring a cake?
Yes. When guests bring their own cake we charge $2.50/head Cakage... and will present your cake with sparklers, then slice and plate for you.
Can I bring my own wine?
No. We are a fully licensed venue.
Is the venue Child friendly?
Yes. We have an excellent kids menu, colouring in and patient waiters. We do ask, however, that you supervise your children at all times and that they remain seated (when they are running around it’s dangerous for them and our waiters); and that if your children make a significant mess whilst eating that you assist our staff to clean it up.
Can I bring my dog?
Yes please! So long as you are happy to sit outside in our foothpath or parklet sections.
Can we split our bill?
Yes - we will accept a maximum of 4 payments. But you and your group are responsible for determining the amounts in advance. Our staff will not calculate individual diners bills.
Do you accept Entertainment Card?
No.
Why are there no tacos on your takeaway menu?
They don’t travel well. If you just want a quick taco, they are best eaten straight from the grill. We welcome you to sit at the bar and have tacos on the run.
Are you Tex Mex?
No. And we don't call ourselves 'authentic' Mexican either. If anything, we are 'Mel Mex'! Our food is super fresh and uses authentic Mexican flavours in a Melbourne kind of way. We DON'T serve Burritos, Fajitas, frozen Margaritas or the kind of nachos you might expect in a Tex Mex place. We DO serve handmade, delicious, healthy food, which incorporates many authentic Mexican aromats and chili varietals, plus an array of fresh produce. We are also home to one of Australia's best collections of Tequila and Mezcal.
Do you have beer on tap?
Yes.
Do you serve mocktails or non-alcoholic beer?
Yes! We have a great selection of non-alc bev.
Which trams can I get to Radio Mexico?
The trams which stop closest are the 16 and the 96.
Is there parking close by?
Yes. There is plenty of free street parking all around St Kilda, sometimes with a time limit, and sometimes without. Metered street parking can be found on Spenser Street and the Esplanade. Paid public car parks can be found on Shakespeare Grove (behind Luna Park), Belford Street (between Acland & Barkly), the Coles carpark (entry via Barkly Street) and on the Beach Road behind the Palais Theatre. All of there options are within a 5 minute walk of Radio Mexico.
Do you offer catering?
Yes! See our Catering page on the website to review our offering.
Are you open on Public Holidays?
Yes and no. We are always closed on Christmas Day. At Easter we usually close on Saturday and Sunday. We are always open on Public Holiday Mondays, Grand Final Eve, and Melbourne Cup Day. On Public Holidays we apply a 10% surcharge.
Private dining room FAQs
What can we expect to pay for a great night?
For food and 2-3 drinks per head, expect to pay between $70-$120 per head, depending on your set menu choice and beverage preferences. Our Bookings Manager can help you customise your function based on your budget, occasion, and needs.
Do you have drinks packages?
Yes. We offer a 2 or 3 hour Beer & Wine packages for $45 and $65 respectively. The package includes a red wine, a white wine, a prosecco and Tecate (offering is changeable and at our discretion). We also offer a Welcome Margarita on the Rocks as an add-on for $15 per head.
Can we just pay for the drinks our group consumes?
Yes. Our preference is to charge beverage on consumption at menu prices. We believe this is the best value option and enables greater flexibility over the drinks offering for your group. In this scenario, beer is served individually, wine by the full bottle, and Margarita by the jug.
Can we order and pay for our drinks at the bar as we go?
No. There is no bar in our function room. Drinks are ordered through and served by your waiter, who will collate one bill for your group. Drinks cannot be paid for on an individual basis.
Can I BYO wine?
Yes, at a charge of $45/bottle.
How do we split our drinks bill?
It is the client’s responsibility to administer full payment of the bill. If it is helpful, we are happy to generate one bill for food, and another bill for beverage. Both will be fully itemised. Otherwise, your group will receive one bill itemising all of your function purchases, less your booking deposit of $200. We can split the bill up to five times when the client specifies the exact amounts to be paid.
How do we pay our bill?
We accept cash, Eftpos, Visa, Mastercard, AMEX and Diners.
I will be paying the bill in full, can I set a budget for the drinks?
Yes. Our functions team are happy to help you work to a budget. Firstly, we plan a drinks offering which suits your needs; and your waiter can communicate to your guests the extent of that offering. We can advise you as you approach your specified budget, and you can decide to extend or finalise the bill.
Can we pre-pay our bill?
Yes. This can be helpful for groups who have a set budget for their event. Payment can be made using regular methods listed above; or we can issue an invoice for payment by direct debit.
Does your set menu cater for dietary requirements?
Yes. At Radio Mexico we will supply substitute meals where necessary for guests with specific needs. We can accommodate even the trickiest dietary requirements when we are informed in advance. Requests made on arrival cannot always be fulfilled.
What if there is a food allergy in our group?
At Radio Mexico, we take food allergies very seriously and thus ask guests with genuine allergies to carry an EpiPen when they dine with us. Although we take great care, our cooking and preparation surfaces may contain trace elements of wheat, dairy, nuts, seeds, meats and seafood.
Can we bring a cake?
Certainly! You are welcome to bring a cake to celebrate your occasion. Just let us know in advance. We will serve and portion for your group at a Cakeage charge of $2.50 per guest. We include sparklers in presentation but if you prefer candles or other props, please bring them along. NB We do not have sufficient freezer storage space for Ice Cream cakes, so please choose a cake which can be held at ambient or fridge temperature.
Can you make us a cake?
Yes. We offer our signature Dark Chocolate & Black Bean Cake, which is an elegant crowd-pleaser, gluten free and a delightful way to conclude your celebration. There is a small and large size available.
Is there a minimum spend requirement?
Yes. There is a minimum spend on food (minimum 10 guests @ $50/head =$500) plus a minimum spend on beverage ($450 on Friday, Saturday, Sunday & Public Holidays; $200 on other days). Please note that ALL functions in November and December attract a minimum spend of $450 on Beverage.
Why is there a 10% Surcharge on Sundays and Public Holidays?
Like most venues, we surcharge on the days when penalty rates apply to our staff wages.
Is there music in the room?
Yes. We use Spotify played from an iPad which will be playing one of our lists, compiled in house.
Can we play our own music?
Yes. You are welcome to select your own Spotify list on our device. If you wish to use your own device, please bring any adapters required. We provide connection with a standard headphone jack.
Can we hire third-party entertainment?
Yes… but your choice need to be approved by us first. We can suggest Mariachi performers who have performed in our venue.
Do you have a projector, screen or white board?
Yes. We can supply a high-definition projector with HDMI connection upon request. Whilst we do not have a white screen, our machine projects a perfectly clear image onto the walls of the room. We do not have a white board.
Can we decorate the room?
Yes… but the room is so lovely, it doesn’t need much help at all. Where possible and practical, we give clients early access to the room to decorate with approved items. Please note that we do not permit use of confetti, glitter or other like materials.
Can we vape or smoke in the room?
No.
How long can we have the room?
For seated dining, our maximum time allocation is 4 hours. However, lunch functions must vacate the room by 5pm; and evening functions by 11.30pm. For stand up functions, the time allocation is 3 hours.
Catering FAQs
What kind of catering do you provide?
The ‘Fiesta for 10’ pack, which is the cornerstone of our offering, is a generous spread of Classic Radio Mexico items. It is designed to be laid out in a buffet-style presentation and for guests to serve themselves.
Do you provide staff?
No. We have developed an offering designed to be economical and easy for anyone to handle. All items in the pack travel well and are easy to store, reheat (if necessary) and present to guests.
I am expecting about 35 guests. What should I order?
We would suggest you order 3 ‘Fiesta for 10’ Packs, and perhaps an extra dish or two.
My party starts at 7pm. Could we collect our order after 5pm?
No. It is important for us to prepare your order outside of the busiest trading hours at Radio Mexico. From 5pm we move into dinner service and our kitchens cannot facilitate the volume of food. In a situation like this we recommend collecting the pack cold.
If I order the Fiesta for 10 pack cold, is it cheaper?
Yes. There is a discount of $20 per pack.
If I order food cold, will it be easy to re-heat?
Yes. We include detailed instructions and package the offering in a way which makes this easy in the oven or the stovetop.
If I order the Fiesta for 10 pack cold, can I collect it the day before my event?
Yes and No. The guacamole, rice, slaw and pico de gallo are made fresh every day and do not hold well overnight. The slow cooked meats, black beans and salsas can be purchased up to 2 days in advance and stored in the fridge. The corn chips are in a sealed bag and will keep for several weeks.
How will I know which dish is which?
We label all items carefully, and also include a set of signs for you to place by each dish. In the case of the salsas, the heat level is described on the sign (mild, medium, spicy).
How should I present the food?
The food comes in cardboard eco packaging and foil oven-proof container. For a relaxed presentation, the order can be placed directly on the table. Equally, when decanted into tableware, the food looks amazing. The volume for each menu item is noted on the website. We suggest you use this as a guide to choose the size of your tableware for presentation. For best results… avoid giant platters, and use a bowl with a similar volume to the item you have ordered. The pictures in our menu provide an accurate proportional guide and a handsome serving suggestion.
What is the shelf life of the food & Litre Margarita?
Apart from Guacamole, Pico de Gallo and Slaw all items are suitable to freeze and eat for the next few days, so long as the storage conditions at your premises meet food safety standards. Our made-to-order Margarita will be most delicious within the first day or two, but will easily keep for 4 days in the fridge.
Can you deliver our order?
Yes. By arrangement, using third party delivery services.
How much does delivery cost?
It varies. We will quote you when you order. For example an order volume 40 guests to Richmond will cost approximately $60, or to Elwood about $30.