Marios was the brainchild of Mario Maccarone and Mario De Pasquale...

...two Italian-Australian waiters who bonded in Melbourne's upmarket restaurant industry of the early 1980s.

Archive photography: too many people to thank!

In 1986, dining out in Melbourne was strictly for special occasions in high-end licensed or BYO restaurants.

Brunswick Street in Fitzroy, minutes north of the CBD, was a largely boarded-up bohemian quarter. In both respects, Marios would be at the forefront of a revolutionary transformation.

The young restaurateurs shared working class roots, fine dining expertise, and a vision for a new kind of cafe.

One that would occupy an accessible middle ground in style and content: quality inexpensive meals for a new generation of casual diners.

Marios' ethos comprised a radical combination of class and comfort.

Starched white tablecloths and smartly dressed waiters were offset by muted jazz, second-hand furniture and simple, classic, inexpensive dishes, with the aim of dramatically lifting the experience of budget dining.

All-day breakfast, soon to be standard in the new cafe society, was a novelty when Marios opened its doors on
April 28, 1986.

Like its hours, 7am to 11pm, the convenience was initially geared to the less orthodox lifestyles of artists, musicians, agents, promoters, actors and shift-working cab drivers and nurses.

Queues outside 303 Brunswick Street instantly confirmed the appeal of Marios' fresh approach.

Deliberately unlicensed in its early years, the cafe's clientele nonetheless quickly expanded to welcome an unlimited cross-section of Melbourne diners. Beginning with the bookshop next door and gradually encompassing several thriving blocks, the rest of Fitzroy began to revolve around the cafe's singular vision and presence.

Marios' laissez-faire attitude to its clientele became legendary.

Its staff, many of whom have now served for decades, eschew the obsequious air of formal dining in favour of attentive and effective service. Loyalty, respect and professionalism are key.

The best coffee in Melbourne has become a symbol of Marios' uncompromising attitude to produce and cuisine.

You won't get skim milk, decaf or anything less than the genuine article.

Always an engaged hub of the Melbourne arts community...

...in 1988 Marios opened its walls to emerging artists on a rotating monthly basis, free of gallery fees and percentages.

Over 25 years, change has been constant but subtle.

That all-day breakfast has slowly expanded. The lunch and dinner menu evolves bi-monthly. In 1990, the cafe became a licensed premises with a wine list selected to reflect the fundamental balance of accessibility and quality.

The front-window panorama has also changed beyond recognition.

Countless other businesses come and go yet Melbourne revolves around the laidback, egalitarian ideals that Marios has always epitomised.

What's remained the same is more important.

Traditional Italian cuisine with a distinctive Melbourne touch has underpinned the menu for 25 years, and Mario Maccarone and Mario De Pasquale still greet customers on the floor.

And whether you're Jerry Seinfeld or a hungry artist who scored a window seat on day one, you still can't book a table.

At Marios it's first come, first served.