Bertoni Casalinga

5.8 Average

Food  6      Ambience  6      Service  5      Value  6     

These Italian stallions need to relax just a little bit. Bertoni in its infancy in 2005 and 2006 was phenomenal with a one store focus that had over friendly staff and beautiful coffee. Three stores later, they have lost what once made them a great coffee story. I have been a regular since 2004 and am somewhat disappointed as to what this place has become. The nail biting yuppie Italian pronunciations and over zealous mood swings of both the staff and patrons have greatly contributed to its downfall. Oh and if I sit on milk crates without a cushion, charge me 50 cents less for my coffee.

Mar 06, 2012 

8.3 Highly Recommended

Food  9      Ambience  8      Service  9      Value  7     

Beautifully flavoursome food and always very fresh. Good coffee but a bit pricey.

Nov 01, 2011 

10 Highly Recommended

Food  10      Ambience  10      Service  10      Value  10     

Without doubt, Bertoni produces what I'm looking for in a coffee all the time: freshness. Coffee is freshly roasted and served less than 72 hours (according to homepage). Any regular coffee drinkers should be able to tell the difference of fresh and not fresh coffees: fresh coffee has a strong but not bitter flavour, more aroma, complexity of tastes and so easy to drink that you don't even realise when you have finished it.

Also the after effect of coffee is better than commercial coffee, aka campos, molinari, etc. It activates all parts of brain and brings positivity up, instead of hitting only the back of the head (where your headache from caffeine addiction is). I can't emphasize the importance of freshness any more.

On top of coffee, food here is also fresh, good ingredients, flavoursome oil, well presented dishes and quick service, staff are friendly and come with smiles (which is always important, too).

Glad that it has another branch in city, too. Now I know where to have coffee, and don't have to put up with bitter yet weak coffee/burnt like charcoal coffee/sour must have sugar coffee with cheap coles milk any more!

May 12, 2011 

6 Average

Food  7      Ambience  6      Service  5      Value  6     

Nice coffee but nothing exceptional. Never try the food but look really like Nana's house style. The ambience is nothig special and the crates instead of chairs a little bit too hippy high-flown. The staff is a mix, some of them are really nice others really rude. The really good thing is the ice cream during summer season.

Nov 06, 2010 

8.5 Highly Recommended

Food  7      Ambience  10      Service  8      Value  9     

Sit on a crate and watch the show. Beroni is a taste of Italy delivered with much love.

Aug 10, 2010 

6.5 Recommended

Food  7      Ambience  7      Service  6      Value  6     

Note this review is for coffee only. Bertoni's is one of the places in Balmain where the "in crowd" feel they must go and they sit on milk crates to enjoy the privilege. The service is pretty good and the coffee is pretty good also. I have had several flat whites there and generally they were a bit too milky and not strong enough for me to rate the coffee excellent. Good but not fabulous. If Poppy's didn't exist it would be one of the best in the area.

Jul 25, 2010 

9.3 Highly Recommended

Food  9      Ambience  10      Service  10      Value  8     

$4 large latte not the cheapest in Balmain, but definitely the best. Food is served basic, but tastes great. I love my Bertoni fixes, and will keep on coming back as most of us regulars do. Looking forward to outside becoming non-smoking, the only thing I don't like while perched on my people-watching milk crate (preferably one with a cushion) is breathing second hand smoke.

Jun 14, 2010 

3.5 Below Average

Food  3      Ambience  3      Service  4      Value  4     

I don't know what it is with this place that everyone goes on about. My coffee was burnt, food slow to come out and the regulars look at you like you're trying to take something away from them, that is once you get past the wall of prams and fitness freaks. Just rather a good coffee that doesn't take 10 minutes to be served. Won't be going back.

May 21, 2010 

8 Recommended

Food  8      Ambience  9      Service  9      Value  6     

I live in the area and believe Bertoni's provide the most consistently great coffee. A number of other places can serve up a better coffee on their best day, but can also let you down the next time you need a caffeine fix.

I find it hard to resist picking up one of their muffins whenever I stop by, they are very moist and have a generous helping of raw sugar on their tops that provides a great variation in texture (not to mention taste). I have also enjoyed their pastas from time to time and they are quite good considering they are warmed when ordered not cooked fresh.

The set up of the cafe adds to the charm, a big shared bench table is available but if you miss out on a seat there you can just pull up a milk crate and start a conversation with another customer or their dog. The staff are very friendly and somehow seem to remember most people. If you do pop in on a a busy day you may be lucky enough to meet nonna and get one of her treats.

They seem to value their customers, my wife dropped in one day not too long ago on "free coffee day", apparently this type of gesture makes the coffee taste even better.

Dec 27, 2009 

8 Recommended

Food  10      Ambience  7      Service  8      Value  7     

Really good italian style coffee, well worth the long wait (we have been there on a sunday morning). I'll go there occasionally but not regularly as 50 cents per coffee more (4 instead of the common 3,50 for the large take away) make a difference in the long run. The rest of my family really enjoyed the italian pastries to go with the coffee, while I think they are a tad too sugary.

Dec 10, 2009