bnj

Reviews

Restaurant Pendolino, The, Sydney

Restaurants, Italian, Has Bar, Has Cafe, Licensed

Overall 8 153

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful

9 Highly Recommended

Food 9 Ambience 9 Service 10 Value 8

We have eaten out a bit over the New Year period and have been most fortunate with our choice of restaurant - every one has been a gem and Pendolino is no different.

The wait staff were attentive but unobtrusive, with an excellent knowledge of both food and wine. The food was delicious. Commencing with the fresh baked breads and tasty olive oils through to dessert.

The offer of two sizes of serving is a great idea. We shared an entree and opted for the smaller sized pasta. I thought it would be too small when it arrived, but it was just right.

We dined there on a Tuesday night in January and by the time we left it was just about at capacity. This alone is testimony to the quality of the place. Will be back as there is still much to explore on the menu.

Jan 21, 2012

John and Peter Canteen, Eveleigh

Restaurants, Italian, Vegetarian, Outdoor Dining, Serves Dinner

Overall 7.4 10

8.8 Highly Recommended

Food 8 Ambience 9 Service 10 Value 8

We headed down to Carriageworks after a long day at work for a theatre production hoping to park the car early and wander up to Newtown for dinner. What we discovered was this delightful little cafe.

We hadn't booked. No problem, come in. Not having been here before we had questions about parking and performance spaces, all questions happily answered by the wait staff.

We were walked through the menu. It is not expansive, but there was sufficient variety. The wines were predominantly Italian with a sprinkling of French and Australian, so we talked to waiter about our food choices and discussed a wine to match. The wine was not overly expensive and was lovely. The same applies to the food.

The space itself could have been quite cavernous being inside Carriageworks, but the clever use of a raised platform, some half-walls, streamers and lighting, created a more intimate feel. We had a wonderful meal. The play was good too.

Jan 21, 2012

Berta, Sydney

Restaurants, Italian, Licensed, Serves Dinner, Serves Late Dining

Overall 7.2 27

8.5 Highly Recommended

Food 9 Ambience 7 Service 10 Value 8

Having read a couple of the reviews below, I wonder how our experience could be so different. We are big fans of Berta's big brother Vini and we love the Melbourne-esque, hole-in-the-wall Berta just as much. It can be challenging to find, but it is well worth it.

The service we received from attentive and interested staff, who took time to explain the entire menu, was wonderful. The vitello tonnato was mouth wateringly delicious as were the main of mussells. As usual, the Italian wine perfectly matched these and the other dishes.

The only negative is that the seating is rather close. Larger people would find negotiating their way around the tables somewhat challenging.

Jan 21, 2012

Tetsuya's, Sydney

Restaurants, French, Japanese, Modern Australian, Fine Dining

Overall 8.1 520

10 Highly Recommended

Food 10 Ambience 10 Service 10 Value 10

Perfect scores! We dined here in October and the entire evening was divine. It is such a wonderful experience. We both ate things that we would not ordinarily order and each dish was a sensation of flavours.

We had a window table overlooking the garden. The tables are well spaced and certainly not crowded. The service was friendly, efficient and attentive without being superior (as we have experienced at other restaurants). Of course the wines were superbly matched to the food. It really was a special experience and one I will remember for a long time.

Dec 23, 2011

Xanthi, Sydney

Restaurants, Greek, Banquet, Has Bar, Serves Breakfast

Overall 7.5 25

5.5 Average

Food 6 Ambience 7 Service 4 Value 5

We ate here on a Tuesday night and it was packed. We were seated behind a pillar and so must have been invisible to the staff. It was 30 minutes before our wine arrived. We were in no hurry, but the service really was indifferent.

The entrees were delightful: zucchini and haloumi fritters,school prawns and calamari. The Greek wine, was, well, not to our liking. At all. This didn't add to our experience.

The mains were not quite as impressive. One of our group ordered beef and to our disapproval asked for it well done. When it arrived it was medium-rare. My chicken was over cooked but the shredded lamb was enjoyable. There are too many good restaurants in town to bring me back here.

Dec 23, 2011

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Member since 2006

Last updated on 12th Feb 2011

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Displaying: 1 - 10 of 36 reviews

Restaurant Pendolino, The, Sydney

Restaurants, Italian, Has Bar, Has Cafe, Licensed

Overall 8 153

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful

9 Highly Recommended

Food 9 Ambience 9 Service 10 Value 8

Jan 21, 2012

John and Peter Canteen, Eveleigh

Restaurants, Italian, Vegetarian, Outdoor Dining, Serves Dinner

Overall 7.4 10

8.8 Highly Recommended

Food 8 Ambience 9 Service 10 Value 8

Jan 21, 2012

Berta, Sydney

Restaurants, Italian, Licensed, Serves Dinner, Serves Late Dining

Overall 7.2 27

8.5 Highly Recommended

Food 9 Ambience 7 Service 10 Value 8

Jan 21, 2012

Tetsuya's, Sydney

Restaurants, French, Japanese, Modern Australian, Fine Dining

Overall 8.1 520

10 Highly Recommended

Food 10 Ambience 10 Service 10 Value 10

Dec 23, 2011

Xanthi, Sydney

Restaurants, Greek, Banquet, Has Bar, Serves Breakfast

Overall 7.5 25

5.5 Average

Food 6 Ambience 7 Service 4 Value 5

Dec 23, 2011

Gold Wheel Chinese Restaurant, Campbelltown

Restaurants, Chinese, Has Bar

Overall 6.7 13

7.8 Recommended

Food 8 Ambience 7 Service 8 Value 8

The Gold Wheel is a regular haunt, particularly on those nights when we get home late from work. The food is always good from the spring rolls to Szechuan Prawns. The complimentary hot towels and fortune cookies are a nice touch.
The wine list is small and a bit pedestrian. The maitre de is an interesting guy, quirky sense of humour and can be a little off-putting until you get to know him.

Jul 30, 2011

Trattoria La Vigna, Camden

Restaurants, Italian, BYO, Licensed, Serves Dinner

Overall 5.7 29

8 Recommended

Food 7 Ambience 8 Service 8 Value 9

Despite some of the comments on this website we decided to eat at Trattoria on a recommendation from an Italian friend. We had a very pleasant evening. We booked early for a Friday night and made a joke about how empty it was when we arrived. Within 45 minutes there were very few vacant tables. Despite the crowd the service was attentive and efficient although it did slow down a bit as the night went on.

The food was fine and the winelist is quite good and not overly expensive. There is an extensive array of pizzas as well as the a la carte menu. The seafood fritters were delightful.

Jul 09, 2011

Essenza Italian, Surry Hills

Restaurants, Italian, BYO, Licensed, Restaurant Bookings

Overall 7.4 35

8.3 Highly Recommended

Food 9 Ambience 8 Service 9 Value 7

We'd eaten here before when it was Remos and it was Ok. The name change has obviously been worth it because it was a much better experience this time. The arancini was delightful as were the mains. Admittedly it was quiet because we ate early on a Saturday, but the service was attentive. Will be back to sample some of the other delights on the menu.

Apr 22, 2011

Primo Mondo, Campbelltown

Restaurants, Italian, Pizza, Good For Groups, Hip and Trendy

Overall 6.8 25

5.8 Average

Food 6 Ambience 6 Service 5 Value 6

We actually suggested to our daughter that she should apply for a job there, because her happy demeanour would allow her to shine in customer service. The pizza was Ok, but not anything that can't be found in any number of restaurants of this type. The spaghetti gamberi lacked flavour. The younger members enjoyed the desserts, but that will not be enough to bring us back.

Nov 22, 2010

Ripples at Milson Point, Milsons Point

Cafes, Modern Australian, Seafood, BYO, Outdoor Dining

Overall 7 152

9.3 Highly Recommended

Food 9 Ambience 10 Service 10 Value 8

Had I read the other reviews before dining at Ripples on Thursday night I may well have looked to eat elsewhere. So I am glad I didn't read them. We had an absolutely wonderful evening! The sunset over the water was spectacular. The service, from the pre-check call to make sure we were coming to the farewell at the end of our leisurely dinner was faultless. Some might quibble over the value, but you are also paying for the view and the fact that it is byo helps. I had seared scallops which were delightfully tasty and the famous fish and chips. Just perfect. We are looking to go back soon.

Nov 15, 2010