The service and the food was good but not great this is an all prefix place now the first course Was fantastic way to Small but fantasticly executed, the second course wild boar pasta and the ravioli were tasty but underwhelming at best. If you want pasta with less than 10grams of meat, flavor or substance this your place. read more

Pendolino - Ravioli - Italian Near Me - Sydney, NSW

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Every single thing about this restaurant was amazing. It was hands down the best Italian food I've ever had (and I've eaten in Italy). Also, the staff was so pleasant. I did 4 courses. Every single one was divine. Highly recommend it here. Worth every penny. read more

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All great , food ambiance and service Beautiful romantic space Elegant service 5 stars read more

Elegant Italian dining at it's best. We enjoyed the three course tasting menu, including a wonderful selection of pasta, scallops and Italian style tapas. The Prosecco trolly was a great addition. The restaurant was fun for people watching and the top notch restaurant staff are attentive without being too prominent at the dinner table. read more

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Food was great, but it was also pretty expensive. Sometimes they don't give you the food you ask sometimes forget a few ingredients but it's pretty good. The servers are nice. The food is good. If you're past lover go here and if you have a ton of money in your wallet, go here too they give your chocolates at the end and if you have a kid you will love the dessert. read more

The manager Topher was rude and inappropriate. The server was far more professional. I had a complaint and he lost his temper and acted out. Clearly not right for this industry read more

Came here on a Thurs 9pm and the restaurant was probably 80% full. The waiters were very courteous and helpful. The ambiance is more romantic but there were big groups in there as well. Things are on the pricey side but it is well worth it. 1. Pappardelle with truffled mushrooms and egg yolk - full of truffle flavor! Waiter and the guy sitting next to me both said this is one of the better pasta dishes. The pasta itself is cooked al dente. There is a moderate amount of mushroom in it and the egg is not too overpowering. 2. Bread - the olive and garlic bread was my favorite. The garlic was not overpowering and you could taste the olives more. The other two breads (walnut bread, salt bread) were ok. 3. Olive oil - fruit, lemon, dolce. The dolce was my favorite but fruit was a close second. The fruit was lemony but not as much as lemon olive oil. Dolce is a bit more mellow and tiny bit of bitterness. Overall I'd come back for a special occasion or first date. read more

Pendolino - Pappardelle with mushroom - Italian Near Me - Sydney, NSW

The place is super pricey. They have a way to also force you to order 2 dishes. This is a special occasion place when money is not a concern. You also want to be able to drink and do the wine pairings to really make it make sense. I ordered the Vegan dishes. They were good for vegan and you can tell they were well created. The pie dish was extra unique. If you are not a vegan please know the other stuff is what they are known for. The service was outstanding and everything was handled perfectly. I really like the breads and oils they start you off with, especially the lemon one. I wish we came here for special occasion so we could have splurged and did the wine pairings. We got a sticker shock when we saw the prices. It is about 200 per person to do this place on the lower end read more

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Exceptional food, service and ambiance. We're traveling from Saint Simons Island Georgia and visiting Sydney for the first time. We selected the two course menu starting with four bite sized appetizers. Each was superb and felt like a culinary explosion in my mouth. I chose the tagliatelle with mushrooms topped with a quail yoke. The portion was large and absolutely delicious. My wife ordered the pasta with duck sauce and couldn't have been more pleased. Nino, the owner, came by to ensure we were satisfied with our meal and added a nice touch to our overall dining experience. I highly recommend this fabulous restaurant to locals and visitors alike. read more

Absolutely amazing. Amazing food and service. The matching wines with the degustation menu was unbelievable. The ravioli is the best ever!

Located upstairs of The Strand Arcade, this one-hatted Italian restaurant is known to have the best pasta in Sydney. Notable mentions are the handmade pappardelle (vegetarian) and the cuttlefish ink Bucatini pasta. Full of flavor, nice texture (not too hard and not too soft aka it's Al Dente) and very nicely presented. Bit pricey seeing a main size of pasta was about $40-45 but the portions were generous. We ordered dessert as well. My favorite was the Semifreddo as I love custard and nuts. The meringue cake was a bit too sour for me as it had a lot of Apple based ingredients but very refreshing if that's what you like. read more

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Excellent Food - Questionable Manners - Death Spiral Of Noise..... Pros: Very respectable food. Beautiful location. Cons: Bi-Polar service. Tables crowded like a cemetery overflowing with tombstones. A window shattering din. Suggestions: Go when it's not crowded. Bring a flashlight.. Get to know your neighbors. Star Ratings: - Overall: 3 - Food Quality: 4 - Food Quantity: 3 - Dining Room Attractiveness: 4 - Menu: 4 - Service: 3 - Noise: 0 - Price: 4 - Value: 3 - Restrooms: 4 - Ambiance: 3 With our family of 5 finally together in Sydney after making separate treks from California, we decided to whip out the big bucks for a major dinner. Yelpers, as well as related online reviewers, often mentioned the names of 10-15 restaurants in the downtown area worthy of extra consideration ( and more money ). Since we come from a long line of Italian food fans, the search focused on that cuisine. Pendolino became the target for our Saturday splurge. My wife and I asked the concierge in our hotel, the Shangri-La, to use his influence to grab a reservation on short notice for 7 PM the next day. The young woman at the other end said "I can squeeze you in at 6 if you leave by 745". I thought "wow. Pendolino must be really popular if they schedule people on shifts...and early ones at that". We accepted and prepared for a 5 star experience. After lots of running around the city on Saturday, we realized our starting time of 6 PM needed to be pushed back. Pendolino, in the restored Strand building, was along our path, so we stopped by. The middle-aged gentleman in charge of things examined the roster of prescribed diners and found a spot for us at 7 PM. Was that a sign from heaven? Did he cook the books? Was the young woman waiting for a bribe? We'll never know. Food: Excellent. A basket of various breads was great, although it was never replenished after we finished the initial supply within 10 minutes. Salad was very tasty, but tiny in size for $19. Entrees were all very good. My vegetable lasagne was well designed and created, but didn't have the tomato flavoring I favor (but that's not the fault of Pendolino). My wife had "leather fish"...similar to sea bass...and gave it a hefty thumbs up. The two other entrees were also greeted with enthusiasm. For a side dish, my wife and I had green beans in a tomato purée. It was small, but very worthwhile. We usually order a bottle of wine at dinner, particularly when the food deserves special attention, but we started with cocktails and decided a glass was enough. Besides, the wine list was a bit heavy on the dollar signs. Service: Bi-Polar. After the reservation rigamarole outlined above, the place was perhaps one half full when we arrived at 7 PM. Where was everybody? Hiding under the tables? Too scared to show up? The young women in the reception area were very friendly and helpful. Once seated, service was provided by at least 3 different people who alternated between lapses (the bread..no "bill" for 15 minutes) and extreme attentiveness. Clearing plates is great, but hovering like a military drone gave the impression they didn't exactly want us to linger. However, we didn't need much persuasion given background noise approaching that of a wind tunnel. Ambiance: Conflicting impressions. Pluses...Pendolino is on the 3rd floor of the beautifully restored Strand building along George Street within walking distance of most hotels. You can hike up a winding staircase or use a charming elevator from the 1890s. We did both. Tables are very well appointed. Reception area staff are welcoming. Minuses...The place is dark. Unless you're a night owl ( literally ), bring a flashlight. Space between tables is minimal. Diners are crammed together like a cemetery crowded with tombstones. It's too close for comfort when you detect a neighbor's upscale body odor. When Pendolino approaches full capacity, the background noise becomes overwhelming. How can a meal be enjoyed when everything, including tooth fillings, starts vibrating from simultaneous conversations of people who raise their voice as the noise level rises? It's a death spiral. Cost and Value: If judged just by the food, which is not cheap, Pendolino would get 4 and possibly 5 stars. Of course, men and women don't live by bread alone. With consideration toward environmental factors, as well as an interesting blend of over and under produced service, the value takes a drop. Some people go to a restaurant for food. I go for the experience, especially if I'm halfway around the world. Good food is a nice start, but when the servers can't decide if the meal should be conducted as a race or at leisure and noise blasts our tenuous peace of mind to smithereens, I probably won't be back. There's plenty of solid, if not spectacular, places with Italian food 10-15 minutes from home in Northern California. read more

Came here with two colleagues and had a good experience. Good food and nice service. Servers are organized, the restaurant is run well. My pasta was amazing, three breads with three oils was a nice touch. Walnut bread was my favorite. They could make the presentation of their dishes more interesting, it's a high end restaurant, they could be a little more creative with their food. Also it was noisy at this restaurant, there were a few big groups that were very loud. read more

The food was ok. Very over priced and had a set $140 fee per person to eat dinner on a Wednesday night I personally think it's a bit much to ask and the food wasn't worth the cost that's for sure. I think 10years ago this restaurant was great, but it hasn't updated with the times and was hugely overpriced. Definitely not somewhere to go for a quick mid week dinner. read more

I have been to Pendolino twice and both with a group. Unusal restaurant to be in an arcade.. Didn't know what to expect the first time, as I was a guest and was delighted with the service, privacy (seperate space for private party) and the quality of the food. Truly delicious Italian- The pasta was amazing. The second time, I went with a few friends and service was equally good and the pasta was brilliant. My main of 'English Pork' was good but not amazing. I let my wine snob friends talk their talk and choose the wines. It's a four star because of the price. $200 per person was a bit high (I should have limited the wine, haha) but others might find it great value. If you want to take a date to impress with ideal ambience, service and an Italian experience (Everyone working there had a heavy Italian accent- Even the guy that looked Irish) This is the place to go! I will definitely be back. read more

Quite possibly one of my favourite Italian restaurant in Sydney. Lovely dining experience in a cosy and relaxed setting. Food is generally very good and well-portioned. Staff is friendly and efficient. Overall highly recommended.Quite possibly one of my favourite Italian restaurants in Sydney. Lovely dining experience in a cosy and relaxed setting. Food is generally very good and well-portioned. Staff is friendly and efficient. Overall highly recommended. read more

Pendolino - Italian Near Me - Sydney, NSW

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Beautiful dining settings. I came here with my family on a Friday evening. The restaurant was full by 7pm++ (so make sure you make a reservation!) Service was good. Even though the restaurant was full, there were enough waiters around so it was not difficult to get hold of someone's attention. The various of bread they serve was delicious. I love how they gave three different types of olive oil (I like the blood orange flavored one the most!). Being known for their pasta dishes, I tried their special-of-the-day as the main...small black type of pasta with potato/ prawns/ calamari. The seafood was perfectly cooked, the calamari were sooooo tender! I would definitely recommend it. For entree, I had the cheese/pesto dumpling with beef broth and roasted bone marrow. It's quite rich but it was a good dish for a cold winter night! Lastly, we had the pistachio "ice cream sandwich" with pistachio gelato. It was soooooo good! Lovely way to end the dinner. It was overall an expensive dinner but I will definitely this restaurant for any special occasion celebration. You wont be disappointed! :) read more

I noticed that good food always consists of carbs and butter, things that you really should have in moderation. Well you kinda have to throw that rule book outta the window if you are to dine at Pendolino. They don't skimp on the butter here so the food is really tasty. Also they specialise in sourcing incredible olive oils and balsamic vinegars which you get to taste. I have friends who rave about the ravioli di magro con burro fuso which is traditional handmade ravioli with spinach, parmigiano reggiano, gruyere, buffalo mozzarella, burnt butter and sage. And I have to agree, it is my favourite dish there. However the risotto is also very good. To end the experience, you have to order the chocolate hazelnut pudding, out of this world. The wine list is extensive and also very good. The restaurant itself is very dark and romantic (I had trouble reading the menu because it was so dark) so great for anniversaries, dates and any romantic situation ;) One of my faves, and happily recommend to all. read more

Pendolino - Italian Near Me - Sydney, NSW

From Order To Table: Slightly off. Just too long that had they been perfect I probably would have ordered another bottle of wine. Service-ometer: Silver service standard. Stomachability: Imagine having an Italian nonna who moved to Australia and embraced modern cooking. Nonna also grew all her ingredients from tomatoes to basil. Then she invited you over for dinner after a long day at work, and you'd just been to the gym and forgotten to have a protein shake and were starving. Then she served up a modern pasta dish that was so exemplary you thought the two main ingredients were love and magic. I have eaten here so many times now that I'm sure they're lacing the food with something to keep me coming back. it has the best atmosphere. Beautiful lighting, amazing furniture, seating is perfect, table sizing is perfect - you don't have to yell across the table, plating is great and the clientele always make the vibe feel special. The menu is packed with interesting combinations, but I'd recommend trying something you love, and then realizing you'd been eating subpar versions of it you're entire life. Pendolino is a must! read more

I can't recall the last time I had food that amazing. It's a little loud and crowded, but we found it added to the atmosphere. The wine list was well put together, and the food was to die for. We only had four days in Sydney and made attempts to come back (not generally something we do) This place is the epitome of leaving you fat and happy. read more

Wow - awesome. In a beautiful building. Friendly staff - very warm welcome. Order the ravioli. The three bread options will knock your socks off w/ three olive olive options. My friend loved the tuna tatare. read more

All of the dishes we ordered were outstanding. For the record, they were as follows (copied and pasted from the menu on the website, except for the 'special' which I've described from memory): RAVIOLI DI MAGRO CON BURRO FUSO Traditional Handmade Ravioli with Spinach, Parmigiano Reggiano, Gruyere, Buffalo Mozzarella, Burnt Butter and Sage SPAGHETTI CHITARRA CON PESCE D'ACQUADOLCE Freshly-made Chitarra Spaghetti with Barramundi, Wild Prawns, Chilli, Capers, Garlic and Pinot Grigio White Wine DENTICE A VAPORE CON CAPONATINA Steamed Reef Snapper with Sicilian Bitter Chocolate Caponata, Cauliflower Puree SPECIAL Steak with roasted garlic, cherries and some sort of sauce BAVARESE DI CAPRINO CON INSALATINA DI FRAGOLE Vanilla Bean and Goats Curd Bavarese with textured Strawberry Salad, Wild Strawberry Consomme FONDENTE ALLA GIANDUIA Warm Chocolate Hazelnut Pudding, Gold Leaf I especially liked the ravioli, the steak (which was the most tender, succulent steak I have ever had - very melt-in-your-mouth) and the strawberry bavarese. Service was attentive and friendly. Value was quite good. We paid $170 for all of the above food shared between two people. I recommend ordering a la carte rather than the degustation, which costs $130 each. We ordered most of the stuff on the degustation menu but because we ordered the dishes a la carte we got way bigger servings and paid much less. We were totally full by the end of the meal. The complimentary breads and olive oils were fantastic. Ambience was nice - dark, stylish room. read more

Ok I went back and had the lasagna... wow. This is simply some of the best food I have ever had. Just another warning... they do not get less pretentious. If the food was not this good, I would never come here. The noses are up in the air in this place... but did I mention i just don't care when the food is THIS good? Yeah... don't care. All forgiven! Ok again I went. 5 times now. Man I hate these f'ers! Just insanely snotty staff. But. I will come back. Why? The food. It really is that good. Just know the staff will hate you unless you are driving a rolls Royce. Even then... They will hate you. Sigh. read more

The best meal I have ever had in Australia No really. I was that good. I had a starter of pasta with veal and marrow. The aroma was unbelievably savory. My main course was slow cooked veal that was butter tender and incredibly full of flavor. My companions and I shared an excellent bottle of Grenash wine. For desert I had a selection of sorbet. The service was impeccable and reflected the serious focus on the high quality of food and the dining experience. read more

Bit of a business lunch favourite, powerbrokers and politicians are often to be seen in this dark and luscious Italian restaurant. Service is good, wine list broad and good recommendations from the somelier. Pasta is of course made in house and is silky and delicious, as are the other grill and roast options. I confess to a few lunches here and they are always good ones. read more

We ate here on NYE and were very pleased with our decision. Food was amazing and service was great plus an excellent recommendation on wine. Issues, well the open kitchen isn't great, restrooms are outside the restaurant in the mall and portions are small (for us from USA at least). Highly recommend it, on of the best meals we had in Sydney. read more

I have traditional Asian parents who - as a rule - do not think highly of Western cuisine but I wanted to take them somewhere they wouldn't normally go on their own for their wedding anniversary. We had a 6:30 PM reservation on a Tuesday night so things were fairly quiet. The decor and ambiance is good for small groups only - the restaurant is dimly lit and small rectangular tables are set out in rows. The tables themselves are quite close together. They do have a private dining room just near the entrance which would be better suited for larger parties (e.g. 8+). The noise level was moderately loud and the restaurant was only half full, so I imagine on a packed night it will be quite loud. If you're after somewhere you can have an intimate conversation about deep and meaningful things, this may not necessarily be the best place. They bring over a little LED lamp with the menu so you can actually see what you can order and it's a pretty clever system which lets the waiters monitor who is yet to order. Service is courteous, prompt and attentive without being intrusive. The food itself is great, being served in appropriate portion sizes so when you leave you are neither too hungry nor bloated and stuffed. Overall, my parents really enjoyed all of the food and ate every last bit, which I think speaks volumes! There was not a single negative comment from them, which is quite rare when eating European cuisine. Note just to be aware that because it's inside the Strand, the bathrooms are actually located on a different level and - as far I could tell - are accessible only by creaky old lift. Bathrooms are also a bit old and only have 2 stalls. read more

Pendelino is is a strange mix of bistro and formal restaurant. The menu is extensive and extremely well prepared. Modern Italian, all the dishes are elegantly served on appropriate plating. Artistic in its presentation. The flavours are blended uniquely and nothing is left out including the selection of 3 olive oils each individually infused. The service was very attentive and not too intrusive and rather amusing as only the Italians know how to make your experience entertaining. The decor is warm and reminiscent of old Italy and grand libraries. The oddity is the choice of bistro furniture, perhaps to encourage lunch trade without being too stuffy. It's pricy, but this is not the Italian restaurant that will sting you for a plate of pasta you can make at home. I'd definitely recommend it to anyone who loves Italian cuisine and wants to impress. Very acceptable wine list. read more

Absolutely amazing food. Just the right touch of old school feel. read more

Pendolino - Italian Near Me - Sydney, NSW

Hidden treasure! Located on Level 2 of The Strand on George St, I wasn't aware it even existed until I scored a seat at a recent work dinner. After a very professional welcome at the front desk, I was escorted to our table, and promptly served sparkling water and a glass of outstanding Shiraz. The ambience is all style: white table clothes, crisp napkins, soft lighting, and generous space between tables - which provided a good setting for both business groups and romantic couples. Our table was close to the kitchen - not close enough to be noisy, but just close enough to enjoy the occasional smell of fresh truffle in the air. We enjoyed a wonderful selection of breads before the mains arrived: a mix of Pasta and Secondi dishes were chosen, all presented to perfection and delivering great flavours for our guests. My choice? Ten Hour Slow Cooked British Breed Beef, Parsnip Puree, Grilled Green Shallots, Pearl Garlic, Amarena Sour Cherry Sauce. If you enjoy buttery, fall-apart-at-the-touch beef, this is the dish for you. Take the time to review the Pendolino menu - in English and Italian, a nice authentic touch - but beware: a little drooling may result, and an urge to make a reservation! read more

I arrive at 10:30PM on a Friday evening only to be gracefully insulted by the host who stated they stop serving dinner at 10PM and I should try a pizza place or street food a few blocks down. I felt utterly disrespected and offended. How is one supposed to know the closing time when their website states in plain English, "Dinner Mon-Sat 6pm-late" How can a fine establishment such as this be so ambiguous regarding something that should be clearly defined? I walked 20 minutes in the cold only to be turned away. My advice to management: fix your website and specify your true closing time to avoid issues. read more

Called to reserve for 5 people and that was easy. When we got there, we were early for our opening time reservation so the maître d' asked if we wanted to go to their sister restaurant in the meantime. When he saw we had a toddler, he asked if we'd prefer to be seated even though our party wasn't complete yet--surprisingly considerate--immediately, I knew service would be excellent here. When we got seated, we were given "complimentary" appetizers--polpettini--good, zucchini soup--excellent. They weren't really comp because you need to order one entree and one main. They also made us choose bread from an activated charcoal bread, traditional focaccia, and a roll with seeds and nuts. Tried the first two with all their olive oils (lemon, bitter, classic), which were all delicious. I got the tuna tartare and scallops app and the fregola with seafood as main. The appetizer was delicious and fresh. The main was okay. It came with pine nuts that I thought didn't go very well with the dish but that's me. We didn't get wine pairings btw because we were all jet-lagged. They make ragu for kids but we asked for small pasta and they were nice enough to make it instead of their usual spaghetti. Tasted it and it was superb. Unfortunately, we were so full, we didn't get dessert. Hubs had an espresso and friend had tea and they gave us truffles with them. My toddler enjoyed one. I thought they were pretty good. Bottom line--excellent service, good food, no problem with kids, expect to dole out some cash but it's worth jt. read more

Had a reservation at 6.45 Friday 12th sept. Upon arrival my coat, umbrella and bag were taken by the friendly lady on reception. Upon being seated we were advised of menu specifics and talked through the in house baked breads and oils, all of which were amazing. The wine list is superbly divided for all pallets and budgets. The starter and main courses were out of this world. Well done pendolino's. read more

Excellent Italian home made pasta. Wait service was very good. Arrived at 6pm so the noise level was not loud, although by the time we left, it was starting to get noisy. The restaurant was not at all dark as one of the reviewers mentioned. No flashlight needed. read more

One of my all time favorite restaurants in Sydney!!! Outstanding and professional service you just don't see anymore always attentive but never present. One of Sydney's best wine lists and simply amazing food.Now I'm not sure if it was the bone marrow in beef broth with a spinach dumpling, Parmesan and EVO or the parpadelle with mushrooms, organic egg yolk and shaved black truffle or it could have been the warm custard tart with grappa poached plums or maybe even the trolley wheeled around full of chocolate truffles. I simply can't decide the best bit so I just have to go back! read more

We've seen some very high reviews and we understand how they were earned. The ravioli dishes were superb and supremely priced (4 dollars a bite). Our experience with staff was reminiscent of amateurs. We had a 16 top next to our table using flash photography (not iPhones). The restaurant is wonderfully low lit. We wondered why such a place, with dark ambiance, would tolerate such fireworks. When brought to the attention of management they failed to comprehend. If you're fortunate enough to visit and not have your eyeballs burned out of there sockets then it could be a really nice experience...at a significant price. read more

I love coming here when I have a huge craving for pasta, and if I'm running any of the marathons the coming weekend. Beautifully made pasta, delicate subtle flavors, yet all very distinctive. All in all, very delicious. Can't wait to return. read more

Penolino is my favourite restaurant in Sydney. Hidden in the historic Strand Arcade it boasts romantic lighting, courteous wait staff and most importantly glorious Italian food. The truffle pappardelle with egg yolk is to die for, and if you haven't filled up on the delicious trio of bread and organic olive oils, then the outrageous puddings are a must! Don't forget to take a look at the long list of beautiful red wines displayed along the walls, they make the whole experience all the more enjoyable. 5 stars!! read more

Enter the world of Pendolino - a place of exquisite Italian fare and delectable collection of pure olive oils. However, you may need to enter with your arms out front; the place is so dimly lit that your eyes may need adjusting. Ladies, expect roses on arrival - at least when your date arrives. The place is a romantic hit spot for couples to enjoy the mood lighting, the beef carpaccio (it is heavenly!! And topped with their signature olive oil) and of course, each other's company. One downside is that the seating is a little tight so that sometimes you sit close to other couples. But then again, if the seating doesn't thrill you, the food most certainly will. I took to the roasted pork belly immediately, which gets all points for being thin and crispy on top. The side was really yummy too; I noted how good the caramelised orange pieces complemented the salad. Don't forget to step into their L'olioteca to sample some of the best olive oils on offer. They're perfect for dipping lightly toasted bread into, for salad dressings or even giving as gifts. I opted for the original ($25 for 500ml) because I like the flavour more than the infused ones (I like adding a touch of balsamic vinegar to mine), but that's not to say I won't be starting a collection soon. read more

Had lunch on 2nd December 2011, with prior reservations. As always, food (Burratta entree and ravioli di magro con burro fuso for mains) was very yummy, however lack of attention to service left a large desire for improvement. I hope next time is an improvement! read more