My dining companion and I chose to eat at Pendolino during the holidays because we were looking for something festive. Although a summer evening and we were eating indoors, our view of the festive holiday lights decorating the Strand, more than made up for it. It's not easy to get a table during the holiday season, so we were told in advance that we'd only have the table until a certain time. Unfortunately, this meant we weren't able to do the Degustation menu which looked fabulous. The Degustation menu is $190 per person with wine matchings. This seems very reasonable compared to similar restaurants in Sydney. Next time! To start, my partner had the Oysters and I had the Tonno Tonnato (a salad of yellowfin tuna). I can't speak for the Oysters (but I heard they were very good), but the Tonno Tonnato was a great starter as it tasted amazing and didn't fill me up before my main! We both ended up ordering our mains from the Degustation menu anyway. We ordered the house specialty ravioli (Ravioli with Spinach, Parmesan, Gruyere, Mozzarella, Burnt Butter and Sage) and the Risotto Nero. I luckily got to taste the ravioli, with the burnt butter being the most distinctive taste. The risotto nero was excellent and just salty enough with a bit of the anchovy sauce. Although not an overwhelming anchovy taste for those who may be put off by that. There was also a healthy proportion of squid. For dessert I had the Fondente Alla Gianduia (chocolate hazelnut pudding). It was amazing! Warm chocolate cake with an oozing warm center. I couldn't finish it however, so would recommend that you share. Less guilt! My partner chose a port to complete his meal. The service was great, as even though we didn't have too much time at our table, they were fairly flexible with us and let us stay a bit over the next reservation time. They were very attentive and the sommelier had great wine suggestions. Overall, we had a wonderful experience and would go back again (especially for the Degustation). read more

Amazing food! The fixed menu was amazing especially with the wine pairings. The room is a little loud, but that was because there were multiple large parties in the restaurant. read more

We called a couple hours ahead of time and got a table for two on Friday night. Gianni our wait person was very attentive and responsive. The evening started with taste of fried green olives with lemon aioli. The bread and olive oil course was exquisite! The entree (appetizer) portions were generous. We had the mushroom pappardelle and butternut risotto which were exceptional! The flavors, textures, colors and presentation was perfect. The main course was fregola and seafood which was perfectly cooked and highlighted each ingredient. The mushroom pie was rather one note. For desert we had the hazelnut eclair which was good but not as much as the truffles provided with the bill. Slightly on the pricier side of things, great place for a special occasion dinner! Did not take any pictures as that would have distracted from eating. read more

One of my favourite Italian restaurants in the Sydney CBD. The two of us had an early (12:15pm) lunch on a Friday afternoon recently to catch up on a few years out of touch and also to discuss possibly working together in a new venture. The inside tables were all taken and quite buzzy. Lovely subdued lighting. Beers to start, never rushed into ordering, discussed mains and starters with the waiter, then took a look at the wine list. They have an extensive range, mostly Itailian as one would expect. We shared the beef carpaccio entree, my friend had the burnt butter ravioli as a main and I had a wild herb and seafood linguine. Wonderful dishes, perhaps the pasta courses were small, for main course sizes. I thought a Nero D'Avola would go well but we went with the Primitivo suggestion. It was excellent and much softer than I expected. Coffee and chocolate truffles. It came to $300, including tip, which is in line with past experiences. The only drawback I have is the way management calculates the bill accordingly to a fixed price formula on the number of courses (2,3 or 4) per person. I like to see how much each individual course costs....but that just my preference. All in all, it's a very good restaurant and one where I will remain a customer. read more

I was visiting Australia last month and we ate at Pendolino and the food was good however keep in mind they require 3 courses minimum per person which we were told only after we had already started ordering so it can get a bit pricy. I had eaten a late lunch but was required to order 3 courses nonetheless. We did however love the tomato Burrata Salad and the mushroom pappardelle. The ravioli de Margo was a bit oily and lacked salt. read more

This restaurant is just a pretty face (unfortunately). Where to start... First, I ordered a caprioska which is a classic cocktail. How can you get this wrong? This recipe has been around for 100s of years yet mine tasted like diluted lemonade. This cost $20, and for a $20 cocktail you would expect fireworks, not misshape in your mouth. Second, for mains, while they looked beautiful the lamb raggu lacked flavour and tasted quite gluggy which made it hard to swallow. I was a little luckier ordering the mushroom/ truffle pasta.. The truffle shined which gave the pasta a new flavour which I hadn't tried before. I was a little disappointed by the pasta dishes all in all as the waiter promised the best pasta in Sydney, however I have made and had better dishes. Lastly, for the dessert we ordered the meringue with rhubarb and apple sorbet. The apple sorbet was quite tasty, possibly the only good thing about it. The meringue and whipped cream seemed store bought and the crushed jelly looked pretty but did not work well. The waiter that served us was not friendly at all, kept us waiting and had a stiff face the whole time. All in all for a fancy restaurant we weren't the most satisfied customers. read more

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A very elegant and classy place and definitely has a romantic date vibe! The different breads with 3 olive oil dipping options was the highlight for me! The bread was delicious. For my main meal, I had the spaghetti chitarra with barramundi, prawns and chilli. The spaghetti had a noodle like texture and was nice though I would have preferred it a tad softer. My friend had the risotto which looked very cheesy. We were seated on the side of the restaurant so service was a little slow especially with our coffees. The lunch crowd on the Friday definitely filled up the restaurant so it was buzzing when we left. I would say the restaurant definitely has potential to be rated more highly than 3 stars so I would go back for sure to experience the restaurant a second time! read more

Some of the best ravioli I have ever had. Beef entree was cooked perfectly. Great wine list and impeccable service. Price was a bit high but def not worth docking a star for. Odd placement upstairs in a mall but definitely worth a visit. read more

The takeaway: Beautiful, tall Adonises, catering to your every whim. A silky smooth oil provided for lubrication and generous pours of wines that quickly induce a drunken stupor. Is it a scene out of Plato's Symposium, or something closer to home? On Level 2 of the Strand Arcade, you'll find the lines between the two realities blur (and pay a pretty penny for the pleasure). The setup: Getting to Pendolino is a bit annoying. You have to take an elevator from the dinosaur era (how cool would it be if dinosaurs actually took elevators??), which definitely triggers a bit of claustrophobia. Restrooms are on Level 3, requiring diners not only to exit the restaurant but also to take those same dinosaur-era elevators up and down. The gustatory experience: The food is pretty great. I dare anyone to find a restaurant in Sydney that takes its olive oil more seriously than Pendolino. A meal kicks off with a splendid (and complimentary) bread basket, with 3 types of fresh breads, including walnut, sage & garlic, and focaccia. Think of them as carbolicious vehicles to dip in the 3 varieties of olive oil placed on each table -- plain, lemon and orange. Mix and match! Have a dipping party. I won't tell. On the menu you'll find a range of classic Italian fare, from housemade pastas (which, if you walk around on Level 3, you might see staff making by hand) to desserts like gelato. Everything I (and my 6 colleagues) ordered was generally well executed and tasty. For an entree, I had the ravioli with spinach, parmigiano reggiano, gruyere and buffalo mozzarella ($27.90 for entree; a main portion is available for more $). The dish came with 4 housemade ravioli and was gently finished in a thin sauce of burnt butter and fried sage leaves. Perfectly cooked, and not a salt bomb. I thought the ravioli could have used a bit more filling for the skin size, but that's nitpicking. My main, roasted blue eye trevalla with tomato-braised fennel and onion, radicchio, kipfler potatoes, fennel and citrus dust ($42.90) was a knockout. The tomato braise was flavorful, sweet and tangy, a perfect complement to the white fish. Most interesting was a black squid ink cracker that topped the fish, offering crunchy texture and a sweet element. Sides of green beans ($12.75), also in a tomato braise that tasted like minestrone, and the rocket and parmesan salad ($12.75), were fine but unexceptional. For dessert I had the nougat, honey and almond milk semifreddo ($17.90), which was presented as an almond-crusted cone of semifreddo with a few candied almonds mixed in the semifreddo and served with a vanilla creme anglaise. You could taste the distinct elements of nougat and honey at the bottom of the cone, which paired well with the almond flavor. Very good. The hospitality: Service was very attentive, though forgetful at times. We asked for refills of the bread basket -- twice -- but no refills ever came. We also asked for coffee and desserts to be served together -- we were in a bit of a rush -- but the restaurant failed to do this too. Note that it is very, very dark in the restaurant, but they do provide mushroom-shaped lamps at each table, which helps. Darkness is a good mood-setter for a romantic date (but watch out for the close proximity of nearby tables), but a bit ill-suited if you plan to transact any business over lunch. read more

Beautiful, classy, warm room. Attentive, but never annoying, service. Phenomenal food. Good wine list. Worth the price.

This restaurant so reminds much of New York Italian restaurants. It's dark, the tables are jammed together, the waiters all have deep Italian accents. And the food is so good. I had the parpadelle with organic egg yolk and the leather backs (a fish). This was a business dinner but I'll have to come back with my wife. Cool entrance getting in as it's atop the Strand arcade. read more

I have in the past written a longer, more constructive review of this much favoured haunt of mine. As a creature of habit, who travels extensively and likes to return to places that feel familiar, Pendolino has always felt like home, for me. Today, I was able to view customer service at its most proficient and elegant, after a small amendment had been made to a dish I customarily order, that had changed its character to some extent. The manager, Loic Pennier, stepped in to quickly & discreetly replace it, with a dish that was equally exquisite in taste as in aesthetic presentation. His actions were as remarkable, as the salmon was delicate! In a world, where money does not guarantee exceptional service any more, it is simply marvellous, to see one's patronage, not only appreciated, but one's discernment, respected. Thank you! read more

This place is a hidden gem. Tourist-free local spot with amazing Italian food. For lunch, try the Italian tuna salad.

Over-the-top with the European accents and schmaltz, over the top prices too. The food is good and tasty, however.

Was there on a vacation from the U.S. Great Italian food. I had my two young girls, and they made special dishes of spaghetti bolognese for them. Excellent wine list. It is kind of a dressy place, and we were not dressed up after our overnight flight from the U.S. But they seated us well and treated us nicely. But it was our introduction into Sydney prices. Well over $100 USD with just an appetizer, two glasses of wine, a bottle of sparking water, my entrée and the kids' meals. From then on, we tried to avoid places with tablecloths! :) read more

My favourite Italian restaurant in Sydney! Beef carpaccio to die for and the ravioli in sage and butter sauce....... delicious!! Beautiful setting in an historic complex the city centre. Perfect location for a pre-show dinner as there are several theatres nearby. read more

One of those settings you could settle into forever. Inside the historic old world Strand Arcade, hidden beyond Pendolino's more casual café get up.... this top notch screams old world, upmarket as it gets Italian. The windows are blacked out and the lighting is dim and moody. Perfect if you're in the mood for a miserably rainy day, but Mother Nature's feeling fine. I could easily work my way through this entire menu, so return visits are definitely in order. Kick off with a requisite Campari. And share a starter (to leave room for the rest). Try sage leaf lasagne with pumpkin, ricotta, pistachio nuts and Amaretti, or the traditional handmade ravioli with Spinach, parmigiano reggiano, gruyere, buffalo mozzarella, burnt butter and sage. Main wise, the roasted pork belly with braised pork cheek, pork raviolo, cannelloni bean puree, radicchio, fennel and orange salad... is a no brainer for pork lovers, but a fairly hefty commitment. And you want to make sure you leave room for the blood orange olive oil ricotta fritters with vanilla bean semifreddo. Italiano at its most bellissimo. read more

Pendolino - Italian Near Me - Sydney, NSW

Unbelievable food, seriously impressive layout and furnishings. I would never have found it without Yelp, seeing as it was in a book in the Strand Arcade. Very busy on a quiet Wednesday night, and no wonder with the shear quality of food, wine and service. Special shout out to Giovanni who looked after us, both me and the client I was entertaining will be back with our partners in future. read more

Dark and dingy restaurant stuffed with people, the meals tasted like they had been dipped in salt and the wine tasted very cheap for what they were charging. The staff had attitude and the manager seemed very incompetent even when asking the simplest of questions. and all of this for a price tag of $380 I would've preferred Mc donalds. read more

One more restaurant where I ate last week, I got Agnolotti di carne alle erbette, wonderful, then brasato di manzo alle amarene... $43 for a very dry meat fillet!!! A lot of good reviews gave me the impression to try one of the best restaurant in the world...Probably I have to reconsider the honesty of these reviews... Too much noise in the restaurant, ok it was weekend, and no chance to get a great service like you should for the price you are paying. read more

This was my first dinner meal during a recent business trip to Sydeny and I wanted to eat something awesome after the long arduous trip from the states. Pendolino is a bit stuffy and in hindsight not a great place to eat alone because you just feel like everyone is on a date or some business meeting. The bread was ok and came with a few different types of olive oil. one was a raspberry oil or something to that nature which I was not into. It was an 88$ for a 2 course meal which I ended up getting 2 pastas, one for entree and one for main. I was told only the course meal was available for dinner and you can't order a la carte. The entree pasta was amazing. It was a tagliatelle pasta with egg and truffle. Super yummy. The main was a prawn pasta which was ok but I think I enjoyed the first pasta too much to have really loved the basic tasting main. Also most of the dishes had some type of dried or fried herb sprinkled on it (even the amuse bouche which I remember being a small fried arrancini). This ended up being a costly meal of $125 alone including drinks and little add ons. Honestly, I don't know if this meal was worth the cost for me to enjoy just one pasta dish. read more

Pendolino - Amazing dish. - Italian Near Me - Sydney, NSW

I was absolutely spoilt by my friend last night she treated me to a fabulous evening at the restaurant Pendolino and people you will be blown away with this establishment from the amazing staff to the fabulous wine it ticks all the boxes! top dish for the night for my personal taste is the carpaccio with truffle it was heaven..the very thought of it makes me want to go back right now just to savour it, and i was apprehensive at first not being a raw meat kinda gal but our amazing waiter recommended it and he was spot on just fabulous! other dishes we had were the bucatini with squid ink, my dining companion loved this and she also had the ravioli which was her personal favourite, we had the ten hour beef, the warm hazelnut pudding, the burrata and also the semifreddo. this is fine dining at its best! My friend being a seasoned wine drinker was blown away by the knowledgable sommelier and the authentic Italian wine list- even though she mixed drinks and wines she didnt even wake up with a sore head the next day which she found remarkable as usually she has a very sore head when mixing alcohol! she puts this down to quality wines which are preservative free i highly recommend this venue if you want to spoil someone rotten and have a magical and memorable evening read more

An absolute delight from the time we were warmly welcomed and seated to the time we departed. I can honestly say that my wife and I were thrilled with the experience. The service and attentive waiters and waitresses were professional, helpful and great at there job. The food was out of this world, the evening was an experience in true fine dining. Do yourself a favour take your loved one for dinner and experience a memorable evening. We were happy to pay a reasonable premium that was great value for a night that we won't soon forget. We will be back. read more

I didn't know a place like this would exist in Sydney in the out of reach midst of an architecturally divine arcade. The dark mood lighting, the full seated tables with the dark suited business men made me feel like I was on the set of Mad Men. There was an air of supremeness, as I noticed the suits were enjoying long, casual lunches here and I knew that we would have a good experience here. The food was delicate and abundantly seasoned and something I look forward to now with every meal that's similar, but just can't match the taste I got to enjoy here at Pendolino, making it no wonder why it's chef hatted. The only issue is the locality of the bathrooms on the other side of the building. read more

had an epiphany when eating pasta here: this is what al dente really is!! the bread, the olive oil, the food - all top quality. must return.

I had some family come to visit and they chose this restaurant. Lucky for me they were also paying. Pendolino has become one of my most favorite restaurants here in Sydney. The food was mouth watering amazing. The service great! I recommend it this place for any special occasion. read more

Impeccable Service. Authentic but Creative. Delicious. Expensive but worth every penny.