The Restaurant Pendolino in Sydney

Very nice venue, food was amazing! Staff were so welcoming and attentive the whole time, in particular our waiter Domenico!

Wonderful dining experience. Especially enjoyed the cacio e pepe ravioli with a glass of the nebbiolo red wine. The staff were so accommodating and friendly, especially considering we had a grumpy 2 year old toddler with us. I am grateful for their kindness and generosity in making us feel welcome and comfortable. Kid-friendliness: Kid friendly, has baby chairs

Had a lovely two-course pre-theatre dinner here with friends. The service was very attentive including a wine recommendation and the ragu was delicious. Enjoyed the tasting plate and the chocolate truffles they gave us for dessert and to take home. A very nice experience overall and perfectly timed to then walk over to the Theatre Royal to see Six the Musical.

So so . If you dont want to have a three-course menu, you are asked to sit outside the restaurant behind the check-in desk... Eatable dishes but nothing special....

Perfect place for a pre dinner meal if youre going to the state or theatre royal. Amazing service and delicious Italian fare. The drinks cart was a nice touch.

Magnificent dinner with wine pairing

We went there to have dinner before go to a Movie during the Sydney Film Festival. And very conveniently they have a pre theatre menu. That includes a tasting plate with 4 bite-sized experiences. 2 of them I liked very much, simply delicious. The sweet corn soup was good. And one of the options was very salty for my taste. Talking about salt, I would like to suggest to the chef to keep a little bit of salt at the table to enhance the flavours of the three types of olive oils on the table. The experience is great, although for the first and third olive oil option the salt bring more the fruitness of the third oil and balance better the lemon olive oil. Regarding the dish, I can say is one of the best pasta dishes Ive had in Sydney. I had the blond duck bolognese and was perfect in every bite. Be aware, the dish has nothing even close to a traditional bolognese. Is a white sauce base dish. But was amazing. Well balanced and executed. My wife had the ravioli, and was perfect as well. But my favourite was the duck. We had the merengue dessert, such well thought dish. Where we got an entree for the dessert, that was a new thing for me, and then the dessert well balanced with all elements right. Sweet, acidity, crunchy. About the wine service, was very good with attention to detail. Nothing to complain about it. At the end we got nice chocolate balls . That was a surprise. Probably we will go back for the 6 course menu, but the 2 course menu already made my night. Wheelchair accessibility: Can use the lift from the gallery.

I love the taste

Great spot if you want a very nice and traditional italian restaurant in the city.

High quality food, atmosphere and service. Top level restaurant with Italian cuisine and wide range of wines. Food

Service was outstanding. Food was disappointing. I appreciate well seasoned dishes but from the break to my risotto it was salt, salt, salt, without a highlight of acid to brighten the dish. My partners fish was very dry, and again, very heavy handed with the salt. The crudo whilst good could use some acid. Disappointing. Service was impeccable and tiramisu was fabulous.

It was a very wonderful day. It was 30th wedding anniversary and first visit to Sydney. I d like to visit here again.

good

Best Italian Restaurant

The food is always yummy and the service is always good. Pendolino has a nice atmosphere as its not overly loud like some places. They spread the tables out so you have privacy and the drinks cart is fun :)

This used to be my all time favourite restaurant. For years and years I ordered the beef carpaccio (the best in the world!), the ravioli and the semifreddo. The last time I went, the carpaccio was no longer on the menu and the semifreddo was deconstructed- who wants to pay a fortune to construct your own desert?! The tasting plate and breads were still to die for. Bring back your original menu please for your long time loyal customers who no longer return

Would had been 5 stars if the pace of dishes had been slower. I had the 6 courses with wine pairing. Everything excellent with special highlights for the risoto and pinaple sorbet (Trou Normand). Wine pairing while on the traditional side was excellent.

I recently dined at this Italian restaurant on a corporate occasion and had an unsatisfactory experience. I informed the waiter that I dont eat pork and requested a replacement at the ordering stage, but my dish still came with pork. This was disappointing and offensive. While they apologised, I expected them to get it right the first time. Throughout the night, different waiters served our table, which seemed strange and disrupted the flow of the evening. Given the amount we spent, it didnt feel worth the money. I wont be returning. Your loss.

Went there for the two course pre show meal. Disappointed with the first course which was a few small canapés . The only choices for the main were all pasta or risotto. Very mediocre wand overpriced. Wine list extensive but overpriced also. $300 for a quick pre show meal which was basically a plate of pasta and some bread. Oh and $7.50 each for very small oysters. Would not go back.

Very good service and food!! Wanna come back soon. Highly recommend

Top Restaurant

Excellent menu and an exceptional private fine dining experience. Exquisite food matched beautifully with first class wines. So many superlatives but this was really a top shelf performance.

Very good ambience and setting to have a business chat over gourmet Italian dinner. Good selection of wine and fantastic desserts

The staff were being such a racist and the manager yelled at us, GET OUT OF HERE when we politely addressed the issue. It was the worst dining experience I ve ever had in my life. The food was just ok and I m sure you can get better food somewhere else given the price I came because of the reviews but the experience was so different from what I read. There are plenty of choices in Sydney with better staff, better food and better atmosphere. Just go somewhere else.

Iconic Sydney Italian Restaurant

Delicious dinner

Everything was amazing

Incredible experience. Everything was a top notch experience. I would say this is one of the best kept secrets in Sydney. Change nothing! I could not have enjoyed it more. Food

We had a very special meal tonight. We were treated like royalty. We highly recommend. Food : 5/5

Beautiful food, dessert was a highlight! Staff were attentive and provided excellent service!

The restaurent is overcrowded, staff are rude, poorly dressed and not well kept. Food is atrocious. Basically drowned in olive and cheese foam. Literally eating grilled or mcdonalds would be better

Wonderful intimate atmosphere

Food is above average. The atmosphere and service is impersonal and cold, even a touch snooty without reason and that comes from having dined from the likes of Hestons and Michelin starred restaurants. There are nice touches such as the three olive oils including house specials. The menu is set - three course, with a standard starter/ first course. Four course if you choose dessert which didn t impress my table so we skipped it. If you re not sure what to choose, there s a 6 course degustation or just follow what s in the 6 course to guess what s the star dish. The first / starter course is interesting with tastes and modern presentations from lollipop meat, to beetroot crisp. The second course of Beef Crudo is very good. Paper thin raw beef with hints of cheese that you won t be able to see but will definitely taste and beef tendon crisps - enough said! The main/third course, is surprisingly good if you choose the fish (cod). The ravioli is rich and a little oily. The risotto is recommended and smells as good as it looks.

4 course menu. Tasting plate and entrees were nice. Mains were just not special and certainly didn t justify the price. They seemed pretty made to reduce kitchen staff to bare minimum. Wine in a restaurant is usually 2 to 3 times the cost of buying the bottle. 5 to 6 here. Focus is too much on maximising profits. Very disappointed

Amazing Italian restaurant! I ordered vegan ( thank you chef for having vegan options) and loved the tasty mushroom pie and the chocolate balls at the end! Always good going out to restaurants knowing they cater for vegans. Staff very friendly and I even enjoyed the Italian white wine. Will be back next time in Sydney.

Services food

We went here for our 9 years anniversary dinner and I bought 4 course meal. The meal was too salty and it too long for our food to arrive that we lost our appetite. I guess the idea is to savour the moment but it was far too long and the chairs are super-uncomfortable to be seating for 1.30 minutes meal. The place is falling apart with ceiling has cables hanging from it. Wouldn t recommend this.

NYE dinner here was excellent. Food and service was exceptional.

Hi Google users, Excellent food, service, location & ambience. Even my 2 young kids absolutely loved the food. -Enjoy

Nice

Bread = 4/5 Tasting plate = 4/5 Kingfish = 4/5 Beef Crudo = 5/5 Frittura Milanese = 1/5 (looked like kids fish fingers and corner shop seafood basket) Pastissada = 2/5 (beef tasted dry, the jus tasted a bit bitter) Desserts 4/5. I would go back, just stay away from the mains that we ordered.

Been here multiple times , the food, the presentation and the service never cease to amaze me

We just had the best dinner experience at Pendolino. Bianca, our sommelier, was on point with her recommendations and knowledge. Her personality and our shared stories of Italian wine made our dinner so enjoyable. We chose a 2016 Amarone which aerated beautifully and tasted differently each time she poured it Our waiter, Youneh, was delightful. Seriously professional but easy to crack a smile as the evening went on. Our food was wonderfully presented and did not disappoint. Although we hardly had room, we ordered great desserts. We had to order a taxi after dinner because we didnt feel like walking back to our hotel. Five stars all around.

Perfect

Parking: Central Sydney-between Pitt and George Streets !!!! Parking space

It was awesome experience

Food was top notch will def be back !

A delightful dining experience.

Some of the nicest warmest service in a lovely calm and top tier setting with some of the most beautifully presented food the flavors beyond the AntiPasti were bland and very simple for such high end dining.

Beautiful restaurant, extensive wine list , felt was bombarded at table on arrival , i know there is happy medium but felt slightly rushed

Everything was so salty, not worth the price.

This was the worst restaurant ive ever experienced. Only got half of what was ordered off the menu . Everything was more french cuisine than Italian in ridiculously small portions . I got something in a cup of olive oil with corn kernels at the bottom , they were stuck so the owner approached me and asked if i would like a little spoon like the mice and rats use ! I thought what a thing to say to a customer how rude and insulting . My main corse i ordered the kingfish . What i got was something that looked like a clear prawn chip with 2 tea spoons of pecks paste and some garnish . Walked out feeling insulted and ripped off . Dietary restrictions: Good if your not hungry and want to spend a lot of money while being insulted . Nothing like Italian food !

Vegetarian options: Decent choice of vegetarian menu including 3 course and 5 course. Food

First class dining experience absolutely delectable. Parking: Located in very busy area of Sydney where parking is impossible. Wheelchair accessibility: Wheelchair accessibility is possible via lift. But signage for wheelchair access.

Just amazing, one of the best food experiences you can have

Pendolino is an Italian restaurant, which serves food in either 3-, 4- or 6-course menus. Upon request, they provide an extra menu for vegans. For each course, you can choose from a couple of options, so you have several options (similar to the regular menu). Considering the fact that the prices here are quite high (starting at 140$ per person for the 3 course menu), you should be able to expect a proper fine dining experience. In terms of food, however, it was just okay. I clearly preferred some dishes over other dishes. Compared to the food my non-vegan friends had, some vegan dishes seemed a bit lacking (as if they had simply removed the non-vegan component). At other times, the plating was a bit questionable. But staff was lovely and service was very good. There were several waiters and waitresses providing us with information about food and drinks, and even supplied us with extra treats on the house. The restaurant is located on the 2nd floor inside a shopping mall. The atmosphere is elegant and old-fashioned: Individual tables, wooden furntiure and white table cloth. Booking a table in advance is required. Vegetarian options: vegan menu available

My husband and I shared our first wedding anniversary here, the service was exceptional and the food was fantastic. I have been here a few times and keep coming back! A beautiful cosy romantic restaurant.

Really lovely time was had. Big shout outs to the Charcoal Foccacia and Michael who waited on us. If you have the time and $$ to invest in doing the 6 Course Degustation AND wine pairing, its wholeheartedly worth it. Food and wine both delicious. Palate cleanser at the end was sharp and did the trick. Was appreciative of swapping out one dish for another, despite it being a set menu. The only things I could maybe nitpick were that the courses felt like they came out a little too quickly, especially given there was wine to finish with each one and the plates while nice looking dont really let you cutlery lean on it. Cutlery kept sliding onto the plate and into the food. Not the end of the world, just a little messy.

My wife and I went to Pendolino, for our 20th wedding anniversary, and the food was outstanding, the service was impeccable. There was one small mistake, but it was corrected before we left, and overall I rate our evening at 9 1/2 score out of 10

This was our first and last time visiting Pendolino. 4 of us had the Pre-Theatre Early Dinner on Saturday. The food was great but unfortunately, the service was underwhelming and unpleasant. When we declined the upselling/offer of a glass of sparkling (as we had already decided to order other drinks) the response from the waiter was abrasive and condescending. As meals were arriving at another table close by, the waitress was obviously annoyed that they weren t ready and wasn t discreet when saying something to other staff. Overall, the service was lacking professionalism and spoiled our experience.

Tastes very old fashioned

Only 2nd time I have been here & I absolutely love this place. The food is amazing & the service is great & all with a dimly- lit ambience, which I love. I dont like brightly lit restaurants. The Sommelier who served us was awesome at pairing a wine with our different courses. Thank you Sir Anthony (I thought he looked like a young Anthony Hopkins). I will 100% be back on a regular basis. It was actually my bday & I couldnt have gone to a better place.

Had the vegetarian six course tasting menu with matching wines as part of the tasting menu, with matching wine pairings. Experience, ambiance, service and food was fantastic, as one would expect. Great place to celebrate a special occasion and/or create lasting memories.

Coming from Italy went here to try some Italian food however I believe this is more like Aussie/Italian food rather than authentic Italian food. The staff are really friendly and professional and the food was quite good. Just a bit too salty for our taste but the flavours were interesting. The vibe was good too. Overall a nice romantic experience. Worth a try

Amazing 3 course meal and exceptional service. Highly recommended.

Great experience. Food, service and cocktails. Highly recommended.

Price but excellent food & service. Great modern Italian.

My goodness that was seriously one of the most inspired and delightful meals Ive ever eaten. Thought I was just popping in for a pre show bite but was treated to one of the most sublime dining experiences Ive ever had. The layers of flavour were complimentary and inspired and the meal was delicately crafted to bring out the most of the ingredients. Loved every single piece of this experience. Just wow. And thank you.

My favourite restaurant in Sydney. I love this place. We came here for our Wedding dinner.

Just all round excellent

Enjoyed the 3 course meal and wines. The first two courses were especially good

Poor service and food quality

Every thing about Pendolinos is absolutely delicious , Couldnt fault it at all ........................ until it was time to pay the bill . it was an embarrassment , Over changed on condiments & added drinks to the value of hundreds of dollars , for 1/2 doz oysters at $6-50 i was charge $270 & as i said they added bottles of wine i never saw . I left very disgruntled , it really spoilt my night ............................... Beautiful dinning experience but please check you bills .

Pendolino in the Strand Arcade stands as a true Sydney institution in the realm of fine dining. It consistently maintains its reputation by delivering not only the finest tasting food but also exemplary service that sets it apart. The noteworthy wine list further enhances the dining experience. Pendolinos enduring excellence makes it a must-visit for those seeking a combination of culinary mastery, attentive service, and an ambiance that captures the essence of Sydneys dining scene.

Stunning food and loved the different approaches to the classic cuisine

Food quality and service were on point. However service from sommelier was surprising enough to prompt a review. I couldnt decide between two types of wine and asked for a taste test, but the sommelier wouldnt provide a sample and asked me to taste from my dining partners glass. Never had I experienced this strange and dismissive service from a sommelier! How much wine would be in a taste test? 10ml? Will not return.

We went to Pendolino to celebrate our special occasion. The food and service were remarkable, and the general manager Valentina went above and beyond to ensure our special day was indeed special and memorable!

What a splendid establishment the Pendolino is! The culinary offerings are truly exceptional, brimming with delightful flavors that bring sheer joy to the palate. Each dish on the menu exhibits remarkable quality, immaculate presentation, and sheer delight in every bite. The service provided is nothing short of impeccable, characterized by a discreet, friendly, and highly efficient staff. I must express my sincere appreciation for the exceptional dining experience this establishment provided. The menu is truly excellent, and the ambiance exudes a lively and vibrant atmosphere. My heartfelt gratitude extends to the entire staff, who performed flawlessly. I wholeheartedly recommend this establishment to all discerning diners.

Exquisite food, good service and nice ambience. Highly recommended. Food

Really excellent service. Every staff member went above and beyond to make our dinner special. Great food, excellent pairing with wine menu. Would come back here anytime. Dietary restrictions: They catered to every one of our guests. Not one special requirement was missed!

Lovely restaurant, the food was very tasty with good choices. Quiet atmosphere made it easy to converse. Staff were friendly and attentive. Will definitely go back.

Lovely position on the harbour.

Dietary restrictions: They had a menu ready with foods I could eat. Everything was delicious and I didn t feel like I was missing out Food

Great place and food

Great service

The set entree was delicious. However, the mains were too salty. The otherwise lovely dessert was spoilt by the overly salty, salted gelato. However, the staff were attentive and friendly.

Pendelino is an absolute gem that we keep coming back to. The dishes are imaginative Italian flavour bombs and the wine list is superb. Never fails to impress.

Delicious pastas and great professional but laid back service. On the exxy side and smallish portion size, but would gladly return. Solid 4.5 stars

Interesting dishes but service was mediocre, which should not be expected at a fine dining establishment.

Really salty and dissapointing Staff told me it s just like that lol Didn t even offer me a replacement or anything What a place for fine dining

Wonderful food, fantastic service, great ambience.

Last time I visited Pondolino was in 2018. I have to say they stepped up their game offering the tasting course. The wine matching was excellent. It stands out against the very rich 6 tasting courses. I found the sommelier to be knowledgeable and extremely passionate about the wine provenance. Service was excellent, everything moving in sync.

Been meaning to try this place for some time and it didnt disappoint. Service was exceptional. Branka was a absolute delight. We had the 6 course tasting menu and it was all delicious but Ill be back to eat a giant plate of the ravioli. I was told its been in the menu for a long time and I can see why!

Yes, the food was a bit salty. Yes, the waiter served our order to the table next to us, yes the darkness hides the simple furnishing, yes its incredibly expensive BUT it was a good experience. Food was really good, staff was kind and food presentation was excellent. A really good night.

Fantastic food and wonderful wine

Atmosphere, service and food is excellent. The price is excessive however as reflected by the $15 bottles of water! This kind of mark up on drinks is out of date and leaves a bad taste in your mouth especially at this price point.

Food was outstanding, we tried the four course and loved it. The staff were amazing, such a relaxing evening.

Exceptional

Have been to Restaurant Pendolino several times pre-Covid and loved it. 5 stars ALWAYS. Last night, not so much. Over-priced, service mediocre and unfriendly. Avoid.

Wonderful experience with fantastic food and service. Great wine selection. I cant recommend enough for a night out.

Great, attentive staff. Fun and delicious dishes, romantic atmosphere

My wife and i celebrated our wedding anniversary in the city was looking for a nice italian restaurant to dine. And we sure did find it Pendolino was very nice and great place to take the wife. Staff were really accommodating and polite, food was fantastic we had the 3 course menu , large selection of wines to choose from we will definitely be coming back. Thank you to all the staff for making our night extra special. At the end of our meal we were presented with a bottle of olive oil and cookies.

Been twice. Both were amazing experiences. The food was amazing and the service was very friendly.

What a wonderful night, all the staff looked after our needs - in fact made the birthday girls feel extra special by surprising them with a wonderful gesture of presenting them with a personalised gift each. The food was amazing. Cant wait to go again

About as good as dining out gets, at least for the likes of me and my Seven Hills suburban sensibilities. Eat here for that special occassion and I guarantee you wont be disappointed. Sure its expensive but its worth it to create one of the greatest dining out experiences youll ever have. Every dish sparks up in its own way, brings such a power of flavour youd be hard pressed to not enjoy it. Theres plenty of olive oil and for mine just the right balance of savoury complement. The service is exceptional, and it helped that our waiter spoke Serbo-Croat (the language of my wifes people) to add to that whole European atmosphere. White sheets on tables, wine bottles on cellared walls, low light and jazz in the background create a wonderful Italian restaurant atmosphere. They even played It Never Entered My Mind by Miles Davis, which felt pretty special because I tried writing lyrics to it once.... Its the sort of restaurant where they take your coat and make you feel important, if only for a few hours. Reserve this place for something special, or go a few times - theres plenty of fun to be had. Pricey but what is the point of money if not to spend it on moments like this? Happy 50th, Sandra. Love you mate.

Really great food, friendly staff

Have not been for 10 years and was blown away on how good it is.

Impressive menu

The Restaurant Pendolino deserves more than 5 stars My husband and I booked a 4-course meal for his birthday dinner and everything was just sublime. From the complimentary breads (which I must say deserve a review of its own as they were amazing!) to the first course all the way to the end of the meal, everything was just beyond compare. Although, the night wouldn t have been perfect if it weren t for the exemplary service of their staff, all of them, and we would like to make a special mention to Oliver, Andrew, and Ben, for taking pride in their service and making sure that we are having one of the best dinner experience we ve ever had in a while. They deserve all the compliments they will be receiving and have received, as I m sure this was not and will not be the only time they re recognised. The whole time we were there, my husband and I were already planning on coming back. We sure do hope they receive more than bountiful glowing compliments. I am a bit confused by some of the reviews stating that they were surprised when they were handed their bill, implying that they were somehow duped into paying hidden charges for drinks, for that was just far from our experience. They certainly make you aware of the costs of everything that is not part of your meal, e.g. handing you a menu of wine selection before pouring you a glass from their cart. You really have to pay attention to your sommelier and the wait staff. One bit of advice, don t go there and ignore them, and then complain about having to pay for the wine. I m sorry if that sounds a bit harsh, but this restaurant and its staff deserve better reviews, fair reviews. Before I forget, hats off to everyone in that kitchen, you guys are magicians! The food, my goodness, it s just perfection! Thank you The Restaurant Pendolino, you ve earned our patronage.

it was iquistaed my tounge has never felt that good that it was going to make me cum!

Suprisingly good, even after hearing all the hype!

2 stars are for the atmosphere & the lovely lady with the champagne cart. Unfortunately the food is below mediocre. Another example of an Australian restaurant that has an undeservedly good reputation on Google.

The food was nice but not fitting of the price. The location was lost as there were no window views anywhere. It was also challenging to go to the toilet as you had to leave the restaurant and ride an elevator to another floor. I have eaten Italian food with more flavour for half the price.

Pushy service, pescatarian main was bit of fried cheese with burnt calamari crumbs, pasta ears (black oricheitte) dish with prawn had a decent taste but degustation size, staff interrupted constantly at awkward moments with non-urgent awkward questions, overall mediocre food (ranging from poor to great but mostly poor), small portions, overpriced, inconsiderately pushed eftpos at our faces at the end of a skimpy meal with no explanation and would not visit again. I ve had many top end Italian meals and this is not a scratch on it. Glimpses of brilliance but not enough to justify its rating, I would be embarrassed to run this place (sadly, wanted to find something brilliant). Vegan member of our table thought it was bland and unimaginative. Came home and felt like eating something decent.

Everything is foam I was thinking of that title as I was having lunch there today and every single course had foam on it! Massively overpriced food that desperately needs updating (foam foam everywhere!), condescending service that was cold and bordering on trying (but in our case: failing) to intimidate. The food wasn t awful but I would definitely not return.

Absolutely perfect. We have went every year for our anniversary and the food and experience is always sublime. The olive oil tasting is such a beautiful little detail to begin. And from their the carpaccio and ravioli are my favourite dishes of all time to eat!

Everything is just perfect

Wow I have never been so insulted in my life after sitting from 6.30pm to 7.30pm being served only bread and one glass of champagne to being affronted by Andrew the restaurant manager who seemed very offended to receive my feedback. And was so lovely to be so rude to embarrass myself and my mother in-front of adjourning guests we promptly left. Worst dinning experience of my life

The food was way too salty and oily and do not match its fine dinning position. The only good things are the service and the wine selection

I have been here three times before, and every time the food has been amazing and the service is excellent.

Really, really over-rated. This is an Italian restaurant but I struggled to taste the Italian influence in anything they served, all you can taste is salt, in literally everything but dessert. It s also very expensive for what it is. I ve done plenty of fine dining & happy to pay for great food, but although they re trying hard here, they re missing the mark & over-charging for the experience. The seating is very uncomfortable, and I think that when you re paying $160 per person for 4 courses, you at least want to sit comfortably during the process, not shifting uncomfortably every few minutes. I beg you Pendolino owners - buy new chairs!! The markup on the wine is absurd, a $140 bottle of Shiraz being sold for $385. Just wow. This is unnecessary profit-grabbing, especially considering it s not BYO so you have no choice but to buy their wine if you want a glass with dinner. It does have a lovely ambience and in a wonderful location in The Strand, but I m sorry to say I won t be going back.

Excellent atmosphere, very attentive staff and good quality food. We had the degustation 6course meal in the original and vegetarian styles. Great place to go for the special occasion

The food was amazing so a few weeks after I recommended to a friend , so we both went together. The amount of dirty looks and rudeness from waiters was shocking. We then let Andrew the manager know and he chuckled saying it s been a busy night , with no apology at all. This isn t what hospitality should be at all , I ve been to packed restaurants with the best service. The food was still amazing but I could not believe the lack of apology and a laugh in our faces. We paid about $700 just for the two of us girls so it s crazy that we deserved that kind of service ?

Good ambience, good food. My stomach might be a big weak for some of the olive oil my stomach hurts after. But I would still go back to eat because I love their selections of olive oil!

We celebrate our 20th wedding anniversary with our family members. Pendolino made this one of our most memorable. The service was totally attentive without being intrusive. Our waiter was very knowledgeable and made great recommendations on the food and wine which we accepted. Each dish was special and enjoyable. Must try s include the beef cheek, the ravioli and prawn pasta. Our waiter suggested we ordered a few different desserts to share around the table and this was fantastic as we got to taste a bit of everything.

This is our first time returning after a couple of years, we were so excited to come back. Unfortunately Pendolino did not deliver. Their Set Menu option is very overpriced, we ended up paying $800.00 for 4 people which included 3 alcoholic drinks. Although this seems like the norm these days the food was not up to scratch at all. Our entree of Zuchini Flowers with Prawns was over salted and the mains were very small serves. My main of the gnocchi with veal was the biggest disappointment, I m not sure if they forgot to add the gnocchi however I could not find them, I had a plate of sloppy melted cheese with an occasional tiny ounce of veal. It felt like eating grilled cheese without the toast, honestly the strangest dish I have ever had. Either the gnocchi melted or someone left them out. Service was great and the little touches of the Amuse Bouche and palette cleanser along with the amazing bread and oil are still really perfect. Pendolino was our absolute faveourite for Italian however I m sad to say we won t be back in a hurry.

Absolutely loved our lunch. The food was incredible, atmosphere lovely and the staff were great. Highly recommend. Vegetarian options: They have a large range of vegetarian and vegan options. Very impressive.

$650 for 3... not value for money however the staff were very nice.

My partner and I celebrated our anniversary in this fabulous restaurant. The staff were really accommodating, nice and polite. The food was awesome we had the 4 course menu and loved all the plates. Not to talk about the huge variety of drinks they offer love. We will definitely be coming back. Thank you to all the staff for making our night extra special. At the end of our meal we were presented with a bottle of olive oil and chocolates

Great food. Great ambience. Great service.

Amazing food and ambiance, fantastic service and helped us celebrate our one year anniversary.

I was brought here for my birthday. The atmosphere was nice and the food was delicious. The chocolate they gave me on the way home was the most delicious

Staff were amazing, they made a birthday very special! The wine, food and caviar are all outstanding. Highly recommend this restaurant!!

Happened to notice it when walking past, we were lucky enough to find a table. A wonderful surprise, excellent authentic Italian food, a very well appointed wine list, and perfect service. It felt like being in Italy, or event better. We will definitely come back.

4 course vego meal was beyond delicious. This place provides an attention to detail that makes you feel pampered. The food is spectacular, the wine was fabulous and the service 10/10.

Sadly it has gone downhill, severely overpriced set menu, food was average, waiters arrogant and continued to correct pronunciation when ordering a dish. Have been there many times but will not return

Excellent fine dining. Attentive but not pompous staff

In Sydney, if you like Italian and Mediterranean cuisine, be sure to visit Pendolino It is named after a train I took in Rome and its name fills me with memories of my homeland.

Superb food complimented by excellent friendly service. From the moment we arrived the staff were excellent, there when you needed them and non intrusive. The food, flavours and presentation, is exemplary. The added small tasting dishes between courses enhances the overall dining experience.

Loved the atmosphere! Food amazing I must say.

Wonderful food and service

Lovely calm setting with friendly, attentive and knowledgeable staff. The food was delicious with a range of classic Italian fare to more creative options. My only watch out is that it is expensive for what it is - a $3 beer costing $22 is excessive!

Friendly staffs, amazing quality food, and reasonable waiting times. The restaurant has a nice atmosphere for dining.

Beautiful Italian food - pricey but the standard is up there :) would recommend for special occasions and dining .

Absolutely speechless. The food, the service the atmosphere and staff were impeccable. The best Italian high class resturant Ive ever been too , and my god I was blown away. 100% recommend, not a doubt about it.

The best authentic Italian food you could get your hands on!

It s been a long time between events, and, with the hospitality industry being one of the hardest hit by the pandemic, it was well overdue for a party. Luckily PorkStar, Australian Pork Ltd s foodservice brand, know how to throw a good shindig. They gathered together Sydney s most influential chefs, farmers and food industry leaders, and assembled them around head chef and restauranteur, Nino Zoccali s table. Quite fitting really, as Pendolino Strand Arcade Sydney sits right in the epicentre of the CBD venues hardest hit by our changing behaviour through the course of the pandemic. After greeting industry standouts like Darren Templeman, Danny Russo, Mark Jensen, Colin Fassnidge, Manu Feildel, and Miguel Maestre, along with key food media, like ABC Sydney s Simon Marnie and Lyndey Milan OAM, the 60 of us sat down to an indulgent feast. Australian pork was of course the centrepiece, across dumplings in trotter and pork bone broth, and Zia Lidia s olive-stuffed polpettine served split and skewered in a puddle of creamy joy. Under a sheet of translucent lardo, rounds of toothsome corzetti (Roman coin pasta) mingled with a rosemary-spiked blonde bolognaise. Perfectly pink in the centre, pork tournedos, served alongside beetroot rapa, autumn vegetables and fennel spice, were almost upstaged by an accompanying bowl of Nino s wonderful pork fat Dutch cream spuds. Even the classic Pendolino nougat semifreddo got its own porky infusion, with a pork fat crostini dusted in icing sugar. Best thing about the night: hearing chefs talk about the pivots they made during COVID-19 to save their businesses, feed their staff, and nourish the parts of themselves that got them into hospitality in the first place. I left extremely well nourished and buoyed about the dining year ahead.

Beautiful, elegant Italian restaurant!! The customer service is superb. The food is divine. Highly recommended for a special occasion.

Absolutely wonderful birthday dinner at The Restaurant Pendolino last night. The staff were attentive and friendly, the food was fantastic, the service outstanding, the atmosphere refined but relaxed, and my companion and I had the most terrific evening. Five stars. Highly recommended!

Very disappointing, Been going there for years. Havent been since covid, Menu has changed, Hardly any food on the plate. Walked out hungry. Not to mention my wife got food poisoning on the meat. We know it was the meat because i tried a small piece of the meat. I wasnt as badly effected. But had the runs all Day. Will never go back there again

Fantastic food, lovely service, and a very knowledgeable sommelier!

Best Italian restaurant. Food is excellent and servced at the right timing. The most professional staff with great service. But they close on Sundays and sometimes it is not easy to book a table.

Service was better than any other restaurant in Sydney.

Pretty awesome as always just gets better. World class probably the best in Australia when it comes to contemporary Italian .

Exceptional food, wine and service. Superb

Way overpriced!!!!!! Make sure you ask for prices when they come around with the alcohol trolley, cause the prices are not reasonable.

Very esquisit dinner. Carpaccio was to cry for.

Had dinner here for our anniversary and it was amazing. All the staff knew we were there for an occasion and each we walked past wished us a happy anniversary. The food was delicious, one delicious course after another. Wines were matched, our glasses never dry. The venue itself has so much character and we honestly couldnt be happier with our evening spent here.

Gorgeous, intimate, beautiful service & GREAT Food. Have the signature dish! A random stop in for lunch, will be coming back!

My favourite restaurant. You might have a different favourite restaurant, and you think that ones better, but if I agreed with you then wed both be wrong. Everything is excellent, it doesnt matter what you order. Pitter patter.

Love this place! Really authentic and interesting italian food. Really exceptional in terms of gluten free options. The service is always top notch and my partner and I have been several times. A little disappointed that the a la carte menu has been removed since covid. Please bring it back!

Excellent food and service. Highly recommend

Food, atmosphere and service (our waitress was Branka, AMAZING!) are all incredible. The oysters are so delicious and a great wine list to match. Every detail is taken care of to perfection.

Exceptional food and service. Very attentive. Always a pleasure coming here for fine dining Italian! Highly recommend

First class service and very very good food

Had my Sisters Birthday dinner here last Thursday, the wait staff are exceptional and made the night amazing along with the delicious food, I had the plant based menu which was the best vegan fine dining I have experienced. Thanks for an amazing night guys and see you soon!

All round bad experience. Very noisy, very expensive and poor service. Average food . Never again.

Great food and atmosphere, recommended.

We recently held a small wedding in the private dining room (30 people) and the event couldn t have been more perfect. Maggi and her team were fantastic and made sure the day went off without a hitch. The preparation, food, wine and staff were all fantastic and made our day very special.

Pendolino was a surprise find for this Sydneysider since it s tucked away at the top of the strand arcade in the CBD. It was however well worth the find. The restaurant is elegant and manages to insulate diners from its location. It has an extraordinary wine collection and delicious Italian dishes that play between traditional fare and contemporary renditions. Our party had the six-course degustation, and we were impressed from the start, with the three olive oils that accompanied the bread. The majority of the dishes in the progression were stand-outs and even the sides on the plates were memorable. We will certainly go back for a special lunch or dinner and with guests.

Gorgeous food and service always professional, love coming back here!

One of the best restaurant in the area.

The most amazing food and service. Next Level Quality and Taste

Very sweet and considerate service our whole company enjoy the meal very much. They provides customised menu for vegetarians, expectant mother or whoever has special needs, which is fantastic. Strongly recommended for group or event dinning. You will have a memorable night there.

Such a shame. Very bad experience with food and service. Ordered 3 course menu with the intent of having desert too but we left the food half way and paid hell lot of money for nothing. Food was so bland that I cant imagine. Lamb pasta was not having a single piece of lamb and it was full of olives that the taste become bitter and sour. Rivolli was their signature dish but it was so bad that cant imagine. On top of that the lady who serves the special drink did not give us the special price menu up front and offered us a drink. We started drinking and then we get the shocking high priced menu.

Pendolino needs no review, it all speaks for itself. The most incredible meal, service and ambience in town and nothing competes. A private pocket that is elite. I lunch there alone once a month the least to disconnect from the outside world and indulge in their finest food, wine and the soft jazz in the background. Thank you for always looking after me team.

Pendolino serves the best Italian vegan meal in Sydney... no doubt about it! The truffle is exquisite, just perfect! the ambience is great too with dimmed lights and soft jazz playing. Service is very attentive and your wine glass is always full... just the way I like it

Wonderful place to eat in a relaxed atmosphere. Located centrally.

This restaurant is the best for Italian food. The waiters are nice and explain what our dishes are. Great service and would hopefully come back again

We always enjoyed there! A special quick lunch turned out to be 6 courses in total. Awesome!