Review Petty Cash Cafe - Marrickville

Popped in here for breakfast on referral from a friend and so glad we did Friendly, positive energy and just simply amazing. The eclectic, upcycled appearance of this Cafe is incredible. Facing leafy Emnore Park it's a great place for a relaxed coffee and catch up with friends. Our food and drinks were all spot on, fresh and full of flavour and arrived at the table superfast. Thank you for a wonderful morning. If you're in the area this place is definitely worth a visit

If you own a dog, it's a great outdoors space + very welcoming staff members. Food and coffee comes so quick. Recommended 👍

Breakfast was very nice. Lots to choose from, all the regulars, but the za'atar eggs were outstanding. Great coffee and fresh juices, sweet and savoury pastries made on the premises, busy but not crowded, plenty of outside tables, and lots of locals coming and going... Owner is a bona fide legend of Australian Music and a thoroughly charming host.

Love this place. Really nice vibe. I try to get to the kids' swimming lessons earlier just to get coffee across the road. Love their homemade cookies. Friendly team. My husband went with the kids the other week and had the crumpets and said they were the best crumpets he'd ever had. I'll have to go back for them!

Fantastic! People are lovely and must be magical because I was tired and starving on arrival and forgot to tell them how I like my eggs and bacon on my bacon and egg roll. But when it arrived it was perfect! Coffee was great too, staff all seemed really happy. Not for you if you can't handle a bit of grunge - but everything was beautifully clean.

I’ve been here a handful of times now to just grab a coffee before going to the park/swim and always get bad vibes. They come across quite hostile like they really don’t want me to be there. I kept on telling myself it was just a one off or it was all in my head but it keeps on happening. Yesterday was the last straw for me and I won’t be going back. I walked in, it was almost entirely empty, no line and two people behind the counter. One of them glanced up so I smiled and walked up to the till to order but she immediately just turns around and starts to talk to the other person working. Then proceeds to do something else that doesn’t seem particularly urgent. It’s a bit weird but I decided to just wait. An awkward amount of time passes and they are still yet to acknowledge I exist. They have both definitely seen me. I am standing right there in front of them. But for some reason they don’t seem to want to serve me. I wait some more. Still nothing. No eye contact, no “one moment please”, no slight nod of acknowledgment, nothing. I haven’t felt so uncomfortable and invisible and unwelcome in a very long time. In the end I just felt so unwelcome I just turned around and left without ordering anything. They didn’t acknowledge me leaving either. Maybe they really just can’t read the room and are this bad at customer service? Although having read the other reviews this doesn’t seem the case. Maybe it’s unconscious bias? Maybe it’s something more. I don’t know but it’s happened too many times here and nowhere else that I know it’s not just in my head and will be avoiding them from now on. You might find it’s fine if you’re an ordinary white person.

Service is really good. They are a friendly bunch and food was delivered quickly. The place is very pet friendly as well.

If you’re thinking of visiting with babies you may want to reconsider. Coffee is good but the staff could do better. I visited today with 7 other mums and bubs from the area. We all have babies under 4 months and we’re still trying to navigate how to be social with such small humans in our care. Many of us are sleep deprived, all of us are doing our best. Some notes for the servers who cleared our table and thought we had all left (we hadn’t!); 1. It’s advisable to get a take away cup when your baby is thrashing around in your arms while you try to rock them to sleep. As much as I’d just love to drink out of a real cup I’d also rather avoid a trip to A&E. 2. We are sorry we moved the chairs around, prams are big and bulky. We had every intention to sit on those chairs but alas that was not what our babies allowed. Trust me when I tell you I’d rather sit than stand and rock an 8kg lump. 3. Baby brain is a real thing. You can read about it online. If you’re going to use it as a disparaging remark please be informed it doesn’t cause deafness and we can hear you! So disappointing. Please be kind to new mums, we’re doing our best. What’s your excuse?

Amazing vegan food and equally amazing service at Petty Cash Cafe.<br/><br/>The lady at the counter was soooo friendly and was good for a laugh. Truly started my day off with a smile and put me in a great mood throughout! <br/><br/>That is something that places forget about with customer service - how you treat your customers can really impact their mood for the entire day!<br/><br/>The vegan big breakfast was simple but incredibly tasty, especially the homemade hash browns.<br/><br/>Will be back!

A really nice cafe. Doesn't look like much from the outside but the food is always a treat. First came here with a celiac friend as it's got quite a gf men a surprisingly varied gf menu. She had the corn fritters which are one of those things that can easily be made gf but some cafes just aren't bothered to do. They were nice. The butter chickpeas are really great and something you don't see often in a cafe. Overall there's quite a fresh and varied menu and the coffee (and even the hot chocolate) is very good. <br/><br/>Would recommend to all locals.

Everything about this cafe is wonderful... The menu is extensive and has a little something for everyone. The staff are generous and made sure we throughly enjoyed ourselves whilst we sat in the sunshine dining on their delicious food on a warm winters day! (See attached Blogpost for more)

Tried out this cafe on the Anzac Day public holiday for the first time. It is very quirky and people who run the place are obviously very passionate about what they do.<br/>The meal I had was OK, though nothing to write home about. <br/>What I found most disappointing though was that on a day when we pay our respects to the fallen who sacrificed their lives so that we may enjoy the freedoms we have today, they couldn't even show  an ounce of respect by flying an Australian flag. They obviously don't get what this flag represents. Just thinking about it makes me shake my head in absolute confusion and disgust.<br/>On principle, I won't be going back.

Had high hopes for this place, but disappointing in many ways. Service was poor, was told to wait when there was nobody else at the counter ordering, staff eating food at the till. Blackboard menu was incorrect. When our food arrived, staff member (blonde woman, 40s, in retro style clothing) placed our food down with a thud without making eye contact and put them in the wrong places. The tofu scramble was a deep bowl of piping hot, bland shredded tofu with hard broccoli and a couple of end pieces of toast that were soggy from being placed so far down in the bowl. The fritters were very scarce. Felt like all the food was done on the cheap. There are plenty of better places to go to, try elsewhere.

This place is heaven for vegans! We ordered for a strawberry lemonade, a BLT sandwich and a vegan pancake. The lemonade was amazing with a sparkling twist, the vegan beef jerky was on point and actually scary close while the pancakes stole the show with a sweet and tasty raspberry sauce. The Cafe was located near a park and had great service, it feels like you are back in the 80’s when you visit here. The price is average but it’s located in a quite distant suburb, if you don’t mind traveling and would love a good meal! You’ve reached the right place.

Charming local cafe with friendly staff and kitschy decor. One of my regular spots for it's consistently delicious food and relaxed service. The scrambled tofu is a must-order, it's made with harissa and lots of spices and vegetables so it's super tasty and filling but really nourishing (and dare I say healthy). If it's a nice day, you can eat at the park across the road. Petty Cash ticks all the boxes :)

There are few really good vegan choices. I like the location there is a park just across the road, we went for a walk after breakfast. It also easy to find parking. We'll be back!

A neighbourhood cafe which serves a variety of gluten-free, vegan and vegetarian breakfasts. The proprietors are friendly and the coffee is thick and smooth. I tried the scrambled tofu, something special and not available at other cafes. It tasted alright but probably a little salty.

Petty Cash Café is a lovely one because they have a huge variety of vegan dishes, but it sure did make choosing quite difficult. Unfortunately they didn’t have many options on the specials menu as I would have liked, so we went for the ones on the normal menu – vegan big brekkie, vegan sausage roll, and tofu burger.<br/><br/>The vegan big brekkie is what all big breakfasts should aspire to be. It’s hearty, wholesome, and delicious. Loved the hash browns and beans and the mountain of spinach. Would have preferred an avo smash or at least peeled, but any sort of avocado is welcome in my books really. Petty Cash does have non-vegan options so quite a few variations of the big brekkie.<br/><br/>We also ordered a tofu burger, which was more of a sandwich, but nonetheless very tasty. The peanut sauce was really delicious, couldn’t stop eating it. Decent size, and comes with a salad as well. Would recommend this also.<br/><br/>The only let down really was the vegan sausage roll. They should really bring it out with tomato sauce to begin with, because it’s so dry and hard to eat without any sauce. The sauce does make it better but probably wouldn’t get it again.<br/><br/>Dog friendly so all round a great atmosphere to have brunch.<br/>

Oof this place is great. Outstanding vegan options and the coffee is out of control. Portions are weirdly huge, the tofu scramble filled me up all day. Bit odd

Seriously love this place. Heaps of options for all dietary requirements, reasonable cafe prices, quick service & chill atmosphere. At the top of my list for Enmore cafes!

Most muesli makes my jaw sore from chewing before I fill up. Add to that I’m not the world’s biggest fan of sultanas, but I still like things to be interesting; which usually leads me to add things like blueberries, just to avoid getting bored. Old Mother Hubbard’s Unique Mueslis made me rethink all these niggling complaints. It won me over by not being punishingly chewy. Owner/chef Renee Baker explained that this is because: “We double roast everything to get the right crunch and to allow different cooking times for certain ingredients.”Renee’s product range is named for her beloved Nan, Marjorie Hubbard, with whom she began cooking as a kid. “She was so warm and precise with her view toward food

Always impressed with the food and friendly service here. We travel from Melbourne 2-3 times a year and it's our cafe of choice. Great gluten free/Vego options and right across from Rocket park for the kids. The steak sandwich with gluten free bread was melt in the mouth, I was licking the plate.

The coconut, chocolate & cherry bread I had was delicious. This seems like an eclectic, good value, popular local cafe. I must return to explore further...<br/><br/>And so, I did<br/>Fabulous vegan burger and delicious smoothie<br/>Petty Cash seems like a bit of a local’s secret, considering its obscure location, but its popularity is well deserved

Detoured to the next closet cafe called ‘Petty Cash’. I absolutely love the name of this cafe ...Anyhow, it’s small cafe tucked away in the suburbs of Marrickville. It’s completely dog and baby friendly and has retro / rustic mismatched décor, has great breakfast / brunch options and has a relaxing vibe!

A quirky cafe full of personality set on a corner opposite a park, stuffed to the gills with vintage knic nacs. This cafe offers food for all kinds of dietary needs and is the perfect place to people and while away the afternoon. They have knitted tea-cosies. They have vintage spoons. They have formica tables, and a lurid technicolour paint scheme with lots and lots of kitsch nic nacs. Petty cash is vintage heaven! With a dynamite position across the road from Enmore Park and big windows all around catching the sun, this cafe is a kid magnet and welcomes families with children. It’s especially kid centric on Thursdays when the Marrickville magic play bus pays a visit to the park. It’s also a home away from home for the bohemian and unconventional. With a painted rainbow beckoning you in the doorway, the signals are that this cafe is a gay, lesbian and transgender friendly space.

I've only been here for breakfast before. The lunch side of the menu has lots to offer but a wrap in the display at the counter catches my eye - roast pork with roast carrots, red onion and redcurrant jelly.

Petty Cash Cafe is one of those places that just begs to be photographed. Perched on the leafy Victoria road it has the retro/rockabilly vibe that I find so much more comfortable than the bare ligtbulbs, concrete floors and upcycled bicycle seat stools of the hipster aesthetic, although those things have their place as well. I love the clashing green/orange/red/warm timber, the retro furniture, the zany sugar bowls, the clientele and staff in the kind of getup I could never even envisage. It’s a feast for the eye.

The menu at Petty Cash is HUGE...with everything tempting the taste buds. That said, The Boy went straight for his favourite of breakfast choices - The Big Breakfast ($16.90) and this really was BIG! Free-range eggs, toast, bacon, chipolatas, house-made beans, mushrooms and rosti. Phew - that was a mouthful! Big Sister chose the Petty Cash Breakie ($14.90), a more petite version of the Big Breakfast.

Cute café in Marrickville with an extensive all day breakfast and lunch menu at reasonable prices. ...I had the corn fritters with bacon, sour cream and spinach and this was fantastic! Who can say no to corn fritters and bacon?

The breakfast menu won't win any awards for creativity or variety but at least it does well with what it offers.

Petty Cash has everything that you would want and expect in a neighbourhood cafe in the Inner West. It's got the mis-matched retro furniture, outdoor tables, tatooed waitstaff and an extensive all day breakfast and lunch menu with options at reasonable prices. We arrived at around 12.45pm on a Sunday and the place was full except for a few seats at the big, communal table where we perched ourselves. We faced these gorgeous, pink friands ($3.50, see below) which were placed on the table alongside brownies which cunningly allow them to enter your sub-conscious, as if to say 'leave room for me'! Whilst they bring you menus, you have to actually go up to the counter to order and pay upfront which isn't my preferred option but understandable in a busy cafe where people come and go frequently.I ordered a Tandoori Chicken salad ($15.90) from the lunch menu and Mirelle ordered poached eggs, bacon, tomato, home made beans and toast with a side of haloumi ($18.90 with the side) from the breakfas

Behind Petty Lines. Food is delicious. Coffee excellent. Interior and exterior quirky and relaxed. Staff friendly and look genuinely happy. Except for one female staff member. The Inner West is known for its tolerance: express yourself, be yourself. I am not from the Inner West but was meeting friends who are and their outward appearance expresses that. I look casual and I'm always polite but this woman could tell I was not from the Inner West from fifty paces, and so, I would say, could the other staff. They, however, couldn't give a damn and were friendly. But I really dislike being greeted with a curled lip and subsequent monosyllabic responses, and there is really no need to slam my delicious food in front of me, with the ubiquitous curled lip, whilst carefully placing my friends' plates on the table with a smile. I don't look like you. So what? You were acting like a bigot and that is, very simply, ironic.

Fantastic cafe!. Took my sons here after we had an appointment in the city. Both my boys have food intolerances, yet we found it so easy to order and eat here! Both boys need to avoid dairy and gluten, yet both could have huge plates of yummy well cooked food and a cold yummy frappe. Son 1 had bacon, eggs ( on a bed of spinach, nice touch as we asked for the toast to be left off), potato cakes and the house made beans which came in their own sweet glass :) Son two had eggs ( again no toast) mini sausages, avocado and potato cakes. Fantastic to have such a variety of food available for those with intolerances. Staff were friendly and our order came very quickly. If we're ever down this way again, we would come back! Cost was what I would assume to pay for an inner west cafe. Well done Petty Cash Cafe :)

Not Happy.... but will come back.. I decide to drop in here for a coffee before shopping at nearby Marrickville Metro. It was a weekday morning so the cafe is not that busy and there are plenty of tables to choose from. I walk in, select a table, and sit down. Just after me 2 other people arrive and sit at a nearby table. The cafe has a corner position in a quiet street, opposite a park, and the weather is stunning. All very good. The two people who arrive after me are handed menus nearly straight away and have their drink orders taken. Mmmm okay just be patient, I think, and the wait staff will notice me soon. But they don't. I sit and wait and my patience turns to frustration. The cafe is quiet and the wait staff seemingly have not that much to, which just adds to my frusration. I think, is there something wrong with me? ...my clothes, or my hair or is it that they are not interested in customers on the wrong side of 50? Eventually I abrasively challenge one of the wait staff on their lack of service, only to be told its an 'order and pay at counter' service. Now feeling very embarressed about my manner I get up and order at the counter. Sure enough there are a couple of signs near the counter stipulating 'order and pay at counter'. However on returning to my seat, these signs, or any other signs indicating this cafe's method of service are clearly NOT visible. One thing "pay at counter" cafes/pub restaurants seemingly consisently get wrong is the general lack of signage indicating so. Really, there needs to be some indictaion at the table , either on a menu or, preferably, on a separate small sign. Oh and it is probably not a good idea to provide table service to some customers and not others, and to look out for customers who may not be aware of the "order at counter" system ( this was made more frustrating for me as their appeared to be one staff member wondering in and out of the kitchen area sipping a cup of coffee or something with nothing else to do). To the cafes credit though the staff member I did speak to was very pleasant despite my gruff manner......and the coffee was very good.... and the cafe has has a great vibe...... and is in a very pleasant spot. I do shop at Marrickville Metro from time to time so will almost certainly return before too long hoping for a much more pleasant experience.

Our favourite Sunday place. I have graced the retro furniture of Petty cash many a washed up sunday morning. It is always bustling with goodness. Very busy but well managed. You even get the option of taking a picnic blanket to the park across the road if all the tables are full. Perfect for families and party animals alike.<br/>The staff are friendly and genuine. Coffee is great, long blacks have the perfect crema. The menu is original and exciting (and has some standard options too). There are entire menus devoted to gluten free and vegan diets. <br/>You order and pay at the counter which is far more clever than table service in a busy cafe environment. <br/>My partner and I have never had any stuff-ups on our orders that I can remember. The wait time for food isn't too long considering how packed it gets. The prices are at the upper end of reasonable but the friendly vibe, eclectic setting, awesome coffee and nourishing food are worth it.

Good food, good service and good vibe!. Love that when it's a sunny day that we can set up a picnic in the park and still order food from this Cafe. They have several tasty vegan options to choose from as well. I love the granola and the vegan big breakfast.

Great service. Travelled 90 minutes to have a light brunch here and I wasn't disappointed. Ordered the eggs benedict with smoked salmon ($17.90) and it was delicious except there was a bit too much vinegar in the sauce for my personal liking. Apart from that though it was perfect.<br/>Staff were also very friendly and efficient.

Simon Food Favourites review. Down-to-earth service and a quirky retro kitsch decor makes this cafe instantly appealing to want to settle in and enjoy the view of Enmore Park across the road. If you can't find a table you can grab a picnic rug and they'll bring you the food over in the park — now that's pretty cool. Very kid and baby friendly with an abundance of high chairs waiting along the pathway. Fruit frappe ($5.90) was very good and refreshing. Big Brekkie ($16.90) was a feast for the hungry. Lots of free range scrambled eggs and tasty bacon makes it a winner. Everything on the plate was really nice and so reasonably priced for the portion. Buttermilk pancakes with bacon and maple syrup ($14.90) was also good and decently sized. Hope to return to try more on the menu at this very popular locals cafe.

Unpretentious place with nice vibe opposite the pool and park. Tasty food with a good variety and a big vegan offering. Impressed and will be back...

Excellent food and service!. I have been frequenting Petty Cash Cafe for over six months now and I am yet to have an experience that was anything less than exceptional. The menu is large and has plenty of variety, as well as having options for vegans and gluten-intolerant people. It is also very reasonably priced. No matter what I order, the food is always prepared and cooked to perfection. The service is always amazing and all the staff are very friendly. Petty Cash has a very comfortable environment and the staff put in the extra effort to ensure that all customers feel welcome. <br/>As well as the amazing food and service, Petty Cash is in a great location, right across from the park. Petty Cash is easily my first place to recommend to friends in the area and I highly suggest everyone tries it.

No table service. We took a table outside. After waiting over 5 minutes we noticed everyone was going in to order. The waitress serving the food at other tables didn't bother telling us we have to order at the counter. So in we go and there is a queue of people waiting to place their order. 5 minutes later , we have not moved up the queue because the Eftpos machine is playing up. <br/>Not good enough really. Hire more staff and offer proper table service.

Small place across from nice park. Breakfast at this retro looking place - furniture is all odds and sods and the cutlery looks like it's from your great granddad's era. The cafe seems to have its fair share of staff and yet you have to order at the counter, indicate where you're going to sit in a maximum 5 metre radius of the counter then get your own water, cutlery, napkins etc. Why? Other places give full service to a bigger area for same or lower price.<br/><br/>Big breakfast - quite oily and burnt haloumi - if you want to see exactly what it's like, see the big photos in the review from He Needs Food below. No issues with the staff though - they seemed really friendly.

Nice spot. A nice corner positioned cafe opposite Enmore park. This former fruit shop site has really transformed that side of The park. The food is just as good as the location

Suggestions. 1. Change from "order at the counter" to table service. Such a small cafe and lining up to order at the counter can be a real squeeze.<br/>2. Install an EFTPOS machine!!<br/><br/>That is all.

So nice!. I went here the other day, during the week and got a spot in the sun and it was lovely. i had a chai, which was yuuuum (smuggled in a tea cosy ). i picked sides off the menu to have on toast, and although a serve of bacon was $5, dayum, that was some particularly good bacon. then i came on the weekend and it was pretty busy, but great considering how much of a tight squeeze it was at times. props to the staff!

While the food is nice, it doesn't make up for the lack of customer service. This is my 3rd visit and every time it has been disappointing. This will be my last - the wait staff didn't even make eye contact and slapped the food down in front of us. It's really not that hard to muster a smile and make people feel comfortable eating in your cafe.

You want to like it, it has the right ingredients, but fails to deliver. The first time I tried Petty Cash we had coffee and banana bread, which was stale and underwhelming. We went back because I heard breakfast was good and I love the ambiance and leisurely feel. Sadly, the eggs were so dull and bland I was too bored to finish the meal (possibly my fault for ordering lamely). Coupled with rude, rushed service, dirty tables and DIY everything except cook the breakfast yourself, save your pennies and head to Marrickville markets for a delicious organic feast.

Quaint and Friendly. A lovely laid back feel across from Enmore Park. I had the duck sausages. YUm! I found the staff to be very friendly, helpful and professional. NO sign of the attitude mentioned by another reviewer. I will be back, often I think.

This cafe is close by my kids' school and I often meet friends here for coffee. Overall the food and coffee is excellent. Some of the staff are extremely friendly and initially that was what drew me in, as well as the beautiful setting and kitsch interior. I understand that everyone has a bad day but there is one worker here who seems to have a huge attitude problem. On a number of occasions, she has been snappy to myself and other customers. A couple of days ago I witnessed her verbally abuse a table of young adults, yelling at them to leave the cafe and using the most obscene language in front of the patrons at the cafe, some of whom were young children. I don't know what the problem was, possibly something personal, but this group of people were doing nothing wrong and the way she handled the situation was incredibly unprofessional, and made our cafe experience rather uncomfortable. Not to mention losing 5 customers who were forced to leave in front of everyone, I'm not sure I want to go back to a cafe that let's its employees behave in such a fashion. It's a pity because apart from her, it's a great place. <br/>But unfortunately she is letting down their good, well-earned name.

Nice food, Good prices, fantastic atmosphere. The food and prices are pretty much what I would expect at any breakfast place, Everyone was happy with their food and they had a wide variety of delicious food to pick from (Everyone ummed and arr'd over a few items which is good). The decor is quirky and fun and the waitress we had was warm, friendly and pleasant to deal with. I'd definitely come back again, though bare in mind, being across from the aquatic centre, there are a lot of kids around, and not much in the way of parking on a Saturday and Sunday morning.

The girl was too busy worrying about what other people were doing rather than focussing on making the coffee...result...terrible, lukewarm coffee. Good thing I didnt order food. Don't waste your time here.

Petty cash, f**k yeah!. I love this place! they've always got good tunes playing and their coffee is crazy good. the breakfast menu (all day) is something I'm making my way through, and have not yet had a brekky short of amazingggg.<br/>plus the staff are lovely! they really step up when the place is packed on the weekend, or when there is a room of prams, babies and fussy mums.they're still smiling!

We have tried a few times but staff seem blasé and just a little put out having to take our order. The wolf and honeybee will be happy to take our business!

Disappointing.portions were small, toast tasted like it'd been stored with bananas. 'rosti' was bland & very oily. the milkshake however was great- huge & delicious.I hope this was an aberation 'cos the location's

Marrickvilles best breakfast spot by a mile. Always consistant and fresh and the omlettes are fantastic. One of the few places in Sydney that offer Bills Beans coffee from Orange. Awesome it's my weekend favorite and great to have the park directly opposite