Review Piato - McMahons Point

What an absolute gem! Hidden in McMahons point is this amazing Mediterranean restaurant full of delicious surprises. All the dishes that we've ordered are swiftly prepared and well presented. We ordered the Marinated Open Lamb Pita, Salt and Pepper Calamari and their Seafood Risoni. What elevated our meal is that they served us the most amazing Sardine dish that is not even on the menu (my mate is not a fan of Sardines, so for him to even love the flavour of this dish is a good indication that their chef is a wizard 🤪). To cap off the amazing meal, we ordered Bougatsa. That filo pastry wrapping the warm Greek custard made our dinner extra special. Overall, our dining experience is superb! The service is quick, the dishes are great and the whole team is just amazing! Shout out to the utterly handsome Cody who took care of us and to Nahal for checking up on our table and making sure that we’re having the best night. I highly recommend this place and we are surely going back and we'll be introducing friends to this absolute hidden gem in the city.

Beautiful food and setting. Service is great too. Calamari a must try.

Sensational food and even better service. We had the calamari- it was so fresh it was like it had just been caught. Both pasta dishes were stunning and coffee magic. One or the best dining experiences we've had in Australia - 5 stars in all areas, food, drink, service, ambience and value. Can't wait to come back again soon.👏👏

My family and I visited Piato's restaurant on Saturday(Apr 16) and was immediately greeted when getting to the restaurant. We didnt have a booking but was able to get a seat in their courtyard area. The service was exceptional, we were not waiting long for anything, from getting our menu, to our food. They were very friendly and had a great family vibe about them. We all loved our meals, even my 19month old. We ordered from the kids meal, but she still ate the pasta we ordered and she's very picky! The food tasted fresh and AMAZING! We will definitely be back. Thank you Piato's restaurant for a great experience.

I had a coffee there one morning a few days ago, the gentleman who greeted and served me was obviously very good at his job. Loves people and real friendly. Oh yes, the coffee was good also.

Unfortunately, I had the worst experience this Friday night. I ordered slow cooked lamb. It was not even cooked properly. When I asked the owner, he was argumentive and keep telling me it is the same meat!!! Our night was ruined and they still charged us for dinner we didn't have. It seems their loosing the quality and customer service. Seriously disappointed....

Lovely family. Spectacular food. With an atmosphere you can’t carbon copy. A must visit every time you cross the bridge. Five stars all day everyday. Opa!!!!

Went out to catch up with some old friends. The venue staff was very friendly and welcoming. Got seated and had prompt service throughout the night. I ordered the prawn fettuccine and it was divine! Also had shared dessert, a trio of tiramisu, panna cotta and fig and date. Was super yummy! All my friends enjoyed their meals. Highly recommend, will go again!

Quick service with a smile was the highlight of the meal. After that it was all downhill. First, when you order wine at a restaurant charging as much for a glass as you can get at a bottle shop for a full bottle you expect them to remember what wine you ordered. FAIL. The waiter walks out with two glasses of white, I ordered red, they weren't even sure which red it was that was on the menu. Next, the dishes come, a plate of what looked like garlic bread with a glop of yellowish goop on it, no explanation if this was an addition to the butter already on the bread or what, and my friend's seafood bouillabaisse, which the waiter succeeded in spilling on my friend's sweater and pants. With a very trite "sorry" he set down her dish, then my mushroom risotto, and was about to depart without further attention until my friend had to ask for additional napkins to be provided. Taste-wise my dish was delicious, the fragrance upon delivery, the melted cheese within the risotto and overall flavor mix was delightful. Not too hot to scald my mouth, and it kept its heat till the last tasty bite. What ruined the experience (beyond the wine FAIL and the spillage was two bumps on my shoulder and a bump to my friend during the main course, none of which dislodged additional food to our clothing thank goodness, but still interrupted conversation and consumption. Finally, a butter knife flew from above me launching from the kitchen to bounce off my leg, no idea where it originated and another cursory "sorry mate" from the general direction of the kitchen. To add insult to physical and mental injury, upon exit the manager had the gall to accuse us of doing something wrong when we reported the spillage and other issues. He demanded to know who spilled the food, our response was to pay better attention and train his staff. Final word: if you want some good food try your lick and Piato, you are forewarned.

What a slice of heaven in McMahons Point - great coffee, staff are very friendly and we can never decide what to eat because there are so many delicious options on the menu. Definitely our new favourite place to eat �

I had dinner here a few weeks ago to celebrate my sister & partner's engagement with the family. The food was excellent, staff very attentive and the location & ambiance just perfect-a sublime evening. The mussel broth, Ricotta ravioli & pappardelle with lamb shoulder ragu were sensational. Thanks for looking after us-highly recommend.

Loved the food. Service exceptional. Great place to eat would recommend it

Visited this place a dozen or so times over the last few years, and always loved it. Breakfast, dinner and service always fantastic. Cane back this month and staff were more interested in their phones than service. They also apparently didn't know what a raw egg looked like. Very disappointing and won't be back again.

Drive by this gorgeous place & had to turn around & dine!!! Little did I know it was a venue I'd been meaning to go to... Welcoming, hospitable owners, easy menu with a great variety of superb flavors & good wine. We shared 5-6 tapas plates (amazing) & finished w tiramisu. Can't wait to go back! Thanks Steve �

I booked this restaurant for a work lunch from Melbourne, based solely on Internet reviews and it was the best decision. Nothing was too much trouble for Tony, including changing numbers constantly and at the last minute. The food was impeccable, the service was fantastic, we had a room to ourselves and it was just fantastic. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend this restaurant to anyone at all. Oh, and the cappuccino was excellent. (Which is saying something for a Melbourne coffee snob!)

Fabulous authentic Italian food. Great atmosphere. Found us a table for three on a busy Saturday night. enthusiastic staff. On my list now for a return visit when next in Sydney.

I buy two large Piato coffees on long drives because cold piato coffee is still better than anywhere else. Amazing food, afternoon wines in the sun and awesome staff. Easily my favourite restaurant for breakfast, lunch or dinner in Sydney.

Easily in my top 10 places in the world to eat. Breakfast, brunch, lunch, afternoon snack, dinner...whatever. Tapas, salads, mains, desserts...Piato has it all. Fresh local ingredients prepared creatively by an amazing chef. Discovered it based on a bartender's recommendation several years ago and now I simply can't come to Sydney without at least one trip across the Hanger to North Sydney.

Outstanding meals, friendly staff, perfect customer service. Up there with some of the best meals I have had. Without a doubt I'll be heading back, sooner rather than later!

Basically, Piato is my outsourced kitchen.... when I want coffee... Piato! When I want breakfast... Piato! When I'm meeting a business colleague for breakfast.. Piato! Family occasions... well, you get the picture. Great location, great food, great people... who could ask for more?

Friendly neighbourhood restaurant cafe with amazing food and brilliant service highly recommended whether you are looking for a great dining experience, a beer and a bite or just a coffee.

Great food, great friendly staff. Recommend the garlic prawns, scallops and crab and prawn ravioli.

Lovely restaurant, delicious food and really accommodating staff! We were a bit of a nightmare group and they were all smiles throughout the late arrivals and long decision-making processes! Definitely going back!!

The waiter was irritable and forgot one of the orders. The calamari I had tasted raw. The salad was as basic as could be with no finesse at all. My husbands fish smelt a bit old.

Really friendly service, great wait staff, can BYO would recommend this place to anyone who wants a catch up. Great share plates, that’s what we had and it was a great night. For dessert I couldn’t go past an Affogato with a shot of frangelico

Rude

I was visiting Sydney and happen to checkout this restaurant. The staff was rude and arrogant. It was a very bad experience. Orders took way too long

The staff were so rude and arrogant to my female colleague. When asked to manager even, no action or assurance were given. We will surely not recommend to visit this restaurant.

The owner of the restaurant was very rude and doesn't know how to talk to customers. Food was average as well! Not going back here

The service was not good at all. Apart from one guy, who really knows how to treat customers they just don’t know how to talk to their customers. I really do not like it when I’m paying for food and the service and I’m told that we are out of line to ask for extra spoons to share our dessert. This was one of my favourite places but my experience was just ruined and I don’t think I will go back there and neither will my other 15 friends who were there with me.

Not vegetarian friendly. I went with a large group and share plates were bought out. Although it had a couple of options, they were shared.! When the pasta n salad round came out I had to settle for only rocket, too hard to make a veggie pasta dish it seemed. Approached the waiter who argued the point rather than arranging a dish. Left hungry and disappointed. Would never go back!

I went to Piato's for a family dinner this weekend, and as we were needing to be at a play by 7:30 we made a booking at 5:30pm. This meant that the restaurant was by no means busy or under stress... aka. they had all the time in the world to actually do their job. <br/><br/>Before ordering our food I approached the waiter to specifically ask whether one of their dishes (the baked Barramundi) was dairy free as I am allergic. He unconvincingly said yes it was. I even said - "That wasn't convincing are you sure?" however he assured me it was. I then asked again when ordering the food - I would like the barramundi "as long as its dairy free!". <br/><br/>After receiving my meal and eating 90% of it I noticed the entire base of the serving plate was coated in butter. The restaurant has dim lighting for ambience so unfortunately I did not notice this before ingesting most of my meal. To clarify whether this was in fact dairy I got up and privately asked again whether the barramundi was cooked in dairy. ONLY THEN did he check with the kitchen who said yes, they cook it with butter. <br/><br/>With meals priced as high as they are (my dish was $39) - or just as a fundamental of being a decent restaurant - I would except far better service than this. It is not out of your job description as a waiter or restaurant to ensure you are not serving your guests with foods they have explicitly told you they are allergic to. This was highly disappointing, and actually physically painful for me as a result. <br/><br/>I do not recommend this restaurant if you have any sort of dietary requirement as they DO NOT ensure what they are serving you is appropriate - even when you explicitly ask.

If you like RUDE service and a NOISY environment, then this is the place for you. If not, AVOID IT LIKE THE PLAGUE.<br/>We very politely asked whether the blaring music could be turned down a bit as the speakers were directly above us and we couldn't hear ourselves think, let along speak.  <br/>We were informed by the owner that he would not do it, that this is "that sort of place", that they are "full house" and "if we don't like it we can go elsewhere." He was very aggressive and confrontational.  <br/>We felt as though this was the sort of restaurant you go to if you want to be abused by the waiters.<br/>The food was so-so, lamb shoulder nice, but seafood risotto lacking in seafood. However this is not the reason we will not be back to this place. We would have been prepared to put up with the average food had the service been courteous and pleasant.<br/>Suffice it to say that no tip was given (we always tip generously), we left feeling very embarrassed in front of our friends, and will never ever set foot in that place again.<br/>There are some a few other very nice places in McMahons Point which serve great coffee and food, with friendly service.

Rude and arrogant staff. Coffee tastes like urine. If ever you see this coffee shop, do yourself a favour and keep on walking. <br/><br/>There is a much nicer coffee shop down the road at the intersection on blues point road and east crescent street where they don’t make you feel like a second class citizen for wanting to place an order. <br/><br/>Disgusting service and food. <br/><br/>0/10 would not recommend

We came here for brekky after a walk. We got 2 breakfasts and 2 coffees. The coffees were ok, they tasted better after they cooled down a bit.<br/><br/>The breakfast is pretty generic but satisfying, reasonably priced and great service! <br/>We liked the place a lot.

We are on holiday and this place looked busy all day every day.  Tried it for dinner.  Entrees were good.  Saganaki cheese, scallops and beef carpaccio.  All nice without being outstanding.  The pasta dishes were only so-so.  Thought the risotto was overcooked and all dishes lacked seasoning.  But that would have been ok but it was the service that let it down.  They couldn't really be bothered - say no more.

My friend lives nearby and we wanted something convenient so this was our choice. We had the tapas menu and got the lamb shoulder for something substantial. The lamb was sensational rest was ok. Service was quick and the staff chatty. A bit expensive for what it was but very nice atmosphere in the outside area.

Definitely lived to its name, flat. The coffee was mediocre. The food so so along with dismissive service from the waitstaff. Warning: do not order the lamb sashushka not only was it bland, it was a bowl of goupy luke-warm mess. We've been here on numerous occasions previously hoping to give it another chance which it did not deliver. Will not be trying again.

Disappointing. I ordered a bowl of Açaí for breakfast- it was half frozen and an awful consistency. I couldn't eat it. I was looking for an opportunity to order something else but the waiters did not return to our table. Even when we asked for the bill and the plates were cleared, the waiter didn't question the virtually untouched bowl of food. The only positive thing I can say is that the coffee was good.

Delicious food , amazing coffee, great service. One of the best breakfasts ive had in quite some time. Try the bacon and egg roll on turkish so very good

We've gone here for years and I can't recommend it enough. It's got a great atmosphere, friendly staff and delicious food- I recommend the meatballs, their venison and their saganaki cheese. They also have a darn good sticky date and fig cake on the dessert menu 😋❤️

I've been to this cafe on several occasion and this last visit has just really done it for me. My issue is the rude old man that works here (possibly the owner?). We were placed on the table near the door where we could hear ALL their conversations.. one of which the waiter (who was extremely nice and attentive of our table and the ones around us) was exiting the doorway whilst the old man was entering and through passing conversation the old man starts abusing him and calls him an "f***ing imbecile". The poor guy just brushed it off and continued his job for him to come back 10mins later and call him the exact same thing! Im not sure of the context but staff should NEVER be abused that way, regardless (even if they might be family!!). Not only that but it's a horrible thing for the customers to hear this rude man banter on and I'm sure its turning customers off from coming here. Mind you, this is not the first time I've heard him whinging. On my previous visit, the poor lady who was making coffee was being yelled constantly by this same old man, however im so glad she stood up for herself and didn't tolerate it! It sounds as if he thinks no one is capable of doing their job but sadly he needs to look in the mirror.. Looks like an absolute nightmare to work there and I feel for all of the staff that have to put up with him. If he has a short temper, a cafe is not the right environment for him. I will not return to this cafe again..

Awfully rude service. We were told by staff to sit anywhere. After sitting down, we then had staff hovering and were told we had to move tables because in 2 hours a party of 10 would be arriving.  <br/><br/>We were then told to sit in a cramped space next to a wall with waiters constantly walking by and treading on my bag. When we left this awful restaurant, the party of 10 still hadn't arrived. <br/><br/>On top of this, we offered to pay more than the bill to leave a tip, stating the total amount we wished to pay, which was already in excess of the bill. We were then charged a 1% surcharge on top of this.  When I later queried this, it was met with a raised voice and a very rude response. <br/><br/>I have been to Piato several times but will not return ever. What was meant to be a pleasant experience has left me feeling very disappointed. <br/><br/>Save yourself the nasty experience! Many far better choices where you will be treated with respect and not subjected to ordinary food to boot. We would rate this place zero if we could!<br/><br/> Incidentally, Piato means flat in Italian.. At least they got the name right... because that's how you'll feel after going there.

Fast, friendly service. Fantastic coffee and breakfast was delicious. Will definitely return! So many yummy breakfast menu items to choose from as well. Not just the run of the mill bacon and eggs.

Piato is run and owned by the parents of Packed to the Rafters actor George Houvardas. He has served us a few times, and he, like everyone else at Piato are big on customer service and providing a casual, yet attentive attitude to patrons. The good thing about this place is that on weekends breakfast is served until 2pm so if you’re like me and love a good brekkie at any time of the day this could be it for you!<br/><br/>Keep reading on the blog:

Breakfast, lunch and dinner are all excellent.<br/>Authentic, rich in flavour - I've never been disappointed by a dish. The Chateaubriand platter for two is definitely a stand out. Can never decide on breakfast but the pancakes are perfect.<br/>Family owned and run by three brothers. Always a great atmosphere.

AWFUL!!!The food was below average and the service was terrible!<br/><br/>The owner, George (apparently he is on that show, packed to the rafters) was so rude and arrogant. My friends and I went for my birthday and he treated us as if we were a hassle from the moment we walked in. <br/><br/>I had the Braised Beef Cheek - took one bite and left the rest on my plate.<br/><br/>The Mussels were so over salted, they were inedible. <br/><br/>The Spaghetti Bolognese was bland. <br/><br/>The Arabiata was okay. <br/><br/>The bread and dips were good. <br/><br/>When my friend gave feedbcak to the owner about our meals, he was so rude to her and dismissed what she said. <br/><br/>Also, my cola was flat.  <br/><br/>My friends gave the staff a semi fredo cake to put in the fridge, which they did not, and it melted everywhere. <br/><br/>I will never eat here again and recommend you find somewhere else to eat.

This is a great place for date night: dim lighting with ambient atmosphere, reliable menu and a good walking distance away from the McMahons Point. The tapas and mains are rich and authentic. My favourite main is the honey roast duck breast. I wouldn't have breakfast here again though, the menu is not as exciting and taste is so-so.

Good cafe a hop, skip and jump from North Sydney CBD. Visit a few times a year when working at North Sydney office. Good coffee, great service from the young guys who own it and cosy atmosphere . Worth a visit if you work in North Sydney  :)

Great food, always excellent service. This is my local and I eat here a lot, maybe once a week. In the last few years I don't recall a bad meal.<br/>These guys pride themselves on their service, always welcoming.<br/>I always feel like I get good value here...I particularly like the duck and pork belly entree.

Ambience/atmosphere was nice! Busy but fit four of us in. Service was good, food was nice enough. I had the 'butternut & sage risotto' which a bit too watery and bland but all in all it was pleasant.

Great local dinner!!!. The tapas are great especially the eggplant parcel.<br/><br/>The food and service is just spot on at a reasonable price.<br/><br/>Definitely recommend this to anyone for a lovely local italian dinner.

Terrible. Had chicken salad - rocket was yellow and limp. The waiter took it back after arguing it was the dressing, bringing a salad back that looked very much like the one I sent back, but half the volume. Did they just pick out the worst leaves instead of making a new one. Very disappointing!

Everything was extremely flavoursome, from the herbed tomatoes to the Piato beans which were rich and sweet and cooked just right. My chipolatas were also exactly the way they should be – crispy on the outside, moist on the inside and not at all fatty.

The souvlaki, while not what I expected (no skewer in sight), was tasty and even the capsicum-hater in me had to admit that this capsicum was yum; and the octopus was great, also.

Great restaurant... and for holding a birthday party.. I organised a birthday party for 24 people and was delighted with the food, service and ambience. So many commented on the great food. I highly recommend the goat cheese canapes and the shared platters - the slow roasted lamb, mixed seafood platter and the chateaubriand. We all had a great night and topped off by excellent service by Kyle and Tony. The upstairs function room was lovely and a surprise find and to many of our local friends.

Goats Cheese Wrapped in Prosciutto. Lovely

Prentious service. It's been horrible since the main waitress returned, her impact on the staff has been incredible. Been my local for years, alas moved along to Billi's cafe and living happily ever after.

Pay your supplier.. I don't, the owners don't pay their supplier. They leave their suppliers to dry.

Average suburban cafe. We gave Piato another go, hoping it had improved....alas the service is still grindingly slow and the waiters appeared more interested in organising their social lives than organising our meals. Meals were overpriced for what was effectively a basic meal prepared by short order cooks. Plenty of better options in the area.

Absolutely Brilliant. Loved this place - everything was perfect - fresh ingredients, healthy and super tasty authentic mediterranean food. Freshly made juice was amazing. The marinaded octopus was amazing. The people serving us were super friendly and didnt push us to buy anything more than we wanted - just made us feel very comfortable and welcome.<br/><br/>We didn't expect this place at all since had so many disappointing eat-outs in North Sydney.

Shocker. I'm a local resident and have been to this establishment many times,<br/>Went to breakfast with my wife and she ordered pancakes and they arrived smothered in maple syrup she took one small bite and found them in edible she politely sent it back and ordered toast and jam as a replacement , no apologies came or enquirie from mgt what was wrong with the pancakes,when the bill arrived they had charged us 50% I didn't check the bill and paid it , when my wife queried the bill she was made to feel like a 2nd class citizen and was berated "I tried the pancakes and they were fine" it's not the money but the arrogant attitude <br/>We will not be back

Absolutely terrible breakfast service<br/>Ordered a coffee, had to ask for a menu then waited 15 minutes without my order being taken.<br/>Paid for my coffee and left

Reasonable but nothing to get excited about. Overall probably a 6.5-7/10. Oysters nice and fresh; seafood tapas - scallops were good, but marinated octopus was too acidic. Decent flavour in the mains but very clumsy presentation. Service just ok. Pleasant outdoor seating.

Diana. Just loved the Italian feel of this place. Even the staff had the Italian flair. Nice cosy courtyard out the back, or you can sit out the front & watch the world vibrate by! (If you are lucky enough to acquire a seat) Good full bodied coffee brew, which is what one expects with such an Italian vibe

Friendly, Local and service with a smile. So I took one of my korean friends here today and I noticed a few things, i) the male waiters here are really buff (I'm jealous), ii) It was quite busy for Sunday brunch iii) It was worth checking out. We had Pancakes and the big breakie which I uploaded a photo for. As you can see the pancakes were lovely, my friend loved it, it was so soft and fluffy which went perfectly with the berry's vanilla cream and maple syrup. The big breakie was a bit on the pricey side $18 but everything you expect to get you filled up energised for the day. Service was lovely and I'm glad I found a decent place for brunch.

Personal service with a smile. I work in the area and grab my morning coffee from here most mornings- the coffee is great and I always have a great chat with the barista. There is a reason why this cafe is pumping every morning, and that is because you are made to feel like a " local" and service is always with a smile.

The staff was so rude. They shouldn't treat customers so sarcastically. Not worth the visit. Food SUCKS AND SO EXPENSIVE.

Cramped space, unpleasant service. <br/>I should have taken note of other reviews here. Our table was obviously too small for a meal for 3 (the waiter even dropped a beer bottle off the table).However the staff tresponded unpleasantly when we requested a solution. The problem was eventually solved but the conflict marred the night. <br/>The food was quite nice but I won't return. I want to be sure I will have an enjoyable experience when I go out to dinner. It's restaurants like this that give Sydney service a bad name.

Good food and friendly staff. The staff are always friendly and attentive and I've never had a bad meal here. Often need to book to make sure you get a table out the front, atmosphere out the back isn't quite as good.

Disgraceful. Below average food. Pretentious service. Dirty atmosphere. <br/><br/>Will do my health a favour and will NOT BE BACK.

Just what we were looking for!. A light meal is what we needed and that's what we got; lovely array of tapas, served with a smile. Very attentive staff and extremely comfortable setting.

Breakfast was ok not bad but not great. Service was hopeless staff talking to each other rather than attending to customers.

Pleasing, especially to the taste. One of my favorites. Traditional, intimate, very affordable, family run. Dainty curb side alfresco, for any occasion. Service by all was complimentary. I highly recommend this restaurant.

Food was 'nice' enough but not interesting or exceptional.. I've no real desire to head back anytime soon.

Most tasteless salt & pepper calamari EVER! Also an incredibly disappointing 'crumble' for dessert in which the crumble consisted of nothing more than toasted rolled oats. I went as part of a group, & while the service to our large number was efficient & pleasant, the food was very disappointing.

Terrible experience. Will not be back. Every dining experience here has been a disaster. I thought I would give this place another go - but I have not been swayed to come back. I ordered from the tapas menu and while my food was edible, my husbands risotto was not. The arborio rice was not cooked all the way through and the sauce was tasteless. Coffee was a let down as well. There are plenty of good restaurants up the road, will try another next time. Indulgent Sage looks like a nice addition to the street.

Terrible service. Before I give this review I will say I went there a couple of months ago for lunch rather than dinner and had a good experience, maybe because they were less busy. This time was different, it started by being given an outside table with such a slope I was afraid the water bottle would slide off, not a good omen. Our starter was fine but then the main still hadn't come out 50 minutes later, when asked then they admitted they hadn't called in to the kitchen that we'd finished our starter. Then when our mains came out, one was the wrong one! At this point the head waiter practically accused me of lying saying they had prepared the dishes I ordered (the wrong dish we hadn't even discussed with the waiter so I don't know where he got that from). It's one thing to get it wrong, it's another to swear blind the customer ordered it. I certainly won't be going back in a hurry...