Review Cafe Envy - Summer Hill

Great little corner cafe, filled with lovely staff, a suprisingly large courtyard area, gorgeous tree and homemade treats. FOOD: Great selection of homely cafe typical foods: big brekkie, sandwiches, salads etc alongside some stand out Envy chef creations. All fresh and served up well. They cater to gluten free, vegan and vegetarians. They're pretty reasonably priced too! STAFF: A huge drawback, a few years back a couple of the staff were that bad, I stopped going. These last two visits, everyone was efficient, friendly and warm. Cannot rate them highly enough! The have a South American guy in the kitchen and another guy out front (maybe the manager/owner) who are exceptionally friendly, competent and passionate about their jobs. ACCESSIBILITY: Prams, wheelchair access available at the side view the courtyard. I'm not sure the bathrooms would fit/suit a wheelchair. Free parking available on street or in shopping car park (2 hour limit, be warned, we were booked!) OVERALL: Love the homely feel of this place and the currently changing smorgasbord of treats. The shakshuka and gf Persian love cake were so good I forgot to take a pic!

It was really busy on Easter Sunday lunch time. Their back garden was full. Great coffee & food. And their staffs were really friendly. Will go back.

These guys are awesome. Had my birthday brunch here with 20 pp and they were very accommodating despite being packed. Food is delicious and no matter how busy they are they always greet you with a smile. Nothing is ever too hard and very dog friendly space.

Great for coffee, brunch, lunch and cake. I came because it's the closest cafe to my home but I keep coming back because the food is good, the service is swift and there's always a nice vibe. It's an ongoing struggle not to order one of the delicious cakes

I went here today with my sister and best friend as our bday celebrations started here before out lunch nearby. We walked in and we saw a lady there and she asked us how many and we said "3" ... she was trying to dry the table but we asked to sit on the other table that was already set. She put us closest to the table that was occupied by six people and the chairs had no room to get in and out from the table. My sisters chair was within 50cm of the other table. The lady was rude when she took our orders and she asked us what we would like. Her tone was cold and manner was abrupt. Poor customer service skills. No warmth. We got up and walked out. We used to come here regularly but not anymore. The lady was a tall lady and of Indian or south Asian origin. I am dissapointed in this experience because this place has lovely desserts but better to go to the Cafe near the chemist which is more friendly.

Lovely cafe on the corner with lots of outdoor seating and 2 indoor seating areas. Nice brunch or lunch menu, coffee, smoothies, cakes and pastries. Make sure you're hungry when you go!

Kind of a busy cafe on New Year’s Day, staff is alright not too much welcoming. All day breakfast menu and lunch menu don’t have much creativities. Ordered both dishes from lunch menu, taste pretty average, pulled pork wrap got a bit too much spices and burger is not even good as Oporto. Fries aren’t good as macca’s one, not even fresh maybe twice deep fried. Presentation is definitely not a cafe level. Looking around other people’s dishes, doesn’t look like appealing either. Won’t recommend if you don’t live in the neighbourhood.

Went for the first time in a few a years, and the food quality has dropped significantly. Our salad was inedible (drenched only with oiled, not dressing), and other meals looked good, but were tasteless. Wont be going back again any time soon.

I have been going to Envy ever since I have been living in the hood. It never disappoints. The coffee is good as is the food. I love the selection of homemade cakes and sweets that you can takeaway. Their Persian Love Cake is a standout. #pulledpork #envydelicafe

There’s a lovely courtyard here, and the vibe overall is pleasant. The staff are friendly enough, but don’t seem to communicate with each other – there’s quite a bit of double handling. The menu is dated and basic, which would be fine if the food wasn’t so bland. It’s particularly griping being served cheap, highly processed white bread (presumably pre-sliced from the supermarket) with my eggs, and it makes the seemingly reasonable price of breakfast suddenly seem like a substantial ripoff. The coffee is fine, but probably not as good as what you’ll find at Drugstore or Heritage, both literally seconds away. Envy is fine, but it hasn’t matured to keep up with what’s happening around it.

Bacon and egg roll was fantastic! I would definitely come back again. Blueberry pancake was smooth wtih a very balanced taste. Would recommend

Always came here for brunch as I live close by. Food was a bit hit and miss, but putting that aside, service and coffee was always spot on! It’s my regular go-to cafe.<br/><br/>Thursday noon, I went to Envy to take away some sandwiches. Whilst my boyfriend was looking through the display, I noticed the girl on the counter with wavy blonde hair looks extremely grumpy - guessing she had a rough day. Then I ordered for the both us with the same counter girl, didn’t say how much was it, didn’t even smile nor say any thank you.<br/>We sat outside while waiting for our food and coffees, the same girl delivered our food - didn’t say which bag is which sandwich, didn’t even say anything at all, still looking very upset and grumpy.<br/><br/>How can table services and counter services differs so much? Not coming back anytime soon.

Now is the time to visit Envy Deli cafe to appreciate the courtyard jacaranda tree in full bloom. Coffee served is Toby's Estate and there is a wonderful range of cakes and sweet treats baked on site, with weekly specials.

Enjoyed my double shot skim flat white. Service was friendly. The display of cakes omg. Just wanted to order everything. From brownie to scons to carrot cake and Persian love cake... they all looked very appetising on display and all homemade according to the signage. Didn't order cake today but will come back when it's a cheat day for sure. 👍

I like this place, especially it feels great when you get to seat outside near the big Jacaranda tree! <br/>Food is fresh and nicely prepared. They have special menus on the board and I always remember to check it out before I order my food. It's a perfect spot for catching up with your friends or family. It's very popular on the weekend so it's recommended to book a table in advance.

Great chocolate brownie. Just right with cream. The customer service was great. Nice atmosphere especially sitting outside watching the people go by.

This lovely corner cafe is full of surprises. Walk in the front entrance and you are greeted by a range of house made cakes & cute treats for kids. Oh and the staff are super friendly too! Walk through this terrace to the back and there is more seating including a lovely outdoor section under a big jacaranda tree. It really feels like you are in someone's house, especially when you have the rice porridge, exactly like how a grandmother would have made it on the stovetop with no skimping on the brown sugar. Then there are the cakes... I am in love with each one I have tried. The flourless chocolate hazelnut cake is divine, rich, smooth & oh so naughty. The strawberry cheesecake is much lighter, a classic creamy, unbaked cheesecake with fresh strawberries on top. I also had to get some more cakes to go as I was tempted by all the choices so decided on carrot cake & the gluten free orange and almond cake. Both again were amazingly good. Super moist, the carrot cake also had chunks of pineapple and a good cream cheese icing. The orange almond cake is super moist with very strong orange flavour & indulgent. Coffees are great and service with a smile along with good food will sure give your friends food envy.

Summer Hill has lots of lovely cafes, and Envy is right up there. Really nice coffee, and a lovely courtyard outside with a lot of seating. Their Banana bread with cinnamon ricotta and honey is delicious!

Lovely outdoor dining area under a beautiful jacaranda perfect for group catch-up. Simple but tasty menu, good vegetarian options. Friendly service

Nice place with good food. We went here for brunch and the cafe has a great relaxing atmosphere. Ordered the zucchini and feta fritters and they serve my fave Toby's Estate coffee.

A lovely cafe in Summer Hill with a courtyard for al fresco dining. I enjoyed my simple breakfast of mixed mushrooms on sourdough toast. It was drizzled with fruity olive oil and hit the spot for a light yet fulfilling meal. My friends didn't rate the prawn linguine unfortunately, finding it a bit stodgy with too much cream. The zucchini fritters fared better while the grilled salmon also got the thumbs up. The kitchen also pumps out a constant stream of rustic, homemade cakes which looked scrumptious. Our eyes were bigger than our stomachs so we ordered a slice of the lime and strawberry cake. The crumb was a bit dry but considering its gluten-free origins, this was acceptable. The tropical combination of lime and strawberries were terrific. Staff were friendly and graciously let us hang around for a couple of hours (there were still free tables around). The Toby's Estate coffee was also good. Would return and I've got my eye on the apple-date cake.

Pretty nice atmosphere in the courtyard out the back. Food isn't amazing but better than it was with the previous owners. Coffee is palatable and service is always friendly.

<br/>  Its like being a baby in a candy store with the most enticing visual spread for you to choose from and go ga ga over. The tea cups are so cute and have bought a batch a few times for a few office meetings and get togethers. Even when i do buy something i always get side tracked in that place!

This cafe is beautiful! The outdoor area especially is so pleasant to sit in. The staff are so friendly and can never do enough for you. We come here often and it's a wonderful experience every time.

Amazing ,fast and  very friendly service.Nothing is    too much trouble for the  staff.Great food. Only   problem for me  was the cheese cake. The base of the cake was rock hard and  a piece flew across the table when I cut it. So  very hard-could not eat.

I visited this Cafe with a few friends on Thursday lunchtime. Great food, great atmosphere out in the garden. I will overlook the forgotten order, the lack of cutlery, but what I will not excuse is the "eye rolling waitress" on a simple request (two extra plates and forks). Remember you are in a service industry and a little customer service would not go astray. No response from Management on the Cafe Facebook page.

Stumbled into this place while trying to avoid traffic on the M4 🚘 Read some of the reviews on the cafe & decided to grab a bite here. It was hard to resist ordering any of the sweets on display...they all looked yummy! Ended up getting a bacon & egg roll that tasted anything but typical. The coffee was a perfect accompaniment to my brunch. I'm making it a point to pass this way the next time I'm avoiding traffic. PS I did buy that carrot & walnut cake for take away...yummy!!!

Great place for breakfast or lunch and has the best coffee in Summer Hill by a long shot. Try just about anything on the menu and you won't be disappointed. I rarely leave Summer Hill without stopping by for a takeaway coffee. I think Envy is one of the best Cafés in Sydney but as with "sister café" Sideways at Dulwich Hill, some new chairs and tables are well overdue.

Nice little cafe with good coffee, quick and polite service. Had mashed avocado on toast with poached eggs. Will definitely go back there :)

Envy cafe always satisfies my sweet cravings! Friendly staffs great environment and most importantly their baked goods *so good* 👍👍 regular trips to the cafe for soy chai latte and banan bread and something evil such as their delicious chocolate brownies or the Persian cake... Yes confession of sweettooth

The Top Line: A humble little cafe with a spacious backyard. It feels like you’re having brunch in Surry Hills or Bondi, when you’re really in … the inner west! Have that lazy Sunday feel any day of the week!<br/><br/>The Review: At first glance, the cafe seemed packed and I was worried we would have to wait for a table! But the waiter took us through to the back of the cafe and behold, there was a lovely secret garden with lots of outdoor seating, as well as another room for indoor seating. It was a beautiful day but still, winter, I’d prefer to be indoors.

Courtyard Sunday late lunch. Arrived around 2.30pm to find the place was still fairly busy! We found a lovely table out in the courtyard under a big shady tree. Service was a bit hit & miss as they looked they were busier than normal. Drinks arrived promptly, we got a frappe & a fresh juice which was lovely. Our mains were a pulled pork wrap & eggs benedict. Both very nice. The food and service were good. But the setting was what made it lovely.

This man was left a bit disappointed after going to… Envy Deli Cafe

We stumbled upon the Envy Cafe and Gallery in Summer Hill for lunch recently.<br/><br/>Here’s a pic of the salad with wagyu beef, blood orange and beetroot. The salad was fresh with a nice combination of salty beef and sweet beetroot and blood orange. Perfect to enjoy in the cafe’s large courtyard area.

As always with Envy, the service was slow. My mother, brother and I waited to receive menus, and then again for our orders to be taken and then some more for our food and drinks. But as always with Envy, the food was delicious, our lattes and hot chocolates were as they should be (but slightly lukewarm) and the courtyard was a great place to sit and relax on a Saturday morning.

It’s pram city at Envy Café & Gallery in Summer Hill, and as you sit in the leafy green courtyard your mind may turn to contemplating what the world will be like in a decade or so when the current baby bubble bursts. The image of a massive generation of d

What sets Envy apart from the other cafes in Summer Hill is its jacaranda dominated courtyard, it is quite lovely sitting out back under its huge branches.

Glorius!!. I have walked past this cafe many times, found it is always buzzing with people. Finally I went in and was glad I did!!<br/>Fast, efficient service, fantastic food and I love the outdoor courtyard...wonderful outlook when relaxing on a beautiful sunny day.<br/>Same Owners as Sideways Deli Cafe, so no wonder it's a winner!!<br/>Count me in!!

Great service. The pear and raspberry bread with honey and ricotta was lovely however my late was lukewarm. All in all though a nice place.

There must have been a change in management. The last few times I've gotten only a single slice of very thinly sliced sourdough (and not good quality sourdough, either) with the avo & feta, and toast only comes in single slices. At those prices it seems stingy and somewhat cynical. Won't be back till the get better bread.

Excellent customer experience!

Very pretty place. Court yard dining is lovely. However, average coffee, average food and average service.. Bit overpriced.

Best Caffeine hit in Sydney!. I am a pump service technician and I recently did some work there first thing in the morning.<br/>Even though the manager had little idea what I was trying to do, he was friendly, polite and extremely helpful.<br/>after completing the work he offered me a latte and was I impressed.<br/>smooth, velvety and not over the top hot. (even did the leaf pattern prior to putting the lid on...wow)<br/>Well done guys, even Hi Vis clothed workers can be coffee freaks and I get to sample the best and the worst 5 days a week all around Sydney - yours is up there with the best.<br/>five stars!!!

An hour wait for good and they didn't come check on us- bad start as they forgot our booking - downhill from there

Never coming back.. Had the Salmon and the Linguine, Salmon was undercooked whilst the skin was slightly burnt. The linguine was gluggy and had half a cherry tomato and three prawns. Service was very slow. Meal was far too expensive for what what served. Very disappointed, never going back.

Sideways extends to Summer Hill. Something decent turns up in Summer Hill. The Sideways Deli team at Dulwich have extended their reach to Summer Hill and the stylings and offerings are obvious.<br/><br/>Went early and had the smashed avocado and fetta with a couple of sides. Like always the food came out quickly and yet well cooked. Service was attentive and friendly - didn't get asked choice of toast though. Generous sides (4 chipolatas). Good to see a quality addition to the area.

Love what the new management have done with this place. The courtyard, exotic cake menu & toby's coffee make this place my favourite chill-out spot!

Exceeded expectations. Envy is a fantastic cafe/restaurant. We came with our baby in a pram and the staff afforded us every attention we required. There was plenty of room for us and we were very comfortable. The coffee and food we ordered came quickly, well prepared, hot and fresh. The food was very delicious and I was most impressed at the appropriate staffing level so all staff were attentive, friendly and not overworked!

Consistently excellent. I'm lucky enough to be an Envy local, and I'm yet to walk away from a meal here feeling anything less than impressed. (Keep an eye out for the homemade beans and the hash browns on their 'sides' menu... sent from heaven.) My companions always swear by their great coffee too.<br/><br/>Service is good (some staff members more likeable than others, but overall fine) and the rear courtyard is a beautiful place to dine when the jacaranda is in bloom.<br/><br/>Fairly pricey, but in the opinion of a food-lover on a budget, well worth it.

So So. I've been coming here a couple of times a year for many years now. The positives are that the coffee is good and the outdoor terrace at the back of the restaurant is leafy and peaceful. The food is ok, although like so many cafes, is over-priced. The downside is the staff. Their repertoire ranges from aloof and superior to downright rude, depending on who is serving you. If I owned this place, I'd sack every one of them and replace them with a worker who doesn't think they're too good to be waiting tables. Listen up Envy, these tossers are ruining your business!

Eggs Benedict should be better!. Rude service,<br/>Cold undercooked eggs.<br/>Stingy on the bread accompaniment.<br/><br/>Not a very nice experience

Love it!. I get my coffee here every day. In my opinion it's the best coffee in summer hill/Ashfield. I've never had a bad experience and I've been coming here for years.... Staff are nice and the barista's make my coffee just how I like it so I'm happy and always recommend Envy!

Too smug for their own good. Once again I tried Envy Cafe, and once again I was so over it. Whilst the staff were swanning around the kitchen area trying to get a glimpse of themselves in the glass reflection, our bored looking waitress could not get the coffee order right. Whilst waiting far too for our order the owner sat down at a table beside us and quite loudly was giving a prospetive employee a evaluation of his trial....boring .........Then once the prospective employee flicked his fringe and was out of ear shot of the cafe the owner then returns to the open kitchen and proceeds to discuss this young man with the staff....boring.......<br/>At Envy it's all about the staff and not about the customer. Get over yourselves Envy and please don't take your attitudes across the road to your new venture.

Garden great place to eat. Breakfast expensive for the serving, but overall, a good place to eat...

Staff super friendly, coffee delicious, food delicious and outdoor courtyards don't get better than this. One issue though - the portions are a good size, not unnecessarily huge as they are at other cafes. One would expect then that the prices might be a little lower to match. So - slightly expensive but otherwise recommended.

Love, love envy. We go here at least once a week, it's fast, reliable, great value and we never have to wait. Hands down, my favourite is the brown rice porridge and I have to stop myself asking for a double serving each time. It's served with pear and fig compote and marscapone and its heaven. His favourite is the muesli with yoghurt and berry compote which is almost as good as he porridge. Coffee is great, they have a range of sweet treats and pre-made sandwiches, but really breakfast is where it's at for us.

We love this place. Apart from Sat lunch hour parking madness, this place has everything going for it. Great courtyard with a large tree in the middle to provide shade, relaxing atmosphere, relaxed yet prompt service with a smile, good coffee and beautiful wall decor - local artists display & sell paintings here. If you are looking to spend a relaxing cup of coffee -good food, too, if peckish - this is the place to be in inner west. Highly recommended.

Great Service, Food, and Love the back Courtyard. This is a great cafe hidden away with a great back court yard. Just love the atmosphere it provides and the friendly staff are excellent. <br/><br/>They do a fantastic breakfast, and healthy servings as well. This is a child friendly cafe, so if you are not into having kids around sometimes the earlier the better if your going for breakie. Otherwise most times I've been there the kids are generally all very well behaved. <br/><br/>Pricing is of around $20 -$25 per head if your going for any of thier breakfasts, coffee and orange juice etc.