Review Pieno - Sydney

Nice place, big tables and food. They don’t have brunch menu. We tried the halloumi salad and the prawns spaghetti. The staff is really friendly. The coffee is really good!

Great location and lovely courtyard, the staff were friendly and service was reasonably quick. I enjoyed my iced latte though it was quite small. The egg and bacon roll was acceptable, the egg itself was well cooked and the bacon good quality, overall though it was quite dry and the bread was pretty tough. The sweet potato hash brown was awful though, it was mushy and honestly did not taste right, like it had just been defrosted, I didn't finish it.

Great menu selection - Italian inspired. Very good coffee as well. Service a bit hit and miss. We waited for a while without getting any menus. When we asked for menus and water we still had to wait another 15 minutes. It was busy but still seemed pretty long given people come to eat there. Portions were generous and the food really good. I had the veggie breakfast and struggled to finish. Also great for people watching Wirt the Winery right next door and people arriving in all sorts of outfits… prices are not cheap but you get your money’s worth of food.

It was a bit disappointing. I know prices have gone up (fair enough) but $26 for a full veggie brekkie seemed a bit much. My mate had recommended it and said how good it was (he was there with me). First, we had a ‘large’ coffee which was a little bit of a surprise as it was pretty damn small. Then the food arrived and there wasn’t a lot of it. The mushrooms seemed out of a can and there was a chunk of bacon in it too - not what I wanted being vegetarian. The toast was cold, no butter with it and the plate had a lot of water on it from partially-drained spinach. The poached eggs were done well though and the service was pretty decent. It didn’t make up for the rest of it though - you can get much better elsewhere, and not too far away. Needs to do better.

I love this place. Food is indulgent and a bit adventurous. Drinks are decent. Check the glass of Prosecco! OM NON NOM

Stopped in here for a quick coffee before an appointment and was impressed with the service and coffee. Very friendly staff who greeted us on arrival and were super helpful with our order. The coffee was delicious! Correct temperature, taste and strength!! I would love to come back and try some of their breakfast options as everything looked nice on the menu and the reviews seem positive.

Went here just before midday and My partner ordered griddle cakes and I got eggs Benedict. The griddle cakes were fine, until small pieces of sharp plastic started appearing with each mouthful. The eggs were absolutely stone cold upon arrival, so I asked if they could please heat them in a microwave. Kindly, they cooked a whole new dish, to which they added the same straight-out-of-the-fridge bearnaise sauce to. Honestly, it was like just above frozen. Although informed about the plastic they still charged for it. I couldn't be bothered haggling with what appeared to be a very indifferent manager.

Nice courtyard cafe. Friendly service. $28 for my egg benni

‘Pieno’ more like ‘Fuck-no’, this place is an absolute abomination. Sheila & I are in Sydney for Mardi Gras because Sheila has two Mums that are on the ‘Dykes With Bikes’ float. We sat down and ordered a Mushroom Bruschetta which came out with just 6 mushrooms on a piece of bread with no tomato, onion or parsley..... look I am not italian, but I do know what tastes good including my wife’s vagootz. The food here is f***ing terrible, the staff are f***ing terrible, the f***ing bill was terrible! Way to expensive for what we got, we have no money now and our Centrelink cheque does go through till next week. Sheila has been bashing me up really badly because of it. I have bruises on my face, my bum and she also been pulling my earlobes. I f***ing hate you Pieno.

Located opposite crown public school at Surry Hills, just next door to Winery.<br/>Now they open also for dinner, simple straight away menu like veal schnitzel with rocket salad is on the special board.<br/>Piccolo cost you $3.50 and it’s a really good coffee with velvety finished.<br/>Happy hour from 3-7pm.<br/><br/><br/>

Lovely little spot, but unfortunately, mediocre food. Got the Eggs Benedict with Smoke Salmon and it was rather disappointing. The Bearnaise sauce was too sweet to go well with the salmon, and the toast was also burnt so the bitter after-taste didn't help.

I absolutely love the beautiful outdoor, escaping the city feel of this place. You can sit in comfy chairs in sun or shade surrounded by plants! <br/>It has a diverse menu and there's nothing on it we haven't enjoyed. I particularly like the cinnamon porridge with rhubarb topper though. Hope to make it back there to try out the cocktails soon.<br/><br/>

Overall our favourite place for brunch in surry hills. Nice outside seating area and really friendly service. The bacon rolls are great too.

Great Vege brekkie! Loved the spicy sauce that came with it and a huge serving. Definitely hit the spot and the coffee was also on the money. Nice outdoor setting which is great for a sunny day

I have found a 'garden' <br/>Crown street is all over its self but Pieno is a rose within the hubub....you simply have to see the generosity of the breakfasts,,the welcoming of the staff....bliss....<br/>Oh were this in London.

Came here on Saturday morning and it was completely full. We had to wait a few minutes for a table. The waiters were very warm and friendly. I ordered the avocado on toast, and my partner ordered the fruit with granola. <br/><br/>The avo on toast cost $16, which is heaps expensive because it's was quite a simple dish you could find at other cafes for $8. <br/><br/>Overall, food: okay, service: great, price: expensive. I probably won't be back for a while.

So, I live pretty close to Pieno, as do friends of mine in Surry Hills. And it’s a funny thing. Pieno is on the CBD side of Crown Street, and Kawa is on the other side, and most friends prefer Kawa. At least my friend Davy says he LOVES the meatball sandwich there, and we discuss the pros and cons of each (I told him I wanted to eat at Pieno because I haven’t blogged about it yet).

Descent food, descent place, service is a bit intimidating but not bad. Their quinoa soup and lamb salad are great , big portions too. A bit over priced. the only thing i didn't like is, one of their table is right in front of the toilet, which I think is not good as you don't want to smell the toilet while eating. ...

I haven't eaten any food in here yet,but oh boy the coffee!!!! After drinking their coffee last month at least once a week (twice in a day somedays :0 ) it is safe to say 'BEST COFFEE in SYDNEY'! They use '5 Senses' Dark Horse blend which is to die for if you like that kick in your coffee.

Big breakfast was good. The chutney was a perfect match and everything was flavoursome. One tiny gripe is that the sourdough bread has a big hole in the middle so we didn't end up with much bread at all but otherwise, everything was delicious

If you have been to The Winery, you must have walked pass this cafe.  That's how I first noticed.  After having been to pretty much every other brunch spots on Crown Street, we decided to give this place a try. Menu didn't strike me as very exciting, I settled on the chicken sandwich and a cup of skim latte.  It was a super simple sandwich with sad looking grilled veggies and chicken breast.  It was so dry!  Even with mayo, it was still very dry, coupled with average sandwich bread.  It didn't come across as cafe quality but something you and I could easily rustle up at home.  Coffee was ok but you could get ok coffee anywhere in Surry Hills.  It wasn't a quite satisfying and impressive meal, I very much doubt there would be second time.

Came here for coffee and something to eat! I ordered the chargrilled chicken sandwich... Unfortunately the chicken tasted bland and wasn't chargrilled at all... The bread and chicken together made the entire sandwich dry... It was lacking sauce and flavour. Was very disappointed with my experience here.. The service was quite poor as well. <br/><br/>The location however, is beautiful and has a very relaxing vibe to it.

Great coffee. Good food. Brilliant spot. <br/>Terrible terrible terrible service. <br/>I guess the owners don't need to bother though considering the location. There's a lot of this in Sydney.

Pieno is a Surry Hills institution. It's always packed with beautiful people. They do an all day breakfast which definitely caters to the locals. The food is a little highly priced but beautiful. <br/>The service is ok, they aren't overly pushy which is nice. <br/>It's a great place to go for a leisurely lunch and a glass or two of wine. We had 2 of the current specials, Eggs Benedict and Vodka flavored salad, and both meals were very tasty. Definitely worth going, if you can get a table.

I've always walked past this place and seen it packed. I came on a fairly quiet hot day and enjoyed a chipotle chicken salad and banana smoothie outside. Pleasant atmosphere and okay service.

Came for lunch at about 230 and there were only a few tables taken. After not receiving any acknowledgment I went to the counter to ask about service and he asked us to order at the counter. I think it's usually table service. Anyhow we only wanted something small and decided to share a burger. Lucky we did as they were quite generous. Besides the poor service the good was delicious.

Went there for breakfast after taking a break from this place for a while. <br/>It was disappointments after disappointments. The coffees ordered came with the soy milk completely curdled; and temperature borderline boiling. After giving us a dodgy explanation for that we decided to order food. <br/>I ordered Avocado and Coriander on toast from the menu. What arrived was certainly avocado but I couldn't find any substantial amount of coriander. The avocado had been covered with a disgusting thickened vinegar. It was simply disgusting. What could have been a refreshing/delicate dish was actually something that should not leave the kitchen and be advertised on their menu. <br/>My friend had the green eggs (omelette) that were overcooked and tasted like cardboard. <br/>Overall, we gave it one last chance but it certainly didn't raise to the occasion. With so many fantastic cafés in Surry Hills; this one is certainly one I would not recommend to anybody. <br/>

Haven't eaten here. I should. The cafe looks great with an abundance of outdoor seating. I usually come for the coffee when I'm in this part of Surry Hills. They do fantastic coffee using 5 senses beans.

First time here for breakfast, ordered extra hot coffee, came warm, ordered mushroom bruschetta, mushrooms were cold. Almost like they had been pre cooked, stored in fridge, although there was steam coming from them, they were cold. Husband had the big breakfast which was cold as well, sausage wasn't nice at all. Very disappointing.

Have you met Pieno? Whilst it’s been around for a while, it recently became the newest addition to the dinner and nightlife scene in the heart of Surry Hills. For those of you that don’t know, Pieno is located on the bustling Crown Street and is renowned for its quality breakfasts and lunches. Pieno, which means “full” in Italian was initially envisaged as an espresso and panini bar. Whilst their panini’s and salads still remain a staple dish on their menu, they have now matured and grown into a much more wiser (alcoholic) café. They have extended their trading hours to Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights serving light café style dinners, with of course alcohol. This Italian style café is warm and cosy with a sleek and modern interior, fit out with funky wall hangings, unique lighting pieces and red and black theme colours. Negroni – Tanqueray, Campari, Cinzano Rosso ($14) With a fully licensed bar why not stop by for a casual wine or cocktail? (or three)    Share Plate (for two) – Antipasto with a selection of salumi, cheese, marinated olives & vegetables ($32) All meals should start with cheese. A generous portion of sharp and bitey gorgonzola, feta and roasted veggie salad, spicy salami and marinated olives are beautifully displayed on a large wooden chopping board. Demolished quite quickly we might add… Chili prawn linguini with garlic, parsley and roasted tomatoes ($19) A great pasta dish that’s light and fresh. The plump and juicy prawns are coated in a delicious herby sauce of parsley and garlic with just a hint of chilli for that sneaky kick. Perfect for a laid back summer dinner. Veal Osso Bucco with conchiglie & gremolata ($20) A little heartier than the linguini, the veal meat is soft and tender. Instantly falling off the bone and immediately into my waiting mouth. The veal is smothered in a rich tomato base and sits on top of a bed of p

The interior of the café was modern and had some funky lighting and wall hangings with a red and black colour theme, and upon passing the patrons basking in the early Spring Sun outside Pieno, I'd caught a good glimpse of their meals - mostly paninis and sandwiches. Upon grabbing a seat inside on the banquettes (Pieno also has outdoor seating for those lovely sunny days), the menu was quite extensive and featured more than your average café sandwiches and salads.

This has been my favourite coffee so far. It is strong, bitter and full of taste. The froth was full and creamy and the coffee was a perfect temperature. Pieno get their coffee from Five Senses , although the waitress couldn't tell me what blend (see below for my discussion of vague waitresses). Five Senses uses Arabica beans from Papa New Guinea. The Service I come here a bit because the food is really tasty too but I always find the staff to be vague and flakey. Although having said that, after I'd been there 10 minutes the waitress brought me out a bottle of water without me having to ask. The Vibe I was surprised that it was so dead, although it was over 30 degrees outside. Soft jazzy, ambient music played and by 1pm, the tables started to crowd out. If you come, try and snag one of the wooden tables outside underneath the red um

If there's one thing this funky cafe has bucketloads of, it's atmosphere. It's cool, it's modern, and for a cafe in Surry Hills, there's certainly more than your average amount of seating. I love the splashes of red in the decor too with the chairs and the water bottles - a great vibrant touch.

The scrambled eggs were deliciously creamy, the spinach slightly salty was soft and a great compliment. The mushroom – wonderful! But then again, I LOVE mushrooms!

Pieno has only been opened for about 2 months and joins the many other cafes on Crown Street which entices the weekend brunch punters. It's in the same new precinct area of the new Gazebo Wine Garden which opened just this week and one of my favourite gou

I've walked pass this little cafe few times now, everytime telling myself that I should pay a visit one day. When a friend called me out for a late brunch - in her vocabulary "late brunch = I want breakfast at 3.30pm". It's definitely not easy to find a cafe that is still open that late on a Sunday -___-; A quick search on the net and off to Pieno we go ! Coffees The cafe is located inside the courtyard where The Winery by Gazebo and Thomas Dux Grocery is on Crown Street, Surry Hills. There are plenty of outdoor and indoor seating areas, we picked a spot on the long bench inside :)

What I've been doing a lot of lately, is surrounding myself with other motivated and passionate individuals who have left their secure full-time jobs and are doing their own thing. There seems to be more and more friends doing 4 day working weeks or even

Love it!. I love coming here!<br/>The staff are super friendly, the coffee's good and the breakfast is great! Best part is you can sit out in the sun or sit hidden away down the side. I love the chicken sandwiches, they're fantastic!

Have been a regular at Cafe Pieno for 3 or so years but giving it a wide berth after last few visits. Food quality gone bad: frugal serves of salmon & poached eggs, & what's with the soft mash "rosti", & tomatoes not even roasted? Badly chipped plates & coffee cups should be replaced but still in service; indifferent unfriendly service. Final straw was neither of the toilets were working today (in past were often not clean/tidy). There are much better places in Surry Hills for weekend brunch.

Staff are some of the most unfriendly inhospitable I have ever come across. The lady behind the coffee machine (I think she is the owner) is horrible. A smile never hurt nobody!

Disgusting. Absolutely rubbish! Eggs were more hard boiled than poached, mushrooms tasted canned (usually happens when the chef has no idea what they are doing and puts them in the oven instead of frying, which means they go rubbery and leak water all over the plate), under cooked onions and waiter more interested in kissing his gf than serving customers. Couldn't even complain in person because waiter more interested in his love life

Not good enough. It is a real shame that this restaurant has gone downhill. I used to take work and social colleagues to this place all the time but the last couple of visits the food has been poor and the service atrocious. Cold coffee and burnt toast and sausages and the wait staff need an attitude adjustment.

Loved it! Great service, lovely food, good coffee. Yum!

Pieno cafe is a cultural institution of Surry Hills. People go there in their fine clothes, drink great coffee, chat and watch the fashion show that is in the Laneway that goes right into the Winery. Don't come here if you're not dressed and skinny because you will be judged. The food is cafe food so you can't expect much. All that bacon, sausages, eggs and massive amount of bread makes me laugh. Not quite Surry Hills food but I digress.<br/><br/><br/>-----04 Sep, 2013-----<br/><br/>Great coffee

Easy to get a seat and most are in the sun which is great. The big breakfast is filling, tasty and a good price for the area. It's rare to have wait for a seat and service is good.

Cute spot but unfortunately really va service. Forgetting order and not apologizing... Bad form

YUMMY. L went with a friend for a late lunch however we decided to get the all day breakfast as it sounded delicious. The breakfast bruschetta was everything we hoped for, crispy bacon, perfectly cooked eggs, ripe avocado and a touch of lime was delightful. Service very fast and friendly. Loved it, definitely going back!!

7 egg white omelette is delicious. Great cafe.

Worst place I have ever been!!! BAD service waited 50 min for food,BAD food it tasted like sewerage and smelt like it!, I advise you to go to McDonalds at least you get served and the food is passable

Food Lover. This would have to be one of the best cafe's I have visited for a long time. The food and coffee is great. The atmosphere is excellent. It is a great place to hang and watch Crown Street pass by!

Great coffee quality ingredients. I try and get there once a week, the food is straight forward but you can tell the ingredients are first rate. I am surprised by the people knocking the waiting staff as I have found them great, and extremely helpful.<br/><br/>The coffee is strong and made with care. The atmosphere and surrounds are a little oasis in the city. Let your hair down and enjoy it.

Nice spot for people watching, too bad the food disappoints. The bruschetta with mushrooms and rocket was bland and oily. The paninis have a high bread-to-filling ratio. It was very busy so service was a bit hit and miss. But the staff were pleasant and apologised when we pointed out they'd overcharged us.

Generous big breakfast, good coffee, lovely surrounds.

Scrumcious. I discovered Pieno after a good two weeks of searching for a coffee I couldn't live without.... my search ended here!! <br/>The best coffee I have tasted since I left Brazil, always a quick service, always a smile and a hello as you sit down. After my 3rd visit on 3 consecutive days, the Barista (Francis- super nice guy) came over to chat and say hello, which was really something- to be recognised in a city as a repeat customer is a great feeling. I literally visit every day for a minimum of 2 Long Blacks... LOVE!! If I could criticise one minor thing, it's that there are a couple of really miserable waitresses, the others are great but 2 very very mardy ones- but this isn't a good enough reason to avoid the place- oh and the food is FAB too- all in all, this is my favourite place in Sydney bar none!!

Never again. The food was overcooked and the eggs were rubbery. The serving staff were rude. Way overpriced for the quality of food and service provided.

Simon. This is a fantastic little cafe. I took my wife and her family for breakfast last sunday. They are from Malaysia and absolutely loved it. The big breakfast is the best we have tried in Surry Hills. The court yard is great just off busy Crown Street.

I don't understand the appeal of this place, sure they have a great courtyard, but this isn't a great enough feature for Pieno to be as popular as it is. I've been three times, and of those three times I've been disappointed by poor service, bad coffee, bland and over priced food, unattentive staff and a rude manager. My coffee was burnt on two occasions, and on my third visit I ordered a soy hot chocolate which I sent back as the milk had been over heated to the point where it had curdled and split!! I was then told there was nothing wrong with it! The staff are unnattentive, leaving dirty dishes on mine and other patrons tables when it clearly wasn't busy - 2 wait staff walked by mine 3 times each. It's disappointing, a space with great potential isn't living up to it.

Stu. Love this place. The atmosphere is unmatched anywhere along Crown Street. The space is sun drenched. I had the big breakfast which was great after a big nite out!

NO BAD... Have nice brunch in PIENO..Great atmosphere, average coffee, average food... One thing they really need to improve is cutlery.

Yum. Had friends from Italy staying with me over the long weekend and I took them to Pieno for breakfast. I am so happy that they absolutely loved the food and also the coffee!!! The portions are also so generous and the atmosphere is always great.

Weekender. Fabulous place to share a coffee and light meal with friends on a weekend. I enjoyed the ultra alfresco and open courtyard style of this cafe.

Nice. A simple, local, coffee+light food place. Service seemed a bit sporadic, but the food was tasty and good value.