Criniti’s – Woolloomooloo

Cowper Wharf is such a nice place to visit when in Sydney, I am not sure how much they tell visitors about it but we found it by chance. A 5 min carbide away (and probably a train or bus stop), it is smaller, more intimate than Darling Harbor and has a nice local adult vibe. We loved this restaurant, it was a perfect place to go, since we wanted casual but nice Italian. My fettucini with salmon was delicious – the fish was so good on our OZ trip – and my husband loved his pesto ravioli. We had a nice outdoor table with a view of the Wharf. I would recommend this restaurant to travelers who want a simple dinner, one they could get at home, with a nice view.

Eh…
We’d wandered down to the water from our hotel to catch a bite and stumbled across this joint. They looked relatively busy and after a quick peek at the menu we decided to have a go.
The service is slower than I’d prefer but the coffee is good. My latte came in baby sized servings but it was delicious.
I had the pancakes by recommendation, I don’t normally opt for pancakes and I’ve not much of a sweet tooth but I did enjoy them.
My fiancé had the 4 cheese omelette and seemed to devour it so all reports on the food side are good.
It was ok. Just ok.

Had the smaller seafood platter, the lamb skewers and the ricotta cannoli. I had no expectations before coming here today for Sunday lunch. I’ve always had disappointment at their other locations but this one is different. The food was cooked perfectly, the seafood platter was great (no fried crap in it), everything was fresh. The lamb skewers were nice a tender with wonderful flavours.
I was stuffed but decided to have some ricotta cannoli’s, I must say these were the best cannoli’s I have ever had and I lived in northern Italy for a few years… The ricotta cannoli’s are the ones to get, I wouldn’t waste my time with the inferior vanilla or chocolate ones…
The reason it didn’t get 5 stars, the staff could use some more training, for example when removing the seafood platter boards, seafood juice would easily spill on the patrons. On that note having the seafood platters being served on flat wooden boards is very stupid, as soon as the platters were put on the table, the juice coming out of the seafood platter just ran off the board, onto the table and then onto our clothes… Please use conventional platter plates with seafood… Use boards for pizzas but it doesn’t make sense for a seafood platter.

I hope this place burns in hell, smoldering in dante’s inferno.
The manager was an absolute douche.
I went there for my birthday with my family. It took 3 hours for the meals to come. They all came out separate over a 30 minute window and they even got the order wrong.
So I spoke to the manager and he rolled his eyes and said «can’t you see we are busy… look at the table next to you!».
The bill was ridiculous because we had to keep ordering drinks whilst waiting for our food. Which was horrible anyway.
I do feel bad for the waitress who caught the brunt of my frustration. But the manager should have done his job, which he is paid to do and organized the kitchen staff and should have told the customers that there will be a 2.5 hour wait for the food.
NEVER GO TO THIS PLACE.
It completely ruined my night and my birthday.
May the storms be conjured in Woolloomooloo and the gods break off that wharf that Criniti’s is built and be tossed into the tempest.

This is for their recently expanded menu offering: breakfast/​brunch! So if you’re looking for a pizza review… keep looking.
Not sure why they haven’t always served breakfast but very glad it’s something they do now. Great vibe as if it’s a nice day you can sit outside (under the canopy so you won’t get sunburnt!) and soak in all the views of the wharf.
The pros:
LOTS of food for a decent price: Most of the mains are between $ 18-​$ 20 and I’d make a bet you won’t be able to finish your food. Seriously, it’s a bit daunting to see the plate placed in front of you. My friend and I opted for the «breakfast board» which has everything from eggs, haloumi, zucchini flowers, STEAK, bacon, sausage, polenta chips– seriously, we weren’t sure where to start and we certainly couldn’t finish. It was $ 39 and honestly could have been split between 3 people. Our other friend opted for the «frank criniti» which includes salmon, eggs, smashed avocado and feta and toasted bread. We left completely stuffed.
Cheap champagne: I’m always on the lookout for great deals on the bubbly in Sydney and a bottle of the prosecco was $ 34? Split three ways for a nice little brunch toast that’s pretty good in my opinion! They have a full bar menu available during brunch so definitely a place to come for a long boozy brunch into lunch into dinner
The cons:
The service: don’t expect much. Don’t come hungry because you’ll be quite upset when your food takes forever to come out or they screw up your order (both happened to us) and when you ask for water it never comes.

Location, LocationLocation. No I’m not a real estate agent! But the location of this restaurant makes it a winner in my books. Far enough from the insanity that is the rocks, yet right in the water really amps up this experience. The menu, is a strange mix of of Italian classics combined with the more traditional usual suspects naked for an interesting pick i had a breakfast burger, my partner the sweeter French toast option. Both delicious and despite being under staffed the waiters all managed to keep their cool. I’ll be back next time I’m in Sydney for sure!

In all honesty I haven’t been to Crinitis for a while, probably a few years! I think the last time I went it wasn’t much of a great experience and I thought the food was overpriced for what it was.
Fast forward to the present, I received an invitation to celebrate the new Chef John Lanzafame’s arrival with a tasting menu experience, so of course I accepted!
As we arrived, our host was Elliot of Sweaty Betty PR went through the menu and told us to sit anywhere we liked. Most of the people who came where food bloggers and Instagram foodies. Drinks on offer were Aperol Spritz, Menabrea & Santa Margherita Prosecco, White/​Red wine and sparkling water.
Two lovely ladies sat beside me on the right and I got to find out they are from the awesome Instagram account «twogirlsonefork», funny enough, we both followed each other so it was great to put faces to the accounts.
For starters we enjoyed a 3 metre Italian pizza with a selection of authentic margarita, azzuri and zappatore toppings.
First course consisted of 3 dishes:
1. Crocchette di patate (Fried potato mash with pancetta & shallots)
2. Olive All’ascolana (Fired large green olives, stuffed with mozzarella & wrapped with mince)
3. Mamma Criniti’s Polpette (Mama Crinities own traditional homemade meatballs with sugo di pomodoro)
Pasta selection was:
1. Spaghetti Pachino (Garlic, chilli, cherry tomatoes, olive oil & basil)
2. Gnocchi Gorgonzola (Creamy gorgonzola sugo & parsley)
3. Pappardelle Ragu (Traditional veal ragu)
By the time the main course arrived most of us were already stuffed!
Main course comprised of:
BBQ Meat Platter — Pork & lamb ribs, char-​grilled chicken in bbq sauce, Italian sausages, char-​grilled chicken skewer & char-​grilled lamb skewer. Suffice to say we hardly touched the mains, there was so much food! I hoped the staff got to have whatever was not touched.
And finally for the best part of the night (for my sweet tooth comrades) dessert consisted of: Mini Ricotta Cannoli and Mini chocolate Tartufini (Profiteroles filled with Chantilly cream, rolled in decadent milk chocolate fudge & covered in dark chocolate shavings). OMG! The profiteroles were divine!
Overall, the food was wonderful, the company great, the drinks flowed and the dessert sweet.
Highlights of the night for me were the:
1. Menabrea & Santa Margherita Prosecco
2. Zappatore pizza (which was meatballs and chilli)
3. The olive All’ascolana (stuffed fried green olives)
4. Gnocchi gorgonzola (delicious, creamy and savoury!)
5. Ribs, sticky ribs yum!
And finally the one that sealed the deal was the mini chocolate tartufini’s…yum… just yum! You want to eat this for breakfast but you know it’s not good for your health! I thoroughly enjoyed the event and would definitely go back to try all the highlights of the night.

This restaurant really is quite lovely. On the backside of the Botanical Gardens, looking out at the harbour is where you’ll find locals and trendy tourists enjoying delicious, upscale Italian meals. Have the 3 meter $ 250+ pizza or just enjoy a regular sized, delicious pizza at a regular price. You’ll find many choices here: various spedini (cooked to perfection), glorious salads, crab linguini, eggplant rigatoni… you won’t be disappointed. On top of the satisfying meals you’ll be wowed by the attractive, Italian speaking, waitstaff that are really hustling to make your meal enjoyable.

After going countless times to the Darling Harbour Crinitis, I had no idea this one even existed!
We went all out this time and ordered the bad boy. 2 METRE PIZZA! (Yes, yes we did.)
It was all worth it. The best part? We finished it! The second best part? You could choose whatever toppings you prefer which was incredible.
Oh and the service? Spectacular! Smiles, laughing and the ambience of this place is always a delight. It’s always a fun-​filled adventure at Crinitis and I’ll always come back for more pizza!
Thank you Crinitis Woolloomooloo for giving us Adelaide-​ians an unforgettable experience.

Went here for lunch with a big bunch if girls and we had the set menu for $ 54. The food was fabulous and there was loads of it! You will leave very full. The décor was cool, stone walls, good spirit bottles collection and motor bikes handing from the ceiling. There was 16 of us and I was impressed with how smooth the service was. Only downside was having to go to the bar ourselves. They wouldn’t take our drink orders as there was too many of us. Still v happy with it though and would definitely go back.

I went last weekend and had the tuna salad … unusual dish of pieces of bread, tuna, baby tomatoes and oil… It gave me food poisoning. Will never return.