Short Black Espresso Bar - Penshurst, New South Wales

Bjorn D.

Coffee was good but the food just wasn't amazing. I had the croissant benny special but the croissant was more like a supermarket croissant than a real croissant you would expect from a cafe for that price. This croissant had the texture of bread with indicates improper lamination, margarine used instead of butter or poor proofing. Croissants should be have a shatteringly crisp, flaky exterior that creates many crumbs when broken, honeycomb-like interior structure with many visible air pockets, distinct layers that can be peeled apart and a rich, buttery flavour. This croissant has none of these attributes. I write these extra comments in response to the owner with a photo included to let the reader be the judge. I appreciate the 50% discount offer from the owner but I urge the owner to reconsider their supplier in this case and understand want defines a quality croissant.

anggita A.

I had an amazing experience at this restaurant! I ordered the steak sandwich, and it was absolutely delicious. The chips were perfect, and the English breakfast was equally fantastic! The staff and the owner were incredibly friendly and welcoming. I truly love this place and will definitely be back again next time!

Man W.

Food - ok
Service- good
Atmosphere- ok for coffee alone & sit outside the shop front.

Scarlett

Had lunch here the other day and definitely recommend this place. We tried the kofta toast with fairy floss and it was so delicious. The savoury cheese paired well with the rose water sugar syrup. You can adjust the level of sweetness to your liking. Definitely recommend this. We also tried the big breakfast and sweet potato fries. Big breakfast tasted great, and you can choose eggs as you like it, the sourdough was a little tough to eat though.
The sweet potato fries are very yummy, crunchy on the outside and sweet.
Their coffees aren’t too sweet and have a nice roasted taste, would recommend. Got the chai as well, but flavour was not too strong. Had friends try the mushroom risotto, burger and avocado toast and they were very satisfied.
Service was great, staff are very friendly and we definitely enjoyed our lunch here, will come back again.

Jennifer T.

This is a review from my 11 year old niece who insisted she leave an excellent review - "As soon as I walked in, it felt so warm and homey, the decor that they put around the place was so nice and pretty. I went up to the counter and the lady greated me warmly and asked what I would like. I ordered a chai latte and a custard pastry. The service was so quick, I got my food in less than three minutes. Personally I didn't really like the custard pastry but my grandma sure did and the chai latte was very good. When we were done the lady was so nice and took out dirty plates and the lady said goodbye and we left. Such a good cafe 😀."

Viktoriya L.

We used to often come to Short Black for brunch. Both coffee and food quality were just on top!

This time, I and my partner ordered avocado smash and smoked salmon sandwich. I also ordered coffee, which tasted really good. Barista was amazing and her service was just on top. However, food was disappointing. The bread was super super dry and kept falling apart for both avo smash and sandwich. I ordered SMOKED salmon sandwich, they have brought me GRILLED salmon in the sandwich. First time, I told to waitress that it was grilled, she took it to chef and came back saying that it was SMOKED! It was obviously grilled or fried with butter.

Second time , they brought food to me, the girl kind of just threw plate on the table and walked away saying nothing when I was polite at all times and even said thank you to the last waitress despite being already so disappointed . I even apologised for causing a bit of trouble for chef. I spend $50.00 for this ridiculous situation? We ended not even finishing half of our plates. It was below average experience.

Kearav P.

Amazing Coffee and Exceptional Service!

I recently visited Short Black Espresso Bar, and it was a fantastic experience from start to finish. The coffee was absolutely outstanding—rich, smooth, and perfectly brewed. You can tell they take pride in sourcing quality beans and crafting every cup with precision.

The atmosphere is cozy and welcoming, making it an ideal spot to relax or catch up with friends. The staff were incredibly friendly and attentive, ensuring my visit was nothing short of perfect.

Their selection of pastries and snacks was equally impressive—fresh, flavorful, and the perfect complement to their coffee. If you're in the area, Short Black Espresso Bar is a must-visit. I’ll definitely be coming back for more.

Anthony D.

Just received and ate a delivered eggs benedict with ham. It was excellent and I would've awarded 5 stars, except they forgot the extra egg that I ordered and paid for. It beats me how so many eateries forget stuff when they simply have to read and check the items in front of them.