Adriano Zumbo

Zumbo to the waistline
More flavours than a packet of starbursts. I wasn’t 100% sure which macaron to choose (zumbaron) so I trusted my belly and chose fairy bread, salted butter popcorn, toasted marshmallow and the v8 salted caramel and vanilla mini cakes. I probably ordered too much but In my opinion you can never have too much dessert.
You can defiantly tell the flavours and textures of the macarons are made by hand by the most professional and competent pastry chefs. The popcorn one tasted exactly like popcorn, the fairy-​bread tastes exactly like fairy-​bread etc etc. the flavours are absolutely spot on to a T.
After trying these waistline additions I can defiantly say Zumbo is a genius. I would defiantly recommend you try a variety of sweets and if you’re not sure take my recommendations above or ask the staff.

Some of the most beautiful pastries you have ever seen.
These are bright colorful original works of art.

This place is well worth a visit even if you don’t feel like eating desert! There is always something amazing and creative to see, the creative décor of the interesting deserts that taste like explosions in your mouth I kid you not!!! Butter popcorn macaron and Vanilla V8 are my go to favourites but you can never go wrong with any selection!

I love the concept of this store… A dessert sushi train — heaven. It was busy though — I imagine there is a regular line — so we took the take away option and ate at the near by tables. Expertly crafted desserts — beautiful on the taste buds.

We strolled aimlessly in here whilst waiting for our dumpling takeaway and ended up with some serious dessert. There’s too much sweet choices, pun not intended, that my partner kept changing his mind. Eventually we went with the salted Carmel tart and ultimate brownie. If it’s possible to have a foodgasm, I think he had one eating that brownie. Damn.
It’s not cheap but it’s quality and fanciful. The macaroon selection is very extensive, although I didn’t try any as I’m not a fan the next customers who followed us in bought one each.

Don’t really see what the fuss is about, but I suppose the ladies love it… not really somewhere you and the boys go to catch up .They do taste pretty good :)

Adriano Zumbo, you patisserie genius!
With every bite I get a little closer to obesity, but you really have to consider, do I really need to have a good body???
The desserts are always ‘too pretty to eat’ but you get over that quiet quickly once you have your first bite.
I can’t say that every dessert I’ve had has been spectacular because some of his desserts have some seriously wacky combinations that I just can’t do, but that’s what makes him a genius!
The macarons never disappoint, and it’s always exciting trying new flavours. Some of my favourite cakes are the V8, lemon meringue tart and passionfruit tart.
I’m salivating just writing this. Need to stop!

We tried a couple of the cakes and the Hazelnut & Milk Chocolate Zumbobloc. The beautifully decorated cakes looked a lot better than they tasted, though. Perhaps the flavors were too complex for me. There was too much going on.
The game changer was the Zumbobloc. I was turned off that it cost $ 9.50 and was disappointed that out of all the flashy desserts to choose from, my boyfriend chose this unassuming one. The disappointment quickly dissipated when I took a bite. It was amazing!
I got another one on our next visit and didn’t even think twice about the price.

Everything is Zumbo, I’m sure if he could every word in the shop/​dine in cake train (cakes/​pastries instead of sushi) would start with a Z. If you think it’s narcissistic, you’re wrong, it’s just a quirky play on words and just clever branding. The quality on offer is reasonably priced, from $ 2.50 Zumbarons to $ 9 cakes and those are the take-​away prices. Seating is not a big issue as there are plenty of tables in nearby food court. There is normally a wait for the dine-​in experience.
CHEESE AND BACON ROLL
Basic roll, had lots of flavour but was cold and tough. For its defense, I bought it at 11am so might need to be reheated at home and not for immediate consumption that’s for sure.
ZUMBARONS
Zumbo’s version of the trendy macaron, you know it’s trending when Chinese supermarkets try to mass produce it (cough World Square) at a cheap price and lower quality. Wide variety of flavour here, the Italian meringue technique is used here (cool article about Macaroons). With flavours always rotating, you’ll never get sick of these macaroons with their perfect crust, gooey texture and fresh filling inside.
HELLO CHEESECAKE (Delicious cheesecake mousse, cheesecake purée, strawberry gel, fresh strawberries, macaron shell & morish marshmallow!)
Super-​sized Zumbaron with fresh fillings, great idea that worked for me.
MYLO CAN CAKE (Milk chocolate mousse, mint and Milo cremeaux, cinnamon sablé, Milo crunch and raspberry jam)
Zumbo is not afraid to experiment, actively letting influences from the Sydney inspire him. The Milo cake is an example of this, Milo typically an Asian flavour is executed in a form that makes sense and in addition to quirky presentation that cake has the x-​factor.
MALT & TEASER CAKE (Luscious layers of chocolate sabayon mousse, malt dacquoise, almond crunch, vanilla cremeaux, malt bavarois with a decadent dark chocolate glaze and salty chocolate sable crumb)
Chocolate lovers need to try this one, it’s so good that I won’t spoil it for you.
TARTE AUX FRUITS DE LA PASSION (Passion fruit curd and pâte sucrée)
This one is a personal favourite, it is the kind of cake that transports you to a different continent. The balance of acidity and sweetness is beautiful. Gelatinous top with crunchy base, just exotic and amazing and it’s the cheapest of the cakes win-​win.
APPLE MAPLE CHEESECAKE (Apple mousse, cinnamon cheesecake, anzac biscuit, apple purée gel & yoghurt sponge)
If you like sour this is the cake for you, yoghurt and I believe granny smith apples gives it that subtle acidic taste but it’s well balanced, light and the attention to detail and presentation are amazing. It feels fresh and awakes your senses.
ZONUT (Apple and rhubarb with honey cinnamon granola cronut)
The next pastry fad is here, almost replacing the macaron. The hybrid croissant and donut is just such a good idea. The Zonut rendition takes it to the next level, the pastry is of course perfect, feuilleté (crunchy and light outside), the filling just enough to enrich the dough and the granola topping gives that additional texture and body at each bite.
The Zonut special changes every week, keep up to date with the latest Zonut flavour on his Instagram. I would go every week just for this, although they sell out before 1−2pm.
Conclusion
All the cakes are technically executed to perfection for that price range. Most of the flavours are fresh and distinct. For me, it’s more a matter of choosing which flavours that I like rather than choosing based on execution. Many complain about the price, those guys are ignorant to say the least and do not know how much work is involved.
@thesydneynoob

Adriano Zumbo is just down the road from my house so my partner and I come here every now and then.
The food is always amazing, and desserts are delicious! They are delicate, tasty and worth the money spent! My boyfriend’s favourite is the lemon meringue and I can’t remember the one I usually get but it has thin layers of chocolate and it is delicious! The quality is high, every time we buy the same dessert which is a plus!
The last time I went was on Valentines Day 2014, and the lady serving at the checkout was really grumpy, rushed me, and didn’t smile at all. This is why I have deducted one star for a bad customer experience.
Other than that, Zumbo is a hit for occasional consumption!

Ok I was craving for New York style cheesecake for a week! Me and my bf went here to try cheesecake! The macaron shell n the cheesecake mousse is just match n the filling raspberry jelly! Just awesome! (I hate dessert is too sweet) it fulfill my satisfaction!
On the other hand my bf had a ‘ball’ which is chocolate glazed ball inside the shell filled with all yummy chocolate mousse! Yummmmm! But one bad point it’s I’m crazy abt almond croissant their one has too much almond syrup in it! I hate it, so what can I do? Hand it over to my bf, although the doesn’t like it either but he can alway finish it :)

We went on a Wednesday around lunch time to the store inside Star in Pyrmouth street. It is not cheap but the pastries were delicious. I highly recommend their passion fruit tart and their ultimate brownies. There is no place to sit inside the store but there is plenty of seats nearby. The cashier was very attentive and friendly.

Little disappointed when I visited here. Prices are over the top and quite frankly dont think that they are worth it.
Good concept, though it appears that nothing much was happening on the day.

Paid the dessert train a visit last weekend.
What’s hot:
* Good, attentive service.
* Love the PINK cups, and complimentary water service without asking for it.
* Hazelnut Dacquoise ($ 5) cake off the train.
* The ambience.
* Delicious, pretty macarons! ($ 10 for 4, plus the option to take away.)
What’s not:
* The prices. $ 6 seemed like a rip off for some of the cakes on the train.
* Lack of choice of cakes on the train.
*The Cherry Coconut Mousse ($ 6) — should have saved that money for a Cherry Ripe chocolate bar instead, and hence save money on my cherry treat.
* No ice cream (unlimited $ 5 soft serve) when I went.
* Small serving sizes.
As you can see, my opinion is neutral on this experience. Neutral 3 stars awarded, all things being equal. Sorry.

I might be one of very few here who had never heard of Adriano Zumbo before coming to this place, so I had no expectations other than my usual expectations when I hear the word «macaron». I was amazed at all the colours and flavours available, and it was hard to choose only one… Yeah they’re a bit steep so we only had one each. I liked the fact that there were some typical Australian flavours like Milo and Vegemite that I wouldn’t find anywhere else in the world. I settled for the Milo flavour and totally forgot what my boyfriend’s selection was but it was a pretty decent macaron. Not amazing, but still pretty good. I wish I could have tried more flavours to be a better judge!
The best of that location probably lies in the dessert train. What an original and exciting concept for a sweet tooth like me! They truly looked amazing. Oh now I just wish I could go back in time and try some of the desserts…

I think all I have to say here is go and read Amber. R’s review. Absolutley bang on.
I was so far from impressed with the overhyped desert train. We waited for ages to be seated — to be fair it was a Saturday night and there were many large groups — and when we finally sat down we were met with bitter disappointment.
There were no macarons on the conveyer belt and it’s not until we asked that they appeared. Seriously? I thought that’s what this dude is known for and you’re not going to have them as the star on your desert train? The servings was small and over-​prices and to be honest really average.
Then there were the doughnuts. I’d actually really be interested to hear if anyone else has anything to say about the doughnuts. They are the most disgusting, flavourless, balls of crap I have ever had the misfortune of tasting. They took OVER 40 MINUTES to come out to us (they were a special order item) and they just had no flavour! They tasted more savoury than sweet. They were supposed to have chocolate filling in them — apparently a drip of chocolate is what they call a filling here.
I really don’t get the big deal with this place. I would never go back. I’d rather go and get my little local café’s sticky date pudding any day.

A Sydney favourite! Definitely try the unique ones: Red Frogs, Milo, lavender and vanilla. Had a friend who worked at the original one in Balmain, better atmosphere than the Star!

Mojito Macaroons? Yes please! Adriano Zumbo not only has fresh and delicious macaroons but they also have the most unique flavors. I’d say I have loved 98% of the ones I have tried. A little bit pricey — a box of 6 for $ 15 but its so yummy and never disappoints!

We went to the Dessert Train at Star last night. Arrived at about 9.30pm to a massive line. We were happy to wait, and finally got a seat after an hour in line. It was a bit irritating to watch the waitresses who were working the Dessert Bar take such a long time to clean up plates between customers. I feel like the line would have been much quicker if they’d been more organised.
We got a seat, and had nearly everything from the train: spice cake/​corn/​mango purée pot, hazelnut dacquoise, watermelon yoghurt, a plate of macarons, an ice cream sandwich. The ice cream sandwich was average, the hazelnut dacquoise was average, the watermelon yoghurt was disgusting (it was melted all over the plate and looked ugly, too). The spice cake/​corn/​mango pot was excellent and the macarons were good.
All in all, I can’t help but feel that the Zumbo bandwagon is just that — a Masterchef fuelled juggernaut that doesn’t have the goods to back up the reputation. A few wacky dessert creations don’t deserve the adoration Zumbo gets. There are far, far better macarons to be had in Sydney and after the dessert train experience, I’d say there are also better single serve desserts to be had as well.

The Star now shines a little brighter — Zumbo has arrived. Literally spelled out in lights, Adriano Zumbo is a name synonymous with the sweeter things in life. He’s probably most famous for his ludicrously divine macaroons (dare I suggest he’s the man behind the recent macaroon revival?), but visiting his new digs at The Star, you’ll soon appreciate all the other sugary delicacies that make up his legend.
The store is a riot of candy colours — it’s almost like you’re stepping into Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory. The desserts are presented in sealed pods, while the macaroons are encased in ‘break-​in-​case-​of-​emergency’ boxes. It was all I could do not to smash them!
A helpful staff member is on hand to take your order (and prevent any rash action), and soon you’ll be able to trundle in the other end of the store and gorge yourself at the dessert train. Now THAT will be a sight to see.
As it was, I manage to limit myself to a box of macaroons to share. At $ 2.50 a pop, they’re definitely a treat, but with gorgeous flavours like Pumpkin seed, Passionfruit with Tonka Bean, Raspberry Caramel, and Hot Chocolate — you’ll set yourself the task of justifying such treats on a very regular basis!