Haven Coffee - Green Square — Restaurant in Sydney

I rarely do reviews, however this place deserves my recommendation as I was blown away not just by their ohhh sooo delicious menu, but more importantly their gracious service. Initially, I was seated with my back to the entrance. My anxiety kicked in as I like to see what's going on around me, so I nervously asked the waitress if I could move to another table that had just been cleared. Although it was a bigger table that could seat more diners, Charlotte, ever so sweetly, with a lovely smile on her face, assisted with my request without any hesitation. As a single diner, I felt just as valued as everyone else. Instantly, I knew that was going to be the start of a very delightful experience.

After fasting for 48 hours, I was starving! I decided to try their Prawn Sando. It came with a simple presentation, and I felt the prawn katsu mixture needed more texture and bounce. Thankfully it was topped with a generous amount of fish roe and a nice touch of daikon pickle to balance the flavours. I then ordered an earthy cup of Hojicha latte.... that was nutty and toasty! I was so impressed with their tentative service that I decided to order another dish - XO Prawn Spaghetti - many places I have been to usually over cook their prawns, but not Haven. My prawns were so juicy, bouncy and full of flavour. I gleefully took my time appreciating how perfect they were! The XO sauce was not too heavy, just right. The spaghetti was al dente! An exquisite plate of goodness, I almost licked that plate clean 😋 I finished off with their seasonal drink - Cloudy Matcha. Seriously soooo goood! The citrus cream was a nice touch. Silky, smooth, and refreshingly different.

Hands down, that was a delightful brunch feast I've had in a long while. I had to let them know how impressed I was, and even made sure to compliment my sweet waitress Charlotte who served me the whole time. Just as I was about to leave, executive chef Tarek pleasantly surprised me with a complimentary dessert - The Loaded Croissant - flakey pastry crust filled with cinnamon custard and topped with torched meringue. Wow, that was decadent without being sickly sweet. Again, another winner. When food and service is this impeccable, it truly deserves my 5 star review 🌟 I am looking forward to taste their other dishes on the menu....

Edit: Spoke with Andreas today, he sympathised and was able to offer explanations and show that the issues we faced were not representative of their normal quality and service. His understanding and integrity was very appreciated and I genuinely believe our initial experience was a one-off. The caneli on our revisit was excellent and as always their coffee and decor fit right in amongst the top cafes.

It's rare to see a cafe admit their mistakes and even rarer for them to take quick action to resolve said issues, that in itself is worth visiting Haven.

Original:

Well presented and good coffee however after dining in on Sunday for the first time, it will no longer be my regular takeaway coffee place.

Canellii looked amazing and I've wanted to try them for weeks but unfortunately they were rock hard, burnt and dry. They weren't just overcooked, the dryness felt like they'd been left in a mid-temp oven far past their cook time.

We raised this with the waitress but was told that's how they are because they are made mini. If that's the result then perhaps consider making them non-mini, they really were inedible.

Rest of the service was poor too. The lady who sat us at our table was nice enough, but no-one came over for 15 minutes to take our order. We waved and were avoided a few times and when the waitress finally acknowledged our waving she then asked someone else to come over instead. We were just ordering coffee (and rocks) which took about 20 minutes to serve.

I was looking forward to having a new brunch place on rotation but was unfortunately disappointed and won't be back. Our actual reason for going today for just coffee was to buy the hoodie but after the experience we decided against it

Hope they'll improve...

Haven Cafe, A Fresh Gem in Green Square – A Must-Visit Dining Experience

Green Square’s vibrant food scene just got even better with the arrival of this fantastic new eatery that seamlessly blends Asian and Western flavours. More than just a restaurant, it’s a thoughtfully crafted experience where hospitality and atmosphere are just as important as what’s on the plate.

From the moment we arrived, we were warmly welcomed by the delightful Mateo, whose cheerful energy set the perfect tone for our visit. The service throughout was exceptional—attentive without being overbearing.

The menu is refreshingly curated, offering just the right amount of variety without feeling overwhelming. Each dish we tried was full of flavour and beautifully presented, clearly made with care and creativity. Whether you're a fan of bold Asian spices or comforting Western classics, there’s something here for every palate.

This charming café is a truly welcome addition to Green Square, and I can’t recommend it highly enough. Whether you're a local or just passing through, make sure to stop by—this place...