a very belated birthday-dinner review, since I'm an established slacker. But this is also fitting since whether its been driving by it back in the day, or through gazing up at it on the hill when I was in Manayunk, La Collina is one of those places that has been in my peripheral vision for a few decades now! For 20+ years, I've known La Collina to be that fancy and classic-looking Italian restaurant on the hill that I've been needing to try. But it took coming across its name when doing my research for possible spots to go to for my birthday to put one and two together, and it led to quite the majestic experience. The friendly and hilarious valet attendants ensured that service was incredible before we even entered the building. And upon entry, we were treated to spot-on recommendations and quality service throughout the evening. For cocktails, I was in awe of the Anejo Old Fashioned, which used Patron and agave syrup instead of the usual whiskey offering, and I also appreciated the classic Negroni. For appetizers, the classic meatballs with homemade marinara and ricotta were an absolute delight, and the eggplant rolatini with spinach, prosciutto, and mozzarella was sheer perfection at its most decadent. For my entrée, I initially expected that I would be eating all the pasta. But the restaurant is also known for its seafood, and the risotto frutti di mare especially caught my eye. and with its calamari, clams, mussels, and shrimp, and perfectly cooked and seasoned rice it absolutely delivered the flavors! Toss in a salted caramel chocolate soufflé with a candle on top, and it easily made for another memorable birthday dinner and a deserving place to recommend! read more

La Collina - Salted caramel chocolate souffle - Italian Near Me - Bala Cynwyd, Pennsylvania

See all

Really disappointing experience. La Collina used to be so good under the original owners, and I had actually attended a bridal shower there several months ago where both the food and service were excellent. Tonight was a stark contrast. We sat at the bar, and service was painfully slow. I had to ask three times for water. The bartender was very nice, but the restaurant seemed understaffed. The food was just okay and far too expensive -- $60 for dorade and $59 for branzino. The bathroom was dirty and had no soap. I was also disappointed by how the owner handled a gift certificate I had discussed with him at that bridal shower and understood would be honored. The date had been slightly altered, but not by me. Instead, he was curt and dismissive. A little kindness and good customer service would have gone a long way. The hostess was lovely, but overall this was a very disappointing evening. read more

I'm not sure what the hype is about this place (except for maybe the view). Came here and got some pasta which was honestly pretty basic (it wasn't even al dente). The service here was pretty good. I really enjoyed our waitress. I ended up getting a Negroni which was amazing. This place makes a killer cocktail. The branzino was their top seller according to the waitress. They brought it out in a cart. I felt like the branzino was bland. They also had some spinach on the dish as well. read more

See all

Very disappointed in La Collina. We ALWAYS wanted to go here because we love italian and it looked awesome on the hill overlooking Manayunk. We booked reservations for our wedding anniversary here. I specifically asked for a window overlook view seat. This was not granted and we were placed in the back room by the bar. Service was poor. We spent 2 and a half hours at this restaurant mostly waiting for the food to come out and the server to bring us our check. I don't believe the server came back for drink refills until after we were done with out meals. The serving sizes like stated in other reviews are very poor for the price you pay. For 2 to eat here you are pushing 100 easily. I got the chicken parm and pretty sure there was a out 12-15 noodles with it. My wife did enjoy her seafood pasta with scallops, but the price outweighed the amount for sure. Overall I had high expectations for this place and it let us down big time. Hopefully they continue to improve so we can give it another chance. read more

See all

Beautiful place with a fantastic view. The food was excellent-tasty, well prepared, fresh, and portioned well( not too small or too large). Except for the veal chop parmigiana which was appropriately large. Drinks were excellent and the wine was superb. Dessert may have been the best I ever had!! All dinners were delicious: striped bass, risotto seafood, veal dish and of course the veal chop parmigiana. Unfortunately the service was terrible. We had 3 different waiters serve us and had to ask another waiter to bring us our second wine before we finished our meal. To top it off the restaurant adds 3% for credit cards. Not what I would expect from a pricey high end restaurant. So if can put up with the lousy service and pay cash it's worth it read more

See all

I always wondered why there were so many nice cars parked here. It's usually has a crowd of "rich-looking " people dining at the location. I suspected it was either the food or some shady cult gathering (leaned more on the food theory). But the food here is basic. Can find the same flavor anywhere, usually better. Tried their house favorite, the Branzino, but the flavor was bland and not worth the $60 in the slightest. Their spaghetti was okay but I have made better at home. Even their old fashioned chocolate cake sucked. Tried this joint twice. Not worth it read more

I finally had the chance to visit La Collina and I really enjoyed myself. I ordered the caesar salad, lobster ravioli, and a cannoli for dessert. Everything was delicious (including the bread service) and the wait staff were kind and attentive. The only part I didn't enjoy was the valet. I prefer to self-park and I didn't realize there was street parking up the road. I thought my only option was to valet, but you actually don't have to! read more

La Collina - The menu - Italian Near Me - Bala Cynwyd, Pennsylvania

See all

The ambiance was wonderful with the location and view of the restaurant. The service was friendly but very slow for the food and drink refill. The food was delicious!! read more

See all

We reached out to management rather than listing a negative review but after one email he was non-responsive. Service was terrible, horrific really. Waiter disappeared, water wasn't refilled, and forgot to put in our food and then dessert order. Food took 50 minutes to receive and we had to go to bar to pay our bill because the waiter disappeared! read more

I have seen this restaurant on the hill for years. From the highway, it looks like a place with a great view of the Schuylkill River. I decided to try it out and booked a reservation on OpenTable for lunch. When I arrived, I was surprised to see that the parking lot was empty. I walked in and waited at the host stand for several minutes before having to walk over to the bar area to find the host sitting at the bar watching TV. Not the best first impression of the place. I was seated at a table at the window with a view of the highway and Schuylkill River. I started with a glass of Chianti and some bread. The Chianti was good. The bread was average. I had a Caesar Salad and Rigatoni Carbonara. The Caesar Salad was good. The Rigatoni Carbonara was too creamy and very filling because of the the amount of cream. It tasted ok. This is one of my favorite dishes and I was disappointed that it was not authentic. The best part of the meal was the dessert - Lemoncelo Flute. It was very delicious and refreshing. read more

Food was Delicious! Had the crab ball app , sachetti w truffle, lobster and shrimp! Omg soooo good! The branzino was delicious and the desert was so good ! Great service , great drinks ! Can't wait to go back ! read more

See all

I drove past it millions times and finally got to try! I made a reservation through open table. Very friendly staff. What a beautiful place. Food was outstanding. It was one of the best carbonara. Highly recommend. read more

See all

La Collina creates a lovely atmosphere for a night out on a special occasion. Overlooking the Schuylkill river you get a beautiful view and creates a special evening. They only offer valet parking so parking can be a little tricky. Overall the food was really delicious and I feel you get that true Italian feel and cuisine to the place. The service was a bit of a miss in my opinion. It felt a little lacking and could have been better. Overall they a nice atmosphere to spend for a special occasion. read more

See all

My two appetizers were weak, not very good. First - Polpo crude. The octopus was shaved as thin as a piece of. paper and still frozen with ice crystals still attached, under too many greens. The rolotini was tasty but the prosciutto was exceptionally chewy. This place is far too expensive for the offerings and is owned by a corporate structure, not the family that started it back in the 1980's. read more

Read as 3.5 stars. Was unsure what to expect since reviews seem to range across the board but I left pretty happy with overall experience. We were a party of 6 with reservations and were seated immediately. The crab cake bites and beet salad were solid, I would skip the calamari (cold) and eggplant rollatini (spinach was used as a heavy filler). The seafood pasta special was a hit at the table. The rest of the dishes were pretty good. Service was friendly and attentive. Valet parking. read more

See all

This is our second visit as a large group and most of us enjoyed our food, but felt the kitchen was too slow (2 hours from ordering to receiving our entrees?!). I won't go into our first visit -- it was Thanksgiving Day last year -- but this second visit "sealed the deal". The servers were terrific. When one diner received chicken parm instead of veal parm, it was quickly replaced with the correct item (cooked fresh). Why 3 stars? Well, if the menu has Dover Sole, and they are out of it because they didn't get their shipment the prior day, the servers should tell you right away, not 20 minutes after we ordered it. The rest of our meals were just okay. At least everyone received their food hot, but some of the items were a bit bland. Really, at an Italian Restaurant? Again, kitchen was really slow and everyone pretty much complained that it took 30 minutes to bring out our salads, then another 45 minutes for dinners. Our total visit there was almost 3 hours! Yes, we were a group of 12, but it was a 90th Birthday Dinner for the matriarch of the Family. We couldn't bring our own cake, but we had a chocolate cake slice (one of many of their dessert items) with a candle brought out. Parking is valet only, and they are easy to find off the Belmont Ave Exit of the Expressway. As one couple has a small child, and lives 10 minutes away, this is why we choose La Collina. Most family members felt that this place cannot survive if they don't improve the kitchen but either way, don't think the family members would suggest a third visit any time soon. read more

Absolutely delightful. From the kind man working the valet, our sweet servers, the yummy food, the romantic ambiance... everything was great! We celebrated a family member's birthday and we were seated near the front of the restaurant. I ordered an espresso martini and it was fabulous. One of the better I've had this last year. I shared a Caesar with a friend and then had the chicken marsala for my main dish. WOW! The best chicken marsala I've ever had, and I'm not blowing smoke. Great flavor, a decent portion, and the mushrooms were terrific. Cooked perfectly! The runners, our main server, and the rest of the staff were so helpful and accommodating. I need to return the next time I am in the area! Just an FYI for those who are older or have a hard time getting up... the toilets in the ladies restroom are quite low. Just something to keep in mind! read more

La Collina - Italian Near Me - Bala Cynwyd, Pennsylvania

I'm not sure why this place has so many bad reviews--I had a pretty nice experience here last night for my birthday. Parking The restaurant only offers valet parking, which feels a bit outdated. There's no ticketing system--just a guy who takes your car and has apparently been doing it for 20 years. While it worked fine, it felt a little informal for a place at this price point. Food I ordered the filet, and it was pretty good--flavorful but a little dry. The calamari was just okay; it could've been cooked more. Overall, the food was tasty, but nothing extraordinary. Service The service was decent, but for the price, I expected more attention to detail. For example, our server forgot who ordered which drink. At a high-end restaurant, small details like that matter, and when you're paying a premium, the experience should reflect that. Value This is where the restaurant falls short. The food and service were good, but not exceptional enough to justify the high prices. When a restaurant sets premium pricing, it also sets certain expectations, and in this case, those expectations weren't fully met. Final Thoughts Overall, I had a good meal and a decent experience, but I wouldn't say it was worth the price. The food was tasty, the service was fine, but for what you're paying, I expected better. By the way, they make their own gelato and it was absolutely out of this world delicious. read more

See all

Ate here with family for the first time yesterday afternoon. Overall, the food was okay. The wine and dessert were wonderful. However the service left something to be desired. We waited a long time in between our drinks and food and refills, as well as the check. When we got the check, we paid and left. After we had been home for a while, the restaurant called my phone asking about how we thought the service was and I told them. Then the person started talking about the tip and how the server has to pay out other people. Essentially saying, our 20% tip was not enough. Never in my life have I experienced that. We will not be returning. read more

This restaurant is beautifully located on a hill top. upon arriving your car will be valet parked. Food was excellent, service was good and ambience was nice . Very nice staff read more

See all

Don't get takeout from here. The portions are laughably smaller than what you get eating at the restaurant. They also don't staple the bag shut. That's all. read more

We went to La Collina for dinner with my in-laws, and to say we were disappointed would be an understatement. The service was mediocre at best. We watched as tables seated after us were immediately given bread, while we had to flag someone down to even get a basket. But what really made this dinner a letdown were the entrees. My mother-in-law and I both ordered the veal, expecting a nice meal considering the $40 price tag. What we got was a laughably small portion with absolutely no side dish, no pasta, nothing. For that price, I would expect at least *something* on the plate besides the main protein. And it's not like the veal made up for quantity with quality. The flavor was nothing special, honestly, it tasted like something you'd slap together after a late night just to use up whatever sad leftovers you had in the fridge, and then thrown some mozzarella on top to cover it up. Bottom line: Overpriced, underwhelming, and not worth your money. I would not recommend La Collina to anyone. read more

I've seen La Collina as I've driven down 76 for years. The location always looked cool, but I've only now taken the opportunity to visit. I'm glad I did! Short version: great food, nice views, and mostly exceptional service. I went with my wife, my parents, my 6 month old baby and my dad's 99 year old aunt... While I like to think that I'm an easy restaurant guest on my own, a table with a six month old (even though he's a relatively easy baby and we did our best to manage him) and a 99 year old where everyone else is looking out for them isn't easy. Their servers handled it like champs. The food was fantastic. I got one of their homemade gnocchi dishes, and I definitely judge an Italian restaurant by its gnocchi since that was my Italian grandmother's special dinner for my visits as a kid. Theirs is top notch. The vibe is old-timey nice Italian restaurant, with servers in white coats, an old Italian man visibly managing the front of house, a dessert cart going around, and all that. They pull that off in a nice way where it feels classic and little nostalgic but isn't too stuffy. That's nicely complemented by great views out their windows. That vibe matches the food, which is your traditional Italian food prepared to all of the classic standards, in just the rich but clean and delicious way you want, not in the "we're stuck in the 70s burying everything in plastic-y cheese" kind of way. It's all valet parking (free, though I tipped). At some places, that annoys me, but their valet guy is the absolute best. Friendly, knowledgeable about the restaurant, attentive to guests needs. Somehow, he manages to play an integral role in turning a great dinner into an exceptional experience. They have a decent cocktail menu, and they have a bar area in the back. If you've always wondered about that restaurant up there above the expressway, or if you're looking for a good place to get top notch, classic Italian food, definitely give La Collina a visit! read more

Overall a great experience and we will be back. We ordered the octopus, broccoli rabe and sausage, squid ink pasta, and table-side fileted grilled Branzino. Wine and old fashioned to drink. Broccoli rabe was just ok. Table side filet was underwhelming. Everything else was superb. Wine was good. Old fashioned was excellent! And I am a picky drinker. We came for our 10 yr anniversary. The ambiance, service, cleanliness...all superb! A bit pricy but nothing unmanageable. Worth a try! read more

See all

They have a cozy bar, excellent cocktail menu. There are Gluten Free options that they took seriously, my friend also has a nut allergy and the waiter was excellent about checking on all the food to make sure we were safe. I got a gluten free chicken parm that was delicious. The dinning room is really beautiful at sunset. read more

Service is everything and they have it here at La Collina. The Valet parking service was unwanted and not needed but accepted because Valet was so personable. Inside the host greeted us pleasantly and eased us into a smooth experience. But our server Karmen was the show stopper the service was excellent, he's a professional! His delivery of information and hospitality shines brightly. As for the ambiance get ready to coast through Venice in a gondola. The view of Philadelphia and immediate surrounding area is spectacular. I would love to see it at sunset. When leaving I took a peep at the bar, very interesting I'll probably give it a visit. Shortly after being seated we were served bread, roasted peppers and cheese. The could stand to be warmed so the cold butter can adhere. For dinner I had the soft shell crab with roasted potatoes and sautéed string beans. My dining partner had Aragosta Fra'diavolo-lobster, shrimp in a spicy marinara over linguine, they loved it. The only issue here is 2 small soft shell crabs for $40 is slightly pricey compared to similar establishments. We ended with Tartufo a dessert of chocolate coated vanilla and chocolate gelato with a small cherry center and Italian Rum cake they both were very good with the final touch, a cappuccino all a big yum! read more

See all

Our first time having dinner here since they are under new management. The experience was phenomenal from start to finish. Every dish we ordered was magnificent. The service and ambience was perfect. I ordered the carbonara and honestly was better than the best carbonara I've had to date which was in Rome My wife's risotto was fantastic as well. Given it's only 15 minutes from our home. I expect we will be here repeatedly. read more

La Collina - Italian Near Me - Bala Cynwyd, Pennsylvania

Went for a dinner out on a Wednesday, got there a little after 5 - not super busy, service and food were both great! Valet parking made it easy and our car was right in front when we left. I could see this place having slower service when busy because they definitely do alot - ie filet the branzino at the table and other touches. It's an old school Italian restaurant so portions aren't huge but that makes it manageable and we also weren't leaving and needing a nap. Really spectacular view and vibes were classic, we'll definitely be back soon. read more

Only great things to say about the food and service. Pasta came out perfectly cooked and on time. Service was professional and we were seated promptly even though it was a busy valentines day. Valet is mandatory. We weren't sure before hand so if anyone is wondering that yes. Will be back eventually. read more

La Collina - SPAGHETTI CARBONARA - Italian Near Me - Bala Cynwyd, Pennsylvania

See all

I WAS ELECTED FROM OUR GROUP OF 10 FRIENDS TO SUBMIT THIS REVIEW. WE WOULD GIVE IT 0 STARS IF POSSIBLE. 10 of us dined at this restaurant to celebrate our annual reunion. We were extremely disappointed in the service and quality food from start to finish. ALCOHOL-Drinks that were ordered were subpar. The waiter argued with the two patrons instead of just replacing the drinks since only a sip was taken from the drink. After bantering back and forth he complied. APPETIZERS-Meatballs were undercooked, were not warm when served. Watermelon special was not sweet, three small wedges with four large chunks of feta, minimal glaze only on the plate. Caprese salad-the tomatoes were not ripe, soft, and tasteless. The bread with mediocre. ENTREES-unusual wait time. Two dishes, Linguine Con Pesce, were served with the wrong sauces. Veal Scallopini was ordered but Veal Marsala was served instead. When the waiter was question his reply was, "it's the same thing"! Really? Chicken Parm was bland. Branzino, after fileted equaled the amount of four forkfuls with an unacceptable amount of bones. Only half of the fish was fileted. So disappointing at $54. DESSERTS-3 desserts were thrown in the center of the table along with spoons. No plates were given. I contacted the owner by email and he offered his apologies and offered to refund 25% of the bill which was $1000. After numerous emails back-and-forth he said that he would email a gift card which I never received. I emailed him about four more times giving him the opportunity to make good on his promise. I haven't heard back from him, and had no recourse, but to write this review to alert others to our experience. read more

Excellent service from beginning to end Delicious red wine The Caesar salad was perfectly balanced and the correct portion size Superb Chicken Parmigiana Dessert was just right My family loved the whole experience read more

The food was bland. The service was ok until I we paid the bill we gave them a tip between 10 and 15 percent of the bill cost. The waiter had some nerve to come to us and ask if anythings wrong and then say we usually get 18 to 20 percent tip. Then place down the bill we already signed and tipped on for us to adjust it. A piece of me wanted to leave but my husband changed the amount. We will never return. I wish we left the moment the waiter said that to us. We shouldn't give in to the tipping bullies. It was my birthday and the mood instantly went down. These people are bold. We made a vow if this happens to us again we will zero the tip out and or leave the tip as is and leave. We were caught off guard. It's a shame because the food wasn't even worth the price we paid all the meat was unseasoned they put Demi glaze on top like that's going to help. The risotto was bad not even a piece of salt. Then they give you unseasoned lamb chops with all these small peppers it was about 10 who really eating all those peppers? read more

Very disappointed. Went here for our 10 year anniversary dinner. I have wanted to try this restaurant for years. Finally had the chance. The shrimp cocktail was over cooked. The entires were basic. Something we could have made ourselves. Service was less than accommodating. We were not interested in the dessert options, which is unusual for us. Nothing peaked our interest. We will not be returning. read more

Outstanding food. Pasta homemade and delicious. Great service. Drinks a little pricey but food reasonable.

Our family had a funeral luncheon on a Saturday afternoon in May. The owner was delightful, He took all of the stress out of planning, Our guests had a choice of three entrees, ( all delicious and beautifully prepared and presented.) The staff was incredibly patient and kind while dodging two young dynamo toddlers. The dining room and view was beautiful, as were the elegantly set tables. Everything was so perfect no one wanted to leave. I'm sure management was a little nervous we would stay through dinner, but no one rushed us at all. The valet parking was amazing. The guys, for the most part remembered who came in what car. Valet parking was especially great since many older guests , couldn't walk far, and needed help getting in and out of their cars. Nothing was too much trouble for them. Wheelchairs, walkers, you name it, they did it all with a smile. I can't thank the owner and staff enough. They made a sad and difficult time pleasant. Most people reading this will just want to know about the food. I only had one entree, but if I didn't live out of town, I would be there every Saturday night. read more

Great food- great service- great ambiance! Definitely recommend! I also like that the tables are not "in a line" but individual tables.

Completely gaslit. I ordered 2 apps. Eggplant rollitini. Which was served in a Alfredo type blush sauce. It wasn't Eggplant it was a lasagna noodle wrapped around spinach. Wtf!? And the broccoli Rabe and sausage was swimming a a oily pool of liquid to go. Do NOT eat here. read more

I tried La Collina tonight with DoorDash . And I ordered a ceasar salad and veal parmigiana. The salad was gross but the Veal parm was basically inedible almost like chewing on shoe leather ! Please be careful dining at this place . read more

It's been years since coming to LaCollina I had remembered it being really good, I read some bad reviews after booking a reservation and hoped I wouldn't regret it and I did not. We valet's the car as there are not many parking options in the Area so that was really helpful. We were promptly seated, the dining room was much what I remembered with an amazing view. The food and services were great! I would definitely come back and recommend! read more

Our group of 8 had a wonderful dinner. Carmen took excellent care of us. He was very friendly and attentive. He explained the different dishes on the menu. There's valet parking. There was a lovely man playing guitar. It's a great atmosphere for celebrating. read more

See all