Review La Cantina - Canberra

Since we were due for a lunch or dinner date at a restaurant starting with the letter ‘L’ our ‘ABC’ lunch/dinner group chose La Cantina. One of our party had dined here with work colleagues on several occasions and the pizza came highly recommended. Several couples ordered the main dish of calamari to share as an entrée. The calamari was tender and crispy and fine as an entrée but I suspect many would find the portion size small for a main meal. With a long run scheduled for the following day I ordered the Margarita Pizza and it was actually a good size for one and very delicious. My husband ordered barramundi served with clams and he said the fish was excellent but the overall meal size small. He appreciated a few slices of my pizza.😊 Several pasta dishes were ordered and again the serving sizes quite small. Most of us do not have big appetites so not really a problem but if you do enjoy a hearty meal order a few extras. On the the whole the food was good but I would not say exceptional. The Italian decor is lovely - quite elegant. However, I did not feel the ‘ambiance’ others have spoken of in some of the reviews. In fact I felt no warmth or welcome from the staff at all. It was a quiet day for the restaurant which may have accounted for this. It’s 3.5 star ⭐️ from me.

Amazing atmosphere. Went there recently and had a carbonara which was chef special, galic pizza and lamb. The carbonara was creamy and chewy, it was the best pasta in Canberra. Reasonable price for the quality of food. Quite busy place, so it’s a bit hard to stay longer because I feel a bit rush in dinner time even though it was weekdays. Good food suggestion from experienced staffs.

I imagine this place will be packed for Valentine's Day! The interior is full of rustic charm, and their sharing menu is great value! Next time, I'll try their pizzas. This was my second visit and both times, the food has been consistent with generous serves. The gnocci was very soft, but I'm not a fan of pasta dishes in general. The taste of all meals is reasonable, not superwow.

We had an awesome meal here celebrating our wedding anniversary. My husband makes his own pesto and pasta so La Cantina was under quite some discerning scrutiny, but there were no disappointments. The burrata, squid ink spaghetti and duck confit ravioli were all delicious. Highly recommend this, with friendly service as well.

Haven’t had the chance to dine in but the take away pizzas were superb. Lovely decor too.

The restaurant was just amazing. The food, service and atmosphere was spot on. Need to go back and try more dishes as there are plenty to choose from. Our waiter Gabi was really excellent. She continued to check how we were going and how the food was. She just brought more laughs and a better experience.

Amazing food. Great customer service and very romantic ambiance. Loved the experience!

They certainly serve some amazing authentic Italian food at this joint. One of the best Italian restaurants in Canberra and I would certainly recommend it. Yours truly @fooderarri

Lovely restaurant - great menu - staff were very attentive & personal - food was � great - really enjoyed our night - recommend it - company was pretty good too ���

I've been to La Cantina 5-6 times now. It's always been top notch, authentic Italian with friendly staff and a true European "home cooking" feel at the restaurant. They are always changing menu and do wonderful variations on classic dishes (they currently have squid ink ravioli - one of my all time favourites)! This restaurant is a little suburban gem - highly recommended �

We have been numerous times and it continues to produce amazing dishes... the antipasto is great value and the spatchcock is a MUST every time!! The best Italian � in town �

Awesome restaurant will be back many times. The stunning brickwork is amazing to view awesome decor.

Bloody awesome food, great service, awesome atmosphere. Will definitely be back

Loved my food and great service, Must try it beautiful food

Excellent service, wonderful food and a cosy atmosphere. We’ll be back!!!!

Amazing food, beautiful atmosphere, lovely service, the first of many visits to come.

Best Italian restaurant in Australia! (I'm Italian) amazing food, beautiful atmosphere and excellent service! ❤️

Excellent food, great atmosphere , professional waiters - def come again

Delicious. no more needs to be said. :)

Delicious! Great ambiance. Will definitely be coming back.

My first and last time ......i have worked In the hospitality industry so i know a thing or two what should happen .firstly you do not send out to front of house cold spaghetti in a cold bowl. It was stone motherless cold.. the parmesan basket was chewy and un eadable..also we had to remind the waitresses two times to bring a drink she omitted from the original child order.... well i suppose it was Easter Monday night but we were celebrating two family birthdays .....i was so disappointed .... Will not be paying those prices for sometime so inferior. Again

The food was amazing, the staff were welcoming and friendly. I absolutely enjoyed each time I have visited and yet to experience a negative time (wondering if that is even possible). Worth the visit again, and again.

It was a pleasure dinning here. The restaurant had a warm ambience, soft lighting with a very Italian vibe. The serving size was fairly priced. Would definitely recommend the cannoli for dessert :) Well balanced dessert indeed! The bitterness of the dark chocolate went well with the richness and creaminess of the ricotta; the pastry and the pistachio for the crunch and the zesty lemon sorbet had a good fresh finish to the palette. The staff were nice and friendly. Only down side of dining here was the looking for parking during peak hours. Thanks La Cantina!

I would go for the Antipasto platter alone. Too much cheese on the Margarita pizza. Good service and selection of food. Nice ambience about the place. An enjoyable dining experience. Not the worlds best Italian but by no means the worst.

La Cantina at the Narrabundah shops offer a 2-course lunch set menu for $19 Tuesday-Fridays. During my holiday break, I headed in to try it out. The polished wooden floorboards, white linen table cloths, a brick facade and European paintings add a lovely touch of elegance. There was a choice of 3 starters and 9 mains for the set menu. I decided on the chef’s mixed bruschetta as the starter – there were two slices, one with fresh tomatoes and basil with a drizzle of balsamic, and another with mushrooms and zucchini. Delicious. I loved the freshness of the vegetables.

My partner and I decided to go out for dinner on a Sunday night and reserved a table at midday. I’m glad we did, because when we got there it appeared to be fully booked. We decided to get garlic bread as entree and whilst the pieces are generous, the bread lacked the typical punch it should offer.. You could get better garlic bread from Woolworths. <br/>For mains my companion got Conchiglioni con Salsiccia which is a baked seashell pasta with Italian sausages and tomato sugo topped with goats cheese. His comments was oily but very filling and flavoursome. <br/>I ordered the Ravioli di Mare which is squid ravioli with octopus, sautéed prawns in a tomato sauce. It was absolutely divine and even though it looks to be a small portion, it’s very filling. I was very happy with my dish. <br/><br/>Overall we had a great evening with attentive staff, great atmosphere, and a great looking menu. I will be back.

Love this place! The ambience created by the rustic brick construction is great. More importantly though, the service was really good, and the food was excellent. We had the degustation menu and it was spot on. There was a small delay between one of the courses but generally the timing of delivery was just right. It is clearly an all ages, all people type of place and there was a lot of conversation all around. No loud music and plenty of activity from the kitchen and staff. <br/>Fave dish was definitely the salmon, followed closely by the chocolate mousse/ice cream filled chocolate cone with strawberry. So good. <br/>This one has rocketed straight to the top 3 fave eateries in Canberra. Will be back for sure.

Narrabundah is overflowing with good restaurants – XO, D’Browes and…La Cantina. On a Friday night La Cantina’s busy with couples and groups. The pastas are popular – the review favourites are the Duck Ravioli and Gnocchi. It’s easy to see why La Cantina attracts so many fans. The setting is stylish but cozy, lighting is relaxed and warm and the hosts are welcoming.

A hidden gem in suburban Canberra.<br/><br/>You'd be forgiven if you drove past this restaurant without noticing it.<br/><br/>However one you go inside you'll the ambience and the delicious food.<br/><br/>A surprise package well worth a visit.

Narrabundah is overflowing with good restaurants – XO, D’Browes and…La Cantina. On a Friday night it’s busy with couples and groups. The pastas are popular – the review favourites are the Duck Ravioli and Gnocchi. It’s easy to see why La Cantina attracts so many fans. The setting is stylish but cozy, lighting is relaxed and warm and the hosts are welcoming.

I've been here twice now, and for those of you that read my reviews, you know I'm not easily impressed. <br/><br/>With XO and La Cantina, Narrabundah has really struck it lucky in 'suburbs dining' - for me it's up there with Billy Carte Kitchen in Brisbane. <br/><br/>The atmosphere is a cross between a Sicilian basement and a Roman pasta house. It oozes character and the staff really seem to enjoy working here. <br/><br/>BYO, but it does have an exceptional wine list - by the glass as well! <br/><br/>The food is the best part - tender pasta, correct thickness and perfect seasoning. The Gnocchi is soft as a cloud and packed full of flavour. The duck ravioli is generous and stuff led to breaking point. The stand out? For me it's the meat balls in sugo. Delish!<br/><br/>Service is 8/10<br/>Food is 9/10<br/>Atmosphere 8/10<br/><br/>(Best bit? I live in Narrabundah! So walking distance home!)

Amazing pizza and risotto. We went in a large group for lunch on a friday and were looked after very well. Service was prompt with dishes served warm n with a smile.

Simply amazing. Delicious, well presented food and a well matched Shiraz. These people know what they're doing and are committed to doing it well.

Perfect Italian!. Not just your average Italian food. The focaccia is home baked and the gnocchi is just melt in the mouth delicious (and as a rule I am usually very disappointed with gnocchi in other restaurants) . <br/>We had a selection of pastas for our main course and each was superbly cooked and bursting with flavour. <br/>The octopus was my least favourite choice but when it arrived it was cooked to absolute perfection and I, and my friends, thoroughly enjoyed it, along with the duck ravioli . <br/><br/>The place is intimate without being crowded and the service is attentive without being overbearing. <br/><br/>I recommend anyone to go here. You will be guaranteed a delicious meal in a lovely atmosphere.

Best italian in canberra. I would drive 3 hours from sydney to eat the Duck and Mushroom ravioli with burnt sage butter & parmesan again. Other tasty selections were Oxtail ragout, Lamb shank melting off the bone and tasty wood fire pizza combinations. Good selection of international reds & whites, deciding on a deep chocolate & tar merlot from Argentina that sang a deep chorus with the ravioli & ragout. We were lucky enough to be recommended this restaurant by Diplomat Hotel concierge over the Anzac weekend. Thankyou. I have booked the diary to return to La Cantina in June, cant get that ravioli off my mind.

Devine. I walked in and I was immediately impressed by the interior and atmosphere. We were welcomed and sat down at our table. I couldn't help asking about the bricks on the wall that made me feel like I was dining in a old cellar in Rome along with the amazing artwork.<br/><br/>For Entree me and my partner decided to go with the specials. We both had the marinated sardines Saor which were delightful- not to heavy. For Mains, my partner being a pork lover couldn't go past the pork belly and he still is raving on about it. I went with the special main pasta which was house made squid ink pasta, mussels, pippies and prawns. This pasta dish was cooked to perfection and I would happily order it again. <br/><br/>Although we were both full we always have room for dessert. We both ordered the Panna cotta which was a perfect way to finish of our evening. <br/><br/>The price was reasonable for the quality of the food and the service was good. We will most certainly be back again

Too hit and miss to be taken seriously. Even the pizzas are crap every 2nd time.

Service was a little slow but the food was excellent. Terrific atmosphere inside. Overall an enjoyable experience.

Great restaruant. Been here a couple of times, the food is outstanding. Great selection of wine, and corkage is cheap so take a nice bottle. Haven't tried the pizzas yet, but suffered some severe food-envy when the table next to ours ordered them. Service pretty good. 8.5/10

Every time that I've come here, I've never been let down. Excellent food, great customer service, great atmosphere. Highly recommend it.

A++++ Atmosphere. Dying to return to this restaurant! My partner and I celebrated an anniversary here and were warmly welcomed by the cheery staff and buzzing atmosphere. I absolutely love the stone walls and dim-lighting which gives it such a cosy and homey feel! We had the garlic break as a starter, followed by the Veal Rib Eye and Beef Eye Fillet. The Veal was a massive serving and the Beef was accompanied by a rich, smooth jus'. We just managed to fit in the Vanilla Pana Cota which we shared. Amazing! It has the most amazing, fragrant flavour and the plating was executed perfectly. I cannot wait to return to try the pasta and have some more of that delicious, crunchy garlic bread! Could not fault our experience on a night full of celebration. 10/10

Would have liked it if I could have tasted the food for the salt.

Very nice food, expert service, and a wine list to die for. Can't wait to return!

Loved our meal here. Nice and warm, great service, very friendly. Had spaghetti with seafood and tomatoe sugo, delish!!

Mixed rating. We went to La Cantina with a friend. I ordered the steak, my friend the chicken and my wife the pasta. I enjoyed my steak and the chicken also looked good, but my wife did not enjoy the pasta at all. The staff were very friendly and professional, but I felt like they were a member short and they were always rushing around.

Great food and service. Decanted some special wine for us. Pleasant atmosphere and decore.

Great atmosphere. Superb service. Sensational food. What a great restaurant.

Crumbed veal rib eye with sautéed kipfler potato, baby spinach and Oyster mushrooms. Yum, a big schnitzel on the bone with meat cooked to perfection. This is on the 'must do again' list<br/><br/><br/>-----05 Jan, 2012-----<br/><br/>Char grilled squid filled with baby capers, herb risotto and wild rocket. The capers and piece of lemon provided a flash of contrast to the risotto and squid which would have been bland on it's own. Was very enjoyable and the squid tasted really fresh.<br/><br/><br/>-----05 Jan, 2012-----<br/><br/>Vanilla gelato, celestino espresso and nocello liqueur. DIY Affagato? Wasn't sure what to make of it at first but love it now. Getting to allocate your own mix is really cool. Great end to the meal.

OMG! Best meal we have had in a long time. Absolutely divine. We will definitely be going back again.

March 18, 2015 March 18, 2015 ~ Erin Last Friday, a friend and I were both craving Italian, so we decided that a ‘feed’ was in order. Another friend had previously recommended La Cantina in Narrabundah, and because I was feeling too lazy to drive in to the city and deal with parking, we decided to give it a go. La Cantina is located at Narrabundah shops, right next to one of my favourite Canberra restaurants, The Artisan. The space is really, really, cool. Behind big wooden doors is a brick cellar like room, with a large bar and kitchen towards the back. Classic Italian art adorns the walls and the lighting is soft and ambient – perfect date night material! I did find it a little bit cold, being next to the window and surrounded by brick, but that wore off once I started drinking. The space was about three quarters full when we arrived, and we were seated towards the entrance quickly and without fuss. My friend commented that we were on table 13 on Friday the 13 th – obviously this meant…actually I don’t know what that means, but she told me I had to mention it in my post. Our waitress for the night told us about the specials (including a delicious sounding chicken and mushroom ragu), and we ordered drinks. I’d had a bit of an insane week/month/year, so I decided to go straight for the hard stuff – a negroni. The negroni was strong and bitter, just how I like it. We also ordered a classic bruschetta to start (and to put something in our stomachs before we started drinking) and it came out quickly. The bruschetta was nice, the bread was fluffy, but apart from the very fresh taste of tomato there wasn’t much else going on. For mains we both decided on a small pasta dish. V ordered the Rigatoni Rustici – Sausage, pancetta, confit Roma tomato and Pecorino cheese. My friend liked her pasta, said it was made up of delicious ingredients, but also felt like it was something she could make at home (although to a lesser quality). I tried some of the sausage and I thought it h

Early January seems to be a time when most bakeries and restaurants haven’t come back from their Summer break, but there is always somewhere to eat in Canberra. So when I foolishly went to The Artisan without checking if it was opened, I wasn’t that disappointed as I started to make my way to La Cantina instead, like it was always part of my plan to begin with.

Overall, i had a nice dining experience at La Cantina. Gorgeous and very welcoming restaurant with friendly and attentive staff. I wouldn't mind coming back to try their woodfire pizzas.