THE BEST RAVIOLI or even yet, pasta itself in Sydney is at here and their original restaurant Pendolino (both located in the same building). I've dined at both restaurants and can recommend this restaurant for appreciators of Italian cuisine.
Excellent service. Perfect pacing of meal arrival and staff attentiveness. Delicious food especially the entrees. Staff are friendly and polite. The drinks terrace is a bit ho hum, but otherwise well worth a visit.
La Rosa always serves consistently good Italian food. The menu has strong Roman influences although our entree was the bread dumplings which are typical of the Alto Adige region in the North of Italy. The highlight for me was the wholemeal spaghetti, cooked to perfection teamed with anchovies, tomato, olives, chilli. #larosa #italianfood
FOOD = 4.0
AMBIENCE = 4.5
SERVICE = 4.5
Tried this place for the first time, loved the food and enjoyed the experience. Flavours were great and serves were decent too. The pizza and risotto was tasty. The donought desert was awesome. Have to come back again.
Like revisiting a restaurant from the 80’s. Pleasant and knowledgeable staff. Limited menu,all traditionalItalian dishes. I hade the tripe and my wife the house special Porchetta Romano.
Best place to be..
To have fun with family and friends..
Best place to hang around, food and workers are nice, working hard and serving nicely.
Helen | Grab Your Fork
+3.5
Forget the cheese trolley. Forget the dessert trolley. The porchetta trolley reigns supreme. It's wheeled through the dining room at La Rosa with sombre ceremony. Porchetta might be the flashy star of the show at La Rosa but the menu, which focusses on Roman cusine, has plenty of other equally tasty contenders. It's a little less formal (and less expensive) than sister restaurant, Pendolino, but still date night-worthy with crisp white tablecloths and attentive table service.
Compared to the price, food, service and atmosphere is excellent.
Taste: 3.5/5
Presentation: 2.5/5
Service: 5/5
Atmosphere: 4/5
Price Range: $100 for 2
Location: At centre of CBD, hard to park.
Overall Rating: 3.5/5
1 - Terrible
2 - Not very good
3 - Nothing Impressive
4- Fairly Good
5 - Amazing
Does My Bomb Look Big In This
+4
It’s been three years since I last had the pleasure of dining in The Strand Arcade at La Rosa. It’s a slick and sophisticated spot, even if it does play second fiddle to its better-known sibling, Pendolino, at the other end of the ornate, Victorian arcade.Separated from the restaurant by a dark screen, the bar is a cosy and intimate place to enjoy wine or a well-crafted cocktail. The Speyside Sour ($23.80) presents Glenfiddich 12-year old single malt under a frothy head of lemon, sugar, Angostura bitters and a twist of lemon rind that’s been expertly cleaned of all pith. The Cocold Old Fashioned ($19.70) tarts up the classic drink with chocolate bitters, topping it with fine flakes of chocolate and another textbook twist, this time, orange. While there is a bar menu, we hold out for dinner, so are hungry by the time we’re moved to our assigned table in the long, red-roofed room. Fast moving, black-clad staff quickly get us...
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I'm an Italian food lover and searching for the best Italian places across this one which seemed perfect for my hubby's birthday. This restaurant is located on level 2 of strand arcade. It's a bit difficult to find but using Google maps we got through it. The ambience is so beautiful perfect for a date. Dimly lit with candle on the table. The decor too is impressive with a chandelier in the middle and lot of seating space in and outside too. We booked online through zomato so we need not have to wait.
We started with the drinks. Very impressive selection of wines. Hubby had Johnny walker whiskey and me the classic medium red wine. Can't get the name but it was awesome. Had the 150ml glass.
For entrees we began with oyster which was very tasty. We also ordered the brushette which had tomato, feta cheese which was totally yummy. Since we didn't have to have pork we had the spinach brushette along with sour cream and potato too. Portions are small but the food was very yummy though.
Next we ordered for ricotta ravioli stuffed with spinach and it was simply excellent just loved it. Also ordered the capellini since hubby wanted to have chicken. It was the spaghetti pasta along with rosemary sauce. It was good too.
Definitely wanted to try their pizza so ordered the the funghi pizza which had portobello mushrooms along with mozzarella and porcini puree and it was delicious. Wanted to have a chicken pizza but it was not in the menu.
For desserts we ordered the ricotta meringue which was so beautifully presented and it has cream along with hints of orange sourness and it was yummy.
Service was slow and food did take time to come to the table but server lucie was extremely polite and friendly and apologised for the delay too. Lovely service by her.
Pricing is definitely high but simply loved the meal.
This restaurant is definitely recommended. Would love to come here again.
Always delicious~ haven been here quite a bit of time as well. Loved the prawn pasta! Tried pizza for the first time... it was great as well! Very nice place and staff here are extremely friendly.
Nice food, fancy deco and reasonable price. The most impressive is the service. One way to know how the service is to ask for hot water. La Rosa exceeded my expectation.
They asked me whether I want lemon on the side, and then served the water in a nice tea pot with a cup and a few slices of lemon on the side. They came back a few times when serving food to pull water in my cup and refill the tea pot. I was very happy to pay a tea price for it, but they didn't even charge us.
So my friend paid some tips.
If you are looking for a quite Italian dinner in CBD, try this one.
This place is definitely my new favourite place. In the central hub of the city, la rosa makes amazing pizzas. Would recommend the prawn and zucchini pizza. Definitely a hit amongst friends.
Been here a few times but was compelled to try something other than their pizzas. Was very impressed - salmon carpaccio with black salt, the rye bigoli pasta, and the cucumber and black grain salad were stand-outs. Millefeuille was also delish.
BEST lasagne we've ever had! The pasta portions aren't very big but we still left very satisfied (we got two entrees and a pizza amongst two people). The Gamberi pizza was very flavoursome, but lacked a bit of spice. Service was impeccable and the location itself was very elegant, fit right in with the Strand. I can't stress enough how awesome the lasagne was, will definitely be back for it.
This place is definitely not cheap but it's one of the most elegant Italian restaurants I've been to. The pizza is made in stone ovens from 48 hour dough and it's delicious. The pasta (also delicious) is all authentically home made. Housed in the stunning heritage Strand arcade it is intimate and romantic, perfect date material. In fact it actually gives me a bit of a Melbourne vibe which is the ultimate compliment!
We came here for our Valentine's Day dinner. I loved the pizza, and the doughnut dessert was to die for! I would highly recommend the prosecco too as this drink went with everything we ordered. The rye pasta too was an interesting highlight. The service was immaculate. Cannot fault this place at all.
The Sydney Festival has now come to an end and with it the number of fun and free activities, as well as the affordable and creative festival feast menu's from fine establishments. Located at the top of the Strand arcade, La Rosa is nothing but classy. This Victorian-themed shopping mall is a heritage building and being able to run a restaurant inside such a grand building is a great honour and testament to the restaurant itself.
Never disappoints. Very authentic Italian food and good venue for team/ corporate lunches. I have yet to dislike anything from their menu. Highly recommended.
The food, ambience and wine list are all excellent. I had the octopus marinated 'drunken' tomatoes which was sensational. My guests at the lasagna which looked fantastic though not something you would admit to your cardiologist! Two main gripes: one has to pay for bread and second the service is incredibly lack lustre. I'm not sure if someone forgot to turn up for a shift but the day I was there - one waitress for ~10 tables. This for a business lunch place with mains $35-$42 is a bit rich. Overall though if you don't need assistance with the menu, wine list or need to leave at a required time, La Rosa is a fantastic find.
The restaurant is upstairs of the strand and is almost like a hidden restaurant amongst the stores.
The restaurant itself is intimate and dimmed for atmosphere. We were there for a team dinner and therefore had a set menu. I opted for the leather jacket with calamari which was beautiful and fresh, the squirt of lemon amongst the buttery sauce was a zesty refreshment. The seafood sat on a bed of cheesy potatoes which was also beautiful. The only downside was that the fish wasn't completely deboned or scales, a minor inconvenience but didn't ruin the evening. For dessert I had the Zeppola, which was lovely but far too big for myself. The donut itself was beautifully crunchy on the outside and soft and moist on the inside. Personally I felt the caramel sauce was a little over kill but around the table it was definitely a crowd favorite.
Quite fancy restaurant inside the beautiful old Strand building - high ceilings, carpet, tablecloth, waiters in vests. Pasta was delicious, get main size as entree is very small. Waiter at entrance offered to take my gym bag and remembered to return to be as I left (even though I forgot) which was very nice. Waitress who served us during dinner didn't have great English though (didn't understand me when I asked if there was wholemeal pasta) and has an abrupt attitude which is typical of Italians. Pricy but not exorbitant, great for a date night.
the food is very tasty. my friend and i has ordered the bruschetta share plate. my favourite is the spicy paste bruschetta. for main we have the slow cooked lamb loin and mom's angel hair pasta. should say the mains are good serving size, but the lamb is a little bit cold, i guess they were waiting for the pasta to be ready and serve together. dessert is must order here. recommended as they all tast quite good
Came for a glass of wine whilst waiting for our table at Pendolino. Very Melbourne feel with dark walls and wine bar look.. Service was good and extensive cocktail menu..
Non-stop laughter and conversation over drinks and light food was exactly what we needed on Saturday night. We had a place in mind, but found out when we arrived that it was booked for a private function. It wasn’t a big deal because we were in the heart of the city and walked off to The Baxter Inn instead.
Updated Review 2019 - This place has become one of our favourites and we keep coming back and have never been disappointed. Some people have mentioned price but you get what you pay for...... excellent food and service, the head waiter gave us an after meal drink on the house yesterday, highly recommended
Original Review 2016 - had lunch for three and everyone enjoyed their meals. The salami platter was a highlight as well as the tirramisu. Will definitely return to try other dishes.
La Rosa pizzas and pastas are hard to beat! Been here many times and keep coming back. The pumpkin cannelloni is amazing... Since I've eaten the pasta at both La Rosa and Pendallino (sister restaurant) it's hard to go anywhere else... You can see the passion of the owner for great Italian food. Service is also very good along with the wine and cocktail selection. The place is very dimly lit - not sure why but even going with larger groups we have still enjoyed the ambiance even if we have had to read the menu to those with poorer eyesight! Definitely recommend this place.
La Rosa has always reminded me of a jewel of elegance and beauty. I have dined in La Rosa a few times, in small, medium and large function groups. Its modern classy interior and welcoming staff always create a welcoming yet cosy atmosphere that make dining an enjoyable experience for all.
I am no expert in Italian cuisine, though my guests always enjoyed its salami platter and pizza. The signature dessert dough is also a must-try as that's what keep everyone happy on top of its graceful collection of wine :)
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Situated inside the ornate Strand Arcade, La Rosa is run by the same team that owns Pendolino. The restaurant is located on the end of second floor, separated from rest of shopping centre by a ceiling to floor half translucent pleated black certain. Stepping inside, the crispy white table cloth, red velvety red certain, and beautiful flower arrangements blended well together to produce a classy and elegant dining ambience that feels romantic and intimate. It didn't take long to get our drink and food order sorted. The waiter was so polite and apologized every single time before he needed to interrupt our conversations. I only had trouble getting his attention once to order another glass of wine but that was understandable considering it was full house. We had the fast festival feast which included 2 courses with a drink for $55. For entreè I had king prawn with thicker spaghetti in a tomato based sauce. It was slightly on the salty side but nevertheless delicious. My main was slow cooked beef on purée of beans. It wasn't a standout simply because the beef and sides lacked flavor. Both dishes were sprinkled with green leaves for decoration which I think was unnecessary and looked amateurish. It would be an outstanding experience if the food step it up a notch.
Beautiful restaurant with impeccable customer service. The atmosphere is quite refined but very smooth. I highly recommend the Ciceri E Tria - its a little salty but i love the balance of the chickpeas with seafood.
Foodies Guide To Sydney
+4
LA ☆ ROSA
Located on the top level of The Strand, this Italian restaurant is perfect for a romantic couple or a classy night of feasting.
La Rose serves up some pretty wonderful dishes such as the carpaccio and the risotto. The service was also outstanding. ✌@foodiesguidetosydney
Beautiful decor, great ambient and fantastic service! I and few fellow foodies went on Fast Festival Feasts which is a part of the Sydney festival. We each had two courses with a glass of wine. My entree was Zucchini flower salad which was a beautifully seasoned dish. For main I ordered seafood spaghetti which was cooked al-dante on rich tomato sauce, it was a classic Italian dish and I enjoyed it.
All in all nice dinner, I had very pleasant dining experience!
Came to La Rosa for the fast festival feasts menu for Sydney festival, after reading a lot of positive reviews I was eager to try for myself.
I really loved how many choices were available under the menu, you definitely won't miss out on any of your favourites and can order the pasta as an entree if you don't want to take a full on trip to carb city. I ordered the calamari which was tasty and generous followed by the Capellini which I really enjoyed. You can really taste the freshness in the pasta which was a really winner for me.
A fab menu before heading off to one of the menu activities in and around Sydney.
Note to self: The best restaurants are always booked out in advance. That was the reality when my friend and I stepped into a Greek restaurant we had planned to visit on Friday night, but were informed that it was fully booked out. For both sittings. It was a bit of a shame, but being in the city has its perks. We decided to grab Italian at La Rosa, a cozy place that delivered the last time I’d been there. Nothing’s changed since then.
It's located on level 2, the sydney histric Strand Arcade.
I like La Rosa staff's warm welcoming us and relaxed ambience. I came here for dinner on a weeknight. Enjoyed at bar counter at first, had a cocktail called 'Italiano' which was fruity and taste good.
Then had a seat and we ordered course.
Caramari with truffle.
Green beans, Ricotta Pasta.
Lamb steak
-served with matched wine
Affogato with dessert lequor
The taste of food were awesome. Very fresh and tasty. I had enjoyed each food and every wine. Lamb was tender, juicy and tasty. I've never had such a tender lamb meat ever!!
Love the dessert too. The scoop of ice cream was so rich, milky and creamy.
We had a good time.
Thanks for the lovely time and amazing food.
Came here for a Christmas party drinks organised by the restaurant themselves. Nino who is the owner greeted us as we entered.
Loved the Cavazza Prosecco and all the little nibbles on hand. The frittata and the ocean trout were my top two fav’s of the night. Brushetta was also a crowd favourite. The dessert that was on offer def blew my socks off! It was doughnut ball with a sort of caramel sauce! Jeepers it was insane!
Staff are very professional and courteous and on hand to top up your drink if required.
The layout for the restaurant is very dark with lots of mood lighting. This place is great for functions or special occasions.
Will have to come back and sample their dinner menu as it sounds pretty tasty!
Very good restaurant. Not the first time we have gone there for dinner and won't be the last. Food was exceptional, service was excellent. Will definitely come back for the dessert alone.
Dashed into La Rosa before a show.
The service was excellent as the could accommodate us at short notice and the waiting staff friendly. The Bruschetta Miza platter was very tasty and both main meals we first class and we were brought out promptly. This gave us ample time to get to the show.
All in all great.
Have come here twice.
For my first time, I had the pizzas.
For my second time, I had the set menu - pork entree was good, pasta main was average. Service is great.
Would recommend coming here for pizzas and not the set menu.
My husband and I went to La Rosa, The Strand when we were in Sydney over the weekend. From start to finish the service, food and wine were outstanding. The waiter was attentive without being intrusive, and when asked to recommend a wine match for each of my courses, did an excellent job, showing his knowledge of the wine and food menu. I have already recommended this amazing restaurant to several of our Sydney friends and will certainly be back.
Delicious post shopping dinner. We popped in to La Rosa after a bit of late night shopping. This morning the taste of the delicious Ciceri e Tria (homemade pasta with chick peas, mussels and prawns) is still with me! The sauce was so addictive that I had to ask for bread to mop up every drop. In addition, the staff were very friendly and helpful.
Good food good service. Delicious! Love the funghi pizza and the donut caramel dessert..to die for!
...the wagyu salami was so good. Not at all sinewy, full of flavour; and when combined with the buttery bread, a drizzle of olive oil, the olives and some of the pickled vegetables; it was heavenly combination of textures and flavours in my mouth.
Everything was of the right flavours, fresh and beautifully seasoned. I didn't have to even use any of the Chilli oil or Parmesan cheese that was brought to the table. Pastas were the right kind of al dente and the seafood was perfectly cooked. We certainly didn't mind overloading on the carbs that night. I must say though, one does fill up really quickly on the pizzas as they are quite sizeable ones. It is truly difficult to restrain I know when the Mushroom pizza comes highly recommended too.
Confessions Of A Glutton
+4.5
I will have to admit that semi-casual (non-Asian food) dining options in the middle of the CBD are quite scarce. But with La Rosa being beautifully furnished, centrally located and having quite a reasonably priced menu that would appeal to a wide range of palates, it’s certainly a spot to keep in mind.
Nicole insists we order the Crocchette di Patate. They are delightful, crunchy parcels of potato with an oozing Buffalo Mozarella centre and a lemon and garlic mayonnaise. As I write this, I want a batch. A fresh batch of happiness... Apparently happiness is a Whiskers cat, but I know it's Crocchette di Patate.
Forking Around Sydney
+4.5
La Rosa is the kind of place Sydney needs more of, a charming and casual all-dayer that caters for those who like to eat anytime. This Italian noshery situated in the middle of the CBD is the sister restaurant of Italian heavyweight Pendolino. Both restaurants are on Level 2 of the opulent but often unnoticed Strand Arcade, with Pendolino at the George Street end and La Rosa on the Pitt Street end. The inviting interior has a bar feel (it is a bar after all), its rustic hominess accentuated by the dark modern furniture and the seductive glow of red lights. The menu is generous in size and is dominated by alluring pizzas and homemade pastas. Even better is that only one dish on the current menu is over $30. Spaghettini della Mamma is a dish all mums would be proud of. Simple and delicious, small nubs of braised chicken with a hint of rosemary is tossed through a jumble of al dente spaghettini. It is light, fragrant, and a stomach warmer. Conchiglioni is not a pasta I have encountered, b
proper pizza, house salumi, handmade pasta, solid wine list and all from the people that brought us the wonderful Pendolino
During the day natural light streams into the large windows yet at night the lighting is so dim that you just may need a pocket torch to read the menu.
Sibling to The Strand's existing one-hatted Pendolino restaurant at the George Street end of level 2, La Rosa Bar and Pizza is the less serious but equally stylish of the two at the Pitt Street end.
Great pizza, really firm crunchy base. You can hold it up straight and it won't bend. My rib dish was OK, the puree underneath had gone cold.
Doughnut dessert was delicious!
Service was excellent. Had the special truffle pizza which was fantastic. Complimented with a exquisite bottle of red wine. A+
Thumbs up.. Great ambiance, reasonably priced and delicious food!
Atmosphere was lovely. Food was great ! Traditional service with a smile !
Would go back every night.
Choice of Italian in the City. Can't go wrong with La Rosa if you feel like Italian. Whether it is a date, a small group, or a large party; La Rosa has always met the occasion. Amazing pizzas (omg truffle oil and mushrooms), great mains, and friendly service.
Lovely atmosphere. I've been here a couple of times and it's been great each time. I like the atmosphere - it's lively enough for a group of friends and romantic enough for couples. The pricing is reasonable and I just think it's a lovely place to go for dinner in the city.
Baked Pasta!! Wow. I travel to La Rosa from the West just to get their baked pasta - they are to die for! Flavoursome and mourish come to mind..
A must to go!
Tasty Italiano. At the top of The Strand is La Rosa, a seemingly authentic Italian restaurant with heavy accented wait staff. At night it's a little dark (or romantic) and the acoustics make it quite loud but the food is pretty good. Thin pizza bases and lots of stretchy cheese. Pastas with side salads are just the right size. Desserts are a must, the tiramisu is good but you can't go past the potato doughnut with caramel and vanilla bean ice cream.
Excellent. Enjoyed a work function here for about 30 people. Food was excellent from the bruschetta entree, to the perfectly cooked pizzas and refreshing gelato.
Romantic and fantastic!. Dined here with a group of 5 girls for a close friend's birthday. Food was lovely. We loved the pizzas.. they were so good! The pastas were ok though. Definitely recommend the pizzas!
As for service.. Amazing. The waiter even brought out a complimentary tiramisu cake for the birthday girl and had sparklers as a surprise!
Most of the other diners were couples though, so its a really good date venue. Dim lighting, romantic decor etc :)
Must try!
Pig Trotter Delight. Just loved the pig trotters. Surprising for me to find this in Italian cuisine but it was braised to a tender and loving perfection. I just adore the various corners of seating. Location is good as well, we were seated away from the city side hustle and bustle and yet downstairs is the mall. Subdued lighting is relaxing.
For a younger crowd. This is a really nice restaurant with a romantic ambience, delicious and reasonably priced food, but it is for a younger crowd. The head waiter was aloof and certainly made me and my 45 year old plus friends feel unwelcome. I would recommend to the young, and couples.
One of the best lasagne in Sydney
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Date night has rolled around again. Last week we visited the Milan Cricket Club, a British-inspired pop-up at La Rosa The Strand. Savvy restaurateur, Nino Zoccali, has snaffled the talented Old Fitzroy darling, Nic Hill, for a short term stint that turns his Italian restaurant into a British-Italian steakhouse. Think posh pub nosh, like an upmarket Scotch egg ($12) dragged through Oxford sauce, and hand cut raw beef on dripping toast ($26).
We opted to throw in oysters ($6/each) kept thematic with a stout vinegar dressing, and tender, grilled beef tongue ($24) made more punchy by not-quite-enough anchovy, and share a t-bone. Rest assured fillet steak eaters, there’s no difficult to handle bones to content with. Our 400g Rose Mallee British breed beef ($65) came sliced from the bone, with all its juicy pink glory on display. The marrow bone is filled with a tangy horseradish cremé that complements the tender and flavoursome beef and glazed Yorkshire pud. (if you need more than one, they’re a four buck add-on).
You’ll definitely need pleasantly oil-free hand-cut chips and béarnaise ($12). We were steered off the side salad in favour of the spring vegetable vinaigrette ($18) entree, littered with the season’s bounty of baby zucchini, sugar snaps and radishes. It’s a punishingly tart dressing—as you’ll find out if you put an onion into your mouth—that’s probably better suited to the start of your evening when libations from the circulating gin trolley are there to ease the pain. While I understand the Aussie focus, some dry English gins chosen to suit the British theming would have seen me indulge in a martini.
Service is attentive, and the fame of the chef has seen the usual La Rosa crowd give way to groups of younger men (my guess is chefs keen to keep an eye on what Hill is cooking next).
THE BEST RAVIOLI or even yet, pasta itself in Sydney is at here and their original restaurant Pendolino (both located in the same building). I've dined at both restaurants and can recommend this restaurant for appreciators of Italian cuisine.
Pretty good place though the service is a bit slow. The pizza and pasta were very good but the desserts were your standard quality nothing creative here.
I wish there had been more options to choose from too. Might come back
Elegant without pretense. Fine Italian fare served in leisurely but timely manner. The tall and lean waiter (seemed senior) was extremely well versed, kind and patient. We dined there at lunch with a kid present.
I took one star off because the blonde waiter just asked us to wait further and was not hurrying to find out what's going on as my friend's daughter cried silently for something that could be solved immediately with a waiter's help. Thankfully the senior waiter rescued the situation and was extra kind and attentive to our table.
Food's really top notch. My friend who's a Sydney resident already planned to come back.
Great Italian fare at a nice location and setting. The staff are very friendly and attentive, very good service. Food at a decent price in the CBD.
Lovely spot on the 2nd floor of magical Strand Arcade. Give the bruschetta misti, calamari with peas a try bit save space for the chocolate tart, its devine. Service is good, Coffee is great and they make good tea
Seems our order was missed but the restaurant made it up with some free olives. Food was good albeit pricey.
Nice place for long lunches.
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