La Collina

Named for the Italian word meaning the hills, and therefore also for the Sydney location where the restaurant was founded in 1989, La Collina brings the essence of relaxed, family-run Italian ristoranti to Castle Hill’s local dining scene. La Collina is one of Sydney’s award-winning Italian restaurants, and with such serious pedigree its Terminus Street premises are well known among aficionados of Italian cuisine, seafood in particular – the special focus of the restaurant.

While there are plenty of meat, poultry, and vegetarian options at La Collina, this Sydney Italian restaurant specialises in seafood. Highlights from the traditionally structured starters menu include the impeppetta di cosse, spicy chilli mussels in a pink garlic sauce, and the torta ai frutti di mare, a traditional Italian pancake filled with a fresh seafood Mornay drizzled in a spicy tomato coulis. It’s not all fiery maritime fare, though, with the mild gamberi alla riminese con funghi (sauteed prawns, mushroom and diced tomato in a creamy garlic sauce) providing some relief. If you book in with a larger group at Castle Hill’s La Collina, go for the classic antipasto, with grilled vegetables, olives, capsicum, cold cuts and cheeses.

La Collina’s Terminus Street premises function for many as the default spot for a good pizza dinner, with all the classics represented plus an equally extensive list of delicious vegetarian Neapolitan pies. Coming closer to the main event, highlights from La Collina’s list of pasta dishes (also available gluten-free) are once again seafood-oriented; the vongole alla puttanesca (fresh sauteed clams in a chilli, garlic, diced tomato, caper and virgin olive oil sauce) is tip. And again, there’s a generous number of vegetarian options like the Siracusa, a pasta dish prepared with eggplant, olives, basil, capsicum, garlic and onion in a Neapolitan sauce. When mains finally roll around, the veal and chicken dishes are standout, with your choice of sauces (but ask for a recommendation). Most likely unique to Castle Hill Italian restaurants are La Collina’s spiedini, mouthwatering skewers of Mediterranean-herbed organic bush lamb, marinated prawn cutlets, Italian sausage, Con Bay barramundi, and whole lemon sole. A standout in Sydney, be sure to book.