Horrific service. I feel like we were treated like second class citizens. The normal clientele here is older people who are clearly wealthy. I am 34 and I guess I didn't give off the right vibe for our waitress to take an interest in serving us. My 4 oz water glass was constantly empty. The food (veal royale) was good but salty. I had to sit there and let it get cold because it took forever for them to bring water. I was too thirsty to continue eating salty food. When we finished our meal, we sat there looking at empty plates for 10-15 minutes and finally flagged down the maitre d for our check. Then the valet driver stalled my car. Never again. Also, the house red wine was probably a $4 bottle but $9 a glass. Terrible. read more

What a GREAT dinning experience, from the hostess to getting the check. The atmosphere was a perfect setting for a quiet dinner out with wonderful BACKGROUND music so to encourage a quiet conversation during the difference courses. The food and plate service was extremely well done. Wait staff that seemed actually trained who really wanted to ensure your night out was a memorable one. This restaurant is a little on the pricey side if you add a bottle of wine to dinner ~ but well worth it for a well deserved night out or a special occassion. Bravo! read more

Staff was friendly. We sat down and were served bread with a bug on it. My friend told waiter who nonchalantly replaced the bread. Throughout the meal I noticed several flying insects. My friends enjoyed their meals but my veal parmesan was about the worst I have ever had. I could barely cut it or barely chew it. I get nauseous thinking about it. I did not complain to the waiter because my friends were enjoying their meals. For the price I paid (very expensive in my world) I expected a much better experience. I would not recommend LaCollina or ever go there again. read more

Inconceivable that this restaurant is still open. The waiters were rude and unhelpful, the food was awful. I was with a party of 15, the guest of a well known regular. Our host asked about 1 of the seven bottles of wine she purchased and was told to "look it up on an app" as the prick walked away. The food was soooo sad, too much to detail, nothing to redeem them. Didn't touch my entree, no waiter to be seen for 35 minutes. Asked if I wanted it to go....I explained why it was inedible and not as he assured me it would be....he left it in front of me for 15 more minutes. I've lived in the area for 20 years and this was my first, and last time, for this spot. To the valet...you were great! Come see me when this shithole closes. read more

If you like fine Italian dining with a romantic view or nice atmosphere with a piano bar, this is the place for you!! La Collina is just off the Schuylkill at green lane. One day we saw many cars around so we decided to stop and dine there. It was a Thursday night and they had Joey, a very kind and talented piano player at the bar area playing beautiful Classical/ jazzy piano tunes. ...Just loved it !!! nice, friendly atmosphere with Italian tunes as well... The seafood salad appetizer was delicious, as well as the risotto. My main course was their special fish, Dover Sole. Grilled fish, filet table-side. My friend ordered soft shell crab and they were delicious. My dessert, tartufo, was a great end to my dinner there and I enjoyed it. We'll go back for more... read more

I went to this place because for the area is considered a high end restaurant and I wanted to go somewhere nice. The restaurant's ambiance in nice but the food is just average, not worth the money. I paid 39 dollars for zupa de pesce and it was prepared with frozen mussels. Normally I will ask the waiter but I didn't think I had to at this level of pricing. Why would a place like this serve frozen mussels. It's unforgivable and not right. read more

This place made me $&!t mypants in the bathroom 10 minutes after eating. The food was also priced about 20 dollars HIGH per plate for how it taste, and the wine was horrible........... read more

You've heard about the "Fool on the Hill"? Well this is the "Food on the Hill". Excellent restaurant, try to dine in the semi-circle room overlooking the Schuykill river. The service and food are both quite good, and the dessert cart is a must (if you've been good :-) read more

One of the worst experience i ever had. Service was poor. Strong smell when you enter into the main room : You do not know if it is humidity or cheese but it is bad. At the end a lot of posts were about the desserts....everything except Italian ! Fatty american desserts, nothing more. Overall very disappointing. read more

I am new to yelp so let me start off by thank you all for letting me join the Yelp group! Not Pleased at all! My lady and celebrated our anniversary last night at La Collina and it was an experience that I have never encountered at an Italian restaurant. The restaurant atmosphere is ok, but I wasn't really impressed with it at all. It didn't feel like a an Italian restaurant. There are a bunch of older gentleman walking around like they belong in the movie a Bronx Tale and they were extras. Let me get right to the point! The food I thought was good, not great, but what really got me was the HORRIBLE SERVICE my lady and I received from our waiter. He looked like the governor of New Jersey on top of that. Yes he was quick with our food, but had no passion serving us, like he didn't want to be bothered with us. Never asked us have we ever dined with them or asked us how was our day, nothing! I can hear other waiters serving their customers with passion and giving them the best customer service that every customer should be receiving and our mayor was dining at this restaurant last night and of course he gets top notch service cause he's the mayor. At the end of our meal, I snuck off to ask one of the gentlemen can I surprise my lady with an anniversary cake. The gentleman said not a problem. The problem was the waiter who was serving us brought it out and sang us a happy anniversary song, which I didn't request, and was awful. Had no passion into it and he sounded like a 5 year old singing it to us. When he took the check book, usually waiters take the check book straight to the register. Instead, he takes it from us and looks in the checkbook to see what I put in there. I'm like, WTH? Not professional at all. When we left, everyone else thanks us for the business, but him! I'm not sure if I will go back, but if I do, I know not to get the same waiter again. Happy dining! read more

Awful meal...red sauce on linguine was greasy, white sauce on linguine was watery and bland. Sauce on chicken parmesan tasted like it came from a can. Had to ask for bread and sorry we did because it was lousy. read more

Amazing food... great and friendly staff... the view was spectacular... and don't forget the desserts... yum!!! Would recommend to anyone looking for a great meal! read more

Food was spot on great service it very pricey but the food was to die for something you should save up for

Not sure what the hype is about this establishment, but for the $91 spent on two people I was disgusted. First, the atmosphere is ok, has some ambiance. But the bar tender was not pleasent and not on top of his game. The other staff members just didnt seem happy. The food was not good. The brocoli rabe and sausage tasted left over, and also had the suppa d'pesce. This was not of good quality either for $36. The lobster tail was impossible to cut and eat, the calamari was also tough and fishy, and the mussles were definately old. So get this. Had a $25 coupon. When I was presented with the bill, the bartender actually put a 20% tip on the tab. Was not happy, as I would not have left him 20% because he was not good. Not attentitive, and not very pleasent. Another down side is the drinks are outragesously priced and under poured. A vodka/club soda was $11. I will say the violin/pianist was very good that night. The only good experience we had there. This was my second trip, and disspointed both times. Not going back. read more

It's restaurant can get very crowded on a Saturday night. The atmosphere was classic Italian. The tables are close together. But other than that it was a great place for an Italian meal. When I first arrived I immediately saw the dessert cart. I ordered the linguine with clam sauce. The sauce is a little thick. But it tasted fine. My daughter had veal marsala and my husband had the veal piccata ala lemon. Both veal dishes were very palatable. For dessert we all had the pifiroles. The cream puffs were fluffy and airy. I would definitely visit this establishment again. read more

Decent food but good collection of wines and deserts. Went for a work related dinner with a group of 7 colleagues.

I have been here several times. Not sure what all the hype is about on this place. I can't disagree that the atmosphere is nice. On the other hand, Rich the host couldn't be more of an a$$. Once I was looking to set up a meal for about 20 people. After asking some basic questions about price, options and wine he basically blew me off. Poor service, below average food and overall not worth the money. read more

La Collina is a reminder that supper can and should be an elegant ritual marked with rich ambiance, professional-yet-warm service and, of course, savory, fresh and skillfully crafted food. A recent visit with my friend on a Sunday evening started off fabulously with courteous, friendly valet service. Inside, the host greeted us and sat us in the main dining room, a milieu that was both tidy and opulent. Our server was knowledgable, debonair and managed to operate efficiently without rushing us. We shared a caprese salad appetizer that featured a generous portion of mozzarella with silky texture atop lucious tomatoes that were perfectly salad. I would have ordered 10. The main courses - Aragosta Fra'Diavolo for me, Pollo alla Marsala for her - were equally raveworthy. My seafood was al dente and the sauce was an optimum mix of spicy and smooth. The dessert cart looked delicious and didn't disappoint. We opted for the fresh berries, a sweet-and-tart palate cleanser that served as the perfect finale. I'll be coming back again very soon. read more

Great experience from the time our car doors were opened by the valet until they were closed! The food was absolutely delicious and the service was impeccable. We would definitely go back again! read more

Wonderful service. Expansive menu. Great atmosphere. Pasta and fish very good. Great dessert cart.

This is a favorite of our host who is Italtian and most of our party this night was 100% Italian. Everyone loved the place. Very traditional Italian waiters with accents and all. We arrived early on a Saturday, about 5, and it was empty but was packed about 7 when we left. read more

La Collina - Italian Near Me - Bala Cynwyd, Pennsylvania

I have to say this place is a fabulous old school Italian restaurant. I always judge Italian on how good their red sauce is and this place is up there at the top. My date had the Branzino, Branzino is the Italian name for Mediterranean sea bass, and they cooked the whole fish and de-boned it table-side - awesome. Someone complained about valet parking but I kind of like it especially dealing with Manayunk parking all the time, and it is a little pricey but well worth it. read more

We have eaten at La Collina through the years; it's one of those neighborhood places that welcomes "regulars" who come to see other "regulars." The food is traditional Italian and the ambiance is too - you definitely feel a Sopranos vibe here. Our friends asked if we'd like to dine there tonight, particularly because the restaurant had advertised that soft shells were on the menu. Two of us were in, the other two were game because they knew they'd find something else on the menu. A phone call this morning guaranteed that at 7:30 there would of course be soft shells to be ordered. "Should we reserve them?" our friend asked. "Not necessary," was the answer. We arrived around 7, had cocktails, and sat at 7:30, in the bar area, which was too cold due to the AC being too low, and too loud due to the singer being too loud. We ordered the soft shells and other entrees and were well on our way to having a great meal. Soon after we were told that they were out of the soft shells. This is why we had come, we told the waitress, and asked to talk to the manager. The owner instead came to our table, and basically told us that if we didn't want to order anything else, we could leave. He also said that the person who "guaranteed" our soft shells was just a waiter and shouldn't have said that. More drama ensued, and we left, without appetizer or dinner, without an offer of anything else we wanted to order since what we had come to order was no longer available. In a world where competition abounds, this should never happen, especially on the Main Line where there should be many fabulous restaurants and there aren't. Needless to say, we won't be back, and will tell everyone we know about this fiasco. Truth be told, the food is good, not great, and I've had much better Italian at other neighborhood restaurants such as Pescatore and at our super excellent cook/friend's house in Merion. read more

Driving around looking for a restaurant and came across this gem. Service was excellent, food was freshly made and tasty, and wine list included Amarone by the glass (first time i've seen that outside of Italy). read more

Honestly the rudest staff I've met I don't care how fancy you guys think you are these staff are very rude

We went there last night for a romantic belated Valentine's Day dinner. We were promptly greeted by the very friendly valet who parked our car (no ticket though - he just told us to ask for our car by it's type) and then someone took our coats and we were seated in the beautiful dining room (the rounded part that butts out). I thought the dining area was beautiful. The "view" was on 76 and of Manayunk, which is OK but do I consider that a "good" view? Nope. They really pack people in there so it gets LOUD and is hard to get around. Our waiter came off right away and he smelled like horrible stale smoke. That kind of put me off a bit. He and the other wait staff were super sweet but "fine dining" service they are not. Two examples - we were not given nor offered a wine list and when we were told the specials they were shouted at us and a neighboring table in a random order (e.g., an entree here, an appetizer there, etc.). The food? It was not bad but not super great. We had tortellini with proscuitto and peas that was pretty yummy. Then, we had veal parm and one of their specialty chicken/lobster/asparagus dishes. The veal parm was ok - again nothing special. I had to ask for parmesan cheese = that made it better! The other la collina dish was "eh" I thought the lobster was super fish and a bit rubbery. We had some champagne (no idea what since we didn't have a wine list) that was OK. We opted for no dessert because we were pretty full and ready to head out. We checked out the bar on the way out and it looked AWESOME. There was someone singling live in there and it was really pretty and chill. I'd consider going back for sure - it's not too expensive and was a nice experience. (I just like to be honest on here so you know what you are getting!) read more

Classic italian food. The chicken Marsala was good, the branzino was excellent. Pastas were very authentic. Better pasta then some of the bigger more hyped places in Philly. The desserts were top notch. The tiramisu was seriously top 3 I ever had. It was great. Our waiter was good, he kept a good eye on us. The only drawback is the valet. It seems like a convenient option since average age of place is 55+ but it didn't turn out to be such a great idea. Waited longer for car when I could of walked the 50' to go get it. But overall it's a decent spot and I would recommend it. read more

Absolutely horrible! The food was burned and just a little warm when we got it, the Chinese waiter put the utensils sideways and couldn't care less about his own appearance and hygiene as he walked away from our table scratching his dandruff skull....charming... The highlight of our dinner was a birthday cake that was served to us to celebrate our special day of the year, with a little supplement, a nice long dark piece of hair that seemed to be missed by our beloved waiter. Place is outdated, old and stingy, had a musky smell to it. The bathroom, which every good restaurant is measured by, stunk so heavily from stall urine smell you couldn't even breath! I have travelled for business all over the world for over 25yr and ate at the finest and lowest end restaurants, this one by far takes the lead when it comes to low end. Its a shame that the great Italian cuisines and family service is downgraded to this level at La Collina! Never again! read more

Wish I could give this place more stars because the atmosphere is great, staff is nice but my meal was just terrible. I forced half of it down. I got a chicken dish, the sauce was tasty but my chicken was barely able to be cut and very rubbery. I have no idea where it came from but I honestly was disgusted by it. My dates penne pasta was tasty and prepared nicely. Maybe it was just a bad run... :-/ read more

Benefitting from the limited options available in Bala, La Collina is the epitome of a traditional Italian restaurant. Uninspired menu of things like chicken Parmesan, and tortellini soup. The waiters, while pleasant, were all very old and slow, I'll be back, but only because its the only real option for a business lunch in the neighborhood. read more

My boyfriend and I came on a Friday evening expecting it to be booked, but it was surprisingly very quiet! Our server was extremely attentive-always asking us if we were satisfied and taking away extra plates. The Arancini (fried rice balls) were INCREDIBLE and I highly recommend them as an appetizer! My boyfriend loved his gnocchi and I loved my veal with crab meat - though I wish it had come with half the amount of meat and a side of pasta or something. Also, the tiramisu was ENORMOUS and should DEFINITELY be shared! Overall, very pleasant experience for a classy, quiet night out - although, it seemed moreso for an older crowd. read more

Consistently wonderful food and atmosphere... It doesn't matter if we have lunch, dinner, or a catered event at La Collina. The wait staff is always incredibly friendly (very old school). I have had one beautiful meal after the other here. From calamari to bronzino, the food is always prepared beautifully and served with a touch of elegance. If you are looking to impress someone, this is the place to go! read more

Authentic italian decor and ambiance. The food was overpriced though it was served in a timely manner. Biggest criticism - our waiter had been sweating profusely and put his hands on our plates n cutlery immediately after wiping his head..... With his bare hands. read more

Went for holiday party in their basement. Decor and service was good. Pasta was good. Salad and entree were very bad for an upscale restaurant. Salad was not fresh. Fish tasted chewy like it was made from old defrosted stock. Cotoletta which is a new restaurant just quarter mile up the hill, has much better italian food. read more

We went here b/c we had one of those deal coupons from restaurant.com. I was not thinking this place would be "fine dining". I wore a button up and jeans, I felt awkward the moment I walked in. This place is stuck up. First impression, MANDATORY VALET. I pulled in, saw a guy stand in front of my car till I got out, then proceeded to drive it three more feet to the spot I was going too..Ok, no big deal. Our waiter (if u have been there before, he was an old guy with a foreign accent) "greets" us and you can see his disappointment on his face when he sees it's a young couple who didn't wear a tie and sport coat...i.e.- low tippers He scoffed and my girl b/c she asked for cheese on her pasta...she's weird right! The food was ok. I got the daily special, some cut of steak ($38). It was ok, equal to if not worse than an Outback filet. The "sides" was small cut of cucumber, zucchini, and a tomatoe! That one threw me off. Bill came, 2 entrees and 1 salad (just water), bill came to over 100$ With the coupon and the mandatory 18% tip that got added on to it, I spend 90$ for sub par food, and even worse service. I couldn't wait to get out of that place. I didn't mind tipping the valet because I left tire tracks in their parking lot getting the hell outta there. I would give this place a zero, but I feel people wouldn't take the rating seriously. Take this one SERIOUSLY. You may be like me, "I see this place everyday when I'm on 76, we should try that place some time babe"...DONT. For a 100$ for 2 entrees, you should be eating an AMAZING meal. Not this. Your reading reviews cause your curious of whether you should go or not...dont. I wouldn't go back there if the meal was free. read more

I just went to this restaurant for dinner and after I took my first bite I couldn't wait to write a review. I walked in and thought this atmosphere reminds me of Anthony's in Drexel hill, pa. Which has amazing food and great atmosphere. La Collinas has great atmosphere but terrible food. I had linguine with crab, clam, and shrimp. The linguine tasted like it was from a box. Not like radicchio cafe in old city they have home made pasta that doesn't even need gravy. The white wine on my linguine tasted like a stick of butter was melted on the pasta. I couldn't even eat the meal I was so disgusted by what I was putting in my mouth. And the wine did not taste fresh at all. When our bill came it was 80 dollars and I was thinking for what. At Anthony's or radicchio I could order two entrees, an appetizer, and a dessert and not only would it be excellent it would be less than 80 dollars. If your thinking about going to this restaurant don't waste your time or money it is not authentic Italian cuisine. read more

My wife and I love this great Italian restaurant....The staff is well dressed, professional and provide you with a great dining experience....Custom requests are welcome and the entire menu is delicious...They start you off with a complimentary assortment of fresh roasted peppers, cheese, roasted eggplant and ground veal stuffed bread...amazing start...Soft shell crabs are a specialty here and OMG...fresh and delicious perfectly cooked and seasoned Calamari was cooked to perfection and was crisp and tender with a ton of flavor The pasta is cooked al dente and served with just the right amount of sauce and cheese My buddy ordered the filet and said it too was great with a nice portion Great wine list and cocktails with old school servers make this place a must visit for the experienced diner. They have a great bar with live music with a sinatra atmosphere Try the soft shell crabs over ceasar salad and you to will be hooked Very romantic and great for date night or couple stuff and remember to dress smart read more

Had a reservation for 7:30 and was not seated until 8:15. We were a party of 4. Now to make matters worse, our waiter was as nasty as could be. He told us about the specials, never told us prices. When we asked him about the prices, he responded in a condescending way that made us feel cheap for asking. We asked if the iced tea was free refills and yet again he was nasty, saying "whatever you like" in a very sarcastic tone. The food was very good we had the gnocchi and it was great. Hopefully, management sends our waiter packing read more

My family has been coming here for years. I really wish they wouldn't. My parents are comfortable here, so they keep going back. On its best day La Collins is mediocre. I can honestly say that I have rarely been served anything hot. I don't mean its not piping hot. Most dishes that I've gotten here have been warm and occasionally cold. On my most recent visit, I had a pasta dish that was warm in spots and cold in others. I'm guessing it was microwaved. Do yourself a favor, go to ANY other Italian restaurant. read more

La Collina is a solid Italian restaurant. It is located on the side of a hill affording diners with a nice view across a river that i will not attempt to spell. The service is excellent - top notch. I am a fan of family-run places like this. Food was excellent - I had some fish that was filleted table-side. The desert card will no doubt be wheeled past you at some point during your meal, and it is not to be missed. Friendly staff, nice ambience, great food and service is a winning combination. Keep up the good work. read more