La Carretta Italian Cuisine

Located in the leafy suburb of West Pennant Hills, La Carretta brings a taste of Italy Down Under. An Italian restaurant that's deeply rooted in its heritage, they're all about traditional recipes and authentic cooking methods.

Friendly and family-orientated, La Carretta is equally suited to a romantic rendezvous as it is for a catch-up with friends. With worn Italy-inspired murals painted across the walls and gentle background music playing, it's an inviting spot to while away a few hours. An open kitchen adds a heartbeat to the room, and you'll often find the team busily working away.

La Carretta isn't just about authenticity - it's about using the very best ingredients. The kitchen works hard at hand-picking their produce - a visit to the restaurant's cold room will uncover everything from fresh seafood to handmade pasta and juicy, locally sourced meat.

This high-speed kitchen pushes out the full Italian kit-and-caboodle, from expertly tossed pizza bases to silky pasta. Starting from the top, you've got starters like prawn cocktails and deep-fried calamari as well as specials including juicy rib-eye steaks and chicken with wholegrain mustard. As for the favourite chargrilled meat section, adventurous eaters will revel in the veal piccata or pollo ai funghi, while traditionalists can opt for a meaty lasagne or bolognese spaghetti.

Mothers play a key role at La Carretta - the majority of the recipes hail from the team's mothers. Unsurprisingly, these Italian mothers are talented in pasta-making. Cuts do vary, but you can expect to find spaghetti, penne and fettuccine. Favourites include the sun-kissed spaghetti alla paese with fresh tomatoes, prawns and prosciutto and for fans of all things funghini, a creamy chicken and mushroom rigatoni bake. Who can resist a steamy mound of comfort food?