By Marie-Antoinette Issa.
Step into La Piazza at Bankstown Sports Club and the streets of Western Sydney will fade into the background. Instead, beneath your feet, cobbled floors lead you through a space that captures the sun-drenched romance of Venice and the pastel-clad villages of Cinque Terre.
From the narrow balconies above to laundry fluttering in the breeze, every detail evokes the charm of an Italian piazza, while the faint scent of herbs and sea salt in the air hints at a Mediterranean coastline. In a suburb better known for its National Rugby League team, La Piazza has quietly become the other Little Italy of Sydney.
Every corner of the restaurant has been carefully curated to transport diners across continents. Facades of traditional apartments rise around the open-air square, their pastel shutters flung wide, adorned with creeping vines, potted lemon trees and splashes of colour reminiscent of Amalfi Coast rooftops.
Lanterns glow softly over cobblestones, casting shadows that dance against rustic brickwork. In the corner, a cellar-style space offers intimacy, its timber beams and stone walls exuding warmth, perfect for lingering over a bottle of wine. It is both theatrical and welcoming, a stage set for the rhythms of Italian dining.
Running the show is Giuseppe Barillari, Italian-born and a lawyer by profession, La Piazza’s General Manager is now a devotee of dough, sauce and simplicity. His path from case files to carbs has shaped the authenticity of La Piazza where he oversees every detail, from decor to dish, ensuring that the restaurant’s character remains rooted in Italy yet fresh and inviting. Small touches - a serenading musician, a vine along a balcony, a rustic clay pot - remind diners that this is more than a restaurant; it is a carefully crafted escape.
The real magic happens on the menu, which takes diners on a journey through Italy’s trattorias and cucinas, both familiar and refined. Focaccia arrives first, warm and pillowy, infused with black garlic and truffle butter. Its earthy richness is the sort of understated brilliance that whispers of northern Italian homes, simple yet unforgettable.
Meatballs in pomodoro follow, tender and comforting, swimming in a tomato sauce bright with acidity and depth, like a home-cooked Sunday lunch in Tuscany.
Seafood platters are a feast for the eyes as much as the palate. Prawns, calamari and fresh oysters are piled high, their briny sweetness evoking rocky coves, sunlit harbours and colourful fishing boats bobbing gently in the Mediterranean.
The pappardelle lobster pasta is a decadent highlight, broad ribbons of fresh pasta entwined with sweet lobster, smothered in a sauce that carries the salty perfume of the sea. Wood-fired pizzas emerge from the oven crisp, smoky and adorned with toppings that respect tradition while embracing modern creativity, each bite a taste of Naples and the Amalfi Coast rolled into one.
Dessert is no afterthought. Tiramisu is layered with espresso-soaked sponge, velvety mascarpone and a dusting of cocoa, a bittersweet echo of la dolce vita, lingering on the palate long after the last forkful.
The theatre of La Piazza extends beyond the food. Open kitchens allow diners to witness the chefs at work, flames leaping, wood smoke curling, as though watching a centuries-old ritual in a Venetian piazza. The gentle hum of conversation, the clink of glasses, the warmth of pizzas that arrive at your table still piping hot - these details immerse you fully, transforming a night out into a moment suspended in time.
La Piazza proves that authenticity matters and that it is possible to bring the spirit of Italy to Sydney without losing the warmth and friendliness of its community. Giuseppe and his team have created a space that feels lived-in yet magical, warm yet vibrant, a little piece of Italy tucked into Bankstown.
Whether it is a wander through the winding balconies, a wood-fired pizza or the welcoming greeting of the team - they all tell the same story: that Italy, with its picturesque piazzas and sun-drenched squares, is never more than a few steps away.
