- Love a good Italian style pizza
- Great service
- One of the newest restaurants in the area
- Romantic ambience
- Ravioli & Gnocchi made inhouse
Although La Marina Restaurant is now closed, there are a number of other great restaurants and cafes near you that you can check out.
La Marina Restaurant, once a beloved destination for Italian cuisine, closed its doors after many contributions to Auckland’s dining scene. The closure was attributed to shifting economic conditions and increasing competition in the area, marking the end of an era for local food enthusiasts.
Also check out our list of what we think are the Top 10 Italian restaurants in New Zealand
** Update Unfortunately Locatelli has gone into liquidation, and this information is no longer relevant
Liquidation signals a financial process where a business ceases operations with assets being sold to pay creditors. For Locatelli, this meant shutting down its delightful offerings, impacting staff and patrons alike, and highlighting the challenges faced by hospitality ventures.
Locatelli is an Italian restaurant located in Westgate shopping centre on the North West side of Auckland.
Westgate Shopping Centre, a bustling hub located northwest of Auckland’s center, combines retail, dining, and entertainment. Its accessibility and variety make it a prime location for eateries like Locatelli, drawing locals and visitors in search of a vibrant culinary scene.
With a classy fit out by the owner himself that took 78 days to set up, the Locatelli decor is fresh, yet comfortable, with leather chairs and padded booth style seating throughout.
The Locatelli Westgate Menu (current at time of listing) for dinner includes classic Italian options such as Antipasti and Pizzas, as well as pasta, and even make their own Ravioli and Gnocchi. Look for the menu tab on this page also for the menu or click on the blue font for more info.
Gnocchi, small dough dumplings, and Ravioli pasta filled with an array of ingredients, are staples in Italian cooking. Their presence on Locatelli’s menu emphasized traditional preparation methods and a love for authentic culinary experiences.
The wine list was reasonable, with many of the wines from Italy (we couldn’t go past the Montepuciano) and a few local wines on offer as well. We tried the Pork Meatballs entree, with Gnocchi and Beef Ravioli for mains, which comes highly recommended.
Montepulciano, a notable Italian red, is revered for its bold flavors and smooth finish. Italian wines like these complement Locatelli’s rich menu, capturing the essence of Italy’s vineyards and offering a taste of authenticity in Auckland.
What did you like or dislike about Locatelli? Add you feedback below.
Also check out Amore Italian Restaurant Hobsonville if you’re looking for Italian Restaurants in the surrounding area.
Photos: Locatelli Italian Restaurant – Westgate (Auckland) *CLOSED
Linda Prince –
Loved it the first time then went back last night with friends and was so disappointed and embarrassed after recommending the food. Has the ownership changed? My sympathy’s for the waitress who was doing her best but had to keep apologising. Saturday night 6.30pm and virtually empty so shouldn’t be any excuses.
Sharon Noble –
Delicious food, reasonably priced and great service! we will be back for sure.
Bry –
The most amazing authentic food ever!!! Not only was the menu extensive and yummy, the chef made a personalised visit to us and explained how authentic and home made the food was (the lobster broth takes 3 days)!! Lovely lovely owners, chef and staff. And we were treated to a taste of the upcoming chef special which is a must. The service and wine is perfect. We are deffinately going back asap!!
Annette –
A party of 8 went for lunch today. Wonderful food and service. All agreed return visits a must. Loved the menu. Staff very helpful for those of us who were not familiar with the food. Made to feel very welcome and compliments a plenty for the food.
Wilma –
After checking the menu online, we went to Locatelli with great expectations, and weren’t disappointed in the least. As entrees we had arancini and crostini with duck prosciutto. Both subtle and tasty at the same time, and quite abundant, so we kept some bread from the crostini for the coming dishes. We followed with a ravioli piemontese and a fish soup, perfect to dunk the crostini leftovers. Ravioli deserve a special mention for the rich reduction of veal jus, possibly the best I’ve had anywhere. No room left for more, but still managed to squeeze a shared portion of a perfect tiramisu. We’ll be back, we are Italians.
Ray and Debra Vail –
Best food I have had in a long time, I be back very soon for more. even though they were busy they were very accommodating.
very nice atmosphere & Décor, with a really friendly service.