Cafe 2825: A Hidden Gem for Upscale Italian
New York’s Little Italy used to be full of jewelbox-sized stunners like this; simple glittering lamps, a long bar and thirteen tables covered in crisp white linen signal that you’re somewhere different, a little warmer, timeless. The Lautato family has been serving top-notch Sicilian and Piedmontese cuisine for over fifty years, first in Brooklyn, and in Atlantic City since 1985. With complex artisan olive oils, impossibly rich scungilli and flaky calamari—not to mention a first-class regional Italian wine list, and cannoli that will make you beg for more—it’s obvious why Cafe 2825 has become famous in New Jersey and beyond. You won’t be able to resist telling your friends about this little palace of delights, but visit a few times first—some secrets are too delicious to share.
Reservations strongly recommended—confirmations are necessary, so if you don’t hear from the restaurant, call back. Online reservations are available and there is ample parking on Brighton Avenue.
Cafe 2825
2825 Atlantic Avenue
Atlantic City, NJ 08401
(609) 344-6913
Acclaimed Italian Cuisine at Sapori’s Trattoria
This high-quality Italian restaurant in South Jersey has been acclaimed as one of the best eateries in the nation, and for good reason. Everything about your experience here will impress, from the gorgeous ambience that recalls medieval castles in Italy with stone walls, wrought iron balconies, and velvet drapes, to the spectacular food, which has locals raving. Chef Franco Lombardi brings the meals of his native Palermo to appreciative audiences who swoon for dishes like rolled veal with sage and picture-perfect gnocchi. The octopus special, served over polenta cakes, tames this often tricky seafood into a spectacular appetizer, and the whole cooked fish is one of the most dependable choices on the menu. Desserts are excellent, with great espresso and tiramisu a must—if you have room. Service is equally exceptional. If you’re looking to wow someone with the powerful flavors of Italian cuisine, Sapori’s will do the trick.
Sapori’s Trattoria
601 Haddon Avenue
Collingswood, NJ 08108
(856) 858-2288
www.sapori.info
Satisfy Your Seafood Fix at East Bay Crab
It's hard to pass up the opportunity to see the largest crab in the world, and harder still when it's housed at a killer seafood stop. Along with "Taz," an 80-foot-diameter inflatable crab, East Bay Crab boasts some of the freshest, best prepared seafood along the Eastern seaboard. Simplicity is the name of the game here, so expect to enjoy fresh caught crustaceans and other seafood items without any unnecessary frills. As its name suggests, crab is the main attraction at East Bay Crab, but there's also an array of shrimp, stuffed fish, and seafood combos as well as chicken and pasta platters.
East Bay Crab
6701 Black Horse Pike
Egg Harbor Township, NJ 08234
(609) 272-7721
Nunzio: Rustic Old Country Italian Favorites
Italian food in New Jersey isn’t hard to find, but few restaurants offer an experience as fantastic as Nunzio in Collingwood. Under the tutelage of chef Nunzio Patruno, the kitchen produces some of the best rustic Italian food in the state, drawing on Patruno’s childhood spent on the family farm in Puglia where he learned the importance of high-quality, fresh ingredients. After moving to America, he opened five restaurants, all successful, and Nunzio is perhaps his best. Regulars rave about the delicate fried calamari, served with the restaurant’s amazingly flavorful marinara sauce, as well as the dense, meaty osso bucco served over perfectly-prepared risotto. The pastas are uniformly excellent, made fresh and served with some spectacular sauces. The lobster ravioli is a standout, but really, everything is good. This place can get noisy, so it might not be the best choice for a romantic evening, but for a family-style meal that’ll keep your loved ones happy Nunzio is perfect.
Nunzio
706 Haddon Avenue
Collingswood, NJ 08108
(856) 858-9840
www.nunzioristoranterustico.com
The Pop Shop: A Soda Fountain Fantasy
South Jersey is well noted for being something of a throwback, and no restaurant epitomizes this more than The Pop Shop. Where traditional ice cream fountains have become a thing of the past around the country, they’re still alive and well in Collingswood. Owned by actor Stink Fisher and his wife Connie, the Pop Shop was custom-built to replicate the atmosphere of the classic ‘50s soda fountain. The menu is awesome—if you crave classic soda fountain drinks like egg creams or chocolate Cokes, you can find them here, along with spectacular floats and shakes. If you’re in the mood for something more substantial, the Pop Shop is famous for their grilled cheeses—with over 30 varieties on offer (each named after a different Collingswood street), you’ll find one that will become a favorite. A wide variety of vegetarian and vegan menu options are also available for people with dietary restrictions.
The Pop Shop
729 Haddon Avenue
Collingswood, NJ 08108
(856) 869-0111
www.thepopshopusa.com
Wolfgang Puck American Grille: The Name Says it All At This Borgata Favorite
A true gem in the Borgata’s crown, Wolfgang Puck’s American Grille offers two distinct dining experiences with the same innovative, bold cuisine from culinary superstar Wolfgang Puck. Wolfgang’s Tavern offers casino goers a casual ambiance and an affordable menu with tasty apps like Garlic and Chili Chicken Wings with a sweet and spicy ginger glaze or a Classic Caesar Salad with White Anchovies and Tomato-Basil Bruschetta. There are also an array of entrees like the Prime Burger with Onion Marmalade and House Made Kielbasa as well as pizzas and calzones from the wood-burning oven. Those seeking a fine dining experience will enjoy Wolfgang Puck’s main dining room, complete with a cozy fireplace. Start with appetizers like Autumn Pumpkin Soup and Sautéed Maryland Crab Cakes and move on the well-conceived dishes like the popular Grilled Colorado lamb chops served with nicoise olives, garlic spinach, roasted fennel "fondant", and parmesan polenta and Steamed Atlantic Salmon “Hong Kong Style.” The restaurant’s extensive wine list features varietals from around the world to satisfy any taste or palate.
Wolfgang Puck American Grille
Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa
One Borgata Way
Atlantic City, NJ 08401
(609) 317-1000
The Little Tuna: A Flavorful Catch
This local favorite seafood restaurant has persevered for years on a recipe of great food at solid prices, and locals return here again and again for some of chef Marcus Severs’s dishes. Seared scallops in a wasabi cream sauce perfectly meld the shellfish’s sweetness with the kick of the wasabi. The crabcakes here are spectacular, giant lumps of fresh crabmeat in a delicious breading. Jamaican jerk tuna is also excellent, with the robust flavors of the sauce complementing the fish to perfection. If you don’t crave seafood, the Little Tuna does offer some land-walking selections including a tender pork chop and high-quality steaks. The famous prixe fixe four-course menu is a spectacular deal at only twenty dollars, with regulars raving that it’s a great way to sample the chef’s specialties. It’s available Sunday through Friday, though, so Saturday diners are out of luck. As with many local restaurants, this is BYOB, so pack a bottle of wine or two.
The Little Tuna
143 Kings Highway East
Haddonfield, NJ 08033
(856) 795-0888
www.thelittletuna.com
W.L. Goodfellows: Delicious Food By the Jersey Shore
Founded by a father and his two sons in 1984, W.L. Goodfellows has grown from one family's fantasy to a popular Atlantic City landmark. The casual restaurant offers full-service everything—from drinks to attentive service, from catering options to private parties. Combining all the senses in each dish, Goodfellows appeals to your visual, olfactory, and, of course, taste-based inclinations with a menu that stays close to traditional Italian cooking while featuring classic international dishes like fajitas and stir-fries. The bar is also a favorite spot to catch a game or sample one of the micro brew beers, so stop in for just about any occasion or mood.
W.L. Goodfellows
310 East White Horse Pike
Galloway, NJ 08205
(609) 652-1942
Mays Landing Diner: A New Jersey Classic Eatery
If you’re from New Jersey, it doesn’t matter if you’ve been here before—you know the Mays Landing Diner like the back of your hand, and you can’t wait to get there. Here is the classic New Jersey diner experience: a menu bursting with every cuisine on the globe, booths, coffee counter, a cornucopia of baked goods, and wait staff who remember your name for years. It’s the perfect place to relax morning, noon and night. You can’t go wrong here, but steaks are hearty and tender; Greek salads are enormous; and Mays Landing’s chicken pot pies are famous throughout the county for their heartwarming richness. Why not grab another cup of coffee and stay for a piece of cake? This diner is glad to have you.
Mays Landing Diner
6177 Harding Highway
Mays Landing, NJ 08330
(609) 625-5051
Coastline Bar & Grill: A South Jersey Spot for Food and Fun
If you’ve seen the sweaty hordes of guidos getting wild on Jersey Shore, than you’ve seen what it's like at the Coastline Bar & Grill. This popular restaurant also doubles as a hot spot for South Jersey locals get down seven nights a week to DJs and cover bands, fueled by generous drink specials. If you do get hungry, the attached restaurant has a well-regarded brunch buffet offering up custom-made omelets, waffles, and a variety of other foods. It’s a great way to get your tank full for a day of GTL. The a la carte menu has some standouts as well, with shore staples like clams casino and shrimp cocktail on offer. If you’re a little hungrier, some of the restaurant’s specialties include a quality surf & turf that pairs a rich, succulent lobster tail with filet mignon. The seafood fra diavolo is also recommended, piling tons of delicious shellfish and pasta into a spicy marinara sauce.
Coastline Bar & Grill
1240 Brace Road
Erlton-Ellisburg, NJ 08034
(856) 795-1773
www.coastlinerestandbar.com
Equal Housing Opportunity