When people talk about the region’s rich diversity, high praise for a vibrant dining scene is never far behind. And while South Jersey is home to restaurants representing all flavors of the world, no one dishes out pasta quite like we do—which is why it’s always a pleasure to celebrate all the Italian eateries serving up our favorite rigatoni, ravioli, taglioni and other classic fare with impassioned flair.
SPAGHETTI TRUFFLE at Allora in Marlton
Layers of flavor harmonize beautifully in this pasta dish that features an irresistible combination of grilled chicken breast tossed with a medley of mushrooms, the titular truffle essence and marsala wine demi-glace with sage.
CAVATELLI CARBONARA at Nunzio’s in Collingswood
This dish is where the satisfying heft of homemade cavatelli is perfectly balanced with savory smoked bacon and fried egg, with plenty of pecorino cheese and sage adding their own notes to every bite.
PAPPARDELLE BOLOGNESE at Caffe Aldo Lamberti in Cherry Hill
If you often find yourself agonizing over a pasta or meat dish, you’ll love digging into these wide ribbon noodles generously served with prime sirloin and lovingly smothered in a short rib ragu.
ORECCHIETTE ALLA CAMPAGNA at Il Fiore in Collingswood
With the cold weather settling in, this dish will warm you up while it fills you up. The rich, vibrant basil white wine sauce elevates the mushrooms, small shell pasta and chicken sausage with every eager forkful.
TORTELLINI & SCALLOPS at Filomena Lakeview in Deptford
When simple ingredients are masterfully prepared, you get a delicious dish like this, where the tasty tortellini, seared scallops, sun-dried tomatoes and vibrant asparagus all come together in a buttery lobster sauce.
BUCATINI BUCANIERI at Verona in Haddonfield
Seafood lovers, rejoice! This veritable net-buster of a pasta entrée serves up tasty langoustine, firm yet tender shrimp and chewy calamari on a bed of thick bucatini coated in a light white wine garlic sauce.
GNOCCHI ADRIATICO at Il Villaggio in Cherry Hill
We’re suckers for homemade gnocchi, and this dish where it’s fluffy, light and served with a blush cream sauce, mounds of sweet jumbo lump crab meat and asparagus is richly indulgent in both taste and portion.
FIERY CHICKEN RIGATONI at Toscana in Cherry Hill
Turn up the heat with this rigatoni-based dish that’ll spice up any dinner with its tantalizing combination of sautéed chicken, chili peppers, olive oil, white wine, tomatoes and plenty of Parmigiano Reggiano.
SHRIMP & SCALLOPS PUTTANESCA at Anthony’s Creative Italian Cuisine in Haddon Heights
This bright and inventive dish brings together the umami of squid-ink pasta and the freshness of Italian tomatoes and olives, capers, garlic and olive oil in one imaginative, inspired and irresistible presentation.
CAPELLINI SCAMPI at Mare Monte in Haddonfield
A base of delicately thin pasta is the perfect vessel for this dish comprising tangy capers, succulent shrimp, juicy grape tomatoes and a garlic lemon sauce you’ll be sopping up with bread at the end of dinner.
CANNELLONI at Fieni’s Ristorante in Voorhees
Loyal fans swear this is where you’ll find some of the best veal you’ve ever tasted, and these cannelloni stuffed with roasted veal and cheese and complemented with a well-balanced herb mix and blush aurora sauce will have you agreeing.
RICOTTA CHEESE GNOCCHI at Giumarello’s in Haddon Township
The addition of ricotta gives these plump pillows of handmade gnocchi an even fluffier texture and milder flavor than their purely potato counterparts, and being tossed in a hearty Bolognese sauce makes for one heavenly pairing.
TAGLIATELLE e CAPESANTE at Limoncello in Washington Township
You’ll always find unique twists on classic dishes here, and this offering that marries scallops, asparagus tips, sun-dried tomato pesto and long, flat ribbons of pasta is both deliciously authentic and an inventively fresh take.
PENNE SICILIANO at Illiano Cucina in Medford
Nothing carries a great sauce like toothsome tubes of penne, and pairing perfectly prepared pasta with slices of eggplant sautéed in garlic white wine sauce with a flourish of marinara and chopped tomatoes is a can’t-miss dish.
TAGLIOLINI ALLA CARBONARA at ITA 101 in Medford
Whether you opt for a full or half serving, you’ll be presented with a beautiful nest of taglioni noodles coated in the velveteen richness of an egg-yolk sauce elevated by melt-in-your-mouth guanciale, pecorino cheese and black pepper.
PESTO TRAPANESE at Zeppoli in Collingswood
This dish starts with an almond-pistachio pesto that comes to life in a mortar and pestle dating back to more than a century, and remains true to its Old-World Sicilian style with springy fusilli corkscrews.
CAVATELLI SCARPINATO at Scarpinato’s in Washington Township
As hearty as it is colorful, this small mountain of robust cavatelli is generously punctuated by slices of homemade pork sausage sautéed with hot peppers, black olives and tomatoes in a garlic olive oil sauce.
PORK RAGU at Tacconelli’s Pizzeria in Haddon Township & Maple Shade
Tacconelli’s isn’t just passionate about its pizzas, and one bite of this entrée where ridged ribbons of Mafalda pasta are covered in a signature pork ragu will have you coming back for more.
LASAGNA DI CARNE at Mannino’s Cucina in Pitman
A lasagna for meat-lovers, this dish layers fresh ground veal with cheeses like rich and creamy sopraffina ricotta and homemade mozzarella, all topped with a San Marzano tomato sauce that’s bursting with flavor.
MIMOSA LOBSTER RAVIOLI at Marcello’s in Bordentown
This is one of our editor’s favorite go-to orders, where large, round ravioli are absolutely stuffed with sweet shrimp and crab meat, cooked to perfection and then coated in a dreamy orange-cream champagne sauce.
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Published and copyrighted in South Jersey Magazine, Volume 21, Issue 8 (November 2024)
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