Few things bring South Jersey residents greater pleasure than savoring a delicious meal with loved ones, so whether you’re seeking the most romantic setting to take a first date, the perfect place to host a major event or simply the best pizza for a Friday night at home, just ask any local and you are sure to elicit a wide range of recommendations.
One name that will come up over and over again—for all of those scenarios and more—is Cucina Carini.
“The consistency and the family-owned atmosphere is what brings people back,” says manager Anthony Keen of the establishment, which opened in 1995. “The same faces have been in the kitchen and on the wait staff for a long time. We look for people who are friendly, outgoing and can get along well with others, and if they have all of those traits, we feel like they can always learn the way we do things here.”
The extensive menu is affordable and of course includes popular options like chicken Parmesan, pappardelle Bolognese and lasagna. Other in-demand dishes are the trio di mare (shrimp, scallops and crab sautéed with plum tomatoes in a white wine basil sauce), crab ravioli (tossed with crab meat, asparagus and plum tomatoes in a sherry cream sauce), chicken & spinach limone (sautéed with mushrooms in a lemon garlic wine sauce) and chicken supreme (topped with sautéed spinach, roasted peppers, prosciutto and mozzarella in a garlic white wine basil sauce).
It’s no wonder that Cucina Carini is constantly booked for baby and bridal showers, rehearsal dinners, first communions, birthday parties and more in a space that fits 85 people.
“We do parties in general quite often. Showers are the most popular and we do them almost every Saturday and Sunday afternoon from September through June,” Keen says. “We love being the place where people can make great memories with their families.”
That philosophy has served Cucina Carini well for three decades, which is an eternity in the restaurant business. Whether you’re a repeat customer returning for your favorite pasta dish or a new one discovering this South Jersey staple for the first time, you won’t be disappointed with a visit to Cucina Carini, open seven days a week.
Cucina Carini
Mount Laurel
(856) 439-1941
CucinaCariniRestaurant.com
