Collingswood is home to one of South Jersey’s most dynamic dining scenes, with a mix of old and new establishments that has only gotten better with time. Eateries run the gamut from casual and family-friendly to upscale and ambitious. And because it’s a dry town, you have plenty of BYO restaurant options to choose from.
Here are our 15 top picks for the best restaurants in Collingswood, in alphabetical order.
Cafe Antonio’s
You don’t go here to get fancy, though the rhythms of this downtown pizza joint are entertaining. Go for the grandma pies, square-shaped, crisp and among the best in town. Top billing goes to the simple margherita, but indecisive types should start with the trio, merging the margherita, four cheese and butcher’s block pies in one tidy cube. BYO—JH
827 Haddon Avenue; 856-854-9400
Roasted duck curry at Circles Thai. Photo courtesy of Circles
Circles Thai
In a take-out world, good Thai can be hard to find. But not at this Collingswood restaurant. Here, the cuisine is modern, spicy and fresh. Alongside adept Thai curries, dishes like tamarind duck and a left-field cheesesteak spring roll keep it interesting. Heavy on fruits and florals, the tea list runs deep. BYO—JH
8 Powell Lane; 267-366-9148
Constellation Collective’s salad with raw and pickled vegetables, shaved parmesan and green goddess dressing. Photo by Shelby Vittek
Constellation Collective
From the street, Constellation Collective might look like just another coffee shop dotting the landscape of Collingswood’s Haddon Avenue, but the menu options inside tell another story. The eatery describes itself as a “from-scratch bakery and café,” and while there’s certainly an abundance of beautiful looking pastries, cookies and cakes on display, there’s also a small list of rotating seasonal savory lunch worth stopping in for. BYO—SV
685 Haddon Avenue; 856-240-7787
El Sitio Grill & Cafe
Empanada lovers will feel right at home in this cozy restaurant. Here, crisp half-moon hand pies of Ecuadoran and Argentinian origin pay homage to the Cabrera family’s South American roots in the form of corn, plantain and wheat. The fillings and the sun-yellow aji sauce are where the magic happens. BYO—JH
729 Haddon Avenue; 856-240-1217
The wood-burning grill at Hearthside. Beside it (not pictured) there’s a wood-burning oven. Photo courtesy of Hearthside
Hearthside
There really is a hearth at Hearthside. Two, actually—a grill and an oven, both burning wood. Sitting at the counter facing the hearths—watching the cooks stoke and bank the fires, the flames doing their work—amounts to an unbeatable dinner and a show. But wherever you sit, chef/co-owner Dominic Piperno and his crew bring forth bold, delicious meats and fish. Yet there is finesse and complexity in their pastas, salads, crudos and desserts. BYO—EL
801 Haddon Avenue; 856-240-1164
Fish moilee (dal makhani lentils in background). Photo by Stuart Goldenberg
Indiya
Indian restaurants in the U.S. often veer toward northern cuisine. Chef Vipul Bhasin makes regionality his muse, using flavor as a guide. Kerala fish curry pops with tamarind and coconut, common in the south. Lamb roganjosh from Kashmir tempers spice with yogurt. The rest of the menu covers the vast terrain in between. BYO—JH
612 Haddon Avenue; 856-858-0020
The Kitchen Consigliere
Arguments about which Italian restaurant in Collingswood is tops rage ever on. Angelo Lutz and his team sidestep the drama, crafting a Marinara-drenched experience with nod to “the business.” (Think: black-and-white mobster portraits.) Rich Italian-American classics seal the deal, from old-school meatballs and any-day Sunday gravy to the veal marsala. BYO—JH
700 Haddon Avenue, 856-854-2156
Macona BBQ
This casual, hip barbecue spot was opened by Cory and Natalie Reuss, who met in Austin, Texas, and now live blocks away from the restaurant. Barbecue meats like the tender, juicy brisket, pulled pork, chicken and ribs are cooked in a large backyard smoker and can be ordered as sandwiches or platters. The cornbread muffins, made with whole kernels, are dense and buttery. Go early—Macona frequently sells out by dinnertime. BYO—SV
577 Haddon Avenue; 856-858-8919
Check out our other town dining guides:
The 12 Best Restaurants in Princeton
The 22 Best Restaurants in Cape May
Nutty Duchess Tea Room
Nachos at Oasis Mexican Grill in Collingswood. Photo courtesy of Oasis
At the Nutty Duchess, the tea menu reads a bit like a wine list, with more than 35 options to choose from. Afternoon tea is served Wednesday through Saturday, when you can sample the robust tea menu alongside tea sandwiches and dainty desserts. BYO—SV
807 Haddon Avenue; 609-315-3376
Oasis Mexican Grill
Situated at the edge of Haddon Avenue, this relaxed, cozy spot offers an array of distinctive Mexican dishes. Enchiladas come stuffed with Oaxaca cheese, smothered in your choice of green, red, or a rich and chocolatey mole sauce. From tostadas and tacos to burritos and quesadillas, expect flavors that pop. Finish your meal with a slice of tres leches cake. BYO–SV
498 Haddon Avenue; 856-858-1807
Porch & Proper dining room. Photo by Michael Persico
Porch & Proper
Philadelphians Casey and Jason Simkins, veterans of the Stephen Starr organization decided the time had come to hang up their own shingle, and opened Porch & Proper in 2018. In February 2020, it was announced that new owners Patricia and Tony Massoud were taking over the restaurant, yet leaving much of the same model in place. The space is understated, intimate and pleasingly folksy. Chef Jayson Shipp churns out excellent dishes, such as clam chowder croquettes, black sesame raviolo, filet mignon with miso rice and more. BYO—SV
619 West Collings Avenue, 856-477-2105
French toast at Sabrina’s Cafe. Photo courtesy of Sabrina’s
Sabrina’s Cafe
Sabrina’s Café is famous for two things: brunch and lines. The first location, opened in Philadelphia in 2001, is a beloved breakfast spot, and the Collingswood restaurant lives up to the same reputation. Though the eatery’s exquisite breakfast and brunch dishes—such as stuffed challah French toast or huevos rancheros—attract crowds, the dinner menu is just as enticing. BYO—SV
714 Haddon Avenue; 856-214-0723
Photos courtesy of Sagami
Sagami
No Japanese restaurant in South Jersey has quite the reputation or the devoted following of Sagami. When the door is opened at lunchtime, there are always half a dozen or more regulars waiting to get in. At dinner, the parking lot will probably be full. The cooked food is very good, but the sushi is sublime. Chef Shigeru Fukuyoshi opened Sagami in 1974, and he was still behind the sushi bar in 2019, bent low over his work. BYO—EL
37 West Crescent Boulevard, 856-854-9773
Villa Barone Ristorante Italiano
From the moment you dip your bread into the olive oil and spice, the vibe here makes for a homey meal. The Farfalla Mamma Felicia dish pairs the bite of broccoli rabe with sharp provolone—as at home in South Philly as Jersey. Saltimbocca and eggplant parm evoke childhood memories. Then there’s the tidy menu of pizzas, a nod to the family’s Neapolitan culinary roots. BYO—JH
753 Haddon Avenue, 856-858-2999
Tagliatelle al Limone at Zeppoli. Photo courtesy of Nascati Photography/Zeppoli
Zeppoli
Year after year, chef/owner Joey Baldino rarely does more than add a couple seasonal specials to his basic menu, which celebrates Sicily, his father’s homeland. Yet a table at Zeppoli is hard to get, not just because there are only 32 seats. Baldino’s food—from eggplant caponata to tagliatelli al limone to the namesake fried-to-order sugar-dusted zeppoli—is at once grounded and celestial. Its ability to transform the familiar can leave you giddy. BYO—EL
618 West Collings Avenue, 856-854-2670