Good Eats.
Collingswood is pretty well-known for two things — and both things make it a pretty great place to be: Lots and lots of amazingly eclectic restaurants (both classic cuisine and inventive excursions) and nearly every single one is B. Y. O. B.
You can find tons of articles on this topic, but here are some spots we particularly enjoy!
P. S. There are a lot of great restaurants in town, and we haven’t been able to try them all,
but what we’ve discovered is you really can’t go wrong here. Excellence breeds excellence. :)
This lovely little spot for Italian is just around the corner from us and we share a hallway. It always smells amazing, and has never disappointed — fresh ingredients, warm and friendly staff, dynamite classic cuisine. Like us, it’s a family affair, and you can feel it in everything they do.
This is also experience dining. Plan to spend an evening here. The meal is paced, and each dish is made on site and as it is ordered. So bring a glass of wine, don’t fill up on too much bread, and have a slow, lovely conversation filled visit,
Reservations are a must.
Not only are they an awesome neighbor (literally right next door), but Circle’s food is terrific. Those best of lists we mentioned above? They’re on a lot of them — and with good reason. There’s no indoor dining, but with a nice patio it’s a perfect spot to dine in good weather. Or take it to go after a long day of shopping! 10/10 for crab rangoon and pad thai!
Want a cup of iced coffee or feel like experimenting with a Cafe Bomba? This is the place! The coffee here’s a little milder (compared to Revolution (on shops page) or Maria’s Bread Sandwiches (below)), but with a nice patio, spacious inside and a dynamite everything bagel, Grooveground is just that — Groovy. Also some cool records, tchotchkes, and jewelry,
Hearthside serves fresh contemporary cuisine with impeccable service and unique accents. Whether you do it tapas-style, everyone orders an entree or a mix of both, the experience is delicious and the food is fine.
Reservations are a must for indoor dining, but outdoor tables are available on a first-come, first-serve basis. Worth the wait.
Do you like aromatic entrees with jasmine rice? And sumptuous sauces for dipping garlic naan? Welcome to Indiya. Our favs are Chicken Tikka Makhani, Palak Paneer, Samosas… okay pretty much everything. It’s a large space, but we still recommend reservations on the weekends.
They are also located right around the corner from our space, in the same complex, “The Lumberyard”.
Fairly new and already getting rave reviews, this is the spot for elegant yet modern French cuisine. It’s rated one of the best restaurants in New Jersey and in the Philadelphia area for 2022. Like Hearthside, reservations here are a must, but availability is better than you might expect for this must-visit. Plus, it’s location at the corner of Haddon & Collings Ave is the signature intersection for the Borough.
La Catrina Mexican Restaurant
La Catrina makes delicious, authentic Mexican food in a relaxed and joyous space. The menu centers on flavors of Puebla, Mexico, which is probably why their moles and adobo are so tasty. We particularly enjoyed the enchilada suiza and the mole, and their burrito looks and smells and tastes incredible.
They’re pretty new, so we are not certain if they take reservations, but we were able to get a table fairly quickly on a Friday when we arrived. And they are super closely located to Powell Lane, too. Call for more details.
It’s a 5 minute drive down Collings Ave, but the service and the food are worth the travel out of downtown into West Collingswood. It’s Lebanese with a chef’s skill and a family style flair. For larger parties and on weekends, the tasting menu is preferred but our experience is that this is win — you get a lot of tastes and nice portions that introduce you to unexpected and splendid flavor. Reservations are recommended.
Maria’s has great sandwiches & baked goods, and amazingly robust coffees & lattes. Plus, they have an annexed space with the coolest of vibes that invites you to take a seat. It’s only open till 2pm, but we highly recommend it for a casual brunch, lunch or coffee. And they occasionally do a supper club that we are dying to try. It’s even well located near the intersection of Collings & Haddon.
Indoor and Outdoor Seating, Attentive Staff, Great Bread! Would recommend. In fact, we do love. :)
This place is great. If the weather is nice, we encourage sitting on their beautiful porch. Order some apps with their signature Bread, bring some wine and enjoy the shish!
Reservations recommended on the weekends.
The gold standard of Hibachi. Is everything here terrific? Yes. Does most other sushi seem a little less compared to their spicy naruto roll? Sure (says Caroline; Kate says the Shrimp Tempura is where it is at). Are their non-Hibachi entrees served in their zen-filled front room worth any wait (Not that there is much of one ever)? Absolutely.
But for our money, you’re coming here for the Hibachi, for the celebration, for the spectacle. If it’s your birthday, they bring out a fruit boat with a small firework in it. They put on a mini-laser show. They play a song. It is awesome. Oh, and the Hibachi show is nice, too. :)
Definitely, reservations for Hibachi, and for any large parties.
Sabrina’s is a veritable institution in Collingswood. Located in the old Woolworth Building right on Haddon Ave, it’s always well-worth a visit — but beware: weekends are busy, so if you decide to grab breakfast, brunch or lunch here, plan to have a bit of a wait. We recommend everything, but especially the Challah French Toast — definitely with berries and vanilla bean syrup; cream cheese-stuffing optional but vehemently argued for by Caroline.
Not only is this restaurant located steps from our door at Powell Lane & Haddon Ave, but it is one of the best family-style meals we’ve ever had: With impeccable dishes, nice portions, a relaxed pace and a warm team of servers, this place feels like a comfortingly, luxuriant experience. Reservations are recommended — especially on weekends — and the covered terrace is particularly nice if the weather is pleasant.
Another Collingswood institution, Thai Basil is like our comfort food restaurant. Just around the corner and across Haddon Ave, Thai Basil has great appetizers like Bang Bang Shrimp and Thai BBQ wings AND samosas. Its noodle dishes are terrific and its curries sumptuous. Plus, the desserts are unique and having them is a must. And don’t get us started on aromatic teas… And of course — great service!