Hungry? You’re in the right place. South Jersey has a better food scene than most people realize. We have BYOBs with pasta made by hand that morning, taverns older than the country, and diners that still bake their own cheesecake. We also have strong opinions about pork roll and about where to find a cheesesteak. That’d be on a round poppy seed roll in the city of Camden.
The best restaurants in South Jersey are scattered across Burlington, Camden, Gloucester, and Salem counties, and each is as unique as the town that calls it home. We’ve rounded up our favorites, organized by cuisine. Each pick comes with the location, the feel of the room, the Google rating, and a dish to start with. Pull up a chair!
How We Picked the Best Restaurants in South Jersey
Some of these restaurants have New Jersey Monthly, the Philadelphia Inquirer, or the James Beard Foundation behind them. Others have regulars instead of awards. Both count. We made sure all four counties got a seat at the table.
Visit South Jersey is the official nonprofit tourism organization for Burlington, Camden, Gloucester, and Salem counties. We publish guides and listings. We don’t own, run, or earn commission from any restaurant on this list. Each Google rating shows the month we checked it, and menus move, so check before you go. We update the list twice a year. Want every option? See the Where to Eat and Drink directory.
Italian Restaurants and BYOB Dining Rooms
Craving red sauce? South Jersey’s Italian dining rooms have you covered. Many of the Italian restaurants are BYOB, which means they don’t serve alcoholic drinks but allow customers to bring their own alcohol. Grab a wine from the South Jersey Wine Region on your way to dinner.
Zeppoli
Location: 618 Collings Ave, Collingswood, Camden County
Google rating: 4.5 (as of October 2026)
You blink, and you’ll miss Zeppoli on Collings Avenue. Inside, you’ll find dark wood walls, old black-and-white photos of Sicily, and just 35 seats with the tables packed together. This is less of a restaurant and more like a family table hosted by Chef Joey Baldino.
BYOB, but bring a good bottle, and the prix fixe menu decides for you. The dish that gets the most hype is the tagliatelle al limone, a lemon pasta made in-house and served with prosciutto or bottarga. Don’t skip dessert. The restaurant’s namesake, Zeppoli, fried dough rolled in sugar, comes served on Nutella.
Michael Coastal Italian Grille
Location: 706 Haddon Ave, Collingswood, Camden County
Google rating: 4.6 (as of October 2026)
Still call this place Nunzio? You’re not alone. Chef Michael DeLone gave it his name in 2025 and opened the room up. Now this BYOB restaurant features white walls, wood floors, and clothed tables, giving a clean and airy atmosphere.
New Jersey Monthly has it on its list of the 50 best restaurants in the state, and seafood is the heart of the menu. We’d start with the lobster and crab lasagnette, made with squid ink pasta and a shellfish bisque. The swordfish Milanese, served with a fennel and orange salad, is a solid second choice.
Botto’s Italian Line
Location: 1411 Kings Hwy, Swedesboro, Gloucester County
Google rating: 4.4 (as of October 2026)
Botto’s on Kings Highway in downtown Swedesboro gives you three ways to spend the evening. Enjoy meals in the fine dining room, a casual lounge, or the covered, heated patio. The lounge and patio often have live music, so that’s where things get lively.
This restaurant is run by the Botto family and is the place for Italian-American classics. Go for the chicken parm, breaded cutlets under homemade sauce and mozzarella, or the baked eggplant parm. The bar pours more than 50 wines.
Di Paolo’s Italian Ristorante
Location: 28 S. Broad St., Penns Grove, Salem County
Google rating: 4.6 from 3,000+ reviews (as of October 2026)
Di Paolo’s started as a pizzeria and grocery run by the owners’ grandparents in Penns Grove. Today, it’s where Salem County locals go for a nicer night out, and the kitchen still cooks from the family’s recipes. The room is cozy, and some nights there’s live music.
The portions are generous, and the cooking leans Abruzzese. Try the Veal Di Paolo, veal in a lemon, white wine, and garlic sauce with shrimp and lump crab. Don’t miss the lobster bisque, served in a sourdough bread bowl. Sleeping in? There’s a Sunday brunch too.
Chef-Led Kitchens for Date Night
Are you planning a date night or birthday dinner? These kitchens are run by chefs who change their menus with the seasons. It’s as close to fine dining as this list gets, without the stuffiness.
June BYOB
Location: 690 Haddon Ave, Collingswood, Camden County
Google rating: 4.6 (as of October 2026)
June is the place for special occasions on Haddon Avenue. Think crystal chandeliers, white linen, and a mere 42 seats. It’s French and elegant, with the buzz of a great dinner party.
Like Michael Coastal Italian Grille up the street, June made New Jersey Monthly’s list of the 50 best restaurants in the state. The pressed duck is the dish people plan around, carved and finished right at your table. It is a dinner for two, and you must reserve it in advance by email. Not a duck person? Escargot and beef Wellington also receive high marks.
Hearthside
Location: 801 Haddon Ave, Collingswood, Camden County
Google rating: 4.6 (as of October 2026)
Walk into Hearthside and your eyes go straight to the fire. The wood-burning hearth sits in an open kitchen, so you can watch dinner cook. It’s a stylish Collingswood BYOB, and the room has a real buzz to it.
Open with the carpaccio or the mussels. Then let the fire do its thing with the prawns, the octopus, or the pork chop. Get a pasta too. You’ll thank us.
The Farm and Fisherman Tavern
Location: 1442 E Marlton Pike, Cherry Hill, Camden County
Google rating: 4.5 from 2,000+ reviews (as of October 2026)
On Route 70 in Cherry Hill, The Farm and Fisherman Tavern is a lot of locals’ answer to “Where should we go tonight?” It’s a relaxed, modern tavern with a market attached and room for the whole family. Come in jeans. The kitchen cooks with locally sourced food.
The roasted cauliflower sounds plain and isn’t, so order it. The deviled eggs and mushroom toast are close behind. Or keep it simple with a burger and a local draft. Browse the market on your way out.
Revell Hall
Location: 219 High St, Burlington, Burlington County
Google rating: 4.7 (as of October 2026)
High Street in downtown Burlington City has a new reason to stay for dinner. Revell Hall opened in December 2025 in the old part of town, and it brought a big-night-out feel. New Jersey Monthly readers voted it the best new restaurant in the southern part of the state for 2026.
The menu moves around the map: oysters, miso cod, skirt steak, and squid ink pasta with lobster. There’s a full bar, so make a night of it.
Historic Taverns you can enjoy a night outving Dinner
Step back in time at these historic dining rooms. Some were pouring drinks before the country had a name, and with America’s 250th here, there’s no better time to pull up a seat. You can read more on the South Jersey 250 page.
Barnsboro Inn
Location: 699 Main St, Sewell, Gloucester County
Google rating: 4.3 (as of October 2026)
Step into the Barnsboro Inn and you can feel the age of the place. It got its tavern license in March 1776, before the Declaration was signed. It’s cozy and casual, with a fireplace for winter and a patio for summer.
The menu keeps it simple, with pub food, steaks, and seafood. When the weather’s nice, grab a seat on the patio.
Braddock’s Tavern
Location: 39 S Main St, Medford, Burlington County
Google rating: 4.2 (as of October 2026)
Braddock’s is Medford’s Main Street landmark, in a colonial-style building built in 1844. Inside, it feels like an old inn. It works for an anniversary dinner or a casual Tuesday night. When the weather’s warm, grab a table outside.
This is comfort food territory. Go for the mac and cheese, the French onion soup, the meatloaf, or the short rib. There’s brunch on Saturdays and Sundays.
Ye Olde Centerton Inn
Location: 1136 Almond Rd, Pittsgrove Township, Salem County
Google rating: 4.4 (as of October 2026)
Located on Almond Road in Pittsgrove, the Centerton Inn opened in 1706, and it feels that way. The dining rooms are small and quiet; there’s a fireplace, and the whole place has a romantic, old-house mood. The drive in through Salem County farmland is half the fun.
Steaks and seafood lead the menu. Folks talk about the seafood bisque, the chicken marsala, and the twice-baked potato. If there’s lemon pound cake, get it.
Franklinville Inn
Location: 2526 Delsea Dr, Franklinville, Gloucester County
Google rating: 4.7 (as of October 2026)
A fire in January 2025 couldn’t keep the Franklinville Inn closed for long. This old stagecoach stop on Delsea Drive was back within days. It’s quiet, romantic, and full of history, with a fireplace that makes a winter dinner feel special.
The kitchen cooks seasonal American food, with steaks and seafood being the star of the menu. Got an anniversary coming up? This is your place.
Robin’s Nest
Location: 2 Washington St, Mount Holly, Burlington County
Google rating: 4.5 (as of October 2026)
Robin’s Nest sits beside Rancocas Creek in downtown Mount Holly, in a restored Victorian. Inside, it’s quaint and cozy, with vintage decor and an old-fashioned bar. When the sun’s out, the patio on Rancocas Creek is the best seat in the house.
Regulars go for the French onion soup, the quiche, and the truffle fries. If you see cold blueberry soup on the menu, try it. And don’t leave without dessert. The lemon bar is the one.
Global Flavors: Peruvian, Mexican, and Greek
You can eat your way around the world here without crossing a bridge. These are the places we point to when someone asks for something different.
Kiko’s Peruvian Kitchen
Location: 624 Collings Ave, Collingswood, Camden County
Google rating: 4.8 (as of October 2026)
Kiko’s is on that same little stretch of Collings Avenue. It’s tiny, cozy, and usually humming, and you’ll be elbow to elbow with the next table. That’s the charm.
Get the ceviche first. Then order the pollo a la brasa, the rotisserie chicken Peruvian kitchens are known for. It’s BYOB, so settle in.
La Ingrata
Location: 1999 Federal St, Camden, Camden County
Google rating: 4.8 (as of October 2026)
Over on Federal Street in Camden, La Ingrata is a casual BYOB restaurant serving Mexico City street food. It’s a relaxed, family-friendly spot with tables outside. The tortillas are made in-house, and you can taste the difference.
The birria tacos and the tacos al pastor are the first things to order. Then try the birria pizza. Trust us on that one. Churros to finish.
Thymari Mediterranean Gastro-Taverna
Location: 1423 Kings Hwy, Swedesboro, Gloucester County
Google rating: 4.9 (as of October 2026)
Swedesboro’s Kings Highway picked up this Greek taverna in 2025, just up the road from Botto’s. Thymari is cozy and easygoing, with two chefs from Thessaloniki in the kitchen.
The mezze platter and the zucchini chips are the way to begin. Then choose between moussaka, chicken souvlaki, and shrimp orzo. For dessert, get the portokalopita, an orange Greek cake.
Steak and Seafood Houses
Sometimes you just want a good steak or a pile of crabs. For a longer list of fish houses, see the guide to South Jersey seafood restaurants.
Steak 38
Location: 515 Route 38, Cherry Hill, Camden County
Google rating: 4.5 (as of October 2026)
Steak 38 is a throwback, and we mean that as a compliment. Dim lights, martinis, and salads tossed at the table. It’s the steakhouse your parents went to on their anniversary.
Order the Caesar, because they make it right in front of you. The bacon-wrapped scallops and crab cakes are favorites. And stay for the flaming banana dessert.
Blue Claw Seafood & Crab Eatery
Location: 4494 Route 130, Burlington, Burlington County
Google rating: 4.3 from 2,000+ reviews (as of October 2026)
Blue Claw has been on Route 130 in Burlington since 1961. It’s funky, down-to-earth, and family-friendly, the kind of place where you roll up your sleeves. It’s BYOB, so grab some beer on the way.
. Known for their crab dishes, we recommend the blue crabs or the garlic crabs with plenty of Old Bay. Add hush puppies and plan to get messy.
Cap’n Cats Clam Bar
Location: 1416 Crown Point Rd, Westville, Gloucester County
Google rating: 4.4 (as of October 2026)
The same family has run Cap’n Cats on Crown Point Road since 1984. It’s an old-school clam bar and tavern, cozy and casual, with the game on and a fireplace for cold nights. Nothing fancy, and that’s why people love it.
Go for clams and oysters, raw or steamed. The crab cakes, scallops, and lobster bisque are what people come back for. A cold draught beer goes with all of it.
Where to Eat Lunch: Cheesesteaks, Delis, and Diners
This is the food we grew up on, and the food we’d drive across the county for. Cheesesteaks, hoagies, and a deli sandwich you can’t finish. And a diner breakfast with a pork roll, egg, and cheese. Yes, down here it’s pork roll.
Donkey’s Place
Location: 1223 Haddon Ave, Camden, Camden County
Google rating: 4.7 from 3,000+ reviews (as of October 2026)
Yes, we said it. The city of Camden makes a cheesesteak worth crossing the bridge for. Donkey’s is a down-home counter and bar on Haddon Avenue. Grab a stool, place your order, and don’t expect anything fancy.
The cheesesteak comes on a round poppy seed kaiser roll, not a long roll, with fries on the side. It’s also a stop on the Route 30 itinerary from South Jersey By The Route.
Corinne’s Place
Location: 1254 Haddon Ave, Camden, Camden County
Google rating: 4.4 (as of October 2026)
Just up Haddon Avenue from Donkey’s, Corinne’s has been feeding Camden since 1989. It’s family-owned, cozy, and down-home, the kind of place that feels like somebody’s aunt is in the kitchen. In 2022 it received the James Beard Award for America’s Classics.
The plates are generous, and the fried chicken is the order. Load up on sides. There’s a Sunday buffet too, so come hungry.
Radin’s Delicatessen
Location: 486 Evesham Rd, Cherry Hill, Camden County
Google rating: 4.3 (as of October 2026)
Radin’s on Evesham Road in Cherry Hill is a Jewish deli done the old way. It’s casual and cozy, with a retro deli look and sandwiches that barely fit on the plate. Owner Russ Cowan was a 2026 James Beard semifinalist for Best Chef: Mid-Atlantic.
It’s rated 4.3 on Google. The pastrami and corned beef on rye come stacked tall. Get the matzo ball soup or potato pancakes if you’ve got room. Split a sandwich, or don’t.
Pic-A-Lilli Inn
Location: 866 Route 206, Shamong, Burlington County
Google rating: 4.6 (as of October 2026)
Locals just call it the Pic. It’s on Route 206 in Shamong, out in the Pines, and the same family has run it since the 1920s. Inside, it’s an old-fashioned tavern with a fireplace. Outside, there’s a patio for warm nights.
Get the wings mild, spicy, or hot. Add the crab soup and fried pickles. It’s a great place to stop after a day in Wharton State Forest.
Woodstown Diner
Location: 16 East Ave, Woodstown, Salem County
Google rating: 4.3 from 1,600+ reviews (as of October 2026)
Reviewers call the Woodstown Diner on East Avenue a hometown diner, and that’s the right word. It’s cozy and unhurried, the staff is friendly, and the plates are big.
Breakfast is the move. Get eggs with home fries, or go for the sausage gravy. Pair it with a trip to Cowtown, a couple of miles up Route 40.
Looking for a late-morning table? The brunch guide has more ideas.
Plan Your Next Meal in South Jersey
The best restaurants in South Jersey are spread out, and that’s a good thing. It means a fantastic dinner is close to wherever your day takes you, whether that’s a winery, a trail, or a small-town Main Street. Pick one from this list and build an afternoon around it.
Want more places to try? Browse the full dining directory to see what’s near you. You can also sign up for the e-newsletter for new openings and seasonal ideas each week.
Frequently Asked Questions
What food is South Jersey known for?
South Jersey is known for cheesesteaks, hoagies, and pork roll, the breakfast meat that other parts of the state call by a different name. Camden County has its specialty too: the panzarotti, a deep-fried pocket of pizza dough filled with sauce and cheese. Beyond that, the region is farm country. South Jersey restaurants cook with local produce, and many BYOBs welcome a bottle from a nearby vineyard. The food scene here is equal parts corner sandwich shop and chef-led dinner.
What does BYOB mean at South Jersey restaurants?
BYOB stands for bring your own bottle. The restaurant doesn’t sell alcohol, so you’re welcome to bring your wine or beer to drink with dinner. You’ll see it a lot in towns like Collingswood and Haddonfield, where many of the small dining rooms work this way. Check the restaurant’s website before you go, since corkage and glassware policies vary. A bottle from a South Jersey Wine Region winery makes a good match for the meal.
Which South Jersey towns are easiest for walking between restaurants?
Collingswood and Haddonfield are the two towns to know. Haddon Avenue in downtown Collingswood puts Italian, French, and wood-fired American kitchens within a short walk. The travel site LoveFood named it New Jersey’s top food neighborhood in 2023. Downtown Haddonfield has restaurants, bakeries, and shops around Kings Highway. Park once in either town, and you can walk to dinner, dessert, and coffee.
Where can I eat near the Camden Waterfront?
You’ve got good options a short drive from the river. Donkey’s Place serves its well-known cheesesteak, Corinne’s Place cooks soul food, and La Ingrata makes Mexico City street food. All three are in the city of Camden. They pair well with a day at Adventure Aquarium or the Battleship New Jersey Museum & Memorial. The Camden Waterfront guide covers what to see before or after you eat.
Are there good restaurants in Gloucester and Salem counties?
Yes, and they’re worth the drive. In Gloucester County, try Botto’s or Thymari in Swedesboro, the Barnsboro Inn in Sewell, and the Franklinville Inn. In Salem County, Di Paolo’s in Penns Grove and Ye Olde Centerton Inn in Pittsgrove are excellent places to start. Both counties are farm country, so plan a stop at a market or winery too. Route 45 and Route 40 itineraries from South Jersey By The Route map out a full day.