Cafe 2825, Atlantic City, NJ:
A Restaurant Review

Cafe 2825 is an intimate, upscale Italian neighborhood restaurant and an Atlantic City institution.

Located a block from the Tropicana Casino and across from Tony’s Baltimore Grill, the restaurant serves authentic, (homemade) traditional Italian cuisine with an upscale, casual, unpretentious ambiance.

A great alternative to the glitzy, high priced, casino restaurant scene. Cafe 2825 is very popular with the locals, especially during the off season.

This small 15-table restaurant is owned and operated by Joe and his wife, Ginny Lautato, who originally migrated from the Bensonhurst section of Brooklyn, bringing that deep-rooted "New York style old world charm" to the restaurant.
The cuisine has many traditional southern Sicilian red sauce dishes with some of the menu items having a northern Italian Piedmontese.

The dishes are well prepared using fresh ingredients. All pasta dishes are homemade and are prepared and served with innovative combinations of meats and seafood.

If you have a craving for an item that's not on the menu, just ask Joe the owner, if the ingredients are available, and he will arrange to have his kitchen staff prepare it. He is always in view, mingling with the diners in a friendly and caring manner to ensure the meal is prepared to your satisfaction.

The restaurant has a NYC ambiance. The small 14-table restaurant has an elegant feel with polished wood, terracotta walls, family pictures, and white linen table settings, The sconces give off soft, warm light, and the ornamental artwork frames look more like they belong in the family's dining room than in a restaurant.

Walking into the restaurant is like entering a family member's home. On occasion might see Joe’s mother behind the bar, and one of his children as your server.

Cafe 2825 is popular with families having older children, with small groups of six or less, and with older couples celebrating a romantic occasion.

Please be advised not to park in the lot right next to the restaurant on Atlantic Avenue. Signs clearly say you will be towed.

There is a free self-parking lot on Brighton Ave a short walk from the cafe (1/2 block)

Valet parking is available at the back of the restaurant on Brighton Avenue

Reservations are a must and should be made several weeks in advance during the busy summer season.

A cancellation fee of $50 per guest will be charged for any canceled or modified reservation within 24 hours of the reservation time.

Cafe 2825 is open for Dinner five days/week. Closed on Sundays & Mondays.

Reservations for parties of 7 and more are accepted before 6:30 and after 9pm.

(updated: September 2024)