Zeppoli, Collingswood, NJ:
A Restaurant Review
Zeppoli: A Collingswood Sicilian influenced culinary gem.
Prestigious "Best Restaurant" Recognition
Awarded to establishments earning 3 stars or higher for culinary excellence, service, and overall dining experience.
Zeppoli: Restaurant Highlights
Fare: Southern Italian - Sicilian influenced
Price: Moderate -Expensive
Food Quality: Excellent. A well-executed menu. Uses fresh quality ingredients. The freshness of the ingredients is not masked using heavy sauces.
Service: Friendly, Attentive
Ambiance/Decor: Resembles a laid back, casual, Sicilian/Southern Italian trattoria. Understated with old wooden tables and chairs, antique hanging lamps, and dark wooden walls adorned with black-and-white photos of southern Italy
Overall Rating: 3 Stars - One of the Best Restaurants in South Jersey
Note: Four star Rating System from 1/2 Star = poor to Four stars = Best in Class
Noise Level: Moderate to High
Dress: Casual
Recommended For: Diners who enjoy well executed, simply prepared Italian dishes using fresh, quality ingredients.
Not Recommended For: Diners who prefer heavy red sauce Italian food served in huge portions.
Recommended dishes: When available, Sicilian Fisherman Stew, a Mediterranean seafood stew with saffron and Tunisian couscous; The Peace Spada alla Griglia Marinated and grilled swordfish served with lemon and olive oil; and The Gamberetti e Fagioli, with whole shrimp sautéed with garlic, parsley, lemon and chili served over cannellini beans. For dessert, try the Bianco Mangiare (it is like Panna Cotta) made with almond milk and topped with caramel.
Liquor: BYOB
Nestled in a cozy Collingswood storefront, Zeppoli stands out as a culinary gem in South Jersey, offering a refined take on Sicilian-inspired cuisine.
Helmed by Chef Joey Baldino—a South Philadelphia native raised by Sicilian-Italian parents—the restaurant reflects his deep-rooted heritage and impressive culinary journey.
A graduate of New York’s French Culinary Institute, Baldino honed his craft under luminaries like Marc Vetri at Vetri Ristorante and Osteria in Philadelphia, José Garces at Amada, and Georges Perrier at Brasserie Perrier. His stints extended to Alice Waters’ Chez Panisse in California and Daniel Boulud’s eponymous Michelin-starred Daniel in New York City, cementing his expertise in crafting elevated, ingredient-driven dishes.
A six-time James Beard Foundation nominee for Best Chef in the Mid-Atlantic since 2013, Baldino draws inspiration from his grandparents’ South Philly bar-restaurant and formative time in Sicily, where he cooked alongside Anna Tasca Lanza on her family farm.
This blend of tradition and innovation is palpable in Zeppoli’s intimate, 35-seat space, designed to evoke a rustic Sicilian trattoria. Reclaimed wooden tables, antique lamps, dark wood walls adorned with vintage Italian photographs, and delicate lace curtains create a warm, unpretentious ambiance.
The menu showcases Baldino’s commitment to simplicity and quality, featuring seasonal salads, housemade pastas, pristine seafood, and expertly prepared meats. Eschewing heavy sauces and oversized portions, dishes highlight fresh, vibrant flavors through thoughtful execution. While nods to Italian classics appear, Baldino’s approach is inventive, re-imagining traditions with unexpected ingredient pairings. A concise, ever-changing selection—augmented by nightly specials—ensures peak freshness.
Zeppoli offers free rear parking and operates Wednesday through Sunday. Given its popularity, reservations are essential.
Updated: January 2025)
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