Albertino's Italian — Restaurant in Collingswood

Wow! They have a good thing going here at Albertino’s. We went as a party of 6 last night. It was our first time and we were anxious to try it. It really is a family business. Our server Maria was there with her sister in the front of the house. Their dad was in the kitchen and almost on cue we could hear him pounding the veal cutlets. Their mom had a night off- but not before making the wedding soup and all the desserts. We know the Jewish artichoke is one of their signature dishes. And it didn’t disappoint! If you like artichoke- you won’t want to share it. And I’m glad we each got our own. It’s stem was so tender, yet the fringes of the leaves were crisp and the light accent of garlic parsley and salt was a lesson in balance and simplicity. In addition we also tried the burrata and the arugula salad. Both plates went back clear! For entrees we had the spaghetti bolognese, calabrese chicken, veal with crab, double bone-in pork chop, salmon, and butternut squash ravioli. All were very good. Unlike most Italian restaurants, here they focus on fresh ingredients and you could taste it. The other lesson here was quality over quantity. We cleared almost every plate. The vegetable that came with the meat entree was zucchini. And only 4 rounds- but they were so good. Most restaurants just throw the veggies on the side like it has to be there in order to be classified as an entree. Here the zucchini stood out and tasted sweet from being roasted and placed gently onto each plate. The mashed potato was also a healthy dollop and it was evident mom put her heart into those potatoes!! Whether you’re still arguing if it’s called sauce or gravy- here it doesn’t matter. Aside from Zeppoli this might be the only other Italian restaurant in Collingswood that doesn’t have marinara anywhere on the menu. It’s refreshing. If you’re looking for a ginormous plate of fried chicken Parmesan with more spaghetti and marinara sauce on the side- this is not the place for you. If you’re looking for an authentic experience where you feel like you’re having dinner with family- this is exactly what you’re seeking. It is not a “turn and burn” kind of establishment. You will not feel rushed. At least not on a Thursday evening. Everything was done with care. The service was almost what you’d expect at a high end restaurant but without the pretentious stuffy feeling. It was comfortable and dimly lit. We had a 6:30 reservation and left around 9:30. Of course that was because we were all having such a nice time. We even made friends with a table who overheard our conversation. We probably could have stayed longer but we ran out of wine!! Desserts were all yummy. Tiramisu, peaches and cream, eggnog cannoli. Even the espresso and cappuccino was just like you’d get in Italy. Maria- if you’re reading this- please thank your mom and dad for us! And thank you for taking such good care of us. We will...

When Wednesdays feel special, you know you’re doing something right!

When I heard about Albertino’s and their Wednesday table side cacio e pepe I knew I had to try it as soon as possible. Tonight was the night we were able to make reservations and eager looked forward to our dinner.

From start to finish Albertino’s impressed. We were warmly greeted at the door, brought to our table where there was a short wait for our server to arrive. She explained the history of their restaurant- family owned and operated, her father is in the back cooking, her mother makes the desserts and family members are all around serving.

The best focaccia I’ve ever tasted was brought to the table with olive oil infused with herbs. The focaccia was impressively fresh and flavorful. Crusty top, soft fluffy middle and a crunchy bottom.

For appetizers we shared the artichoke and charcuterie board. The charcuterie board was tasty and fresh with two meats, two cheeses, olives, roasted red peppers and pickled eggplant. However, the clear star of the show were the artichokes. They were broken down so that the entire portion was edible. The leaves were golden brown and crispy, the middle and stem buttery soft. They came drenched in a garlic olive oil which we immediately used the focaccia to sop up. Phenomenal dish. I will dream of those crispy, garlicky artichokes until my next meal at Albertino’s.

For our entrees we both had the table side preparation of cacio e pepe. Creamy, salty, spaghetti heaven. Our server offered us red pepper flakes imported from her father’s home town in Italy. How could we say no to that!? They were much different than your typical red pepper flakes. They were plenty spicy but had a whole unique sensory experience when they hit your tongue. It tingled with flavor and heat. Delicious!

For dessert we both had delicious and strong cappuccinos. We also tried their famous ice box cake and grandmother’s lemon ricotta pie. The ice box cake was perfect. Flavorful and creamy with nice texture from the graham crackers. The ricotta pie was short and dense. It reminded me of the filling of a traditional Easter pie/grain pie but without the grain. Simple and tasty.

The meal was paced perfectly and took 2 hours total.

Highly recommend! My fiancé and I will certainly return. It is the best meal we’ve had in...

Collingswood has some great restaurant choices. To celebrate school starting back up again, my family chose Albertino's Italian specifically for their Cacio e Pepe (cheese wheel) and freshly made pasta.

The Cacio e Pepe is available only on Wednesday and Thursday nights. Reservations are strongly recommended, so we made an early one as it was a school night. We were the first ones there, but it quickly filled up to capacity. Definitely make a reservation.

The staff greeted us with such hospitality that you may have thought we were invited there. Since it was our first visit, we learned the origins of the family owned and run restaurant, and how everything (everything) is made fresh daily.

First, be prepared with a phone as the menu is scanned through a QR code. I’m not sure if physical menus are available as I did not inquire. My kids love cheese and my husband and I love seafood, so between the four of us, we only tried two types of entrees (Cacio e Pepe/cheese wheel and Linguine ai Frutti di Mare). Both are worth further discussion.

The Cacio e Pepe/cheese wheel is served table side. Albertino’s use only the best cheese and prepare it with hot, freshly made pasta. Both kids loved it! I snuck a taste and most definitely concur.

The Linguine ai Frutti di Mare includes “shrimp, lump crab, calamari, cherry tomatoes” in a white wine olive oil over freshly made pasta. The entire combination was amazing, but the calamari was worth noting to be the most tender I have ever had.

Unfortunately, we couldn’t fit dessert. I still regret not at least ordering the cannoli to take home.

The atmosphere? Italian rustic charm with comfortable seating. Perfect!

If you are in Collingswood, I highly suggest adding this restaurant of “must” tries. It’s truly a unique and priceless...