This restaurant is a real treat, and a gem amongst all of the dining options in Atlantic City. There are a lot of ways to judge the legitimacy of an establishment, but one in particular for me is a difficulty in which it is to make reservations (albeit frustrating at times.) And it is hard to get reservations here, but if you get them and have a chance to dine at café, then you understand why they are in such high demand. The inside space of the restaurant is tight, which can make it hard at times to have a more intimate meal, but it also lends to both a really cozy and energetic space. As you sit there, you can't help but eavesdrop on other conversations as people talk about how good their food is or watch as the wait staff run back-and-forth providing high-quality service to each guest. Sitting there, I found myself continuing to compare and feel like it was stepping into a scene in Goodfellas. It is a darker space from a lighting standpoint, which gives it this very relaxed and moody vibe. Tables with white tablecloth's and a lot of rich wood fixtures. You also can get lost looking at the pictures that hang on the wall which must be showing the owners and original guests of the restaurant itself. The service here is high-quality, as you can quickly see they go through training and really care about their guess. Honestly, a huge stand out for me in the service overall was their teamwork. While we had one main waiter, we were seen by three additional as well for different dishes & orders. I don't even know where to begin with the food. If you have to get one thing, then it must be the table side Cacio e Pepe pasta appetizer that is prepared for you tableside inside of a cheese wheel. It hit all the right notes of creamy and cheesy, and it was a perfect kick off to the meal. I personally ordered their chicken parmesan entrée, but this was no ordinary chicken parm. It was two layers of thinly pound chicken breast, fried perfectly, covered in Bolognese sauce, and hot peppers. I love the unique aspect of this classic dish, and the portion size was unreal. I still went ahead and ordered broccoli rabe as a side, which provided a nice pairing of bitterness. There were no complaints with the rest of the dishes that were ordered at our table. They included a swordfish special, a mushroom pasta, and stuffed calamari. The other thing that I would insist you get is their cheesecake dessert. One slice can easily serve two people, maybe even three. They top this mountain of a slice with a blueberry compote which is to die for (and having a little bit of fruit, in any way possible, makes you feel a little bit better as you finish your meal.) To me, this is an experience worth trying even if you're coming from Philadelphia. If you were looking for an upscale and delicious dinner this summer, you need to get this on your list. read more

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Amazing food & beautiful ambiance. The service doted on our table and was delightful. Cant wait to return! read more

Can't go wrong here! Only been here a few times, but excellent food and service every time! The atmosphere is nice inside and out back area. On Sat night we were there for our annv and the chef came out and talked to us and a few other tables. That was nice of him. Table side Caesar salad, chicken parm fra Diavolo and scallop special. Scallops with maple bacon glaze over risotto. Also had blueberries in it which I would of never thought would pair up perfectly. Reservations needed most of the time, but check it out! read more

Cafe 2825 - Little extra cantaloupe with homemade whipped cream from the chef himself. - Italian Near Me - Atlantic City, New Jersey

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Doesn't get ANY better for the BEST Italian food! Tableside preparation of some of the best Italian classics. Killer "on the bone" Veal Parm. read more

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Lived up to the hype and then some! Some out-of-state friends were in town for a convention and our other friend decided to try getting all 7 of us in there on a Saturday night ... as our usual Chef Vola's only offered a (too late) 9:30pm time. Honestly, we didn't think we'd even get a reservation ... especially after leaving the requisite message on their answering machine and then waiting and waiting and waiting. But days later ... our friend got the call and we're booked for 6:30p in their outdoor dining area! Upon our prompt arrival ... we were brought thru the small inside dining room, out the side door to a narrow walkway outside, and into the warmly heated outdoor tent ... where the round corner table was awaiting us with place settings and menus already set up. As we navigated the menu with a few special additions ... our waiter (Julio?) was absolutely awesome in making suggestions and deterring us from some possibly questionable choices (LOL). Everyone in our party was extremely happy with everything we ordered ... but especially the table-side prepared Burrata with prosciutto and roasted peppers (best part of the meal - hands down) and Cacio e Pepe (a close second with its Locatelli and truffle cheese - yum). Entrees included the bone-in Veal Chop Parmigiana (DH said it was fantastic and the only one I remembered to get a picture of), bone-in Veal Valdostana (with beautiful presentation by the owner table-side), Chicken Parmigiana (nice portion), Chicken Clemente (low-carb), and my Lobster & Shrimp Francese over spinach (from old menu - so glad waiter said they could still make it). It all paired well with 2 bottles of Pinot Noir along with other cocktails like the Grape Cosmo and the usual Lemon Drop. We also saved room to polish off some Italian Cheesecake (citrus ricotta), New York Style Coconut Cheesecake (a MUST), Tiramisu (light and creamy), and the Pistachio Cannoli (pretty large) ... to go with our coffee and cappuccino too. Some points to note: Bread was just crusted Italian and nothing special as others have mentioned ... the cordial owner stopped by (in addition to serving the table-side veal) to ask about our meal and politely chatted about how their food is "lighter" than some Italian ... and we had no interaction with anyone at the bar (which has been previously reported as rude). No complaints at all about the great food and attentive service ... minus the hefty price tag (~$140pp) of course ... but we thought it was well worth it! read more

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Don't understand how this place has such high reviews when the customer service is terrible. Zach has the worst attitude problem.

Excellent Italian restaurant hidden away in Atlantic City near the Tropicana Casino. On par with some of the best we have had in New York City and all of New Jersey. We started off with the table side mozzarella and the seafood salad which were both phenomenal. Make sure the add the prosciutto which is thinly sliced to perfection and homemade roasted red peppers. My fiancé said they were the best he ever had as he could tell they were homemade. Next we had a mid course of the cheese pinwheel pasta table side which was the perfect portion and added truffle which made for some of the best pasta we have ever had. Finally finished with the bone-in veal chop which also was excellent. Overall, the experience and service was great and the food stood out as some of the best Italian we have had. MUST TRY! read more

This was a tough review to choose my stars for. It is very hard to get a table here. The reservation process is tough and they aren't open on Sundays. We failed on a couple visits to Atlantic City to get in. We had kinda given up on going, but were mesmerized by all their delicious food pics on Yelp, so we decided to give it another shot. On our last visit to AC we were staying next door at Tropicana. We decided to just pop in and sit at the bar, and they were happy to accomodate us in that way. Once you actually get in and seated you are in for a treat, because this tiny restaurant is an intimate and exciting place to eat! I got the Pork Chop Parmigiana alla Bolognese Fra Diavolo. It was a great cut of pork and really tasty. It came by itself with no side of pasta or anything though. My wife got the carbonara, which was about the best we have had anyplace. So yes, the food is really good. The service is good too. But it is very tough to get in and it is very expensive. Comprehensively I am going with a 4 star, altough the 5 star reviews are understandble. read more

Cafe 2825 - Pork parmigiana - Italian Near Me - Atlantic City, New Jersey

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Food absolutely fresh; presentation divine; taste Mama Mia!!! Service-sweet and so accomodating! Ambiance-old school I-talian! Desert-sweet and deserving! Ricky, don't lose that #!!! read more

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The food is absolutely delicious and service is great. It's money well spent. The atmosphere has a nice ambiance and can be intimate ( according to where you are seated). Highly recommended! read more

Yes, yes, and yes! We were told about Cafe 2825 by a bartender at another restaurant. I love that businesses in Atlantic City cross-promote! We have visited twice and we loved every second of our experiences. From the warmth displayed by the owners, to the care taken by the waitstaff, to the love sprinkled into the cuisine by the chefs, it's just pure wonderfulness. The aromas of toasted breadcrumbs, and bolognese, and basil, and truffles...oh yum. It simply elates you. Even the wine is chilled to perfection. Fish, pasta, meat dishes - you truly cannot go wrong here. Our goal is to eat our way through the menu, and we just may accomplish it by the end of the summer! For a place that's the best kept secret in Atlantic City, it's sure challenging to get in on that secret! Reservations are a must and not very easy to come by. Be patient and persevere. You'll land one, and your dining companions will thank you for weeks, and love you forever. read more

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Still number one at south Jersey shore. Got the meatball egg roll appetizer and their meatballs are better than mine. They were great. I got veal parmigiana on the bone. It was delicious. The birthday girl got a simple capellini that she enjoyed. Sat outside and it was wonderful. Hope to get back soon if there is availability. Tried the blueberry cheesecake in addition to the coconut cheesecake. Both were delicious. Service was very good and easy to see why this remains a top destination at the shore points. If you get a chance to go do it. You won't regret it. read more

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Everything went well, the food, the waitstaff, the intimate dining room, 5 stars for sure!

This was my first time dining at Cafe 2825. My boyfriend and I loved it. It's cute local Italian restaurant away from the casinos. Love quaint places like this. Let me start by saying the service was excellent! The entire wait staff are. dry attentive. There is always someone close by asking if you need anything. The food was delicious! for starters we shared the fried calamari. It came out a little greasy so we sent it back. The replacement was perfect. Very tender and crispy. Loved the marinara sauce for dipping too. Now fir the main courses. I highly recommend the double cut pork chop. It melts in your mouth. The meat was so tender and flavorful. It had a nice array of hot and sweet peppers which balanced the meat perfectly. The waiter sliced it for me table side. Very nice touch. My boyfriend had the chicken murphy and it was outstanding. The sauce was very flavorful and the chicken was so moist served on the bone. Great place if you want authentic Italian food outside of the casinos. They even have a complimentary parking lot around the corner. read more

Always, every time, awesome! Had a Group of 11 and ordered all of the table sides- mozzarella, Caesar and pasta in the cheese wheel I had the Brooklyn Pork Chop and it was perfect. All of the table had great meals and we shared a couple of desserts. Great night, see you next year. read more

We finally got through and we're able to make a reservation after trying for weeks. Upon arrival we were seated inside in the dining room. It was pretty crowded but we'll spaced. Our waiter was super friendly and helpful in picking what to order. We started with the table side Mozzarella which was so fun to watch and was well worth the price. Then we had the meatball eggroll. I don't like meatballs and I even tried it and it was tasty. I got the pork ragu pasta which was good. My boyfriend got the veal parm which was tasty bur not as tender as I have had elsewhere. We didn't have room for dessert so we will have to come back. Overall the food and service and good. It was definitely on the expensive side. I wouldn't probably come back but wasn't dying to for the price. read more

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We were so excited to get in here again!! Still did not disappoint- amazing food & experience!! This time we got the zucchini flowers, pasta in the cheese wheel, Halibut Francese, and my bf for Salomon oreganatto, which was a special. We love it here - cannot wait to go back and try more! Delicious! read more

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Reservations were hard to secure. Watching the servers do table side cooking was fun! The fresh mozzarella was a quicker experience than expected but it was soo delicious!! I got the halibut franchise and really wasn't a fan of the dish to be honest. Next time I'll definitely try out more of a traditional Italian Sunday meal, like a pasta with red sauce. Pricey but the servers provided great hospitality. Love the natural wooden walls everywhere , it felt like we were in an authentic Little Italy joint! read more

I've been trying to make reservations at this restaurant but it's difficult although recommended. And, the voicemail instructions on how to make a reservation is not the warmest to customers. Please consider stepping out of the stone age if you care about customer experience. It's almost 2025, not 1975, no one calls to make a reservations anymore. read more

Love this restaurant. Great vibe, fantastic service and the food was extraordinary. We sat inside, comfy feel, not loud and lighting was perfect. Service was prompt, fine dining style and we felt pampered. Food...I've never had better Osso Bucco. It was sheer perfection on a plate. Veal chop Milanese was divine. The entire meal was perfectly seasoned and served rustically. The absolute best cheesecake I've ever eaten out. I make an extremely good cheesecake and this was on par if not better. Difficult to get reservations but DEFINITELY return worthy. read more

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Everything went well. Owner even greeted me at the table! Food, service was wonderful

My husband and I enjoyed our dinner here last night. We had zucchini flowers, stuffed artichoke,stuffed calamari, tripe and tableside mozzerella. I didn't believe the zucchini flowers would be fresh in March but they absolutely were. They were the star of the night. They were so light but the filling was super flavorful in a delicate way. The artichoke was my least favorite because it tasted marinated in lemon or vinegar. I'm sure it's because I am used to the way my family makes them and no other reason. We asked for the calamari to be spicy and they were so good! The tripe was very tender. The mozzarella was made table side from curds. It was a show! We loved everything and our server, Ivan, was terrific. I recommend!! read more

Excellent tasting food, excellent service with Matthew, the best tiramisu and Cesar salad I've ever had. Seating is tight and quite noisy as there was an obnoxious, loud woman right next to us which was very annoying. Hard to get a reservation but glad we did. Very expensive but worth it. read more

Out standing worth the wait a must impossible to get a reservation though worth the wait

If you are in the Atlantic City area you must try Cafe 2825. If you are not in area, I recommend you book a day to come in and dine there. Make sure to make reservations ahead it seems very popular. Cafe 2825 will not disappoint with its great food, amazing personal service and attention. I am still thinking and savoring the hands made Mozzarella right at the table was impressive and amazingly delicious. All the appetizers, food orders, and wine where amazing. read more

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Extremely delicious food, great atmosphere and generous drinks! the waiter seemed a little disinterested and wasn't particularly personable, but I don't care. What's important is the quality of the food, and let me tell you it's some of the best in Atlantic City read more

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Place was on my bucket list. Went on a weeknight with family. "Valet parking" was a joke, a guy sitting in his car, no uniform or nameplate. They didnt tell you about the free parking lot down the street. Inside the place is cluttered and unkempt. Waiters were not fiendly, and could not speak english. Pasta e pepe was a ridiculously small portion, and tasteless for 18.95. The veal chop parm was the star of the show, huge and delicious at 68 dollars. Deserts were also huge and delicious. The owner came around to each table and seemed to be a nice guy. He needs to tighten up a few things to continue warranting 4 or 5 star reviews. read more

Dinner for two at 7:30 pm on a Tuesday. We spent 200 dollars total with 20% tip included. The ambiance of the restaurant was small, polished and romantic. There are not a lot of tables to be seen in the main dining room but there is a separate indoor patio dining area that couldn't be seen from where we were seated. The service was solid, with the table side preparations not being nearly as awkward as I was expecting. All of the servers were professional, seasoned, and polite. The only critique as far as service being the hostess. The hostess at the door was not incredibly friendly and rather short with us asking immediately if we had a reservation or not. I can attribute this to the restaurant being fully booked and knowing that they have good food that people will line up for regardless of the day of the week. This seemed to be the case with booking a reservation as well, although we do not know if it was the same person or not of course. It was difficult to get a reservation, as they do not take online bookings and only accept over the phone. It took about 7-8 calls during their recommended call time. That being said, it was worth the wait and hassle to book as we get into what we all come for, the food. We started with two cocktails, an Old Fashioned and a Sangria- both incredibly large portions and made well. For apps we ordered a small table side mozzarella and the pan fried meatballs. Both dishes were incredible, and although I was skeptical about the table side mozzarella, it really was everything the reviews make it out to be. Topped with ricotta, ripe tomato, salt and balsamic glaze- it was a great, simple starter. The portion was also perfect for two, with a generous size ball split into four equal servings. The pan fried meatballs, made of veal and topped with red sauce and shaved parmesan were crispy on the outside yet tender and juicy on the inside. I believe it to be the bite of the night, although hard to discern with everything being so good. We then continued with two orders of the table side Caesar salad which they are also known for. The ingredients were incredibly fresh, and it was a refreshing side after two heavier appetizers. The only criticism for the Caesar salad comes with it being heavy on the cheese, and light on the crotons. Considering the generous portions we split one entree, the wild mushroom pasta. This dish definitely competes for one of the best pasta dishes I've had, with multiple types of mushrooms, and homemade pappardelle cooked al dente. The sauce was creamy but not as heavy as expected with a creamy mushroom pasta which was a nice distinction. Overall, the place was a bit pricey considering what we ordered, but it is located in the heart of Atlantic City right across from a major casino. It is definitely more than worth it for a special occasion if you are in the area. It stands out as some of the best food in the strip. read more

Stopped here in January. It was my first time. The food is excellent and the service is too. They get very crowded and it's very difficult to make a reservation since they are always full, but should you be lucky to obtain one, you will be very satisfied. It's a small place, but very cozy. read more

This place is a gem! One of the best Italian restaurants ever! Great outdoor patio to enjoy homemade Italian delights. The owner Joe has been at it for over 30 years and he sure know what he is doing. We had homemade Burrata made table side which was to die for. We also had cheese and pepper spaghetti made table side in a pinwheel block of cheese that is slowly melted onto the spaghetti with some truffle oil. I can eat a tub of that! For dinner I ordered the pork chop ala bolognese fra diavolo. This meal was excellent! My wife had the Chilean sea bass which she ate and loved. Please leave room for dessert. Their specialty is coconut cheesecake and their tiramisu! A great way to end this great dinner! Well worth it! Definitely will go back again! read more

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The food might be very good. The service might be very good. But the "we are too good the make reservations easy" sketch is a turn off and, for me, not worth the trouble. I called and left my info for a reservation. Two days later I got a voice message (was busy in a meeting) from them saying they would call back the next day. I suppose you need to keep your phone handy just in case they call. You can't reach them on the phone, only wait for a call bacK. Was trying to make reservation for Friday for a special occasion. Never heard from them, so on Thursday I had to scramble for someplace else so I would not be stuck with no place to go. If they really expect for people to hang on and pray they call, it's treating people like dirt. I am a full time resident and could probably go whenever I want off season.But now I have no desire to dance to their tune. read more

We were here again last night. Took our family for dinner 8 people. Apps... BBQ Meatball was outstanding Polenta board was excellent Clams were excellent as well. Fresh table side mozzarella with prosciutto and roasted peppers .... phenomenal!!!! Cesar salad... Dinners were outstanding Veal chop Bolognese Fra Diavolo Chicken Scapariello on the bone... Twin lobster tails Lasagna Desserts were equally delicious Italian cheesecake Coconut cheesecake Tiramisu Bocci ball special read more

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The fresh mozzarella table side is to die for! The food is so fresh and delicious at Cafe 2825. Main dining room and back dining room are equally nice and great options for your dining preferences. read more

The food is so consistently, good, the ambience and the service. Love the table side dishes I get them every time I go one of the best in Atlantic City. read more

Old school Italian that hits the mark! Table side preparation of mozzarella, Caesar and cacio e pepe! Fantastic. read more

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If you can actually get a reservation then i recommend trying this place out. It's a lot of work to get one but it's worth trying, once. Food is good, drinks are also delish. Expensive is an understatement but i recommend at-least trying one time. read more

Cafe 2825 - Table Side pasta - Italian Near Me - Atlantic City, New Jersey

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This is the best Italian in AC. Highly recommend this spot. Just great food, great service, awesome atmosphere read more

So I struggle because half of my party REALLY enjoyed their food but my husband I both didn't love our entrees. He had the penne vodka- vodka sauce just wasn't that great and I had the veal dish which was wayyyy overly salted. Those that loved theirs both got the veal parm and it was huge! The highlight was the table-side Burrata and Caesar salad. Service also wasn't that great. I would come back for the table-side but the whole reservation process is so annoying that I'm not rushing to come back anytime soon. read more

Excellent service... Excellent food and drinks...great atmosphere ....I only wish they would answer their phone and not make getting a reservation so darn HARD... read more

I have been here several times and it is always a great meal. Hands down, my favorite place in Atlantic City. Freshness and friendly service are always on hand when you come here. As soon as you walk in, you know you are in a great spot. It is small, the tables are full and the workers are working hard to please everyone. Table side I had the Caesar salad and fresh mozzarella prepared. Wow, was it amazing, fresh and tasty. The rest of my meal was just as great. I am keeping this review short so you can get off Yelp, get on the phone, make the dang reservation and eat some good food. read more

Cafe 2825 - Italian Near Me - Atlantic City, New Jersey

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