I meet with my cousin and her husband for dinner every few months. They live in Delaware so we look for a place halfway between us. We have been to a few places in Cherry Hill so I decided to try A different town. After reading some reviews I decided upon Zeppoli's. This place is really popular. I had to make reservations two weeks in advance and the best that I could get was 5:00 pm which is when it opens on Saturday. It's a small place with maybe ten tables. There were two waitresses and one waiter. Collectively, they serviced all of the tables. They were all extremely friendly, knowledgeable and helpful in addressing any food allergies and the like. Zeppoli's offers Sicilian style of cooking. There are three columns of food choices starting with appetizer offerings, pastas and protein. The table ordered an antipasto for four which was an assortment of meats vegetables and cheese. It was excellent. I ordered small gnocchi consisting of spinach and ricotta. There were five pillowy gnocchis not the usual type. The sauce (not red) was delicious and needed some bread to soak it up when finished with the gnocchi. For my main dish I ordered the seafood stew consisting of clams, mussels, shrimp, calamari, fish and couscous was delicious. We all ordered desserts and coffee or cappuccino. Desserts are all made there. I had three homemade Zeppoles on top of hazelnut chocolate sauce. We were there for just over two hours. We never felt rushed. Some prior reviews that I read complained about the noise level but I never considered that an issue or a problem. A return trip here will definitely be in our future. read more

I'm not one to dish out five stars easily. This place is well worth it. Service 4: Fantastic. They lay it on a bit thick with their enthusiasm and excitement to see you back at their restaurant. But, they are supper attentive and great waitstaff. Atmosphere 4: I love the totally unpretentious atmosphere here. It is comfortable and charming in a laid back way. But, it is really loud in here. First time we ate here it was so loud it was unpleasant and we rushed through our dinner, not staying for dessert because we could not wait to leave. Second time, luckily a party of 13 had just left. If you can eat late, come here for one of their last seating and ask if there are going to be any large parties while you are there. The acoustics suck! Food 5: The flavors are fantastic. They don't go overboard with ingredients. Nothing is too complicated. It is the kind of food that seems so simple you are sure you could make it yourself at home but it would never taste as good as it would here. Hurray for whole sardines, fresh salad with fennel, bottarga, and a piece of swordfish so gigantic it was good for two meals. Veggies were super ripe - nice for the end of May. Even the olive oil that came with the bread was savory, lemony, and addictive. On to the dessert. I am a lemon tart snob. (Specific, I know.) This lemon tart might have been the best I have ever had. The crust to filling ratio was perfect. It was light. Nothing was too sweet nor too sour. One of the most memorable desserts I have had in years. I was so excited about it, I felt a bit giddy, possibly stoned afterwards. read more

I had been looking forward to dining at Zeppoli since it received rave reviews in Philadelphia magazine. However I found the experience could not possible live up to the reviews. I went with two friends, so there was a total of 3 of us. I made reservations far in advance, yet upon arriving it was like the Spanish inquisition, I was bombarded with such questions as: When did you make your reservations? Who did you speak with? This did not set a great tone, but I shrugged it off and attempted to enjoy the evening. The atmosphere is small and quaint, and I do mean SMALL. For me it was like being seating in a middle seat in coach on an airplane. I found myself using the restroom to stretch. I personally think they should remove one table and spread the extra room around, but this could just be my hang up. We ordered the Antipasto appetizer, which was a decent portion for three people. The waitress asked how many people it was for, which explains the proper portioning. However when the check arrived, we discovered that the price is $11 per person. FOR ANTIPASTO, INSANE!!! We could have ordered a steak for less money for the three of us to split. The three of us ordered entrées, which were also a good size, I had the gnocchi, which was out of this world. For desert we ordered the zeppolis which were un-remarkable (I personally prefer the beignets at Grand Lux). Overall, the attitude doesn't justify the price and sacrifice of space. Considering there are so many other wonderful Italian places nearby, it is amazing that this place is so crowed. I think the best thing to do would be either order take away or visit another establishment. read more

It took me forever to make my way to this little gem. This tiny spot, and I do mean tiny, has been producing some excellent restaurants that go on to bigger spaces: Blackbird, Indie Blue, and now Zeppoli. I've known about it since it opened but, again, its tiny and hence reservations are require weeks in advance and honestly I'm not great about thinking that far ahead when it comes to dinner plans. So my first suggestion to you is, pause reading this, pick a day and make a reservation now! Then come back because, of course, I have more to say. Welcome back! I finally made my reservations too and went. Then months later driving by it I realized I hadn't written a review. Oh no, you say? Oh yes, I was surprised too because while I don't remember everything I ate that night beyond that it was all very good there is one dish that stands out in my mind and I think of often. I will take my dramatic pause here to list the restaurants one draw back now because it's not the way I like to send you off- It's not romantic. This is due to one simple fact, it is LOUD, very loud. I'm talking lean in so you can hear the person sitting across from you at the small table, loud. Though tiny, the joint has high ceilings and hard surfaces and all 35 seats are filled. Laughter and chatter bounce around the restaurant like its the inside of a retro pinball machine. I'm just saying...Now back to the good stuff. I am not a steak kind of guy. I've never been a fan of that gut busting gotta lay down kind of feeling that inevitably follows such a meal. But for whatever reason, call it kismet, fate, divine intervention, I decided to go for it. GOOD GOLLY that Bistecca enna was good, no AMAZING. In fact, without question, the best steak I've ever had and one of the best meals. Like I mentioned at the top I still think about it. It is a staple in the banks of my food porn collection. Perfectly cooked and full of flavor it was sweet and spicy (not the heat kind) without sauce or gravy and accompanied by the perfect counterpoint an arugula salad that was fresh and lite. And here's the kicker, no gut busting I gotta lay down, after effect. I know all the reviews mention it too but it bears repeating. You will not be disappointed. Chef Baldino is making magic it that tiny little kitchen. Great food, and excellent service equaled a good time had by all. read more

Super....this is my new favorite restaurant in South Jersey. I had been meaning to come here since I read about it as one of the upcoming new restaurants in the USA in a national magazine but was spurred on last night by the Yelp newsletter. I'm glad that I followed the urge. Great food, competent service and a pleasant ambiance.It was so good we started planning on who we could bring here next! I started with the gamberetti and fagioli and could have inhaled the aroma coming off of it all night.Grilled artfully peeled shrimp over creamy garlicky canelli beans. This could be dinner! MK had the Moroccan lentil soup the spicing of which brought back memories of Fez. We split an order tagliatelle limone which is probably the most delightful light pasta dish I've ever had. The bistecca was not a steakhouse cut where beef overpowered all but a pleasant continental cut that was enhanced by the marinade. The arugula salad that accompanied the steak added to the flavor medley. The zeppoli were fabulous... no need to go to New Orleans for greasy begnets at Cafe du Monde, come to Collingswood and see how they should be made! The atmosphere is that of a casual dark neighborhood restaurant. Conversation is possible but it definitely is more an Italian restaurant than a French one where you only hear the clinking of glasses and silverware over the murmur of conversation. This is well worth a trip. I'll definitely be back read more

Zeppoli is one of my favorite italian restaurants in the Philadelphia area. Even though it is right across the river in NJ, the short distance is worth the drive for a special occasion. My favorite dish is their gnocchi which is not like any gnocchi I've had before, only 10x better. I've tried most of their dishes that they serve and for sure, there isn't a single "eh" dish on the menu - everything is amazing. The restaurant itself is a bit small - so this should be expected when eating there. The waiting staff is very attentive. I can't wait to visit and enjoy their delicious food again in the near future! read more

My husband and I wanted to try it, we heard it was great, it's right in town and we're always looking for a "go to place". Unfortunately, for some reason, they are only open a few hours a day and a few days a week. It says they are open between 5:30 and 10. Ok. I attempted to call to make a reservation one Friday evening (around 6pm) for a little later that night. No one picked up, I attempted 3 times, and each time, they said to leave a message. We thought it was strange, on a Friday night, no one would pick up the phone? We cut our losses and decided to go to another restaurant in town instead. It's a shame, we pass by the place all the time, and we never have a problem with other restaurants with making reservations. Its such a small place, and on a Friday night, we're not ones to sit and wait for a table, we like to be proactive and call ahead, we just couldn't with this one. read more

A wonderful special occasion spot! I won't repeat what others have written, I'll just add two things: 1. If you request it, they'll make the antipasto without the meat/fish components. We had a giant dish brimming with delicious veggies, spreads and cheeses and it was AWESOME!!! 2. The noise really isn't that bad. Maybe I guess if there was a big group of people being loud like how big groups can be? But we were there and most of the tables were occupied, and... the noise level was totally unremarkable. read more

their tagliatelli al limone with freshly grated Sicilian bottarga is mind-blowing! if I were to know when my last meal on earth would be, I would make sure to have double portions of this pasta on my table. it has the perfect balance of brine from the bottarga and acid from the lemon - which brightens up the entire dish and keeps you coming back for more. seriously, it is a must try! read more

I will start off by saying it was an excellent meal and the sole reason I am witholding a star is because of seating. For South Jerseyers, Zeppoli is located in what used to be IndeBleu before they moved into a larger location across the street. The inside is tiny and quite cramped. There are 2-3 tables outside which is were my party was seated. However, the restaurant is on a relatively busy street and very close to a huge apartment complex. As a result, there is a ton of traffic noise and lots of people walking by on the side walk which is very close. There is also no awning, etc so the sun will be glaring direclty on you. Basically, sit inside but be prepared for tight quarters. With that out of the way, the meal was excellent. We started with the appetizer special of burrata with house bread and an heirloom tomato salad. The burrata was extremely fresh and the bread was grilled with a nice crust on it. The salad was tossed in what I can only describe as the best vinagrette in the world. Really. It was perfectly tart and had very finely chopped parsely in it. Zeppoli also offers a basket (and free refills of the basket!) of fresh from the oven bread. We got there just as they were opening at 5ish and we had bread straight out of the oven. There was a mix of a carmelized onion focaccia (my fave), a tomato focaccia, and various seeded breads. It was possibly the most delicious and fresh bread basket I have ever had at a restaurant - it put the bread I had in Italy to shame. Yeah, that good. For a main I had the rigatoni all disgraziata, a lovely vegetarian dish with eggplant, ricotta, etc. The eggplant was diced and lightly sauteed - not drenched in oil as often is the case with veggies in pasta dishes. The rigatoni was perfectly al dente and the sauce (i dont know how else to describe it) of minced garlic, tomatoes, and eggplant with ricotta salata. I really cant describe it beyond saying that it was delicious and balanced. My partner had the tagliatelli al limone. If you are a fan of lemon and like tart things, this is the dish for you. I am not the biggest fan of lemon type pestos or sauces but my partner really enjoyed. We had the flourless chocolate cake for dessert - not too rich as many flourless concontations can be. Again, it was just well balanced. The service was attentive and informative. I would highly recommend Zeppoli! read more

I came across this restaurant as the best up and coming of 2013 so after seeing it was only 20 minutes from my significant other's place of residence we decided to see if we could get reservations for us and his parents. I called on a Friday and got the last table for 4! The place only seats 35 so I was very excited. It was meant to be although 9:00 pm was the only time available. We started with the antipasto for the table. It had absolutely everything you can imagine an antipasto platter to have and much more. It was delicious and we were pretty full from splitting an antipasto for 2 four ways alone. We then ordered 3 half portions of the 5 available pasta dishes. I always like when a restaurant gives you the option of getting an entree portion in an appetizer size. This way we were able to sample a lot more without settling on say one thing. One pasta had pesto, the other eggplant, and they were both very good. My personal favorite though was the tagliatelle with proscuitto. It was lemony and heavenly. For entrees I split the swordfish. I am not a huge seafood lover but their swordfish was amazing. It had a great texture and was very flavorful. I believe it came with delicious broccoli rabe but after a few bottles of wine my memory is slightly fuzzy. The men at the table got meat. The roast chicken and rib eye to be exact. They seemed to very much enjoy both. For dessert we really outdid ourselves. Pistachio gelato (only second best to Italy), orange zest cannolis, and of course the restaurant's namesake - Zeppolis! These were served warm with nutella on the side for dipping sauce. Safe to say I undid my jeans button on the drive home. All kidding aside, do yourself a favor and go to Zeppoli. The food is delicious, the atmosphere is cozy, and the service is friendly. This is now our new date night spot. read more

At long last... I had waited a long time to give Zeppoli a try. Too long as it is quite the italian gem in the Collingswood area! Ambiance - Ok so you might have read this already, but this place is small. Very small. Make reservations. Also be prepared to accept that this is not a place for a quiet meal. The room can get very loud when it's packed. Think of this as your grandmothers dining room. It seats about 30 people tops. Food - Really great. Really fresh. We went with the following... Antipasto Siciliano - This was recommended to us by the neighboring table. It was a great mix of meats, cheeses, and vegetables. I even ate a few vegetables I rarely eat because of how well they were prepared (great cauliflower !). It could have used a little more meat and cheese vs the vegetables, but I guess they are healthier so I'll let it slide. Tagliatelli al Limone & Pesto Trapanese - we went with two small dishes of the pasta so we could save room for the main coarse. I would highly recommend either or both of these. The lemon sauce with the pasta was great and the pesto was out of this world. Top 5 pesto dishes I've ever had. On to the main coarse... Bistecca Enna - Massive. Delicious. Luckily we saw someone next to us order it earlier so we knew it was enough to split. Great cut of meat. Nice side salad. Very filling, but it left us just enough room for dessert. Zeppoli Siciliano - Wow. These might have been the highlight. Doughnut holes on steroids. Insane. Service - I thought the service was ok. The servers all worked in a teams, which is fine, but I felt like we got skipped over a few times because they were very busy. When they did make it to the table they were friendly, but it wasn't enough to give it a 5 star rating. Price - It is a bit pricey. Obviously you are paying for the quality and the freshness so I don't mind paying a little extra. I'm giving it a 4.5 for now as Modo Mio is my current gold standard in the Philly area. I'll reevaluate on the next trip. read more

One word: yum! I arrived at Zeppoli right on time for my reservation. What started off the meal perfectly was the fact that the reservation was for 3 and my lame friends were not there yet. Nobody made me wait, they just sat me right down. There's nothing I hate more than restaurants stipulating my reservation! I know it sounds awful but I absolutely judge a restaurant based upon in exterior. I loved the "old timey" sign in the front, the adorable little nook it sat in and the twinkly light still around for effect. It definitely set the mood for a great dinner with friends before even walking through the door. This place is TINY. 12 table tops and three servers/helpers who kind of rotate around the room. This is not a formal setting but you don't feel like you are in your typical South Jersey Italian joint. We did not think the atmosphere was noticeably loud or uncomfortable. The staff was friendly and informative and even offered us a free shot of limoncello on the chef. Awesome! To start I had the Antipasto which was excellent. The waiter told me about the billion different items on my plate but I barely listened and just dove right in. There was nothing on there that wasn't scrumptious and interesting. I would recommend this to share with a friend or the significant other to share if you didn't want to get two appetizers. If you're on a date, I would have found this to be a fun conversation piece to laugh about figuring out what you're eating. My favorite dish that I got because of the reviews on here was the tagliatelli at limone. IT WAS SO GOOD. The flavor was so spot on and it was not drowning in sauce which is always a turnoff. The pasta tasted (and is) homemade and the prosciutto pieces were the perfect size to not overtake the dish. Why not five stars? I also got the gnocchi and was not wowed. They were slightly too soft for my liking and didn't have the spinach flavor I was expecting. I definitely didn't dislike it just would probably not order again. Go if you can! I will be back. read more

I was recommended by friends to try this restaurant... as I just moved to Collingswood temporarily. It took a couple tries to get a reservation, but when I finally did, I was very pleased. The service was great! I think each person working that night attended to our table at some point, but it wasn't to the point of annoyance. The atmosphere was a little loud... but if you're not familiar with tiny European restaurants... than I can understand why you might not like energetic noise while you're eating. I like the fact that there was some noise - since it's a BYO and limited on space - I felt like the bit of noise allowed me to talk to my table without everyone else listening. The food was amazing! ...starting with the bread. Like others have noted, the gnocchi was incredible and the homemade sausage melted in my mouth like slightly warmed butter. So good! I opted for the ribeye... which I don't think I would get again. It was delicious for what it was... but I like to eat a little more than meat and a side of greens - so I personally got bored with the dish (but like I said - the meat was delicious and cooked and seasoned perfectly). Maybe a reduction or an accompaniment would make me get it again. I will definitely go back. My only hope is that, since the menu is small, I hope they change up some of their entrees from time to time. I would love to try more of their creations. read more

Horrible ripoff 75$ per person 2 people bill comes 202 dollars 52 dollars in extra charges all my food was covered in cracked black pepper never go there again read more

Friends and I went to Zeppoli last night for their Sicilian BBQ and everything was outstanding. From setting up my reservation with Tommy to the food and service at the restaurant, everything was incredible and it was great night out with friends. The Sicilian BBQ is setup to be just that--a Sicilian-style BBQ outside in a little patio area behind the restaurant. The BBQs, I believe, are all summer long on Monday nights so I suggest booking your spot now! It's cash only and also BYOB. Our dinner started with sangria and a bunch of fresh from the grill pita breads and oven-baked breads and tomato pie. The pita came with hummus and an olive oil dipping sauce with some kind of beans. (I think they were fava beans.) Next, we had a series of cold salads and this was probably my favorite part. The cold frutti di mare salad was outstanding. It had a ton of clams, cockles, mussels, calamari and other goodness with a fresh lemon taste. The calamari was delicious and not chewy like it usually is in this type of preparation. We also had grilled octopus that was also great. It wasn't chewy at all and actually had a nice, spicy taste to it. We also had a tomato and burrata salad with fresh basil. Burrata is my new favorite cheese. There was so much food I can't really remember it all! I believe the next course was a crab pasta with a side of crabs in homemade pasta sauce complete with a wet nap and shellfish crackers to picking out all the delicious crab meat. There were also a series of kabobs with scallops, shrimp and swordfish, along with fresh veggies. The final course was a roasted pig that had been on the grill for about 5 to 6 hours. Being the carnivores that we are, some of the guests at our table even requested the pig head, since that meat is some of the most tender. The chef gladly obliged and I think was even a little proud that we requested it. The pork was some of the most delicious, moist pork I have ever tasted. It was topped with a pesto-like sauce that was garlicky and delicious. This also came with a big plate of chicken wings, a cold salad with green beans, potatoes, and pesto, and another cold salad with cucumber, tomato and dill. The cold salads were a nice combo to all of the delicious meat, and especially great in the summer heat. For dessert, we had homemade cannolis and a big plate of dark cherries and rainier cherries. We had one gluten free guest in the group and the staff even accommodated her by creating an almond milk panna cotta. She seemed to really enjoy it. The chef also made her homemade pasta that was gluten free to go along with the crabs. I would go to Zeppoli for the BBQ or for a dinner out any time. I'd like to go back and try the gnocchi that everyone was raving about! Chef Joe was great and very accommodating to our requests, and Tommy was an excellent and very professional server. I can't wait to go back! read more

I LOVE THIS PLACE!! Went for the first time this summer and it is such a cute, little Italian restaurant. Perfect place to go for dinner. The pasta dishes were unbelievable and all the appetizers were delicious. Leave room for dessert!! I suggest making sure you call and make a reservation! read more

It was 6pm on a wednesday night. We were hungry from geocaching. I called, 30 seconds later they said yes we have room for 2. We stopped at a nearby liquor store for a bottle of white before heading to the restaurant. I love how cozy the restaurant is. The location used to be the old setting for the original IndeBlue. It's small but feels very intimate and homey, also a bit dark inside. I love how they had 2 men playing live music. It was a nice touch for ambience. The bf stated it was like eating in Italy. The only negative was Tommy the waiter kept bumping the back of my chair. Dude! your not that fat, it's not that tight of a space, learn to move around properly!! We started of with the anchovies salad. It was delish, but was a bit too drenched in dressing. I love anchovies so I enjoyed the flavor. The bf had the spinach gnocchi. I don't know what he loved more the gnocchi or the sage butter sauce. The smell alone was intoxicating. I ordered the grilled swordfish. I don't think i've ever had swordfish like this before, it melted right in my mouth. The piece was more than enough. The price on the menu was $24 but our waiter did indicate a jump to $32 due to cost/demand. I didn't really care for the slices of oranges that came along with the entree. The bf had a medium rib-eye steak. He loved it and enjoyed the accompanied arugula salad. We saved room for dessert. I had the panna cotta. I loved it. The bf had pistachio gelato. He loved it as well. Overall, the bf said he liked it better than Aldo Lamberti's. It's a top-noch restaurant for Collingswood. I highly recommend you check this place out for some great sicilian meals. Dinner for 2 was a bit pricey at about $120 tip including. read more

See all

Flawless. You will never find a restaurant like this. The food, which changes seasonally, is always perfect. It is an experience by itself. I ordered a ribeye and it was the best cut of meat I've ever had in my life. Cooked perfectly. Seasoned and oddly breaded, which sounds unappealing until you taste it. Not only was it one of the best steaks I've ever had, it was one of the best meals I've ever had. The fact that Chef Baldino spends his time walking around, shaking hands with people before they leave and having real, genuine conversations, adds to the already glowing ambiance. And the staff is well-versed and warm. If you're willing to splurge on a dinner, make sure you go here. It is an EXPERIENCE! read more

Food was 5 stars. Service was 2 or 3 stars. It was one of those busy nights where perhaps we just got there at the wrong time. One the server started paying attention to us, it was great. But it was that situation where you are sitting there and sitting there and sitting there and finally you just have to say, hello? Please some attention... Anyway, I had the gnocchi. Oh my god. I have never tasted gnocchi so delicious. The antipasto dish was great as well. You must get the zeppoli (duh) for dessert. Definitely worth the drive from center city. This chef knows how to cook. read more

Incredibly delicious and special treat for us! Quality of ingredients was superb and menu was clearly planned with great care and passion for authentic Italian cuisine. Thank you for taking such great care of us and providing a culinary feast!! read more

So..a close friend of mine one day said "Hey paison, have a great time in Italy, maybe we're related" "What, why would you say that, where is your family from originally". Him: Sicily. Me: oh, like I said I'm Italian so probably not :). If you never make it to Sicily, or the less pretentious part of of the boot, a short trip from the city or Jersey burbs here is well worth it. Yes it's small, yes it's loud. Picture Sunday pasta at moms, crushing tomatoes, rolling dough and running it through the pasta maker, all while your great aunt is pinching your cheeks and screaming in your ear. All kidding aside, this remained one of the few spots in Collingswood I hadn't tried. (Best of Philly Italian In Collingswood?) (Vetri eyes rolls). A wise man once told me his best advice on Italy was the farther north, the more beautiful the women, and the lousier the food. The farther south, well...that's Zeppoli. What a great gem of a BYOB. Close to authentic cuisine from a clearly passionate well pedigreed kitchen delivering refined comfort food at great prices. There's been enough reviews of individual plates but be sure to hit up some pasta and seafood fare. Shout out to my brother for picking up the tab on our chefs tasting for eight. Go with a Sangiovese, Chianti Classico or my personal favorite that could touch every dish a nice Rosso Piceno (Total Wine has several 12-15$) Comparably, if your this side of the bridge and its a choice from the other Italian spots nearby, or what I will call Osteria -1 in Moorestown, do yourself a solid and let this serve as a measuring stick read more

This is the best Italian in the area. My family of 3 went tonight for dinner and came away thoroughly impressed. For appetizers to split we ordered the antipasto plate for two, the shrimp with fava beans, and the sausage with broccoli rabe. The antipasto plate was the star of the meal--there were about 14 or 15 different items on the plate, including some fresh vegetables and my favorite, a salad of fava beans and Italian tuna. The mortadella with pistachios was great as well. The fresh-ground sausage was also excellent, as was the rabe. The shrimp was excellent as well. For entrees, two of us ordered the swordfish and one ordered the spaghetti with clams. The portion of swordfish was massive, probably around 12 ounces, and the fresh fennel salad that came with it was a perfect complement. The clams on the spaghetti were great, and the spaghetti wasn't completely coated in oil. We didn't plan on ordering dessert, but the chef sent over 3 zeppoles on the house. The zeppoles, served with Nutella, were sweet and had a bite from the cinnamon sugar coating. They even sent over another without the Nutella to accommodate a nut allergy. Our servers, Jessi, Vinny, and Kris were all excellent and knew the menu front to back. All were able to explain various menu items and preparations, and the pacing of the courses was perfect. We'll definitely be coming back. read more

Zeppoli - Antipasto plate (for two)--a delicious selection of fresh meats, cheeses, salads, and vegetables - Mediterranean Near Me - Collingswood, New Jersey

Friends and I waited a month to finally get a reservation for a place so tiny that they should only do first come first serve seating (there are maybe eleven tables each seating only four and two people) to be completely let down by the food, service and pretentious clientele. The overpriced food was definitely not worth all the accolades and the only thing that stood out was the panna cotta on the dessert menu. They apparently overbooked on the Sunday five pm slot we reserved (we were rushed through our meal) resulting in disgruntled patrons who came for the next seating. The waitstaff on hand chose a passive, uncommunicative approach to resolving(?) the conflict, making for a very awkward and unnecessary experience. This is my first Yelp review and I am putting in the actual effort to write one because this restaurant is lacking the professional and efficient management that they really need if they are going to continue to pass off cheap cuts of meat as four star quality. It's needless to say that we won't be back for seconds. read more

During the summer of 2001 I had the truly unforgettable experience of traveling to Italy with a number of family members to attend a wedding in a small village in Sicily: the birthplace of my maternal grandfather. The "delizioso" food we had throughout our trip is still definitely a part of those wonderful memories. You've heard that expression "the food was to die for" ... well, I have to say that was a pretty accurate description. So, if you want to savor the same types of culinary delights that I did in Sicily then you definitely have to go to Zeppoli in Collingswood. My wife and I went there on a Friday night and it was absolutely magnificent! They served authentic Italian/Sicilian cuisine that was prepared perfectly. It is also a BYOB which we always prefer. It's a very small restaurant, maximum occupancy of 35, and reservations are recommended. We saw at least 8 people who were turned away at the door because they didn't have reservations. It was also a little noisy (wooden tables and chairs in close proximity and a wooden floor) but it was still the food that made it such an outstanding dining experience. I actually felt like I was transported back to Sicily as I dined on my pasta and my entree of swordfish. Our server said it's not quite as noisy on Monday nights. Unlike most of the Collingswood restaurants, Zeppoli in closed on Tuesday nights instead of Monday nights.They have an excellent website. read more

Came here on a Thursday night to celebrate my BFF's birthday. We had a reservation and were seated promptly. However, I had to take a star away for service. The restaurant was crowded (not surprised because there are only about 30 seats) and there was a big party at the table next to ours, but we had to ask for menus and more water. We started with the antipasto, which was good but definitely not the best I've had. Some of the vegetables were interesting, like the carrots, and I loved the stuffed pepperoncini. Then we shared the lemon tagliatelle and gnocchi due to the rave reviews. I could have eaten the tagliatelle allllllllll night. Maybe one of my new favorite dishes - it has every one of my favorite components: thin homemade pasta, tart lemon, and salty prosciutto. It may have been the contrast of the flavors, but the gnocchi didn't hit the spot for me. Personally, it was too rich. Since the antipasto was so big, we were basically full before the entree came out. We had decided on the sharing the rabbit, which was cooked so tenderly. The sauce it came in was full of flavor and I wish I could have enjoyed more. Also sad that we were too full for dessert. But that just means we'll have to take another trip back! read more

This tiny BYO is worth the trek over the Walt Whit. The service is astounding and the food leaves you wanting more the minute you leave the restaurant. The menu is divided into the traditional three courses - salad, appetizer, entree (of course, all of this is in proper Italian on the menu). While they recommend that you order one item from each section, you can do whatever pleases you. We ordered a variety of dishes and all were amazing. However, do yourself a favor and definitely order the gnocchi. It melted in my mouth and made me sad I had only ordered a half portion. Each course was paced nicely and the bread they give the table is to die for. I could have made a meal on that alone. Bring a few friends, a few bottles of wine and be prepared to put this restaurant on your list of favorites. Can't wait to go back! read more

My favorite restaurant in the world! A lot of people say the ambience is too loud, but I love the energy. I requested dine in NYC and the feel is similar. Small, quaint, rustic, and lots of positive energy. The owner and chef is Joe - the most talented and friendly guy. I always feel like family at Zeppoli. I have tried the entire menu and every this is fantastic. Here are my favorites: - any of the specials - the shrimp and white beans - the house made sausage and broccoli rabe - gnocchi - lemon pasta with pancetta - swordfish - rabbit - the zeppolis - any of the gelato Enjoy!! read more

Defiantly a gem! The food is absolute quality. I have been back three times and every time I fall even more in love with the food. It truly shows that the chef cares about every dish. Home made sausage with broccoli rabe, spinach gnocchi, and fish stew are some of my favorites. Amazing experience every time! read more

A fantastic dining experience off of the main road in Collingswood, one of the better food dining experiences I've had in the last few years. The quality and service are outstanding, and a really sweet find for those of you willing to travel a bit for some great food. Zeppoli is not only a foodie's paradise, but a BYOB with some great perks. Atmosphere - The one area where I would say that Zeppoli is to be looked at is that if anything, they're too popular. Restaurant is a VERY intimate setting, where the noise level is loud and the tables are gathered very close together. You will need to make a reservation if you're planning to dine in here, and you'll want to get it in early. Again, if you're really looking to try this place, there is no reason to NOT make a reservation ahead of time. Waitstaff - Our servers were both able to quickly and efficiently negotiate the smaller dining area with ease, bringing out plates hot and fresh, while also communicating the specials closely to cover the choices. With a smaller capacity, they were still running throughout the restaurant to make sure that everyone was served efficiently. Food - Where to start, I guess with the appetizers in the beginning. My large party ordered a number of options, from the Finocchi Salsiccia (a mix of delicious Sausage and Broccoli Rabe) which combined was perfect. The Gamberetti e Fagioli was a shrimp dish with beans which was amazingly flavorful. And finally, Insalada Verde which was fresh and had a perfect blend of cheese accompanying it. We additionally had a special with fresh sardines which other guests enjoyed very much, but not my cup of tea per se. Moving to the entrees, they were large portions with out of this world flavor. Diners sampled the Gnocchi alla' Argentiera which was a creamy pasta dish with bold flavors. Tagliatelli al Limone which if you're a lemon fan, this dish was zesty and light. Bistecca Enna was my choice and wow, what a large portion rib eye with a flavorful arugula salad to go with it. Add in other dishes for a Coniglio Pizzaiola (stewed rabbit with tomato) and Sicilian Fisherman Stew (seafood stew) and we hit home runs on every level. Generously supplied portions of garlic bread and tomato pie were not only appreciated, but devoured in addition to the great food. Intangibles - This is a BYOB, so the right paired wines here can only highlight your meal and dining experience. Parking lot directly behind the restaurant is free, but can get cramped while other businesses nearby are open. If you're coming from above the White Horse Pike, you may need to go up another block and make a left to get to the lot, only entrance we can in was coming North from Black Horse Pike. Prepare to spend a bit for the meal, as it's not cheap, but the quality and portion sizes are worth it in my opinion. Overall - Ignore the haters here because of their booking issues, this place goes above and beyond for exceptional service and dining. I encourage you to visit and enjoy the food (the chef is a finalist for a James Beard award BTW) and really take in the experience of fine Italian off the main road of Collingswood. read more

Was a very good meal here. Small menu. You are paying a bit of a premium because of the size of the place and the demand for the seats, but its worth it for most people. They cook real food and aren't afraid to season dishes properly. Service is good. Don't go here if you are looking for a big value meal, but do go here if you are looking for a high quality meal prepared the way food is supposed to be prepared. They do it right. You pay a bit of a premium for it, but good if you have the money or for a special occasion. BYOB can be nice and save you some money if you are used to paying restaurant prices for wine. read more

Zeppoli is the best restaurant around! I came here for dinner Friday night as I have many times in the past. Let me start off by saying that the food at Zeppoli has never been anything but outstanding. All of the dishes are wonderful, but I have to tell you that the Antipasto is a must. There are usually about 10 different elements on the board, including vegetables, meats, cheeses, and salads like tuna and white bean. Some of my personal favorites are the butternut squash agrodolce and the stuffed peppers. It is a really fun and interactive way to start off the meal and doesn't leave you feeling too full. The pasta is what makes this place a true gem. All of the pastas are homemade, and they usually have 1 or 2 specials every night. ALL of the pasta creations are worth trying, but the ricotta gnocchi will change your life. Before Zeppoli, I had never had a ricotta base gnocchi, and now I can't seem to enjoy regular potato gnocchi anymore! They are like eating little clouds. The brown butter sauce and crispy sage are the perfect accompaniment. If the squid ink pasta is ever on special when you go, be sure to get it! The space itself is tiny, but very romantic and intimate, with just enough room around each table for the servers to pass through. Sometimes I feel like I'm sitting on top of other diners, which may be an issue for some, but it's never bothered me. That brings me to the service. Sadly, my favorite waiter Tom no longer works here. He was unbelievably knowledgeable and great at his job. I have not been back here for dinner since he left, so I was really anxious to see if the other servers had stepped it up. Fortunately, they did, and we experienced great service the whole night. I cannot wait to come back again soon. Now that I live in the area it's going to be to be hard not to spend all of my money here! :) read more

I'm going to get the complaints out of the way first. This place is very small. I think it seats about 35. If they seated a few less the place wouldn't be cramped as much. We literally had someone's back almost at our table. I could move two inches to my right and my face was in her hair! Her hair smelled very nice! If they would have seated us by the door I would have been upset because it was so cold out and every time the door opens, no matter where you sit you can feel it. The soda here is ridiculously priced. It comes in 8 oz bottles and are $3 a piece. I wouldn't have minded paying that had the prices of the food been slightly lower as I feel everything is just a bit overpriced, the portions sizes are slightly small. Now that is out of the way... the food here is amazing!!!! There wasn't any salt or pepper on the table, and at first this annoyed me so much as I love peppery food. I ordered the tortellini soup, and thought I was going to be disappointed because I was without pepper and it was spectacular. I have never had a soup so tasty. I had a hard time finding anything on the menu that jumped out and said ORDER ME. The pasta dishes are in two sizes, small and larger. The entrees/proteins were sooooo expensive and nothing screamed out to me ORDER ME. I wound up ordering the rigatoni with eggplant. It was amazing. The gravy/sauce that accompanied the pasta was delicious. Someone at my table ordered the gnocchi. These were not your typical gnocchi, these were cheesy. I have never had better gnocchi. If we return here, I would love to order this plate. My husband ordered the pork chop, it was the special. He said it was really good. I did try it and it was very flavorful. Another ordered the ribeye, this was the only thing I didn't try at our table, but he was extremely happy. The service here was top notch. Our waiter had a great personality and spoke very well. He really did his job well. He was probably one best waiters I have ever sat with. (Can't remember his name :/ ) This place really deserves 5 stars for the food. I only give it 4 stars because of the price and cramped feel. To give you an idea how how expensive... there were 4 of us. The bill came to $184. I was the only one who did not order 3 courses, including tip it came out to be about 55 a head and I only had soup and a pasta dish. Fifty five dollars for soup and pasta is a lot. We'd probably go again, but it would be for a special occasion. read more

Recommended by friends, but the food was okay, maybe I had too high expectations. Really like their gnocchi and orange blossom lemonade! The fisherman stew was fresh, but overall, the food is too oily and way too salty read more

My husband and I have heard rave reviews about Zeppoli for years. This past Saturday we finally got the chance to dine there. Sadly, we were underwhelmed and disappointed with our experience. Suffice it to say, we will not be going back. We arrived at 6:30 p.m. and were greeted by one of the waiters. He went off in search of locating a table for us. A few seconds later, a waitress showed up, pointed that we had choices of two tables and then walked away. Hardly a warm welcome. We sat down. And waited while snacking on the delicious breads that had been provided. It was about 15 minutes before a waitress (who was very nice) showed up with the menus. And another 15 minutes before our orders were taken. By that time, the special my husband was interested in was gone. My husband ordered the sausage with broccoli rabe, followed by the spinach and ricotta gnocchi, and finally the stewed rabbit. He said the sausage was the best of the lot. The stewed rabbit and accompanying veggies were a tad on the salty side. I went for the mixed greens salad and spinach and ricotta gnocchi as my entree. The gnocchi was very good but sparse in quantity. I went for the larger portion of the gnocchi since it was to be my entree. However, truth be told, there wasn't much difference in quantity served to me compared to the smaller portion my husband had gotten. As for the salad, the dressing and tomatoes were saturated with salt. I don't like water at all but drank two glasses of water after eating about half of the salad. When the waiter came by to pick up our dishes, I commented about how salty the salad had been. He said nothing. Just walked away. Great customer service. I'd have to say that the breads were the best thing I ate at Zeppoli that evening. By 8:00 p.m. and noticing how slow service was and both of us disappointed by our meals, we decided to forego dessert. I handed my credit card to pay the bill. That process took another 15 minutes. We left Zeppoli around 8:20 and both commented about how disappointed we were. That night, I sent Zeppoli a message to express my disappointment and how turned off I was by the waiter's complete lack of interest when I raised my complaint about the salad. I've yet to get a response to my message. One final thing. Even before the rain began that evening, the floors were VERY slippery. Our chairs were sliding all over the floor as did other diners' chairs. Diner after diner after diner walked in and promptly went sliding over the floor. I saw one woman nearly end up falling on a table. Sadly, the staff said not one word to any of these people to warn them about the slippery floors. The disinterest from the restaurant staff about their customers speaks volumes. read more

Loved the food! Had their artichoke special as an appetizer, the pasta with pistachio pesto as second course (this was awesome!). Then the rabbit as my main course, delicious! Finally the cannoli for desert. The food was as expected, very very good. The only reason I gave it 4 stars is because the restaurant is very small and the tables are crammed in together. Where I was sitting, the staff had to walk by my chair to the kitchen and almost every time they bumped my chair ( very annoying ). read more

This is my favorite italian restaurant in NoVa. It's got an amazing menue and has weekly specials! The wine list is spectacular and the service 1st class. Live music on the weekends and a real italian flare set the stage for the fantastic food! It's perfect for date night or couples night out. Delicious! read more

Well after reading that this is one of the Top 20 Italian Restaurants in the Country, we went with some rather high expectations. And let me say they far exceeded those high expectations. My wife Donna, whose is a much harsher critic than I am said "Best Meal I ever had in SJ" then added, "Maybe better then the meals we had in Italy" The Fennel Sausage and Broccoli Rabe app along with the roasted artichoke hearts with Mozzarella and tomato were truly amazing. simple ingredients and amazing tastes. For our pasta course we had the Spinach Gnocchi that was delicious . and the Pesto, that was as good if not better than the pesto in Cinque Terra Italy. For entrees Donna had the Orata which she raved about and I had the Bistecca Enna which was amazing If you are looking for Chicken Parm or Meatballs or American Italian Food, than this is not for you. But if you want simple authentic Italian food like you would order in Italy then I say book a reservation right away because you will not be disappointed. read more

My first instinct is to start this review by saying, "You're an idiot if you don't go here." But that sounds so South Philly and judgy. (Then again, why change now?) The restaurant is rustic and cozy, and I don't mean that in the way where I'm trying to disguise some flaw. (We recently went to Laurel and it was rustic and small, and beautiful and elegant, but the space just wasn't "right" to me.) Servers here should train the rest of the world's restaurants -- knowledgeable, attentive, friendly -- they seem like long-time customers who just decided to work at their favorite restaurant. No one likes a hoverer. Hovering is only appropriate if I'm on my death bed. The pasta here is the M.V.P. The four of us tried a total of five pasta dishes. Next time, I'd like to just order the entire pasta repertoire for the table. (Carb-o-vores unite!) I'm sure they would accommodate parties of 6, but I think that would be the limit. And, if you're a party of two, and you were to end up near the door, I would feel bad for you. (I certainly wouldn't sit near the door, but you might.) I'm taking off one star because I didn't *love* the shrimp and cannelloni bean dish nor the bread salad. I also regret not trying the fennel-cello digestivo with dessert so I'm taking a star off for myself as a diner. Fair is fair. read more

Incredible night at Zeppoli! First, it very small. They don't try to fit more people in than it can handle, but some of the seats are very close together. We were very lucky to get a same day reservation, and even luckier to get a 4-person table as a couple. I was very happy about that! There was a duo of muscians playing last night, which we both really enjoyed. I felt like I was in The Godfather, in a completely complimentary way. Service was very friendly and accomidating. Our waiter, Tom, was very kind and knowledgable. We appreciated his good service. Wine was opened quickly, glasses of water presented, and we ordered a cask of the orange bloosm lemonade. It was AMAZING! A really nice treat for an expecting lady :) We had 2 appetizers, small pasta courses, in additon to our mains. We enjoyed the complimentary olives and bread. I had the artichoke special, and my husband had the Finocchi Salsiccia. Mine was nicely baked with lemon, cheese, and a dot of red sauce. It was perfect for me, artichokes were nice and juicy. It was fairly large. My husband was raving about Finocchi Salsiccia. The rabe was delish, we were fighting over the last pieces. It had 3 large pieces that were very hot and nicely grilled. We could have left happy after just the first course. Next, we each had a small Gnocchi pasta course: Gnocchi alla' Argentiera and the special that night, with calamari and peas. They were very different, but both very good. The Gnocchi alla' Argentiera was out of this world. The brown butter sauce was incredible, and the gnocchi themselves have been correctly descibed by other yelp'ers as little fluff pieces from heaven. I had a 2nd small pasta as my main: Tagliatelli al Limone with prosciutto. I have never had it before, and it is my new favorite. Just the right amount of salt from the prosciutto, and I loved the fresh lemon flavor. I was completely stuffed by the time I finished it. My husband had the rabbit, which he enjoyed. It was fork-tender, and dressed with a nice red sauce. I could not find room for dessert, but I did sneak a piece of his Zeppoli. The smell was too good to resist. Overall, we had a very romantic and enjoyable experience. We can't wait to share Zeppoli with our families! read more