Girasole;3108 Pacific Ave, Atlantic City (609-
345-5554). Italian cuisine, featuring carpaccio,
homemade pasta and individual pizzas. L—Mon–
Fri, 11: 30 AM–2: 30 PM. D—Sun–Thurs, 5:30–10: 30
PM; Fri and Sat, 5: 30–11 PM. $$-$$$. AX, MC, V.
G ; I
Harry’s Oyster Bar & Seafood;Bally’s
Atlantic City, Park Place and Boardwalk, Atlantic
City (609-431-0092). Seafood, featuring a raw
bar, linguine with clam sauce and chocolate chip
cookies. Sun–Thurs—noon–10: 30 PM; Fri and Sat,
noon–11: 30 PM. AX, MC, V. G ; I
Iron Room;648 N Albany Ave, Atlantic City
(609-348-6400). Mostly small plates, featuring
artisan cheeses, pork tenderloin and Korean
barbecued hanger steak. D—Tues–Thurs, 5: 30–10
PM; Fri and Sat, 5–11 PM. $$$. AX, D, MC, V. ; G
(;; 9/14)
Izakaya; 1 Borgata Way, Atlantic City (866-692-
6742). Inventive Japanese cuisine, featuring Thai
snapper, chicken wings and sushi bar. D—Mon,
5: 30 PM–midnight; Tues, 5: 30-10 PM; Fri and Sat,
5 PM–midnight; Sun, 5–10 PM. $$$. AX, D, DC,
MC, V. G I
Knife & Fork Inn;3600 Atlantic Ave, Atlantic
City (609-344-1133). Steaks, chops and seafood,
featuring prime sirloin and lobster Thermidor. L—
Fri, 11: 30 AM–4: 30 PM. D—daily, 5–10 PM. $$$. AX,
D, DC, MC, V. G I
Latz’s By the Bay;801 Bay Ave, Somers Point
(609-788-8838). American cuisine, featuring
johnnycakes, lamb chops and lemon pie. L—Tues–
Sun, 11: 30 AM– 2 PM. D—Wed–Sat, 5: 30–9 PM; Sun,
4: 30–8 PM. $$$. AX, D, DC, MC, V. BYO ;
LP Steak;1333 New Rd (Plaza 9 Shopping
Center), Northfield (609-646-8189) Steak house
featuring potato skins, veal francaise and
American Wagyu ribeye. Sun–Thurs, 5–9: 30 PM;
Fri–Sat, 5–10 PM; Sun, 4: 30–8 PM. $$$. AX, D, DC,
MC, V. BYO ; (;; 6/14)
Luke Palladino; 199 New Rd, Central Square,
Linwood (609-926-3030). Italian cuisine, featuring lamb shoulder chops, branzino and Valrhona
chocolate cake. L—Mon–Thurs, 11: 30 AM–2: 30 PM.
D—Sun–Thur, 5–9: 30 PM; Fri and Sat, 5–10 PM.
$$$. D, DC, MC, V. BYO ;
Martorano’s 777 Harrah’s Boulevard, Harrah’s
Casino Resort, Atlantic City (609-441-5000).
Italian cuisine, featuring scungilli, eggplant
stacked and lobster Francese. D—Sun–Thurs, 5–11
PM; Fri and Sat, 5 AM–midnight. $$$. AX, D, MC,
V. G ;(;;½ 12/14)
The Palm The Quarter at Tropicana, 2801
Pacific Ave, Atlantic City (609-344-7256).
Steaks and seafood, featuring a 28-ounce porterhouse and 5-pound lobster. D—Sun–Thurs,
5–10 PM; Fri and Sat, 5–11 PM. $$$. AX, D, DC,
MC,V.G ; I
Ram’s Head Inn 9 Whitehorse Pike,
Galloway (609-652-1700). American cuisine,
featuring butternut squash ravioli, leek-wrapped crab cakes and New Zealand rack of
lamb. L—Tues–Fri, noon– 3 PM. D—Tues–Fri,
5–9: 30 PM; Sat, 5–10 PM; Sun, 3:30–8: 30 PM.
$$$. AX, D, DC, MC, V. G ; I
Tomatoe’s 9300 Amherst Ave, Margate (609-
822-7535). Global fusion cuisine, featuring
PEI mussels in a Thai curry cream sauce, New
Zealand rack of lamb and pork chops. Extensive
wine list. D—Sun–Thurs, 5–10 PM; Fri and Sat,
5–11 PM. $$$. AX, D, MC, V. G ; I
Burlington County
Blue Claw Seafood and Crab Eatery 4494 Rt
130, Burlington Twp (609-387-3700). Seafood, featuring soft-shell, blue-claw and Dungeness crabs and
Key lime pie. Mon–Thurs, 11 AM– 10 PM; Fri and Sat, 11
AM– 11 PM; Sun, 11 AM– 9 PM. $$. D, MC, V. ; I. G
Blue Fig Cafe 200 Young Ave, Moorestown
(856-638-5186). Mediterranean cuisine, featur-
ing grilled halal kebabs, moussaka and stuffed
peppers. Daily, 11 AM– 10 PM. $$. D, MC, V. ; BYO
(;;½ 10/13)
Cafe Madison 133 Lafayette St, Riverside
(856-764-4444). Steak house with Asian and
Mediterranean influences, featuring house-cured Scottish salmon, grilled swordfish and
porterhouse steak. D–Tues–Thurs, 5–10 PM; Fri
and Sat, 5–midnight. $$$. AX, D, MC, DC, V. ;
(;½ 9/14)
Distrito 400 W Route 38, Moorestown Mall,
Moorestown (856-252-0300). Upscale Mexican
street-food, featuring tacos, hominy stew and
cinnamon-sugared fried churros. D—daily, 5–10
PM. L—Mon–Fri, 11: 30 AM– 4 PM. Brunch–Sat
and Sun, 11: 30 AM– 4 PM. $/$$$. AX, D, MC, V. ;
(;;; 3/15)
Estia Taverna 140 W Route 70, Marlton (856-
596-5500). Greek cuisine, featuring calamari,
fried zucchini and eggplant chips and marinated
lamb chops. Sun–Thurs, 11 AM– 10 PM; Fri and Sat,
11 AM– 11 PM. $$. AX, D, MC, V. ; (;;½ 6/14)
Oliver a Bistro 218 Farnsworth Ave,
Bordentown (609-298-7177). French cuisine, featuring thyme-roasted chicken, braised lentils and
ahi tuna. L—Wed–Fri, 11 AM– 2 PM; Sat, 11 AM– 3
PM. D—Tues–Thurs, 5–9 PM; Fri and Sat 5–10 PM.
$$. DC, MC, V. BYO
Osteria 400 Route 38, Moorestown Mall,
Moorestown (856-316-4427). Italian cuisine, featuring chicken-liver rigatoni, roasted chicken and
cannoli. L—Mon–Sat, 11 AM– 3 PM. D—Sun–Thurs,
3–10 PM. Brunch—Sun, 10 AM– 3 PM. $$$. DC, MC,
V. G
Camden County
Dublin Square;482 E Evesham Rd, Cherry Hill
(856-520-8312). Irish pub fare, featuring curry
chips, sausage rolls, shepherd’s pie and bangers
and champ. Daily, 11–2 AM. $$. AX, MC, D, DC,
V. ;
Elements Cafè;517 Station Ave, Haddon
Heights (856-546-8840). American tapas cuisine,
featuring salads, mussels and chorizo, grilled ahi
and lamb. D—Tues–Fri, 4: 30–9 PM; Sat, 5–10 PM;
Sun, 4–8 PM. $$. AX, MC, V. BYO ;
El Mariachi San Lucas; 118 White Horse Rd E
Voorhees (856-784-3800). Mexican and French-Mexican fusion cuisine, featuring crab salad,
chicken San Lucas and bananas Foster with
strawberries. Mon–Thurs, 11 AM–9: 30 PM; Fri and
Sat, 11 AM– 10 PM; Sun, 11: 30 AM– 9 PM. $$. AX, MC,
V, D, DC. BYO ; (;;½ 10/14)
Fuji 116 E Kings Hwy, Haddonfield (856-354-
8200). Japanese cuisine, featuring sushi, sashimi
and Chilean sea bass in garlic sauce. L—Tues–
Sun, 11: 30 AM– 2 PM. D—Tues–Thurs, 5–9: 30 PM;
Fri and Sat, 5–10: 30 PM; Sun, 4–9 PM. $$. AX, D,
DC, MC, V. BYO ; I
Keg & Kitchen 90 Haddon Ave, Westmont
(856-833-9800). American cuisine, featuring
whiskey hot wings, beer-battered cod and chips,
and doughnut holes. L—Tues–Fri, 11: 30 AM– 3
PM. D—Tues–Thurs, 5–9: 30 PM; Fri, 5–10 PM; Sat,
11: 30 AM- 10 PM; Sun, 11: 30 AM–9: 30 PM. $$. AX, D,
DC, MC, V. ;
The Kitchen Consigliere 700 Haddon Ave,
Collingswood (856-854-2156). Italian-American
fare, featuring grilled romaine and seafood
::QUICK BITE::
NORMA’S
EASTERN
MEDITERRANEAN
CUISINE
Barclay Farms Shopping Center, 145
Route 70 East, Cherry Hill
856-795-1373; normasrestaurant.com
Hours: Mon-Thur, 11 AM– 9 PM; Fri-Sat, 11
AM– 10 PM; Sun, noon– 9 PM
Price: $$
Style: Sparkly garnet paint covers the walls
and reflects off the polished laminate tables.
Family-owned Norma’s draws a business
crowd at lunch; families and medical students from Cooper Medical School of Rowan
University at night.
Don’t Miss: The Maza combo covers the
major staples (hummus, baba ganouj, tabouli,
stuffed grape leaves, marinated feta, and kibbi,
which are cracked-wheat pockets stuffed
with ground beef) and adds lamb, chicken
and kafta kabobs over rice pilaf ($30). The
platter easily satisfies t wo and provides tasty
leftovers for one. There are always four soups
on offer, including a creamy cold cucumber
yogurt made with house-made yogurt, garlic
and mint ($4 cup, $5.50 bowl). Lebanese falafel
combines the main ingredients of Egyptian
and Israeli versions (fava beans and chickpeas,
respectively) and comes grilled or fried as a
six-piece appetizer ($7.50), sandwich ($6.50),
or in a vegetarian platter with stuffed grape
leaves, hummus, tabouli and tahini ($14).
Co-owner Elias Bitar labels gluten-free, vegetarian and vegan items on the menu and offers
moussaka ($19) and shwarma ($16) in vegan as
well as traditional meat versions. A kids’ menu
offers burgers and fries, chicken nuggets, and
the Lil’ Veggie, a platter of falafel, hummus,
tahini and pita.
Heads Up: The Bitar family runs a diminutive market in back of the restaurant, where
you can shop for oils, grape leaves, Middle
Eastern desserts, candies, and an array of
pomegranate jellies.
The Scoop: Lebanese immigrant Norma
Bitar runs the restaurant with t wo of her three
children. Their menu draws influences mainly
from Lebanon and Morocco. The family also
owns CousCous, a Moroccan dining room and
hookah lounge next door that features popular
items from Norma’s menu.
—TARA NURIN
