I Feel Like I Got Robbed
Wow, where to start. Well, the most pleasant thing was the hostess, who smiled warmly and showed us to our seats. Then things went downhill. We waited for almost 10 minutes before being greeted. When greeted, we felt rushed, like the waiter "needed" to have our order for water, cocktails, and wines for the evening, in the next 30 seconds.

We waited again, for 5 more minutes, for water. Then we waited longer for cocktails. Mine was a Ketel One martini, dry, with olives, my girlfriend ordered a Ketel One Cosmopolitan with a twist. What was brought to the table were 2 martini glasses filled with rubbing alcohol and olives. Very expensive rubbing alcohol, because each cocktail cost about $8.00. I don't mind paying this for a beverage, but only if it's what I wanted.

Then another gentleman came to the table and tried to get another order for wine out of us. I told him we'd probably wait for the entrees to get wine. This gentleman seemed more relaxed than the first, however he was completely inaudible when reciting the specials, and left out the prices as well. We waited a reasonable amount of time for the first course, which were salads. I had the tri-colored salad which was fair, but nothing special. My girlfriend had the caesar, which was drowned in dressing and very warm. She couldn't eat it.

The entrees came, again, in a reasonable amount of time. I ordered the rigatoni with bacon, basil, onion tomato sauce. It was the worst pasta dish I've ever had. Some of the rigatoni was overcooked, while other parts of it were quite stiff. The sauce was too watery, and had the sickening flavor of undercooked bacon. The presentation was uninspired, to be polite, in fact it was a complete mess. Fingerprints on the plate, no wipe around the edges. Is this supposed to be a hip diner?

My girlfriend had the gnocchi. We decided it was more like potato pasta tomato soup. The gnocchi were so mushy, they were coming apart in the sauce. Either the tomatoes are really acidic, or the gnocchi itself was undercooked.

We also had 2 glasses of wine, which were fine, but overpriced, and not in the proper glassware. For $8.50 a glass, you can pour a Pinot Noir into the proper ware, even if all you have is a bordeaux glass.

We usually have dessert, coffee, and ports, but we just wanted to get out of there. The check came to $80.00. Eighty bucks for that slop is ridiculous. I can go to a restaurant in Cinnaminson, just a couple of miles away, that serves the same food (but it actually tastes good) for about $50.00 less.

I'm in the business. I've worked in a lot of Italian restaurants. I know how things are supposed to go, and how food is supposed to taste, look, and the value. I feel like I got ripped off, and I can't in good conscience be silent about it.

This place is defintely not worth the time or money.    [15 Aug 2003 20:19:25]

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     ­fomundachuck   fomundachuck at hotmail dot com

BEST Restaurant in South Jersey
Caffe Aldo Lamberti is truly the only "upper-crust" restaurant in the Cherry Hill Area that delivers both amazing haute cuisine and that special atmosphere reminiscent of such classics as Emeril's. I dine out daily
in the South Jersey area and around the country and I speak from experience when I say that Caffe Aldo Lamberti is a welcome change from the "ho-hum" restaurants in South Jersey.
I highly recommend the Zucchini Crab Cake and the Filet Gorgonzola, although diners seated near me had dishes which looked equally worthy.
Our salads where delicious and worth every penny. The desserts were probably the best thing there. My companion and I felt everything was just perfect, including the drinks, the service and the ambiance. This is truly a gem in a gourmand's wasteland -- trust me on this.    [06 Mar 2005 08:54:01]

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Recommended Dishes: Zucchini Crab Cake, Antipasto

     ­SEA, SOUTH JERSEY AREA   

Hats off to the Chef!
Our experience at Caffe Aldo was outstanding. I had the best crispy skin bronzino on the planet. The Black Bass was the freshest fish I've ever tasted! Hats off to the chef for his amazing preparation and presentation on all courses. He truly holds the torch for best seafood anywhere around including Philadelphia!    [29 Aug 2007 11:45:09]

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Recommended Dishes: Lobster Asparagus Salad, Zucchini Crab Cake, Crispy Skin Bronzino, Black Bass.

     ­Eg