Bistro Di Marino

Located on Haddon Avenue in Downtown Collingswood NJ, just ten minutes outside Philadelphia, is one of the best Italian Restaurants in the area, known as Bistro Di Marino. I’ve always heard that location plays a crucial role in a restaurants’ success.  Well, this one has that area covered. With over a mile of small eclectic shops right outside their door, a visitor can have a dining/shopping experience all in one.  This award winning restaurant offers a quiet, comfortable setting, with its low-lit lights and exposed brick on the walls, truly a rustic- contemporary work of art.  It feels somewhat like a mix of a hip urban eatery, and grandma’s kitchen.  Now my grandma is full Italian so maybe that has something to do with it, but regardless of your family tree, this place does it right.
We arrived at the restaurant around 5:30 pm on a Friday.  There were a bunch of full tables, but nothing intrusive.  Nothing I hate worse than feeling claustrophobic while eating.  The wait staff were clean, polite and not over-bearing.  Let me correct myself.  Nothing I hate worse than over-bearing wait staff.  You know, the ones that basically watch you eat the entire time, while standing half-hidden behind the counter or something.  Yeah, you know the ones.  Well, you don’t have to worry about that here.  They treated us just like we were part of Head Chef and Owner James Marino’s extended family.
James Marino grew up in nearby Collingwood and started out delivering pizza’s.  Through hard-work and dedication, he worked his way up  to head chef of neighboring Villa Barone Italian Restaurant.  By the age of 26, Jimmy as I now know him, had bought his own restaurant in the famed restaurant row of Collingswood.  Since then, it has tripled in size, and won many area awards.  Jimmy was even recently a guest on the Fretz Kitchen.  A popular cooking show in the Philadelphia/New England region.  A knowledgeable, down-to-earth guy, you can tell jimmy takes pride in every dish.
For our appetizers, my wife selected Mussels Marinara, and myself ,Calamari Fritti.  Both dishes were moderately priced at 9 dollars, and worth every penny.  The calamari was not overly  coated with flour like I’ve had elsewhere.  Its was very light and tasty.  The Mussels were absolutely awesome!  Not a bit of sand and a taste that’s making my mouth water just writing about them.   The menu also held appetizer option for Scallops Abruzzi, scallops wrapped in crispy proscuitto served with a sun dried -tomato pesto, and a 2 or 4 person antipasto dish called Marino Caldo – consisting of fried calamari, shrimp pancetta, eggplant ramano and broccoli rabe saute.  Both of which ,I think I may have to order next visit.
For our entrée’s, my wife selected Pollo Italia. A chicken breast topped with artichokes, fresh tomato in a garlic white wine sauce.  She said it was light yet satisfying. Definitely a 8 of 10 on our taste chart, and a 7 of 10 on our price chart, coming in at 18 dollars.  I decided to go big with the Sea Bass con Lobster and I’m glad I did.  The dish was priced at 28 dollars which at fist you think, wow that’s a lot, but it’s pretty much the norm for seafood dishes at restaurants these days, and after tasting it, I can say it doesn’t taste like the norm, its way better!  I’d give it a 9 of 10 on our taste chart and a 8.5 of 10 on our price chart.
The menu at Bistro Di Marino offered many other options that intrigued us. They have a full selection of award-winning meatballs, including Traditional, Spicy Sicilian Sausage, and Smoked Mozzeralla. Also, a huge selection of award-winning potato gnocchi dishes including Pomodoro, Stefano, Gorgonzola and Eggplant.  Both the meatballs and gnocchi were recommended to us from the local regulars at the next table, so they have made it on our list for our next visit. The menu offers other category choices of Pollo/Chicken, Veal, Pesce/Fish, and Carne/Meat.  Priced on average 18, 20, 24, 28 $ per category.
Bistro Di Marino is a great place to have an authentic Italian style meal in an authentic Italian style atmosphere.  For those who like to stay home and eat, the bistro offers Bistro to Go.  A take out service located right next door to the restaurant, that offers many of the restaurants famous dishes and specials for the day.  And for those early eaters, Bistro Di Marino offers a full lunch buffet for only $9.95.  Plus, they give you a bistro VIP card, that is good for a free lunch at the buffet every fifth visit.  It’s easy to see how people become regulars at Bistro Di Marino. I’d give it a total of 9.5 of 10.   To sum it up in one word…”Mangia!”

-The Undercover Chef