The Oldest Restaurant In New Jersey’s Little Italy Is A Culinary Masterpiece

New Jersey is a state with a big Italian-American population, and finding great Italian restaurants is a pretty easy thing to do. Some of these restaurants truly stand out from the rest, though - like Villa Barone in Collingswood. Collingswood itself is a small town that's pretty much the "Little Italy" of the Garden State - in a town of less than 2 square miles, there are over a dozen Italian eateries to try! One of the tiny town's oldest restaurants may also be the best Italian restaurant in New Jersey.

You'll find Villa Barone on Haddon Avenue, right in the heart of town. There are a few small tables outside, if you like to dine al fresco...

...but most of the seating is inside, in one of their cozy dining rooms.

Murals on the walls depict classic scenes from Italy, and big, bright windows let plenty of light in and offer diners a view of this charming town's downtown district.

Like most Collingswood restaurants, Villa Barone is a BYOB establishment. They do have select local wines for sale, so if you forget to stop on your way in, you're in luck.

Kick off your dining experience with one of their appetizers....

... or dive right in to ordering one of their made-from-scratch entrees.

The pasta dishes are out of this world! Each one is made using traditional recipes that the Barone family has been passing down for generations.

If you're a seafood lover, you'll be delighted to find gourmet fish dishes like the branzino below along with shellfish selections that are sure to please any palate.

The homemade meatballs are a must-try! If you're in the area around lunchtime, come in for a meatball sandwich smothered in cheese.

If you've saved room for dessert, you'll love their homemade Italian-American-inspired sweet treats. They vary seasonally and there's always something delicious worth trying.

You can find the menu for Villa Barone online, and you'll want to follow the Villa Barone Facebook page to keep up to date with specials, features, and events hosted by this Italian restaurant in New Jersey.

For more of the best Italian dining in New Jersey, read You'll Never Want To Leave This Italian Market In New Jersey With Over 600 Kinds Of Cheese.