Cotardo’s Ristorante

I’ve been going here since I was a child. This is an old school establishment, but the food is absolutely amazing! My husband and I always have the frutti del mar (excuse the spelling) and have not been disappointed yet. Everything from service, appetizers, and entrees are great. The only downfall is the place hasn’t changed since I was a kid. So when you walk in it’s a little dark and old school, but it’s kept very well and clean.

Upon reading the menu at this restaurant I noticed the statement «Our menu has not changed in 30 years». Personally I don’t think I would brag about this. No disrespect to the Old School, but some change can be good, and can actually add to the dining experience.
This is definitely your parents and grandparents type of establishment. From the dark and curtained interior, to the menu that would be at home in the 80’s or earlier. From the large portions and free soup AND salad, to the very reasonable prices. Nonna would certainly approve, although she would say she can prepare it better (and she would probably be correct)
The soup of the day was a veggie orzo, and it was very good, not too salty and with plenty of pasta and veg. The salad was fair at best, but when complimentary who can quibble? Garlic bread is served in place of plain old bread, and it too was good. Trish selected a chicken Alfredo and it was plentiful and tasty. Even the chicken had a nice flavor and texture. My go to at places like this that I’ve never visited is either chicken or veal parm. I opted for the later and it was very good. A huge piece of tender meat that was perfectly breaded and cooked. The sauce that came with it was very good as well, thick and vibrantly tomato flavored. It came with ok penne pasta that I brought home for another meal.
The prices were very reasonable considering we both had substantial leftovers. And this factor plays into the fourth star. Service was very good and very swift too. Would I return here for a special meal, or with foodies I want to impress? Probably not. Would I come here for a simple meal with my family or loved ones? Probably yes. 3.75 rounding up to 4 Unilocal

Sometimes when places are right in your ‘back yard,’ you don’t go for some reason. Such is the case for Cotardo’s. I can drive there in 3 minutes flat!
I haven’t been to Cotardo’s for years upon years. Tonight I had their fettuccine Alfredo w/​chicken and it was really good. A nice tasty Alfredo sauce and the chicken was almost steak-​like with how it was cut.
Vince had the veal parmigiana, which he really liked.
Our entrees came with both soup (very good) and salads.
Prices were nice and def in the right range. The décor was elegant w/​out being gaudy. Muted colors, florals and mirrors.
The bathroom was clean and decorated nicely as well.
I wouldn’t say I just HAVE to go back or anything but would visit again.

Took my daughter out for a quick dinner tonight. She wanted chicken parm & garlic bread. She ordered the kids ravioli which were good. You get 3. I ordered the chicken parmigiana knowing it was big enough for us to share (since they don’t have a kids portion). For the price our meal was good. I just think this restaurant is lacking the quality it used to have. My pasta was barely warm. The red sauce just is not as tasty as it used to be. I skipped the soup, it was the same as the last time I went & it wasn’t very good. Not sure I’ll be going back.

Best Italian food in area! My favorite dishes have tasted the same for over 20 years! I love that they don’t try to be crazy fancy or rob you; you will get great quality food & service here!

I’ve been going here forever, and for the first time this Saturday, my food was inedible. I got the Dario’s (sp) pasta, without chicken, and it was bland at best. Another member of my party felt the same about their meal. It was one meal out of probably 50 I’ve had there, never the less, I was disappointed.

We go to Cotardos often and have never gotten a bad meal! Chicken Parm is our favorite but all the food is great.

Oh my god. the best tomatoe sauce this side of Naples… believe me when I tell you Lasagna and Totellini dishes are worth the journey.. Incredible. .chase me if you disagree

I’ve been here a few times for different events. Their homemade bread is so delicious. I’ve gotten the chicken parm (standard, I know) and it’s always been delicious. The staff is nice and accommodating. This place is also BYOB.

Stopped in this weekend and had another pleasant experience. The staff was on top of their game and we never had to ask for anything. As usual, the food was great!
Make sure to BYOB.

Best gnocchi I’ve ever had. Huge portions indeed.
We’ve had several dishes here and everything has been great, from scallops and shrimp to ravioli. Their sauces are all different and unique as well.
The garlic bread is awesome!

Great place for Italian! The portions are HUGE! Came here last night. Ordered the calamari to split, it was just okay. The breading was homemade, but the squid didn’t taste fresh.
The dinner entrees came with garlic bread, soup, and salad. By the time my meal came I was so full and barely touch my pasta. I ordered the chicken Alfredo fettuccine, which was a little bland and needed to add salt.
My mom ordered the shrimp and scallops over pasta with red sauce, and that was very good. The scallops were so tender, and jumbo shrimp cooked very nicely.
I’ve visited here about a year ago too, and tried their eggplant parm and gnocchi, which were both phenomenal.

Met the bf here for lunch. I haven’t been here for a while. Staff was great. Friendly and attentive. Soda was a little flat. I ordered the the eggplant parm lunch plate w a side of Ceasar salad. Bf got salad and soup. My salad was just drenched in dressing. And it wasn’t the traditional Ceasar salad. It was mixed greens on a plate doused in dressing that seemed more like their house italian than a Ceasar. The eggplant parm… Eehhhhh. I had to load the sauce w parm cheese and salt and crushed red. It tasted like nothing. That def needs work. I tasted zero herbs. No basil. Now I remember why I hardly ever come here.

This is a budget family Italian Restaurant that serves up big portions at low prices. The restaurant is a favorite of the people I went with. What’s unique is the interior as it’s very Italian Grandmother? and Grandfather (God Father) looking with heavy drapery and lots of fancy mirrors and things. The music they pump in is very old vintage Italian Music so it’s kind of cool in a weird way.
The People I went with love the garlic bread from here. I tasted it and in my opinion it’s fluffy and crisp at the same time and taste like pizza without the sauce or cheese. The lunch menu is very reasonable. You get a two course lunch for around $ 10. that comes with salad or house made soup, garlic bread and most platters come with a large side of pasta.
Some of us thought the high light of the meal was the desert. Mrs. Cotardo makes them herself. I had the Tartufo, it was ice-​cream in a chocolate shell with a fruit and nut center. I thought it was tasty.
I thought service was above average for this kind of place.
Family Friendly is A-​OK to me.

This place is a sure hidden gem!!! You’d never expected to find it in a shopping center off a main road and county highway. But I think that’s what makes this place awesome!
The food is delicious! My favorite is the Gnocchi Alfredo, but I will eat anything from here. Oooo their tiramisu (sp?) Cake is fantastic!
Oh and their calamari is good too, I won’t eat calamari from many places.
It’s true fine Italian dining in a casual setting. Pasta is made to order, so while you wait for your dish you get soup and salad too!!! Oh and it’s BYOB.

I was here about 25 years ago, and I enjoyed it then, I remember the soup was always very good. Not sure why it took so long to try it again but I’m glad I did. Soup still very tasty. I had the Veal Alexandro stuffed with crab meat in a blush sauce. Very good. Oh, I can’t forget to mention the garlic bread, GREAT, of course we had seconds.

Best Capellini Ariana! Delicious and Great Portions also great garlic bread. I can’t review other menu items as I always order this. only

I have been here a handful of times and have enjoyed it every time. The prices are reasonable and I love that is a BYOB. The staff is pleasant and the inside is fairly nice. The curtains in the rooms make it a little dark and difficult to see the menu but it is nothing to even complain about! if you plan on eating here, save lots of room because most entrees come with soup AND salad. Their bread is delicious which is important for any italian restaurant and so is the food.
Every time I go to Cotardo’s, I get the angel hair with shrimp and scallops in the blush sauce. I am not sure of the name but I HIGHLY recommend that dish. If you go to this restaurant, the staff will tell you the same thing: it is the most popular dish. However, their sandwiches are just as good (I got chicken parm, also recommend this). My only complaint is that their calamari was not that good and was a little low quality.

I am BEYOND picky when it comes to Italian food. I’m a north Jersey Italian (I.e see Sopranos). I NEVER like Italian food out.
The Food:
The BEST garlic bread out I’ve ever had. The menu calls it «juicy garlic bread». Man is it GOOD. The salad is good. The soup is good. By the time you’ve stuffed yourself with soup, salad, and garlic bread you’re probably full. But your meal hasn’t even come out yet.
I have only ever ordered the gnocchi. The portion is HUGE. It last me at least 2 additional meals from the leftovers sometimes 3. It is so good. Seriously. I’m so sad I live on the other side of the country now.
They’re very good about accommodating groups and any allergies you may have.
I just which they were in a better location and now some shopping center.
The Décor:
What you expect, dark and like I expect to see that in an Italian place.
Service:
Always fast and prompt. Even with large parties.

Scusi, conosce un buon ristorante in South Jersey?
Came here today to celebrate some awesome people’s recent birthdays and the place was noticeably empty during lunchtime. Being a large party, we were ecstatic to have the place all to ourselves.
This Italian BYOB probably belongs in a classier locale than the Blackwood Shopping Center… but don’t be turned off by location. Dining at Cotardo’s is like stepping into a friend’s cozy home for a dinner party.
Since we were a healthy group of 12, we had the chance to view and sample the many dishes this place has to offer. The pasta plates are daunting in the manner that food of such quality rarely comes in near unlimited quantities (read: they are rather huge). Needless to say, you can skip the appetizers if you want to. This place is perfect for leftovers.
The food was fabulous. The grilled GARLIC BREAD with olive oil, garlic, and tomato is divinely appetizing. I would come here just for this! I had the Cappellini Ariana (Angel Hair pasta with shrimp & scallops sauteed in our della casa sauce), which was really delicious. Evidently, the Fettuccine Primavera, Gnocchi Leccese, and Baked Stuffed Shells were delectable as well.
The portions are generous. The pricing is definitely easy on the wallet ($ 9 per pasta plate + sides of soup/​salad). The BYOB policy is fantastic. The service was friendly. And most importantly, the company was great. There is nothing like celebrating the births of some amazing people and the end of a stressful week simultaneously before a snowstorm!
All in all, a very enjoyable and memorable meal. Buon appetito!