South Jersey Restaurant One of the Best Classic Restaurants in America

I love my food.  Through the years, I've been fortunate to experience some of the best restaurants in the country.  A lot of people think that the best restaurants can only be found in cities like New York, or Philly, or some other metropolitan area.

Sure, all the big cities have their share of great restaurants.  However, if there's one thing that I've found to be true, it's that many of the so-called great restaurants, are really just very expensive, serve very small portions, and have famous names.

Surely the food is the primary reason for dining out.  But what about good service?  If I ask a server for a recommendation, can they respond?  What's the mood of the restaurant?  Is it reserved, or loud?  Loud isn't always bad, by the way.

One of the first things I notice in a restaurant is the smell.  If I'm out for Italian, I expect to smell some garlic in the air.

When I saw this headline, The Best Classic Restaurants in Every State, I was curious who they'd pick in New Jersey.

I was pleased to see that they did some out of the box thinking, in choosing some of the restaurants.  Oh sure, picking Peter Luger's in New York is a gimme, but John's Roast Pork in South Philly?  That was an interesting selection, and I mean that in the best of ways.

So, who did they pick in Jersey?  None other than Atlantic City's Chef Vola's.

I've never been there, but I hear great things.  The first thing you need to know about this restaurant is that you must have reservations.  They do not accept walk-ins, and getting a reservation requires perseverance.

Don't judge the restaurant by the outside, the atmosphere inside is said to be elegant, and romantic.  Their menu offers the standard staples of great Italian restaurants including homemade ricotta cheesecake.

They've won many awards through the years, and people who have been here, love it.  You can expect to spend about what you would at any fine restaurant.  It really seems reasonable for a special night out.

If you've been to Chef Vola's, I'd like to hear your thoughts.  Leave your comment below, and I may use them for a future story.

The Best Classic Restaurants in Every State (foodandwine.com)