The Classic Pasta? It's At Kitchen Consigliere!

The spaghetti marinara. Look at that homemade spaghetti!

The veal picatta. Fresh, aromatic and plentiful.

The tasty sauce clings to the spaghetti as it loops around the fork.

If you're ever in the mood for classic Italian fare (And who isn't?) we've found an intimate gem for you.
It's The Kitchen Consigliere just a meatball toss from center city Philadelphia (and not far from the PATCO stop) in the cozy, old-fashioned town of Collingswood, NJ.
The Kitchen Consigliere Cafe is an informal BYOB Italian eatery where the emphasis is on the traditional home-style Italian cooking, often referred to as peasant dishes or Italian comfort food.
Influenced by the dishes he ate growing up, owner Angelo Lutz's cooking style stems from teachings and recipes from his mother and grandmother.
With an atmosphere as informal as the changing food and menus, The Kitchen Consigliere is a friendly, value-priced eatery for the entire family.
And good food isn't the only reason to eat at the cafe. Part of the adventure is meeting and talking with Angelo Lutz. At The Kitchen Consigliere Cafe many people find that they come for the food and then stay for the conversation.
Since most dinner entrees at The Kitchen Consigliere include a generous side salad and fresh Italian bread, ordering is easy. We brought our own wine with us and enjoyed a bowl of pasta fagiole as well as the traditional spaghetti marinara and the veal picatta. All portions here are generous.
The pasta fagiole was thick and tasty with small pasta rings and chick peas (pasta 'n cheech) nestled together in perfect harmony.
The spaghetti is homemade and cooked to absolute perfection: light and perfectly firm to the teeth (al dente!) and the sauce caressed each strand of the spaghetti like a Venetian lovefest. What we liked most about the sauce was its fresh and rich (though never heavy) succulent quality. There's nothing watery or slippery or splashy about the sauce. It's genuine and aromatic with no aftertaste. Magnifico!
The veal was tender and served in a white lemon sauce with capers over penne pasta. Once again, we were impressed with the freshness and obvious care that was taken in the preparation of the dish.
Yes, we could have used a bit less sauce on both entrees but now we know to ask the kitchen to go a bit lighter on the sauce next time around. Since everything here is cooked exactly as you want it, you can be very specific in ordering and we imagine you can even pretty much concoct your own dish within reason as Angelo certainly aims to please.
Everyone at this delightful cafe is very friendly and happy to welcome you and accommodate your every need. Our waitress (Lauren) chatted amiably with us and checked with us frequently to make sure we were satisfied. And Angelo Lutz is right at the door to greet you and he and his staff are attentive to every detail imaginable.
On top of all that, outdoor dining is also available on a charming terrace adjoining the cafe and overlooking The Lumberyard, a new residential development.
Try The Kitchen Consigliere. We think you'll like it!