Naples native Aldo Lamberti brings the influences of his Italian childhood to Cherry Hill, N.J., with Caffe Aldo Lamberti. The chef-owner grew up in the seaside town of Monte di Procida and had his first restaurant job at 13, when his family moved to Brooklyn, N.Y., and opened a pizzeria. At 27, Lamberti returned to Italy to hone his culinary skills before traveling back to the United States and settling in New Jersey. There he opened several restaurants, including Caffe Aldo Lamberti, which soon became a local dining staple.

The menu features plenty of seafood—an homage to his hometown—as well as steaks, house-made pastas and other Italian classics. Wine director Chris Wanamaker manages the 1,220-selection, Best of Award of Excellence–winning program that focuses on California, Italy and France, with standout picks from Tuscany, Piedmont and Bordeaux. The restaurant frequently hosts wine dinners with top producers such as Heitz and Pio Cesare, with its 11th annual Opus One dinner slated for this fall. Below the dining room, guests can host their own events in one of three private wine cellars named for prominent wine regions.