We can debate til midnight whether the economy is getting better, worse or is stalled in neutral.
But one thing seems fairly resilient in South Jersey - more and more restaurants. While some have not been able to whether recent hard times, there is no shortage of new restaurants waiting to take their places.
In Collingswood alone, three new restaurants are on tap - two Indian restaurants and a Japanese eatery.
The owners of the former Universal Deli and Grocery at the corner of East Coulter and Haddon avenues plan to convert their business into an as-yet-unnamed Indian restaurant. Just up the avenue, in the space formerly occupied by Raymond's Pizza at the Lumberyard, a storefront is being renovated for Indiya, a new venture from the owners of Coriander Indian Bistro in Voorhees. That eatery will focus on lighter, vegetarian and vegan fare.
Further down the road, finishing touches are being put on Akira, a Japanese restaurant focusing on hibachi and sushi, with other locations in Moorestown and Voorhees.
Meanwhile, after years of anticipation, Catelli Duo Osteria and Wine Bar at Voorhees Town Center opened its doors Monday. The Tuscan restaurant is the descendent of Catelli's on Main Street, which closed in 2011.
“Catelli Duo is a contemporized departure from our opening act and great run on Main Street in Voorhees,” explains Jan Talamo, the managing partner. “While we respect and value the equities of the first Catelli’s, Catelli Duo now more closely embodies the preferred dining style of today’s consumer – more casual fare at a lower price point.”
Now the only question is, where to eat first?
