Haddonfield is known for a miscellaneous assortment of restaurants, ranging from casual American to explosive Mexican. This variety makes downtown Haddonfield the wonderful place it is—bustling streets, cute stores, old-fashioned buildings, and an irreplaceable atmosphere of good feelings. Recently, another restaurant has joined the family: Umile Trattoria. 

Umile Trattoria opened in downtown Haddonfield on September 27, 2024, a fine Italian restaurant serving lunch and dinner. This trattoria was established by the owners of two other restaurants located in Haddonfield, Crumb and Gouldsburger’s, which serve sandwiches and burgers, respectively. 

The menu offers a variety of Italian classics and focuses mainly on pizza. Umile Trattoria serves a wide assortment of 12” pizzas, as well as many options for their salads, pasta, and other main plates. However, many would agree that this restaurant is on the higher end of the price spectrum—with its entrees ranging anywhere from $14 to $44. 

It is important to note that this restaurant is reservation-only. Although it is not hard to place one, reservations for a table inside are not simple, especially during weekends. With that said, bar seating and outdoor dining are relatively more accessible to book, allowing anyone to place a reservation only a few hours before dining. 

My family and I walked into the small yet modern establishment at around 6:00 PM on Sunday just in time for our reservation placed earlier that day. Glancing in the dining room to our right, a welcoming atmosphere emanated, with the sound of chatter leaking out into the halls. The interior brought about a fine combination of chic and comfort, with tables full of people and a counter-seat section lining the outer parts of the kitchen. 

We were soon directed to our table that had been pre-set for us outside. We were greeted by a waiter assigned to take care of us who was extremely attentive and meticulous, guiding us through the menu, asking for specifics, and answering all our questions with patience. 

We eventually settled on two 12” pizzas, one Prosciutto di Parma ($19), which had been their most ordered pizza, and one Margherita ($17), a classic that could never go wrong. 

After about ten minutes or so, our waiter brought us our two pizzas. Or, at least, was going to until our Margherita slipped from the tray and flipped flat onto the brick walkway. The waiter quickly apologized, assuring us that they would bring another pizza while handing us the unflipped Prosciutto di Parma pizza and clearing the fallen dish.

The Prosciutto di Parma was extremely unique. Based on the trattoria’s special crust, an assembly of arugula, burrata cheese, and prosciutto drizzled with fig vincotto and garnished with Parmigiano and lemon zest lay on top. This combination of salty meat, sweet and sour vincotto, and fresh greens came together to create a unique flavor, bringing a special saltiness and a distinctive sweetness to the mouth. However, as unique and healthy as it was, it was not worth the $19 due to the strange and peculiar taste of the dish. 

Next came the Margherita pizza, this time undropped. The pizza comprised a layer of sweet and tangy crushed tomato sauce, discs of rich mozzarella cheese, and scattered pungent basil leaves. Drizzled with dashes of extra virgin olive oil and sprinkled with sea salt, the dish was perfectly completed. My family received this pizza much better than the Prosciutto di Parma, as it gave us a satisfying and bold herbal taste that crashed into our mouths. 

However, the aspect of both pizzas that stood out the most was the exceptional crust. Unlike the ones commonly found in other pizza chains, which are often thin and stiff, Umile Trattoria’s crust was a perfect combination of textures—crispy on the outside and just the right amount of chewiness on the inside, creating a wonderfully satisfying bite. 

Overall, Umile Trattoria is a solid addition to the Haddonfield dining scene, but is not a place I would visit regularly. While its food is undeniably high quality and the service is noteworthy, whether or not it is worth the cost is open for debate. 

You can support Umile Trattoria at 211 Kings Hwy E, Haddonfield, NJ 08033, open from 11 AM to 9 PM Tuesday through Saturday, and from 10 AM to 9 PM on Sunday.