Valente’s Cucina, 7 Kings Court in Haddonfield, announced that it will be expanding its dining room paving way for more seating indoors. They will be taking over space next door where a tailor used to be.
“Nothing like opening a restaurant during a global pandemic and shutdown and then trying to expand on the brink of another shutdown,” Marcello De Feo, owner, told South Jersey Food Scene.
New Jersey restaurants are still operating on 25% capacity for indoor dining. For a small restaurant with already limited seating, this makes it tough to survive.
Demo and construction will begin “soon” and he’s hoping to have more diners inside, socially distanced of course, by the middle of January.
In the meantime, De Feo is able to run a take-out and delivery “ghost kitchen” business, with offerings not available as Valente’s. This will supplement the business until the new dining space opens up.
Basta offers starters, sandwiches, steaks, salads, pasta dishes, and some entrees for lunch or dinner.
Stay tuned as we learn more.

Marilyn is a freelance writer covering the food and drink scene of South Jersey. You can find more of her writing on Philly Grub and NewsBreak.