Café On The DL is Open In Laurel Springs. Casual, Yet Elevated

Cafe on the DL is open in Laurel Springs NJ offering an elevated menu in a casual dining experience on the White Horse Pike (across from Jack’s Donut shop). We first reported on the plans for the restaurant last summer

Camden County based Chef and owner Dan is calling this a soft-opening as he adds additional items to the menu, but there is clearly already a significant number of options to the menu which he calls “A Twist on Modern American Classics”

An all-new casual dining space at Laurel Spring’s new Cafe On The DL

The Winter 2025 Menu features entrees, quick bites and more across many categories; DL Burger Bar, Hot and Cold Sandwiches, Chef Salads, Shareables, Soups, Flatbreads, and even larger entrees items.

Dan is a very personable, dynamic and creative individual and that clearly comes through in his menu and food preparation.

On one hand everything on the menu seems based on something familiar… but then again nothing is standard at cafe on the DL… everything has a twist!

Take the Big Beefy Burger for example, which sounds like it’s a traditional American cheeseburger… when it clearly is not!

First, all of the burgers are served on a Del Buono’s brioche bun featuring a 6 oz certified Angus beef Patty. The Big Beefy adds Shredded Beef Short Rib, a Herb Demi-Glaze, Melted Swiss Cheese, Arugula, Roasted Tomato and Truffle Aioli.

That burger alone has at least eight different unique and special design considerations to it!

Which all leads to why the menu is presented on four large-screen monitors situated behind the counter.

The title on each screen now says ”Winter 2025” making it very clear to customers that each season Dan plans on changing the menu up, to which he says will utilize the fresh ingredients available for that time of the year. It also makes it easy for Dan to slip in something new, which he seems to do on a regular basis.

Another aspect that I picked up from meeting the chef just a few times is that he is a casual guy most comfortable in sneakers and jeans… but then he also has these amazing high-end cooking skills… which in most cases wouldn’t seem to match up!

Dan wants to offer a higher quality dining experience that doesn’t cost a fortune, which also doesn’t require you to find that nice pair of shoes buried at the bottom of the closet that you haven’t worn since your Cousin’s wedding 6 years ago.

So with that description of the owner chef, Cafe On The DL strives to be a perfect balance of a delicious yet casual dining experience.. where the innovative menu is offered via counter service!

There’s no wait staff at the restaurant, and you come in and find your own comfortable booth or table. When you’re ready to order you just walk up to the counter and place your order.

Ordering is not much different from your local pizza shop, except this counter offers menu items such as Pan-Seared Salmon with an Apricot Glaze, Rainbow Quinoa Tabouleh, Sauteed Spinach and Chilled Roasted Beets.

Or how about a more casual Buffalo Soldier Sandwich which gets the “Dan Treatment” with Grilled Chicken, Frank’s Buffalo, Gorgonzola Cheese, Melted American Cheese and Chive?!

A new Vegetarian Dish at Cafe on the DL; Roasted Butternut Squash, Apricot Glaze, Toasted Farro, Dried Cherry, Honey-Soaked Raisin, House Hummus, Baby Spinach Sauté & Crispy Brussels

And on a more simpler but still elevated recipe, the Mama Mia’s Meatball Parm offering 4 All-Beef Meatballs, House-Made Marinara, Melted Mozzarella, Pest and Grated Parmesan is a customer favorite and top seller.

The all new dining room carries that same “vibe” offering an attractive, welcoming and comfortable space… featuring an amazing mural on the back wall highlighting the history and significance of Laurel Springs, painted by hometown artist Kait Amadia! (Facebook)

Laurel Springs artist Kait Amadio is finishing her hometown focused mural at Cafe On The DL

This is actually the second location for Dan and his wife Lisa who originally started in a much smaller café space in a Marlton Office building. Through a combination of delicious food, as well as a balanced social media marketing presence… Café on the DL created a loyal following of customers in Marlton and now Dan can offer an even broader menu with a full sit down experience in Laurel Springs.

To be clear, the Marlton location is still open but rebranded as Greentree on the DL, with a slightly shifted focus on the menu but still offering delicious freshly prepared food

In my early evening visit today to Laurel Springs (just as Dan opened for the dinner hours) I met a group of friend from Medford who have been big fans of Dan, Lisa and the Cafe On the DL since they opened in Marlton, and they were happy to have driven over with their own bottle of wine, enjoy the new expanded space in Laurel Spring, and dig into the deliciously expanded menu.