Visit Arthur Avenue - the Real Little Italy
/It’s been years since I’ve mentioned Arthur Avenue on this blog. And it’s such an awesome, nearby and special place, that it’s owed a full post. This is New York’s true Little Italy and a visit is lots of delicious fun.
What is Arthur Avenue?
The Belmont section of the Bronx has been a haven for Italian immigrants since the 1950s. The area is still viewed today as the Bronx’s primary Italian American community.
As hopefully every resident of Westchester and Fairfield Counties knows, the Bronx is the northernmost borough of New York City and therefore, generally speaking, the closest borough to home.
Notably, this particular area of the Bronx is just over a mile from two major NYC family friendly attractions - the Bronx Zoo and New York Botanical Garden. Honestly, visiting either of those places without a trip to Arthur Avenue is just plain WRONG.
Much like Manhattan’s Little Italy, but with far less tourists and cheesiness, Arthur Avenue and its environs (the action stretches across 187th Street) is sprawling with energy and excitement. There are many Italian bakeries, pizzerias, restaurants and specialty shops, mixed with food and retail from other cultures.
Where to Shop and Graze
It's so much fun to spend a Saturday afternoon (many of the markets are closed on Sundays) on Arthur Avenue, strolling the streets, soaking up the energy and checking out the specialty food and supply shops. A baller move is to first hit the street-side raw bar (yes, you heard that right) at Cosenza’s Fish Market for some fresh, raw clams and oysters to tide you over while you shop and stroll.
Another absolute VIP move is to stock up on take home treats. The breads from Madonia Brothers Bakery and meats from Biancardi’s Meat Market are perfect to bring home for a lovely charcuterie later that night. If you’re willing to wait a bit, hit Casa Della Mozzarella on 187th for their famously delicious fresh mozz - it’s a must do at least once in your life. And a stroll through Teitel Brothers for dry goods, olives, olive oils and cheeses is also great.
Finally, do not miss a walk through the Arthur Avenue Retail Market. It has all kinds of Italian treats, dry goods and even cigars. Plus Mike’s Deli, located in the back right corner of the Retail Market, is an Arthur Avenue icon with Italian sandwiches to die for.
Where to Sit Down and Eat
Everyone has his or her favorite sit down spots on Arthur Avenue and while we haven’t tried all of them, we’ve tried enough of them to have developed definitive favorites over the years (and - real talk - ones we wouldn’t go back to). Here are our Arthur Avenue favorite spots perfect for an evening of red sauce Italian and red wine:
Antonio’s Trattoria is a newer spot which makes it more “hip to the times” and accessible for visitors less familiar with Arthur Avenue. We have eaten indoors, outdoors and as take out in our car from Antonio’s and all our meals were great. Start your order with one of their small but delicious pizzas as a shared appetizer.
Roberto’s is the grown up big sister spot to Zero Otto Nove. Roberto’s is popular and more of an adult place so we haven’t been much since before kids. Its signature pasta dishes are cooked in tinfoil and brought to your table still wrapped in the foil - opening it feels like Christmas morning.
Dominick’s is old and unfussy and a guests sit together at long tables. The waits can be long, the service can be surly and no menus are offered (it’s also cash only). Their secret best dish that my husband loves is a juicy steak with hot peppers.
Trattoria Tra Di Noi is our absolute favorite restaurant in the area and one of our most favorite restaurant in all of New York. Chef Marco cooks the kind of food that you wish your Italian grandmother cooked. Using fresh, top notch ingredients, Tra Di Noi dishes feel deceptively simple, incredibly rustic and delicious beyond a doubt. The “Specials” board at Tra Di Noi is truly special and should not be ignored. As for regular menu items, you also cannot miss: we love their Insalata di Casa, Fettuccine Carbonara and Veal Parmesan. Even the complementary roast potatoes and garlicky green veggie that comes with your entrees at Tra Di Noi are crazy good. While reasonably casual, Tra Di Noi gets more adult and crowded at dinner time, so if you are bringing the kids along, consider lunch or a very early evening meal. Advance reservations recommended.
Zero Otto Nove is casual and family oriented but still quite tasty. They have pizzas on their menu as well as composed dishes and we used to go here often with our kids. But it’s since expanded - there’s one in Armonk as well as Manhattan now - which takes away a lot of the fun of visiting on Arthur Avenue IMHO.
Don’t Leave Without a Bakery Visit
I don’t think it’s possible to leave Arthur Avenue without stopping into one of its many Italian bakeries. There are a bunch scattered around the area and I can’t say that we’ve ever established a true favorite - they’re all somewhere around “pretty good to fair.” But damn if a cannoli doesn’t hit the spot after some red sauce, you might be dead inside. Arturo’s Pastry is always a solid choice.
