Discover a scene from an Italian restaurant in the Bronx.
While Manhattan's Little Italy slowly loses ground to its neighboring Chinatown, the Bronx's Belmont neighborhood is still home to a thriving Italian community offering a vast array of dining options. From casual sidewalk cafes to formal white linen service, the Bronx is home to all varieties of Italian restaurants. While the densest concentration is in Belmont along Arthur Avenue, you can find Italian food all over the Bronx.
Roberto Restaurant
Italian food means more than just spaghetti at Roberto.
Esquire magazine called Roberto the best Italian restaurant in America, and it seems the crowds agree. This restaurant is so popular that it does not accept reservations. The antipasti selection alone is enough to get the mouth watering. The starters lean heavily on a selection of fresh seafood: sardines, clams, calamari and clams all make appearances. Be sure to save room for some pasta. Roberto offers penne, orecchiette, fusilli and linguine served with rustic Neapolitan sauces. For the main course at Roberto, a vast selection of veal, fish, lamb, beef and chicken dishes are available. For a relatively expensive restaurant, the attire is casual.
Roberto Restaurant
603 Crescent Avenue
Bronx, NY 10458
718-733-9503
roberto089.com/index_r.html
Trattoria Zero Otto Nove
Wood fired pizza is the main attraction at Trattoria Zero Otto Nove.
Zero Otto Nove translates to 089, the area code for Salerno, Italy, which is the original home of chef Roberto Paciullo. Like its sister restaurant, Roberto, Trattoria Zero Otto Nove features a full selection of antipasti, pasta, fish and grilled meat, but the real draw here is the wood fired pizza. Enjoy your choice of traditional pies like Margherita (tomato, mozzarella, basil) or Quattro Formaggi (smoked mozzarella, gorgonzola, provolone, fresh mozzarella). If you're feeling adventurous, you might prefer to try one of the specialty pizzas like the la salernitana (fresh mozzarella, escarole, olives, capers, anchovies) or the la cirilo (butternut squash puree, cream of truffle, mushrooms, fresh mozzarella).
Trattoria Zero Otto Nove
2357 Arthur Avenue
Bronx, NY 10458
718-220-1027
roberto089.com/index_089.html
Mario's Restaurant
Authentic Neapolitan cuisine is the specialty at Mario's. Owned by the the Migliucci family, which has been providing the Bronx's Belmont neighborhood with great Italian food since 1919, Mario's prides itself on treating its customers like family and creating all its dishes from scratch. In addition to the usual steaks and chops, Mario's offers more adventurous options like broiled calf's liver and tripe a la livornese (an oil, egg, anchovy sauce). All food is cooked to order here, so don't expect a quick dinner. Nonetheless, it will be worth the wait.
Mario's Restaurant
2342 Arthur Avenue
Bronx, NY 10458
718-584-1188
mariosrestarthurave.com/
F & J Pine
Venturing out of Belmont's Little Italy, neighboring Van Nest is home to an Italian institution, F & J Pine. Opened by Frankie Bastone in 1969, this restaurant specialized in family meals inspired by Calabrian cuisine. While no longer the well-kept secret it once was, F & J Pine still uses the freshest of ingredients in the creation of its sprawling five-page menu, which includes pastas, heroes, pizzas, fish and meat. On Sundays, F & J Pine offers an all-you-can-eat special on Frankie's famous ragu served over tagliatelle pasta.
F & J Pine
1913 Bronxdale Avenue
Bronx, NY 10462
718-792-5956
fjpine.com/main.html
Umbertos Clam House
Clams come many ways at Umbertos.
As its name suggests, Umbertos is famous for its clams. Little necks and cherry stones are available on the half shell. Try them tossed with linguine and in soup, too. Umbertos also offers all the Italian classics like baked ziti, fettuccini alfredo and a selection of chicken, steaks, and chops. Umbertos features live music on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
Umbertos Clam House
2356 Arthur Avenue
Bronx, NY 10458
718-220-2526
umbertosclamhousebronx.com/
Tags: Avenue Bronx, Otto Nove, Zero Otto, Zero Otto Nove, Arthur Avenue, Avenue Bronx 10458