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People don't really wander into this borough—as they do into Brooklyn and Queens, hoping to stumble on some gem of an ethnic eatery—but the Bronx has a lot going for it, if you know where to look. Dotted throughout the borough are some great Mexican taquerias, African eateries, and old-school Italian joints. Skip Manhattan’s Little Italy and head to the Bronx's Arthur Avenue for a red-sauce treat; it's a much more authentic Italian American neighborhood.
A quaint, whitewashed facade highlighted by a colorful vegetable mural hints what lies within this sustainability-minded and kosher café: a daytime menu of produce-forward dishes, including shakshuka (eggs in a spicy tomato sauce), salads, and a tasty tofu banh mi, plus an evening menu of salmon soba noodles and fish tacos. Indoor seating is limited, but outdoor seating is on a relatively quiet and picturesque side street.
There are several old-school Italian American restaurants in the Real Little Italy in the Bronx, and Antonio's Trattoria is one of the solid choices when looking for a place for good, honest fare. Start with award-winning fried calamari from the antipasti menu, then move on to a variety of classic dishes: baked clams, zuppe di pasta fagioli, linguine with clam sauce, or excellent pizzas, prepared either Sicilian style or baked in a brick oven with a thin Neapolitan crust.
Step inside this neighborhood mainstay near Arthur Avenue for a delectable selection of on-the-go snacks that include cakes, black-and-white cookies, and Italian pastries. Artuso's has been run by the same Italian American family since 1946, and the impassioned proprietors and community vibe truly add flavor to the shop's outstanding selection of sweets.
This cavernous restaurant-speakeasy behind a storefront selling old vinyl records from the '70s and '80s is barely a secret since you'll likely hear the merriment coming from just behind the velvet curtain in the back. Proudly representing the Bronx, this lively restaurant celebrates Black and Nuyorican old-school hip-hop culture through its graffiti-inspired murals, its music, and above all, its menu, with offerings ranging from churrasco to chicken and waffles.
Hanging plants and elegant decor set the stage for this trendy Dominican--Asian fusion restaurant, where dumplings are filled with mofongo, soft oxtail meat dwells within samosas, and short rib braised in Korean flavors is accompanied with sweet plantain puree and tostones crumbs. All their tapas-size dishes are made to share, so make sure you have company.
With its old-world, exposed-brick and wood interior, new American cuisine, and creative cocktails, this homey brunch, dinner, and drinks destination feels like the transformation of Mott Haven in a nutshell. Housed in the lobby of the renovated Clocktower Building, once a piano factory, the restaurant maintains a playfulness, especially when there's live music on Wednesday nights and during Sunday brunch. Look on the walls for irreverent portraits of famous Charles and Charlies, including Barkley, Darwin, Chaplin, and Brown, to name a few.
This stylish outpost of the popular chocolate purveyor of Puerto Rico serves more than just desserts; their menu also includes many savory offerings—with and without chocolate infusions—including wings smothered in chocolate guava chili, sancocho (stew), chicken soup with mofongo (mashed fried plantains), and a classic Bronx bodega chopped cheese sandwich, with chocolate chipotle mayo.
Seven shops within four blocks of Arthur Avenue make fresh mozzarella daily, but Joe's is one you don't want to skip. (The trick is, they add the perfect amount of salt.) For lunch, dive into one of the gigantic hero sandwiches, a generous portion of chicken parmigiana, or one of the other daily specials from the hot bar. The ceiling is draped with assorted house-made and imported cheeses, as well as multiple types of prosciutto and other meats.
Named after the Spanish word for “home,” this humble, progressive-thinking Mexican eatery not only welcomes foodies looking for authentic, home-style Oaxacan fare, but displaced refugees. It's owned and operated by an undocumented family after all, who proudly share their culinary talents with the South Bronx community. The menu has familiar handheld items, but indulge on platters like molcajete (mole with chorizo, cheese, rice, and beans, and tortillas), or a poblano chile relleno (stuffed pepper) with cheese, coated in egg batter.
With painted murals and bricked archways, Zero Otto Nove's original location channels motifs from a Tuscan grotto, even though their cuisine leans toward central and southern Italy, in addition to Italian American classics. Try a wood-oven-fired pizza or pasta dishes, including mafalde noodles with broccoli rabe, and rigatoni with butternut squash puree and porcini mushrooms.
