This post packs a good surprise! Guess where the Real Little Italy of New York City is located? At the Bronx! In here, you will find the best Arthur Avenue Restaurants, Cafes and Bakeries. Keep reading if you love to eat!
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Decadent pasta dishes. Creamy cannoli. Flavor bursting gelato. Oven baked pizza.
If you do not live in Italy, I am pretty sure you are looking forward to find these scrumptious concoctions close to where you reside or in a city you are visiting.
In the case of New York, a lot of visitors flock to Manhattan’s Little Italy. This small area, centered around Mulberry Street, received thousands of immigrants from Italy in the 1880s.
I have to tell you a secret. The Italians are long gone from the area (except for some exceptions) and the businesses have catered to tourists for many years. Sorry to break it to you in such a harsh way. The area is like a movie set, a pretty façade and not a lot of substance inside.
But not everything is lost. You can still have a real Italian experience in New York. The only thing is that you will have to leave Manhattan. To be more specific, you will have to go straight to The Bronx.
Table of Contents
History
In the late 1800s and early 1900s, a wave of Italian families moved to the Belmont area (in the Bronx) from Lower Manhattan. Some say it was because the development of the high line train made transportation easier, others say it was because the immigrants became affluent and wanted to settle down in more spacious areas and others say they were pushed out by the growing Chinese population.
These immigrants started to trade along Arthur Avenue. By 1940, an indoor retail market was designated as the official commercial hub for vendors. With the years, the area has received immigration from other countries but the Italian roots hold strong.
Authenticity
I had the opportunity to walk around Arthur Avenue four days before Christmas. The lines on some businesses were more than one block long. I heard people saying they waited two hours to get some goods from the Casa Della Mozzarella.
Waiting in line so long, to get food for the most important meal of the year, tells me a lot about the quality of the products sold around the area.
And, it was not only that. I saw license plates from New Jersey and Pennsylvania. People from other states were braving the traffic (and those pesky New York tolls) in order to shop here.
So, yeah, hard core foodies, lets unite and start eating our way on this side of the city.
Where To Go
Arthur Avenue Retail Market
You have to start your visit by stopping at the place where tons of food moves under one roof. This is the retail market mayor LaGuardia (hence the name of the airport) conceived in the 40s.
According to the neighborhood’s website, the market and its surroundings are home to “nine restaurants, five pastry shops, four butchers, two pasta-makers, six bread stores, three pork stores, five gourmet delicatessens, two fish markets, three gourmet coffee shops and one gourmet Italian wind shop – to list only the food category. And then there are the gift and house ware shops.”
With so much variety, prepare to spend more than an hours exploring and sampling the delicious goods.
For those looking to have lunch, I recommend Mike’s Deli. This establishment is famous for its high quality cured meats, cheeses, pastas, oils, vinegars and other specialties. They have a counter from where you an order sandwiches, hot pasta dishes, salads, bruschetta, paninis and plates stacked with cheese and cold cuts.
Believe me, the food is good and the servings huge. And, half of the Food Network chefs seem to agree with me. From Bobby Flay to Giada de Laurentiis to Mario Batali, all have been there.
The only thing is that the service is slow (snail pace slow). Therefore, put on your patience suit for the day. My sister says it is quicker to order to go (on the counter) than sitting down.
Casa della Mozarella
This place is said to have the best home-made mozzarella in New York. They prepare provolone and ricotta too. In addition, they sell a smoked version of the precious mozzarella and prepare ingredients that complement the chesses (shredded eggplant swimming in oil and vinegar, grilled and marinated zucchini, seasoned artichoke hearts and roasted red peppers).
I got to see the place from the outside since it was packed because of the upcoming holidays. So bad since I was dying to go in.
Pasta
Borgatti’s Ravioli and Egg Noodles is the place to go for handmade pasta.
Fresh Meat and Fish
For the finest cuts of meat, stop by Vincent’s, Peter’s or Biancardi’s. The Calabria Pork Shop has the most ridiculous selection of pork goods you can imagine.
Fish and seafood can be found at Cosenza’s.
Italian Specialties
The establishments inside the Arthur Avenue Retail Market have a great selection of specialties from different regions of Italy.
Teitel Brothers is another great place to stock on all things Italian.
Arthur Avenue Restaurants
We have discussed a lot of food and produce related places but I want to give you more insight about options to properly sit down and have a nice meal (which is not a difficult thing to do in here). If you are looking for the best Arthur Avenue Italian restaurants, take a look at the following list:
- Mario’s – Many people consider Mario’s the best restaurant in Little Italy. They have been delighting customers since 1940. If you are a fan of pizza, with a thin crust and freshly made mozzarella, this is the place for you
- Tra Di Noi – this place has been in business for about half a century. It serves Italian classics in a simple and family friendly way. This is the place you want to visit with your entire clan
- Trattoria Zero Otto Nove – serves Southern Italian specialties. This is a high regarded place by locals and visitors. Just look at the number of starts they have on TripAdvisor or Yelp. Do not forget to ask for the daily specials!
- Roberto’s Restaurant – another good place to try the classics and get transported to Italy
- Antonio’s Trattoria – this hip place cooks its paper thin pizzas in its brick oven. It is a great place to hang out with friends
- Pasquale’s Rigoletto – not sure if you have noticed a them in here but this is another place which has been around for a long time. Looks like it is a favorite post-Yankee game hangout. Yes, a good amount of pasta slathered in red sauce it needed after hours in the stadium
- Dominick’s – another good restaurant located at the heart of the action. Go early since it gets very full
- Enzo’s – this restaurant is considered a new face since it has been around for about ten years. However, it has gained many thumbs up from locals. Ideal for date night
- Emilia’s – go here for comfort food and scrumptious desserts
- Full Moon – serves Sicilian style pizzas
- Ann & Tony’s Restaurants – yet another long time business. The choices are making it harder and harder to choose
- Tino’s Delicatessen – get you big, hearty sandwiches, yummy pizza and other Italian specialties in here
- Still on Arthur Avenue but a bit off the central district you will find Michaelangelo’s Little Italy and Tony and Tina’s Pizzeria
Most of the establishments selling produce have deli counters. Therefore, you will not go hungry around here. Plus, you can decide if you want a casual or more formal dining experience.
Arthur Avenue Bakeries
For great bread and delicious pastries, you can stop by Terranova Bakery, Addeo Bakery or Madonia Bakery. Great coffee can be found at Prince Coffee House, Gura Cafe or Luna Cafe.
Other stores specialize in pastries only (they are pasticcerias). Egidio, Gino and Artuso are great places to get cannoli or tiramisu. To be honest, there are so many pastries on these places that I couldn’t keep up with everything I was seeing. It was brutal to know I was no going to be able to try everything. They had things with cool names like cat’s tongue and lobster tails.
Resources
Serious Eats has a very complete shopping and eating guide to Arthur Avenue. Furthermore, they have an itinerary describing the top things to try and the places to get it.
More of The Bronx
- If you make it all the way to the only borough located on the mainland (all the others are on islands, good to know!), you can visit the Bronx Zoo or the New York Botanical Garden. They are located minutes from Arthur Avenue.
- If you visit during the holiday season, check out the Train Show at the Botanical Garden. Check my post about it here.
More of New York City
Details
- If you are using the subway, take train #4 or D to Fordham Road and take bus #12 heading east. Remember you are going uptown. It takes about 45 minutes to reach Arthur Avenue from Midtown Manhattan
- Once at the Bronx, you can move using taxis or Uber
- If you have a car, take into consideration it may be difficult to find a parking spot on the weekends or during to the holiday season
- Check business hours since a lot of establishments close around 5 or 6 and are not opened on Sundays
Would you like to visit Arthur Avenue (aka The Real Little Italy)? In your opinion what are the best Arthur Avenue restaurants?
Ready to pin? Let’s do this!
Photo Cache says
Oh lordy 🙂 this is one mouth-watering post and I’m reading this while I’m shoveling mounds of tasteless oatmeal in my mouth.
Great tip and I be sure to make sure I have this for reference.
Have a great week.
Ruth says
Yeah, difficult to compare oatmeal to the food in here (most when tons of pork is involved). You have to experience this place one day!
image-in-ing: weekly photo linky says
Oh my – I’m DROOLING!
Great shots.
Thanks for sharing at https://image-in-ing.blogspot.com/2017/06/pretty-view-in-ladies-loo.html
Ruth says
I get it! I have dreams about all the food in the area.
Kit Graham says
I lived in NYC and never made it to Arthur Avenue – I need to check this out!
Ruth says
I heard a lot of New Yorkers are not familiar with the area. But, you know now! This would be a great addition to any itinerary to New York City.
Cathy (Mummytravels) says
My mouth is absolutely watering – this sounds a perfect place to wander, browse, taste and taste some more. A great introduction to this part of the city. Thanks for linking up with #citytripping
Ruth says
I know The Bronx is not that close to where visitors tend to stay but it is a great option for foodies or those who are looking to do something different. A lot of things are changing for the good in there.
Katherine says
Oh My God. The bread, the pastizzi, the salami… this post almost made me cry! I miss this food so very very much! My parents are from Malta (an island under Sicily) so we have lots of the same or similar food traditions to Italy, that I just can’t find in SF. I’ll be pinning this for our next NY trip, thank you! #cityTripping
Ruth says
Katherine, what a beautiful comment. Thanks for taking time to share a piece of your childhood. So bad you cannot find certain things in San Francisco. I am not even sure authentic and traditional food can be found in San Diego (which is famous for its Little Italy).
jo says
YUM! This is definitely on my list for a return visit to NYC. We didn’t visit Little Italy when we went and I can see we really missed out – fantastic round up pinned for future! #CityTripping
Ruth says
You remember this is the Little Italy located in The Bronx (the real one). Hope you can stop by on your next visit.
Sol Solntze says
Pretty sure I have never had good mozarella, but it is probably easier for me to go to Italy then to go here to get some. Great tip for those in the area though, and I really love the idea of a shop that seels nothing but fresh pasta!
Ruth says
Agree, it depends where you live. That is why I started the post by saying people who want to experience Italian flavors hope to find them close to where they live or in a city they are visiting.
Sol Solntze says
*grins* Oh I know. I’d just that for a moment, you had me contemplating wandering over here to find my elusive mozarella…
Ruth says
Got it!
ladyfi says
That’s quite a queue outside the noodle place! Nice shots.
Ruth says
I know! Those queues were everywhere. Too bad because I couldn’t get inside certain stores to get a look.
Rajesh says
Great tour of the place. Those buildings are beautiful and the food looks yummy.
Ruth says
The architecture of New York is very interesting. I enjoyed learning about that aspect while sampling a lot of the good stuff found in the city.
jesh StG says
Happy for you that you now can take macro’s with your new camera! They’re very inviting and inspirational!
Ruth says
I know! I have to practice with non-edible subjects. But, I love to picture yummy dishes. I like to remember what I ate.
Rhonda Albom says
New York is a real foodie’s paradise. My husband grew up in an Italian neighborhood in New York City and he said the food in his area was made by first and second generation immigrants (in the 1970s).
Ruth says
I would really like to visit New York alongside people who have grown up there. I am sure they know where the best and most authentic places to eat are located. The people I know in New York have moved to the area as adults.
Kristin | The Grape Soda Club says
So much gorgeous food!!! We did a few forays into Little Italy while we were living in New York, but looks like there are a lot of treasures there we missed out on! Pinning your awesome list here and planning to fix that next time we visit!
Ruth says
I get that New York is a huge city and some places are not going to be that easy to get too. I live in Los Angeles County and it is not that easy to get to certain neighborhood even thought the food is good.
Lydia C. Lee says
That food looks so good!!
Ruth says
Looks good and was good! I really want to go to that area again (even though I would prefer to hit the Puerto Rican places hard).
Al says
Wow, that food looks delicious. I may need to visit if I’m in NYC again!
Ruth says
Yes, keep it in mind because I do not think you can go wrong eating (and shopping) in here.
Corey at fifi + hop says
Don’t you love it there? 20 minutes from my home. Which is either a good thing or a bad thing! #farawayfiles
Ruth says
Yes, I loved it! It is very close from where my sister lives. Therefore, I know I will be able to stop by in a future visit.
Sarah says
OMG canollis. The best canollis I ever had were in NYC little italy 🙂
Ruth says
I had a cannoli in Manhattan’s Little Italy and it was delicious. I can say it was the best I have ever had (maybe we went to the same place).
jill says
Good to know for my next visit to New York, Ruth! Though I have to say that I’ve never had a bad meal in Little Italy – touristy or not. Love your food photos!
Ruth says
I am glad to hear that Jill. I know a lot of visitors would not be able to make it to The Bronx. It is good to know good food can be found in Manhattan too (I have never eaten there, for lack of time).
Anna says
That’s an area of NYC that I haven’t explored!! Indeed Little Italy is very touristy. Dined there once, but wouldn’t dine again!
Ruth says
Why you wouldn’t dine there again? Was it the price, the food or the atmosphere? I have never try any restaurants in the area. We always end up in Chinatown.
budget jan says
Thanks for bursting the bubble. It’s an expose really! I love the photo of Teitel Brothers because it gives me an insight as to what the area looks like and I like what I see. 🙂
Ruth says
Doesn’t it look good? I like all how the goods are arranged on the sidewalk. The area is so different from the idea of New York a lot of people has.
Vanessa Brune says
I love nothing more than Italian cuisine so Arthur Avenue seems like a foodie heaven to me!
Ruth says
If you love Italian food, this is the place to go. I visited with my mom and sister but would like to go again with my husband.
Allison says
Oh my goodness. I just had lunch and my mouth is still watering. So many delicious choices. It really is a foodie’s paradise. #weekendwanderlust
Ruth says
Thanks Allison! What ethnic neighborhood can be found in Chicago?
Kelly says
oh my gosh! You’ve really got me wanting to come back to NY and visit these places! We’ve had the good luck of corporate travel to NYC (in our previous work lives) but it’s time we come back for some fun and good food!
Ruth says
Visiting New York City is always exciting. The great thing is that there are tons of places, restaurants, etc. to discover. I have visited mostly in winter but need to make an effort to visit when the weather is warmer.
Harmony, Momma To Go says
I love Arthur avenue!!! I live on Long Island and we go up there at least once a year we always shop then eat at marios!
Ruth says
Lucky you! I am glad you have the opportunity to enjoy the goodness of this place once in a while.
Anisa Karen Alhilali says
I have been meaning to go to Arthur Avenue but I have not made it yet. Maybe I will try to go this summer. Just looking at the pictures in your post is making me hungry. Thanks for sharing on #TheWeeklyPostcard.
Ruth says
That sounds like a great plan for the weekend. I think there is a company offering food tours of the area. It would be fun to do one of those with friends.
Kathy Marris says
And here I was thinking that during my two visits to Little Italy that I was getting authentic Italian food! I actually found the food in Little Italy Boston to be better! Next visit I’ll certainly be checking out the “real” Little Italy in The Bronx. 🙂
Ruth says
Oh, I didn’t even now there was a Little Italy in Boston. There is one in San Diego but I have really explored it. I have to check it out.
Hilary says
I love markets and exploring unique neighborhoods! The food in all these photos looks amazing! We love to sample a bit of this and that as we go along! #theweeklypostcard
Ruth says
Those are things I like too. I feel like I get a real understanding of a place when I visit neighborhoods fulls of history and tradition.
Lolo says
OMG are those chocolate cannolis? They look yummy! I was a bit horrified to see the pig… something I’ll never be used to seeing because it’s not often in the US you see that and I remember being horrified the first time I saw a pig leg hanging in the market in Barcelona. #TheWeeklyPostcard
Ruth says
Yes, those are chocolate cannolis! I totally understand your reaction to the pig. However, that gives you an idea of how different and unique is this place.
beatravelling says
I haven’t made it to Little Italy yet. Need to do it. So much to choose from in NY 🙂
Ruth says
I know! There is so much to see in New York City! I wanted to do a food tour in every neighborhood.
Jim ~ Reflections Enroute says
I had no idea about this other little Italy! We will totally be here next time we are in NYC! #wkendtravelinspiration
Ruth says
Really? Well, this is a new place to discover. I read the best Chinatown is in Queens. I want to go there too (need to convince my sister).
Katy says
Wowee! Thanks for sharing this Italian NY goodness Ruth. Arthur Avenue has shot straight to the top of my New York to do list. Italian migrants bring their incredible food culture wherever they go and I am thankful for that! Thanks for joining #FarawayFiles
Ruth says
Great Katy! I hope you can visit one day. I love Italian enclaves. They have so many decadent dishes and desserts.
Lauren says
Okay…. how did I not know this?! Even though I’m from NY I swear there’s always something new to learn about this city haha .. Will definitely be paying a visit to Arthur Avenue next time I’m in the area! 😀
Ruth says
Ok, I get it since I have read even New Yorkers do not know about this place. But, next time you go hone, you should visit. I think you will love it there.
Anda says
Hmmm, I wonder how I missed this area of New York. I’ve been there so many times and yet never visited Arthur Avenue. Apparently, in a big city like this, you’ll always have something new to discover. I’ll make sure to add this to my list of places to visit next time I’m in New York. I love the cannoli and that olive bread looks really delicious. #TheWeeklyPostcard
Ruth says
Well, the great thing about New York is that you can keep going and visit different places every time. I am looking forward to discover more food centric neighborhoods on the city.
Clare (Suitcases and Sandcastles) says
What a great find, Ruth! My kids would enjoy going to the Mozzarella House, that’s for sure! We love food markets and it’s good to know where to find authentic Italian in New York. Thanks for sharing on #FarawayFiles
Ruth says
Oh, this would be an excellent place for kids. There are so many neat things to see. Kids would love to walk around and see all the good food.
Cherie Rose Martin says
I really appreciate your honesty about Little Italy. So true how it now caters to tourists. I’m in NYC all the time so am looking forward to check out the places you’ve mentioned. #flyawayfriday
Ruth says
Cherie, well, a bit of honesty will not kill anybody. I am glad you discovered a new area to visit in New York. Maybe you can give me some recommendations for the next time I visit the city.
Julz says
Awesome foodie post!!! Looks amazing ?
Ruth says
Ha, ha! I know, I love to write food related posts.
Liana Moore says
Woah, I’ve only been to New York for a handful of times but I’d almost want to stay a couple of weeks to be able to really enjoy some of these markets. #FlyAwayFriday
Ruth says
Right, several weeks are needed to explore the foodie scene of the city. It is not only Manhattan. The other boroughs are full of excellent eats.
Michele {Malaysian Meanders} says
I wish I could reach into my computer and pull that first photo of the cannolis right off the screen. Everything else looks so delicious, too. I think I could spend days on Arthur Avenue eating my way through it. #WkendTravelInspiration
Ruth says
My sister lives close to here, so, she visits all the time. That may be dangerous in my case.
Laura @ 48 No Interstate says
Oh wow, that food looks amazing. The only time I have spent in the Bronx was the 20th mile of the New York Marathon, so all I was thinking about at the time was getting back to Manhattan and finishing! Looks like I should make a return trip the next time we are in NYC for some delicious food. Thanks for sharing! #weekendwanderlust
Ruth says
Wow! Congrats on finishing that marathon. Yes, this will be a different kind of visit. Maybe a celebratory visit after doing a marathon (you will need pasta and gelato after that).
Vlad says
One of the few perks of living in Romania is having Italy less than two hours by plane away, with a lot of cheap flights available. When I’ll visit New York, stopping on this avenue will be a must! (probably not next year, as I’m going to the West Coast) #TheWeeklyPostcard
Ruth says
Ok, you are super lucky because of that! For us, unlucky people who live on the other side of the world, getting good Italian food can be tricky. What part of the West Coast are you visiting?
Sallie says
Oh.my.gosh.everything looks amazing. I’d love to try it all. I love Italian food (heck I love almost any food) but I have to tell you that I wouldn’t wait in line for two and a half hours for anything. I’m too old and life’s too short )). Probably not as crowded on non holiday weekdays though!
Ruth says
I love almost any food too! Do not worry, I visited on a very particular time. The area is not crowded at all (not touristy at all since it is “far” from Manhattan).
Jonny (daisythebus) says
Mouth-wateringly good! Having only been to New York a handful of times (business, not pleasure…) it is reassuring to know that people are willing to slow down / queue for quality food rather than grabbing junk food on the go. Love your off-the-beaten-track foodie discoveries! Greetings from Luxembourg. #MondayEscapes & #FarawayFiles
Ruth says
What you are saying is so true! I like when people are passionate about what they eat. I visited Luxembourg recently. The country blew my mind. Couldn’t stop taking pictures.
Rob+Ann @TravelLatte(.net) says
Our first mistake was reading this while we were a little hungry. 😉 What a great post! We really haven’t seen/heard much about Arthur Avenue, so we appreciate the details, and the fantastic pictures. (Even if they did make us drool a bit!)
Ruth says
Well, at least you weren’t totally hungry. It was my pleasure to write about this great area of NYC. A must visit in my opinion.
Mini Travellers says
This is A FAB post and your photos are great you toatlly have me wanting to head out to the Bronx and it is a great tips post for anyone wanting to find some authentic italian food. Thanks for linking up to #MondayEscapes
Ruth says
You are so kind! Thanks for stopping by!
David | Travelsewhere says
This is not the kind of foodie experience I think of in terms of New York, so thanks for showing me a different side of the city Ruth. That plate of cold cuts and more looks delicious. Well actually most of everything does. I was surprised to see what looks like dry, salted cod as I only really think of that in terms of Portugal. Really interesting stuff.
Kana says
Yuuuum!! I had no idea they even had a Little Italy, I always think of the Little Italy in Boston! Great post! Thanks for joining Fly Away Friday – see you this weekend! xo
Janine Good says
Very cool! I am a foodie and would be in heaven here! I love New York. it always surprises me! Hope to see you this week at Fly away Friday!
Scott says
I would gain SO much weight if I lived within visiting distance of a place like this. It’s like an italian-lover’s dream.
Mary says
I had been there once many years ago for a festival. But I had no idea it was such a hot spot for food. I’ll definitely have to pop over next time I’m in NY.
Lauren says
Ok, this post is AWESOME. I have pinned this for my next trip to New York, which somehow always seems to happen sooner than I think. The photos of the cheese, blue crabs, and the BREAD!!!! Ahh just finished dinner and I’m already hungry again from reading this post haha.
javier says
I wish I could go back to New York one day. I really enjoyed eating there!
Builddailys.Com says
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