Arthur Avenue in the Bronx Is New York's True Little Italy (2024)

By: Felicia LaLomia, ISDA Contributor

Anyone who visits New York City, Italian or not, is drawn to Lower Manhattan’s Little Italy on Mulberry Street. Just below SoHo, this shrinking historic neighborhood has been frequented by tourists and Italian-Americans alike for its culture, shops, and, of course, food.

But catch the B train 24 stops uptown to the Bronx, and you’ll be in a different Little Italy altogether. Arthur Avenue, located in the Belmont neighborhood, has been a place of flourishing Italian-American culture for about a century.

History

Name and Origins

The origins of Arthur Avenue can be traced back to the late 1700s, when Pierre Lorillard opened a tobacco company and a manufacturing plant. About 100 years later when the family decided to move their estate to New Jersey, the plant was sold off and eventually became the New York Botanical Gardens. But we can thank Catharine Lorillard Wolfe for the name of the famous street, who, when selling portions of the estate, requested that it be named after her favorite president, Chester A. Arthur.

The Italian Migration

In the early 20th century, when a wave of Italian immigrants came to New York, many made the Bronx their new home. When World War I broke out, many more people moved uptown to work at the Bronx Zoo and Botanical Gardens.

During the 1930s and 1940s, the Belmont neighborhood was known for its push carts until Mayor Laguardia opened the Arthur Avenue Market, so the local vendors could all be housed under one roof.

Today, the neighborhood is brimming with Italian businesses new and old. Here are a few of our favorites:

Eats

Trattoria Tra Di Noi

622 East 187th St.

If you’re in the mood for something more intimate and quiet, this is your place. The name translates to “between us,” but you may want to keep this place your little secret after you taste their sauce.

Enzo’s Of Arthur Avenue

2339 Arthur Ave.

This is the stereotypical Italian restaurant in all the best ways — Huge portions, “part of the family” service, and of course, all the old-school staples just like Nonna used to make.

Full Moon Pizzeria

600 E 187 St.

Craving a slice? This is your spot. Whether you want classic, Sicilian, or even a calzone, stop by this bustling shop and relax with some pie. Pizza pie, that is.

Tino’s Delicatessen

2410 Arthur Ave.

Don’t want a sit-down eatery? This place is for you. The deli offers casual dining in the form of hoagies, sandwiches and pizza. But don’t forget to check out the shelves for their dried goods.

Shopping

Get all your take-home goodies you can save for later.

Arthur Avenue Market

2344 Arthur Ave.

This is your one-stop shop for all the hard-to-get Italian delicacies. There’s even a beer hall if you’re in need of a sip pitstop.

Casa della Mozzarella

604 E. 187 St.

They make killer homemade mozzarella. Enough said.

Calabria Pork Store

2338 Arthur Ave.

You’re going to need some meat to pair with all that mozzarella cheese you just purchased. There’s prosciutto, porchetta, and sopressata, plus their own selection of cheese and some amazing stuffed peppers.

Madonia Bakery

2348 Arthur Ave.

It’s only right you finish off your packed stomach or take-home meal with something sweet, right? And the cheese and meat plate would be practically naked without some fresh baked bread. Well, Madonia is your spot.