TheBronxRocks.com

VENICE RESTAURANT, Morris Park 2107 Williamsbridge Road (718-597-2360)

Morris Park (The Bronx’s “2nd Little Italy”) has been on my list of areas to try for months now as several friends rave about the quaint “villagey” feel of the place, the nice homes on lovely tree-lined streets and an abundance of Italian restaurants, second only to Arthur Avenue. My first visit was Venice Restaurant….The establishment has been in business for decades and only recently went through a major renovation and rehaul…(And I gather that the jury is still out among locals if the changes have been for the better.) I, however, quite enjoyed my lunch (a delicious and healthy seafood salad) and appreciated the friendly service of the staff. Atmosphere-wise, I would’ve liked a bit more warmth and decoration (not a fan of bare walls, but that’s a minor point). Overall, a nice little place for lunch or dinner. And there are two large dining rooms, making Venice another option for large private parties. (Speaking of which, I arrived just in time to wish Louie (below) a Happy 100th Birthday, which was fun. Well done, Sir!!!) And afterwards, you can head across the street to Cafe Portifinos for a cappuccino al fresco! 

Extraordinarily hospitable bartender Regina and local Maureen.

Fenwicks is the place with the black awning

And oh yeah - be prepared to hike these stairs if you come by bus or subway!

 When one of the many fabulous reviews on this famous BBQ joint warned “Not for the faint of heart!”, naturally I couldn’t resist dashing to Hunts Point tout de suite to check it out!  While I wouldn’t recommend getting lost (yep, I admit I did - ending up in probably THE most desolate industrial area of the Bronx…but I digress), I would highly urge you all to pay this little slice of hog heaven a visit!  Read the reviews above to see what makes this place so darn special.  For those less intrepid, Mo’s has opened up shop near Little Italy. (Check out this Boogiedowner review on that location). But come on - don’t be a weenie! Check out the original Mo Gridder’s! This place could very well be a chain in a few years, and you could tell the tale of how you were a culinary daredevil, conquering all your unfounded Bronx nightmares just to be there at the very beginning…..

Eat in there. (Yep, you heard me)

COALS, Morris Park
NY Times Review  / Daily News Review
I love, love, LOVE this 2007 Zagat-rated eatery. What  you’ll find: a delicious and original take on pizza (hint: they’re grilled!) I had the Rustic (anything flavored with truffle oil has me at hello!), the tomato and pepperoni Dean Martin was a hit with my friend as well as the two tables we were sandwiched in between, and the appetizers and desserts (Nutella Pizza - Hello!) looked just as scrumptious.  The service was unbelievable - the uber-friendly Christine (pictured below) and Lynette were the sole wait staff for the packed Friday night crowd!!! The decor and overall atmosphere is hip, cool and casual, but thoroughly unassuming and without that trying-too-hard feel!  Customers, I’m told, are mostly locals and med students from the two nearby hospitals.   Unfortunately, I had to borrow a friend’s unfamiliar camera, so the quality of the photos suck - I will definitely return to snap some more.  This place is a HIT, in every sense of the word!

Thanks for posing, Alfonso and Raphael!!

BRISAS DEL CARIBE, Castle Hill (1207 Castle Hill Avenue) 

While I wouldn’t necessarily go that far out of my way for this no-fuss, no-frills Spanish-Caribbean establishment, I live within walking distance - so I will definitely be back.  Great food and even better prices.  Note: either come VERY hungry or expect to bring home a doggie bag! Great value here! And cute murals. I was there between peak hours so the photos don’t reflect how packed this place generally is. Check out these reviews…(Update: A reader just wrote in that Brisas del Caribe actually has a Michelin rating and that it is still to this day Jennifer Lopez’ favorite stop when she visits her childhood home. Cool!)

Pio Pio (Peruvian Restaurant) Mott Haven, South Bronx (264 Cypress Ave)

A great find in a section of Mott Haven that doesn’t see much upscale action! Delicious food, huge glasses of Sangrias (no liquor license so sadly they cannot sell their famous Pisco Sours), friendly staff and lively, energizing music make for a fantastic atmosphere. Congratulations on making this year’s Zagat list for the Bronx, guys! Check this place out - but make sure to bring cash (unless you want to be running down the street in high heels to the nearest bodega in search of an ATM like I was last night - NOT fun!) Note to owners: Who only takes American Express these days?!!?

This little neighborhood has become almost a weekly soujorn for me.  With its great array of bakeries, cafes, restaurants, speciality shops and and indoor farmers market, it holds great appeal for many of us in the Bronx who don’t have the best amenities in our respective neighborhoods. Two new places that I checked out for lunch and after-lunch cappuccino were Emilia’s (where else can you find Braised Rabbit, Deep Fried Zuchinni Flowers or Breaded Artichokes) and Parisienne Cafe (a little taste of France in a sea of Italian establishments). Click on the Little Italy tab on the front page for more outstanding restaurants in the area.

Danny - owner of Parisienne Cafe. Merci, Danny!

 Indoor market, Arthur Avenue

Another great find in the Bronx.  After spending three hours in the Woodlawn Cemetary, I was famished.  After checking out the many Irish Pubs along Katonah Avenue (most of which I will be sure to return to soon) we settled for The Rambling House Bar and Lounge.  This place is huge and is divided into a loud and busy bar (today, they were hosting a Halloween Party so cute kids in even cuter costumes were just as abundant as were those downing pints of Guinness and Murphy Irish Reds) and a more sedate (thank Heavens!) dining room.  I had a superb clam and linguini dish and my friend had a killer burger. And they have one of the largest beers-on-tap selection that I’ve seen in a long time (We each had a $5 pint of Blue Moon).  Oh - AND they have waiters like Kenny (pictured below) who are not only super friendly, but have got a TON of guts!!! Thanks Kenny! You rock!

 

I have to admit being surprised at all the sushi places I have seen just in the last few weeks in the Bronx - from Mott Haven to Throgg’s Neck to City Island and even a temporary sushi bar this month at The Bronx Botanical Garden.  And those are just the places I have seen first hand.  I look forward to finding others to add to the list. 

 

MARINA DEL REY, Throgg’s Neck

Whether you’re gettin’ married or just need a place to impress your guests, the Marina Del Ray facility should be on your list.  Gorgeous property with fantastic views!

PATRICIA’S II, Throg’s Neck

Gotta love a good brick oven when it comes to pizza.  Read my Boogiedowner review “When The Moon Hits Your Eye…” to learn more about Patricia’s.

THE GALLERY LOUNGE - Mott Haven, South Bronx

(Great staff at The Gallery Lounge)

I wrote about a great time a friend and I had last week when we hopped aboard the Bronx Trolley. During our many stops (here, here and here) in the South Bronx, we popped into the The Gallery Lounge (see my post here on The Boogiedowner).  It was great to finally check this place out, meet the very friendly staff and eat some great sushi. Check out there website for a funky and fabulous slideshow.

Yes, Sangrias…and great Mexican food!!! You have NO IDEA how fired I am about finding fresh and AUTHENTIC Mexican food right around the corner from my apartment! Growing up in Southern California, I crave this cuisine just about every other week and the many Dominican and Criolle eateries to be found in the Bronx just don’t always do it for me.  (Even in Manhattan, great Mexican cuisine is hard to come by). Taqueria Tlaxcalli (run by a former Mexico City resident - Mauricio), therefore is to die for.  And by the customers packing the place tonight, I’m obviously not the only one who believes they’ve just discovered a little slice of Heaven!  (Read some other favorable reviews here.) And pssst….don’t pass up the fabulous Sangrias!

 Judy (Go Fordham!) and Howard - Regulars at Tlaxcalli

Owner Mauricio - on the right - and his very talented kitchen staff.

Borgatti’s

The Bronx’s Little Italy is such a short bus ride from my home in Parkchester that I can’t believe I didn’t take advantage of it the first year and a half I was here.  It was only doing research for TheBronxRocks, that I finally figured out where it is (in between Parkchester and The Bronx Botanical Gardens, which I have been visiting regularly since I moved to this borough).  I posted about two fabulous restaurants early on here. But now I have to rave about the other shops one can enjoy during a stroll down Arthur Avenue.  I coaxed my friend Isabelle to join me last weekend and being Swiss-Moroccan and having spent her early years in both Paris and Switzerland, I knew she would appreciate this little enclave.  Reminiscent of the fromageries, boulangeries, chacuteries of the streets of Paris and other European villages, many of the shops of Little Italy specialize in their own…well, specialities – meat, cheese, bread, pasta, seafood and so forth.  Our favorite (and something neither of us had seen before) was Calabria Pork Store where the ceiling is literally filled to the brim with hanging salamis and sausages! After lunch at Tino’s Delicattessen and capucinnos at a bakery close, by we shop-hopped all the way down Arthur Ave for supplies to have an evening picnic-style dinner. French baquette, camembert, grapes, figs, olives, sundried tomatoes and a bottle of wine? Heaven!

Calabria Pork Store

A Little Taste Of Cuba

BRUCKNER GALLERY - Stop on the Bronx Trolley Tour
MOTT HAVEN, SOUTH BRONX

Actually, the last stop was at Sweetwater Bar & Grill, but by the time we reached the Bruckner Bar and Grill, the martinis, wine and high heel shoes had taken a toll and all we wanted to do was sit, pig out and people watch at this South Bronx institution.  Great music, yummy food and a fun crowd was the perfect way to end this great SoBro evening. (See Sobro! (Part 2) for another post on The Bruckner Bar & Grill)