NYC Dining: Pastrami Queen / Orwasher’s Bakery

Pastrami Queen
1125 Lexington Ave # 2
New York, NY 10075-0429
(212) 734-1500

Web Site: http://www.pastramiqueen.com

You’re definitely know you’re not getting Asian-Fusion cuisine when you see a sign like this.

The old school New York Jewish Deli is going extinct. We have perhaps less than a dozen notable places in Manhattan, let alone the five boroughs that conform to the classic Jewish Deli archetype where you can get a good Pastrami or Corned Beef sandwich, and I may even have to downgrade that dozen to less than a handful, including Katz’s, 2nd Avenue Deli (which re-opened in 2008 in a new location) , Carnegie, The Stage, Sarge’s and Junior’s (which has really focused on its cheesecake business now more than anything else, although they do a great burger). All of those landmark delis are either downtown or in Midtown. Other fine examples, like Liebman’s in the Bronx, are lesser known but are part of the city’s restaurant culture that is in rapid decline.

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NYC Dining: Abbondanza on Arthur Avenue (UPDATED!)

With today being Good Friday, I thought I would bring back one of my favorite posts, that being a pictorial tour of Arthur Avenue. The Belmont section of the Bronx comes alive during the Easter season, and you can still get your fill of Easter Pies and other great Italian-American foods there this weekend. Check it out on Saturday!

Related food post not to be missed: A Christobal Colom Arthur Avenue Mission

— Jason

The Belmont section of the Bronx is by far one of my favorite eating and food shopping destinations — as I tell many people, if you’re looking for the real Little Italy, it’s not in Manhattan, but on Arthur Avenue between 184th and 187th street. It’s a neighborhood frozen in time, where you can get imported delicacies from the old country as well as fantastic Italian-American eats which prominently feature them.

The very core of Belmont’s Italian shopping are the stores within and surrounding the Arthur Avenue Retail Market, where Mike’s Deli, Pete’s Meat, and a number of green grocers are located.

Dave Grecco, the presiding capitan of Mike’s Deli.

And his dad, the legendary Mike Grecco, salumi purveyor to the rich, famous, the everyman, and everybody in-between.

If you catch Dave in the middle of the day, he might be doing his stretching exercises (2004).

Il Duce guards the cache of tuna cans.

You need salamis?

Arthur Avenue is the REAL Little Italy of New York City. Click on the “Read the rest of this entry” link below for some more mouth-watering Italian-American delicacies.

NYC Dining: Roberto

Roberto Restaurant
603 Crescent Avenue, Bronx NY 10458
718-733-9503

Web Site: http://www.usmenuguide.com/Robertos.htm

Rachel and I have been dining at Roberto for many years now, so much that it has become part of our Arthur Avenue “routine” — Shop at the Retail Market for specialty items, hit Teitel Brothers for bulk goods, go buy bread (and cannoli) at Madonia, grab some raw clams at Cosenza’s, hit the Cheese Shop, and then go have dinner — EARLY! — at Roberto. Notice that I emphasize the “Early” part. The restaurant gets into full swing at around 6PM, and unless you get there by 5:30 or so, you’re going to have to wait a bit for a table. It is by far the most fine dining of the Italian American restaurants in the Belmont area, and I think it compares quite favorably with some of the very best Italian choices in Manhattan.

Storefront on Crescent Avenue.

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NYC Dining: Umberto’s Clam House Bronx

Umberto’s Clam House Bronx
2356 Arthur Avenue, Bronx NY 10458
718-220-CLAM (2526)

Web Site: http://www.umbertosclamhousebronx.com/

My parents were recently visiting from their home in Florida, and asked us where we could go get some brunch. Given the fact that Rachel and I are trying to avoid brunchy, carb-laden stuff, I suggested we go to Arthur Avenue, do a little window shopping and try Umberto’s Clam House, a seafood restaurant that is open for lunch on Saturdays. Umberto’s is also based out of Manhattan’s Little Italy, but as a result of the “Chinatownification” of the Little Italy that most people are familiar with, they decided to open an outpost in the Bronx, where the “real” Little Italy is now.

Umberto’s on Arthur Avenue.

Umberto’s Main Dining Room.

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Arthur Avenue: Park When You See Jesus

My brother Brandon was in town this weekend staying with us, and made a request to visit Arthur Avenue in the Belmont section of the Bronx. I’ve waxed rhapsodical on Arthur Avenue on this blog a number of times. For those in the know, the “Real” Little Italy is in the Bronx, near Arthur Avenue and 187th street. It is the “go to” destination if you want to be able to shop for authentic Italian provisions and eat at the some of best Italian-American restaurants New York City and the surrounding area has to offer.

Arthur Avenue and Belmont isn’t just Italian though — the community is also home to Kosovans, Albanians, Montenegrans and a large Mexican population, with their own stores and representative restaurants as well. This mural memorializing Anton Nikci, a famous local Albanian/Montenegran is adjoining an alleyway off Arthur that has a large municipal parking lot. I always tell everyone to “Park when they see Jesus”.

When you see Jesus, you know you’re about to have a transcendental Italian-American experience. Click on the “Read the rest of this entry” link below for more.

NJ Dining: Bartolomeo (Old Location)

Bartolomeo has Moved to Englewood. Click Here to read about the new store.

When I want Italian deli and gourmet items, my first instinct is to head right to the Bronx for the Arthur Avenue Retail Market. However, I’m not always in the mood to head over the GW and into a potential Cross-Bronx traffic quagmire, so I’m always on the lookout for good Italian stores here in Northern NJ. The most notable one in the area is Jerry’s Gourmet in Englewood (a Ridgewood location also opened in 2006) but it can be a mob scene on the weekends and the parking lot is frequently full.

Click Here for Hi-Res Slide Show

Bartolomeo, a much smaller store in Palisades Park, has escaped my notice for several years now, but for no longer — it’s going to remain on my hot list whenever I need good salumi, pasta, and Italian goods for our pantry.

The Bartolomeo store on Grand Avenue in Palisdades Park. Plans are being made for a second larger store in downtown Englewood.

You don’t need to go to the Bronx to get great Italian gourmet goods. Click on the “Read the rest of this entry” link below for more.