The Arthur Avenue and Belmont Guide

Belmont, commonly known as Arthur Avenue, is the working center of Italian food in New York. While other neighborhoods have slowly traded their butchers for tourism traps, this grid of streets in the Bronx remains completely serious about how it feeds people. Families who moved to the suburbs decades ago still drive back on Saturday mornings to load their trunks with fresh mozzarella, dry-aged steaks, and pounds of ravioli cut to order. The shops are run by the third and fourth generations of the families who opened them.

You do not come here just to eat one meal. You come to fill a shopping bag, grab a slice of pizza, drink a beer inside a covered market, and sit down for an espresso. The rule of Arthur Avenue is to buy from the specialists. Get your bread from the bakery, your meat from the butcher, and your fish from the raw bar on the sidewalk. It is a highly specific way of eating, and it requires a plan.

Here is how to spend a day on Arthur Avenue in 2026.

The market and specialty shops

Arthur Avenue Retail Market

Belmont · 2344 Arthur Ave · Free to enter Map

Mayor Fiorello LaGuardia built this indoor market in 1940 to get pushcart vendors off the streets. Today, it operates as a covered hall holding butchers, greengrocers, cigar rollers, and a craft beer bar under one roof. You can walk the aisles to buy olive oil in bulk or watch men roll tobacco leaves by hand. It feels like an indoor town square.

Go for: A dry run of the neighborhood before you commit to buying anything. Know before you go: The market gets extremely crowded by noon on weekends.

Mike's Deli

Belmont · 2344 Arthur Ave (Inside the Market) · $$ Map

Located in the back of the Arthur Avenue Retail Market, Mike's Deli has been stacking Italian cold cuts since the 1950s. The Greco family runs the counter, shaving prosciutto di Parma and pulling fresh mozzarella to build massive, heavy sandwiches. See The Best Sandwiches in New York City for more local deli culture.

Go for: The Big Mike sandwich. Know before you go: Take a number as soon as you walk up to the counter.

The Bronx Beer Hall

Belmont · 2344 Arthur Ave (Inside the Market) · $ WebsiteMap

This bar sits right in the middle of the retail market. You can drink New York State craft beer on tap while surrounded by the smell of cured meat and fresh produce. The bartenders are generous with their recommendations, and you can order food directly from the surrounding market stalls to eat at the long communal tables.

Go for: A mid-shopping draft beer. Know before you go: They open at noon Tuesday through Sunday, closed Mondays.

Teitel Brothers

Belmont · 2372 Arthur Ave · $$ Map

Two Jewish brothers from Austria opened this wholesale grocery in 1915, and the third generation still runs it. They import massive wheels of Parmigiano Reggiano, premium olive oils, and canned San Marzano tomatoes, selling them at prices that beat almost anywhere else in the city. Look down at the entrance to see the Star of David mosaic they installed in the tile floor during the Great Depression.

Go for: Bulk olive oil and aged balsamic vinegar. Know before you go: The store is tightly packed and strictly business, so know what you want when you reach the counter.

Calabria Pork Store

Belmont · 2338 Arthur Ave · $$ WebsiteMap

You will smell this shop before you walk inside. The ceiling is completely covered by a massive hanging chandelier of cured sausages, usually numbering in the thousands. The staff makes the soppressata in house, offering sweet, hot, and extra hot variations that slice perfectly for an antipasto plate.

Go for: The house-made hot soppressata. Know before you go: They also sell excellent imported cheeses, but the pork is the main event.

Casa Della Mozzarella

Belmont · 604 E 187th St · $$ WebsiteMap

People wait down the block for the hand-pulled mozzarella and burrata made daily by the father and son team of Orazio and Carlo Carciotto. The cheese is soft, salty, and rich, often served just minutes after it was stretched. They also build some of the finest heroes in the Bronx using their fresh cheese and imported Italian cold cuts.

Go for: A container of fresh bocconcini (small mozzarella balls) to eat immediately. Know before you go: Expect a line on weekends, but it moves steadily.

Borgatti's Ravioli & Egg Noodles

Belmont · 632 E 187th St · $ WebsiteMap

The Borgatti family has been cutting fresh pasta here since 1935. You point to a chart to select your pasta thickness, and they run the dough through vintage machines right in front of you. Their ricotta ravioli and wide pappardelle noodles are exceptional, completely ruining boxed pasta for anyone who tries them.

Go for: A box of fresh ricotta ravioli. Know before you go: Bring a cooler bag if you plan to walk around the neighborhood before heading home.

Vincent's Meat Market

Belmont · 2374 Arthur Ave · $$ WebsiteMap

Butcher shops on this strip specialize in different cuts, and Vincent's is the place to buy custom meat orders and house-made sausages. Operating on the avenue for decades, they break down whole animals in the shop and supply meat to restaurants across the Bronx. The butchers are highly knowledgeable and will tell you exactly how to cook whatever you purchase.

Go for: The broccoli rabe sausage. Know before you go: They sell excellent dry-aged steaks if you are cooking for a special occasion.

Cosenza's Fish Market

Belmont · 2354 Arthur Ave · $$ WebsiteMap

Cosenza's runs an open-air raw bar right on the sidewalk. You can walk up, pay a few dollars, and eat freshly shucked Blue Point oysters and littleneck clams standing on the street. Inside, the cases hold pristine whole fish, octopus, and seasonal catches.

Go for: The sidewalk oyster bar. Know before you go: You dress the oysters yourself using the hot sauce and lemon wedges provided on the outdoor tables.

Randazzo's Seafood

Belmont · 2327 Arthur Ave · $$ WebsiteMap

Another pillar of the local seafood trade, Randazzo's offers a pristine selection of imported Mediterranean fish, live crabs, and scallops. The shop is incredibly clean and completely devoid of any fishy smell, a mark of highly skilled sourcing and handling.

Go for: Fresh branzino imported directly from Italy. Know before you go: The counter staff will clean and prep your whole fish exactly to your specifications.

Tino's Delicatessen

Belmont · 2410 Arthur Ave · $$ Map

A reliable anchor for hot prepared foods, Tino's serves heavy, satisfying plates of chicken parmigiana, baked ziti, and brick oven pizza. It is a fantastic option when you want a serious, sit-down lunch without the formality of a full restaurant dining room. The glass cases are loaded with antipasto salads and cured meats.

Go for: A hot hero to split for lunch. Know before you go: They stay open slightly later than the retail shops, usually until 7:30 p.m.

Bakeries and pastries

Madonia Bakery

Belmont · 2348 Arthur Ave · $ WebsiteMap

The Madonia family has baked Sicilian-style breads on Arthur Avenue since 1918. Their olive bread is heavily studded with whole olives and pulls apart beautifully. They also make excellent biscotti, and crucially, they do not fill their cannoli until the exact moment you order them, ensuring the shell stays crisp. Read more in The Best Bakeries in New York City.

Go for: A loaf of olive bread and a fresh cannoli. Know before you go: This is a cash only operation.

Egidio Pastry Shop

Belmont · 622 E 187th St · $ WebsiteMap

Operating since 1912, Egidio is widely considered the oldest pastry shop in the Bronx. The glass cases display rainbow cookies, lobster tails, pignoli cookies, and miniature fruit tarts. The staff still uses the original recipes and bakes everything in a massive vintage oven.

Go for: An espresso and a chocolate-dipped cannoli. Know before you go: There are a few small tables inside where you can sit and drink your coffee.

Restaurants and pizza

Mario's Restaurant

Belmont · 2342 Arthur Ave · $$$ WebsiteMap

A fifth-generation, family-run Neapolitan institution that opened in 1919. Mario's is a classic red sauce dining room with professional waiters and white tablecloths. They are famous for their octopus salad, veal dishes, and a coal-oven pizza that Francis Ford Coppola reportedly wanted to feature in The Godfather.

Go for: The off-menu thin-crust pizza. Know before you go: They run a dedicated weekend valet service for the heavy Friday to Sunday dinner crowds.

Dominick's

Belmont · 2335 Arthur Ave · $$ Map

Dominick's operates on its own set of rules. There are no menus. You sit at communal tables with red-checked vinyl tablecloths, and the waiters simply tell you what the kitchen is cooking that day. The portions are massive, served family-style, and designed for sharing. It is loud, chaotic, and entirely authentic. Check out The Best Italian Restaurants in New York City for more classic rooms.

Go for: The baked clams and the cold seafood salad. Know before you go: Bring cash, as they do not accept credit cards.

Enzo's of Arthur Avenue

Belmont · 2339 Arthur Ave · $$$ WebsiteMap

Enzo's feels like a warm, neighborhood bistro with serious culinary technique behind it. The kitchen turns out excellent Roman-style rigatoni alla carbonara, chicken alla calabrese, and fried meatballs. The dining room expands into a beautiful outdoor seating setup during the warmer months.

Go for: The signature fried meatballs with hot cherry peppers. Know before you go: This is one of the more comfortable, spacious dining rooms in the neighborhood.

Roberto's

Belmont · 603 Crescent Ave · $$$ WebsiteMap

Located just off the main avenue, Roberto's is a destination for Salerno-style cooking. Chef Roberto Paciullo highlights local, seasonal ingredients, with the best dishes usually written on a chalkboard menu. The space feels like a rustic farmhouse, and the cooking is sophisticated without being overly complicated.

Go for: The radiatore pasta baked in cartoccio (cooked in foil to trap the steam). Know before you go: They are closed on Sundays.

Zero Otto Nove

Belmont · 2357 Arthur Ave · $$ WebsiteMap

Also owned by Roberto Paciullo, this restaurant is named for the area code of his hometown in Italy. You walk down a long corridor into a dining room designed to look like a Mediterranean courtyard. The focus here is on Neapolitan-style pizza baked in a wood-fired oven, yielding a crust with the perfect amount of char.

Go for: The classic Margherita pizza. Know before you go: They accept reservations and tend to book up quickly on weekend nights.

Full Moon Pizzeria

Belmont · 600 E 187th St · $ Map

Situated at the busy intersection of Arthur Avenue and 187th Street, Full Moon is a classic New York slice joint. You order at the counter, pay in cash, and grab a paper plate. The slices are large, thin, and generously dusted with cornmeal on the bottom for extra crunch. See The Best Pizza Slices in New York City for more local staples.

Go for: A plain cheese slice eaten standing up. Know before you go: Cash is highly preferred to keep the line moving.

Culture and neighborhood anchors

Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church

Belmont · 627 E 187th St · Free WebsiteMap

This Roman Catholic church has anchored the spiritual and cultural life of the neighborhood since the early 1900s. The parish hosts the annual Feast of Saint Anthony in June, bringing rides, live music, and street food to the surrounding blocks. The building features beautiful Romanesque Revival architecture and remains a quiet, peaceful space just steps away from the busy retail stores. Add this to your map alongside 50 Free Things to Do in New York.

Go for: A quiet moment of reflection away from the crowds. Know before you go: Check the mass schedule if you want to see the church while services are running.

How to use this list

The best way to experience Arthur Avenue is to arrive hungry on a Saturday morning around 10:00 a.m. Start with an espresso, walk the length of the avenue to plan your purchases, eat lunch by noon, and buy your perishables right before you leave. Take the Metro North Harlem or New Haven line from Grand Central to the Fordham station, which is a 10 minute walk from the market. If you take the subway, the B or D trains to Fordham Road require a slightly longer walk or a quick transfer to the Bx12 bus.