You'll Love Little Italy!

Waverly here, your Patch NYC Kids' Mayor!

My mom has been talking about how much she misses Europe and how she can't wait to go back to Italy. Well, we don't have to wait -- we are so close to the Bronx Little Italy! This summer when school is out, The Belmont Business Improvement District (BID) safely welcomes families back to the borough, announcing the latest offerings from Bronx Little Italy’s top family-friendly eateries, artisan shops and restaurants – many of which are owned and operated by the same families that founded them nearly a century ago.

“From the beginning of the 20th century, our neighborhood was built by local immigrant families who opened authentic Italian restaurants, butchers, bakers, fish markets, delis, pastry shops and specialty stores for the community,” said Peter Madonia, Chairman of the Belmont BID. “Many of these small local businesses are still owned by the same families that founded them, and you’ll often see multiple generations of family members working alongside each other. While our neighborhood has continued to navigate the pandemic, visitors can still experience the best of Bronx Little Italy. Our businesses have implemented health and safety protocols to keep staff, guests, and the community safe, and many of our eateries continue to offer outdoor dining experiences.”

Some of the family-friendly institutions in the neighborhood that we can't wait to visit include:

• Antonio’s Trattoria – Serving authentic Italian dishes approved by “Nonna,” Antonio’s offers a kids’ menu with favorites including pizza, mozzarella sticks, cheese ravioli, rice balls and more. Half-orders on many of their pasta dishes are also available for younger guests. If you visit on a birthday, kids (and their older patrons) can enjoy an acapella version of happy birthday accompanied by a festive disco light. Celebrity guests have included Neil Patrick Harris and David Burtka with their kids, DJ Khaled and his son Asahd, Chazz Palminteri – a Bronx native and star of A Bronx Tale, and many others. Other popular menu items include lasagna, short ribs, thin crust pizza, and veal saltimbocca. **Please note there is limited space for strollers. Open for indoor and outdoor dining.

• Full Moon Pizza – Located on the world-famous intersection of Arthur Avenue and East 187th Street, Stan Petti and his father bought the business from its previous owner in 1976. Today, Stan and his son, Gerardo, can often be found behind the counter making pizza together and serving smiles. To Stan, Full Moon is more than a business, it’s a constant reminder of where his family came from, and represents the Italian core: good company, delicious soul warming food, and family. Customers are treated like family and only offered the best. Families enjoy sharing giant pies, loaded sandwiches and wings. Open for indoor and outdoor dining.

• Mike’s Deli – Located in Arthur Avenue’s Retail Market, Mike’s Deli is owned by Dave Greco who has been behind the counter since he was 12 years old, serving the neighborhood, visitors, and customers like his own family. Dave’s family has roots on Arthur Avenue since 1920. All recipes are passed down through multiple family generations including from Dave’s Neapolitan grandmother and his father who is from Calabria. Kids often enjoy their eggplant parmigiana and the Italian combo sandwich with fresh mozzarella. Open for indoor and outdoor dining. Also offering delivery and shipping.

• Morrone Pastry – Guests will find brightly lit display cases packed with traditional Italian pastries, cookies, and cakes at this Arthur Avenue pastry shop which opened in 2005 by Ermanno Morrone. Kids can choose from plenty of sweet treats neatly laid out, with favorites such as rainbow cookies and giant sugar cookies. Young guests also opt for their gelato and sorbetto during the summer. Parents can indulge in cannoli, biscotti, and tiramisu complemented by cappuccinos, espressos, and macchiatos. Morrone Pastry is also known for crafting a wide variety of specialty and custom designed cakes. Open for indoor and outdoor dining.

• Tino’s Deli – Located adjacent to Ciccarone Park, Tino’s Deli has been family-owned and operated for over 20 years by couple Rosa and Giancarlo Paciullo, who create Neapolitan dishes using recipes that have been passed down from Rosa’s grandmother and mother. Featuring an expansive menu, popular kid items include sandwiches, chicken parmigiana, lasagna, pizza, baked ziti, macaroni and cheese, spaghetti, mozzarella, and gelato. Open for indoor and outdoor dining, as well as delivery.

• Dominick’s Restaurant – What better place to bring the family, than a restaurant serving family-style portions. Dishes here are made for sharing, and popular options include baked clams, eggplant parmigiana, pork chops pizzaiola, and linguini alla Gianni (diced shrimp and clams). Similar to home, there is no official menu at Dominick’s, but families share what they want based on the day’s dishes with the waiter. Owner, Charlie DiPaolo, and the boys, welcome all and treat everyone like family. Open for indoor dining, as well as outdoor dining from Friday to Sunday only. Cash only.

In addition, the Bronx Little Italy will bring back the popular “Piazza di Belmont” on Arthur Avenue starting April 30, 2021 through the fall during weekend evenings, once again creating a European style al fresco dining plan that incorporates health and safety protocols, six feet spacing between tables, signage for pedestrians, temporary street closures during the weekend nights and more. My mom will be the first person there, I bet!

Worried about safety? They have it covered!! Following the guidelines of elected and health officials, all Bronx Little Italy restaurants implement health and safety protocols including but not limited to face masks required by all staff; mandatory daily health screening of staff; signage of social distancing throughout; regular cleaning and disinfecting according to CDC guidelines; and more.

For more information about Little Italy in the Bronx, visit www.bronxlittleitaly.com or follow the BID on Instagram at @BronxLittleItaly, Twitter at@BXLittleItaly, Facebook at @BronxLittleItaly or YouTube.com @BronxLittleItaly.

So, we won't see you in Italy, but we WILL see you in Little Italy! Bring your appetite!