Ciao! If you’re visiting the Big Apple, you must take a trek up to Little Italy in the Bronx, especially to Arthur Avenue, where your taste buds will thank us.

Arthur Avenue is a street in the Belmont section of the Bronx, where you can find homemade cheeses at such shops as Casa Della Mozzarella and Calandra Cheese as well as freshly made pastas, some of the most delicious pastries you’ll ever have, and fresh breads that people travel miles for. There are pork stores and meat markets and seafood counters, oh my!

When you’re done stocking up on groceries, enjoy a meal at one of Arthur Avenue’s best restaurants:

Antonio’s Trattoria: You won’t find a restaurant on Arthur Avenue that isn’t presenting you with homemade cooking like mama, or nonna, used to make. Food here is steeped in tradition and generations of families have lived here running the restaurants and shops. The food is also rich with flavor and Antonio’s Trattoria is no exception. It’s one of the best you’ll find, so grab a table and start your evening off with a baked clams oreganata appetizer, eggplant fiorentina, Borgatti’s cheese ravioli and short ribs Toscana. Finish off your meal with a slice of cheesecake, a hunk of tiramisu or a scoop of gelato. If you close your eyes, you’ll feel like you’re eating in a restaurant in Florence.

San Gennaro Trattoria: You might have heard about the San Gennaro Festival, which is held in little Italy for 11 days every September. It’s a don’t miss event. This San Gennaro Trattoria is also a don’t miss restaurant, from its chicken pesto and sausage and broccoli rabe sandwiches, to its decadent ravioli in truffle sauce, and chicken francese, you’ll spend more time trying to decide on what you want than actually waiting or eating the food. You’ll also find the standard Italian dessert menu, where you’ll probably snack on some cheesecake, or panna cotta, or cannolis.

Mario’s: Talk about a long history. Mario’s has been here for more than 90 years, serving some of the best Italian food around. Oh come on, who’s kidding who? There’s not a bad restaurant in all of Arthur Avenue. Choose from its wide selection of antipasti, zuppe (soup), insalata (salad), pollo (chicken) and other entrees. You won’t regret it. One Yelp reviewer described Mario’s this way: “Mario’s is old school in the best possible way.”

Arthur Avenue isn’t just a street. It’s an experience for your nose and your tastebuds that you won’t soon forget.

Jody’s Travel Inc