Roberto's Restaurant: The Best-Kept Secret of Little Italy in the Bronx

Outside Roberto's Restaurant on Crescent Ave.

For many New Yorkers, it’s no secret that the best Italian cuisine is located in the Belmont section of the Bronx.  A Piccola Italia in its own right, the neighborhood is an epicenter for Italian gastronomy.  Many of the best pizzerias, sit-down ristorantes, coffee shops, delis, bread bakeries, and meat markets are concentrated along one street, Arthur Avenue.  It is here that the Italian festival of Ferragosto occurred this past weekend, garnering hundreds of patrons to take part in festivities including music, dance, and of course food.

While the festival no doubt looked like fun, my family and I (they love to visit me on campus at Fordham whenever they get the chance) hoped to find a quieter venue to enjoy each other’s company.  After pushing through the crowds on Arthur, we wandered along Crescent Avenue and stumbled upon Roberto’s Restaurant.  Well off the beaten path, we had found the best-kept secret of the Bronx: a small eatery with an inviting, authentic atmosphere.  Best of all?  The wait time at Roberto’s was half as long, but the food and service were twice as good at Roberto’s than at any other restaurant I’ve visited in the Bronx.

The interior of the restaurant is classy with a brick wall, arches, and a colorful chandelier.

Every dish off the Southern Italian-style menu satisfied each of our appetites (and portions were big enough to provide us with tasty leftovers for the next day); however, there are some outstanding plates worth noting.  For pasta, the thick spaghetti strands smothered in a creamy zucchini sauce, called Bucatini a Modo Mio, was savory and just rich enough.  A standout chicken dish is the Pollo con Spinaci, which combines chicken breast, spinach, prosciutto, and mozzarella masterfully.  My brother highly enjoyed the Filetto di Manzo alla Griglia, a delicious grilled skirt steak.

Don't forget the Tartufo for dessert!

Finally, you can’t forget dessert at Roberto’s.  The rich Tartufo is the best choice for lovers of chocolate and ice cream, though the American-style Strawberry Cheesecake is another sweetly satisfying option.

Roberto’s Restaurant is located at 603 Crescent Ave. Bronx, NY 10458.  Open for lunch and dinner Monday through Saturday.