The Secret Eats of Arthur Avenue Food Crawl: The Bronx's Little Italy

What's so special about New York City's neighborhood of Belmont, you ask? From over 30 mom & pop shops along Arthur Avenue serving everything from tantalizing cheeses and sausages to warm bread and freshly-filled cannoli — to being home to a world-premiere zoo, botanical garden, and university — this Italian community is steeped in history, not to mention some of the best food in the Big Apple. But how did this Bronx neighborhood go from a rural enclave to a lively hub for food, arts, and culture? It's time to hit the streets of the "old neighborhood" and understand why it has a special place in the hearts of hundreds of thousands of Italian-Americans in the metropolitan area.

Join New York Adventure Club as we explore and taste our way through the Bronx neighborhood of Belmont, a close-knit neighborhood dating back centuries that's home to dozens of eateries showcasing the authentic tastes of Italy, earning it the reputation of the "Real" Little Italy of New York City.

Led by Susan Mills Birnbaum — licensed NYC tour guide, food lover, and history buff — our cultural and culinary experience around Belmont and its eateries along Arthur Avenue will include:

• A custom-made NY Adventure Club route of Belmont's diverse neighborhood and cultural landmarks
• Tastings and treats from several delightful eateries along Arthur Avenue, including homemade pasta, sausage, pastries, and more
• A cheesemaking demo inside the historic Arthur Avenue Market
• The contributions of the Lorillard family to the neighborhood, along with those of immigrants who built some of the neighborhood's most iconic institutions and local establishments
• A peek inside Italian establishments on Arthur Avenue, ranging from butchers and delis, to cheese shops and fishmongers, to bakeries and bread shops
• Stories of the “survivors” — the 3rd, 4th, or even 5th generation family-owned shops
• A discussion of the recent arrivals on the culinary scene including Albanian and Mexican fare

Come hungry!

*Your ticket includes tastings at every eatery on the tour

**Please bring water and a pair of comfortable shoes as we’ll be on our feet for the duration of the tour

***This experience ends at 189th St and Arthur Avenue

****Eateries are subject to change

Transportation

*Please double check train departure times the day before as schedules can shift due to track work.

By Public Transit: Take a Metro-North train on the Harlem or New Haven Line to Fordham Station — the meeting location is steps away from the exit. Since this experience takes place on a weekend, be sure to purchase a Metro-North CityTicket for $5, which allows for inter-NYC travel for $5 flat.

By Car: Street parking can usually be found in the immediate neighborhood. The nearest parking garages can be found at 455 E 189th St on 189th Street (LAZ Parking between 3rd Avenue and Washington Avenue) and 425 E 189th Street (KK Parking on 189th Street between Webster Avenue and 3rd Avenue).

About Susan

Susan Mills Birnbaum, owner and operator of SusanSez NYC Walkabouts, is a native New Yorker obsessed with its history and food. Since 2002, Susan has been a licensed NYC Sightseeing Guide. She is also a member of the Guides Association of New York City (GANYC).

She’s had a lifelong interest in history (earning her Bachelors in History from Hunter College), is a member of many NYC historical societies, and volunteers as a docent at the Museum of the City of New York.

Along with history, Susan has a true passion for people (earning her Masters of Social Work from Rutgers University) and loves nothing more than to share with tourists and natives alike the best food, shopping, art, and architecture of her “hometown.”

Susan’s love for New York is infectious and her tours surprise even native New Yorkers who find themselves discovering its untold history. Taking a tour with this quirky and witty New Yorker is a sure way to explore the little-known treasures that make her “backyard” the most vibrant city in the world.

Testimonials

"I liked the personal relationships the guide had created with the vendors. I would definitely recommend it to someone who is unfamiliar with the real Little Italy :)" -Laura

"Loved it! I have been to Arthur Ave many times over the years, but I learned so much on this walk. Totally worth it! The variety and the fact that she knew the places and the places knew her. They accommodate our group, much better than simply walking around and looking" -Joel

" Food was great. Guide knowledgeable" -Jean

" Susan was informative and the food was delicious" -Kathleen

" I loved everything about this tour. The guide was unbelievably knowledgeable and the tastings were timed right and so delicious!!! Our guide, Susan Mills Birnbaum, was fantastic! What a fun thing to do with my friends- we all had a fantastic time and the tour guide Susie was amazing!!" -Kathy

" Tasted different food and learned about the history of the Bronx. Hi, Susan was quite knowledgeable. I enjoyed it quite a bit." -Victoria

" Saw such a broad array of eating establishments. Also very much enjoyed the market and cheese making demonstration. Guide worked very hard to really give us a thorough view of the neighborhood and variety of foods." -Paula

" I really liked exploring an area I’ve never been to with a lifelong local who could point us to the best places" -Erika

" Susan's enthusiasm and knowledge and caring are bar none" -Whitney

" Good, guide and shows all the options for food & suggestions." -Rachael

"Great variety of places and a nice intro to the neighborhood." -Tim

"Tasted quite a bit of the flavors of Little Italy. Was more than I expected and all quite good." -Gilda

"Great tour! I’ll def book another one soon." -Lindsey

"It was a great walk with history, food and great food shopping opportunities." -Artur

"The guide was so sweet, kind, and prompt. She was knowledgable. And the food/stops were great." -Taylor

"Susan was very friendly and knowledgeable. The shops were inviting and made us feel welcome" -Anne

"Learning about Arthur Ave I(altho’ we grew up in the Bronx) and sampling the delicious treats of this “Little Italy” along the way. We learned much from experiencing. This is the second outing with Susan (the other was the food crawl in Astoria). She did not disappoint in her knowledge, easy manner and humor once again." -Marty

"Good food, good guide. Nice day" -Karen

"The length, the info, I feel like we got a lot for the price. " -Ana

"Susan is a fantastic guide, knows lots of info and trivia; kept it moving nicely, the samples were excellent and generous and the demonstrations were fun. It was a great day all around; perfect weather, great guide, great food and we grew up in the Bronx so it was fun to revisit. Would absolutely recommend." -Angela

"Guide was terrific: super knowledgeable, personal, professional, well organized and most importantly ensured the enjoyment and participation of all the group members." -Barry

"Very Interesting. Food excellent. Guide knowledgeable" -Deena

"Learning the history of Little Italy , and of course the food tasting. Guide was very knowledgeable and down to earth. Enjoyed the fact that guide knew restaurant owners and we were able to watch them make the food, etc" -Jennifer

Disclaimer

Event takes place rain or shine.

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Categories: In-Person, Food & Drink

Host or Publisher New York Adventure Club