La Strada, Staten Island

In our last post, we mentioned how the Bronx and Staten Island are in many ways the lesser-known of the five New York boroughs, though to be fair, the Bronx goes get its fair share of visitors. Staten Island, however, does not; it seems in many ways more of a suburb than a part of New York City. Because of this, visitors to the area often miss out on an area that has many points of interest, as well as good shopping and dining. And the dining part is what we focus on here, as we talk about a highly regarded Italian restaurant on Staten Island called La Strada that would probably be a lot more popular if it were in Park Slope or Greenwich Village.

La Strada is a large restaurant that is located in the busy neighborhood of New Dorp (toward the eastern end of the island). Because of the restaurant's impressive size (a rarity in much of New York City), it does much in the way of parties, functions, and catering. The menu at La Strada is varied and extensive, with all kinds of appetizers and salads as well as pasta, chicken, steak, veal, and seafood dishes.

If you have been to La Strada in Staten Island, please tell us about it by posting a comment here. Thank you!

Here is the address for La Strada:
La Strada
139 New Dorp Lane
Staten Island, NY, 10306

The phone number is:
(718) 667-4040

And here is the Web site for La Strada:
http://www.cafelastrada.com/

Lobster Box, Bronx (City Island)

Most visitors to New York City tend to stick to Manhattan, with a smaller number going to Brooklyn and Queens. Meanwhile, Staten Island and the Bronx see relatively little in the way of tourism and business travelers, which is a shame, as both boroughs have some real finds, including City Island in the Bronx. City Island is more like a seaside village than a part of the biggest cities in America. A number of seafood restaurants can be found here, including a place called the Lobster Box.

Located right on the water, the Lobster Box affords diners some incredible views of Long Island Sound, which more or less ends near City Island. The restaurant is spacious, with a number of tables and booths in each room of the place. The menu features all kinds of seafood, including catfish, salmon, sole, swordfish, and tuna, as well as several steak, chicken, and pasta dishes for those who do not eat seafood.

If you have been to the Lobster Box in the City Island section of the Bronx, please tell us about it by posting a comment here. Thank you!

Here is the address for the Lobster Box:
The Lobster Box
34 City Island Avenue
Brooklyn (City Island), NY, 10464

The phone number is:
(718) 885-1952

And here is the Web site for the Lobster Box:
http://www.lobsterboxrestaurant.com/

Tonio's Italian Cuisine, Brooklyn (Park Slope)

Park Slope is one of Brooklyn's wealthiest neighborhoods and is a bit trendy in places, but it wasn't always this way. And there are still pockets of old Brooklyn in this charming area, including some old-fashioned Italian restaurants such as Tonio's Italian Cuisine, a little-known spot on 7th Avenue in the heart of the neighborhood.

Tonio's is a family-owned dining spot that sticks to the basics of Italian food. A true red-sauce joint, Tonio's features many familiar items on its menu, including antipasto, minestrone soup, spaghetti and meatballs, linguine with clam sauce, homemade lasagna, filet mignon, and veal chops. Prices are good, with many items being under $20.

If you have been to Tonio's Italian Cuisine in the Park Slope section of Brooklyn, please tell us about it by posting a comment here. Thank you!

Here is the address for Tonio's:
Tonio's Italian Cuisine
306 7th Avenue
Brooklyn (Park Slope), NY, 11215

The phone number is:
(718) 965-4252

And here is the Web site for Tonio's:
http://toniosrestaurant.com/

O Lavrador, Queens (Jamaica)

Portuguese restaurants, while plentiful in parts of neighboring New England (especially around Fall River, New Bedford, Providence, and Cambridge), are relatively difficult to find in and around New York City. But there is a Portuguese dining spot in the Jamaica neighborhood of Queens called O Lavrador Restaurant that has quite a local following.

Just a short drive from JFK Airport, O Lavrador is a good alternative to the chain restaurants that can be found around this area. The atmosphere at O Lavrador is a mix of traditional Portuguese and old-school New York, and the menu features such dishes as chourico, octopus, collard green soup, chicken cutlets, codfish stew, shrimp and rice, and sirloin steak with ham and egg on in brown sauce.

If you have been to O Lavrador in the Jamaica neighborhood of Queens, please let us know by posting a comment here. Thanks!

Here is the address for O Lavrador:
O Lavrador Restaurant
138-140 101st Avenue
Queens (Jamaica), NY, 11435

The phone number is:
(718) 526-1526

And here is the Web site for O Lavrador:
http://lighthousenews.us/restaurants/olavrador/