Sammy's Shrimp Box, Bronx (City Island)

So we return to City Island here on this blog, as this Bronx neighborhood is in of itself a hidden gem that the vast majority of visitors to New York City never get to see. Earlier, we had talked about a seafood restaurant on City Island called the Lobster Box; this time around, we are also talking about a seafood restaurant (Sammy's Shrimp Box), and it just happens to be on the same street and within a stone's throw of the Lobster Box.

Sammy's Shrimp Box is a casual spot that has outdoor dining and an attractive interior. The menu is quite extensive, with such items as Maryland crab cakes, littleneck steamers, trout, lobster, swordfish, tilapia, fried blue fish, linguine with clam sauce, prime rib, BBQ chicken, and baby back ribs. There is also a children's menu with a number of items on it. Prices for both lunch and dinner can be a bit expensive (many items run into the $30s, $40s, and even the $50s), but there are also some less pricey options on the menu.

If you have been to Sammy's Shrimp 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 Sammy's Shrimp Box:
Sammy's Shrimp Box
41 City Island Avenue
Brooklyn (City Island), NY, 10464

The phone number is:
(718) 885-3200

And here is the Web site for Sammy's Shrimp Box:
http://www.shrimpboxrestaurant.com/

Pelham Bay Diner, Bronx (Pelham Bay)

One of the nicest sections of the Bronx is a neighborhood just off of Route 95 on the eastern edge of the borough called Pelham Bay. It is mostly a middle-class community with attractive tree-shaded streets and a large number of single-family houses. It is also home to a handful of restaurants, including the Pelham Bay Diner. Located just northwest of where Route 95 intersects the Hutchinson River Parkway, the Pelham Bay Diner is has been a convenient stop for folks heading into or out of the city since the early 1980s.

A good-sized place (in addition to a couple of function rooms for events), the Pelham Bay Diner is a family-owned place that is open 24 hours a day. The menu includes a variety of comfort foods such as omelettes, pancakes, French toast, sliders, pizza, burgers, lamb chops, pasta, and fried clams. Prices are fairly reasonable, though some items are a bit higher-priced than you might expect at a diner (a few entrees cost more than $20).

If you have been to the Pelham Bay Diner in the Pelham Bay section of the Bronx, please let us know by posting a comment here. Thanks!

Here is the address for the Pelham Bay Diner:
Pelham Bay Diner
1920 E Gun Hill Road
Bronx, NY, 10469

The phone number is:
(718) 379-4130

And here is the Web site for the Pelham Bay Diner:
http://www.pelhambaydinerny.com/

Venice Restaurant, Bronx (South Bronx)

The South Bronx generally isn't known as a dining destination (and in fact is a place that many people try to avoid because of its dubious history), but there are some interesting dining spots here and there, including an old-fashioned Italian restaurant that has been around since the early 1950s. And while the Venice Restaurant may not be in an area that folks visit while in New York, it is a highly-regarded spot that is worth considering if you are a lover of old-school red-sauce joints.

The inside of the Venice Restaurant features murals of Venice, Italy, and simple, basic round and square tables. For those who are worried about their cars outside, the restaurant has a parking lot with a security system. The menu is filled with familiar Italian dishes such as baked manicotti, linguine with clam sauce, lasagna, eggplant parmigiana, and fried calamari. Prices are dirt cheap for New York City, with most items being well under $20.

If you have been to the Venice Restaurant in the South Bronx, please let us know by posting a comment here. Thanks!

Here is the address for the Venice Restaurant:
Venice Restaurant
772 East 149th Street
Bronx, NY, 10455

The phone number is:
(718) 585-5164

And here is the Web site for the Venice Restaurant:
http://www.venicerestaurant149.com/

F & J Pine Restaurant, Bronx (Van Nest)

As much as some diners shrug off old-fashioned Southern Italian restaurants in favor of more upscale, refined Northern Italian dining spots, sometimes people just want to have a heaping plate of chicken, veal, or pasta at a reasonably-priced, unpretentious red-sauce joint. And if you happen to be in the Bronx, you have seemingly endless choices, including a local favorite in the East Bronx (in the Van Nest neighborhood) called F & J Pine Restaurant.

A family-friendly spot in a close-knit working-class part of the Bronx, F & J Pine Restaurant is a popular place for weddings, birthday parties, and other events because of the large rooms available within the restaurant. Their everyday menu features mostly familiar Southern Italian dishes such as pasta fagioli, linguini with clam sauce, baked ziti, chicken cacciatore, and grilled sausage. They also have a variety of pizzas and heroes. There is a pretty wide price range at F & J Pine Restaurant, but many of the dishes cost less than $20.

If you have been to F & J Pine Restaurant in the Van Nest section of the Bronx, please let us know by posting a comment here. Thanks!

Here is the address for F & J Pine Restaurant:
F & J Pine Restaurant
1913 Bronxdale Avenue
Bronx (Van Nest), NY, 10462

The phone number is:
(718) 792-5956‎

And here is the Web site for F & J Pine Restaurant:
http://www.fjpine.com/main.html

The Rambling House, Bronx (Woodlawn)

Way, way up in the Bronx, about as far as you can go and still be in New York City (and indeed right at the Yonkers border), is a close-knit Irish neighborhood called Woodlawn. It is a place full of Irish bakeries, pubs, and restaurants, and is a fine place to grab a burger and a Guinness while listening to traditional music. One such place is The Rambling House, a truly authentic Irish pub and restaurant located in the heart of Woodlawn on Katonah Avenue. It is a place you can go to hear traditional Irish seisuins over a pint or two, and in the warmer months, you can opt to sit outside where a number of table are set up out front.

The menu at The Rambling House is a mix of authentic Irish cuisine (bangers and mash, lamb stew, shepherd's pie, chicken curry, fish and chips, toasties) and more American pub grub and entrees (chicken tenders, quesadillas, burgers, ribs, meat loaf). Prices are reasonable, with most entrees being under $20.

If you have been to The Rambling House in the Woodlawn section of the Bronx, please let us know by posting a comment here. Thanks!

Here is the address for The Rambling House:
The Rambling House
4292 Katonah Avenue
Bronx (Woodlawn), NY, 10470

The phone number is:
(718) 798-4510

And here is the Web site for The Rambling House:
http://www.ramblinghouse.com/

Roberto's, Bronx (Belmont)

Not all of the best Italian restaurants in New York City are located in Manhattan or Brooklyn. Take, for example, Roberto's in the Belmont section of the Bronx (also known as Arthur Avenue, Fordham, and Little Italy). If this classic Italian dining spot were located in Manhattan, it would probably be much better known. But relatively few out-of-towners visit the Bronx, even though it has some incredibly interesting sections, particularly the heavily-Italian Belmont neighborhood.

Roberto's is old-Italian at its best, from the cozy and seductive atmosphere to the professional staff to the wide variety of foods offered. The menu includes such standbys as pasta e fagioli, calamari, antipasto, penne alla vodka, linguini with clams, chicken alla caprese, and veal scallopine. But there is much more on the menu as well, including lesser-known dishes such as grilled rabbit and pasta in zucchini sauce. Prices are about what you would expect, with many dishes being around $15 to $25.

If you have been to Roberto's in the Little Italy section of the Bronx, please let us know by posting a comment here. Thanks!

Here is the address for Roberto's:
Roberto's
603 Crescent Avenue
Bronx (Belmont), NY, 10458

The phone number is:
(718) 733-9503

And here is the Web site for Roberto's:
http://www.roberto089.com/index_r.html

Liebman's Deli, Bronx (Riverdale)

Have you ever been to Riverdale? Unless you live in New York (and even then it's not a guarantee), you probably have never heard of the place. Riverdale is a part of New York that feels nothing like the rest of the city. Indeed, parts of this Bronx neighborhood feel more like Westchester County or Southwestern Connecticut with its large homes, elegant shops, and tree-shaded streets. But Riverdale is also home to some remnants of old-school New York, including a delicatessen called Liebman's that is an institution of sorts to locals in this wealthy neighborhood.

Liebman's Deli is perhaps only three blocks from the busy Henry Hudson Parkway, but the vast majority of folks on that road probably don't even know of its existence. It is a throwback of a place that has been around since the early 1950s, serving Kosher dishes that are the epitome of comfort food. Items such as knishes, potato pancakes, kasha varnishkas, gefilte fish, nova, pickled herring, tongue, pastrami, corned beef, and much, much more can be ordered here. Add to this relatively easy parking and moderate prices (compared to delis in Manhattan), and you have yourself a deli lover's dream in the upper reaches of the Bronx.

If you have been to Liebman's Deli in the Riverdale section of the Bronx, please tell us about it by posting a comment here. Thank you!

Here is the address for Liebman's Deli:
Liebman's Deli
552 West 235th Street
Brooklyn (Riverdale), NY, 10463

The phone number is:
(718) 548-4534

And here is the Web site for Liebman's Deli:
http://www.liebmansdeli.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/