Roberto's

Roberto's at 603 Crescent Avenue in the Belmont neighbourhood of the Bronx sits in the Arthur Avenue district, long known as the Bronx's Little Italy. The restaurant serves southern Italian cooking with roots in Campania, focused on handmade pastas, seafood and traditional meat dishes rather than New York-Italian red-sauce clichés. Belmont's Italian-American community, its old-fashioned delis, bakeries and pork stores give the meal a strong sense of place, and Roberto's is regarded locally as one of the area's leading dinner destinations. Signature dishes include rigatoni with sausage, whole fish prepared simply and served at the table, and tiramisu for dessert, alongside seasonal specials that change with the market. The dining room is warm and traditional, with a busy, convivial noise level, attentive service and a comfortable but dressier feel than most neighbourhood restaurants. There is no strict dress code, but many diners dress smartly for dinner. Prices are in the $$$ range, higher than the area's casual delis and pizzerias, and a full meal with wine can be a significant expense. The wine list leans Italian, and the kitchen tends to pair pasta courses with regional bottles. Reservations are recommended and are made by phone at (718) 733-9503; weekend evenings can fill in advance, so booking several days ahead is prudent. The restaurant serves lunch and dinner Monday to Saturday, though hours should be confirmed. Belmont is reached from Manhattan by Metro-North to Fordham or by subway and bus, and many visitors pair a meal with a visit to the Arthur Avenue Retail Market, the neighbourhood's cheese, bread and sausage shops, and the nearby Bronx Zoo and New York Botanical Garden.