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New York Botanical Garden
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The best restaurants near the New York Botanical Garden

Plan the perfect trip to the Bronx with a stop at these top restaurants near the New York Botanical Garden

Written by
Juliet Izon
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You’re going to want to visit the best restaurants near the New York Botanical Garden—you’ll certainly need sustenance after traipsing through its 250 acres of lush greenery. While famed Arthur Avenue in Little Italy may be the most well-known food enclave near the Garden, red sauce is certainly not the only game in town. From hearty and authentic Mexican restaurants to the little-known cuisine of the Balkan region, the best restaurants and bars in the Bronx neighborhoods near the Garden are, shall we say, blossoming with possibility. Read on to discover the best restaurants near the New York Botanical Garden.

RECOMMENDED: Full guide to New York Botanical Garden

Best restaurants near the New York Botanical Garden

  • Restaurants
  • Italian
  • The Bronx
  • price 1 of 4
When your food is this good, who needs a menu? Such is the philosophy at Arthur Avenue legend Dominick’s, where only a single copy of the bill of fare is posted outside. The red sauce renditions here are truly unparalleled. Baked ziti? Linguini with meatballs? Fettuccini Alfredo? The gang’s all here, in larger-than-life portion size at that.
Hudson Garden Grill at the New York Botanical Garden
  • Restaurants
  • Contemporary American
  • The Bronx
  • price 2 of 4
In one of the most impressive locations of any restaurant in New York, this restaurant from the STARR group (Upland, Morimoto) is surrounded by the lush 40-acre Ross Conifer Arboretum at the Garden. The emphasis, unsurprisingly, is on farm-fresh recipes, with many ingredients coming from nearby Hudson Valley. Carbo load for your garden stroll with the monkey bread, which is served with honey butter and fleur du sel.
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Roberto’s
  • Restaurants
  • Italian
  • The Bronx
  • price 2 of 4

Helmed by Salerno, Italy, native Roberto Paciullo, this stalwart Italian restaurant serves inimitable Southern Italian fare to throngs of red-sauce seekers every day. But that doesn’t mean the offerings are quotidian: One of the most popular items is the coniglio, half a rabbit grilled with rosemary, spinach, potatoes and (of course) carrots. Don’t forget to order a tipple from the impressive wine list featuring many Italian varietals.

  • Restaurants
  • Mexican
  • The Bronx
  • price 2 of 4
Tucked deep within Little Italy on Arthur Avenue is this cozy Mexican spot, which delivers crowd pleasers from morning (salty huevos con chorizo) to night (enchiladas and tacos galore). For the protein enthusiast, we recommend one of the house specialties, the Molcajete Estrellita. Served in the eponymous bowl, it’s composed of skirt steak, chicken breast, chorizo and the rare combination of shrimp with cactus.
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  • Restaurants
  • Italian
  • The Bronx
  • price 2 of 4
Named after the area code for Salerno, Italy, this pizza joint is also helmed by beloved Bronx chef Roberto Paciullo. The perennially packed spot features over a dozen varieties of traditional Neapolitan-style, thin-crust pizzas, as well as pastas, salads and grilled meats. Pizza purists may opt for the traditional margherita, but don’t miss the rich La Cirilo: butternut squash puree, truffle cream, mushrooms and fresh mozzarella.
  • Restaurants
  • Italian
  • The Bronx
  • price 2 of 4
The best mozzarella in New York is a hotly-contested title, but few would argue with this Little Italy institution’s claim on the crown. Just ask anyone who waits in the snaking line for one of the sandwiches piled high with the namesake cheese. The best order lets the mozzarella shine: Try a simple prosciutto and muzz, served with a drizzle of balsamic vinegar on crusty hero bread.
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  • Restaurants
  • Italian
  • The Bronx
  • price 2 of 4

With a menu philosophy of cooking the way that Nonna used to, it’s little wonder that the comfort food dishes at this Little Italy spot are both rib-sticking and dreamy. The menu is voluminous, but the fresh pastas shine especially bright, including the lasagna di casa made with three kinds of cheese (ricotta, mozzarella and Romano) and plum tomato sauce

  • Restaurants
  • Italian
  • The Bronx
  • price 2 of 4
The name of this Little Italy restaurant translates to “between us,” and you’ll certainly want to keep its saucy specialties to yourself after a raucous meal here. Chef Marco Coletta, who has over 50 years of experience behind his apron, wields a deft hand with even traditionally heavy dishes like fettuccine alla Alfredo. Don’t miss the ethereal cheesecake if it’s one of the daily specials.
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  • Restaurants
  • Turkish
  • The Bronx
  • price 1 of 4
“Best Burek in town!” proclaims this Kosovan eatery near Morris Park. Never had one? The Balkan pastry is what a stromboli dreams of becoming: flaky pastry that envelops any number of fillings like spongy cheese, marinated meats or tender spinach. Owner Marjan Kolnrekaj certainly knows his craft: His family has been making burek for over 100 years.
  • Restaurants
  • American
  • The Bronx
  • price 2 of 4
Located inside the Garden’s awe-inspiring collection of rare and unusual pine trees, this fast-casual option is a far cry from the usual combo of soggy sandwich and lukewarm soup you might find at similar establishments. The food here is also created by the STARR team and features fresh Neapolitan pizzas, sandwiches made on artisanal breads and seasonal salads. There’s also plentiful seasonal patio seating  for fresh-pine-scent hunters

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