Where to Eat in the College Neighborhoods of The Bronx

The end of August and beginning of September brings a wave of new students into The Bronx. The borough consists of 12 schools, three of which have substantial resident populations: Fordham University, Manhattan University (formerly known as Manhattan College) and the University of Mount Saint Vincent.

Move in day can be tiring, especially after driving through The Bronx traIic to get to the dorms. Families moving in will need to grab a bite to eat at some point — which can be a great way to get to know the new area where their student will be living. Take a look at our recommendations for Arthur Avenue, Riverdale and Kingsbridge, which are the easiest areas to access from the campuses.

Arthur Ave
Arthur Ave is the infamous street of highly revered restaurants that is just outside of Fordham University. There are so many places to eat on this street that you’ll probably want
to come back for Family Weekend, as well.

If you want a classic Italian meal while visiting Arthur Ave, try Enzo’s — delicious food, plus there will be some leftovers for your student to heat up in the dorms later!

Arthur Ave is mostly known for being a hub of Italian restaurants, but there are other types of cuisine around there as well. Çka Ka Qëllu, which is one street over from Arthur Ave, serves traditional Albanian dishes. The owners used 18th and 19th Century Albanian relics to make the restaurant feel like a museum, as well.

Estrellita Poblana III, a Mexican restaurant known for its amazing tacos, is also in the Little Italy area. Prince CoIee House, a great breakfast and coIee spot, is right nearby, as is Madonia Bakery. Madonia has every baked good an Italian food lover could need — homemade breads, biscotti, cookies and more.

If you don’t have time to sit down at a restaurant, why not stop for a quick slice of pizza instead? Every Fordham University student can probably agree that the place for this would be Pugsley’s on E 191st Street.

Riverdale and Kingsbridge
Riverdale is home to Manhattan University and the University of Mount Saint Vincent. Kingsbridge is just south of Riverdale and has a few spots that are worth venturing to as well. Some of these restaurants may even become the college favorite of the student in your group!

On Riverdale Avenue, there are a few places that Manhattan students frequent — Salvatore’s of Soho is one of them. Sal’s has a family-style atmosphere and delicious food for a good price. Down the street from Sal’s is Cocina Chente, a slightly pricier Mexican restaurant with a fun atmosphere and outdoor seating.

West of Riverdale Avenue, you’ll find Johnson Avenue, which also has a lot of restaurants. One of these is Liebman’s Deli, the only Kosher deli in The Bronx. Their pastrami and matzah ball soup are beloved. Bella Notte, another Italian restaurant, is also loved by the community.

Down in Kingsbridge, you’ll find Bronx Ale House, which serves pub food. The Kingsbridge Social Club is also in the area and serves pasta, pizza, sandwiches and more.

If you’re searching for breakfast, the Riverdale community loves Rolen Bagels. However, Rolen is closed on Saturdays, in which case you should go two blocks over to 235th Street and get bagels from the owners’ other location, Bagel Corner.

Finally, you cannot leave the Riverdale area without trying Lloyd’s Carrot Cake. It’s a staple in The Bronx, and the college student in your life will thank you for introducing them to it. Located across the street from Van Cortlandt Park, it’s a short drive from UMSV and just steps away from Manhattan University.

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