It was so lovely to come into a restaurant that wasn't overcrowded and loud. The staff was so nice and the food was amazing. Not to mention, the portions were large, and the prices were fair. I didn't expect that in little Italy! My son ordered the penne vodka, and I ordered the appetizer meatballs, which were absolutely perfect. The meatballs are made with pignoli nuts and currants, which is a traditional Sicilian recipe. I've spent many years looking for a restaurant that made them like this and had given up! The desserts were beyond our expectations - the Italian cheesecake was light with a hint of citrus flavor, and the tiramisu was so fresh with a flavor of espresso and and absolutely perfect! read more

Emilia's Restaurant - Penne vodka, meatballs - Italian Near Me - Bronx, New York

Emilia's took the best care of us when we really needed it. We came here as five coworkers on a Friday, burnt out and in need of drinks and comfort food. We all work in the Bronx but none of us had tried any spots on Arthur Avenue so this seemed as good a time as any to give it a go. We shared wine, martinis, salads, seafood, pasta, laughs, tears, sweets, memories, dreams, hopes, and contented bellies. Sign of a good time made better by great service with a special appearance by a couple carrying their chonky, smiley corgi who came in to chat with some of the staff (I introduced myself to because it felt mandatory - a corgi both chonky AND smiley?). Like I said, a good time was had. We came here at around 6pm on a Friday night. We quickly ordered two bottles of wine for the table, a red and a white, which were delivered promptly. I'm not a big red wine drinker so I went with white, and while there was anything too exciting on the menus, I opted for the Sauvignon Blanc because it's typically a safe bet. Just okay, but it did the trick, in that it was drinkable, went well enough with the food, and helped start a little buzz. What I was saving myself for on this particular night was hard liquor (it had been a long week, ok??) so I had less wine than others and then ordered a dirty (filthy) martini. They asked if I wanted blue cheese olives, which was music to my ears. Usually I need to ask, and I am often let down by the answer. They brought it out promptly, olives and all, and it was exactly what I needed. As a group, we decided to split some appetizers and then some of us got our own mains, others split a few. I'm always wanting to try as much as possible, and luckily I was on the same wavelength as the friend I was sitting next to so we went half and half. Everything was fresh and delicious. I'll only speak about the dishes I tried, but plenty more was ordered and enjoyed. Eats, below: Arugula salad w/ fresh fennel and shaved parmesan in a lemon olive oil dressing A no-brainer for me. This combination of ingredients is just divine. All elements contribute a light, nutty, earthy flavor profile and make for a perfect starter. A nice simple dressing works beautifully, and a citrusy olive oil number is just that. Mussels in white wine sauce We went with the white wine sauce which felt right for this particular night. Not necessarily memorable but solid and yummy. I was super impressed with the seafood here across the board -- one of us got clam pasta for their entree and was generous enough to give me a clam, which was yummy lil bite. Gnocchi con Burrata w/ vodka sauce and basil Pretty good but not my favorite thing of the night. That said, I'm not a big gnocchi fan and others seemed to like it, so perhaps it's personal preference..... Grilled Branzino w/ olive oil, herbs. roasted potatoes, vegetables .....and maybe it's because I tried this before the gnocchi, which blew me away. So simple yet so so good. As soon as it came out I knew I was about to experience something special. A few others were also smitten at first sight so I happily shared, and we were all equally in heaven after trying it. Love at first sight and first bite. read more

Ambiance on outdoor patio was pretty and the staff is friendly. We were seated right away even though it was Mother's Day and very busy, so that was a huge plus. The food was lackluster though. Honestly some of the driest most over cooked meatballs I've ever had, my son wouldn't eat them. We had to return them and I really don't do that often. Hopefully it was just an off day?! Or they served us old meatballs! The pork osso buco was also just ok, definitely lacked salt and the rich flavor you look forward to. My husband's pork chop with gorgonzola sauce and the mussels, and the clams oreganata were the best things we ate, but I don't know that I'd ever come back here unfortunately. read more

Emilia's Restaurant - Pork Osso Buco lacked salt and flavor - Italian Near Me - Bronx, New York

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Wow!!!! Emilia's has blown me away!!! Everything is made to order - they are so accommodating with food sensitivities and allergies! Gluten free pasta is available! Nick was the best server- we tried his martini and the arthur ave and had a blast. The seafood pasta was one of the best I've had in NYC. They made it with so much seafood!!!! And the chicken trefunghi was also great!! It's our waiter Nicks favorite. All deserts are homemade! You MUST dine here. read more

Emilia's Restaurant - Italian Near Me - Bronx, New York

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Emilia's 2331 Arthur Ave. Bronx, NY 10458 Lasagna Do not touch the plate because it is piping hot. The Mozzarella cheese has a perfect char; watch out for the cheese pull. The noodles are hand pulled one by one and layered with ground beef. read more

Emilia's Restaurant - Lasagna - Italian Near Me - Bronx, New York

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First time visit Outdoor dining in back patio Limited street parking Friendly service Ordered veal parmigiana read more

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3.5 stars. Mostly decent, nothing to write home about. Appetizers Pesto arancini--3 arancini, ok but not especially flavorful. Clams oreganata--6 microscopic clams for $17. Pathetic. A ripoff. Entrees Salmon Livornese--Quite good; a decent portion of salmon, lots of capers and olives, a nice smooth sauce. Homemade gnocchi--A decent vodka sauce, an overwhelming slab of burrata in the middle. Eggplant parmesan--Sauce was overly thick and acidic. Slow service. read more

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I love getting food on Arthur ave. I was slightly underwhelmed by Emilia's, sad since we share the name (lol). We sat down and were swiftly greeted. Now where it went wrong was how long this place took. We ordered the salad and antipasto, not a single thing on the plates was cooked. It took 40 minutes to come out. Then another 20 for our entree. The food was SO good. I will give it that. The waiter was very stand offish towards me like I annoyed him with questions and orders. We ordered dessert to split and for the four of us, they brought two spoons. Just subpar compared to the service you can get elsewhere read more

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Emilia's serves some of the most amazing and delicious Italian food you will ever taste! The service is always attentive, and the ambiance is absolutely beautiful. But today, they truly went above and beyond. I called at the last minute on Mother's Day hoping to find a reservation for my family of five, and they immediately accommodated us. They seated us in a beautiful area of their outdoor patio right by the waterfall, which made the experience even more special. We had such a wonderful time and felt so well taken care of. Highly, highly recommend! Food read more

What can you comment on a dish that's name after its location? LOL. I picked this dish at first considered the balanced of its ingredients used in terms of nutrition. And I found myself curious in its representation of this neighborhood, Belmont in Bronx. A Neighbor that is well-known with a mix of Italian, Latino, and Albanian. This is a well executed dish at some point quite difficult to "operate" (I meant to cut it like a steak without having the baby broccoli fell apart). The favor is rich. The chicken is thinly sliced and it successfully prevented it being too dry from the grill. The chicken is slightly marinated with salt and garlic which perfectly matched the favor of the baby broccoli. The mozzarella cheese meant to bind everything together and yet, it made it like a pizza in chicken crusts. This dishes is savory. The broth carried its chicken favor with onion, celery, carrot (my wild guess of the making of the chicken broth) brought together a lot of immersion story between Italian, Latino, and Albania. It told me a lot of stories about this neighborhood in the hard time of mingling between immigrants and the anthropological transition of Belmont. It brought to be a lot of sentimental and emotional stories for immigrants here who worked hard for their family and lived up their culture. The Penne in marinara sauce as a side dishes bring it to a big reunion but also a balance of the nutrition pyramid. Last but not least, remember to save a piece of bread to finish the broth on your plate. You won't regret embarrassing yourself with its taste. This is a dish deserves its name. The ambience is comfy. buon appetito read more

Emilia's Restaurant - Chicken Arthur Avenue - Italian Near Me - Bronx, New York

Awesome atmosphere! Awesome food! Awesome service!, Absolutely Love this restaurant! We are going back there today.

Very good! Authentic Italian, clams oreganato, mussels marinara appetizer delicious! The seafood pescatore was cooked just right! Prices are reasonable, quality is great, service is great. Try it! We will be back! read more

Emilia's Restaurant - Seafood Pescatore - Italian Near Me - Bronx, New York

This is a classic no frills old school Italian spot on Arthur Ave that serves up Italian comfort food-the kind your nonna would've made. There is outside dinning in the back patio with a roof overhead so you're covered if it rains. The linguine alle vangole $27.95 was the highlight and reminded us of dishes served in Napoli, Italy (the baby clams were delicious!). The meatballs are very tasty as well. read more

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Emilia's has good food at very reasonable prices. The Fried Calamari was very crispy and even came with some legs. The Chicken Daniela was an elevated chicken parm and it was definitely worth getting. The service was pretty slow but the waiters were all friendly. I'd definitely try this place again read more

Emilia's Restaurant - Chicken Cutlet Daniela - Italian Near Me - Bronx, New York

Really solid choice for dinner on Arthur Ave. Reasonably priced and good service. Nice decor. Flavorful gravy (or "sauce" if you're from Iowa) and nice bread basket with olive oil was a nice start to the meal. Clams oregganata were fresh and tasty with whole clams. It was an enjoyable meal and experience and great way to cap the night off. read more

We were greeted quickly and we asked to sit in back patio. Great little spot on a beautiful day. Staff was so great. Our food was delicious. Chicken Daniela was really good. Burrata and Prosciutto nicely done. We were not rushed and enjoyed our meal! read more

The service was good, they have good seating and a patio in the back- all good things but the food was over the top great. Fresh and flavorful. We had the appetizer off the specials menu, stuffed zucchini flowers with cheese, the gnocchi con burrata and the chicken parmigiana, generous portions and the sangria was really good. The restaurant is very Arthur Avenue, elegant and understated. It wasn't very loud and the wait staff was attentive. We look forward to returning! read more

Emilia's Restaurant - Gnocchi con Burrata - Italian Near Me - Bronx, New York

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From the moment we walked in, my husband and I sensed this was not going to be a memorable experience. The hostess didn't even glance toward the entrance to acknowledge customers waiting for a table. Instead, she went over to a group of young women--clearly friends--and carried on an enthusiastic conversation. My husband eventually had to approach her to ask if she was the hostess. She said yes and then found a waiter to seat us, without ever asking for our name. That was the last we saw of her. The dining room felt dated, dimly lit by harsh fluorescent bulbs, and the restaurant was filled with children, creating a noisy atmosphere. To make matters worse, it felt rather classless to see staff serving wine glasses imprinted with "Stone Valley"--glasses they clearly received for free with the purchase of the wine. When we were finally served, our food arrived cold, and no one checked in to ask how anything was. The mozzarella and tomato starter was completely tasteless, and the rest of the dishes were underwhelming--something we easily could have made better at home. The sauce tasted like it came straight from a bottle. Overall, the restaurant feels past its prime. I would not recommend it to anyone, and we certainly won't be returning. read more

The food isn't as good as it used to be years ago. I know years ago everything was different everywhere. Normally, when you go in somewhere that you frequent all the time you would think you would get a hello, but not here. read more

Great food. Lovely servers. Chicken Francese was fabulous! Delightful ambiance. First time on Arthur Avenue -- I shall return!! read more

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Ordered an overpriced bottle of imported water, it was delivered to my table already opened, when I poured myself a glass the water had a terrible odor and taste, it was city tap water. Shame on Emilia's one word fits your establishment disgusting. read more

We enjoyed their wonderful lunch special today. Gnocchi bolognese and braciole. Started with the tomato and mozz appetizer. Crusty delicious bread brought out for the table. Very good service and nice atmosphere. Ended with delicious coffee and cappuccino. Popular place for lunch as the specials run til 4pm. Hope to return soon! read more

It was top shelf service and the food was outstanding. This family is iconic and one of the things that makes Fayetteville a great place. You must try Emilia's if you have the chance. read more

The good old Italian Bronx is alive and well here. I have been to this joint several times and honestly I have never been disappointed. You're always greeted friendly and warmly and the service is always very good. Very traditional old-world Italian style...and I'm sure that's the way most people like it! Plenty to choose from and everything was always made fresh. You can just taste it. Last time we went we ordered a dish of clams oreganata and a dish of mozzerella and tomatoes...drizzled with a bit of olive oil. Everything was tasty and there was plenty for 2 people. I had a dish of Liguini alle Vongole and my Girl had the Seafood Risotto Belmare. Both dishes were excellent! The portions were very nice. We had a couple glasses of cabernet sav. Though we didn't have dessert...I had a double espresso and she had a cappuccino. Again...the food and service is always very good and the place is warm and friendly. Check it out! you won't be disappointed! read more

Bronx's Little Italy on Arthur Avenue has no shortage of Italian eateries dripping with old school (and old world) charm. After a day out at the Bronx Zoo, we walked into Emilia's for an early dinner. The dark dining room lends a romantic vibe while the menu has a wide range of familiar dishes (antipasto, calamari, zucchini flower starters, chicken and veal mains, fresh pastas). We split an antipasto platter and each ordered a pasta (hers: gnocchi and burrata in vodka sauce, mine: pappardelle in bolognese) The food was phenomenal: that antipasto platter had creamy fresh mozzarella, bracingly salty prosciutto, smoky roasted peppers, briny olives, and a truffle provolone) while the pastas were cooked perfectly (the vodka sauce not too heavy, with just enough punch while the bolognese was rich and meaty). The meal was capped with a surprisingly light tarte with cannoli cream and fresh berries. read more

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Nice friendly people and atmosphere.... Very accommodating, food was average..... good for tourists ....

Tried Emilia's for the first time and we really enjoyed it. The owner Joanne was very sweet and her staff was very accommodating. We enjoyed Nonna's meatballs with currants and pine nuts, the grilled octopus was cooked perfectly, the bronzino was delicious as was the pappardelle bolognese. The prices were very reasonable. Nice dining experience. read more

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Came here for my boyfriend birthday. It's a small cozy place. The sangria was very good. All the food we ordered was very good very fresh and seasoned well. Service was good. All around a good Italian restaurant read more

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After few hours strolling at NYBG to get over the cherry blossom, magnolia blossoms, orchid show anxiety, we were starving for food. The online forums pointed to any restaurant In Arthur Avenue! This place was one of our top three choices in the lovely Italian American neighborhood in Arthur Avenue. It was 3:30 PM on Saturday but the restaurant was full of diners. We were seated in the corner immediately despite with no reservation. We loved the appetizers, calamari & Caesar salad. Both were delicious! The cocktails were great. As for the main menu, we liked everything except the pork dish which was too bland. Otherwise, we left the the restaurant happy & full & headed out to a nearby bakery to try their famed fresh Italian pastries. read more

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Last evening we were finishing up our spontaneous grocery shopping trip to Little Italy in The Bronx, ie Mike's Deli, Vincent's Meateria, Artusso's Bakery and the skies opened up with torrential showers. We had left our rain gear in the car, what to do? As I scanned Arthur Avenue, I saw one of my favorites and we made a frenzied dash to Emilia's. Always a fine choice. Last night was no different. We started with zucchini flowers pizzelle. This appetizer special should have been out of season. It wasn't, thank heavens! It was marvelous!! Zucchini blossoms well battered and stuffed with cheese and prosciutto, then perfectly fried. The Fettuccine con Cavilfiore was delicate and lovely. Homemade fettuccine braised Cauliflower and pancetta. The fresh grated parmigiana on the table made this dish! The Pollo tre funge was well sautéed in a light brown sauce, and again parmigiana to the rescue! Dessert was an excellent tiramisu. Again, another lovely dinner at Emilia's! Grazie! read more

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We had the chicken Parmesan, and pasta with meatballs. All well prepared and pasta was of course. Al dente. My problem is they used some spice i cant identify, but totally disliked the flavor it added to the meal. Sadly i am not going back. The staff is wonderful by the way, and we enjoyed the wine selection. read more

The food is always reliable and delicious here. When the weather is nice the outdoor garden is a lovely option. Nonna's Sicilian Meatballs and stuffed artichoke are favorite appetizers. The gnocchi con burrata, pork osso buco and lobster ravioli top our list of entrees to order, but the specials and other standard Italian fare are usually reliable and tasty. The service is attentive and the variety of desserts are a nice way to end your meal. read more

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Went looking for a place for a late lunch. An found this place with a lunch special. Boy we're we happy. Good service and a great meal. Would I go back. In a heart beat. 3 years ago we found a place somewhere in the area but couldn't find it this time. But we were able to find a great substitute. read more

Emilia's Restaurant - Special for da day - Italian Near Me - Bronx, New York

We met friends on Arthur Ave and they chose the restaurant ahead of time, even made a res which turned out to be totally unnecessary. The place was empty at 5:30 on a weekday evening. Several other tables were seated by the time we left about 2 hours and change later, though! Anyway, decent menu. Started with drinks, of course, and my Bloody Mary was perfect! Spicy, served with 3 olives + celery stalk and slices of lemon and lime. Others had an unsweetened iced tea, scotch on rocks, and a glass of wine. Hubby and I shared a tre colore salad and they were classy enough to split it in the kitchen; each of us had an ample plate. Same for our friends who shared a Caesar salad. One friend and I chose the same entree, shrimp and scallops over risotto and asparagus. I didn't leave a grain of the risotto! 4 nice shrimp, I think also 4 scallops, a few big asparagus spears, and a good-size portion of creamy delicious risotto, something I almost never order. One had veal something that he seemed to enjoy; hub had seafood over linguine that he enjoyed much. We shared a berry tart that was really a wedge of custard or cream pie topped with berries, a pile of what tasted like fresh whipped cream on the side. I'm a sucker for a barely sweetened whipped cream! Yum! The other couple shared a lemon sorbet frozen in the lemon halves, looked good! Service was pleasant and definitely unrushed. They gave us a basket of bread with wrapped pats of butter with our drinks and didn't come to take our food orders until we signaled that we were ready. They weren't crowded, as I mentioned, so I guess they weren't concerned with fast turnover. It was lovely that we chose our table, kind of set apart in a corner by a front window. Enjoy! read more

I like Emilia's. Went with my grandmother after visiting the Botanical garden for dinner. We were seated easily and they accommodated my grandmothers wheelchair which was appreciated. We ordered from the specials list branzino with veggies and burrata. We also had a Caesar salad and the pappardelle bolognese. All tasty we had no complaints. They actually make one of the better Aperol spritz I've had so far. No fuss service very straight forward and efficient. I would go back! read more

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We were looking for a good "Sunday Sauce". So as I was reading the menu, I saw they had meatballs the way I make them! With Pinoli nuts and raisins. I said we need to try them. We ate here 20 yrs ago! And haven't been back till tonight! So we started with the special of the zucchini flowers that were really good. Nice and light!! Then I ordered the Fusilli with the BRACIOLE. Because it was made with the raisins and pinoli nuts! It was excellent! The BRACIOLE was very tender, not dry! My husband had the Rigatoni with the meatballs! I must admit, they were the BEST meatballs I ever had! Even better then mine!! It was all in the texture of them. So perfectly done! We will be back here!! read more

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We made a reservation at Emilia's on Arthur Ave in the Little Italy neighborhood of the Bronx, NY for Sat Dec 9, 2023 at 2pm. This was our first time here. We arrived at 1:35 and were going to wait at the bar for our table. Well there was no bar and the host seated us immediately without regard to our reservation. OK, that worked for us. We had been seated and were greeted by our waiter, George. We asked a few questions about the wine choices and made our selections ($12/glass). Warm, crusty Italian bread was brought to the table with small plates for the dipping olive oil. Now the restaurant was filling up quickly. But service wasn't affected. Our shared appetizer was the sauteed & cheese stuffed zucchini flowers ($14) and it was perfect. Our meals arrived just after George;s brought our second glasses of wine. Perfect timing again. My bride had the lunch special Spinach Fettucini con Cavolfiore -Spinach Fettucini with Roasted Cauliflower & Crisp Pancetta ($22). Excellent balance of flavors & textures in this dish. She took half home as she opted for a second piece of the bread. I had the other lunch special Cavatelli Sposato-Cavatelli Married with Broccoli Rabe and Sausage Sautéed with a Touch of Small Italian Red Peppers ($23). A truly wonderful dish with a sprinkle of grated cheese & crushed red pepper. Repeated offers of dolce (dessert) had to be declined (cannoli & biscotti were in our future). There is also an outdoor patio/dining area out back. Emilia's is open from 12pm Wed-Mon, closed Tue. Emilia's is the quintessential Little Italy restaurant. Great food & wine with impeccable service. Mille Grazie to George and all the staff at Emilia's. Hope to see you again next year. Nicola & Liz, Albany, NY read more

We enjoyed our dinner here. The aranacini were excellent. The pasta dishes were all great. I would recommend the ravioli and linguine with clams. Very pleasant service and we look forward to returning here in the future. read more

Our go to on Arthur Ave. Like eating in the home of a great cooking Italian grandmother. With a friendly and professional staff. A personal favorite. read more

I haven't had calamari arrabiata that good in at least 15 years. That alone is worth five stars, but the rest of the food was absolutely delicious and only reinforce it. read more