A Taste of A Bronx Tale

The streetwise musical, A Bronx Tale, based on the critically acclaimed play and the now classic film, will take you to the stoops of the Bronx in the 1960s—where a young man is caught between the father he loves and the mob boss he’d love to be. Featuring an original doo-wop score by Broadway legend Alan Menken, this is a tale about respect, loyalty, love, and above all else: family.

We sent our Chanelle Cotton to the Bronx to learn more about the neighborhood that serves as the backdrop for A Bronx Tale. Here’s what she had to say about the experience:

Even though I’m a native New Yorker, I’ve somehow never been to the Bronx myself. My only frame of reference were the sets for A Bronx Tale, designed by Beowolf Boritt, which feature storefronts from the iconic Arthur Avenue neighborhood. I decided to remedy this by getting a taste of the borough for myself. And I do mean taste…

First things first, I was shocked at how quickly I could get to the Bronx. I grabbed a Metro North train from Grand Central Terminal and arrived on Fordham Avenue in less than 15 minutes. Even faster than the subway! My amazing tour guide, a fellow Broadway Inbound team member, led us straight to the Arthur Avenue Market. It was like being transported straight to Italy.

It was a challenge not to stop and sample all the high-quality Italian products the market sold (there was even a man rolling cigars by hand!), but my guide navigated us straight to Mike’s Deli. While I wanted to try everything on the menu, I knew I had to order “Da True Bronx Tale:” mortadella, fresh mozzarella, provolone, and tomato with oregano, basil and olive oil. Mangia Bene, Vive Bene!

Our food was spectacular! If you come with a friend, I highly recommend that you both order something different so that you can share. My companion’s eggplant parmigiana was out of this world. But it would be a rookie mistake not to leave room for dessert.

Our next stop before heading home was Delillo’s Pasticceria. Wise Guys and Gals alike can load up on cannoli, sfogliatelle, biscotti, and other classic Italian specialties at this old-school Arthur Ave. shop. My guide and I each picked a pound of assorted cookies to go and enjoyed the atmosphere at one of the sit-down tables with a delicious cappuccino.

There was so much more to eat (restaurants, delis, markets, and cafés), but we were already stuffed. And the sights, sounds, smells, and tastes of Arthur Avenue were a perfect companion to seeing A Bronx Tale on Broadway.

Get your tickets today to this new musical that The New York Times calls, “the kind of a tale that makes you laugh and cry,” and Variety hails as “entertaining, authentic and terrific.” And then be sure to head to Arthur Avenue in the Bronx. Your stomach will thank you, and you’ll be in for an experience you won’t soon forget.