Arthur Avenue, newest restaurant venture by the team that gave us Helen’s Greek in the Rice Village, is named for the famous Bronx Litle Italy main street , by the same name, of Italian American cuisine
The team behind the critically acclaimed and wildly popular Helen Greek Food and Wine is at it again as Arthur Ave Italian American made its anticipated debut in the Heights (1111 Studewood Street) on Friday, July 29th. Executive Chef William Wright has spent the last six months perfecting the menu and reflecting on the year he spent traveling thru Northern and Southern Italy learning the “ins and outs” of the Italian culinary scene, and there is definitely a difference. Arthur Ave represents the best of all things Southern Italian.
The Arthur Ave menu unapologetically pays tribute to the classic red sauce made famous in recipes developed by generations of Italian American immigrant communities in the Northeast, such as many inhabitants of the infamous street, Arthur Ave., in the Bronx and the very famous Rao’s in Harlem, among others. Pasta lovers can expect fresh handmade Gnocchi, Chicken Parmesan, Sunday Gravy,(something I grew up on!) true New York-style pizza, and the most vibrant locally sourced tomatoes and seasonal vegetables available.
The team that made Helen Greek Food and Wine a runaway hit will bring the same approach and methodology to Arthur Ave. Designer Erin Hicks has once again leant formidable talents to build out the 3,500-square-foot interior with additional inspiration from Sommelier Evan Turner, who will oversee the restaurant’s wine program in collaboration with restaurateur Shepard Ross (Pax Americana, Brooklyn Athletic Club, Glass Wall).
In its heyday, the most prominent street in Bronx’s Little Italy – Arthur Avenue – was teeming with Italian immigrants – all of whom brought with them a slice of their heritage to the Big Apple. As such, Beverage Director Lainey Collum has created a progressive American cocktail program of “old world meets new” – heavily influenced by classic Italian spirits and flavors incorporating fresh juice, house-made ingredients such as a grappa-based limoncello, and seasonal specialties such as Josh’s Amaro.
Highlights from the Arthur Ave bar include a unique draft system consisting of the highly palatable Amaro Montenegro, Boomtown’s cold-brew coffee, the iconic Peroni Lager, and a rotating cocktail specialty along with its soon-to-be signature White Russian Soft Serve cocktail. The cocktail menu will also feature traditional mainstays, in addition to Evan Turner’s carefully selected wine list boasting roughly 120 American and Italian wines at affordable prices
Veteran restaurant designer Erin Hicks has paid homage to a classically intimate Italian American aesthetic with woven upholstered and landscaped leather walls along with an intimate wine room housing hundreds of bottles. Exclusively home to a single table of four that will inevitably become “The Coveted Table” at Arthur Ave, the wine room joins an accompanying private dining room as a luxurious space reminiscent of an old-school Italian restaurant one might have found constructed in the 1970s. For larger parties, the 3,000-square-foot rooftop venue has one of the best skyline views in the city and takes up the entire top floor of the seven-story building and includes an indoor air-conditioned space, an outdoor space convertible to a tented air-conditioned space, a catering kitchen, and a full bar space.
About Arthur Avenue Italian American
The Americanized version of iconic Italian recipes debuted early this summer under the management of Sharif Al-Amin, Tim Faiola and executive chef William Wright.
Arthur Ave is open Monday – Thursday from 11:00 AM to 10:00 PM; Fridays and Saturdays from 11:00 AM to 11:00 PM, and on Sundays from 11:00 AM to 9:00 PM. For more information, please visit www.ArthurAveHOU.com.
Photography by Shannon O’ Hara
As my bro’ Steve Tyrell plays the Carlyle every December, he has made a tradition of taking his entire family to Arthur Avenue in the Bronx to eat at Dominicks, a Landmark Restaurant on that famous Italian street! It’s always the highlight of NYC in December for all to make this pilgrimage to “the street of delicious Italian American food”, where yes, dear Mama, they actually make Italian Gravy on Sunday, just as the guys are doing here in Houston!
Enjoy and Mangia Bene!!!