HG spent youthful years in the Jewish-Irish-Italian neighborhood of Kingsbridge Road in The Bronx. No Republicans. No Protestants. Kingsbridge Road was a bustling venue of meat markets (kosher and non-kosher); greengrocers; “dairy” stores; fish shops; “appetizing” stores; bakeries, etc. Dining was done at home. Restaurants were scarce. Most prominent was Tower Delicatessen, which served an overpowering multi-course 50-cent dinner (plus splendid corned beef, pastrami, hot dogs, knockwursts, etc.). Today, Kingsbridge is a very diversified neighborhood with many Cuban, Dominican, Puerto Rican, Mexican, Vietnamese, Russian and South American families. A stable, family-oriented, almost crime-free environment (still virtually no Republicans). And, restaurants galore. Here are some: Com Tan Ninh Kieu (best Vietnamese in the Bronx); La Cocina (Mexican); Caridad (Cuban); El Mangu Sabroso (Middle Eastern); Perista (Greek specialties plus encyclopedic breakfast, lunch and dinner dishes); Montezuma (Mexican and Cuban); Fordham (Philly cheesesteaks and huge ice cream sundaes); New Capitol (excellent old time diner food). Walk a few hundred yards northeast at the termination of Kingsbridge road and you’ll find Fordham Road and Gyro King (pita wraps) and Bulbap Grill (fiery Korean dishes). In another direction, walk downhill (west) where Kingsbridge terminates at Broadway. Along many blocks of Broadway, there are over a score of good Cuban and Dominican eateries including some exemplary steak houses. And, at 235th Street and Johnson Avenue in Riverdale is the best traditional Jewish delicatessen/restaurant in New York, Liebman’s. Besides corned beef, pastrami, etc., there’s lots of old time Jewish soul food like kasha varnishkes, chicken in the pot and stuffed cabbage. Yes, when it comes to food the Kingsbridge nabe is challenging Brooklyn.
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