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A Bronxite’s Dilemma
Every Bronxite knows that feeling: you’re out with friends, the drinks are flowing in abundance, and the DJ is playing your favorite song. You glance at your phone and see it’s getting late. But you knew this inevitable moment was coming.
You see, you’re out in Bed-Stuy or Crown Heights or the LES. You have to cut the night short, lest you be faced with multifarious miserable choices: adding a half hour to your already hour plus trip, if you miss that East 180th Street shuttle (IYKYK!) Or take the local-all-the-way D train, followed by a 2:00 AM complimentary tour of the Concourse, courtesy of the MTA. You could cab it home…for a price that rivals the night’s bar bill.
This is a dilemma that every Bronx resident has been forced to confront. Why don’t your friends from Brooklyn or Harlem friends want to come Uptown? There’s no place to go out there, they say. It’s only take-out and fast food, they tell you. It’s, well…it’s the Bronx, they finally admit. The Bronx hate is real, I’m afraid to say.
That’s why I’ve created this list of five diverse Bronx restaurants that you need to try. No more excuses from your friends that there’s nowhere to go. And guess what? None of them are in Port Morris (my Bronxites get the joke)!
Radix Restaurant and Lounge
A cheesy pasta dish at Radix
In a sea of residential blocks punctuated by small storefronts, churches, and takeout joints, there’s not exactly a plethora of sit down restaurants in this sleepy corner of Wakefield. Situated in a brightly painted commercial strip, Radix is filling that gap.
Run by brothers Merrick and Telloyd, Radix specializes in Jamaican food. Decorated in sleek dark wood finishes, depending on the day, you’ll find DJs, bottomless brunch, and live music. Only open a few months, patrons rate it a solid 4.9 on Google Reviews.
Happy Hour is 3:00pm–7:00pm Monday through Friday, when you can enjoy $2 off select drinks. Not a big drinker? Try one of their mocktails. Treat yourself to their lunch menu and end your week on a high note with their Seafood Fridays.
Neighborhood: Wakefield
938 East 233rd Street
Bronx, New York 10466
Website: https://radixlounge.com/
IG: @radixlounge
La Masa
La Masa’s bandeja paisa will make out your daily caloric intake but is so worth it!
The Bronx is known for its Puerto Rican and Dominican food, boasts some solid Mexican restaurants, and everybody knows about our Little Italy by now. But Colombian food? Not so much. That’s where La Masa comes in.
What started as a single location in Morris Park has expanded to Westchester Square and Throgg’s Neck, with a full bar at their flagship location. The stars of the menu include the gargantuan bandeja paisa, their perfectly golden empanadas (different than the Caribbean Latino pastelillos you’re used to), and picadas, a sampler of favorite Colombian appetizers.
Happy hour is 3:00pm-7:00pm Monday to Thursday. Try their sangria and margaritas — aptly named masaritas on the menu— which are both top picks by patrons. Are you a Colombian in New York? Their pescado frito and calentado will evoke blistering hot Cartagena and the eternal spring which is Medellín, respectively.
Neighborhood: Morris Park, Westchester Square, & Throgg’s Neck
1000 Morris Park Avenue
Bronx, New York 10462
2542 East Tremont Avenue
Bronx, New York 10461
3399 East Tremont Avenue
Bronx, New York 10461
Website: https://la-masa.square.site/
Drips Restaurant and Lounge
Rum punch at Drips Restaurant and Lounge
Drips has become a TikTok and IG favorite, but have you gone to see what the buzz was about? Located feet from the 241 Street station in the 2 train, Drips is convenient to stop by on the way home – or to Uber it from the other side of town.
Jamaican mainstays like jerk chicken, Rasta pasta are perfectly complimented by their beautifully crafted cocktails like the sorrel mule, flaming Island Vibe, and Bless Up. The music and frequent DJs elevate any work drink or birthday celebration. Happy Hour is 4:00pm-7:00pm Wednesday and Thursday, and 4:00pm-6:00pm on Fridays. Don’t miss this Bubbly Brunch special 1:00pm-5:00pm on Sundays.
Looking for the perfect spot to celebrate a birthday (I did here last year!), a graduation, or just a girls night out? You don’t have to hightail it to Brooklyn anymore!
Neighborhood: Wakefield
684 East 241st Street
Bronx, New York 10470
Website: https://www.dripsnyc.com/
IG: @dripsnyc
Barrio Bx
Happy Hour at Barrio BX
You ever reminisce about a warm day in the 1990s/early 2000s Bronx, leading up to the Puerto Rican Day Parade? Cars whizzing by with the stereo pumping Lisa Lisa, Big Pun’s “100%”, and classic Fania tunes. The fragrance of piping hot alcapurrias and bacalaitos from the neighborhood cuchifrito. A deceptively sweet piña colada that will sneak up on you, drunk slyly in a styrofoam cup.
In an era when so much of the Boricua diaspora has moved on from New York City, you’re hit with nostalgia when you walk through the door of Barrio BX. That’s exactly what co-owners Tony Martinez and Ruben Rodriguez envisioned when opening Barrio BX.
Here you can enjoy poetry open mics, live music, as well as book signings by Bronx-born authors. Colorful murals of Puerto Rican revolutionaries, Nuyorican activists, and a roll call of Bronx neighborhoods accent the walls. Guests can expect Puerto Rican comfort food, a full bar with isla-inspired cocktails, and decor celebrating both Puerto Rico and the Bronx. dig into a heaping pile of mofongo, take the edge off the day with one of their signature cocktails, and bob to your favorite Freestyle and Salsa tunes.
Neighborhood: Castle Hill
1247 Castle Hill Avenue
Bronx, New York 10462
Website: https://qrcodes.pro/ETHGMX?preview=true
IG: @barriobx
The Last Stop
Aren’t we fancy?
Hidden in plain sight underneath the 1 train, it seems like an unlikely spot for an Indian-fusion spot. Butter chicken sliders? Aloo eggs benedict? Jalapeño samosas, you say? Looking for a place to decompress after work with live DJs and to do brunch on the weekend? Um, yes, please, sign us up!
You can expect tp hear an eclectic soundtrack of anything from Reggaeton and Bachata to House Music and Hip Hop at this vibesy, IG-ready spot. They even host fun events like an upcoming bad Bunny-inspired dance party and Uno nights.
Whether you’re a Manhattan Collège student or a Riverdale 9-5er coming home from work, The Last Stop is worth a stop.
Neighborhood: Kingsbridge/Riverdale (Fieldston)
5977 Broadway
Bronx, New York 10471
Website: https://www.thelaststopbar.com/
IG: @thelaststop242
What are your favorite Bronx restaurants? Leave a comment!