F & J Pine Restaurant

In 1969 two brothers from Calabria, Francesco and Giovanni Bastone — Frankie and Johnny — were new to America and working in a Bronxdale Avenue saloon called The Pine. When the chance came to make it their own, they turned it into a family-style Italian restaurant and kept the old sign out front, partly for luck and partly because a new one wasn't in the budget. F & J Pine, simply "The Pine" to regulars, now spans a full city block, and Yankees players, entertainers and neighborhood families have eaten here for more than fifty years.

The kitchen cooks from the brothers' Calabrian roots in generous, shareable plates. The house points first to its zuppa di pesce, then the chicken scarpariello and Nonna's meatballs; old regulars add penne alla vodka, chicken parmesan and raw seafood. Private event rooms and full-service catering mean weekends often carry a celebratory buzz, so plan accordingly if you want a quieter table. The walls of awards keep growing — the Bronx Times readers' poll named it the borough's best Italian restaurant in 2025.