Confession: I have a hard time motivating myself to spend 20 minutes on the Metro North, in an attempt to catch a pricey cab and make a 7:30 reservation at one of “New York’s most instagrammed restaurants”.
Don’t get me wrong, I love a good Manhattan meal, but sometimes I’d rather walk over to an awesome restaurant in under 10 minutes. That’s the perk of Arthur Ave.
Most Fordham students will agree that its reputation combats that of the on-campus dining options. Now, we can add a place off of the beaten path, in the Bronx Botanical Garden nonetheless. Enter: the Hudson Garden Grill.
Photo by Taylor Michie
The Hudson Garden Grill stands as proof that you don’t need to go far to get a stunning meal. Tucked away in the Ross Conifer Arboretum I fell in love with the restaurant immediately.
With its beautiful arched windows, the airy dining room is covered in whitewashed walls made from trees that fell on the grounds during Hurricane Sandy. Killer personal touch.
Photo by Taylor Michie
Mostly serving lunch, the restaurant keeps the same hours as the gardens. Chef Julian Alonzo emphasizes local ingredients, particularly from the Hudson Valley, and has created a fairly diverse menu that is something of a twist on “classic American” food. It is to die for.
I haven’t stopped thinking about the Satur Farms Baby Beet Salad. My mom is going to freak when she reads that sentence. Somehow, chef Julian Alonzo blended blue cheese croutons, house-made yogurt and baby beets to make a real life bite of heaven.
Photo by Taylor Michie
As someone who is especially particular about their crunchy french fries, the Hudson Garden Grill gets my heart. It was the Lobster Club that put me over, though. I was the bacon-begging dog from those “Beggin Strips” commercials – also the Brioche bun was everything. You must check it out.
Photo by Taylor Michie
I know you’re wondering where this gem has been all of your life. It opened April 14th, but not without fanfare. Vanity Fair, Urban Daddy, and The New York Times have all reviewed the Hudson Garden Grill, and everyone agrees, the Bronx has hit a home-run.
If you’re not quite willing to sit down, but still want a delicious bite, the Bronx Botanical Garden has kept the Pine Tree Cafe and their seasonal food trucks. Actually, on May 16, a Frida Kahlo exhibit will be coming to the garden partnered by an outdoor tequila bar, cantina and taco truck, all of which are inspired by the artist herself. Aka the Botans are trying to fatten you up.