The Arthur Avenue Market bears a near-complete indifference to whatever’s going on elsewhere in the city. And what a joy it is to see, to smell, to taste. It’s a lively covered indoor market of butchers, pasta shops and fish vendors that has been doing exactly this same thing since Uncle Jun’ was in short pants. The Bronx Beer Hall is a carve-out opened in 2013, a partnership between the fromTheBronx brand and the legendary Mike’s Deli. Long communal tables run beneath a skylit ceiling. The air is rich from the surrounding stalls: the coppery tang and of cured meat, the brininess of fresh fish, a vinegary note to jolt you awake. Then the malty, yeasty smell of beer. This is the stuff of life. The tap list is sourced entirely from New York State–yet more proof that this space is not apart from the city, but a vital part of it. You can grab half-pints to try two or three things, but full pints, pitchers, and growlers can be had, too. The staff has that neighborhood friendliness. Chef David Greco is something of an ambassador of Arthur Ave–his food menu, built around the market’s own vendors, offers an antipasto platter second to none. Don’t miss it.
