I was in the car with my friend Bernie, and we were going for an afternoon lunch on Arthur Avenue, the Bronx. The last time I walked on Arthur Avenue I was 18 years old and I was registering for the draft at Selective Service.

Listen to the names of the restaurants: Dominick's, Mario's, Emilia's, Giovanni's, Pasquale Rigottos, Catonia's and Enzo's Cafe. Do you get the hint?

We are going for delicious Italian cuisine.

We walk the avenue of a beautiful enclave of superb food, good wines and great desserts. Park your car and partake of a little piece of Italy on the side of the Atlantic Ocean.

Choose any restaurant! (We chose Emilia's.)

They are all excellent!

Sit at the table and order a carafe of the house wine and relax. The Holan bread with butter is exquisite and is in a never-ending supply.

The cold antipasto arrives. On a bed of Romaine lettuce are piled: anchovies, prosciutto, provolone cheese, with green and black olives, sundried tomatoes, red peppers and hot green peppers, all tinged with superior olive oil and Balsamic vinegar from Modena.

Next course. Sound the trumpets!

The main dishes arrive cooked to perfection. Bernie ordered chicken scarpiello and I ordered veal pizzaiola perfection, al dente.

Relax and enjoy!

Coffee and cannoli end the feast.

Walk along Arthur Avenue. Buy some cheese, bread and pastries to take back to Long Island. Enjoy the ambiance in the windows of the many Albanian and Kosovar restaurants interspersed among the Italian butcher shops and bakeries.

A real wonderful ethnic experience! We will be back soon.

Let me give you directions to this oasis:

1. Take Long Island Expressway, heading west.

2. Exit onto Cross-Island Parkway to Throgs Neck Bridge.

3. Take Cross Bronx Expressway.

4. From Cross Bronx, take Bronx River Parkway, heading north.

5. Exit onto Fordham Road, going south until Arthur Avenue.