STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — Want to find a juicy steak or the borough’s freshest, most delicate flour tortillas? You’ll find both — and much more — along Port Richmond Avenue. From upscale Italian at La Bottiglia to the authentic tortilla-making at Tortillería Oaxaca, the strip is a flavorful showcase of culinary diversity.
Where can you find the freshest tortillas? In Port Richmond, those places would be La Casa Del Taco at 1368 Forest Avenue or Tortillería Oaxaca at 121 Port Richmond Avenue — two local favorites nestled in the heart of Port Richmond.
And the Port Richmond North Shore Alliance is putting its eats front and center at its 5th Annual Taste of Port Richmond & Award Ceremony on November 5, 2025 — a night that celebrates the neighborhood’s bold flavors and the people who make it thrive.
This free event includes local restaurants, residents, and honorees to showcase Port Richmond’s culinary and cultural spirit. Doors open at 7 p.m. at 85 St. Joseph Ave., with the program kicking off at 7:30 p.m. Expect bites from Brothers Pizzeria, San Jeronimo, Café Con Pan, La Bottiglia, Ungaro Pizza, and Lacey’s Bridge Tavern — all neighborhood staples.
“This year’s Community Awards will honor outstanding members of the NYPD, FDNY, and local small businesses for their dedication, bravery, and commitment to serving the people of Port Richmond,” according to the Port Richmond North Shore Alliance.
Veterans Park in Port Richmond has been revitalized in the last decade and offers a space for community celebrations — many food-focused — along with tributes to veterans.Steve White
The event reflects Port Richmond’s long-standing role as a cultural hub, dating back to its 17th-century settlement by Dutch and French colonists. In the 19th century, Port Richmond Avenue became a center for markets and fairs, where food was interwoven with church socials and maritime trade.
In 1943, Port Richmond’s Palace Theater, seen on this vintage postcard, would have been screening Gary Cooper in “The Pride of the Yankees.”(Staten Island Advance)
After the Staten Island Mall was built, the neighborhood experienced a significant economic downturn. But over the past two decades, civic groups like Port Richmond Strong have helped revitalize the area by hosting food and craft festivals in Veterans Park. These gatherings celebrate local cuisine and artistry while fostering community pride. By the 2010s, the events began incorporating tributes to veterans, anchoring the festivities in gratitude and service.
Today, Port Richmond is recognized as a culinary melting pot, where Mexican bakeries, Latin eateries, and Italian restaurants coexist along Port Richmond Avenue, reflecting the neighborhood’s evolving demographics.
William, left, and Carl Gertz, of Oven Bake Shop in Port Richmond, prepare cake for wedding scene in “The Godfather,” filmed on Emerson Hill in May, 1971. This image was taken by the famed late photographer Tony Carannante of the Staten Island Advance.
Notable establishments include Café Con Pan — a bakery, bar, and Mexican restaurant that adds flair to the strip in a space once occupied by OvenBake, known for its Godfather wedding cake. La Bottiglia stands out with its upscale Southern Italian menu and house-made desserts, while Ungaro’s remains a go-to for Italian-American comfort food.
In the words of the late Mary Bullock — beloved civic leader and founder of the Port Richmond North Shore Alliance: “The connection between immigration and restaurants — food as a gateway to, and expression of, the American Dream — is fascinating,” she once wrote. “Especially in Port Richmond, arguably the most diverse neighborhood on Staten Island.”
The Mexican Independence Day Parade on is held on Port Richmond Avenue for six years in the running. Here is an image of the neighborhood’s esteemed restaurant and bakery, the San Jeronimo at 461 Port Richmond Ave.Pamela Silvestri
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Dining and Cooking