Best food near Yankee Stadium

BY PETER M. GIANOTTI
peter.gianotti@newsday.com

Looking for a good meal in the shadow of Yankee Stadium can be as hard as batting against Mariano Rivera in October.

But there are local spots that can sustain you through those long innings from the back-end of the starting staff.

Most of them are not immediately around the ballpark, but along Arthur Avenue, where Sinatra "lives" and Derek Jeter is sincerely revered almost as much as Joe DiMaggio is deservedly worshipped.

And there's at least one close to home plate so you won't be tempted by the overflowing and underperforming sports bars. For the record, it's not the ground-out $39 buffet at the Sony Stadium Club.

Catania's Pizza Cafe, 2305 Arthur Ave.; 718-584- 3583. One of the best pizzerias in the Bronx, Catania's also is mandatory for its first-class calzones. Custom-order a pizza-size box of small ones for the road, or for the upper deck. They reheat very well for a post-game snack. Re: Pizza, the Sicilian is sweet, the Neapolitan not far behind.

Court Deli, 96 E. 161st St.; 718-993-1380. A bastion for overstuffed combo sandwiches, heavy on the corned-beef-and-pastrami unions, and tributes to beef brisket. Hot open sandwiches, stuffed cabbage, matzo ball soup and more. Heretics can go for the mozzarella sticks and Mediterranean seafood salad. There's a range of Parmigianas and burgers, pancakes and omelets, too.

Mike's Deli, 2344 Arthur Ave.; 718-295-5033. Situated in the Arthur Avenue retail market, Mike's is an order-and-go establishment. "Big Vinny's favorite" is soppressata, ricotta salata and sharp provolone; "Big Mike's combo," mortadella, ham, salami, capicola, and provolone; "Raging Bull," hot soppressata and sharp provolone; and the "Michelangelo," a purist's prosciutto and mozzarella. A branch of Mike's is in the stadium.

Tino's Deli, 2410 Arthur Ave.; 718-733-9879. Very reliable for terrific Italian hero sandwiches and other appetizing fare. The staff is warm and friendly. Tino's has a few tables. You'll also wander around the savory place and be tempted to take home some excellent and fairly priced olive oil and balsamic vinegar. A personal favorite.

The fifth choice is a combination. Walk along the avenue, buy ricotta and mozzarella from Calandra, which is near Catania's Pizza Cafe; then pick up spicy cold cuts from the Calabria Pork Store; and some bread at Terranova on East 187th Street.

You've just hit a home run.

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