San Gennaro Feast
“Still there is plenty to always keep your interest , Great sausage & pepper sandwiches , Chicken & Steaks.”
“I always go to the same stand Big Vins on Mulberry St (bet Hester & Canal).”
“Highly recommend you visit this feast at least once if in NYC, where street fairs are king.”
San Gennaro Feast
Bike Parking: Yes
Wheelchair Accessible: Yes
Good for Kids: Yes
Price range.
$$ Price range Moderate
8 reviews
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SO MANY PEOPLE. This made me feel claustrophobic and the street food wasn't impressive. If you've never been to San Gennaro Feast before it is definitely something to experience but I probably will not be returning in the future. If I want good Italian food I can just return to little Italy any other day.
San Gennaro Feast. I love it. Italian food festival. Everywhere. September 10-20, 2015. Mmmmmm.
Blocks and blocks of Italian foods done truck and tent style. Many go from town to town, but I think some of the better ones are the local Italian eateries that open up their storefronts to throw down some good grub. You'll find it all here, and even non-Italian stuff but festival favorites, Fried Oreos and Potato Tornadoes.
It's very touristy but if you can let yourself live a little, it's great fun. At one of the ends of the festival, a stage and sound is setup, and some older Italian music group played all the favorites, led by "In Napoli where love is king. When boy meets girl here's what they say. When a moon hits your eye like a big pizza pie. That's amore."
I've been to the festivals in Las Vegas and Los Angeles, and they are all good. Yes, San Gennaro Feast — that's amore.
I'm sorry about the negative experiences some of the reviewers have had at the San Gennnaro Feast. In general I'm not a fan of street festivals, but I like this one – mostly because of its location – very easy to grab yummies from Rice to Riches and Ferrara to satisfy my sweet tooth. It's fun to eat at these places and then to listen to the festival live music or to just people-watch. I had some meat on a stick from one of the vendors, and it was good. There's also a parade, free concerts every day, a cannoli-eating contest, a blood drive, a 9/11 memorial, and a cake for Frank Sinatra's birthday from Ferrara. I'm sure there are San Gennaro Feasts all over the world, but this is uniquely New York's Italian-American festival!
If you like Old School Italian food, this feast is for you. You name the food, they got it. But buy from the food vendors and stay away from the Little Italy tourist trap restaurants which you can visit any time. Highly recommend you visit this feast at least once if in NYC, where street fairs are king.
I have to tell you guys something, and this is from the heart my friends. I love FESTIVALS !! San Gennaro is the ultimate block party of all block parties, this my friends is the "Grand Daddy" of all festivals to be had. Can you really blame New York City for going all out like this? Basically "Go Big" or "Go Home" I'd say.
I say this because the San Gennaro festival is simply 10 days of non stop madness and mayhem. This is where Mulberry St. is closed off so no vehicles can pass, but the tourist and so forth, they can invade the streets and pretend they are Italian for the week. This coming from a Philly guy, who does come up to the big apple every once in a while just to hang out.
I used to make trips to Little Italy at least 3-4 times a year, where it is just the regular crowded streets. Now that there is 10 days of this I could only imagine what it is like for the locals. Back in Philly we have the "Italian Market Festival" where it is just 2 days of festivities. This is where they have 9th St. with a few surrounding blocks are closed off. Again that is 2 days, not 10.
We all know the food is going to be banging from the restaurants having tables set outside with pasta dishes being served to porchetta and sausages waiting to be eaten. Funnel cake and more, to the "Hey these guys over here make they best cannoli" debate rages on. We all know it's Ferrara Bakery on Grand and Mulberry, but then again I like Angelo's . You see , this is a healthy "lets get our grub on" kind of competitions, followed with that perfect espresso. That is for another debate, now it is about San Gennaro.
Ok so I rambled a little back there, but just imagine a sea of people congregating every 10 feet to eat something. Here is the scene you ready? One starts to walk and then we are all stopping ,eating, walk 5 feet and stopping again to eat. You will leave full or drunk, maybe both because with every stop you need a refill. From red or white wine, maybe another beer that is sold from the bars, not to worry they have your back. Kids, well there is soda or water to keep quenched with more sweet delights to keep them going.
I try to make it a point to stop at least one day a year during the festival, you should to. Enjoy it, everyone is happy and hey it is a perfect time to love thy neighbor. You'd definitely be real up close and personal with them trying to shuffle through.
Until next year my fellow Yelpers, enjoy and be safe.
This festival definitely doesn't seem like what it used to be.
I would recommend coming during the week, because the weekend crowds make it pretty un-enjoyable. Long lines, pushing and shoving, mediocre room temperature food. Not my scene. Just to feel like the Saturday evening wasn't a complete waste of time, I shared a sausage and peppers sandwich with someone else and it was decent. I wish the bun had been a little toasted, but can't ask for too much here. If you're around, try the zeppoles or fried Oreos. Skip waiting on the long lines for the legendary restaurants and go back after the festival for a more unique experience.
Although I have mixed feelings about the San Gennaro Feast, I still manage to find myself here every year battling the crowds to those food booths. Little Italy is cramped enough as it is. (And unfortunately getting smaller and smaller with each passing year.) But I'm still glad that the businesses that are still around are standing strong and definitely benefit from this food festival.
Upon entrance, I see there's a bit of a commotion. Once I deduce that the crowds aren't because of a fight or whatnot, I realize that Mariah Carey is there. Just hanging out, buying a sandwich. No, she didn't sing "Touch My Body" or "All I Want For Christmas Is You" (I WISH.) but it was cool running into her.
After that died down, my friend and I headed to find a solid bite to eat. Definitely come here with an empty stomach and prepare yourself for a carb overload. I snagged myself a Meatball Parm and a Cannoli because when in Little Italy… but yes, the prices are jacked up but it's a fun event to go to. And the sweet, sweet smells are sure enough to bring you in.
*To note: Doesn't matter what booth you hit up, the prices are pretty comprable no matter how deep you go into the crowds.
What a great festival! The food options are unlimited some authentic Italian food everywhere you turn. Between the indoor and outdoor dining and the street food you won't leave hungry! My favorites were: La Mela for sit down dinner. Lucy's Sausage food cart for lunch get the pork braciole with broccoli rob on a hero. Ferrara bakery for dessert best cannoli in NYC!