Louie & Ernie's Pizza — Restaurant in New York

The pizza at Louie & Ernie pizzeria is arguably the best slice of pizza the Bronx has to offer. Though it doesn't possess the citywide fame of a DiFara or Totonno, there's a solid case to be made for this pizzeria to share the top billing.

New Yorkers have become spoiled. We are used to great tasting pizza, and though it's always the best way to start, in this competitive pizza capital, it's no longer enough to merely use fresh ingredients. It's knowing how to use those ingredients in concert with each other; achieving that delicate balance between sauce, cheese and crispy-chewy crust that separates the standout from the merely serviceable.

This is where Louie & Ernie's shines. The fat from the shreds of full-cream mozzarella bubbles and melts into the delicious sauce and gives the pie its distinctly fiery orange appearance. The crust is paper-thin, sturdy, and when you fold that slice to take a bite, a truly flavorful, tongue-smacking result is achieved.

Aside from the heavenly pizza, I also like the set up and location. Located in the Pelham Bay section of the Bronx, Louie & Ernie is not situated in the middle of a busy street lined with other businesses, but in a residential area surrounded by other houses. The entrance is a few steps below street level in an unassuming, middle-class style house on the corner of Crosby and Waterbury Avenue. It lends the place a quaint, cozy feel.

But I digress. If you come here, go for the thing that really makes my mouth water: a pie with sausage and garlic. Removed from its casing, the sausage consists of freshly torn chunks of sausage flesh ― not the pre-made rabbit pellets you find in most pizzerias. The garlic is finely diced and generously sprinkled all over. The pie comes out of the gas oven looking like a bubbling pool of orange molten lava and the crust brings it full circle by holding all the flavors together while never overpowering the main ingredients of cheese and sauce (and toppings).

Several years ago, Louie & Ernie's renovated the property to expand the dining area. You place your order at the front counter, sit down and wait for your food to arrive. Nothing about the surroundings or its modest decor would suggest anything but a down-home, neighborhood pizza joint. Unless you call for a delivery. Louie & Ernie doesn't deliver and with their firmly established reputation, no one minds making the...

Was told by so many people that this was the spot to go visit. I finally went ahead and listened and pay them a visit, I went with the family and ordered 2 large pies one just cheese that was for my kids and one cheese and sausage that was my wife and I. I must say we got our first pizza which was the cheese pizza large (the kids pizza ) and I was so disappointed in how burned the underneath was I mean my kids started eating and immediately started making weird faces there mom and I asked what’s wrong they replied this thing is super burned at first we were like no way it’s fine just eat it but then we decided to try it and were absolutely stunned on how charred it was underneath I mean I had coal fire pizza before but this was definitely left unattended for a while then served it was super burned. We were very angry that the kids had to go through that but we’re also not the type of people to complain at the moment just to avoid any animosity nor any smart remarks on behalf of the staff. We then received our second pie and that was much better I even had to stop eating my portion which was half the pie that had cheese to offer it to my kids cause they were very hungry there mom had her side which was the sausage side and finished hers. All I’m saying is that if you’re going to visit this location tell then from the very beginning not to burn the pizza or leave it too long cause you will not enjoy it. This fits as a learning lesson through our process it sucks cause we were really looking forward to this but hey it’s ok maybe next time. Take care folks and enjoy just be sure to mention not to burn the pie and you...

Louie & Ernie’s in the Bronx is a true hidden gem, nestled in a neighborhood where change creeps in slower than a New York cab stuck making it's way through rush hour (and that’s a good thing!). For every bustling block in Manhattan to North Brooklyn, there are places like this, where the only constant is the familiar faces of its dedicated patrons.

For over 65 years, locals have made their way here in search of pies that remind them why they fell in love with pizza in the first place. This is pizza perfection. The margherita slices are simply unforgettable, and the sausage pies are unique to this spot. Situated on a quiet corner of the Country Club neighborhood, it’s easily overlooked—no flashy signs, no bright lights, and no one begging for your attention.

Louie & Ernie’s doesn’t set out to impress, yet it manages to leave a lasting impression. Louie & Ernie’s embodies the spirit of old New York, where the pies have character, the sauce has perfect balance of flavor, and the cheese has just the right “sheen" and nuttiness. This establishment isn’t about reinventing the wheel; it celebrates the beauty of tradition and the pleasure of savoring a slice that takes its time.

Hands down, one of the best pizzas I’ve ever had. With many options to choose from, a classic cheese or sausage hits just right.

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