
Louie & Ernie's Pizza
A beloved, old-school Bronx pizzeria serving award-winning thin-crust pizzas with a tangy sauce and crisp crust since 1947.

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Louie & Ernie's Pizza

Highlights
Must-see attractions
A beloved, old-school Bronx pizzeria serving award-winning thin-crust pizzas with a tangy sauce and crisp crust since 1947.
Bring Cash
Louie & Ernie's is a cash-only establishment. An ATM is available on-site.
Visit Off-Peak
Avoid long lines by visiting during off-peak hours, as this gem can get busy.

Quick Facts
Cuisine
Pizza
Price
Mid-range
Highlights
Discover the most iconic attractions and experiences

Award-Winning Thin Crust Pizza
Savor classic New York thin slices with a tangy sauce and perfectly crisp crust, a legacy since 1947.

Sausage Pizza Perfection
Experience the best sausage pizza in the tristate area, featuring juicy fennel-spiked chunks.

Old-School Charm
Immerse yourself in a charming, house-turned-restaurant with authentic 'old New York' atmosphere.
Plans like a pro.
Thinks like you
Insider Tips
from TikTok, Instagram & Reddit
Bring Cash
Louie & Ernie's is a cash-only establishment. An ATM is available on-site.
Visit Off-Peak
Avoid long lines by visiting during off-peak hours, as this gem can get busy.
Try the Sausage Pie
The signature sausage pie is a must-try, lauded by many reviewers for its exceptional flavor.
Embrace Tradition
Enjoy the authentic atmosphere and friendly staff, reminiscent of old New York.
Tips
from all over the internet
Bring Cash
Louie & Ernie's is a cash-only establishment. An ATM is available on-site.
Visit Off-Peak
Avoid long lines by visiting during off-peak hours, as this gem can get busy.
Try the Sausage Pie
The signature sausage pie is a must-try, lauded by many reviewers for its exceptional flavor.
Embrace Tradition
Enjoy the authentic atmosphere and friendly staff, reminiscent of old New York.
What Travellers Say
Reviews Summary
Louie & Ernie's Pizza is celebrated for its authentic, old-school New York thin-crust pizzas, particularly the acclaimed sausage pie. Reviewers praise the perfect crust, tangy sauce, and traditional ambiance, making it a neighborhood gem. However, some patrons have found certain pizzas to be dry or stingy with ingredients, and the cash-only policy can be an inconvenience.
"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.
Cash only establishment"
Chase
"I drove over 30 minutes to Louie & Ernie’s Pizza in the Bronx after reading tons of glowing reviews—and I truly wish I hadn’t wasted my time or money. I ordered an extra-large pizza with extra sauce, extra cheese, and half garlic, sausage, and pepperoni. The smell in my car on the ride home had me hopeful, but that’s where the excitement ended.
For a whopping $46.00, I expected something special. That’s well above the average price for even a loaded XL pizza in the city, and honestly? I can’t imagine how bland and dry it would’ve been without the “extra” sauce and cheese I paid for—probably like eating a matzo cracker with toppings. And even with the extras, it was still dry, the cheese was sparse, and parts of the crust were burnt to a crisp.
The sauce lacked any depth—no basil, no salt, just a plain, uninspired tomato base that brought nothing to the table. Totally underwhelming.
Oh, and be aware—cash only, which just adds another layer of hassle in this day and age.
Deluso decisamente. Save your money and your gas—this one’s all hype, no heart"
Alyson Savino
"🚨🍕Pizza Alert! 🍕🚨
This place is absolute fire!!! 🔥🔥🔥
Let me tell you, the crust is perfection 🤤, the sauce is out of this world 🤤, the cheese is so melty and delicious, and the sausage… omg 🤤. Just perfection in every bite.
The calzone? Hands down, the BEST I’ve ever had in my life 🥖🔥.
I honestly can't believe I waited this long to discover this gem. From the moment you walk in, you feel like family. It's that warm, cozy, “Mom-and-Pop” vibe that makes you want to stay forever.
The pizza is so good, I couldn't stop eating—even when I was full! 😅 And if you know me, you know I eat pizza ALL the time. This spot has officially topped every other place I’ve ever been. 🍕💯
The staff is amazing, too. Even when they’re busy, they greet you with a smile and the best attitude. 😊
Seriously, don’t wait—get here NOW. Like, right now! You won't regret it! 😍"
Eats And Drinks
What People Like
What People Dislike
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, Louie & Ernie's Pizza is a cash-only establishment. There is an ATM on-site if needed.
The restaurant is renowned for its classic New York thin slices, especially the award-winning sausage pizza and Margherita.
It is recommended to visit during off-peak hours, as this popular spot can get quite busy during peak times.
Yes, Louie & Ernie's offers a cozy, old-school dine-in experience within their house-turned-restaurant.
Information regarding specific dietary accommodations like gluten-free or vegan options is not readily available in the provided data.
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Started by a pair of brothers (hence the name) in Harlem in 1947, this pizzeria migrated north to Pelham Bay in 1959 and operates in a charming house-turned-restaurant today. Should you need a little pizza-adjacent appetizer while you wait for your order, slices and pies at Louie & Ernie’s are joined by half-a-dozen Calzones in varieties like Chicken Parm to Broccoli Rabe. The pizza crust here is yeasty and crisp, and the thin layer of sauce and shredded cheese make for an easy folded slice to eat on the move, if that’s your thing.
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With over six decades of beloved service in the neighborhood under their belts, Louie and Ernie’s has more than earned a top spot on this list. Go for the sausage pie, filled juicy, fennel-spiked chunks of sausage from the S&D Pork Store a few blocks down are held in place—well, just barely—by a bunch of salty melted cheese. It's a hot, creamy mess of pizza-and-pork deliciousness.
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The ’70s gave us Led Zeppelin, the ’60s gave us moon landings, and the 50’s gave us Louie & Ernie’s. It’s probably known for one or two other things as well, but few as enjoyable as a classic New York slice from this Pelham Bay pizza spot.
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Tino’s Deli has been on 187th Street for over 50 years, but fifteen years ago, Rosa and Giancarlo Paciullo took it over and moved to a bigger a better location. Taking the old Belmont Community Center, The Paciullo's renovated it to provide their customers with great service in a friendly, home-like environment. This "Jewel of Arthur Avenue" also known as Tino's Deli, offers an array of brick oven pizza ranging from traditional Margherita to a variety of original combination toppings including their Pizza Salernitana with Mozzarella, Tomato sauce, black olive paste, marinated artichokes and Mortadella and their Pizza Tartufato with Blue Cheese, Dried Figs, Olive oil, Arugula and Truffle honey.
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Brothers Cosimo and John Tiso took the reins from original owner Ernie Ottuso (immortalized via a street sign at the Pelham Bay pizzeria's corner intersection) after working there for years, starting in their teens. Tucked away in the basement of a small house, the unassuming slice joint has served faithful locals and determined pizza pilgrims for nearly 75 years, 62 of them at this location. White pies are dotted with veritable lakes of warm ricotta, while the plain cheese pizza balances a gently sweet tomato sauce with Wisconsin mozzarella and sharp grated cheese on an exemplary thin crust.
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3 | Louie & Ernie's Pizza | History is baked into every pizza pie that comes out of Louie & Ernie’s Pizzeria, found on Crosby Ave over in the Bronx. Established in 1959, the restaurant has quickly formed itself into a neighborhood staple, grasping favorites due to its incredibly crunchy and delectable thin-crust pizzas coupled with toppings such as white cheddar and sausage. Moreover, if you happen to be a calzone lover, Louie & Ernie has several classic offerings just for you.
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Louie and Ernie's Pizza in the Bronx is a world away from the hip, modern pizzerias that have sprouted up in Manhattan and Brooklyn in the last few decades. But there's a reason why this outer borough eatery is worth the visit. The humble brick building that houses this Pelham Bay pizzeria has been home to some of the city's best pizza since the restaurant relocated there in 1959 from the original East Harlem location, which opened in 1947.
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As the Bronx is home to New York’s real Little Italy, it is no surprise that the star attraction of this neighborhood is their pizza. Louie and Ernie’s pizza specializes in huge portions made from ingredients from other local businesses surrounding their small shop. One of their best sellers is the sausage pie, which is made with fennel-spiked chunks of sausage bought from the S&D store just a few blocks away.
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Let's use the superb, just-thin-enough slice at Louie and Ernie's to talk about topping distribution, because something they do there illustrates this concept perfectly: They put a little pinch of black pepper in the center of the pie, so your first bite has that zing. This is called center-loading. Another technique they're adept at here is evenly distributing the toppings so each bite is uniform.
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Located in the Pelham Bay part of the Bronx, Louie & Ernie’s first fired up their pizza oven in the middle of the 20th century and it’s since become one of the best New York-style pizzerias in the Bronx. Many say it ranks up there with the best in the Big Apple. The pizzas here are crispy and layered with goodness: tangy tomato sauce, gooey mozzarella, and whatever topping you like.
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It’s arguably one of the best and certainly one of the most iconic pizzerias in New York City. Many in the East Bronx feel the obligation of stopping into this basement on the intersection of Crosby and Waterbury Avenues for a classic sausage slice or plenty of other outstanding pies worked up by Cosmo Tiso and staff. Louie and Ernie’s is pickup only, but oh so worth it.
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The business dates back to 1947 when started by two brothers in Harlem. In the 1980’s brother’s John and Cosimo started to work for Ernie and In 1987, both John and Cosimo purchased the business and became the new owners of Louie and Ernie’s Pizza. They’re still keeping the story going and the customers happy with pizza that is simply breathtakingly good.
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Pizza in the Bronx is often relegated to Arthur Avenue, the center of Little Italy. And while there are several great pizza places there, we're partial to this little joint that feels like it’s still in 1959, when it first opened. The menu has slices, pies, and calzones, and they’re all excellent offerings of a classic New York pizza joint.
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This part of the Bronx has no shortage of pizzerias, but Louie and Ernie’s is the go-to because unlike others, pizza is their sole focus. You won’t find sandwiches or salads, just greasy, saucy goodness so dieters, be warned. The crust achieves a dreamlike crispy-chewy balance, and the local vibe is super old-school.
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Louie and Ernie- brothers from Harlem, started this pizzeria at the Bronx in 1947 and has been a landmark there ever since. With a feel of a neighbourhood slice joint, this place is a regular visit by the block. Everything right from the sauce to the cornmeal is dusted before it goes to the oven to make it crispier.
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1300 Crosby Ave, The Bronx, NY 10461 louieanderniespizza.com. We know how much you crave thin crust pizza, so why not check out Louie & Ernie’s Pizza place!. This hot spot in the Bronx is a regular visit by the block serving sausage pizza which is scattered with huge pieces of sausages and thin, foldable crust.
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The essential neighborhood spot, Louie and Ernie’s thin-crust pies and slices have been feeding hungry Bronx locals for nearly 65 years. Perfectly bare bones and unpretentious, Louie and Ernie’s is everything people love about the best pizza spots in NYC. It’s easy, homey and most importantly, delicious.
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Louie & Ernie’s Pizza is found at 1300 Crosby Avenue and has been in operation since 1947. Originally located in Harlem, the restaurant moved to its current location in 1959. It was founded by two brothers, Louie and Ernie, who eventually sold the restaurant to another pair of brothers, John and Cosimo.
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That is the motto of Louie and Ernie’s Pizza, who have been flipping pizza pies on Crosby Avenue since 1959. This is real New York-style pizza, thinly-crusted with the perfect ratio of homemade savory tomato sauce, mozzarella cheese and crushed spices.
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According to the locals, this is where you can get the best pizza in the Bronx. And in the city, too. It is a family-owned old school pizzeria in Schuylerville, operated by brothers John and Cosimo Tiso.
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Louie and Ernie’s 1300 Crosby Avenue in Schuylerville beat out the rest by a huge margin and actually got 26% of the votes with second place winner, Kingsbridge Social snagging almost 11% of the votes.
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This Bronx pizza place has been in its current location for 58 years, and has been featured on several Best Pizza in NYC lists. Get a slice for $3 or a calzone for $6.
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Louie & Ernie’s, a beloved Boogie Down mainstay, was named the best “hole-in-the-wall” restaurant in New York by the outlet — beating out scores of worthy contenders.
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