You can keep your $65 TikTok-famous truffle pizza joints and flashy Manhattan secret slice shops, NYC — there’s one no-frills Bronx pizzeria to top them all, according to the eating experts at Food Republic.
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.
Pelham Bay’s preferred pie-slinger has been a presence on the garden level of a single-family home at 1300 Crosby Ave. in the quiet neighborhood since 1959 — having originally opened in Harlem in 1947.
For more than six decades now, this simple shop has been dishing out New York-style pies — to loyal fans who swear by its classic charm and flavors.
The restaurant’s reputation clearly stretches far beyond the borough, but in an interview with The Post, owner Cosmio Tiso, 55, claimed that calling his business a restaurant is “misleading.”
“We’re not a restaurant, we’re just a pizzeria — really old-school,” he said. “We’re just pizza. A few different calzones. And that’s it. There’s nothing else on it.”
“If you’re looking for the menu from Cheesecake Factory, you’re at the wrong place. Our menu is so basic, it’s not a menu. It’s a list of pizzas and calzones,” he declared.
Garlic knots and salad are a no, and don’t come looking for any out-of-the-ordinary toppings.
“I’m not exotic. I know what I’m dealing with. I know what I can handle, what my business can handle and I know what my customers want,” he explained.
That he does — fans online have been gushing over the “phenomenal” slices, with some even calling it their “favorite pizza in the world,” Food Republic reported.
And back in 2019, Barstool Sports president and noted pie guru Dave Portnoy gave the humble joint a big thumbs up as part of his One Bite review series, saying he could eat Louie & Ernie’s “all day long” — and “could see himself being a Bronx [pizza] guy.”
The sausage pie, featuring fennel-rich meat from a local butcher scattered generously on top of a thin, typically slightly-charred crust, is universally considered a standout.
Despite growing fame, Louie & Ernie’s remains a real mom and pop shop.
Patsy Ottuso opened the spot in 1959, naming the pizzeria after his two sons. Ernie took over and hired a 13-year-old John Tiso — to help with cleaning and prepping — who eventually brought his younger brother Cosimo on board.
In 1987, when John was 20 and Cosimo was 17, they bought the place and have been running it with the help of their family ever since. Although John officially retired last year, he still helps out when needed.
The only piece of advice the pair got from Ernie was “KISS: Keep It Simple Stupid.” And that’s exactly what they’ve done.
There are no gimmicks, no social media stunts, no reservations — just cash-only New York pizza, done right.
Inside, seating is limited — a few tables tucked into a modest space that looks like a house — but the action spills outside. Locals gather around car hoods or on the backyard patio, where generations of NYers have shared slices and stories since childhood.
While Food Republic’s national spotlight is a major honor, the true accolades come from the generations of regulars who treat this place like a second home.
However, as Cosimo put it, “it’s always nice when someone says something nice about you.”
