In 2019 Louie & Ernie’s Pizzeria celebrated 60 years in the business at Crosby and Waterbury Avenues. Founder Ernie Ottuso was honored by having the intersection named for him several years ago, and the original blue and white honorific sign is still in place. All Bronx streets were signed with vinyl blue and white signs between 1964 and 1984.
Whenever I’m in these parts I get a slice here. In the website Serious Eats (the review has been moved and I can’t locate it), pizza reviewer Adam Kuban explains that Ottuso sold the pizzeria to brothers Cosimo and Johnny Tiso in 1987. “As Cosimo Tiso says, ‘We just make pizza. We don’t make sandwiches, we don’t make salads.’”
Louie and Ernie’s frequently makes Best Pizza in NYC lists, which admittedly are numerous and arbitrary. Very good pizza….
The pizzeria has been here in what appears to be a private home that has been converted to a pizza place for several decades. This is a tax photo from 1940 when what appears to be a grocery or deli was on the ground floor. If anyone else knows about a pizzeria that is on the ground floor of a private dwelling in NYC..or environs… Comments are open.
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7/12/23
11 comments
Arbitrary, shmarbitrary. Absolutely one of the best. We take trips from Queens and Nassau for their pie.
Played tennis once a month with friends for over 20 years we always went to Louie and Ernie’s after playing . Loved every slice. Now if anyone in my family is anywhere near by they alway stop in for a pie.
Like it a lot
When I lived in the area, this was a Friday night must!. One of the best in the Bronx? One of the best in the entire NYC area.
Every Friday night pizza from Louie & Ernie’s
I had the pleasure of eating there toward the end of a walk that took me to NYC’s shortest stair street: Throgmorton Avenue (6 steps). Excellent pizza and friendly people working there. I’ll find an excuse to go back there from Brooklyn.
I used to live around the block, it’s fantastic.
I wonder if anyone still calls them pizza parlors
In the Bronx, you say? Does anyone still pronounce it “PITTS-zeria,” like Ralph Kramden did?
I will admit that this is an interesting design for a mixed use building.
I lived down the street for the first 37 years of my life. It was our go to for pizza always. Grew up on it, had birthday parties there. They make the best pizza and the absolutely best calzones. When I am back in The Bronx, it is a must stop always. I live in Dutchess County, NY, nothing compares to it.