Pizza Review
8.1 (Plain) 8.3 (Sausage) Louie & Ernies has been serving up classic NY thin crust pizza since 1959 and that 60+ years of experience shines through. First and foremost, if any of you know me by now, you know I absolutely adore a thin slice with no flop. L&E’s has nearly perfected that thin crust almost to the point where it’s possibly too thin! I took my first bite and although it was super thin, the first couple bites weren’t as crisp as you would think, it did improve towards the 2nd half though. The sauce to cheese ratio was perfect however, providing savory bright flavors with hints of sweetness. The back crust was again very thin, but this was very nicely done to a crisp and crunchy exterior with just the right amount of give in the bite. There were areas towards the back crust that almost had a cracker like consistency which for me were absolutely delicious. I couldn’t go to L&E’s without getting their famed sausage slice though, the weight of the sausage was just too much for the paper thin crust so it did have some added flop resulting in this slice requiring two hands for the first 2 or 3 bites to fully enjoy but in any case it was still amazing due to the immense flavors. The large chunks of savory Italian sausage were awesome, bold hints of fennel as well. I think if the slices I got were just a touch crisper to hold up on the fold, I would’ve scored in the mid 8’s because everything else was on point. L&E’s is one of the must-go pizza spots if you’re anywhere near the Bronx, you’ll be happy that you did!

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Pizza Review
Originally established in 1947 in Harlem, but they’ve been at the current location in the Bronx since 1959. This is an old school, cash only, neighborhood pizzeria with lots of nostalgic charm that the locals swear is the best in the borough. Even before I opened the box, there was a distinct smell emanating from the cheese that gave me high hopes for this pie. Starting with the dough, it’s thinnish, fairly floppy but not soggy thanks to the semolina crumbs underneath to prevent moisture buildup, not a particularly crispy pie, except for the crust that has solid crunch. Maybe I expected more flavor from a Bronx pie but it doesn’t have that “made with NYC water” taste that usually separates dough made in the tri-state area from the rest of the country. To go along with the distinct smell, the cheese has a specific flavor that distinguishes it from average pizza cheese. The sharp and biting taste actually overpowers the dough & sauce, making it the prevailing flavor of the pie, which I don’t love, but definitely don’t hate. As you can see from the orange tint, the cheese is harboring quite a bit of grease, not an unmanageable amount, but enough to detract from the flavor of the sauce. Along with a fair amount of oregano, the sweetness and tanginess of the sauce is a little lost and overmatched by the excess oil and pungent taste of the cheese. Overall, this very good pizza, a bit of an acquired taste but a quality pie nonetheless. I wasn’t blown away and even though it didn’t exactly meet my expectations, I’m not completely disappointed either.
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