Bronx Beat: Tommy’s Pizza in Throgs Neck
May 12, 2010
NYC Food Guy always welcomes guest bloggers. Today we turn the spotlight on first time contributor, and Bronx native, Elmer The Great. E-mail [email protected] if you’d like to contribute!
Going back to a place you haven’t been in a long time is always interesting. Going back there sober for the first time in a long time is also interesting. Will my memories live up to the current reality? Is it as good as I remember?
When I was a kid pizza was simple. There were plenty of places in my neighborhood that had good slices. Walk up to the counter, pay a dollar (boy, I’m old) and get a fresh hot slice. Sadly, many owners left, places became chain restaurants, or the pizza just turned lousy. Finding a good slice is no longer a walk down the street, it’s a quest.
During high school a friend of mine from Throgs Neck introduced me to Tommy’s Pizza. It still has an old fashioned white sign on top, a neon sign reading “Calzones” in the window, swivel stools lining the counter next to the ovens, and a few tables in the back if you’re here to stay. But you’re not here for the ambiance, you’re here for the pizza.
I ordered two pies, a large pepperoni and a small sausage ($26 total). The slices hold up better with the sausage since the meat releases less oil. The chunky ground sausage has a flavor close to breakfast sausage.
The pepperoni is standard pizza shop fare, but the meat’s saltiness adds an extra tang to the pizza.
The color of the crust is a nice golden brown. Each bite has an initial snap, but there is some substance as well. The sauce is balanced between bright tomato and the slightest sweet undertone. Just the right amount of delicate grated mozzarella satisfies perfectly.
The pizza is as I remembered, solid. It is not exceptional, not artisan pizza, not nouveau, just a solid New York pizza. Tommy’s likely gets overlooked because of more hyped places in the neighborhood such as Tosca and Patricia’s, but there is always a heavy stream of locals popping in for a slice. Tommy’s is not a life-changing pizza experience, but it tastes the way pizza should, something that’s not as easy to find in New York as it once was.
Tommy’s Pizza
4033 East Tremont Avenue Bronx, NY 10465-3027 718-829-2828
Posted in BRONX, THROGS NECK, Tommy's Pizza
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May 12th, 2010 at 11:06 am
That looks like amazing “NY Style” pizza.
May 12th, 2010 at 12:23 pm
While I’ve never had Tommy’s, Loretta’s on Layton Ave in Throggs Neck makes a great pie.
May 12th, 2010 at 3:47 pm
I’m a Bronx native, and my favorite pizza, hands down, is Captain’s Pizza on Morris Park Avenue. I’ve been eating that pizza since age 6 (thanks Mom for that childhood obesity problem) and the pizza is still as good as it was then. No pizza I’ve ever had can ever compete with Captain’s.
May 13th, 2010 at 10:00 am
The pizza at Tommy’s looks good but I just had “grilled” pizza at Coals on Eastchester Road near Albert Einstein College of Medicine and it was fabulous. The dough looks like it was squeezed through a pasta machine — really thin and sort of an amorphous oval shape. That’s grilled so the grate marks show on both sides then topped with various cheeses and toppings, tomatoes or pesto, and cut into bite size pieces. Two of us ate three of them and had a full meal. A good collection of beers is also available at the bar. It’s a little bit of pizza heaven.
May 24th, 2010 at 10:47 pm
Tommy’s is good but louie & ernie’s on crosby ave. in pehlam bay has the best pizza in the bronx
July 22nd, 2010 at 3:54 pm
I order from Tommy’s every Friday. I love their white pizza pies. My son loves their
pepperoni. Best place I’ve found here in the bronx.
October 28th, 2010 at 9:03 am
I love Coal’s on Eastchester Road. People seem to love Patricia’s but I think the Pizza is over rated…although I love their food. I am definitely going to have to try Tommy’s because that looks like real pizza.
November 14th, 2010 at 2:05 pm
Three boys on Burke ave & white plains rd!!!!!! Open late even on weekdays. Slices are always crispy n the sause is great n heavy on the cheese!!! Garlic knots are crazzzzy good. Its the best pizza in the Bronx hands down
January 14th, 2011 at 10:46 am
The food and service is medioka when the girls are there, the both of them, and because of their snobbish additude. They have a way of making me feel like I don’t belong thre, and thanks to that, I refuse to step in Tommy’s. I wash every week, and would go there while the clothes dried with my husband. Maybe it sounds like I caught a gorilla by not stepping in the place, but at least I don’t have a chippy with the customers. For shame. Nevertheless, best pizza out here.
January 14th, 2011 at 10:55 am
RE:
The service is medioka when the girls are there, the both of them, and because of their snobbish additude, they have a way of making me feel like I don’t belong thre, and thanks to that, I refuse to step in Tommy’s. I wash every week, and would go there while the clothes dried with my husband. Maybe it sounds like I caught a gorilla by not stepping in the place, but at least I don’t have a chippy with the customers. For shame. Nevertheless, best pizza out here.
January 14th, 2011 at 10:56 am
The service is medioka when the girls are there, the both of them, and because of their snobbish additude, they have a way of making me feel like I don’t belong thre, and thanks to that, I refuse to step in Tommy’s. I wash every week, and would go there while the clothes dried with my husband. Maybe it sounds like I caught a gorilla by not stepping in the place, but at least I don’t have a chippy with the customers. For shame. Nevertheless, best pizza out here.
February 15th, 2011 at 6:21 pm
Tommys pizza is really good.
December 23rd, 2011 at 5:52 pm
i loveeeeeeeeeee tommy’s pizza
February 20th, 2012 at 8:29 pm
The best pizza .
April 10th, 2013 at 11:37 am
[…] in and around New York. We asked him about some of his favorite places and things in the Bronx: Tommy’s Pizza — best pizza Spoto’s Italian restaurant — a class act Ohana on City Island — best […]
May 5th, 2013 at 9:46 am
Tommys Pizza is still made the old-fashion way. It is great.
October 14th, 2013 at 2:25 am
Tommy’s is the best! When I have to get Pizza in Manhattan I think to myself, “If only I were in The Bronx so I could get Tommy’s.” Great service and delivery too!
October 18th, 2013 at 7:13 pm
I’ve eaten Tommy’s Pizza since Tommy worked at La Perla in the 1970’s. Didn’t love it then, don’t love it now. The sauce has always been too sweet. However, it’s not the worst I’ve had either. It’ll do in a pinch.
October 23rd, 2013 at 11:38 pm
@Loretta,
That’s a pretty tough review! I’ve never had it, this was actually written by my Bronx correspondent! What’s the best slice in the Bronx?
October 29th, 2013 at 11:40 pm
My favorite slice (and many would say it is the best) would be the sausage slice from Louie and Ernie’s.