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| - I am a native New Yorker (not the city, but close enough to it that I feel myself entitled to be snobby about pizza). Having lived elsewhere in the US and in various places around the world, I have come to realize that the classic New York pizzeria pizza is a rare thing, very difficult to find outside of about a 100 mile radius of NYC.
So I can't tell you how freakin' excited I was to come across Louie's Classico right in my neighbourhood. It is honestly the BEST pizza, the closest thing to authentic NY pizzeria pizza, that I have had in Canada (after a 5 year search between TO and MTL).
From a base that is done right, you can get gourmet pizza. But if the pizza itself is lacking, it doesn't matter what you put on top; it's still going to be mediocre. And this is why Louie's Classico is tops in my books! So yes, they do gourmet well, but if you want to understand what I'm talking about with authentic pizzeria pizza, go in and try a plain slice (and by "plain" I mean just cheese):
The crust is a perfect thickness--just enough to get a good crispy bite on the bottom and some saucy dough at the second layer. They also coat the dough with cornmeal which adds just a bit more flavour and texture to the crust. It's so good that I will finish the crust my husband discards (he's Canadian and doesn't have quite the same obsession with pizza I have!). The sauce hits that perfect spot where it's not too sweet, not too acidic and not overwhelmed with spices. It's just right. And the cheese is fired to the optimal level with some spots browned and crispy and the rest soft and stringy. It's all about balance. To me, it's not that Louie's is "gourmet"; it's just GOOD.
In my opinion, pizza's always best from the place itself. The atmosphere at Louie's is just what you want a family-style pizzeria to be--laid back and casual (think: paper plates and a TV). But ordering in is also essential with pizza, and delivery from Louie's is still pretty excellent. I always go back to the plain when I want that taste of New York, but their range of toppings is fantastic--something for everyone! All that's missing is the little cups of Louie's Italian Ice that you eat with a wooden spoon :)
So there it is: 5 stars from this pizza-picky New Yorker!
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