Pugsley Pizza
“If it's your first time there, let him know and he might let you bang his gong (not a euphemism at all!).”
“During our meal he came over and played somewhere over the rainbow on his saxophone.”
“I wish my college had a pizza joint like this near campus.”
Pugsley Pizza
Delivery: Yes
Take-out: Yes
Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
Bike Parking: Yes
Good for Kids: Yes
Good for Groups: Yes
Outdoor Seating: Yes
Has TV: Yes
Caters: Yes
Price range.
$ Price range Under $10
8 reviews
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Sal, I still love you. And the magical way you cook your topped slices, while I cannot remember the laborious process you described for my dad, is pretty delish. Your ziti is still filling. But why are the slices so small? Why do you charge ***$2.50*** for your smaller, less satisfying slices? University gives me more across the street for just $2. And I want more.
I am older and wiser now, Sal. I cannot suffer my stomach to your extra 50 cents when I can walk a few blocks for something better. It's safe to say I'll see you again, but ours is an estranged relationship and will never again be what it was.
1st off…does anyone other then Fordham U students know about Pugsley's? It's on a block I didn't even know existed. I'm sure I'm not the only one that didn't know there was a street "back there."
Anyway, if there was a definition of a gimmicky/ college/ pizza/ dive bar, this would be it. Lots of wacky things hanging everywhere. Lots of pics and signs. EVERYWHERE.
Most of the reviewers on Yelp seem to be Fordham U students, I am not. Most students aren't from NY so they don't really have anything to compare good pizza too.
However, THIS is AUTHENTIC Bronx pizza. The crust is thick, the cheese and sauce is perfect.
Trust me, I've been eating Bronx pizza over 30 years and this, my friends is legit.
For me, THE New York experience is about places like Pugsley – great food, great vibe, great people. First off, I love the space. Inside, the pizzeria has several booths and walls decked out with photos, handwritten menus, and Fordham garb. Outside is a decently sized patio where on a nice day you can enjoy your pepperoni slice or chicken roll.
The owner Sal is a gem: warm, energetic, and an absolute riot. This was my first time ever at Pugsley, and he was joking with me like I knew him for years! I love that, along with the friendliness of the rest of the staff.
As folks have been saying, the chicken roll is where it's at. Not a calzone, but several slices of breaded chicken cutlet with tomato sauce, mozzarella, and parmesan nestled in freshly baked crust roll. The chicken was juicy and fresh, and went nicely with the crispy crust and the robust tomato sauce.
It's easy to see why Fordham students love this place – can't wait to go back to taste the other slices and offerings on their (very) expansive menu!
I heart Pugsley's.
Best chicken roll I've ever tasted, fa real.
As an alumni as well as Fordham staff I feel lucky to still be able to eat at this place. High quality ingredients and dripping with nostalgia. Love love love.
Chicken roll is to die for, and the pizza isn't half bad either. I'm kind of partial to University, but Pugsley's is worth it for Sal alone. I remember interviewing him for a journalism class and realized how out of his mind this guy was with these odd non-sequitors he would spit out and the gigantic gong in the back that everyone had to bang at least once when they were in there. Perfect place to hit up after a night of drinking (they have beer here too).
A Fordham University staple since the mid-1980s, I'd been a Pugsley's regular from 1992 until leaving the Bronx in 2014. Long enough to have "the Professor Special" named after me – ziti with chicken & cheese, a loaf of amazing, fresh baked garlic bread & a can of Coke, for $10.
Tucked away in a quiet corner of the Bronx, between Fordham University's Walsh Hall & a couple of carpet shops & the noise & congestion of Fordham Road, Pugsley's is that rare treat – a secret to those in the know. Unlike Full Moon or any number of busy shops along nearby Arthur Avenue, this place is frequented mainly by Fordham students & faculty, alumni, cops, & people in the immediate neighborhood. But there's something about it – once you've tried it, it's difficult not to stay hooked.
A menu highlight is their chicken rolls. Standard are the best, but they'll serve them up buffalo or bbq style. The pizza of course, with any number of toppings, is also excellent, as is the pasta.
Rounding out the menu, there are salads, burgers, & a few other things, but the pizza, pasta & chicken rolls are really your best bets.
But this place isn't entirely about the food. There's also atmosphere. The people behind the counter, especially longtime proprietor, Sal, are a treat to behold. Is your pizza ready? Listen for the gong. Dine indoors, or on a hot summer day, out on the patio. Enjoy some live music. Or, as they're active in the university community, come by during an "Eat Up" & for $5, enjoy a night of all-you-can-eat in support a campus organization.
Let's be honest. I went to Fordham and took a trip to Pugsley my very first night, so I have a huge bias toward this place. But if I'm being completely truthful, their pizza is very good. It's not about the pizza, it's about the atmosphere. This is a classic whacky college pizza joint half a block fro campus where the people who work there are wonderful and the food is very good, too. The classic is the "Richie Special" that comes with a slice and the ever-fawned-over chicken roll. They make a good chicken roll. My favorite is what I have dubbed the "Brian Special" which is a cheese calzone (essentially a loaf of their tasty bread stuffed full of mozzarella and ricotta cheese) with added meatballs, a cup of sauce, and an Orangina. For $10.50, you can't go wrong, and it's a lot of food!
Oh Sal.. I love you.
You make me believe the food is better than it really is… and I love that you passed me a marker to write on your wall…. I will miss you when I graduate….