Rehoboth Foodie

Louie's Pizza, "Home of the Grinder", is one of the few places in Rehoboth Beach that's been around about as long as the Atlantic Ocean. Some of the old timers out there might remember it as "George's Lunch," back when the Carlton Hotel wasn't a T-shirt shop, Grotto had only one location and the Belmoor was the Dinner Bell Inn. The same family has owned Louie's for umpteen-many years and they take the place very seriously. Dad (the original "Louie") can be seen riding his bike around town smiling and waving at deserving locals, while his sons, Tony and Tim, run the joint full time.

You can buy their pizzas in small, large and as slices. There is nothing quite like standing on the boardwalk and chomping on a Louie's slice! Their pizza is the closest I've had to the brick-oven pizzas in New York City. Though Louie's uses a standard conveyor oven, the pepperoni topping still gets crispy and crunchy, and the crust crackles when you bite into it. Nirvana! If you order a slice, they run it back through the oven and all the crispyness comes back.

A "grinder" is a sub that's toasted. Louie's cheesesteak (and all the variations) is layered with cheese and run through that magic oven. The bread toasts and adds a great texture and mouth-feel to the sandwich. I have never met a piece of slightly burned cheese that I didn't like! They don't skimp on the ingredients and the sub...oops, I mean "grinder"... always satisfies. Order the fries well-done. I also ask them to push my pizza back on the belt a little bit to give the cheese, pepperoni and crust a little more crunch.

Like any storefront place that close to the boardwalk, Louie's can get very busy and noisy in the summer, but it's all part of the experience. And if you just can't take the hustle and bustle in the sitting area, get the slices or order your goodies to go.

Louie's Pizza is located at 11 Rehoboth Avenue, on the north side of the street, just a couple of doors down from the huge "Dolle's" sign. Call 302-227-6002 and Tim or Tony will have your order ready when you get there. Click here to see the pizza menu at Louie's. (L., D.) Price Range: Inexpensive -.