By Liam Moore

Outside view of Bernie’s Subs & Pizza. Photo credit: Google user KS.

Bernie’s Sub and Pizza is a family-owned restaurant between Collegiate and the University of Richmond in the Tuckahoe Shopping Center on Ridge Road. It is a locally owned shop known for its New York-style sandwiches, taking payments in cash, and always having a sports game playing on the tv whenever you are there. It was founded a little over 50 years ago and is a staple in the area. 

I recently visited Bernie’s Sub and Pizza for the first time with my dad, local entrepreneur Jon Moore, on a Tuesday afternoon. Walking into the restaurant from the parking lot, I noticed how small it is. From the outside, the shop looks shabby. There is a singular large window and one small glass door. Hanging above the window and door is a large, old, red “Bernie’s Sub & Pizza” sign.

Collegiate’s pennant at Bernie’s. Photo credit: Liam Moore.

When we walked in, two people were ordering at the register, and the strong smell of marinara and pepperoni goodness swept into our noses. Inside is a series of black tables and chairs, filling the entire space. 

We ordered our food and sat down at one of the many black tables. As I looked up, I noticed college pennants for UVA, Virginia Tech, James Madison, other colleges, and even one from Collegiate, hung up all around the walls, surrounding the inside of Bernie’s. It looked similar to our college admission office here at Collegiate, making the restaurant feel familiar. The space wasn’t large, but the restaurant took advantage of all of it.

Located in the back of the shop is an old, dusty cash register, perhaps from 20 years ago or more. Above the register, a large backlit sign displays the menu, and next to it is a small TV usually displaying SportsCenter and the latest game.

Whole Italian sandwich. Photo credit: Liam Moore.

After 15 minutes, our food was brought out on paper plates, similar to New York one-dollar pizza plates. The low quality of the plates made my eating experience feel more relaxed. Bernie’s isn’t focused on the presentation of their food, but rather the quality of it. My dad and I split the whole Italian sub and the medium cheese pizza, their most popular sandwich and pizza. We wanted to decide which of the two would be better.

We ate the delicious sub first. The pepperoni and ham, paired with the fresh lettuce and tomatoes, made for a great meal. With every bite, the sandwich brought me back wanting more. My dad and I split the whole sandwich, and together we rated it an 8.5/10. It is definitely worth eating and coming back for if you ever want a delicious Italian sandwich. 

Our high rating was not a surprise after reading one review from a Yelp user, Julia P., who was traveling on an international flight. She wrote, “I got an Italian sub from Bernie’s for my long and arduous journey… I proudly ate that delicious sub while flying over Dubai, looking at the Burj Khalifa out the window. Tasted epic.” It is clear from this review that the love for Bernie’s sandwiches is immense and can be enjoyed from anywhere in the world.

Cheese Pizza. Photo. credit: Liam Moore

Next, we both tried the classic cheese pizza. The cheese fell off with my first bite, and the slice felt overpowered by the sauce. It was mediocre. My dad and I both agreed it was not nearly as satisfying as the Italian sandwich, but still, admittedly, tasty. Collectively, we rated it a 5/10. It was the perfect baseline for an okay pizza. 

Inside seating at Bernie’s. Photo credit: Liam Moore.

Bernie’s is far from a classy establishment, with its low-quality plates and dated signs and register, but its casual environment made our eating experience enjoyable. I found myself looking through the pennants with my dad while we ate, searching for other schools we knew. My dad and I felt comfortable laughing out loud about our day and enjoying our food in a restaurant we had never been to. In her review, Yelp user Katherine F. wrote, “We have been visiting Bernie’s for over two decades. They make, without a doubt, the best Italian subs in America.” Their committed customers and praise from people in the Richmond area for the past 50 years prove its importance to the community.