Some meals are worth a short road trip north of Charlotte, and this one sits in a quiet shopping plaza near Lake Norman. It is not a fancy spot, but transplanted New Yorkers keep calling it the closest thing to home they have found in North Carolina.
The menu is big, the slices are honest, and the lunch deals are friendly on the wallet. Keep reading to find out where it is, what to order, and when to go.
A Brooklyn Spirit on Jetton Road
The trip ends at Brooklyn South Pizzeria, 19400 Jetton Rd #201, Cornelius, NC 28031, in the United States. It sits in the Lake Norman area, a short drive north of Charlotte.
On paper, it is a pizza restaurant. In practice, it is a family-friendly parlor serving New York style pies alongside a long list of classic red-sauce Italian dishes.
The address puts it close to Jetton Park, which makes it handy for a pickup meal before an afternoon outdoors. Some guests have grabbed a quick bite here and carried it straight to a picnic table at the park.
Lake Norman vacationers find it while hunting for a local pizza place instead of a chain. Hotel guests nearby have wandered in simply because they saw a steady stream of people coming and going.
That steady traffic tells part of the story. With hundreds of public comments and a solid 4.4 average, the place has earned a loyal following in a town with plenty of pizza competition.
So what keeps people coming back to a strip-mall storefront? The answer starts with a single word printed right on the sign: Brooklyn.
Nostalgia for Former New Yorkers
Ask a former New Yorker about Southern pizza and you may get a long sigh. Here, that sigh often turns into a grin.
One longtime fan grew up in New York City in the 1960s and said the thing he missed most after moving away was a neighborhood pizzeria just like this one. He even noted that his sisters in Manhattan struggle to find a place with fresh pies and such a varied menu.
His only clue that he was not in New York? The staff was polite.
The owner, Lucia, a former New Yorker herself, responded that she was glad to serve up a bit of nostalgia.
Others echo the same feeling. A New Yorker who drove 35 minutes from Kannapolis finished most of a pie and bought two more to take home.
A Charlotte resident who moved to North Carolina in 2011 called it the best match for true New York pizza found anywhere in the state. The only problem, he joked, was the distance, so maybe it was time to call a real estate agent.
That kind of loyalty is hard to fake, and it sets up the main event nicely.
The Pie That Built the Reputation
New York style pizza is the headliner, plain and simple. It comes up more than any other topic when people talk about this spot.
The crust runs thin, in true New York fashion. When eaten fresh out of the oven in the dining room, it is described as having just the right amount of crunch.
The sauce is a crushed tomato style, kept light. Fans say it lands in a balanced spot, not too sweet and not too acidic, and it is spread evenly across the pie.
Variety helps too. Standard thin crust and Sicilian pies are both available, along with white pizza, which pairs well with pepperoni according to regulars.
There is also Nona’s Pizza, a specialty pie with tomatoes on a crisp crust that some couples say they are hooked on. A stuffed pizza has won praise from Lake Norman vacationers ordering carryout.
Honesty matters, though. A few longtime locals mention that consistency can wobble now and then, with an occasional pie coming out a bit thick or overdone.
For a safe first order, the plain cheese pizza is the pick that keeps getting singled out as a winner.
Slices, Specials, and Small Change
Not every lunch needs a whole pie. Pizza by the slice is one of the most talked-about perks here, and it makes for an inexpensive midday stop.
The lunch specials are the real bargain. Recent guests point to $6 lunch specials that include a drink, which is a rare find these days.
One popular combo pairs two slices of pizza with a sweet tea. It is a quick, simple meal that works for workers on a break or families on the move.
Slices are not oversized, but they are considered adequate for the price. Topping options are plentiful, so a basic slice can be dressed up without much fuss.
A small heads-up on drinks clears up a common question. Water is free in the standard cups, while the larger 20 ounce fountain cups carry a charge and come with unlimited free refills.
Slices can run out during busy stretches, so calling ahead does not always guarantee one will be waiting. Arriving earlier in the lunch rush is a smart move for slice fans.
Of course, the menu goes well beyond the triangle-shaped stuff.
Rolls, Knots, and Folded Favorites
Garlic knots deserve their own spotlight. They are among the most mentioned items on the menu, and even guests with mixed feelings about a visit call them a bright spot.
Strombolis and calzones round out the folded side of the menu. A ham stromboli is a personal favorite for some regulars, and the variety impresses former New Yorkers who expect these options at a real pizzeria.
Rolls are another local habit. The chicken roll, sausage roll, and supreme roll all show up in conversation, making them handy grab-and-go choices.
A fair note for stromboli lovers: the style here may differ from other shops using a similar name. One caller from Goldsboro found the Cornelius location makes its stromboli its own way, so expectations should stay flexible.
Some rolls run on the smaller side, but they are also fairly inexpensive. That makes them easy to add as a side to a slice or two.
Marinara for dipping comes along as well, and some fans enjoy it most on its own.
Bread-based snacks are fun, but the kitchen has bigger plates waiting in the wings.
Red-Sauce Classics Beyond the Pizza
Not a pizza person? No problem at all.
The menu leans heavily into casual Italian classics.
Chicken parm is a crowd favorite and one of the most mentioned dishes outside the pizza category. Baked ziti, lasagna, and eggplant parmesan also appear on the lineup.
Penne alla vodka has quietly become a star for some diners. Hotel guests who skipped pizza entirely called it the winning meal, especially with chicken added, noting the sauce carries a touch of heat.
Side salads keep things simple. They are basic but refreshing, and the ranch dressing gets a thumbs up.
Opinions on the pasta are not unanimous. A few guests found the baked dishes underwhelming, so pizza and chicken parm remain the safest bets for first-timers.
Dessert is short and sweet. The cannolis earn praise from regulars who say they never skip them.
Bread on the side also wins approval, which makes sense for a kitchen that spends all day working dough.
And this kitchen can scale up in a hurry, as one party host discovered.
The Night a Pizzeria Rescued a Party
Here is a story worth knowing before planning any big event. A host had 50 guests arriving and discovered at 4:30 that the original caterer had lost the order.
With people already pulling into the driveway and no food in sight, the host called this pizzeria in a panic. Within about an hour, there was pasta and chicken parm for 50 people.
The team even delivered meatballs to the house. The host said the meal turned out better than the original catering order would have been.
Lucia, the owner, replied that she was proud the crew pulled it together so quickly. She added that notes like that mean more than people know.
The takeaway is practical. Large orders are possible here, and the kitchen has shown it can handle pressure.
Carryout is quick for smaller orders too. Lake Norman vacationers mention their food was ready fast.
For families hosting birthdays, team gatherings, or lake house weekends, that kind of reliability is good to have in your back pocket.
Big orders aside, most people simply sit down and settle in, so the dining room comes next.
Order at the Counter, Relax at the Table
The setup is a hybrid that surprises some first-timers. You order and pay at the front counter, and then the food is brought to your table.
Staff members also bring refills and clear the dishes after the meal. That makes it feel like a casual sit-down dinner without the long wait.
The dining room is spacious and described as nicer than the average pizza joint, without being fancy. Comfortable seating makes it easy to linger.
Friendly faces come up again and again. Team members have been praised by name for patience, good recommendations, and a sense of humor.
Families fit right in, and the parlor is billed as family-friendly. Couples, solo lunch diners, and groups heading to Jetton Park all find a spot.
Cleanliness is usually a strong point, though one group noticed a few uncleared tables during a quiet visit. It is a small reminder that even good spots have off days.
Since you pay before the food arrives, some guests like to keep a little cash handy for the crew who delivers the plates and refills.
Now for the practical details that make planning easy.
Hours, Timing, and a Fair Verdict
Timing a visit is simple. Monday through Thursday, the doors are open from 11 AM to 8 PM.
Friday and Saturday stretch a bit later, from 11 AM to 9 PM. Sunday runs from noon to 8 PM.
Lunch is the best value window, thanks to those $6 specials with a drink. Earlier arrivals have a better shot at fresh slices before they sell out.
From Charlotte, the drive heads north toward Lake Norman. People routinely make the trip from farther away, including Kannapolis, just for a pie.
So is it worth it? For fans of thin, New York style pizza, the answer leans strongly toward yes.
It is not perfect every single time, and a few dishes split opinions. Still, the plain cheese pie, garlic knots, chicken parm, and cannolis give any first visit a strong foundation.
The menu can be checked ahead on the restaurant website before heading out.
Bring an appetite, grab a table, and see whether this little slice of Brooklyn in Cornelius earns a spot in your regular rotation.
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