It’s a common misconception that the Italians invented pizza. In reality, the Babylonians, Israelites, Egyptians and other ancient Middle Eastern cultures were making pizzas long before the Italians. However, it can be said that it was the Italians that made pizza popular, and, as far as I'm concerned, it is the Americans who have perfected the cuisine.
One common thread we all share in this country is an assumed love of pizza, where a pepperoni pie is quite possibly the most readily available food we have. Among the most popular iterations are the slices of the Northeast such as New York-style and Chicago-style. Next we have the flat, tomato-less California-style, St. Louis-style, Hawaiian, Sicilian and Mexican to name a few. One less noted but still very note worthy is frozen-style which includes tons of subcategories, from “Pizza Rolls” a personal favorite, to “Red Barron” and so on. With so much pizza to choose from, the common consumer can get lost in the sauce, or settle for the sub par slice.
Luckily for you, the Clubplanet connoisseurs comprised a list of the best pizza joints in town to chow down. To keep the common thread close knit, we chose perhaps the most popular pie of all: pepperoni.
Pizza Rustica
863 Washington Avenue
Miami Beach, FL 33139
305.674.8244
Pizza Rustica prepares their pie Roman Style, on big square baking trays and cut off in square slices for serving. Loaded with thick mozzarella cheese and very little sauce the half inch thick squared slice could double as cheesy bread. Michael, one of the managers, says that “what sets them apart is their ability to recreate.” The owner, Pino, takes time every year to visit Italy, the motherland of mozzarella and other fine ingredients popular for pizza. What does Pino seek on this annual sabbatical? The freshest ideas and toppings for the upcoming year. Although Michael and Pino have no complaints about the simplistic set up of pepperoni, they want you to remember, “there is more to pizza than cheese and pepperoni.” Looking for something more, Michael recommends the ‘Rustica’ slice or the ‘Tomato Basil.’ In business for 10 years, Pizza Rustica first opened on Washington Avenue in South Beach. Now, like an expanding Roman Empire, Pizza Rustica has three locations on SOBE, locations in Delray and Hollywood, Florida. Not to mention Beverly Hills and Hollywood California, as well as Michigan, Arkansas and Paris, France.
Gino’s Pizza and Brew
731 Washington Ave
Miami Beach, FL 33137
305.673.2072
If 4 a.m. doesn’t cut it, Gino’s is the joint for you. Open 24 hours Gino’s serves it up round the clock. Craving a bite but can’t seem to cut yourself free from the couch? No worries, Gino’s delivers as well, at the most affordable price per slice on the list. To up the competition, Gino’s pizza is accompanied with free garlic rolls. Gino’s hand tossed pizza uses a recipe leaving you feeling light and looking lean. Owner Jon Carlo prides himself in the healthy nature of his ingredients. He would not let me in on all his secrets, but he did say the key is quality, or rather olive oil over grease. One secret to Gino’s success is the equal distribution of ingredients. The traditional New York-style pizza cooked in a classic brick oven comes out with just the right amount of well, everything. Factoring into your equation, health, price and availability of slice, Gino’s Pizza = good deal. See for yourself. Gino’s has two locations on the beach.
Miami’s Best Pizza
1514 South Dixie Highway
Coral Gables, FL ?33146
305.666.5931
With size and shape staying impressively consistent, I thought there was a monopoly on the pepperoni production in the pizza industry. Enter Miami’s Best Pizza, the alternative choice to spicy linked sausage. Miami’s Best hand tossed crust has that tasty burnt black flour residue found exclusively in crumb filled brick ovens at traditional pizza joints. A generous display of dime sized pepperoni shavings sprinkled the top of the thick greasy cheese coating, which seemed to float on top of the sauce unable to make a true connection to the crust below. I find this to be a crucial problem in the stability of the slice. Hold your slice at an incline and beware a topping slide. Fail to bite completely through and the rest of the toppings might be coming with you providing a greasy goatee for you chin and soggy slice of dough for the remainder of your din-din. Miami’s Best Pizza was the most difficult slice of pizza to eat on the list, yet possibly the best tasting slice of pepperoni in town. Best advice, grab a few extra napkins and fold your slice. Having one location since 1970, Miami’s Best Pizza is Miami’s oldest slice on our list. After all these years of coming up with a crazy concoction and calling it pizza, Roger the manager still recommends the Pepperoni.
New York Roma Pizza and Pasta
3030 Grand Ave
Miami, FL 33133
305.476.6018
Definitely one of Miami’s hidden food gems (not to the college kids though), New York Roma Pizza is without a doubt the best-drunken slice you can get in the city. Simple process really; gather a group of friends and head down to the Grove. It can be anywhere from Green Street to Sandbar. After a heavy session of drinking, the stomach starts to get your attention. There’s only one place to go if you’re there. Good guess, New York Pizza Roma. The Traditional New York slices are thin and crispy with just the right amount of equally spread sauce and cheese. Although the price can be a little unsettling after a night out (a pepperoni slice setting you back at a near $4) it’s worth every single penny. Although it might be a little tough to get to Pizza Roma if you happen to go out anywhere else, after trying this for the first time, it won’t seem like such a mission.
Casola’s Pizzeria and Sub Shop
2437 SW 17th Ave
Miami, FL 33145
305.858.0090
Another veteran right down the road is Casola’s. Preparing pies for 30 years, Casola’s has developed a recipe for success. If stability in a slice is what matters most then the last review left you looking elsewhere. Casola’s is very bite friendly; that is if you can hold the giant slice. What sets Casola’s apart is the size of the pie itself. With 20’ inch discs of dough I can see why in a bad economy Casola’s sparingly spreads their toppings around. Leaving on a full stomach I still found myself looking for more flavor. Maybe the cure is to add more toppings. Manager Agustin Bunuel recommends the “slice special” with all nine toppings offered at Casola’s coming together on one slice. This might be the cure all for their New York-style pepperoni slice in need of a little something. But as they say, pizza is a lot like sex, if it’s good it’s really good, and if it’s bad, it’s still pretty good. This pizza was by no means bad, so give Casola’s a shot. After a night on the town if plan A doesn’t work out Casola’s, open till 4 a.m., is usually packed with a post party pizza crowd, providing you with a full stomach and a chance to meet plan C.