The Gables' Best Pizza Leaves You Feeling Skinny
And it's free if you've got quick hands
We have reached peak pizza saturation. I get it. Which makes waiting in line for a slice even more befuddling, but that is another rant for another time. Just bear with me here, because there’s a shop in Coral Gables that comes with no arbitrary “Best in the World” list, no self-proclaimed pizza master chef, and no tire company endorsement. And it’s already one of my favorites.
Belluz Pizza’s only accolade is a blue ribbon from Coral Gables magazine calling it the best in the city beautiful. And, really, the locals are who we should be listening to anyway.
This narrow little shop just south of Miracle Mile has two things on the menu, and light, crispy crust that leaves you feeling light as a ballerina after you eat. There’s no line, the owner works the counter, and everything about it still feels undiscovered. Oh, and if you’ve got good reflexes, you can probably eat for free.
For the love of Frank Pepe we’ve got enough pizza places in Miami. Why are you telling us about another one?
Because this one doesn’t have a crowd, or anyone filming for Instagram. It’s also one of only a few pizzas I’ve had in the U.S. that don’t fill you up at all. The owner uses a crust-making method called biga, which pre-ferments dough giving it more air and less density. The result is a crust that fills you up but never weighs you down, much like the stuff in Europe that you can somehow eat for a week and never gain weight.
The scene: Belluz is smaller than most South Beach slice counters, with just a couple of tables, a chalkboard menu on the wall, and posters of its two pizza styles: Pala Romana and scrocchiarella. It’s as no-frills as it gets, and you’d be forgiven for getting your pie to go.
What to eat and drink: This one is painfully easy. Belluz only has two styles of pizza on the menu so your choices are limited to which toppings you want to add. The Pala Romana are roman squares cut into quarters, with a crispy crust and bold sauce. The closest comparison would be Pizza Rustica, minus the regrettable stomach events an hour later. These slices are ideal for a quick lunch.
The scrocchiarella is a round, crispy thin-crust pie with a thin layer of sauce and cheese, topped with olive oil. It’s thinner than both New York and Neapolitan styles, and can be devoured easily by a single hungry person. Not that I know from experience. Belluz also stocks straight-from-Italy ingredients like San Daniele prosciutto and flor di latte mozzarella, giving it an extra jolt of authenticity.
Don’t miss: The red button on the counter. There’s a clock next to it and if you can hit the button at exactly ten seconds, your pizza is free. You’ve been training your whole life at gas pumps for this.
Perfect for: Lunch, quick dinner, take-out.
Expect to pay: Under $20
How’s the parking: Decent. This part of Miracle Mile isn’t too crowded, if you’re willing to walk a couple blocks you can find a place on the street.
@belluzpizza // 2413 Galliano St., Coral Gables