Some of Miami's Best Pizza is Lurking Under the Palmetto
Conveniently, it's across the street from a dispensary
Photo by Carlos Miller
Long before Miami had more Neapolitan pizzerias than it has operative turn signals, there was Cazzoli’s. If you don’t know that name, your phone number probably begins with a number other than 3 or 7. If you do know that name, you’ll probably remember the big, sweet red sauce pizzas and delicious garlic rolls that were a weeknight family favorite. Or, a late-night, hangover-saving decision.
Cazzoli’s went the way of the Orange Bowl a few years back, but Gaetano Gambino – one of the OG founders of Cazzoli’s - opened his own spot not too long after. He’s since passed away, but Gaetano’s Pizza & Pasta lives on, cleverly hidden about a mile south of Dadeland where the Palmetto meets U.S. 1, near a dispensary and a car wash. Pop inside you’ll find the same kind of pizza you remember, with a few gourmet touches.
Is the pizza as good as Cazzoli’s?
This is like dating your ex’s sister and trying to compare them. Sure, there are similarities, but you’ve gotta approach this as something completely separate, or it’s not fair. The pizza is still great, the sandwiches still make ideal delivery food. The garlic rolls will still soak your hands in butter for hours. And it’s a marked couple of notches better than 90% of “new” spots that have opened since Cazzoli’s closed its doors.
The space: It’s like four tables and a pizza counter, so don’t dine-in if you’re looking for ambience. Unless your idea of “ambience” is the calming sounds of the Palmetto Expressway, in which case, grab an outdoor table and make it a romantic evening. Otherwise, Gaetano’s best enjoyed for a quick lunch, casual meet up, or to-go order.
Photo by Carlos Miller
What to eat and drink: The pizza, obviously, which boasts a thin, crispy crust that retains just enough heft. I got the margherita, which come topped with sweet cherry tomatoes, fresh mozzarella, and sweet tomato sauce, and it was addictively good. The meatball and chicken parm subs are also winners. Everything on this menu tastes like after-kickball nostalgia from the 2010s, minus the haze of Mr. Moe’s Moose Juice.
Perfect for: Pizza nights in. If you don’t live in the greater Dadeland area, it’s also an ideal lunch stop if you’re in the area, with a two-slice-and-a-soda special for $9.25.
Pro tips: They’ve got a surprising lineup of Italian beers that are worth a look if you like stuff beyond the usual Bud Light. They’re easy to miss, but they’re all lined up behind the ordering counter.
Expect to pay: About $10 a person.
How’s the parking: Easy, there’s a whole lineup of spaces out front.
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@gaetanosmiami // 9808 SW 77th Ave., Dadeland