Pizza by the Slice Since 1982 in Silver Bluff: Casola's

Casola's Pizzeria & Sub Shop, at 2437 SW 17th Avenue just south of Coral Way, is the kind of neighborhood slice counter that has outlasted almost everything around it. It has been selling pizza by the slice since 1982, a plain slice costs $6.75, and the kitchen keeps going until 2 am on Friday and Saturday. Miami New Times called it probably Miami's most legendary red-sauce Italian joint in a January 2026 roundup, and its standing among University of Miami students has lasted for generations.

The menu tells the origin story in a single line: "From Boston, Massachusetts to Miami," with "Est - 1982" printed beside it. The founder was Ramon Casolas, and a Miami New Times piece from 2010 described the shop as run by his family and open since 1982. That Boston connection shows in the food. This is a pizza-and-subs shop in the northeastern mold, with heated sub rolls, a long list of specialty pies and slices that are large and thin enough to fold.

The room is unpretentious, built around a counter, the pizza ovens and a menu board that covers far more than pizza. Regulars come for a slice at lunch, for a sub on the way home and for a whole pie when a game is on. In its 2026 article, Miami New Times singled out the shop's sacred status among University of Miami students, which explains the late weekend hours and the steady stream of delivery orders heading toward Coral Gables.

Start simple. The plain slice is $6.75 on the menu, and it is the clearest way to judge the place: a thin crust, a bright tomato sauce and plenty of mozzarella. A pepperoni slice is $7.75. From there the specialty list grows quickly. A BBQ Chicken slice costs $10.75, the Godfathers slice is $11.75, and the namesake Casola's slice is $14.50. The All the Way slice, loaded with toppings, reaches $16.50 and eats like a meal on its own.

There are also Hawaiian and Greek slices at $9.50 each, plus Steak and Chicken slices at $9.75, a Veggie slice at $13.50 and an Old Mexicana at $12.50. With so many choices, a good first visit is one plain slice plus one specialty slice. That gives you the baseline and one of the house combinations without ordering more than you can finish.

If you are feeding a group, the 24-inch extra-large plain pie is $31.99 and is cut into eight big pieces. Specialty house pies at that size run higher, with most listed at $55.99. Garlic Rolls are a cheap add-on at $8.25 for a dozen or $5.25 for a half dozen, and fountain sodas are $3.49.

The second half of the name matters. The menu states that all subs are heated, and they come in small 10-inch and large 12-inch sizes. The #30 Casola's Super Sub is $11.99 small or $12.99 large, the #31 Godfather Sub is $13.99, and the #48 Philly Cheesesteak is $12.99. Croissant sandwiches run from $8.49 to $11.99, and pasta dinners such as spaghetti with tomato sauce start at $10.99, so a mixed group can order across the whole menu.

The side dishes are just as old-school. Six wings cost $11.99, mozzarella sticks are $10.25 and fried calamari is $9.99, all sized for sharing at the table while the pies bake. Domestic beer is $5.45, imported beer is $6.99 and a glass of wine is $5.45, so a slice, a side and a cold drink still adds up to an inexpensive dinner by Miami standards. Ordering a dozen garlic rolls for the table and letting everyone choose their own slice is the classic Casola's move.

Older reviews describe Casola's as cash only, but that changed: the current menu says credit cards are accepted. The menu also promises free pizza samples while you wait, a small gesture that makes a short line easier. Delivery costs $3.99 and applies to orders over $15, and the shop also appears on the big delivery apps. The website notes that online ordering stops one hour before closing time, so plan ahead for a late order.

For the shortest wait, come in the early afternoon on a weekday, when the lunch rush has passed. Late on Friday and Saturday nights the counter fills with students and late-night regulars, which is part of the fun. If you want a whole pie at a busy hour, call ahead so it is ready when you arrive.

Casola's sits in the residential Silver Bluff area, between Little Havana and Coconut Grove. A few blocks north, Coral Way is one of Miami's prettiest streets, with a canopy of old banyan trees shading the median, and a slow drive or bike ride under the trees is a fine way to work off a slice. Heading north on SW 17th Avenue takes you toward Calle Ocho, the heart of Little Havana, with its cigar shops, cafecito windows and Domino Park.

To the south and east lies Coconut Grove, Miami's oldest neighborhood, with its bayfront parks, marinas and shady streets. Vizcaya Museum and Gardens, the Italian-style villa on Biscayne Bay, is a short drive east and makes a good daytime plan before an early-evening slice. All of these are easiest by car or bike, since this part of Miami is spread out.

Address: 2437 SW 17th Avenue, Miami, FL 33145. Hours from the official website: Sunday to Tuesday 10:30 am to midnight, Wednesday and Thursday 10:30 am to 1 am, Friday and Saturday 10:30 am to 2 am. Prices from the official menu: plain slice $6.75, pepperoni slice $7.75, BBQ Chicken slice $10.75, Godfathers slice $11.75, 24-inch plain pie $31.99, garlic rolls $8.25 a dozen.

Payment: credit cards accepted. Delivery: $3.99 fee, minimum order $15, and online ordering closes an hour before the shop does. Getting there: there is no rail station within easy walking distance, so most people drive or ride a bike, and parking near the shop is easiest outside the late-night weekend rush.