JUSTICE BUILDING BLOG

WELCOME TO THE OFFICIAL RICHARD E GERSTEIN JUSTICE BUILDING BLOG. THIS BLOG IS DEDICATED TO JUSTICE BUILDING RUMOR, HUMOR, AND A DISCUSSION ABOUT AND BETWEEN THE JUDGES, LAWYERS AND THE DEDICATED SUPPORT STAFF, CLERKS, COURT REPORTERS, AND CORRECTIONAL OFFICERS WHO LABOR IN THE WORLD OF MIAMI'S CRIMINAL JUSTICE. POST YOUR COMMENTS, OR SEND RUMPOLE A PRIVATE EMAIL AT HOWARDROARK21@GMAIL.COM. Winner of the prestigious Cushing Left Anterior Descending Artery Award.

Friday, January 20, 2012

THE BEST

UPDATE: Saturday night at 6pm, our prediction for the South Carolina Primary: Newt Gingrich 40%; Mitt Romney: 29%,  Ron Paul: 15%; Rick Santorum: 14%.
You read it here first.
FYI: For you Paul supporters here in Florida, you will be disappointed as your candidate will not be on the air here at all, and will spend very little time in the state. Florida is a winner-takes-all primary for its 50 delegates, and the enrollment procedure which doesn't allow independents to register vote in the Republican primary at the last moment make the contest a non-starter for congressman Paul. 




It's mid-January and a young Floridian's thoughts turn to......

PIZZA! 

Why not? We've done posts on the best bar-be-que,  so why not a conversation on the best pizza in Miami? 

The conversation starts with two: Anthony's Coal Fired, which has several outlets in Dade and Broward (and serving a pie to those lunkheads north go the border is a definite no-no in our eyes) and Steve's Pizza at 12101 Biscayne Boulevard- in  North Miami on US 1 next to the Home Depot. 

Anthony's Coal Fired has that coal fired oven smoky taste. The sauce and crust meld nicely and there are several great toppers that make the pizza sing. Our favorite it to have them put the Eggplant Marino on top of the pizza. Anthony's also has great chicken wings and a winning salad.  You can catch us at the one just south of Dadeland on US1. 

Traveling north on US1 takes you to Steve's Pizza, who has been around since it was battling "My Pi" in South Miami for the title of the best pizza in South Florida. At Steve's it's all about the sauce and their secret ingredient,  which we strongly suspect is a large dose of sugar. The sauce makes the pizza and we've never had a bad slice. Steve's is a small pizza joint, serving slices and pies for the Jockey Club crowd nearby. There's not much ambiance, but then you don't need much when all you want are a few good slices. 

Honourable mention: Hanging out on Coral Way just off of Brickell avenue, and close enough to the REGJB to dash over for lunch,  is Tutu Pizza, the pizza place cousin of Tutu Pasta which is right down the block.  Tutu pizza is all about being thin. There is  a coal fired oven that dominates the interior of the restaurant. The pizza is thin and crispy with a nice dose of cheese melting around a sauce that is much lighter than that from Steve's or Anthony's, giving the slice a nice warm orange glow. The crust is nicely blackened with the coal fired smoky finish. Every pie comes with a small pile of fresh basil to sprinkle on your slice. You could do a lot worse for lunch after a long morning in court. 


69 comments:

Anonymous said...

Both are great pizza joints (and I love Anthony's wings), but Casola's makes the best pizza in SoFla.

BTDT

Anonymous said...

is that place on 17 ave a few blocks north of us1 still there.. they were good.... Flora's 79th street was the best until the late 80's early 90's... now -- it is not as good..

PD Pizza Lover said...

The pizza at Primonti's is excellent. Even though they are known for their sandwiches. Andiamo near Soyka's is very good as well.

Fake Angry Gurl said...

Pizza! You offend me with pizza! No one should ever eat pizza. All I eat are prunes and Metamucil. It should be a criminal offense for any person with a BMI over 20 to eat pizza. After this post, I am retiring from this blog!

Anonymous said...

Mauro' s in downtown Hollywood. Sit outside and eat a slice with a can of beer on a Saturday afternoon and watch the oddballs walk by. Drink another beer. Go home and take a nap. Nice way to forget your problems for at least a few hours

Anonymous said...

My Pi! Wow a blast from the past. Pizza that was beyond excellent and the cheese stuffed garlic loaf...wow. It was actually a little further South Miami in what is now Pinecrest, across from Shorty's. There was also a My Pi in North Miami Beach east of Biscayne Blvd and over the 163 st causeway.

Circle K

Anonymous said...

steves is good pizza. anthony's is very average. joes pizza in ny is best pizza on east coast..

the best pizza in miami is at the soho beach club.

Anonymous said...

I recommend trying the Guava Pizza for dessert at Tutto Pizza.

Kenneth Weisman said...

My top three are Miami's Best Pizza on U.S. 1, Primo Pizza (Beach location only) and Frankie's Pizza on Bird Rd.

Anonymous said...

Frankie's pizza, on bird and like 97th. Square pizza, hole in the wall no seating. Best pizza ever! Been there since the 60's. Still sells RC cola.

Rumpole said...

Circle K- what do you think? That I am some wet behind the ears asa or pd that flew into Miami a few years ago from hickville to learn how to try cases? Of course we ate at My Pi.
Btdt- while casolas holds a special place for us, it's not their pizza, which is unfortunately some of the worst in town. It's too big and soggy and not flavorful. When you order a slice you can ask then to make it well done which helps a bit. No, casolas is best known for the great chicken wings- as large as your fist- and some pretty good subs. The free small squares of pizza they hand out while you are waiting is All the pizza is good for.

Anonymous said...

LOL, Rump, I'm partial to that super greasy stuff which is why I love Casola's. Goes great with beer or red win, especially if accompanied by an "appetizer" of Pepto Bismol and Prilosec

;-)

Of course, my cardiologist feels differently..............

BTDT

Anonymous said...

btdt

wow. you are way off on Casolas. I agree with R here.

Spree on Lincoln has good pizza.

Pizza in Miami is terrible on the whole.

ITS THE WATER! FORGETABOUTIT!!

Anonymous said...

This conversation is bound to deteriorate into the NY vs. Chicago pizza war.

I enjoy Andiamo, but it isnt the pizza i grew up on. Getting a slice served in a piece of wax paper and paper plate, folding the slice with the wax paper to catch the oil, is the only way I can be truly happy.

But my question is, does any place around here serve Chicago style that is authentic and good? I've never been to the Windy City, and would like to try a Chicago pie for myself.

PAB

Fake Tannebaum said...

Top of the starbucks saturday morn to y'all ( note self effacing southern accent for effect). Hit an "on the road SB" so no playful banter with the barrista.

Have to limit pizza intake, as. type 4Q diabetic, which I blog about frequently. But a slice of poppa johns now and then never hurt no one, especially with some sausage and onions on top.

Anonymous said...

A good shumie cigar tops off a nice anthonys coal fired with hot peppers and rigorta on top. I think they call it a Paul andnRon special. Of course a six pack of cold schlitz is needed to keep the temp under control.

Anonymous said...

Chulo's on SW 8th street, in the back of a bar I won't name-because it's a private club anyway. The chef is from Cuba where he was trained in Italy and France. His pies are sublime, with a $250.00 truffle and cold pressed olive oil with Bitto cheese being the house specialty and he only does three or four of these a day.

For those of you who don' know, Truffles can go for a 1000/oz and Brito cheese is the only cheese aged over a decade and usually goes for $60 a pound when you can find it.

This is really for gourmets and not the swill who read this blog.

Anonymous said...

Casolas is overrated and one of the worst pizza around!

Anonymous said...

I ate at Chulos! I have a friend who is a stockbroker. We pick up these girls in some and spend all night drinking and everyone is hungry so at 1 am we grab his limo and he tells us he has the best pizza place on earth. We pull up to this dump on 8th street and he gives the guy at the door a hundred and we get taken into the back. There are maybe five tables tops and one is free.

There are no menus. A waiter comes over and we order a bottle of dom and he whispers something to my friend. We get two pies- one has the truffles on it and is out of this world. the other has this serrano ham that I am told is made in spain from these special black iberian pigs. We spend about 90 minutes eating and drinking and then my friend hits me up for the bill 1100 tip included, only cash. Lucky for him I roll with 3k on the weekends so I got us covered.

But the pizza was amazing and the thing is I can't find the place for the life of me.

Fake Tannebaum said...

Have just concluded negotiations with the Romney campaign. I'm flying to SC in an hour to go and straighten things out, starting with his tax return fiasco (release em all I say). Next we'll develop a coherent message for health and type 4Q Diabetes. Whoops, there's my alarm. Time for another glucophage- mine's organic, from plants harvested in the Andes mountains.
You can read all about type 4Q diabetes on my hit blog:

mysugarfreelawlicense.me.

Anonymous said...

BTDT - you have really shown your true colors now - CASOLA'S. All I can say is WOW!!! That place is mediocre pizza at best - the only good thing they offer is the free bits of pizza while you wait for your food. Not even worth an honorable mention on my list.

Anonymous said...

Gotta agree Casolas is way overrated on quality. On quantity they are number one. More pizza for your buck by far.

I like the thin crust pizza hut.

Fake princess said...

There's a chocolate featival at fairchild and in honor of you dearest rumpy I had a chocolate pizza!

Anonymous said...

Wasnt Casola's in MJB prior to the Picle Barrel? Used to get really greasy slices by whats now 1-5. The Orginal Mario's the baker on Dixie was Good. The First Mi Pi was in whats now Sunny Isles in the olr Lime House Chinese Rest., by what is now a Russian Stip Bar,
DS

Anonymous said...

Rump, agreed on casola's. A good pie can also be found at Ciro's in the publix shopping center across from the Falls. Small place, bad decor and poorly lit. Often hard to get a table and closed on Mondays which is when I crave the pizza more than ever.

Other personal favorite is Miami's Best in the Gables


Circle K

Rumpole said...

Ciros absolutely. A south dade gem. Miami's Best absolutely not. A south dade fraud.

DS said...

Tally Ho
Herald reports:

Bill would allow Florida to sell naming rights to state-owned facilities

Imagine Florida selling naming rights to school cafeterias, bike trails or a state turnpike exit? A Boca Raton lawmaker sees lots of cash for the state.

Anonymous said...

Best pizza can be found in your grocers-- Tombstone in Original Four Meat Pizza

Anonymous said...

New spot downtown is excellent. Called the pizza bar. My new favorite spot. It is on se 1st

Fake Kenny Weisman said...

I find that the pizza put out by chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten at the New St. Regis hotel in Bal Harbour to be subtle and sublime. But that's just me and my tastes and it's most likely not for the readers of this blog.

fake KW said...

Actually I'm planning on munching on a St R pizza tomorrow for lunch and then bopping across the street for some shopping at CH.

It's beter to look good than be good.

real fake KW said...

Actually I won't be snaorking on Pizza in Bal Harbour tomorrow, as I have an 8pm tonight at Romera in Manhattan, a place you can neither afford nor get reservations for.

Anonymous said...

Went to anony's last night and had an eggplant pizza with the wife. Very good but I prefer the sausage ...

Anonymous said...

Best pizza: Lobster pizza ay El Polo Norte in Hialeah Gardens.

Anonymous said...

Cozzoli's was at MJB in the 80's where Au Bon Pain is now. At the entrance to 1-5 where Room 107 is now, they used to sell soft ice cream. The rest of the east side of the building where the courtrooms 1-1 through 1-4 are now, was the county court division of the SAO.

Anonymous said...

Barrister,

I think it is a great idea. I can't wait to take a drive on the Trojan Condom sponsored Ronald Regan Turnpike.

Anonymous said...

Polo Norte's menu here http://southflorida.menupages.com/restaurants/polo-norte/menu

Lobster pizza $10.95

Anonymous said...

Best Miami Pizza is Frankie's on Bird Road BY FAR

BEST PIZZA PERIOD: Pepe's on Wooster Street, New Haven CT. Go early because there's a line around the block. Or. you can always go to Sally's down the street.

Rumpole said...

I can't post a comment that references where someone lives, no matter how well intentioned.

Anonymous said...

Just released for publication-

Roto-rooter to sponsor Broward County Courthouse.

DS said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
DS said...

"I'm often asked why there is such a great variation among sentences imposed by Texas judges. I can only quote the Texas judge who was asked why a killer sometimes doesn't even get indicted and a cattle thief can get ten years. The judge answered: "A lot of fellows ought to be shot, but we don't have any cows that need stealin'."

- Percy Foreman


Wikipedia : Percy Eugene Foreman (June 21, 1902 – August 25, 1988) was a criminal defense attorney from Houston, Texas .Percy Foreman was considered a master of tactics. He lost only 53 of 1500 death-penalty cases and only one finally resulted in execution (Steve Mitchell, electrocuted in Texas in 1951)].

Trivia
Who did Percy represent here in Miami,
Who was the State's Attorney who prosecuted the case.
Hint it was the mid 1960s when times were sweet.

Anonymous said...

My new favorite is A Pizza Brooklyn, on US1 across from Datran,in the same shopping center as Roasters And Toasters but towards the back. Also like Fratelli La Bufala on the corner of Washington & 5th. But nothing in Miami can hold a candle to Spumoni Gardens in Brooklyn (not too far from where Rump spent a good portion of his childhood).

old guy said...

Mossler.

Gerstein -- or more accurately Kogen + Goodhart.

Anonymous said...

7:08:00 AM is the smartest on the blog. Pepe's CANNOT be beat in New Haven.

Rumpole said...

Im not sure why anyone thinks I grew up in Brooklyn, but having tried more than a few cases in the EDNY The Queen Pizzaeria on Court Street has the absolute best Pizza in the USA.

Anonymous said...

Costco pizza is awesome.

Anonymous said...

Anyone who extols a slice of pizza because of the sugar in the sauce is a complete fraud.

Anonymous said...

9:58,
I tried A Pizza Brooklyn on S. Dixie last week. Was pleasantly surprised. Very Good.
Much better than Two guys pizza that used to be there. That's one of those locations that has high restaurant turnover (was Mexican place, Fish house, two guys, etc) so I hope these guys stay in business.

Anonymous said...

I like crispier more well done pizza (thus no Casolas) but Anthonys is just plain Burnt.
If I wanted burnt food, I'd cook myself.

Anonymous said...

DiNapoli's in Pinecrest is good pie and you can find a couple of our judges there pretty frequently.

DS said...

Old guy wins

Fake Alex Michaels said...

I like Igor's Romanian Pizza in North Miami Beach. Try herring and six month fermented cabbage pizza. All other pizza eees BULLSHEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEET!

fake tannebaum said...

"Why Romney needs Florida to be his firewall" now posted on "mysugarfreelawlicense.me".

If Mitt can't stop Newt in Florida, it only gets worse. First repair is releasing tax returns Tuesday.

Also- why going gluten free can help those who suffer with type 4Q diabetes. Also avoiding salami can be a big lifesaver. Find out why on "mysugarfreelawlicense.me"

Because it's a big job me being me.

Anonymous said...

Di Napoli's is the "other" coal fired pizza place down south. I've tried them both and Anthony's is better.

Philip Maniatty said...

Percy Forman did not represent Candace Mossler. He represented co-defendant Melvin Lane Powers.

Real fake KW said...

My meal at Romera last evening was, dare I say? Sublime. It started with a small Finnish Quail egg, coddled and sitting rather lonely in a nest of soothing beluga caviar. This is the chef;s signature appetizer and it arrives at every table. It was pure heaven, with Bavarian rye toast tips for dipping elegantly in the egg yolk and caviar. A bracing shot of russian vodka set the stage.

I won't bore you with my gastronomic details, most of you could not afford it anyway and don't have the pull to snag a saturday night res anyway.

But the meal was finished off with a custard nee creme brûlée with that same Finnish Quail egg, now baked and swimming in a delicate sea of vanilla and organic brown sugar sauce. Again, you don't order this dish, it just comes, along with a small shot of Gappa.

Skol!

Anonymous said...

I didnt need a reason to avoid DNapoli in Pinecrest, but now I have one.

Anonymous said...

Hi- I'm new to this blog and the Miami area and I'm not sure even if this comment will be published, but it is outrageous that some high priced lawyer brags about spending more for some fancy dinner than some people have for their food budget all month. I only wished I knew about this dinner while I was back in NYC me and my occupy wall street friends would have marched into that fancy restaurant and ruined his precious dinner. I hope he chokes on his next one or is so fat that it kills him.

Peace out for the rest of you.

Anonymous said...

Draw your own conclusion on this comment--

Often imitated never duplicated.

Master Chief said...

8:31

Why can't a lawyer (doctor, policeman, fireman, teacher or anyone else) who has spent his whole professional life helping other people enjoy a nice dinner?

You and your self righteous occupy friends can go fuck yourselves. Many of us have spend years and hundreds of thousands of dollars on an education that in addition to helping prevent the government from trampling on peoples rights, (like that pesky 1st amendment right you cling to like a life raft in the ocean) it also sometimes can be lucrative.

I won't feel guilty about it no matter how long you camp out in a park, beat your drum, and smoke dope while complaining "what about me??"

Check for location near you. said...

sals italian ristorante - numerous locations around south florida, the real italian deep dish.

I prefer the

Pork Chop Veneziano...........18.99

Seared center cut pork chop topped with sauteed onions, mushrooms & sauce, on a bed of garlic mashed potatoes sausage in light marinara demi-glaze

It's pricey, just use one of the coupons on the web site for $5 off meal.

CAPTAIN JUSTICE said...

THE CAPTAIN REPORTS:

BREAKING NEWS - CIRCUIT COURT

Group 47 - Maria de Jesus Santovenia has an opponent and the person running is not listed as a member of The Flordia Bar.

I have written a full front page post on the controversy and it will probably run on Tuesday. Final editorial decisions are always up to Mr. Horace Rumpole.

CAPTAIN OUT .....

Anonymous said...

Capt: What the heck are you talking about?

This shows Alex Labora is a member of the Bar:
http://www.floridabar.org/names.nsf/0/ED23A33CADC3C64C85256A820077441C?OpenDocument

Anonymous said...

I wish the "occupy" folks would spend as much time looking for jobs and/or doing something product as they did milling about our parks, etc. whining about how much money those of us who work are giving them.

Funny how the same liberals who support the "occupy" folks and claim that there are no jobs are the same people who say that illegal immigration isn't a problem because the illegals are taking jobs Americans won't take.

SHEESH!

BTDT

Anonymous said...

Regardless of the comment about the judges eating there, Di Napoli pizza is much better pizza than the Anthonys a few blocks away.
Di Napoli is typical red sauce mom n pop joint.
Doubt you'd find broccoli rabe or roasted cauliflower on any of their pizzas like you might find at anthonys.

Anonymous said...

West Kendall/Pinecrest/US1 pizza update:
Anthony's is overrated. For better coal fired pizza, go to Portofino's on 114th and Kendall Drive, in the Ale House mall. Or, for better pizza, go to Mike's on Kendall and 137th and Kendall. Been there over 30 years and the food is great.
D'Napoli in Pinecrest is very good. Miami's Best Pizza is awful and made more for a 2:00 a.m. pizza run by a UM student. One block north is Gables Pizza and Salads, which has a good slice. It's like Casola's but a little more crusty and a lot less grease.

And when will pizza joints realize that it is the sauce that makes a pizza truly great? They never put enough on and most of it tastes like its straight from the can. Cook it up a bit and throw some spice ini it for god sakes.

finally made it said...

Rump- ex pd here. With a problem I'm sure all your readers wish they had. After a few years of slow practice I hit it big in 2010 and 2011, including two referral fees of over a million delivered in December which I just cashed and a trial verdict for a wrongful death in Texas which I got a 27 million dollar verdict and they dickered about appealing and finally paid us off 30.5 million to end it all. Also just distributed those funds so now I have a little over ten mil sitting in the bank. I've set aside taxes and two mill for a super nice condo on sobe ( a duplex! 2 floors plus ocean view) and I have about 3 mill to play with. I am seriously considering investing in some old gold coins (US Gold Eagles) as well as some surrealist US artists from the 1940's -1950's. I actually have a hottie from an art gallery in Manhattan advising me (after hours of course, wink wink.

So after buying the Porsche and the condo and paying taxes, and setting aside a few years of a nice salary for the law office (just me- I keep expenses very low) any thoughts about investing in gold coins and art? Seems safer than the market.

Anonymous said...

I heard the princess found the chocolate pizza marvelously delicious. Peace Out.