Big Cheese Pizza

• Cuisine(s): Italian, Pizza, Seafood
  Hours: Sun 2pm-10pm, Mon-Thu 11am-11pm, Fri 11am-12am, Sat 12pm-12am
  Price: $$
  Payment Types: MasterCard, Visa, American Express, Discover
• Attire: Casual
  Features: Smoking, Patio/Sidewalk Dining, Takeout, Delivery, Private Party, Catering, Wheelchair Accessible, Kid Friendly, Vegetarian Friendly, Family Style
  Serving: Dinner, Lunch
  Alcohol: Beer/Wine
• Reservations: Not Accepted
  Parking: Lot Available

Description

Big Cheese is the kind of pizzeria every neighborhood wishes it had. The staff is dedicated and efficient. Plates are piled high with Italian classics at bargain rates. For a quarter-century, Bill Archer has served the best of California's pear tomatoes and premium Wisconsin cheese on pizzas that range from plain cheese to seafood (shrimp, mussels, and clams). Then there's the exquisite "Miami Slice," which comes topped with sweet baked ham and pineapple, savory ricotta cheese, and cinnamon. Best part: A slice will set you back only $2 or $3 (depending on the number and type of toppings). The menu runs several pages and includes imported Italian pasta, "Michelle's Boneless Buffalo Wings" (chicken fingers done Buffalo-style for $8.25), fried-oyster caesar salad, subs (often jazzed up with a splash of marinara sauce), and full meals (baked and sautéed pasta dishes, seafood, and plenty more). It's tough to resist ordering one of the primo old-school pizzas, especially after watching the pie makers and phone jockeys frantically trying to keep pace with demand. But if you're overwhelmed by options, go for the classic lasagna; it's truly one of the tastiest and most affordable pasta dishes in Miami. Expect crowds. You won't find Italian food this good and this inexpensive anywhere else.