This Cash-Only Massachusetts Pizzeria Has Been Serving Legendary Sicilian Pizza Since 1954

A full tray of square Sicilian pizza here comes with 16 slices. That’s not a dinner order.

That’s a small party in a box.

The crust is chewy with a yeasty bite, and the sauce leans sweet. I have a soft spot for any shop that does one thing this well for this long.

There are no tables inside, so this is grab-and-go pizza at its most honest. Bring cash, too, because plastic won’t help at the counter.

I love the idea of a Massachusetts pizza counter that hasn’t bothered chasing trends. It just keeps baking squares and stacking subs.

So what keeps a family shop going strong for seven decades?

A Family Shop That Has Been Slinging Pies Since Eisenhower Was President

Back in 1954, a family opened a sub and pizza shop on Broadway, and they never really stopped. Leone’s Subs & Pizza still runs as a family-owned business today.

That makes it one of the oldest family-owned sub and pizza spots in Somerville. In a city where storefronts change often, that kind of staying power stands out.

Think about what has changed since then. Cars, phones, music, and even how people order food all look completely different now.

Yet the basic idea here stays simple. You walk up, you order good food, and you head home happy.

I can understand the appeal of a place like that. It feels steady in a way newer restaurants rarely manage.

Family ownership often shows up in small choices. The care put into ingredients and the friendly counter service both fit that long tradition.

For Massachusetts food fans, this is a piece of local history you can actually eat. Not many landmarks let you take them home in a box.

So when you stop by, you’re joining a long line of hungry customers. Some of them probably came here as kids with their own parents.

Those Square Slices Are the Reason People Cross Town

Square pizza is the star here, and it has earned the spotlight. The Sicilian-style pies have a chewy crust with a yeasty flavor.

The sauce brings a sweet touch. The cheese is nutty and a little oily, which is exactly what you want on a thick slice.

Fun fact: the squares weren’t on the menu at the very start. They showed up around 1979, decades after the shop first opened.

That late arrival didn’t slow them down one bit. Today, the Sicilian pizza is easily the shop’s best-known item.

Sizes come in a few handy options. You can get a 4-slice portion, a half tray of 8 slices, or a whole tray of 16.

That whole tray is serious business. It’s the kind of order that makes a birthday or game night feel complete.

Planning for a group? A half tray works for a small crew, while the full tray handles a bigger gathering with ease.

I’d have a hard time not ordering the full tray just to be safe. Leftover square pizza never stays leftover for long anyway.

Skip the Red Sauce and Try a Bianca Square

Not every square at this shop wears red sauce. The specialty Sicilian list includes a couple of bianca options that skip it entirely.

One pairs spinach with garlic. The other features tomato and basil, which sounds bright and fresh next to all that cheesy dough.

These are smart picks if your group has mixed tastes. One person wants classic, another wants something greener, and everyone still gets a square.

Leone’s Subs & Pizza also offers a 16-inch round cheese pizza. That’s handy for anyone who grew up loyal to the classic circle.

Here’s a practical tip for group orders. Mix a red-sauce tray with a bianca option so the table gets some variety.

That way nobody gets bored by slice number four. It also turns dinner into a casual taste test, which is always more fun.

Garlic lovers should pay attention to the spinach version. Pairing those two on thick, chewy dough is a pretty convincing argument.

Of course, choosing just one flavor is the hard part. Maybe that’s why trays come in such generous sizes in the first place.

Half the Name Is Subs, and They Take That Seriously

Pizza gets the fame, but the sign says subs first. The sandwich menu at Leone’s Subs & Pizza runs long and hearty.

Classic choices include the Italian, Steak Bomb, Meatball, Chicken Parm, Eggplant, Turkey, and Tuna. That covers pretty much every sub mood.

The bread deserves a shout. It’s known for being fresh, chewy, and soft enough to hold everything without falling apart.

Homemade marinara pairs with the hot subs. On a meatball or eggplant sub, that sauce does a lot of heavy lifting.

Then there are the egg subs, which feel wonderfully old-school. Options include pastrami and egg, ham and egg, and pepper and egg.

Since the doors open in the morning, those egg subs make a lot of sense. A pepper and egg sub is a classic Italian-American comfort pick.

Pro move for a group order: grab a tray and a couple of subs. Waiting for pizza goes faster with a sandwich in hand.

Sub fans from anywhere in Massachusetts should give this menu real attention. The squares are famous, but the subs hold their own.

Calzones With Names Worth Asking About

Louise’s Special sounds like a family recipe with a story behind it. It’s packed with meatballs, sausage, mushrooms, onions, and cheese.

That’s a lot of filling for one folded crust. It’s basically a full Italian dinner tucked into a golden pocket.

There’s also Leone’s Special, built with turkey, ham, and cheese. It’s a lighter, deli-style option for anyone who wants something simpler.

The calzone list keeps going from there. You’ll find sausage, pepper and cheese, Italian cold cuts, spinach and cheese, and meatball and cheese.

Steak and cheese, eggplant, and chicken parm round out the lineup. Basically, many favorite subs have a calzone twin.

Calzones travel well, which matters at a takeout-only shop. They keep their fillings inside instead of sliding around the box.

For a quick lunch on the go, that’s a real perk. You can eat one in the car without wearing half of it.

Not into heavy food? Salads are on the menu too, including Garden, Antipasto, Chef, Greek, and Grilled Chicken options.

Bring Cash or Make Friends With the ATM

Cash only. Those two words matter more here than almost anything else on the menu.

Leone’s Subs & Pizza takes cash for in-person orders. Cards won’t work at the counter, so plan ahead before you get in line.

Forgot your wallet stash? No need to panic, because there’s an ATM right inside the shop.

Still, showing up with bills in your pocket makes things smoother. Nobody loves an ATM fee on top of pizza money.

There’s a twist for card fans, though. The shop offers delivery through Uber Eats, Grubhub, and Seamless.

Those apps handle payment online. That gives you a way around the cash rule if you’re staying home.

I can understand the appeal of the cash-only system. It feels like a small time capsule from the shop’s early days.

It also keeps the counter moving at a simple, old-fashioned pace. Hand over the money, grab your box, and get going.

Just picture forgetting cash and smelling those squares anyway. That’s a lesson you only need to learn once.

Look Up Before You Order, Because That Sign Is a Landmark

Some signs just tell you where to go. The one outside this shop has become a neighborhood landmark.

The classic 1950s art deco “Leone’s Subs” sign stands out in Winter Hill. It looks like it came straight from the year the business opened.

That vintage style gives the building real character. In a world of plain modern logos, it’s a refreshing blast from the past.

Inside, things stay simple and practical. You place your order at the counter, and the shop focuses on food over fancy decor.

Fans of old roadside design should snap a picture. It’s the kind of sign that makes a great photo before you dig into dinner.

Think of it as a free bonus with every tray. You get pizza, plus a little Massachusetts design history on the side.

I love the idea of a sign doing double duty as a meeting point. “Meet me at the Leone’s sign” just sounds right.

It also makes the shop easy to spot from the street. Hungry drivers will appreciate that more than anyone.

No Seats Inside, So Have a Picnic Plan Ready

Here’s a quick heads-up that saves confusion. Leone’s Subs & Pizza has no tables or seats inside.

This is a takeout shop through and through. You order at the counter, get your food, and enjoy it somewhere else.

That means a little planning helps. Napkins and plates in the car are a smart idea if you can’t wait until home.

And honestly, who can wait with a warm tray riding shotgun? The smell alone makes patience pretty tough.

You’ll find the shop at 292 Broadway, Somerville, MA 02145. It sits in the Winter Hill neighborhood, just outside Boston.

Hours run from morning into the evening, so lunch and dinner both work. Breakfast-time egg subs are fair game, too.

Hosting at home? Grab a full tray and turn your kitchen table into the dining room the shop doesn’t have.

A Sicilian square tray at a park or backyard feels like a small celebration. No reservations, no waiting for a table, just good food and good company.

Even Captain America Got Excited About These Squares

Chris Evans grew up in Massachusetts, and he clearly knows good local food. Leone’s once delivered square pizzas and subs to him live on ABC News.

His visible excitement said plenty. When a movie star lights up over a Somerville pizza box, you pay attention.

That moment brought the little Winter Hill shop some well-earned national attention. Not bad for a counter with no seats.

Still, the celebrity bump isn’t what keeps it going. Seventy years of steady cooking and friendly service handle that job.

Leone’s Subs & Pizza feels like proof that simple can win. One counter, a cash drawer, and a menu people trust.

If you’re planning a food trip around Massachusetts, put this stop on the list. It pairs history, flavor, and a great story in one visit.

Bring cash, bring friends, and bring a plan for where to eat. A full tray deserves an audience.

Who knows, maybe your own reaction will match the one on national TV. Square pizza tends to have that effect.