Restaurant Review: Grampa's Pizzeria

Name: Grampa's Pizzeria

Location: 1374 Williamson St, Madison, WI 53703

Ambiance: Hipster, chic

Pricing: $$-$$$

Best Dish: Barberini

---

I'm not going to lie - I'm very biased towards this place. It's easily one of my favorite pizza places in Madison, and has an outstanding combination of flavors and perfectly baked thin crust. Tucked in a nondescript white building on Williamson, Grampa's Pizzeria is a former gun shop repurposed for far tastier uses. The owners also have a bar next door and Porter Coffee out on West Wash.

In appetizers, their beet salad ($8.50) is tasty. The roasted beets are complimented by the nuttiness of the pistachios and creaminess of the chevre, making for a good opening to dinner. While every pizza on their menu is delicious (according to meat eaters), the Barberini and the Goomba are the two vegetarian pizzas that stand out. The Goomba has a garlic cream sauce base and is topped with a variety of mushrooms and herbs, adding a meaty, umami richness. The variety of mushrooms lends different textures and subtle flavors to the meal, and it's well complimented by the cream sauce with a strong garlic flavor.

However, my personal favorite is the Barberini. It's an odd combination of flavors: calabrian chiles paired with watercress and honey, but it somehow works very well. The ricotta cheese suits this pizza, a light enough cheese to keep it from being weighed down. The freshness of the watercress is welcome after a slice of the Goomba, and there's a little tang from the calabrian chiles. The drizzle honey is a surprising finish, a sweet note that sneaks up on you and softens the palatte. That being said, my companions said they had to get every ingredient in on the bite for it to have the full effect.

The dessert menu is short and sweet. Their mousse is good, and they occasionally have complimentary, fresh made cookies. Grampa's Pizzeria has a beautiful atmosphere - with huge windows and an intimate, cozy finish, the place is perfect for date night, and is a great use of a former gun shop.