Madison Italian - Exploring the many Italian Restaurants in Madison

With so many delish restaurants and cuisines around campus, it can be overwhelming to choose from. For me, Italian is always a must, and for the past few weeks, I’ve been exploring all that Madison has to offer in terms of Italian restaurants. These ones will definitely leave you saying buon appetito.

Naples 15.

A fan favorite of my friends and family, Naples 15 stands only two blocks away from the capitol. Chef Di Scala was born and lived for most of his life in Naples, Italy, but came to the United States in hopes of sharing the Neapolitan cuisine and culture with the greater Madison community. Stepping inside feels like walking straight into a restaurant in Naples, and tastes like it too. You can’t go wrong with any of their wood-fire pizzas, but the Pollo alla Salvatore takes the cake for me. A rigatoni served with sauteed chicken, roast bacon, smoked mozzarella, and pear in a creamy truffle oil-sauce.

Cento.

Whether for brunch or dinner, Cento is never a spot that I want to skip out on. Honestly, bury me in the appetizers: from brussel sprouts to burrata to bacon-wrapped dates. The main courses do not miss either, especially if you are a salmon lover like I am. Their pan roasted salmon in a dill and lemon crema literally left me scraping the leftover sauce off of the plate. The pastas do not disappoint, especially the Creste di Gallo, with Italian sausage, spinach, tomato, and parmesan.

Pizza Brutta.

For a strictly pizza option, head over to Pizza Brutta to build your own, or choose from one of their twenty options. The Miele is the perfect fusion of sweet and spicy, with spicy salami, calabrian chilis, honey and goat cheese, but my favorite definitely has to be the Quattro Formaggi with parmesan, fontina and goat cheese. 

No matter the mood, there are so many delicious Italian restaurants on campus and in the greater Madison area, but definitely check out the menus of these three spots.