Nattspil
Natt Spil (also written Nattspil) is a late-night restaurant and bar at 211 King St., downtown, called "Madison's favorite Chinese Norwegian pizza disco" by The Capital Times. It is a late-night stop for three cup chicken and thin-crust pizzas[1].
History
Natt Spil celebrated its tenth anniversary on March 23, 2014, so it opened in March 2004; the Roman Candle's founders met at its opening "a year ago" in February 2005[2]. At the end of 2009 it still had no sign, no phone and no website, took cash only, and served "gourmet wood-fired pizzas" alongside dim sum; the head chef was David Oliver, and the bread came from the Weary Traveler[3]. Co-owner Prentice Berge "often gets up at 2 a.m. to make the pizza dough"[4]. In 2011 the Capital Times listed it with "No phone number": on Monday nights a 10-inch wood-fired pizza and a pitcher of beer cost $16, and there were five house pies, among them the Nattspil Sausage[5].
The Daily Cardinal found it in October 2004 — no sign, bicycles out front — "opened last March by prominent Madison restaurateurs Prentice and Christopher Berge" of the Weary Traveler, Restaurant Magnus and Blue Marlin, with a large stone oven as the centrepiece, 15 tables with tree-stump stools, paper lanterns and a screen-printed photograph of an opium-smoking Taiwanese woman; pizzas from $6.50 for the smoked tomato with wilted spinach and arugula, the kitchen open until 1 a.m., DJs nightly after 10, and no credit cards or telephone[6]. The Badger Herald that December counted three pizzas on the menu, the tomato, spinach and arugula the standout[7].
By a 2018 brunch feature the cash-only bar had been open 14 years next to the downtown Great Dane. It was co-owned by general manager Matthew Stebbins, chef David Oliver and the brothers Prentice and Christopher Berge. Even the name has more than one spelling: the Facebook page says "Nattspil" and the LLC is Natt Spiel, Inc., which the owners thought fit the place[8]. In 2018 Stebbins and Allysa Sweeney bought the Brothers Three bar[9].
In August 2020 Natt Spil expanded into space on the east side of its building. The formerly cash-only restaurant began taking credit cards and orders online and by phone, and stayed open until 11 p.m. every day[1]. During the pandemic it tried an online soup-and-sandwich brand for two months[10]; its co-owner then was Prentice Berge[10].
Trivia
- The artist Stefan Matioc drew the doodles on Natt Spil's pizza boxes before his murals went up around Madison[11].
Locations
- 211 King St. (March 2004 to present)[4].
See also
Notes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Christians, L. (2020, August 12). "Patio pleasures." The Capital Times. p. O17. Newspapers.com image 675459135.
- ↑ Kalk Derby, S. (2005, February 17). "New pizzeria to light up Willy St." madison.com.
- ↑ Yeoh, T. R. (2009, December 24). "Let's Eat for $7.70: Natt Spil's generous sandwiches worth seeking out." madison.com.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Kalk Derby, S. (2014, March 17). "Restaurant News: Natt Spil celebrates its 10th anniversary Sunday." madison.com.
- ↑ (2011, April 7). Today's Special: Natt Spil, 211 King St., "No phone number"; Monday pizza and pitcher $16. The Capital Times. p. 14. Newspapers.com image 522525121.
- ↑ Sacia, J. (2004, October 28). "Play in the dark at Nattspil." The Daily Cardinal.
- ↑ Webb, M. (2004, December 3). "Natt Spil top choice for great drink deals." The Badger Herald.
- ↑ (2018, May 30). Natt Spil brunch feature: ownership, the name, and 14 years on King Street. The Capital Times. p. O28. Newspapers.com image 508043548.
- ↑ (2018, November 7). Brothers Three sold to Matt Stebbins and Allysa Sweeney; Natt Spil and Lucille connections. The Capital Times. p. O23. Newspapers.com image 508042842.
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 Kalk Derby, S. (2021, May 6). "Online brands help the bottom line for some Madison-area restaurants." madison.com.
- ↑ (2018, November 7). Artist Stefan Matioc profile: from Natt Spil pizza boxes to murals. The Capital Times. p. O31. Newspapers.com image 508042827.
