Sal’s Pizzeria
Sal's Pizzeria was a New York-style slice shop at 313 State St. from October 1997 to September 1999, when it became Casa Bianca and, later, Pizza Di Roma. A second, unrelated Sal's Pizzeria was run at 15 N. Butler St. by the Casa Bianca family in 2005 and 2006[1].
History
Sal's opened in October 1997 on the 300 block of State Street, "an exciting time for those who like New York pizza sold by the slice. Not only was Sal's cheap and hot but there were dozens of slices to choose from and the mozzarella was full-flavored and generous," Samara Kalk recalled in June 1999[2]. Its owners were Eliot Butler and Rob LoBreglio of the Great Dane Pub & Brewing Co., Butler the majority partner; the city licensed it in 1999 to But-Lo LLC[3][4]. The Bassett Street pizza parlor Casa Bianca opened at about the same time[1].
In June 1999 Kalk wrote that the slices had lately been "dry and uninspired", which set off a readers' debate over Sal's and Casa Bianca. General manager David Boyer answered that the recipe had not changed and that the cooks weighed the cheese: a 20-inch house pie carried 18 ounces[2][5]. Sal's then took a half-page advertisement in The Onion offering lunch to anyone who wrote the columnist in its defense; 142 people took a slice, and the letters called it "the greatest pizza in all of Madison", "the only place that will still sell food for a reduced rate at 4 a.m." and "the best pizza west of Brooklyn"[6].
Two weeks later the owners listed the restaurant in the trade magazine Pizza Today — "Operating Pizzeria in Madison, Wisconsin. 2,300 square feet. Buy out or sublet, fully loaded" — at $200,000 for the equipment, lease, recipes, name and a non-competition agreement. Running the Great Dane, which was approaching its fifth birthday, was "more than enough work", Butler said[4]. Nafi Elmazi of Casa Bianca took it over and reopened it in September 1999, keeping the Casa Bianca name[7]. A year later Kalk noted that the State Street Sal's "is no longer in business"[8].
Pizza
- New York-style pizza by the slice, with "dozens of slices to choose from" in 1997[2]. A house pie was 20 inches with 18 ounces of mozzarella[5]. Readers in 1999 also praised the garlic knots[6].
Former Locations
- 313 State St. (October 1997 to September 1999)[5][7]. Later Casa Bianca and Pizza Di Roma.
See also
Notes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Kalk Derby, S. (2005, December 15). "Sal's Pizzeria helps a family tradition grow." madison.com.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Kalk, S. (1999, June 17). "Gila Monster bites dust; Cleveland's takes break." Wisconsin State Journal. p. 64. Newspapers.com image 404115636.
- ↑ (1999, May 26). City of Madison 1999–2000 alcohol license renewals, part 2: Liquor & Beer Class B (#159–458): But-Lo LLC dba Sal's Pizzeria 313 State St.; First Madco Inc. dba Rocky Rococo 7952 Tree Ln.; Mineral Spirits Inc. dba Edwardo's N…. The Capital Times. p. 7. Newspapers.com images 522006391, 522007482.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Kalk, S. (1999, August 26). Sal's listed for sale; Glass Nickel expands to west side. Wisconsin State Journal. p. 61. Newspapers.com images 402056959, 522664495.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Kalk, S. (1999, June 24). "Sal's vs. Casa Bianca: the great pizza lovers' debate." Wisconsin State Journal. p. 64. Newspapers.com image 404124226.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Kalk, S. (1999, August 12). "A debate that won't die: Sal's fans saucily defend pizzeria." Wisconsin State Journal. p. 60. Newspapers.com image 404034329.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Kalk, S. (1999, October 21). "Wild Grains to fill Knickerbocker Place bakery void." Wisconsin State Journal. p. 64. Newspapers.com images 401929879, 401929898.
- ↑ Kalk, S. (2000, September 21). "Pie in the face." The Capital Times. p. 61. Newspapers.com image 522186478.
