Paisan's (Q1288)
From Madison Pizza Wiki
Italian restaurant in Madison, Wisconsin, 1949/50–2022; one of the city's earliest places to get pizza
- Paisan's Italian Restaurant
- Paisans
| Language | Label | Description | Also known as |
|---|---|---|---|
| English | Paisan's |
Italian restaurant in Madison, Wisconsin, 1949/50–2022; one of the city's earliest places to get pizza |
|
Statements
1949
1 reference
with Rose's brother and sister-in-law, Joe and Bette Troia, in 1949
1950
31 December 1949
1 reference
opened nearby on Dec. 31, 1949
1950
1951
2 references
in business since 1951
31 December 1950
1 reference
On December 31, 1950 Roy and Rose, along with Joe and Bette Troia (Rose's brother and sister-in-law), opened Paisan's Restaurant on Park Street
1985
Founding year differs: 1949 (Capital Times, 2026) or 1950 (State Journal, 2023). A plan to reopen in Porta Bella's basement (December 2023) ended when Porta Bella closed on 28 February 2026 and the owners retired.
3 references
A 2019 reprint of the paper's 1975 review says Paisan's "first opened in '51 where Vilas Hall is now on University Avenue," was later in the basement under Porta Bella, and moved to its University Square corner in March 1975 — a third account of the founding date.
Advertisements of 2012 said "A Madison tradition since 1950". A December 2014 feature: it started in 1950 in a little building at University Avenue and Park Street; the marinara was the recipe of Rose Troia McCormick, wife of the first owner, Roy McCormick.
Five homes: Park Street between Johnson and University (1950); University Avenue next to the former Choles Floral; the basement of Porta Bella; University Square (about 1975 to September 1, 2006); 131 W. Wilson St. Founder Roy McCormick's wife Rose Troia McCormick supplied the Sicilian recipes; the owners of 2006 — Jerry Meier, Wally Borowski, Ed Shinnick — all worked for him.
Signature items: thin, cracker-crisp pizza (no pan or deep dish), the vegetarian pesto (basil-walnut pesto, tomatoes, mushrooms, black olives), the Salerno and the Bella (thick meat sauce); the trademarked Garibaldi sandwich and Porta salad; green fettuccine noodles it helped introduce to Madison.
Second in the State Journal readers' 2002 pizza poll, behind Glass Nickel.
Fifth in the 1997 Readers' Choice pizza poll.
In 1985 Paisan's Delitalia, 3313 University Ave., sold Paisan's pizza frozen or hot ($4.75 for a 12-inch); the reviewer advised keeping one in the freezer.
