Pizzeria Bellini
Pizzeria Bellini (also Bellini's) was an Italian restaurant and pizzeria that Biagio Gargano opened in 1999 in the former Monastery at 401 E. Washington Ave. It was on the city's license lists in 1999, 2000 and 2001[1][2][3].
History
The restaurant was first announced in December 1997. The Monastery, Inc., with Peter Gargano as agent, applied that month for a liquor license as Pizzeria Bellini, 401 E. Washington Ave.[4], and Patricia Simms reported in the State Journal that Biagio Gargano "is back in business": the veteran restaurateur, a native of Sicily, had run Gargano's on State Street for years, opened the Monastery Italian Restaurant in 1980 and run it until 1994, when he became seriously ill and closed it, thinking it temporary. Early in 1997 the building had reopened under other management as the Cornerstone, a live-jazz club that "quickly went under". Now recovered, he planned to open Pizzeria Bellini there in February or March 1998; "he's pretty sick and tired of retirement", his son Peter said[5]. The opening took far longer.
Gargano, who had owned Gargano's on State Street thirty years earlier and whose brothers ran Gino's and Peppino's, was expected to open the restaurant in January 1999. In June his daughter Maria said it would be ready soon after July 10. The menu promised 24 tapas-like appetizers at about $5, 16 pizzas and 15 pastas; instead of tomato sauce, the Bellini pizza would have dill cream cheese, smoked salmon and caviar[6]. The city's 1999 license renewals carried it as The Monastery, Inc., doing business as Pizzeria Bellini, with Peter Gargano as agent[1], and the same entry appeared in May 2000 and May 2001[2][3].
The Monastery itself had advertised as "The Monastery — Restaurant & Pizzeria" in November and December 1993, open Tuesday to Thursday 5 to 10 p.m. and Friday and Saturday to 11[7].
Pizza
- The Bellini pizza: dill cream cheese, smoked salmon and caviar[6].
Former Locations
- 401 E. Washington Ave., the former Monastery (planned from December 1997[4][5]; 1999 to about 2001).
See also
Notes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 (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.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 (2000, May 25). City of Madison license renewal applications, 2000–01 (pages 12–13). The Capital Times. p. 12. Newspapers.com images 522191464, 522191464, 522191472.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 (2001, May 25). City of Madison license renewal applications, 2001–02 (pages 6–7). The Capital Times. p. 6. Newspapers.com images 522638205, 522638205, 522638207.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 (1997, December 1). "New liquor and beer license applications, December 1997." The Capital Times. p. 20. Newspapers.com images 522200722, 522201016, 522201373.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Simms, P. (1997, December 17). "Gargano revives pizza business." Wisconsin State Journal. p. 19. Newspapers.com image 404475333.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Kalk, S. (1999, June 17). "Gila Monster bites dust; Cleveland's takes break." Wisconsin State Journal. p. 64. Newspapers.com image 404115636.
- ↑ (1993, November 22). 'The Monastery — Restaurant & Pizzeria. Tue.–Thur. 5–10 p.m., Fri. & Sat. 5–11 p.m., 401 E. Washington, 257-1980' (hours-correction ads in both papers Nov. 22 – Dec. 1, 1993). The Capital Times. p. 29. Newspapers.com images 521427822, 406420135, 406427407.
