DiSalvo’s Casa di Pizza

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DiSalvo’s Casa di Pizza, "The House of Pizza", was a restaurant at 306 State St. that Sam DiSalvo ran from 1961 to 1968. It served pizza, spaghetti and seafood, and delivered fried chicken anywhere in the city under the name Chicken on Wheels[1][2]. In 1968 it became DiSalvo's Villa Tap[3].

History

Before DiSalvo, 306 State St. was Stephen Carvello's Chicken on Wheels restaurant. In 1960 it merged with the Coney Island restaurant at 314 State St. as Caranotes, Inc., and the Coney Island's beer license moved to 306 State[4][5]. In June 1961 the Capital Times reported that Sam DiSalvo planned to buy the restaurant if the Council approved the transfer of its beer license[6]. By November 17 "Casa Di Pizza, 306 State St." was hiring waitresses[7].

A December 1961 ad called it "Di Salvo's Famous Casa di Pizza (The House of Pizza)." It featured spaghetti and French fried shrimp "since 1941," along with a regular menu of pizza, steaks, sandwiches, lasagna and seafood. "Chicken on Wheels" was "our Specialty," with free delivery anywhere in the city. It was open until 2 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays and until 1:30 a.m. on weekdays, and closed on Tuesdays[1]. The "since 1941" points to the DiSalvo family's older restaurant at 810 Regent St., which was licensed in 1941[8][9]. Sam DiSalvo's obituary calls it the DiSalvo Spaghetti House[10]. No pizza has been found in that restaurant's ads.

The ads ran until May 31, 1968. By then the menu was perch, chicken, shrimp, pizza, sirloin steak and spaghetti, and both the deliveries and the restaurant opened daily at 5 p.m.[2] In September 1968 it reopened "after complete remodeling" as DiSalvo's Villa Tap, a bar that served pizza and sandwiches[3]. A year later the Capital Times listed the Villa Tap among the places open to 18-year-olds, serving beer and spaghetti[11]. Sam DiSalvo died on December 31, 1976[10], and the Villa Tap's license at 306 State St. was renewed in 1977[12].

Pizza

  • 1961: pizza on the "regular menu," next to steaks, sandwiches, lasagna and seafood[1].
  • 1968: pizza is listed with perch, chicken, shrimp, sirloin steak and spaghetti, for delivery or in the restaurant[2].
  • 1968: as the Villa Tap, "Bar • Pizza • Your Favorite Sandwiches," with carryouts[3].

Trivia

  • A 2020 State Journal photo caption calls it one of the first restaurants to deliver, bringing chicken to the customer's door[1]. The Chicken on Wheels name was older than DiSalvo's: it belonged to the restaurant he bought[4].

Locations

  • 306 State St. (1961–1968; then the Villa Tap).

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 (2020, June 28). "Throwback photos: Madison-area restaurants you'll never eat at again, part 4." madison.com.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 (1968, May 31). DiSalvo's Casa di Pizza, Chicken on Wheels, We Deliver: perch, chicken, shrimp, pizza, sirloin steak, spaghetti; deliveries and restaurant open daily at 5 p.m., closed Sundays and holidays; 255-7249, 306 State St. Wisconsin State Journal. p. 14. Newspapers.com image 404631945.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 (1968, September 7). Now open after complete remodeling: DiSalvo's Villa Tap, 306 State St., 257-0300: bar, pizza, your favorite sandwiches; food service daily 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. to closing; carryouts. Wisconsin State Journal. p. 15. Newspapers.com image 404587596.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 (1960, July 27). Council business: the Coney Island restaurant, 314 State St., and the Chicken on Wheels restaurant, 306 State St., merge as Caranotes, Inc. (Thomas G. Notes, president; Stephen Carvello, secretary and agent); beer license mo…. The Capital Times. p. 4. Newspapers.com image 521638428.
  5. ↑ (1960, September 2). Common Council proceedings: the Coney Island class B beer license is cancelled and the same type of license granted to Caranotes, Inc., Stephen J. Carvello, agent, 306 State St. Wisconsin State Journal. p. 12. Newspapers.com image 401166493.
  6. ↑ (1961, June 6). Council agenda: Sam DiSalvo plans to buy the restaurant at 306 State St. if the Council approves transfer of its beer license; it is owned by Caranotes, Inc., Stephen J. Caravello, agent. The Capital Times. p. 4. Newspapers.com image 519284761.
  7. ↑ (1961, November 17). Help wanted: waitress, part time or steady, apply in person after 5, Casa Di Pizza, 306 State St. Wisconsin State Journal. p. 34. Newspapers.com image 398358369.
  8. ↑ (1941, June 3). Liquor license applications: class B combination restaurant beer and liquor, Disalvo, Cosmo, 810 Regent. Wisconsin State Journal. p. 18. Newspapers.com image 405493436.
  9. ↑ (1956, September 6). Restaurant ads welcoming the Shriners: DiSalvo's, 810 Regent St. (Friday specials); Amato's Holiday House; Troia's Steak House. The Capital Times. p. 50. Newspapers.com image 522548854.
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 (1977, January 3). Sam DiSalvo, 63, died Dec. 31, 1976: one of the owners of the DiSalvo Spaghetti House on Regent St. for many years; also owner of the Villa Tap, 306 State St. The Capital Times. p. 3. Newspapers.com image 519817707.
  11. ↑ (1969, September 18). Nightlife roundup of places open to 18-year-olds: Sam DiSalvo serves beer and spaghetti at his DiSalvo's Villa Tap, 306 State St., remodeled last year. The Capital Times. p. 57. Newspapers.com image 519313906.
  12. ↑ (1977, May 25). City of Madison license list, May 1977. Wisconsin State Journal. p. 38.
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