View source for Noble Roman’s

'''Noble Roman's''' was a franchise of the Indiana-based pizza chain at [[437 State Street|437 State St.]], in the building where State, Broom and Gilman streets meet. It opened in early 1985, about a year after [[Gargano’s Pizzeria|Gargano's]] had left the building, and by the fall of 1986 the restaurant was trading as '''Peter Depesto's'''.

==History==
Gerald and Bill Bodner opened the restaurant in January 1985. It served deep-pan, Sicilian and hand-tossed pizzas, spaghetti and sandwiches, had a salad bar on two levels with a view of State Street, and offered carry-out and campus delivery. Sandra Kallio of the State Journal found neither the pizza nor the spaghetti up to Madison standards<ref name="wsj-1985-03-17-p96">Kallio, S. (1985, March 17). "Noble Roman's not distinguished." ''Wisconsin State Journal''. p. 96. Newspapers.com image [https://www.newspapers.com/image/402064727/ 402064727].</ref>.

Jacob Stockinger of the Capital Times reviewed it in June 1985 alongside [[Pizzeria Uno]], under the heading "A tale of two pizzas — upscale and other". Noble Roman's, "open here since February", had "very good pizza", he wrote, but it was "spoiled by cheap decor, thoroughly undistinguished side fare like the salad bar and wine, and terrible service". The new owners had replaced "the cozy dark wood decor of the old eaterie" with cheap booths and bare walls. The house specialty was The Monster, a deep-dish pizza with eight fillings, at $12.58<ref name="ct-1985-06-22-p15">(1985, June 22). "Mama Mia! Madison's pizza craving is monstrous / A tale of two pizzas — upscale and other." ''The Capital Times''. p. 15. Newspapers.com image [https://www.newspapers.com/image/519961465/ 519961465].</ref>. The same issue noted that "a new, blue chip pizza franchise, Noble Roman's, operates out of the Gargano's location"<ref name="ct-1985-06-22-p14">Egerton, B. (1985, June 22). "Madison has right stuff for making — and eating! — pizza." ''The Capital Times''. p. 14. Newspapers.com image [https://www.newspapers.com/image/519961462/ 519961462].</ref>.

The fall 1985 dining guide listed "Regular, monster and special Sicilian deep dish pizza, plus sandwiches, spaghetti and salad bar. Also delivers", at 256-6606<ref name="wsj-1985-10-06-p136">(1985, October 6). "Madison Area Dining Guide, Fall 1985." ''Wisconsin State Journal''. p. 136. Newspapers.com image [https://www.newspapers.com/image/401397288/ 401397288].</ref>. In April 1986 Noble Roman's was hiring drivers<ref name="ct-1986-04-12-p30">(1986, April 12). Help-wanted: 'Drivers part/full time. Apply between 2–4 p.m. Noble Romans Pizza, 437 State St.'. ''The Capital Times''. p. 30. Newspapers.com image [https://www.newspapers.com/image/521430829/ 521430829].</ref>.

==Peter Depesto's==
The fall 1986 dining guide listed '''Peter Depesto's''' at 437 State St., with the same telephone number and the same hours as Noble Roman's a year earlier: "Regular and deep-dish pizza, pasta, sandwiches and salad bar. Deliveries"<ref name="wsj-1986-10-05-p168">(1986, October 5). "Madison Area Dining Guide, Fall 1986." ''Wisconsin State Journal''. p. 168. Newspapers.com image [https://www.newspapers.com/image/405302734/ 405302734].</ref>. Who ran it, and how long it lasted, have not been found.

==Pizza==
* The Monster, a deep-dish pizza with eight fillings<ref name="ct-1985-06-22-p15" />.
* Regular, deep-pan and Sicilian deep-dish pizzas<ref name="wsj-1985-03-17-p96" /><ref name="wsj-1985-10-06-p136" />.

==Former Locations==
* [[437 State Street|437 State St.]] (January 1985 to 1986; as Peter Depesto's by October 1986).

==See also==
* [[Item:Q2710|Noble Roman's in the Madison Pizza Wiki database]]
* [[Item:Q2775|Peter Depesto's in the Madison Pizza Wiki database]]

==Notes==
<references />

[[Category:1980s]]