Cafe Porta Alba - Revision history

Jacques: Use American spelling (license, favorite, neighborhood and the like)

2026-10-24T03:28:39Z

Use American spelling (license, favorite, neighborhood and the like)

← Older revision		Revision as of 03:28, 24 October 2026
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	==History==		==History==
	===Butler Street, 2006 to 2009===		===Butler Street, 2006 to 2009===
	Vincenzo Pugliese, from Alife, an ancient town near Naples, had spent 22 years in New York restaurants and at the Italian consulate, where he put on some 250 events a year; his wife's job at Lands' End brought him to Madison<ref name="mc-2007-12-05-porta-alba-iron-chef">Conklin, M. (2007, December 5). [https://madison.com/news/article_26093386-741c-5d2d-bb68-5f20566b48b8.html "Cafe Porta Alba gets an authentic taste of fame."] ''madison.com''.</ref>. With an English partner, Dave Bryant, whose wife also worked at Lands' End, he opened Cafe Porta Alba at [[15 North Butler Street\|15 N. Butler St.]] in Butler Plaza, the former Sal's Pizzeria, in the late summer of 2006: the ~~licence~~ was applied for in May and granted in August<ref name="ct-2006-05-10-p4">(2006, May 10). Notice of public hearing on new ~~licence~~ applications: Cafe Porta Alba, LLC, agent Vincent Pugliese, 15 N. Butler Street. ''The Capital Times''. p. 4. Newspapers.com image [https://www.newspapers.com/image/526001360/ 526001360].</ref><ref name="ct-2006-08-14-p22">(2006, August 14). Council proceedings: public hearing closed and ~~licence~~ granted to Cafe Porta Alba, 15 N. Butler Street, capacity 40. ''The Capital Times''. p. 22. Newspapers.com image [https://www.newspapers.com/image/522523182/ 522523182].</ref>, and the State Journal reviewed "the new Cafe Porta Alba" in December<ref name="mc-2006-12-10-porta-alba-review">Martell, C. (2006, December 10). [https://madison.com/entertainment/article_0d83554e-df7b-53ce-b7c1-abd8918a9c41.html "Cafe Porta Alba makes pizza the old-fashioned way."] ''madison.com''.</ref>. The name is that of the first pizzeria in Naples, opened in the 1830s on Porta Alba square. The ~~centrepiece~~ was a 3,000-pound wood-fired oven at 1,000 degrees that cooked a pizza in 90 seconds; the sauce came from tomatoes grown below Vesuvius, the flour from the Caputo mill in Naples, and the mozzarella from Wisconsin. Thirteen pizzas cost $7.50 to $13<ref name="mc-2006-12-10-porta-alba-review" />.		Vincenzo Pugliese, from Alife, an ancient town near Naples, had spent 22 years in New York restaurants and at the Italian consulate, where he put on some 250 events a year; his wife's job at Lands' End brought him to Madison<ref name="mc-2007-12-05-porta-alba-iron-chef">Conklin, M. (2007, December 5). [https://madison.com/news/article_26093386-741c-5d2d-bb68-5f20566b48b8.html "Cafe Porta Alba gets an authentic taste of fame."] ''madison.com''.</ref>. With an English partner, Dave Bryant, whose wife also worked at Lands' End, he opened Cafe Porta Alba at [[15 North Butler Street\|15 N. Butler St.]] in Butler Plaza, the former Sal's Pizzeria, in the late summer of 2006: the license was applied for in May and granted in August<ref name="ct-2006-05-10-p4">(2006, May 10). Notice of public hearing on new license applications: Cafe Porta Alba, LLC, agent Vincent Pugliese, 15 N. Butler Street. ''The Capital Times''. p. 4. Newspapers.com image [https://www.newspapers.com/image/526001360/ 526001360].</ref><ref name="ct-2006-08-14-p22">(2006, August 14). Council proceedings: public hearing closed and license granted to Cafe Porta Alba, 15 N. Butler Street, capacity 40. ''The Capital Times''. p. 22. Newspapers.com image [https://www.newspapers.com/image/522523182/ 522523182].</ref>, and the State Journal reviewed "the new Cafe Porta Alba" in December<ref name="mc-2006-12-10-porta-alba-review">Martell, C. (2006, December 10). [https://madison.com/entertainment/article_0d83554e-df7b-53ce-b7c1-abd8918a9c41.html "Cafe Porta Alba makes pizza the old-fashioned way."] ''madison.com''.</ref>. The name is that of the first pizzeria in Naples, opened in the 1830s on Porta Alba square. The centerpiece was a 3,000-pound wood-fired oven at 1,000 degrees that cooked a pizza in 90 seconds; the sauce came from tomatoes grown below Vesuvius, the flour from the Caputo mill in Naples, and the mozzarella from Wisconsin. Thirteen pizzas cost $7.50 to $13<ref name="mc-2006-12-10-porta-alba-review" />.

	By 2007 the restaurant belonged to the Vera Pizza Napoletana association, whose rules the Capital Times' reviewer found "too correct for its own good": "in 2007 Wisconsin, I'll take a Glass Nickel Cheesasaurus any day"<ref name="mc-2007-08-02-porta-alba-review-ct">Kalk Derby, S. (2007, August 2). [https://madison.com/entertainment/article_93097d24-9c4b-585f-95a4-b65782bf857f.html "Cafe Porta Alba may be too correct for its own good."] ''madison.com''.</ref>. Michael Muckian gave it three stars of four<ref name="ct-2007-04-14-p26">Muckian, M. (2007, April 14). "Porta Alba fare authentic." ''The Capital Times''. p. 26. Newspapers.com image [https://www.newspapers.com/image/522524205/ 522524205].</ref>. "When Cafe Porta Alba opened almost one year ago," Mary Bergin wrote in July 2007, "Pugliese began producing a pizza that was new to Madison"<ref name="ct-2007-07-20-p15">Bergin, M. (2007, July 20). "Neapolitan pizza the real McCoy." ''The Capital Times''. p. 15. Newspapers.com image [https://www.newspapers.com/image/522437350/ 522437350].</ref>. On December 3, 2007, Mario Rizzotti, a judge on "Iron Chef America", came to a packed five-course dinner; Porta Alba was then one of 17 pizzerias in the country sanctioned to call themselves Neapolitan<ref name="mc-2007-12-05-porta-alba-iron-chef" /><ref name="ct-2007-11-30-p26">Bergin, M. (2007, November 30). "'Iron Chef' judge will visit Porta Alba here." ''The Capital Times''. p. 26. Newspapers.com image [https://www.newspapers.com/image/522429053/ 522429053].</ref>. The 2008 pizza history in the State Journal credited Pugliese as "the first to offer traditional Neapolitan pizza" in Madison<ref name="mc-2008-05-28-through-thick-and-thin">Wegner, A. N. (2008, May 28). [https://madison.com/lifestyles/article_5dd95b69-95b3-518b-95aa-95dcb51fd35f.html "Through thick and thin: Madison's pizzerias have come a long way from their humble start on Spaghetti Corner."] ''madison.com''.</ref>.		By 2007 the restaurant belonged to the Vera Pizza Napoletana association, whose rules the Capital Times' reviewer found "too correct for its own good": "in 2007 Wisconsin, I'll take a Glass Nickel Cheesasaurus any day"<ref name="mc-2007-08-02-porta-alba-review-ct">Kalk Derby, S. (2007, August 2). [https://madison.com/entertainment/article_93097d24-9c4b-585f-95a4-b65782bf857f.html "Cafe Porta Alba may be too correct for its own good."] ''madison.com''.</ref>. Michael Muckian gave it three stars of four<ref name="ct-2007-04-14-p26">Muckian, M. (2007, April 14). "Porta Alba fare authentic." ''The Capital Times''. p. 26. Newspapers.com image [https://www.newspapers.com/image/522524205/ 522524205].</ref>. "When Cafe Porta Alba opened almost one year ago," Mary Bergin wrote in July 2007, "Pugliese began producing a pizza that was new to Madison"<ref name="ct-2007-07-20-p15">Bergin, M. (2007, July 20). "Neapolitan pizza the real McCoy." ''The Capital Times''. p. 15. Newspapers.com image [https://www.newspapers.com/image/522437350/ 522437350].</ref>. On December 3, 2007, Mario Rizzotti, a judge on "Iron Chef America", came to a packed five-course dinner; Porta Alba was then one of 17 pizzerias in the country sanctioned to call themselves Neapolitan<ref name="mc-2007-12-05-porta-alba-iron-chef" /><ref name="ct-2007-11-30-p26">Bergin, M. (2007, November 30). "'Iron Chef' judge will visit Porta Alba here." ''The Capital Times''. p. 26. Newspapers.com image [https://www.newspapers.com/image/522429053/ 522429053].</ref>. The 2008 pizza history in the State Journal credited Pugliese as "the first to offer traditional Neapolitan pizza" in Madison<ref name="mc-2008-05-28-through-thick-and-thin">Wegner, A. N. (2008, May 28). [https://madison.com/lifestyles/article_5dd95b69-95b3-518b-95aa-95dcb51fd35f.html "Through thick and thin: Madison's pizzerias have come a long way from their humble start on Spaghetti Corner."] ''madison.com''.</ref>.

Jacques: Add the 2005–2009 years from the newspaper research recorded in the database; earlier text kept

2026-10-22T03:36:47Z

Add the 2005–2009 years from the newspaper research recorded in the database; earlier text kept

← Older revision		Revision as of 03:36, 22 October 2026
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	'''Cafe Porta Alba''' was a Neapolitan pizzeria ~~at Hilldale~~, open from 2006 to October 19, 2019<ref name="mc-2019-10-01-porta-alba-closing">Kalk Derby, S. (2019, October 1). [https://madison.com/life-entertainment/local/food-drink/restaurants/article_fa421a10-093e-5072-82e9-7bd0bb85a160.html "Cafe Porta Alba closing after 10 years at Hilldale, owner moving to Baltimore."] ''madison.com''.</ref>.		'''Cafe Porta Alba''' was Madison's first Neapolitan pizzeria, open from 2006 at 15 N. Butler St. and from 2009 at Hilldale, until October 19, 2019<ref name="mc-2019-10-01-porta-alba-closing">Kalk Derby, S. (2019, October 1). [https://madison.com/life-entertainment/local/food-drink/restaurants/article_fa421a10-093e-5072-82e9-7bd0bb85a160.html "Cafe Porta Alba closing after 10 years at Hilldale, owner moving to Baltimore."] ''madison.com''.</ref>.

	==History==		==History==
	Vincenzo Pugliese opened Cafe Porta Alba in 2006 at 15 N. Butler St., in Butler ~~Plaza —~~ the ~~downtown~~ space "~~where~~ [[Naples 15]] ~~is now"~~<ref name="mc-2012-11-15-naples-15-review">Kalk Derby, S. (2012, November 15). [https://madison.com/life-entertainment/local/food-drink/article_8b918a00-2e8c-11e2-9fc6-0019bb2963f4.html "Review: Italian kitchen Naples 15 holds promise."] ''madison.com''.</ref> ~~— and moved it~~ to Hilldale in 2009. ~~Its wood-burning oven~~, in a design ~~from~~ Pompeii, ~~came from Naples~~. Pugliese closed the restaurant after ten years at Hilldale, with the last day October 19, 2019, to move to Baltimore<ref name="mc-2019-10-01-porta-alba-closing" />.		===Butler Street, 2006 to 2009===
			Vincenzo Pugliese, from Alife, an ancient town near Naples, had spent 22 years in New York restaurants and at the Italian consulate, where he put on some 250 events a year; his wife's job at Lands' End brought him to Madison<ref name="mc-2007-12-05-porta-alba-iron-chef">Conklin, M. (2007, December 5). [https://madison.com/news/article_26093386-741c-5d2d-bb68-5f20566b48b8.html "Cafe Porta Alba gets an authentic taste of fame."] ''madison.com''.</ref>. With an English partner, Dave Bryant, whose wife also worked at Lands' End, he opened Cafe Porta Alba at [[15 North Butler Street\|15 N. Butler St.]] in Butler Plaza, the former Sal's Pizzeria, in the late summer of 2006: the licence was applied for in May and granted in August<ref name="ct-2006-05-10-p4">(2006, May 10). Notice of public hearing on new licence applications: Cafe Porta Alba, LLC, agent Vincent Pugliese, 15 N. Butler Street. ''The Capital Times''. p. 4. Newspapers.com image [https://www.newspapers.com/image/526001360/ 526001360].</ref><ref name="ct-2006-08-14-p22">(2006, August 14). Council proceedings: public hearing closed and licence granted to Cafe Porta Alba, 15 N. Butler Street, capacity 40. ''The Capital Times''. p. 22. Newspapers.com image [https://www.newspapers.com/image/522523182/ 522523182].</ref>, and the State Journal reviewed "the new Cafe Porta Alba" in December<ref name="mc-2006-12-10-porta-alba-review">Martell, C. (2006, December 10). [https://madison.com/entertainment/article_0d83554e-df7b-53ce-b7c1-abd8918a9c41.html "Cafe Porta Alba makes pizza the old-fashioned way."] ''madison.com''.</ref>. The name is that of the first pizzeria in Naples, opened in the 1830s on Porta Alba square. The centrepiece was a 3,000-pound wood-fired oven at 1,000 degrees that cooked a pizza in 90 seconds; the sauce came from tomatoes grown below Vesuvius, the flour from the Caputo mill in Naples, and the mozzarella from Wisconsin. Thirteen pizzas cost $7.50 to $13<ref name="mc-2006-12-10-porta-alba-review" />.

			By 2007 the restaurant belonged to the Vera Pizza Napoletana association, whose rules the Capital Times' reviewer found "too correct for its own good": "in 2007 Wisconsin, I'll take a Glass Nickel Cheesasaurus any day"<ref name="mc-2007-08-02-porta-alba-review-ct">Kalk Derby, S. (2007, August 2). [https://madison.com/entertainment/article_93097d24-9c4b-585f-95a4-b65782bf857f.html "Cafe Porta Alba may be too correct for its own good."] ''madison.com''.</ref>. Michael Muckian gave it three stars of four<ref name="ct-2007-04-14-p26">Muckian, M. (2007, April 14). "Porta Alba fare authentic." ''The Capital Times''. p. 26. Newspapers.com image [https://www.newspapers.com/image/522524205/ 522524205].</ref>. "When Cafe Porta Alba opened almost one year ago," Mary Bergin wrote in July 2007, "Pugliese began producing a pizza that was new to Madison"<ref name="ct-2007-07-20-p15">Bergin, M. (2007, July 20). "Neapolitan pizza the real McCoy." ''The Capital Times''. p. 15. Newspapers.com image [https://www.newspapers.com/image/522437350/ 522437350].</ref>. On December 3, 2007, Mario Rizzotti, a judge on "Iron Chef America", came to a packed five-course dinner; Porta Alba was then one of 17 pizzerias in the country sanctioned to call themselves Neapolitan<ref name="mc-2007-12-05-porta-alba-iron-chef" /><ref name="ct-2007-11-30-p26">Bergin, M. (2007, November 30). "'Iron Chef' judge will visit Porta Alba here." ''The Capital Times''. p. 26. Newspapers.com image [https://www.newspapers.com/image/522429053/ 522429053].</ref>. The 2008 pizza history in the State Journal credited Pugliese as "the first to offer traditional Neapolitan pizza" in Madison<ref name="mc-2008-05-28-through-thick-and-thin">Wegner, A. N. (2008, May 28). [https://madison.com/lifestyles/article_5dd95b69-95b3-518b-95aa-95dcb51fd35f.html "Through thick and thin: Madison's pizzerias have come a long way from their humble start on Spaghetti Corner."] ''madison.com''.</ref>.

			The Butler Street lease ran out and the restaurant closed in March 2009<ref name="mc-2009-04-03-porta-alba-closes">Troller, S. (2009, April 3). [https://madison.com/77square/article_d2cfce8a-8162-50d8-aced-8768b326d73d.html "Cafe Porta Alba closes; may re-open elsewhere."] ''madison.com''.</ref><ref name="mc-2009-07-17-porta-alba-hilldale">(2009, July 17). [https://madison.com/77square/article_dc7ad81b-009f-5d3e-83ac-c561c4470a2a.html "Cafe Porta Alba to re-open at Hilldale."] ''madison.com''.</ref>. Old Market Bistro took the space in June 2009 and lasted two months<ref name="ct-2009-06-04-p7">Troller, S. (2009, June 4). "Kipp's owner opens new bistro." ''The Capital Times''. p. 7. Newspapers.com image [https://www.newspapers.com/image/522555744/ 522555744].</ref><ref name="mc-2009-12-27-restaurant-graveyards">Martell, C. (2009, December 27). [https://madison.com/life-entertainment/local/food-drink/article_e80091a4-c772-5de0-b0d8-a389a25e5cbd.html "Restaurant graveyards: Nature of the 'feast'."] ''madison.com''.</ref>; [[Naples 15]] opened there in 2012<ref name="mc-2012-11-15-naples-15-review">Kalk Derby, S. (2012, November 15). [https://madison.com/life-entertainment/local/food-drink/article_8b918a00-2e8c-11e2-9fc6-0019bb2963f4.html "Review: Italian kitchen Naples 15 holds promise."] ''madison.com''.</ref>.

			===Hilldale, 2009 to 2019===
			In July 2009 Pugliese announced a reopening at Hilldale, across from the Sundance cinema<ref name="mc-2009-07-17-porta-alba-hilldale" />. The new restaurant, with 58 seats, opened in November 2009 around a $12,000 brick oven built in Italy with an arched terra-cotta ceiling in the design of the oven found at Pompeii; the old oven had been cemented to the Butler Street floor. The pizza menu was unchanged, with pasta, gnocchi and panini added, and one-hour waits were common on weekends<ref name="mc-2009-11-29-porta-alba-hilldale-review">Martell, C. (2009, November 29). [https://madison.com/life-entertainment/local/food-drink/reviews/article_98d45b0a-340e-5cd2-9d60-f9405f7dbd06.html "New location, but same glorious oven-fired pizza at Cafe Porta Alba."] ''madison.com''.</ref>. Pugliese closed the restaurant after ten years at Hilldale, with the last day October 19, 2019, to move to Baltimore<ref name="mc-2019-10-01-porta-alba-closing" />.

	In 2013 Pugliese partnered with his head chef, Nick Mattioli, to open [[Novanta]] on Old Sauk Road<ref name="mc-2013-07-05-novanta-opens">Kalk Derby, S. (2013, July 5). [https://madison.com/lifestyles/food_and_cooking/article_e5deb680-c350-51f2-b21b-de8f20bd4751.html "Restaurant News: New Far West Side pizzeria Novanta has shades of Porta Alba."] ''madison.com''.</ref>. Porta Alba's Alpina pizza, with arugula, was one of the Capital Times' candidates for the area's best pizza that November<ref name="ct-2013-11-20-p13">(2013, November 20). Best-pizza poll photo page: Porta Alba's Alpina, Greenbush Bar, Glass Nickel's Fetalicious, Grampa's Barberini, Paisan's Super Hot and Salvatore's Fig and Bacon. ''The Capital Times''. p. 13. Newspapers.com image [https://www.newspapers.com/image/520984544/ 520984544].</ref>.		In 2013 Pugliese partnered with his head chef, Nick Mattioli, to open [[Novanta]] on Old Sauk Road<ref name="mc-2013-07-05-novanta-opens">Kalk Derby, S. (2013, July 5). [https://madison.com/lifestyles/food_and_cooking/article_e5deb680-c350-51f2-b21b-de8f20bd4751.html "Restaurant News: New Far West Side pizzeria Novanta has shades of Porta Alba."] ''madison.com''.</ref>. Porta Alba's Alpina pizza, with arugula, was one of the Capital Times' candidates for the area's best pizza that November<ref name="ct-2013-11-20-p13">(2013, November 20). Best-pizza poll photo page: Porta Alba's Alpina, Greenbush Bar, Glass Nickel's Fetalicious, Grampa's Barberini, Paisan's Super Hot and Salvatore's Fig and Bacon. ''The Capital Times''. p. 13. Newspapers.com image [https://www.newspapers.com/image/520984544/ 520984544].</ref>.

	The closing was felt in Madison's Neapolitan pizza world: [[Novanta]]'s Nick Mattioli, whose first professional kitchen was at Porta Alba, said he had to pull over to the side of the road when he heard the news<ref name="ct-2019-11-06-pO25">Haase, N. (2019, November 6). "New Novanta pizzeria is twice as nice." ''The Capital Times''. p. O25. Newspapers.com image [https://www.newspapers.com/image/613239955/ 613239955].</ref>.		The closing was felt in Madison's Neapolitan pizza world: [[Novanta]]'s Nick Mattioli, whose first professional kitchen was at Porta Alba, said he had to pull over to the side of the road when he heard the news<ref name="ct-2019-11-06-pO25">Haase, N. (2019, November 6). "New Novanta pizzeria is twice as nice." ''The Capital Times''. p. O25. Newspapers.com image [https://www.newspapers.com/image/613239955/ 613239955].</ref>.

			==Pizza==
			* The 2006 menu: Margherita (fresh mozzarella, tomato, basil), Funghi, Capricciosa (mushrooms, olives, fresh mozzarella, tomato, Parmacotto ham, artichokes) and ten others, all one size of about 10 to 12 inches<ref name="mc-2006-12-10-porta-alba-review" /><ref name="mc-2007-08-02-porta-alba-review-ct" />.
			* At Hilldale the Alpina, with walnut purée, fontina and mushrooms, was a signature; there was also a Nutella pizza<ref name="mc-2009-11-29-porta-alba-hilldale-review" />.

	==Former Locations==		==Former Locations==
	* 15 N. Butler St. (2006 to 2009). [[Naples 15]] opened there in July 2012<ref name="mc-2012-11-15-naples-15-review" />.		* [[15 North Butler Street\|15 N. Butler St.]] (late summer 2006 to March 2009). [[Naples 15]] opened there in July 2012<ref name="mc-2012-11-15-naples-15-review" />.
	* 558 N. Midvale Blvd., at Hilldale (2009 to October 19, 2019)<ref name="mc-2019-10-01-porta-alba-closing" />.		* 558 N. Midvale Blvd., at Hilldale (November 2009 to October 19, 2019)<ref name="mc-2009-11-29-porta-alba-hilldale-review" /><ref name="mc-2019-10-01-porta-alba-closing" />.

	==See also==		==See also==

Jacques: Correct the owner's name to Vincenzo Pugliese and add the 2012–2013 news (2010–2014 research)

2026-10-21T17:33:32Z

Correct the owner's name to Vincenzo Pugliese and add the 2012–2013 news (2010–2014 research)

← Older revision		Revision as of 17:33, 21 October 2026
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	==Former Locations==		==Former Locations==
	* 15 N. Butler St. (2006 to 2009). [[Naples 15]] opened there in July 2012<ref name="mc-2012-11-15-naples-15-review" />.		* 15 N. Butler St. (2006 to 2009). [[Naples 15]] opened there in July 2012<ref name="mc-2012-11-15-naples-15-review" />.
	* Hilldale (2009 to October 19, 2019).		* 558 N. Midvale Blvd., at Hilldale (2009 to October 19, 2019)<ref name="mc-2019-10-01-porta-alba-closing" />.

	==See also==		==See also==

Jacques: Correct the owner's name to Vincenzo Pugliese and add the 2012–2013 news (2010–2014 research)

2026-10-21T17:11:57Z

Correct the owner's name to Vincenzo Pugliese and add the 2012–2013 news (2010–2014 research)

← Older revision		Revision as of 17:11, 21 October 2026
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	==History==		==History==
	~~Nick Pjevach~~ opened Cafe Porta Alba in 2006 at 15 N. Butler St. — the downtown space "where [[Naples 15]] is now" — and moved it to Hilldale in 2009. Its wood-burning oven, in a design from Pompeii, came from Naples. ~~Pjevach~~ closed the restaurant after ten years at Hilldale, with the last day October 19, 2019, to move to Baltimore<ref name="mc-2019-10-01-porta-alba-closing" />.		Vincenzo Pugliese opened Cafe Porta Alba in 2006 at 15 N. Butler St., in Butler Plaza — the downtown space "where [[Naples 15]] is now"<ref name="mc-2012-11-15-naples-15-review">Kalk Derby, S. (2012, November 15). [https://madison.com/life-entertainment/local/food-drink/article_8b918a00-2e8c-11e2-9fc6-0019bb2963f4.html "Review: Italian kitchen Naples 15 holds promise."] ''madison.com''.</ref> — and moved it to Hilldale in 2009. Its wood-burning oven, in a design from Pompeii, came from Naples. Pugliese closed the restaurant after ten years at Hilldale, with the last day October 19, 2019, to move to Baltimore<ref name="mc-2019-10-01-porta-alba-closing" />.

			In 2013 Pugliese partnered with his head chef, Nick Mattioli, to open [[Novanta]] on Old Sauk Road<ref name="mc-2013-07-05-novanta-opens">Kalk Derby, S. (2013, July 5). [https://madison.com/lifestyles/food_and_cooking/article_e5deb680-c350-51f2-b21b-de8f20bd4751.html "Restaurant News: New Far West Side pizzeria Novanta has shades of Porta Alba."] ''madison.com''.</ref>. Porta Alba's Alpina pizza, with arugula, was one of the Capital Times' candidates for the area's best pizza that November<ref name="ct-2013-11-20-p13">(2013, November 20). Best-pizza poll photo page: Porta Alba's Alpina, Greenbush Bar, Glass Nickel's Fetalicious, Grampa's Barberini, Paisan's Super Hot and Salvatore's Fig and Bacon. ''The Capital Times''. p. 13. Newspapers.com image [https://www.newspapers.com/image/520984544/ 520984544].</ref>.

	The closing was felt in Madison's Neapolitan pizza world: [[Novanta]]'s Nick Mattioli, whose first professional kitchen was at Porta Alba, said he had to pull over to the side of the road when he heard the news<ref name="ct-2019-11-06-pO25">Haase, N. (2019, November 6). "New Novanta pizzeria is twice as nice." ''The Capital Times''. p. O25. Newspapers.com image [https://www.newspapers.com/image/613239955/ 613239955].</ref>.		The closing was felt in Madison's Neapolitan pizza world: [[Novanta]]'s Nick Mattioli, whose first professional kitchen was at Porta Alba, said he had to pull over to the side of the road when he heard the news<ref name="ct-2019-11-06-pO25">Haase, N. (2019, November 6). "New Novanta pizzeria is twice as nice." ''The Capital Times''. p. O25. Newspapers.com image [https://www.newspapers.com/image/613239955/ 613239955].</ref>.

	==Former Locations==		==Former Locations==
	* 15 N. Butler St. (2006 to 2009). ~~Later the home of~~ [[Naples 15]].		* 15 N. Butler St. (2006 to 2009). [[Naples 15]] opened there in July 2012<ref name="mc-2012-11-15-naples-15-review" />.
	* Hilldale (2009 to October 19, 2019).		* Hilldale (2009 to October 19, 2019).

Jacques: Full article from the 2015–2019 newspaper research recorded in the database

2026-10-21T13:51:36Z

Full article from the 2015–2019 newspaper research recorded in the database

← Older revision		Revision as of 13:51, 21 October 2026
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	==Locations==		'''Cafe Porta Alba''' was a Neapolitan pizzeria at Hilldale, open from 2006 to October 19, 2019<ref name="mc-2019-10-01-porta-alba-closing">Kalk Derby, S. (2019, October 1). [https://madison.com/life-entertainment/local/food-drink/restaurants/article_fa421a10-093e-5072-82e9-7bd0bb85a160.html "Cafe Porta Alba closing after 10 years at Hilldale, owner moving to Baltimore."] ''madison.com''.</ref>.
	* Hilldale
			==History==
			Nick Pjevach opened Cafe Porta Alba in 2006 at 15 N. Butler St. — the downtown space "where [[Naples 15]] is now" — and moved it to Hilldale in 2009. Its wood-burning oven, in a design from Pompeii, came from Naples. Pjevach closed the restaurant after ten years at Hilldale, with the last day October 19, 2019, to move to Baltimore<ref name="mc-2019-10-01-porta-alba-closing" />.

			The closing was felt in Madison's Neapolitan pizza world: [[Novanta]]'s Nick Mattioli, whose first professional kitchen was at Porta Alba, said he had to pull over to the side of the road when he heard the news<ref name="ct-2019-11-06-pO25">Haase, N. (2019, November 6). "New Novanta pizzeria is twice as nice." ''The Capital Times''. p. O25. Newspapers.com image [https://www.newspapers.com/image/613239955/ 613239955].</ref>.

			==Former Locations==
			* 15 N. Butler St. (2006 to 2009). Later the home of [[Naples 15]].
			* Hilldale (2009 to October 19, 2019).

			==See also==
			* [[Naples 15]]
			* [[Novanta]]
			* [[Item:Q968\|Cafe Porta Alba in the Madison Pizza Wiki database]]

			==Notes==
			<references />

Godzilla: Created page with "==Locations== * Hilldale"

2020-09-29T00:39:48Z

Created page with "==Locations== * Hilldale"

New page

==Locations==
* Hilldale