Finally came here with some friends last night. We ordered the Puerco (tomato sauce, pork confit, and gorgonzola) and the Brassacre (brussels, bacon, fresh mozzarella, olive oil, garlic, and grana). The prices were reasonable at around $15 a pie. The 2 pizzas were enough to feed the four of us, came out hot, and were delicious, although I will say I was a bigger fan of the Puerco. I thought the service was extremely attentive. My only real complaint is it was hard to talk as the place was a little loud, but that's true in a lot of places (so no big deal). The dessert was a little pricey ($9), but delicious (ordered a chocolate mousse). The street parking was completely manageable. In sum, I would definitely return to order more pizza. read more

This is the best pizza I've ever had - including pizza in NYC and Chicago. I got the Barberini pizza, and it was amazing! All of the ingredients were extremely fresh. I also strongly recommend the ginger cake. This place is wonderful - if you're in Madison, go here! read more

So, so good. My husband and I moved back to Madison after living in Phoenix for a couple years, and we were so sad to leave our favorite wood fire pizza place behind, but Grampa's has made up for that lack and more! The gluten free pizza we tried, as well as the beet salad, was unreal. So flavorful and filling. Can't wait to go back! read more

Nick is an awesome bartender, and is everything you'd hope for in a server. The pizza is phenomenal, and I highly reccomend the one with Brussel Sprouts... they're charred to perfection! read more

I live in the neighborhood and love this place. Not only is the food amazing but the staff is fantastic.

Went for the first time last night. Liked the dim lights and candles. No wait. It was 9 on a Friday night and we were seated immediately. The pizza was good but I like a thicker hand tossed crust. If you like thin cracker crust this is for you. I want to go back and try the salads and desert. read more

We finally made it to Grampa's Pizzeria. Previous attempts have been thwarted with long waits as this is a popular place with excellent food and service! We went early expecting a wait but fortunately were able to be seated right away in a small room with only two tables. We choose the "Spread the Love" pizza and it did not disappoint. The kids had basic pies (ones with pepperoni) and they appreciated the thin crust. Excellent beer and wine selection. Loved the infused water and the kids even enjoyed it (surprisingly). The waiter was attentive but not overbearing. Wish I would have saved room for the ginger cake. Will have to visit again soon for that! read more

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Best beet salad this side of the Mississippi. Fun environment, friendly staff. Be ready for a wait, but you can find a spot at the bar or head down the street and they'll give you a call. Great spot! Wouldn't suggest the take out. read more

When I first heard the name of this place, I imagined a squeaking fan, old linoleum floors, sticky vinyl chairs, with maybe a dusty bear head in the corner. But Grampa pulled one on me! He was hip, fresh, and slightly a romancer! If you're craving pizza, but you're so over plain pepperoni, or if you don't want to feel greasy after a slice with the energy of a tube sock, then this is the the pizza place for you! It's pretty popular, so either get there early or plan to wait. The parking isn't fantastic, but there is always street parking available in that area. Also, if you're super in to fancy bathrooms...go to a hotel - this one is decent, but not Wowzers! read more

I've been wanting to try Grampa's for a while, and I'm glad I chose a Sunday night for it. We had no wait for 2, but be prepared if you come on a Friday or Saturday night as the place is cozy. The atmosphere is spectacular - small, quiet, great for conversation because you can actually hear your table mates. We ordered 2 pizzas to share - the Finocchio and Cerv's Up. Unfortunately they were out of anchovies but added bacon on the Cerv's Up. Cerv's Up was our favorite - you can't beat San Marzano tomatoes, and the bacon was a nice add as you get large chunks of smoky, meaty goodness. The thin crust on the pizzas is so good - light and crunchy, and really showcases the fresh ingredients. Next time I want to try the Brassacre. For dessert we split the sticky ginger cake, which had the perfect amount of ginger spice, a great crust, and like 2 inches of freshly whipped cream on top. So delicious and warm. Scott was our server and he was awesome! read more

Holy. Smokes. This place has some REALLY great food. We had a smoked salmon pizza, the mozzarella/tomato/basil appetizer and some olives. And of course, wine. Everything was amazin'. Atmosphere was great. Our service was awesome! I'd definitely go back. Repeatedly. read more

Back again! Just can't get enough of this place! The staff and owners are almost as awesome as the food! The pork confit never disappoints. Everyone should get down here now! read more

We were really excited when a pizzeria opened in the neighborhood, and Grampa's has yet to disappoint. Excellent food every time and the service is always top notch. We try to order something new each time we go and have only been pleasantly surprised by their flavor infusions. The Barberini & Pinocchio are our favorites. They combine different chili peppers with other flavors for a really unique experience. Always a lovely experience. The only reason I didn't give five-stars is because the space is very restrictive. Don't expect to spread out much. Still, worth it. read more

I am a huge pizza fan. Easily one of my favorite foods (to the detriment of my waistline). But I'm usually just your standard cheese pizza type of girl, so imagine my surprise when I found that I absolutely love all the different, crafty combos at Grampa's. The Goomba is absolutely amazing; the cheese, garlic cream sauce and fresh herbs are heaven in my mouth (it comes with mushrooms too, if you're into that, but I always leave them off). The Brassacre is also great; these two would definitely be the ones to try on your first visit. The ambiance is also fantastic; a very urban feel to it, perfect for date nights or dinner with friends. Try it out; you will not be disappointed!! read more

Excellent pizza!! Any flavor combination is amazing. The brassacre is the BEST!!! Definitely check this place out

I am from out of town and we wanted a Pizza. Looked on Yelp and found this highly rated so gave it a try and glad I did! Wow, we had the Jabroni. The flavors were fabulous. The crust light and crisp. It was so good! Highly recommend. read more

Grampa's is my favorite pizza place in Madison. Such a great atmosphere perfect for date night! Amazzzzing food and great drinks! Staff is always very welcoming and knowledgeable too. read more

This is a great little place! The menu is trendy and unique, and the pizza is fantastic. Small plates and pizzas that serve 2-3 people each. I recommend the Jabroni pizza and - I don't remember the name of it - a springtime seasonal pizza with morel mushrooms...outstanding! The pork dumplings are delicious as well. This is a pretty tiny restaurant, so wait times can be lengthy if you don't get your name in early. However, there is an upscale bar next door that you can hang out in until your table is ready. I don't believe they take reservations. read more

My partner and I really like Grandpa's and wanted to bring some friends of ours from out of town there. We called the restaurant ahead of time to ask about a reservation and were told that they do not accept them. Which is fine. However we then paid to take a Uber to Grandpas and our guests took a separate Uber. When we arrived, there was a sign on the door that said "cLosed for Packers game." Absolutely ludicrous that the staff person we spoke to on the phone would not have mentioned that. read more

Definitely the best pizza I have ever enjoyed. Absolutely great service and a cozy, lovely interior (feels like home). Really, really recommend. read more

My husband and I went and it being our first time we read the reviews on the place like we do with any new place we go, and we really enjoyed the whole experience. The space was well used, our server was very helpful, I will agree with the previous customers that the pork confit was amazing, and we had the most amazing desert (the ginger cake) was outstanding, not overly sweet and did not skimp on the whip cream for the top, you got a taste with each bite. So the person who said not to order it had no concept of what they are talking about, definitely try it. We also got homemade macaroons with a blueberry preserve as we left that were absolutely phenomenal. Our complements to the chef and his staff for such a comfortable and unforgettable experience!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! read more

Anyone who gives this place less than five stars...I have no idea what you're talking about. Visited Grampa's for the first time on a weeknight, which was good since there was still a 20 minute wait. But, the bar was cozy enough and had a few good choices of local beers on tap. Although I should mention most people were drinking wine. Things that were amazing about Grampa's: - The service was wonderful. We were told politely about the wait time, and the hostess even offered to text us when a table was ready in case we wanted to get a drink elsewhere first. We declined, but when two spots at the bar opened up she specially sought us out to tell us. Our server was also super helpful and cheerful. - THE BEET SALAD. I don't know what the heck they put in it, but I found myself wishing I had it to myself, instead of splitting it with my date. -THE PIZZA. WE split the Brassacre, with proscuitto and brussels sprouts...weird I know. But actually an amazing combination. It was a perfect size for splitting between two people, and still feeling full. The one downside: the prices. I felt like everything was a couple bucks more than it should have been, but that's what happens with small, trendy, in-demand restaurants in that area. So it goes. Can I still eat there every night? read more

My husband and I had our first date at Grampa's and we really wanted to treat our immediate families to dinner here the night before our wedding. They don't take reservations but they were so responsive and accommodating. They welcomed our group of 10 and allowed us to have the perfect evening we dreamed about! The food is always amazing and everyone raved about the pizza and the atmosphere. read more

Grampa's? More like Grumpy's. I won't be returning after the owner Gilbert Altschul sent me this email: "I'm sure there are plenty of empty pizzerias that you and your friends can camp out in and talk about nonsense." I had sent him an email expressing my disappointment in how rudely we were treated at the end of our meal. We enjoyed an app, two pizzas, a dessert and a bottle of wine but apparently spreading out that meal over 2 hours was unacceptable and we were rudely told to leave by a manager when she said, "We have a long wait and I need you to leave now." We had signed the check only 10 minutes prior. Also, we are three very nice ladies in our 30s, not like a group of rowdy, rude, annoying people. I know the place is small but a simple, "Due to our small space, we'd appreciate if our patrons restricted their meal to 90 minutes or less," on the menu would have been helpful or a "I'm so sorry to ask this but we're on a long wait. Do you mind wrapping up your conversation?" would have been perfectly acceptable. After hearing about their breastfeeding debacle and all the boycotters within their first couple weeks of business it's surprising that an owner who treats his customers so poorly can remain in business. Madison is a wonderful food city, there's no need to support a man who treats his paying customers in this way. Ever heard of "the customer is always right?" I was even up front with the fact that I'm a food and travel writer (trying to let him redeem himself) but he still sent that ridiculous response to me. read more

Grampa, you've won me over. While we had a tough go of it on my first visit, on my three subsequent interactions, you have knocked it out of the park. I experienced the Brassacre pizza twice during the 2014 March Madness #PizzaBracket extravaganza and this pizza met, nay, exceeded my lofty expectations. Grampa's definitely has addressed the issues with the crust that vexed me during my initial visit. The pizza crust on the Brassacre was truly special, with the proper proportions of bite and chew and SERIOUS flavor. The toppings were equally impressive; the caramelized exterior on the brussels sprouts gave the pizza a hint of sweetness to balance the smoky, slightly salted righteousness that came with the perfectly rendered Nueske's bacon. One bite and I knew I was in the presence of pizza perfection. The Goomba and Jabroni pizzas are also culinary wonders. Despite the service hiccups experienced during my first visit, the quality of the pizzas certainly warrants a five star rating. read more

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absolutely the best pizza i've had in my face. ever. i do, however, want to take this opportunity to share with readers that this restaurant is not an extension of your living room; nor is it red robin or tgi friday's. this is a cozy little eatery with little room for double-wide strollers or your ego. it is a place to enjoy the best pizza you'll ever eat, pure and simple. there are no airs put about, nor are you owed anything; stop being pretentious. show up hungry and leave more satisfied than you've ever been and give 'em a break, imagine the trials of running an independent restaurant and show some compassion. read more

I love the setting of the restaurant, cozy and candles, old books and the waiter. It might look fancy but the price for food is pretty okay. The food is amazing. I had the dumplings and it's a novel good experience. Highly recommend for family dinner, dinner date, something romance but not too fancy! read more

Love love love this place! Excellent appetizers are always rotating - this last time we tried the chicken dumplings and they were presented so nicely and tasted even better. The pizza here is always amazing and fresh! Don't go if you don't appreciate a good thin crust pizza. Our lovely server was extremely attentive and also convinced us to try that night's special dessert, a lemon tarte with fresh blueberries, mint, and sea salt - this was so good I have no words. I'm sad it's not a regular dessert option! Aside from the food, Grampa's has an adorable ambiance that combines old school with modern decor. My favorite date night spot in Madison. My only complaint is how long the wait time always is - BUT the owners graciously opened Gibs next door, so you can go to yet another great gen and grab a drink while you wait. This place is worth the wait. read more

When coming here it's just like going to your actual Grampa's - meaning, timing is everything! It doesn't matter if it's a Sunday or a Wednesday, this place is hopping. For our first visit, we went on a Saturday at 6pm and had to wait about half an hour for a table. Fortunately there was space at the bar so we were able to snag some drinks while we waited. On my second visit, it was 5pm (opening time) on a Sunday. We were able to get seated immediately (yippee!) but the place was definitely filling up by the time we left at 6:30pm. The ambiance is nice; warm and cozy, with a small front room with two tables and the rest of the seating in the back of the house/restaurant. We sat in the main part of the restaurant (overlooking the backyard) both times I was here and at risk of sounding like my Mom... it was loud! I think the low ceilings combined with the hardwood floors just really made sound bounce around. The Mister and I were both struggling to hear eachother, even at our small table. During both visits, the food was great. They also have a nice beer list but it makes me nuts that only the beer names are listed and not the type (i.e., IPA, stout, etc.). I know what type of beer I like but don't always recognize craft names so this presented a challenge. Fortunately, one I could overcome. The Mister and I ordered a pizza each, which was plenty as we both had leftovers. We probably could have gotten away with one pizza if we'd ordered a salad and appetizer. I had the basic pie ($9 + toppings cost $1-$3/ea) with mushrooms and was pleased with the thin crust and generous portion of toppings. On a subsequent visit I went with three other friends and we ordered two of the specialty pizzas and an appetizer - this was the perfect amount of food for the four of us. We had the two vegetarian pizzas: The Barberini ($14 - ricotta, garlic, calabrian chilies, tomato sauce, watercress, honey) and The Goomba ($13- garlic cream sauce, house blend cheese, mushrooms, fresh herbs). I never would have ordered either of them on my own ("watercress and honey on a pizza?!" and "ugh, garlic cream sauce sounds too rich") BUT I was proved wrong b/c both were excellent. Who knew! Well. I guess Grampa did. read more

I had high hopes for this restaurant due to the good reviews and the appeal of their homegrown ingredients. I made a special stop here during my short trip to Madison and wish I went somewhere else instead of wasting one of my 2 dinner opportunities. Not only was the wait for my pizza very excessive (I didn't keep track but it certainly felt like 45+ minutes), but when it finally came, I was very disappointed. I ordered the cheese with sausage and it was incredibly bland. Maybe I am spoiled by the pizza in New York, but I would have preferred my favorite papa johns pizza over waiting an hour for this low quality product. read more

This hidden gem is amazing!! We were able to get a table right away and water right away. And this isn't ANY kind of water! It had a citrusy flavour to it and was very refreshing. We ordered 3 pizzas for a family of 6 and it was more than enough for us! The beet salad was AMAZING! They have 2 unisex bathrooms that were pretty clean and well taken care of. The restaurant was pretty small and narrow but it's on Willy Street, I don't expect huge buildings on this street. The pizzas were cooked to perfection and the ginger ale was amazing. We had a lot of fun there and will definitely come back (maybe just for the beet salad!) I wish they serve food all day but they start serving food at 1700. Which is why this place would be really great for dinner! I would call in advance if you have a huge group. This place is definitely a gem!!! Delicious food and great company makes for the perfect ending to a great day! read more

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Incredible pizza - we particularly love the Goomba. High quality ingredients all the time. The appetizers are perfect - how to choose between the mozzarella, beet salad, and the fried chicken skins?! This is an affordable restaurant that is both trendy and authentic. Would highly recommend for a romantic dinner date or a meal with your family. Can't go wrong. Plus, you get complementary macaroons as you leave and the water tastes like flowers - it's perfect. read more

My hubby and I ate here for the first time last night - celebrating our wedding anniversary - and we were thoroughly impressed. I had been told by other friends to expect a long wait, or that the service was lacking, so I wasn't necessarily expecting to be wowed, but everything far exceeded our expectations. This was a memorable meal at a great new business, and we will definitely be coming back soon. The ambiance of the place is really lovely - candles and natural wood and nice light from the windows. It reminded me of the interior of the former Underground Kitchen, which I loved. They've done a great job restoring and transforming the old gun shop/attached house, and the restaurant has an intimate and classy feel that I think is equally suitable for a casual romantic evening or a lively dinner out with friends. We were promptly greeted by a cheerful host, who invited us to sit at the bar while we waited (not long) for a table. Contrary to other reviews, I found the staff to be highly attentive and friendly throughout, from the bartender to our main server. As a former waiter at a high-end restaurant, I have pretty high standards for service, and I was very pleased with how well we were tended to during our leisurely meal. (More water? Fresh napkins? Clean plates? All was taken care of before we had to request it.) Most importantly, the food at Grampa's was excellent. We ordered several things to share: the homemade mozzarella; the seasonal vegetable (in this case, blistered peppers sprinkled with bonito and dashi); panzanella salad; pepperoni pizza; and sticky ginger cake for dessert. Everything was wonderfully fresh and flavorful, with original touches that make the offerings unlike any other pizzeria (or restaurant) in town. I appreciated the chef's surprising touches, from the creamsicle-evoking creaminess of vanilla fleur du sel sprinkled on the fresh mozzarella, to a slight echo of honey mingling with the richness of pepperoni and leeks on our pizza. The ginger cake we shared for dessert was an incredible warm delight-- a cross between moist gingerbread and a perfectly-crispy cake donut, topped with not-too-sweet whipped cream and a handful of crushed pistachios. For all this goodness, plus two drinks apiece, we paid just $66 with tax and tip. A similar meal in Chicago, San Francisco, or New York would have easily cost twice that much. ($4 for a beautifully-prepared "seasonal vegetable" appetizer? $13 for a pizza big enough to share? This is seriously good value.) We are greatful to have this special spot in our neighborhood and look forward to its success. Well done, Grampa's! read more

Grandpas pizza worst service ever and they refused to serve us at 11:15 pm. You're supposed to be open until midnight. You suck and we will never be back. We will also be sure that no one else we know will cever come to your establishment. You suck. read more

Atmosphere in Grandpa's is awesome, most people have to wait, so go next door to their old Victorian "house" converted into a bar and have a delicious cocktail. Once you finally sit down to dinner at Grandpa's, it's a warm, rustic, hippy atmosphere. The pizza is amazing, every kind. The pork confit - like the other reviews say, is delicious, the giardiniera really compliments the flavors. We ordered the calamari which is pretty bland and tasteless, the only part of calamari you are really getting is the texture. Besides that, definitely will return! read more

I was very impressed! It took me a while to get to this restaurant since I came to Madison because the wait was too long and I wasn't in a situation to wait for a while. On a Tuesday, I came at 6pm for 2 people. We were seated right away and people started filling up the restaurant in ~30 minutes. The place is so cute and their dishes are fantastic!! We ordered the radish salad, pork confit small plate, and the pizza du jour. The radish salad was beautiful and delicious. Radishes were slightly warm, slightly soft, and slightly crunchy. It was decorated with some edible flowers and is served on a wooden board. So gorgeous. The pork confit was also excellent and beautifully presented. Pork was very soft; the dish came with a delicious ground mustard and pickled veggies/peppers. Sourdough it all came with was great too! I would probably have liked it a bit less toasted, but it was still good and that's probably just personal preference. The pizza was great! I honestly dont remember all of the toppings on it, except that it had shishito peppers on it (so we decided not to order that small plate). I was never the biggest fan of pizza, in that I would enjoy it if I had it but wasnt my first choice of food. I lived in New Haven, CT for a couple years where I fell in love with their thin crust pizza at a place called BAR and would crave this all the time. The pizza at Grampa's reminded me of that famous New Haven pizza, but the other plates, ambiance, and everything else is so much more elegant at Grampa's. Then, to finish, we ordered the sticky lemon ginger cake, which was again just beautiful and delicious. The cake wasn't as "sticky" as expected from the name, but it was just delicious. The texture inside was the perfect balance of moist, dense, and fluffly and the crispy outside is my favorite! Flavors of the cake were really well-balanced as well. The ginger and lemon flavors are really there. The whipped cream on top was so light and refreshing (home-whipped?) and the crushed pistachios on top just felt so appropriate. read more

Grampa's is an exceptional experience. We have been here twice and both visits have been lovely. It provides a dark and intimate setting. Tuesday is date night; the price includes an appetizer, pizza, dessert and a bottle of wine. Perfect! We have tried both the brassecre pizza and the barberini pizza. Both are wonderful, but the Barberini had many complex flavors that made it quite special. It is very saucy, but the honey and creamy cheese add layers of smoothness to the spice of the sauce. The cheese board is a great starter with a bottle of wine. The sticky ginger cake is literally the BEST dessert I have ever had. In addition, the music is perfectly suited to the atmosphere, featuring Billie Holiday and French songstresses. Yes, you have to wait for a table but it is more than worth it. It may even be part of what makes the experience special. read more

To start, when we arrived they told us it would be about a 45 minute to an hour wait but we could leave our name and phone number and they would calls when our table was ready. But after waiting for an hour and fifteen minutes we had not received a call and decided to check on our reservation, only to find that our name had been crossed off. The hostess offered no apology but did give us the next table that opened up. As for the food, it is very overpriced and the portions are tiny. We started off splitting a beet salad between the two of us and for $8.50 it wasn't a big enough salad for one person. Then we split a basic pie with basil, roasted red pepper and artichokes, the pizza wasn't bad but also nothing special. Our main complaint was that we expected more than a 10" personal pizza for $15. Needless to say we were both still hungry after. I'd only recommend grampa's pizza if you like spending way too much for ver read more

Incredible pizza! I have had all of them thus far and not a single one wasn't superb! I can't wait to work through the small plates and salad menu. Also the ice cream sandwich was to die for. Beautiful restaurant, wonderful service, very very happy to welcome it to my neighborhood! Oh and for everyone having issues with bringing their children, I sat next to a table with 2 kids under the age of 4 and they seemed to be having a great time, without high chairs. read more

One of the best meals I've had in Madison. The pizza is great & I loved the cheese board! I recommend going on their "date night" for a deal & the opportunity to try more of the food! The space has a great vibe, but is fairly small so anticipate having to wait. In my opinion, the wait is well worth it. read more