The best pizza in town. Salvatore's runs second on my list. The thin, yet crispy crust is enough to make this pizza the best! Topping are fresh and push to the edges of the pizza. Mozzarella is made fresh daily. I've never had anything disappointing here. It's pricy, but worth every penny. There is always a wait, but it's the perfect reason to get a drink next door at Gib's. Try their play on a Manhattan...the coffee soaked vermouth is amazing and makes the drink! This is a bar/restaurant combo to bring friends/family to for a night to remember. Yum! read more

I've been here a ton but was hesitant to review because of some unevenness across different criteria. Overall, I think Grandpa's is great for the following reasons. First, and most importantly, the ginger cake is the best dessert in Madison (and maybe the Midwest writ large). If you disagree with me on this point, you are objectively wrong. I can go into specifics and sing its praises in 1000 ways, but let's just say that the cake is gustatory poetry. It is ethereal. It is divine. It is unmatched by any flourless chocolate cake or other such pathetic competitors. Second, the environment is perfect and fills a gap in cool, intimate restaurant spaces in town. The very professional wait staff only helps. Third, the date night special can't be beat. Merchant and Tex Tubbs Taco Palace also have date nights but both pale in comparison. (Merchant's menu involves little to no choice and comes with a heaping dose of attitude.) The cons: the pizza is really not that great. Compared to Sal's, the crust is nothing to write home about. Many of the toppings are well chosen and executed (brussels sprouts and bacon!), but some fall flat (the pesto - meh). On pizza alone, Sal's is a cut above. All that said, Grandpa's comes out lookin' pretty good because the appetizers are good, the desserts are divine (the mousse is fabulous although it's hard to wrench me away from the ginger cake), the service is slick, etc. I hope this place keeps chuggin'! read more

Absolutely great pizza!!! Beer - awesome. I had one 12 oz glass (don't remember the name of beer) but that was great. (cost me $9.00 beer only) read more

Grandpa's is one of those places where you get the sense that anything you order will be delicious. My husband and I went on a Monday night for our anniversary. Every table was full, and the atmosphere was very homey and romantic. We ordered the pork confit, which was unexpected and flavorful. We also got the market salad. The salad was so fresh and wonderful. Finally, we got the daily special pizza, which had chorizo and corn and shishito peppers. It was also quite tasty. We only wish the crust in the center section of the pizza were crispier. Overall, it was an amazing dinner, and we had a great time. Can't wait to go again soon! read more

We had been anticipating going to grampas for a few months and got there right when it opened last Thursday to avoid any rush. We came with extended family fresh from the airport and our 3 year old daughter. First off, they have no high chairs. So not only is it not child friendly, they blatantly discourage them. And it's a pizza place. Pizza. Our server was one of the only nice people we encountered while there- she may have missed the pretension training and the anti-smile campaign. The food was pretty good- I actually liked the risotto better than any of the 4 pizzas we had. I found them to be on the greasy and salty side. For my $, Pizza Brutta is still the best in Madison. I don't think I'd go back to grampas, even if we got a babysitter. read more

One of the top pizzerias in town. This is not your typical American pizza. The crust is Napolitano style - thin crust, crunchy on the outside, chewy on the inside - backed in a regular oven, not wood fired. Toppings are inventive, fresh and local. My favorite is the Brassacre - roasted Brussel sprouts, bacon and garlic. The sticky ginger cake is worth saving room for dessert. With small plates and pizza, the menu is short, and the wine list is equally focused. No mixed drinks, but Gibs, the next door bar of the same owners, is exceptional for drinks before or after dinner. Interior is cozy, a little industrial with farm-like weathered wood, bare-bulb lighting and a copper bar. Service was spot on (fast and friendly) for a pizzeria. The place is small, so arrive early or make a reservation (I believe reservations can be made on selected nights only). read more

The owners have done a truly amazing job of transforming the place into a beautiful, comfortable space, with reclaimed wood, dark colors, vintage metal accents and a great view of the big tree out back. The crowd was a great mix of neighborhood folks, couples, families with kids, babies, grandparents. Our party of four tried 3 vegetarian pizzas, the Jabroni, the Barberini, and the basic with mushrooms. The pesto on the Jabroni was fresh and bright. The Baberini was unlike any pizza I've ever had, firey and sweet, though the garlic was a little overwhelming - might be better if it roasted? The Basic was a favorite - perfect cheese-to-sauce ratio! Service was excellent. I am looking forward to sitting at the bar and trying some small plates and more of the wine list! read more

Quaint, charming little spot on Willie St. Very friendly waitstaff. The pizza is good if you're interested in non-traditional kinds of pizzas. I love that they use locally sourced products. The ground cherries in my salad won me over. read more

Had my birthday dinner at Grampa's last night. The food was great, but the 3-star review is due to a couple significant missteps on service. Food: If you're looking for an appetizer, the Pork Confit is a must-have. They serve it with a great bread and whole grain mustard that goes really well with the pork. All of the pizzas that my group ordered were really good, and the ability to add-on options like giardiniera is awesome. Service: We were having a drink at the Crystal Corner (great bar on the same block) and checked in early with the hostess to get our name on the list. She told us to be there at 7:45, but we weren't seated until 8:20. Not the biggest of deals to wait a little bit, but to wait over a half hour was tough. This was compounded by the fact that there's not a great place to wait - you have to essentially stand right by the hostess (which is also where the kitchen is), so you're constantly avoiding people/employees. Especially tough with a big group. One easy solution would've been for the hostess to take our cell phone number, then called us closer to 7:45 when she could tell the table wasn't going to be ready for a bit longer. We'd have been happy to wait a bit more (and have another round at the Crystal Corner). Also: the service we got after sitting down was not good. There were multiple instances where items were brought out extremely late (one member of my party got her drink after both the appetizers and entrees arrived). The waitress was also not generally helpful or welcoming. It seemed like she was annoyed that we had been seated towards the front and that she had to cover extra ground to cover tables on both sides of the restaurant. I was there to celebrate my bday (we were all happy!), but she was a downer each time she came to the table. Even when she brought my cake, she kind of just dropped it on the table quickly and left (which made the candle go out). read more

Discovered this restaurant doing a quick google search for pizza in Madison. We were beyond thrilled after our first visit and continue to come here. We love the dumplings for an appetizer then order the Goomba and Framboni (add sausage). Small selection of tap beers but we've always found something we like. The shortbread cookies to end the meal are fabulous! Quality has been spot on and service is wonderful. We will look forward to our next visits! read more

Update: My husband and I were in there the other night and asked the server why it was so slow. He said things have been "rough." After a little research, I saw the news about how management has been treating their employees..... It's a shame. The pizza was amazing, but I can't support a business that doesn't support their employees. read more

Easily my favorite Willy street restaurant. Tough to find a table between 5 and 8, but the pizzas are well worth it (and the wait staff is fantastic). Try the beet salad and trust in their specials - I haven't gone wrong with a single one of them. If you're looking for spectacular thin-crust pizza that isn't just a pile of cheese, this is your spot. read more

Yummy thin crust pizza in cozy atmosphere. The Market salad was excellent! A great inexpensive, relaxing date night place. They have a nice garden in the "backyard" were it looks like they grow their own herbs. It was dark, so hard to tell if there were veggies. We split a salad and pizza (as another reviewer mentioned, it's almost on the flatbread end, but still good) and had a glass of wine and left happy. Since we got there pretty late - around 10pm - there was no wait and it was not crowded. read more

Grampa's had been strongly recommended to me and it lived up to its reputation. I am not normally a fan of beet salads but was sure impressed with the one we had. We got a Jabroni pizza that was tasty, though probably not the best pie they sell. I was very fond of the thin crust and the touch of tang in the pizza sauce, however. We also got a Sticky Ginger Cake that we shared and it was incredible. I strongly recommend the beet salad and that cake that is just to die for. When we were there the Yelp app on my phone showed that a Taco Bell was nearby. Please, do NOT go to Taco Bell if you're anywhere near Grampa's! Frankly, I'd never recommend Taco Bell to anyone and was shocked that Yelp would suggest such a place when someone is near other places with phenomenal food. read more

This spot is stellar... some of the best pizza in Madison. I'd like to give it four and a half stars, really. There can be a wait on the weekends but it is well worth it. Excited to try the specialty pizzas that we have yet to order. read more

Have only been here once, but I really enjoyed it. The pizza combinations were inventive and eating at the bar is my favorite way to eat pizza. Beer and wine only, which was a bummer for us vodka lovers. Service was friendly and quick, the place was really hopping so you should expect to have to wait a while for a table. read more

We went to Grampa's pizzeria Friday November 17, 2018. We were told it was very popular and no reservation taken. So we arrived at 5:30 and we were going to be a party of eight. The short haired, blonde hostess was reluctant to seat us without our whole party arrived. We committed to ordering our food before everyone arrived so she agreed to seat us. The five of us sat down and ordered drinks. Our waiter was fantastic. He was helpful with the wine list, making beer recommendations and describing the appetizers. We ordered three appetizers. After appetizers arrived we ordered four pizzas. As our pizzas were being delivered to the table the last of our party arrived. The food was very good. The wait staff was great. The hostess was awful. After eating our pizza, we ordered two desserts. Others in our party continued to order drinks. We had not completely finished our desserts or drinks when the hostess informed us in a rude way, you must leave we need your table, people with reservation are wanting to be seated. (I didn't think they took reservations!!!) We were told we could go next door to continue visiting. But we had to leave our drinks we just ordered at the restaurant because we could not take them outside. Now mind you we were maybe 15 minutes away from being ready to leave. We had been there for two hours. The two hours was due to the time it took to get our food. After the first two pizzas got to our table, the 3rd one was delivered 5 minutes later and the fourth pizza 10 minutes after that. I have never been asked to leave a restaurant. I have never been treated so rudely by a restaurant hostess. The last five minutes at Grampa's absolutely ruined our experience. We were still eating and drinking and were told we needed to leave!!!!!! Our bill was over $250.00 with tip for dinner, beverages and dessert. If this interaction had not occurred, I would give 4 stars. Food was good, waiter was excellent, hostess awful. I'm not going back. read more

We went here without looking at any reviews or info and I was pleasantly surprised. It was much more upscale than I expected, so dinner was a little pricier than we anticipated. The place is gorgeous inside and the pizzas were delicious. There were 5 of us, and our competent waiter did tell us pizzas usually serve 2, but 3 of us ordered our own and the other 2 shared, so we sampled 4 pies. They were all delicious. The one I ordered had Brussel sprouts and bacon, really thick chunks of bacon that melted in your mouth. I ate too many slices, that's for sure! Our waiter checked on us frequently without being intrusive, and kept our drinks replenished and water filled. Also, at the end of the meal he brought us a bag of macaroons that they make in-house. We will definitely go back to try other items. read more

First time visiting Grampa's Pizzeria and definitely not my last. Overall scenery gives a relaxing but cool vibe, the brick wall behind the bar with the multitude of mirrors is a great touch. We started with the Mozzarella appetizer, the portion was the perfect amount before a meal and we could not get enough of the vanilla salt on top of the cheese. Not too long after our Barberini pizza came out. The honey gave the pizza a sweet taste instead of purely spicy from the peppers. It was the perfect amount of food for two people. Afterwards our server Matt brought complimentary macaroons in a bag. I highly suggest visiting this place, great pizza, atmosphere and employees. read more

Was at Grampa's last nite for the 4 Pinots and a Chard wine dinner. The wines and the food pairings were fantastic. I particularly liked the squash & burrata pizza. The crust was SO good and the squash along with squash blossoms and nasturtiums from the Grampa's garden sent this course over the top. The waygu beef with oyster mushrooms & cherry tapenade was also outstanding. They have a great space here with food to match. We'll be back to try the regular menu in the very near future! read more

The pizza is very good and unique. I loved the super thin crust. The service was good as well. The reason that I didn't give it 5 stars is that the dining room is really small. My friend and I were finishing a conversation and decided to take it elsewhere because people were swarming around with that look in their eye that said "we want your table!". It looks like they have a patio so summer dining would probably allow for more space. read more

Awesome pizza, cozy atmosphere and good prices. I recommend to to the gibs next door while you wait for your table to be ready!

Perfect Monday night spot to grab a drink, order some apps, and delicious thin artisanal pizza.

I have been here a bunch of times. This is my default place of pizza. You know times when your group gets tired of guessing where to go, I don't have that now. I like the flavors and pizza options that they offer. It is also good for cheese (I love mozzarella here). Some wines and beer choices are also good. read more

Meh. Only serve wine and the pizza is cracker thin and lacks flavor. Appetizers are delicious. Beet salad was awesome and the cheese plate was great. Go for wine and apps and skip the pizza. read more

This is my favorite pizza in Madison. Yes you will wait if you go on date night or Friday at 7, but it is (sometimes) worth it. If they tell you it's going to be an hour and a half, it might be longer. But the pizza, the pork confit, and everything else I've had on the menu (beet salad especially) is so good and made with care. I love the crust and the quality of all the ingredients used here. I disagree with the Elite reviewer that this place has an air of pretentiousness - I never felt that here. Servers have always been wonderful too. Very cozy and romantic atmosphere - and I think prices are very reasonable. read more

Great place. Great meal. Great staff. Good beer options. It's a super thin-crust pizza, but made in a "modern" oven (vs. wood-fired or "brick" style). I actually like the similar pizzas at Brutta or Porta Alba more, but make no mistake this is great pizza. And the atmosphere is really cozy too - better than the aforementioned options. Not quite 5 star, but if I could do 4.5 I would. There's an adorable bar next-door we'll hit for a cocktail next time we go to Grampa's. read more

Don't be fooled by the cutesy name. A dinner at Grandpa's Pizzeria is a classy affair. Atmospheric lighting, trendy interior design, and of course amazing pizzas is what makes this restaurant one of Madison's most popular date night locations. The only issue you'll have with this pizza joint is actually snagging a table. read more

Easily my favorite Willy street restaurant. Tough to find a table between 5 and 8, but the pizzas are well worth it (and the wait staff is fantastic). Try the beet salad and trust in their specials - I haven't gone wrong with a single one of them. If you're looking for spectacular thin-crust pizza that isn't just a pile of cheese, this is your spot. read more

Grandpa's is outstanding. There is a wait because it is that good. Fresh local ingredients, great staff, amazing warm atmosphere and more than anything, the food. This place is so much more than pizza. From the pork confit, to the beet salad, and of course the pizza... Fantastic. Best in Madison. read more

Wife and I just had their "date night" - awesome mozzarella appetizer, then the Pork confit pizza and finally the ginger cake. All three sublime - and the vibe and lighting of the place is awesome. Be aware that place is very small, so be prepared for a wait on weekends. But worth it!! read more

I went here recently on a date night, and we could not have picked a better place. Madison was definitely in need of a great pizza restaurant, and I think this place is it! It looked like they grew some of their own vegetables in a garden out back which is awesome! We added sausage to one of our pizzas, and it was probably the best sausage I've ever had. The wait staff was very friendly, and I loved the flavored water (with grapefruit and raspberries). Great place for a date or dinner with friends/family. read more

Delicious! Fresh ingredients were cut and arranged on the crust for bite after delicious bite. The crust was crisp and tasty, held the ingredients well. My pizza had sausage, fennel, and olives. House-made sausage was flavorful and well-seasoned. It tasted great with the pizza sauce and my toppings. My son ordered the Goomba because he loves mushrooms, and the hat tip to Mario is fun. He really liked the garlicky sauce and all the mushrooms. The decor is casual, nicely done. Nice wine list. I'd love to go back for girls' night out. read more

Grampa's Pizzeria - Fennel, olive, sausage - Pizza Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

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Another amazing meal at Grampas. The pork confit is a must order. All the pizzas are astounding. The salads are delightful and vary wonderfully with the seasons! This is my favorite restaurant in Madison hands down. read more

Tuesday night, 6 pm, no wait at Grandpa's for the three of us. We sat in the cozy back room and ordered a Sweetie Pie (hold the chorizo) and the pepperoni, along with a market salad. The salad came first and was delicious, dressed perfectly with a light tangy vinagrette. It had beet shavings, carrot shavings, a few green and yellow beans, and several kinds of greens, including, perhaps, some watercress. It was a bit dark back there, so hard to tell. I only wish it had been more generous. Quality is more important than quantity, but another handful of greens -- and a larger plate -- would have made this a 5. The pizza was crispy-crusted and the thinnest I've seen anywhere. Kudos -- it wasn't over-sauced and didn't get soggy. I liked the way it was cut into small pieces. Both pizzas had excellent blending of flavors, with enough pepperoni to have some in each square. And because we held the chorizo, our server comped us for it on the bill. Nice. Our only drink was one cider. It was still on the expensive side for the amount of food , about $50 with tip and tax-- we all had room for chocolate shoppe ice cream afterwards -- so I would say a good 4.5 stars. A worthwhile pizza splurge! read more

Very good pizza appetizers however are different and the server explained this upfront. So no appetizers next time just good pizza along with good service. read more

The pizza is alright, there was nothing so fantastic about it that I would go back specifically for it. The edges were a bit too "brown" (read: burnt) for my taste. Madison is a town filled with specialty and unique pizza shops and I'll take a slice of Ian's any day over a burnt crispy grampas slice. read more

I like to wait a month or two after a place opens to try it out. I wasn't disappointed on a recent Saturday night. The place was busy later in the evening but we were seated after only a few minutes with no reservations made. The ambience is great: cozy, romantic, and warm. This is a nice addition to the neighborhood. The Pinoccio pizza was fantastic. I'm not a great fan of thin crust pizza, but this is as good as it gets. The sauce was a bit sweet, but that seems to be what people want. My wife and I split the house salad and man, that was amazing. I can't remember all the ingredients, but there were about a dozen goodies in there. The waitstaff were prompt and courteous too. I'm giving you 5 stars, Grandpa. read more

We had a great experience tonight during our first trip to Grandpa's. Not only was each course prepared to perfection and flavor-packed, but the atmosphere was exactly the "upscale pizzeria" vibe that we were hoping for. They had interesting beer on tap and very personable staff; we will definitely be back soon! read more

Excellent. We had the Brassacre (Which I'm told rhymes with 'massacre' -- I thought it should be Brass Acre because you get an acre of brassica -- but I digress) that was superb, right up there with the best pizzas I have had in town (that would the Pizza Lombardino and the Margherita at Bruta). The crust isn't great -- I was wondering as we devoured how it would taste cold the next morning, but leftovers didn't happen. We also had the Pinocchio, with sausage, fennel and chiles, and that was really good too (and also completely eaten) Quiet enough to eavesdrop on the people surrounding us, which is always interesting when first dates are occurring. We were there on a Monday night 6ish, not too crowded -- seated right away. Didn't have desert. The Ginger Cake looked interesting, but alas I had a tub of Lemon Curd at home waiting for me, so I skipped it. read more