Italian-Indian cuisine? It sounds like an unusual combo, but Zafferano Ristorante in Fitchburg has found a hunger in the local dining scene for their inventive fusion of two cuisines. So much so that the owners are planning a second restaurant on the Capitol Square, Eloura, that will serve Mediterranean food with East Asian influences.
On the City Cast Madison podcast today, host Bianca Martin talks to co-owner Kalyani Venkatraman about their current and future adventures in dining.
One of the most popular dishes at Zafferano that mixes Indian and Italian influences in the butter chicken pizza. But Madison is no stranger to unusual and inventive kinds of pizza. Here’s some of our favorite places to get an out-of-the-ordinary pie.
It may seem normal to us, but outsiders actually consider mac ‘n’ cheese pizza to be kind of weird! As Verona residents will soon find out, Ian’s continues to push the envelope of pizza creations. January’s special slices include a crab rangoon pizza, a kielbasa mac pizza and a pho pizza!
Johnson Street’s thick Detroit-style pizza is so distinctive that even a plain cheese hits different than other pizza. But Molten Monkey has a range of innovative specialty pies, including the Tik Tik Boom with ginger brined red onions and a tikka masala base, an Umami Bomby with four different kinds of mushrooms, and Not on the First Date with an avocado cream base and a chimichurri drizzle.
Sal’s Jersey-style pizza is a favorite from downtown Madison to Sun Prairie, and their solid lineup of flavors include the new Ossobuco Royale with bone marrow, lemon mint gremolata and toasted breadcrumbs, and the Joey Bananas with banana peppers, hot honey and fresh jalapenos
Glass Nickel has been a neighborhood institution in Madison for decades, with wittily-named specialty pies like the Portabella Lugosi, the Vegan Pad Thai Pie and my favorite, the Fetalicious. They also rotate in new limited-edition pies each month, such as the Big Mac-inspired (but legally distinct) Special Sauce.
This popular spot in Verona and Sun Prairie packs them in with an extensive pizza menu, including the new Autumn Sage Pizza with prosciutto, fresh sage and brown butter roasted butternut squash, as well as the Green Goddess Pizza with pesto cream sauce, the Asian Chicken pizza with General Tso’s sauce, and my favorite, the clearly Canadian Maple My Bacon Pizza.
This King Street favorite is known for serving “steel pan pizza,” a deep-dish Wisconsin spin on Detroit pizza, as well as wood-fired pizza. For something different, try the King Gyro pizza with roasted lamb and tzatziki sauce or the She’s A-Maize-ing with sweet corn, bacon and habanero basil cream.
This elegant Willy Street spot offers artisan pizzas like the Sweet Corn with squash, fresh ginger, coconut and lime and the Brassacre with brussel sprouts and bacon.
Did I miss your favorite one-of-a-kind Madison pizza? Email me and let me know! 🍕
