Italian restaurants are not hard to come by in Madison. Gino’s, at 540 State Street, has been through renovation, relocation, and menu changes over its years, but a faithful clientele of diners keep returning for more. Established in 1963, owner Gino Gargano prides himself on his family-operated business, which is dedicated to authentic Sicilian-style pizza and pastas made from family recipes passed down from generation to generation.
The dining room of the restaurant has dark paneling and a black ceiling, wooden tables and booths, simple lighting fixtures and oil paintings on the wall. A sleek bar area with stained glass chandeliers in big windows facing the street creates a dining and drinking dichotomy, similar to Amy’s Café; restaurant by day and bar by night.
The restaurant has a reputation for good food at reasonable prices. There is a host of pasta dishes including fettuccine alfredo ($7.45), baked ziti ($6.95), tortellini bolognese ($7.95) and several types of spaghetti. A selection of tomato, meat, mushroom and white clam sauces are available as well.
The Italian Salad ($6.95) is a mixture of crisp lettuce topped with mozzarella cheese, sliced red onion, tomatoes and anchovies. Diners can also create their own salad by choosing from a myriad of toppings such as garbanzo beans, sunflower seeds, olives and a variety of meats and cheeses.
I ordered one of the lunch specials, a piece of vegetarian stuffed-crust pizza accompanied by a cup of soup ($4.99). Since the specials are pre-made, you cannot substitute for a piece of plain cheese pizza or customize your slice with your favorite toppings. Not being able to substitute was discouraging, but the deep-dish pizza did not disappoint. The crust was crispy and thick, and the dough tasted extremely fresh. Large chunks of vegetables were on top of the cheese and the entire serving was smothered in tomato sauce. I needed a fork and knife to eat the messy slice.
Pizzas are made to order and take 45 minutes to cook. This can be deterrent if you are in a rush, but patrons can call in an order prior to their arrival. Regular pizzas are available in three different sizes and increase in price depending upon number of ingredients. Base prices range from $7.45 to $10.95.
Sandwiches on the menu come with french fries. One interesting option was the Garlic Mozzarella Burger ($5.95), in which the hamburger is served on garlic bread with pizza sauce. The Mufalata ($5.95) mirrors the ingredients of an Italian hoagie; provolone cheese, salami, ham and olive dressing can be served as a hot or cold sandwich.
The Mozzarella Sticks ($5.95) are made from fresh mozzarella. The breading was flaky and did not taste deep-fried. I was disappointed that I did not try the Garlic Bread ($4.95). Gargano makes his own fresh bread daily and the rumor around town is that Gino’s garlic bread is some of the best in Madison.
An added bonus is that Gino’s delivers from 11 a.m. until close. I am always looking for new places to order, especially since the cold, brisk, winter months are quickly approaching. The Gargano family has recently celebrated the 40th birthday of their Italian restaurant, which has provided many memories to university students and community members. I hope Gino’s is around for another wonderful 40 years to come. Until next week, happy dining!
