North Italia Makes Its Wisconsin Arrival In Madison

Posted on by Taylor Kennedy

September 2, 2026 – Today, the nationally recognized Italian concept North Italia, known for its scratch-made cuisine, hand-tossed pizzas and stunning craft cocktails, opens its newest outpost in Madison, Wisconsin. Marking its Wisconsin debut, North Italia is excited to join Madison’s growing culinary scene, bringing chef-driven, regionally inspired Italian favorites, and more to the city.

Located at the North end of Madison’s beloved lifestyle destination, Hilldale, at 670 N Midvale Blvd., North Italia Madison is a prime gathering space for weekend brunches, everyday lunches, and dinner with friends and family. Occupying nearly 7,000 sq. ft., the dining room, bar, and covered patio comfortably seat 174 guests and accommodate parties of all sizes. With the restaurant’s signature open kitchen format, guests seated in the dining room can watch the action unfold throughout their meal, as the expert culinary team handmakes pastas, pizzas and other beloved dishes from scratch in-house daily.

At North Italia Madison, the design takes a fun, more playful approach that reflects both the character of the local landscape and the community it serves. North Italia commissioned Madison-based muralist and painter Audifax to create distinctive murals for both the indoor dining area and the restaurant’s exterior. Known for its rich history and surrounding lakes, Madison inspired a playful art installation that draws parallels between the city’s beloved lakes and Italy’s iconic waterways. The art at North Italia Madison incorporates vibrant pops of color and draws inspiration from nature and the outdoors, creating a warm, welcoming atmosphere for guests of all ages. Rooted in natural elements and cultural storytelling, custom murals and artwork weave together Madison’s heritage and Italian mythology, resulting in a layered, narrative-driven design that gives the restaurant a distinctive sense of place.

At the helm of North Italia Madison’s culinary and operations team are Executive Chef Catie Swimm and General Manager Ali Scherer, two of the brand’s veteran female leaders. Guests in the Madison community can now enjoy signature dishes that quickly cemented North Italia as a go-to for modern Italian dining across the country, while also experiencing new and seasonal fare. Highlights include:

  • Chef’s Board featuring prosciutto di parma, speck, stracciatella & black truffle honey, pecorino stagionato, campari glazed nuts, marinated olive, giardiniera and fig jam
  • White Truffle Garlic Bread with house made ricotta, mozzarella, grana padano and herbs
  • Hot Honey & Smoked Prosciutto Pizza with scamorza, speck, calabrian honey, arugula, and pecorino toscano
  • Spicy Italian Grinder sandwich (Lunch only) with sopressatta, calabrese, smoked prosciutto, provolone, piquillo pepper, cherry tomato, giardiniera
  • Agnolotti Al Pomodoro withricotta, pecorino, simple tomato sauce, basil
  • Bolognese (House Specialty) with traditional meat sauce, pappardelle, grana padano and wild oregano
  • Spicy Rigatoni Vodka with Italian sausage, crispy pancetta, shaved garlic, torn basil, and grana Padano
  • Braised Short Rib Marsala with beech mushroom, snap pea, heirloom carrot, black truffle risotto, and affinato
  • Strawberries & Cream French Toast (Brunch only) featuring cinnamon custard brioche, cannoli cream, and buttered maple syrup
  • Bistro Steak & Eggs (Brunch only) with sunny-side up eggs, calabrian potato hash, and rosemary bearnaise

Those who leave room for dessert can indulge in classics and fan-favorites like the Brookie Sundae, Tiramisu, or Hazelnut Torta, made with housemade nutella, candied hazelnut, and salted caramel gelato. Not to be missed are North Italia’s craft cocktails like the New Italian Spritz and Neapolitan, as well as its extensive wine list featuring familiar favorites and wines brought in from around the world. Guests can also sip on inventive zero-proof options like the La Spezia made with Pentire non-alcoholic, blood orange, honey, lemon, and spiced salt.

Reservations are now available via OpenTable. Guests will be able to enjoy lunch, dinner, and weekend brunch service, plus takeout, online ordering and delivery via DoorDash. Group and private dining options are also available. Walk-ins are welcomed.

HOURS OF OPERATION

Reservations are encouraged through OpenTable. To view full menus or place takeout and delivery orders, please visit northitalia.com.

  • Lunch | Monday – Friday from 11 a.m. – 4 p.m.
  • Dinner | Sunday – Thursday from 4 – 10 p.m.
  • Dinner | Friday – Saturday from 4 – 11 p.m.
  • Brunch | Saturday – Sunday from 10:30 a.m. – 4 p.m.
  • Happy Hour | Monday – Friday from 3 – 6 p.m. at the bar

ABOUT NORTH ITALIA

North Italia was conceived by Fox Restaurant Concepts founder Sam Fox in Arizona in 2002. Since then, the neighborhood Italian restaurant has expanded to over 50 locations across the U.S. Using only the season’s best ingredients, North Italia’s chefs create a variety of modern Italian dishes, including pastas made from scratch daily, hand-tossed pizzas like the classic Margherita or fan-favorite The Pig, and savory lunch and dinner entrees like the Grilled Branzino and Seared Sea Scallops that deliver flavors that go above and beyond the expected. Complementing North Italia’s food menu is a full-bodied wine and beer list accompanied by an array of handcrafted cocktails. For more information, visit northitalia.com.

ABOUT HILLDALE

WS Development has successfully transformed Hilldale into an outdoor street-style shopping experience equipped with pedestrian walkways, social gathering spots, and lush landscaping.

Hilldale is home to more than 55 shops, restaurants, and entertainment options including Apple, lululemon, Madewell, Anthropologie, Levi’s, Shake Shack, L.L. Bean, Kendra Scott, Sur La Table, and Title Nine, alongside best-in-class local offerings like Morgan’s Shoes, Ulla Eyewear, Twigs, Allure Intimate Apparel and Crescendo Espresso Bar. Hilldale most recently welcomed a handful of new offerings including Faherty, Rowan, Sephora, Warby Parker, Jaxen Grey, Sweetgreen, and Gorjana.

Hilldale brings Madison’s best together in one easy-access Midtown west side location. The laidback, strollable setting makes Hilldale feel like a mini getaway, even when you’re close to home. For more information, go to www.hilldale.com and find them on Facebook and Instagram.

ABOUT WS DEVELOPMENT

Massachusetts-based WS Development is a mixed-use developer with a singular mission: creating places people want to be. With an approach that values art, science, innovation and, above all else, people, WS strives to engage each community it serves with best-in-class installations and activations. Established in 1990, WS is a vertically integrated company that conceptualizes, owns, operates and leases more than 100 properties that range from cutting-edge urban spaces to lifestyle and community centers.  With over 25 million square feet of existing space and an additional 10 million square feet of planned development, it is one of the largest privately-owned development firms in the country. For more information, visit www.wsdevelopment.com, call 617.232.8900 or follow WS Development on LinkedIn.

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