Our Story
Salvatore’s Tomato Pies Chef/Owner Patrick DePula, along with his kitchen staff, is a Saturday fixture at the Dane County Farmers Market where he sources the freshest possible ingredients for his restaurants. To Patrick, local sourcing isn’t about marketing, it is about tradition. His parents and grandparents have always had extensive gardens and some of his fondest memories as a young child involved helping his grandmother pick vegetables, and then prepare them for family meals. Salvatore’s is proud to extend this tradition to its customers and partner with farmers and Artisans such as Young Earth Farm, Emerald Meadows, Elderberry Hill, Harmony Valley, Vitruvian, Uplands cheese, Farmer John’s Cheese, Conscious Carnivore, and many more.
Chef Patrick comes from an Italian American immigrant family with a rich history in the food business. His grandfather, after arriving from Italy, founded the Trenton Unity Market, a full service grocery store, in Trenton NJ. His father was a baker, his uncles and aunts owned restaurants, food provisioning businesses, bakeries and more.
Salvatore’s Tomato Pies was founded in Sun Prairie in 2011 by Patrick and his wife Nichole, a pastry chef. They quickly built a reputation for crafting pizza like no other… Using old world techniques of slow fermenting dough from locally derived wheat, locally made cheeses and Wisconsin-raised meats. In 2016 they purchased 121 E Main St, a 116 year old 3 story brick building, and extensively renovated it into their flagship restaurant and expanded the menu to include shareable plates and entrees. Since then, they've expanded with locations in Monona and Madison, as well as offering Catering and frozen pies!
Some of the awards they’ve received include “Favorite Pizzeria”…Isthmus Mad Faves. Local Hero Award by Edible Madison Magazine. Chef of The Year 2016 Patrick DePula, Madison Magazine, Isthmus Independent Business Award, 2017 Favorite Restaurant worth waiting for a table – Isthmus Mad Faves Poll. Best Pizza – Sun Prairie Star 2015, 2016, 2017, and many more. Salvatore’s has been featured on Wisconsin Foodie, and Nationally on the Big Ten Network’s Campus Eats Show.
The restaurant is named after Patrick’s Great Grandfather, uncle, cousin and son. It’s a family name that has been with them since arriving at Ellis Island from Casandrino, Italy.
This is our home. Our Kitchen. Our Dream. We invite you to join us and are grateful for your visit.