Pizza and Regent Street make a perfect pair. Trapani, named for a Sicilian seaport city, opened near Camp Randall recently in part of the space that became vacant when Sukho Thai went out of business.

In addition to pan pizza, stuffed pizza and thin crust pizza, it serves classic southern Italian entrees, Italian sandwiches and appetizers best described as bar food, all of which should go over well in the student neighborhood.

Although there are several tables at the restaurant and the atmosphere is clean and cheerful, it's tiny and spartan. Since delivery is free to the campus area and Near West Side, many people would probably opt to eat at home.

The thin crust is perfectly crisp and loaded with fresh, good toppings, and not particularly expensive, considering that a small pizza could feed four reasonably hungry people.

The Italian salad, too, is large enough to be an entree and is a fresh mix of greens, cucumbers, onions, (not entirely ripe) tomatoes, green olives, ham, bacon, mushroom and Parmesan and mozzarella cheese.

The chicken Marsala was a surprise with chunks of boneless, skinless white meat rather than the usual intact breast that has been pounded to flatten it for quick cooking. Although the chicken remained tender and juicy, the result left less surface for the reduction sauce to cling to, which, combined with a generous serving of homemade-style noodles, diluted the flavors. The sweetness of the Marsala wine came through in the sauce, which was flecked with parsley, seasoned with garlic and laden with sauteed mushrooms. The serving would be enough for two if salads were added.

The Eggplant Parmigiana was deceptively light. The eggplant is lightly breaded, soft without being spongy, and served with a bright-tasting marinara sauce, melted cheese and a side of spaghetti.

This sort of friendly Italian menu, of course, concludes with cannoli, which has a good crust, soft creamy interior topped with powdered sugar and drizzled with a chocolate sauce that had hints of artificial ingredients.

Family pasta specials that serve four to five people (and I suspect more than that) are also available for between $20 and $25 are also available, and should be a seamless fit for student households and families on Madison's Near West Side.

Trapani is co-owned by Pietro Pipitone, a native of Sicily who also owns Cafe La Bellitalia on the East Side, and George Oliveira.

Restaurant: Trapani
Location: 1441 Regent St.
Specialities: Pizza, Sicilian cuisine
Phone: 255-2223
Hours: Monday through Thursday 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Friday 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.; Saturday 4 p.m. to 11 p.m.
Price range: Appetizers $2 to $9; sandwiches $6 to $7; pasta $8 to $13; special pizzas $10 to $20; family (4 to 5 people) specials $$20 ti $25; student lunch specials $4 (with student ID)
Smoking: No
Credit cards: Accepted
Accessibility: Yes
Reservations: Accepted
Bottom line: Good pizza and big portions. Free delivery on campus and Madison's Near West Side. Recommended for families and vegetarians.