UW grads know it well. And soon, Milwaukee will be introduced to the slices of Ian's Pizza.

"On Dec. 31 or New Year's Day, we'll open in Milwaukee," a contact at Ian's Pizza on State St. in Madison told me today. Ian's Pizza will lease space on North Avenue, across from Whole Foods Market and next to Subway and Bruegger's Bagel Bakery.

"We are coming to Milwaukee," Paul Guse, of Ian's Pizza, told me in an e-mail. "We'll be on the corner of North and Prospect. We are looking to open sometime in winter 2010. Possibly by the first of the year. Everyone here is really excited about it. We'll have more details about our plans in the next few weeks."

Founded in Madison in 2001, Ian's is an institution in Madtown with its unique slices and much buzzed about toppings like mac and cheese. It's a late night favorite, too, but it's open at 11 a.m. daily for lunch. Ian's has two Madison locations and one on Clark Street in Chicago.

I've never had Ian's, but here's a blogged review of its Wrigleyville location from Serious Eats.

Ironically, many have compared Milwaukee's Brick3 Pizza to Ian's Pizza. Rumors are that Brick3 also is searching for an East Side location. It would be Brick3's second Milwaukee area pizzeria.