Lexington takeout pizza guide: Local restaurants for great pies or single slices
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Pizza is such a staple of delivery and carryout that it seems a given that lots of Lexington restaurants have pizzas on the menu.
But some are really known for their pizza, which is more than a kid-friendly afterthought.
While Kentucky restaurants have been allowed to reopen for dining in with limited indoor capacity and with seating outside, most are continuing takeout, which has been a popular option during the coronavirus pandemic shutdown.
Many pizza places do delivery as well as curbside pickup, and lots have added extra patio and sidewalk seating to offset limits on indoor capacity.
Here are some local Lexington restaurants with can’t-miss pies. (Note: This list doesn’t include major chains, many of which have fine pizza too, or restaurants primarily known for something else, like pasta, that also have pizza.)
Apollo Pizza
The Lexington location of Apollo Pizza opened in Meadowthorpe last year and has already built a following. EKU grads know this pizza from the Richmond restaurant (there’s also a location in Berea now too.) Besides its pizza, Apollo is know for craft beer on tap. And they have patios at all locations. Curbside carryout available; delivery in Richmond.
Bella Forno
Bella Forno does great wood-fired pizza that leans toward Tuscan-style cooking. Right now, the restaurant is closed but you can order Bella Forno items from their sister restaurant, Smashing Tomato for now. Curbside and delivery available.
Big City Pizza
Big City Pizza has New York hand-tossed pizza, pan pizza, thin and crispy pizza, gluten-free crust too. But the standout might be the stuffed pizza: cheese in the middle with sauce on the top. And don’t forget their garlic knots. Delivery available.
Brick Oven Pizzeria
Yes, Brick Oven Pizzeria bakes pizza in a brick oven. And this place likes to play outside the pizza box a bit. Check out their pizzas of the week, like chili cheese dog pizza, raunchy meatball pizza, spaghetti and meatball pizza ... you get the idea. Delivery available.
The Bridge Eatery & Bar
The Bridge has a bit of a split personality. One half is Mediterranean favorites and the other half is pizza. If you can’t make up your mind, there’s the Mediterranean pizza, with feta, black olives, green olives, tomatoes, green pepper, dill and oregano. You can build your own, or go with specials like the Lexington Avenue with alfredo sauce, bacon, spinach, mushrooms and ricotta. Curbside and delivery available. They also do a pop-up at the Chevy Chase Farmers Market on Colony Boulevard.
Eiffel Pizza
Eiffel Pizza does some odd — and oddly delicious — pizzas. Along with the traditional favorites, they venture into new territory, like the honeymoon pizza, with honey, mozzarella, goat cheese, parmesan and gorgonzola. Or try a Nutella pizza for dessert. Delivery available.
Goodfellas Pizzeria
Goodfellas Pizzeria has two locations in Lexington, and both are known for their tremendous hand-tossed pizzas. It’s fun just to watch these things being made. For atmosphere, it’s hard to be the Distillery District location inside the old Pepper Distillery with a bocce ball on the patio along Town Branch Creek.
Joe Bologna’s
Joe Bologna’s on Maxwell is a Lexington classic, in business for almost 50 years, known as much for the huge breadsticks as their classic pizza. And now the former house of worship is spiffed up and reopened for dining in and for curbside carry out.
Mancino’s Pizza & Grinders
Mancino’s on Leestown has strong neighborhood following with a menu of favorites, including chicken ranch pizza, as well as flatbread pizzas. They also have eye-popping grinders and salads. Curbside available.
Pearl’s
Pearl’s on North Limestone is another unusual pizza place, with a lot of cross-over between its sister restaurant, County Club. Both will be reopening soon, so look for menu items like the Trust Fun pizza, which features County Club’s smoked brisket along with gorgonzola and steak sauce. Their other specialty? Oysters, of course.
PieTana
PieTana is the kind of local restaurant that makes you want to move into the neighborhood. Also featuring wood-fired pizza, this place by the railroad tracks on Rosemont Garden is small but has added a huge “pizza garden” on the side to accommodate its growing following. You can build your own pie or try a specialty like Bonnie’s Breakfast Pie with Winchell’s sausage gravy, onion, potato, cheddar and fried eggs. Curbside and delivery available.
Puccini’s
Puccini’s Pizza & Pasta has three locations in Lexington — Chevy Chase, Brighton Shoppes and Boston Road — and all are known for their family-friendly atmosphere. You’ll see everybody you know there. Curbside and delivery available.
Rise Up Pizza
Rise Up Pizza is a food truck worth tracking down. Sourdough crust that is so good customers bought it in loaves of bread during the shutdown. The truck is usually at local craft breweries like Rockhouse in Lexington and Dreaming Creek in Richmond. The menu often features cranky-sounding pies like the “Ruth’s Chris took my sba loan” with oyster mushrooms, asparagus and garlic and “Cheese is for people who won’t socially distance.”
Rolling Oven
If you like food truck pizza, you know Rolling Oven, the restaurant that started as rolling pizza oven. Now they have locations at Mirror Twin Brewing in Lexington and at the Rolling Oven Taproom in Versailles. You know it’s genuine wood-fired pizza from all the wood stacked outside. It’s good stuff. Plus, lots of local craft beers and outdoor seating at both locations.
Saul Good
Saul Good Restaurant & Pub has two locations, downtown and near Fayette Mall. So far, the Broadway location has yet to reopen. Lots of inventive pizzas on the menu, from the rosemary chicken to Parisian with Dijon cream sauce, ham, brie, Granny Smith apples and honey, to the Kentucky Hot Brown pizza. And when in season, peach pizza. Curbside and delivery available.
Smashing Tomato
Smashing Tomato. This is the sister restaurant to Bella Forno. Smashing Tomato specializes in Neapolitan pizza, with wood-fired crust and fresh ingredients. Curbside and delivery available.
This story was originally published May 29, 2020 at 6:00 AM.
