Pizza restaurant on South Upper gone after just over a year. What’s coming next?
For weeks, Lexington pizza lovers have been wondering: What’s up with Damiano on South Upper?
Well, sad news: The wood-fired pizza and pasta place, which opened in September 2023, is gone after only a little over a year. It closed at the end of 2024.
Restaurant owner Carlo Vaccarrezza has decided to pivot to a new concept that will go in a slightly tropical direction.
He’s launching Pollo Azul, which means Blue Chicken, Kentucky fans.
Pollo Azul will serve rotisserie chicken with plantains, rice and black beans, available as plates, bowls and wraps. Roast pork, churrasco beef and grilled chicken also will be available. It will be similar to Pollo Tropical, a Florida restaurant chain.
Why the switch?
“Damiano was working OK,” Vaccarrezza said. But the product he served, with top-quality, imported ingredients, wasn’t really what college kids were looking for.
“I think Lexington is saturated with pizza places. Every other corner you got a pizzeria,” he said. “And now they put pizzas in the commissary at UK, The Hill has pizza there too. Kids ... like pizza, but not every single day. They are more into healthy cuisine.”
He hopes to have the new Pollo Azul open in April.
The restaurant will be casual, open for lunch and dinner but not late, with ordering at the counter and no alcohol served.
Carryout will be available as well as family meals for about $20.
“The family meals will be great,” Vaccarrezza said. “You can pick up a whole chicken with plantain, beans and rice for about $20. I think it will be very appealing.”
Pollo Azul
Where: 503 S. Upper St.
Hours: 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
